Abstract: A detection apparatus according to the present invention is arranged to input to a displacement detector by force transmission thread and detects the displacement of a power point caused through contact with a person or object.

Abstract: An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

Abstract: A lift axle suspension system to be mounted under a vehicle for selectively raising a tire wheel assembly out of engagement with a road surface which vehicle includes a lift axle mounted to a hanger bracket via a pivot connector. The hanger bracket is rigidly attached to a vehicle frame and has articulating arms pivotally connected thereto. These arms connect at their opposite ends to the axle. A pair of diaphragm chambers such as brake chambers each include upper and lower chambers separated by a flexible bladder that moves under pressurization causing a push rod affixed thereto to translate. The diaphragm chambers and push rods extending therefrom are connected in different embodiments to the hanger bracket or other rigid structures as well as the articulating arm such that movement of the push rods causes movement of the articulating arms and thus movement such as lifting of the axle.

Abstract: A gas generator is formed of a container having an outer-shell member, and a partition member disposed at least partly inside the outer-shell member to thereby form a plurality of chambers inside the container and fixed to the outer-shell member, a fixation area increasing portion formed at at least one of the partition member and the outer-shell member, a gas generating agent disposed inside the plurality of chambers of the container, and an igniter for igniting the gas generating agent. The gas generator reliably prevents the gas leak from a portion of fixation of the outer-shell member and the partition member.

Abstract: An antiroll suspension for a vehicle chassis having laterally spaced wheels, the suspension comprises an axle assembly for rotatably mounting each of a pair of laterally spaced wheels, a spring assembly supporting the chassis on each of the axle assemblies, a moveable arm connected between the spring and the chassis, and an anti roll linkage connected between said chassis and the moveable arm of the axles of the suspension system being responsive to a lateral force on said chassis, and structured to translate lateral force on the chassis to a vertical force on the down force side of the chassis so that the anti roll linkage simultaneously lifts the down force side of the vehicle and lowers the up force side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety belt apparatus for motor vehicles. The apparatus includes a safety belt and a belt tensioner which can be mounted to the vehicle in the region of a free belt section and which cooperates with the safety belt in the region of the free belt section to alter the effective length of the safety belt.

Abstract: An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an airbag deployable in a direction to protect a vehicle occupant and an arrangement for limiting the unfolding impulse of the airbag upon an obstacle placed in a deployment path of the airbag to reduce the unfolding impulse transferred to the obstacle. The limitation arrangement, which can be, for example, a sheath, aperture in the airbag, can respond to the resistance of the occupant located in the deployment path, which is outside a normal seating position, or respond to a lack of resistance from the passenger. As the limitation arrangement limits the unfolding impulse of the airbag, it reduces the maximum unfolding impulse transferable to the occupant located outside the normal seating, in the deploying path.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) comprises an instrument panel (30) for a vehicle (10), an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (60), and a deployment door (68). A portion (44) of the instrument panel (30) includes a rearwardmost point (54) of the instrument panel (30). The deployment door (68) includes a panel (72) that moves between a closed position and an open position on inflation of the protection device (60). An end (86) of the panel (72) is connected with the portion (44) of the instrument panel (30). The end (86) of the panel (72) is spaced from a farthest point on an end (84) of the panel (72) by a first distance (E). The rearwardmost point (54) is located in an imaginary vertical plane that is spaced horizontally from the end (86) of the panel (72) of the deployment door (68) by a second distance (D) that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device includes a plastically deformable metal strap for resisting the collapse of a steering column. The strap is initially deformable into one or more V-shaped wave formations by anvils to increase the energy required to advance the strap, thereby increasing the resistance to collapse of the steering column. One of the anvils may be removed to eliminate one of the wave formations and thereby reduce the amount of resistance to collapse of the steering column. Alternatively, the position of an anvil may be varied to vary the shape of a wave configuration from a deep V to a shallow V.

Abstract: An automobile airbag apparatus disposed within an instrument panel covered with an interior cover. A fracture-opening section is defined in the interior cover to be located in opposition to the opening portion of the airbag case. The fracture-opening section is defined by at least a fragile groove formed from the back surface of the interior cover to surround the fracture-opening section. A reinforcement plate member is attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section through deformation of a portion of the fracture-opening section through application of heat thereto. The reinforcement plate member has a main-body portion attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section and an attachment portion extending from the main-body portion via a hinge portion. A plurality of slits are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement plate member such that the slits extend in parallel in the transverse direction of the reinforcement plate member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a driveline configuration for a heavy-duty truck having multiple drive axles. The driveline configuration reduces the torsional vibrations associated with second order torsional excitation produced by the driveline's universal joints in both nominal and off-design conditions. The forward drive axle (101) and rearward drive axle (102) are oriented such that the interaxle drive shaft (110) utilizes a parallel shaft geometry with small joint operating angles. A double cardan joint (115) connects the main drive shaft (107) to the forward drive axle.

Abstract: A front hood assembly has a front hood of a motor vehicle that is hinged to the chassis of the motor vehicle via a hinge, the front hood being lockable via at least one hood lock. The hinge is plastically deformed under the impact of a collision with a pedestrian. The assembly provides a protection for pedestrians that is technically feasible and can be implemented at low costs.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system for a motor vehicle includes a firing circuit, a control unit, a lockable latching device, and a sensor device. The firing circuit includes a firing cap for an airbag unit. The control unit activates the firing cap. The lockable latching device attaches a child seat. The sensor device has a switch and an electrical element connected in parallel to one another. The switch is open when the latching device is locked to prevent the firing cap from being activated. Preferably, the electrical element is a resistor. The control unit can determine an electrical resistance of the firing circuit. This is very useful when the vehicle occupant protection system includes a series of switches, each with a respective resistor connected in parallel to said second switch, because by judging the overall resistance the control unit can determine if all of the switches have been activated. The switch can include a Reed contact.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protective assembly (1, 101) for the lower limbs (31) of a motor vehicle passenger comprising an actuating device (2, 103) secured to the vehicle and capable of displacing a rod (3, 108) which is linked to a protective system. The invention is characterized in that: i) the actuating device contains a pyrotechnic system (9); ii) the protective system comprises a protective cushion (6) mounted on a shaft (5, 105) integral with the vehicle; iii) said protective cushion is mobile in rotation under the effect of the displacement of the rod so as to accompany, in the contact zone provided between the passenger's lower limbs and said protective cushion, the movement of said lower limbs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a locking mechanism (1) for electromechanical protection of the hydraulic circuit of mechanically driven vessels/boats and vehicles, mostly trucks, but also private cars can be equipped with it, in which the steering gear and/or braking system can be blocked, in which a core cylinder (13) of the roughly 3/2-valve constructed locking mechanism (1) is operated by electronic control, in which in the driving position the mentioned core cylinder (13) is locked or blocked, in which the locking mechanism with accompanying electronic control (9) is mounted in a closed steel housing underneath the bonnet, which is also secured by the system and in which also an encoder unit (4) for further protection is provided, through which an optimally secure locking mechanism (1) against theft is created.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly in a steering beam axle for use in a motor vehicle. The wheel end assembly comprises a tube yoke attached to an axle tube defining an axle centerline, a steering knuckle defining a steering knuckle centerline, a driving axle shaft rotatably disposed in the axle tube, a live spindle rotatably supported by the steering knuckle, a stub shaft extending through the live spindle and rotatably coupled thereto, and a universal joint connecting the driving axle shaft and the stub shaft. The steering knuckle is pivotally coupled to the tube yoke through a pair of vertically spaced swivel joints defining a steering axis. The wheel end assembly further includes a knuckle centering adjuster for adjusting the knuckle centerline by selectively moving said steering knuckle relative to said tube yoke along said steering axis in order to align the knuckle centerline to the axle centerline.

Abstract: A safety belt arrangement includes a controllable blocking apparatus that is controlled sensitive to the vehicle and/or to the safety belt. A safety belt buckle is provided and a tensioning apparatus is inserted in the safety belt arrangement, such that the tensioning apparatus, when triggered, eliminates the slack in the belt. The arrangement also includes a continuously working device for limiting the force exerted on the safety belt by the forward displacement of the belted occupant.

Abstract: A mechanical transmission for agricultural vehicles of adjustable track width has gear cases disposed vertically to elevate a chassis height of vehicle above a plantation, rear axles provided for wheels of the machine and mounted to the gear cases, first gears and second gears located in the gear cases and coupling the axles and also being interconnected with one another, a differential to which torque is transmitted from the axles through the second gears which are upper gears, a cross tube, the gear cases having substantially first horizontal extensions which are fitted on the cross tube so as to allow sliding outwards or inwards of the extensions in order to modify a machine track width, the differential having two second extensions, grooved shafts which are fixedly connected to the second gears, first tube bushings which are connected with the gear cases and in which the grooved shafts are fitted, second bushings having internal grooves and surrounding the grooved shafts, tubes which are fixed to the gear

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (10) includes first and second panel portions (12, 14) each having a plurality of discrete openings (44, 54). The first panel portion (12) overlies the second panel portion (14) when the device (10) is in the deflated condition. A tether (30) interconnects the first and second panel portions (12, 14). The tether (30) includes a single thread (60) extending through the plurality of openings (44) in the first panel portion (12) and through the plurality of openings (54) in the second panel portion (14) in a serpentine manner. The single thread (60) has loop thread portions located outside the inflation fluid volume (16). The panel portions (12, 14) move relative to the single thread (60) as the device (10) is inflated from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. Preferably, stop members (120, 122) on the end portions (62, 64) of the tether (30) block movement of the end portions through the openings (44, 54) in the panel portions (12, 14).

Abstract: An inflator is provided that can reduce the occurrence of virtual and masked leaks in inflator testing. The inflator may have an outer wall surrounding a main internal compartment containing compressed inflation gases. Additionally, the inflator may have a pyrotechnic assembly containing a generant, or pyrotechnic material, and an initiator configured to ignite the pyrotechnic material upon receipt of an electric signal from a vehicle's electrical system. The initiator may be separated from the pyrotechnic material, and from the compressed gases, by a pressure dome that effectively creates a cavity around the initiator. The initiator may be accessible to outside contact through an opening in the outer wall. An insert may be positioned around the initiator to control flows of gas leaving the cavity through the opening.