Abstract: An axle suspension for rigid axles of vehicles, especially air-suspension (e.g., with air shock absorbers/air springs) utility vehicles, is presented, in which a twistable four-point connecting rod (4), which is connected in an articulated manner to the vehicle axle (3), on the one hand, and to the vehicle body (1a, 1b), on the other hand, and which is connected to the vehicle axle (3) and to the vehicle body (1a, 1b) by four said joints (5, 6, 7, 8) each located at spaced locations from one another in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The four-point connecting rod is arranged above the vehicle axle (3). At least one axle strut (11, 12), which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and connects the vehicle axle (3) to the vehicle body (1a, 1b) in a vertically movable manner, is arranged on each side of the vehicle for guiding the axle. At least one air spring assembly unit (19, 20) is arranged between the vehicle axle (3) and the vehicle body (1a, 1b) for spring suspension.

Abstract: In an airbag device (10) wherein within a casing (12) opening upwardly an inflator (16) and an airbag (14) are housed at its bottom part and the opening side, respectively, a cylindrical diffuser (18) surrounding the outer circumference of the inflator (16) is provided, which has a partition wall (40) projecting toward the opening side of the casing and partitioning an airbag-housing space into a forward side and a rearward side relative to the vehicle, in which to house the airbag (14) dividedly, and a lip portion (32) of the airbag (14) is superposed downwards of the diffuser (18) thereby to lock the bottom part of the diffuser (18) to the bottom surface of the casing (12). Thus, it is easy, albeit compart, to control the deployment behavior of the airbag and excellent in workability of assembling the airbag in the casing.

Abstract: A truck axle assembly has a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending swing arms each attachable adjacent one end to a truck chassis for pivotal movement relative thereto about a transverse axis. Each swing arm has an axle mounting bracket detachably secured thereto adjacent an opposite end thereof, and each axle mounting bracket has a transverse portion extending across the swing arm and a pair of transversely spaced attachment portions extending from the transverse portion on opposite sides of the swing arm and detachable secured thereto. An axle extends transversely across the swing arms adjacent the opposite ends thereof and detachably secured to the mounting brackets. Each axle mounting bracket also supports a brake actuating member for a brake mechanism mounted on an adjacent end of the axle.

Abstract: An integrated semi-independent suspension and drivetrain system for a vehicle including a swing arm with a swing mount for pivotally mounting the swing arm to the vehicle, an axle carrier for mounting an axle assembly, the axle carrier being rotatably mounted to the swing arm to allow the axle assembly to roll about a suspension roll axis, a driven sprocket substantially centrally attached to the axle assembly for rotating the axle assembly, a drive sprocket for transferring rotational power to the driven sprocket, a flexible coupling mechanically linking the driven sprocket to the drive sprocket to allow transfer of rotational power from the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket, a constant velocity joint centrally disposed on the drive sprocket axle to allow alignment of the drive sprocket relative to the driven sprocket, and a CV guide for aligning the drive sprocket with the driven sprocket.

Abstract: A release mechanism of efficient construction and operation is provided to hold profile restraining air bag tethers in a shortened operative condition under a first set of predetermined conditions and to extend such tethers under a second set of predetermined conditions. The extension of the restraining tethers may be carried out in conjunction with the delivery of an increased volume of inflating gas to the air bag cushion utilizing a gas emitting inflator in conjunction with a dynamic variable inflation device to effect delivery of a proper volume of inflation gas while releasing the tethers from a restrained length condition.