Abstract: A power steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a column shaft, a column pipe rotatably supporting the column shaft through a plurality of bearings, and a torque sensor for detecting torque generated on the column shaft by using magnetism. The column pipe is composed of a steel pipe. The torque sensor includes a magnetically variable portion and a magnetic change detector. The magnetically variable portion is disposed on the column shaft and has a magnetic permeability that varies with the torque generated on the column shaft. The magnetic change detector is configured to detect a change in the magnetism of the magnetically variable portion. The magnetic change detector is attached to the column pipe by being inserted in an axial direction through an opening at an axial end of the column pipe.

Abstract: A pair of vehicle door panels defines a cavity. An air sensor has an air inlet protruding into the cavity and senses an air pressure within the cavity. A shield covers the air inlet, has at least one side wall extending away from the air inlet, and defines a chamber configured to collapse in response to an increase in the air pressure to excite the air sensor.

Abstract: A telescopic assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion and a support bearing assembly that acts between the two portions; the two portions being able to move relatively along a common path during telescopic adjustment; the support bearing assembly being located between the two portions and locating the two portions relative to one another to remove free play between the two portions that would otherwise occur in at least one direction orthogonal to the telescopic movement; characterized in that the support bearing assembly is fixed in position between the two portions by a release mechanism that is arranged, in use, to cause the support bearing assembly to grip both the first and second portions when they are not moving telescopically, to automatically release that grip upon relative telescopic movement of the two portions that exceeds a predetermined distance, and to automatically re-engage.

Abstract: An instrument panel includes a frame, an intermediate airbag supported by the frame in an uninflated position, and a first airbag supported by the frame. The first airbag is disposed in a first direction from the intermediate airbag. The first and intermediate airbags are inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate airbag includes an extension extending in the first direction in the inflated position.

Abstract: An airbag module mounted to an interior side of a bottom portion of a seat frame. The module includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to deploy to a position directly inboard of an interior side of the seat bottom. A portion of the airbag extends above the seat bottom when the airbag is inflated.

Abstract: The vehicle includes a seating section provided in a main body and configured such that a driver is able to take a seat by straddling the same, foot placement sections located beneath the seating section to be respectively provided at left and right positions of sides of the main body with the seating section interposed therebetween, feet of the seated driver being placed on the foot placement sections, and a grip section located in front of the seating section and disposed above the seating section, the grip section being gripped with a hand of the driver so as to be operated, an acceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a forward direction, a deceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A robotic building system includes a first through third sets of extruded elements integrally joined at lengthwise edges and corners to rails. The second set of extruded elements has at least three adjoining sides surrounding a hollow opening, where each side is integrally joined to a rail. A third set of extruded elements has an asymmetrical inside angle shaped element formed by a first web and a second web oriented generally perpendicular to the first web, where each web is integrally affixed between a pair of opposing rails and each web shares a common rail. The rails may be tapped or drilled to accept a fastener, and each extruded element of the first set, second set and third set of extruded elements are adapted to be flush mounted to any of the other extruded elements or to the same shape extruded elements.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension assembly includes a vehicle frame rail, a slide rail extending longitudinally along the vehicle frame rail and slidably adjustable thereto, a support bracket extending downwardly from the slide rail, a trailing arm pivotably coupled to the support bracket, a spring member positioned between the trailing arm and the slide rail, and an elastically resilient coupling arrangement coupling the slide rail to the vehicle frame rail, wherein the coupling member is configured to elastically deform during vertical displacement of the vehicle frame rail with respect to the slide rail.

Abstract: Provided is a curtain airbag apparatus capable of preventing a head of an occupant from being moved forward and colliding with a structure of a vehicle at the time of an oblique collision of the vehicle. To this end, a curtain airbag apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a curtain airbag which is inflated when gas flows into the curtain airbag; and an auxiliary airbag which is coupled to the curtain airbag, and protrudes into the interior of a vehicle while being inflated when the gas flowing into the curtain airbag flows into the auxiliary airbag.

Abstract: A dual-rate jounce bumper limits jounce travel between a first component and a second component of a vehicle. The second component is spaced from and moveable toward the first component along a jounce axis. The dual-rate jounce bumper includes a bumper and an outer member. The bumper has a first end for coupling to the first component and a second end spaced from the first end for contacting the second component as the second component moves along the jounce axis toward the first component. The bumper is compressible between the first and second components for limiting jounce travel. The bumper is also radially expandable as the bumper is compressed. The outer member is disposed about the bumper and is capable of limiting the radial expansion of the bumper as the bumper is compressed for increasing a stiffness of the bumper.

Abstract: A side bolster assembly for mounting in a vehicle. The side bolster assembly may include a carrier that may have a pocket. The pocket may receive an airbag module that may have an inflatable airbag. A cushion may extend across the pocket. A guide member may guide the airbag around the cushion upon inflation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subframe for a motor vehicle, comprising two front node elements (1) for connecting to a vehicle body, which node elements are spaced from each other in a vehicle transverse direction (y) and are connected to each other by means of a front subframe cross member (3), and comprising at least one functional part (28), in particular a rotary actuator, which extends adjacently to the subframe cross member (3) in a vehicle transverse direction (y), by means of which functional part a torsion can be applied to torsion springs that act on the vehicle wheel suspension. According to the invention, the subframe cross member (3) has an opening, which provides an additional installation space, in which the functional part (28) at least partially protrudes.

Abstract: A mounting unit of a shock absorber for a vehicle is disclosed. A mounting unit of a shock absorber for a vehicle that fixes an upper portion of a shock absorber connected to wheels to a vehicle body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a shock absorber housing mounted to the vehicle body; a mounting module disposed in the shock absorber housing, and at least two mounting hole is formed at the mounting module; a tapping nut engaged through a mounting hole of the mounting module in the shock absorber housing; and a fixing nut engaged to an end portion of the tapping nut protruded to outside of the shock absorber housing and fixing the mounting module to the shock absorber housing; the mounting module and fixing nut are temporarily assembled to the shock absorber housing through a temporarily assembly apparatus and engaged to the tapping nut.

Abstract: An airbag can include a first cushion portion that defines a first inflatable chamber and a second cushion portion that is connected to the first cushion portion and defines a second inflatable chamber. The first inflatable chamber can receive inflation gas from an inflator to expand the first cushion portion, and the second cushion portion can receive inflation gas from the first inflatable chamber to expand the second cushion portion. A one-directional valve permits inflation gas to flow from the first inflatable chamber to the second inflatable chamber and restricts backflow of inflation gas from the second inflatable chamber to the first inflatable chamber.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle has a frame, a motor, a shock tower pivotally connected to the frame about a frame leaning axis, front left and right ground engaging members connected to the shock tower via front left and right suspension assemblies, a steering assembly, a rear suspension assembly, and at least one rear ground engaging member. The front left and right suspension assemblies each include a lower suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected about a pivoting axis to the lower end of the shock tower and a second end pivotally connected about a tilting axis to its corresponding front ground engaging member, and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the upper end of the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm. The frame is pivotable about the frame leaning axis relative to the pivoting axes.

Abstract: An anti-tip system is provided for improving the stability of a powered vehicle, such as a powered wheelchair. The vehicle includes a drive-train assembly pivotally mounted to a main structural frame. A suspension system biases the drive-train assembly and its connected anti-tip wheel to a predetermined resting position. The drive-train assembly bi-directionally rotates about a pivot in response to torque applied to or acceleration forces on the vehicle. A linkage arrangement is provided and is characterized by a suspension arm pivotally mounting to the main structural frame about a pivot at one end thereof and an anti-tip wheel at the other end. The linkage may further include at least one link operable to transfer the bi-directional displacement of the drive-train assembly to the suspension arm. The link may include a bell crank member and/or may be resiliently compressible.

Abstract: A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle.

Abstract: A resin pin which is passed through a first resin-pin passing hole of a first plate, and a second resin-pin passing hole of a second plate to couple the second plate to a predetermined position of the first plate is sheared in a secondary collision, and causes the second plate to release from the predetermined position in a column movement direction. A slide plate which extends along the upper surface of the first plate has a resin-pin visual check hole. A highly hard collar is received by the second plate, placed in the first resin-pin passing hole, and fitted to a shaft portion of the resin pin. In the resin pin, axial elastic projections which apply a pressing and urging force to the slide plate are disposed at positions avoiding a range where, in a secondary collision, the resin-pin visual check hole is passed in the column movement direction.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner including a casing defining a pivot axis and having a locking member, a driving mechanism supported by the casing, a flexible connecting member, and a cam. The driving mechanism includes a movable member that moves relative to the casing during pretensioning. The flexible connecting member has a first end coupled to the movable member and a second end that is attachable to one of the anchor, the buckle and the webbing. The cam includes a locking surface having a cross-sectional shape that is an Archimedean spiral. The cam is rotatable about the pivot axis between a non-locking position, in which the connecting member is able to freely move between the cam and the locking member, and a locking position, in which the locking surface clamps the connecting member to the locking member to prevent any further movement of the connecting member relative to the locking member.

Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame (2) and at least one vehicle axle (5) supported relative to the vehicle frame (2) by one or more connecting rods (6; 7). The connecting rod or rods (6; 7) is/are linked to the vehicle axle (5) by at least one articulated arrangement (8) which is connected, by connecting elements (11) that pass through contact surfaces (10; 10a), to a support block (12) fixed on the axle (5). The axis (13) of each connecting element (11) extends through the contact surface (10; 10a), through which the respective connecting element (11) passes, at an angle (?) different from 90°.