Abstract: An apparatus for attachment to the body (240) of a vehicle (12) which has a front, rear and opposite sides and which has steerable wheels. The apparatus comprises a lower part (22) having structure (40, 48) for fixed attachment at each of the opposite sides of the vehicle. A first steering control arm (150) is pivotally connected to the lower part (22) at one side of the vehicle. A second steering control arm (160) is pivotally connected to the lower part (22) at an opposite side of the vehicle. An upper part (24) is connected with the lower part (22). A rack and pinion steering mechanism (10) includes a rack bar (180) movable axially in opposite directions to effect steering movement of the steerable wheels of the vehicle. The steering mechanism (10) includes a chamber (80) through which the rack bar (180) extends. The chamber is defined by surfaces of the upper and lower parts (22, 24).

Abstract: A device for the lateral outward guiding of an electric cable installed in a tube has a deflector is arranged inside the tube obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the tube. The electric cable is deflected by the deflector through a lateral opening in the casing of the tube.

Abstract: A removable shaft assembly having a drive shaft with internal splines defined therein and an output shaft positioned within the drive shaft and having a first set of external splines defined thereon adapted to engage the internal splines of the drive shaft is disclosed. The assembly further includes a cap axially aligned with the drive shaft having internal splines defined thereon which are adapted to prevent an axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a first position and hallow axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a second position. The output shaft may be removed from the drive shaft when the cap is placed in the first position by axially sliding the first set of external splines through the internal splines of the cap. A method of operating a removable shaft assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A steering column support assembly for a motor vehicle, comprises a laterally extending support structure (25), mounting points (32) for affixing opposite ends (28,29,30,31) of the support structure (25) to side portions of a motor vehicle chassis, a fixing point (45) above the laterally extending support structure (25) for affixing the support structure (25) to a front portion of a motor vehicle chassis, and a steering column support bracket (34), the steering column support bracket being supported by the laterally extending support structure (25). The support structure (25) includes a laterally extending first support member (26), and a laterally extending second support member (27). The first support member (26) and the second support member (27) each extend laterally between the mounting points (28,29,30,31). The steering column support bracket (34) braces apart the first support member (26) and the second support member (27).

Abstract: A gas generator small in size and which can be produced easily with a simple structure is provided. The output of a gas generator is equalized so that an occupant can be safely restrained, and the combustion performance can be stably adjusted. The gas generator comprises a housing forming an outer shell container and accommodating two or more ignition units to ignite upon an impact and two or more gas generating agents which are independently ignited and burnt by the ignition units to generate a combustion gas for inflating an air bag, and a plurality of gas discharge ports which are formed in the housing, wherein the gas discharge ports are closed by sealing units for maintaining an internal pressure of the housing to the given pressure, a breaking pressure for breaking the sealing units is adjusted in multiple stages by controlling gas discharge ports and/or sealing units, and a difference of the maximum internal pressures in the housing at activation of the respective igniters is suppressed.

Abstract: In a folded gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system the folded gas bag comprises two superimposed walls of the gas bag laid in folds and the folded gas bag is delimited by imaginary first and second fold edge regions. The fold edges of the folds extend in a straight line and parallel to one another. The folds have fold heights measured from one of the fold edge regions and at least two differing fold heights are provided.