Abstract: A hinge device is provided for a front hood of a motor vehicle. The front hood can be opened and closed by way of the hinge device, and the front hood can be adjusted from a normal position into a protective position in the event of a collision. The hinge device has a single front hood control link and a force introducing element which are connected in a rotatable manner relative to each other. The front hood control link and the force introducing element are arranged relative to each other in the protective position such that a first connection line from the first to the second rotational point and a second connection line from the first to the third rotational point form an angle which ranges from 150 degrees to 180 degrees in order to minimize vibrations of the front hood produced by the movement from the normal position into the protective position.

Abstract: A fluid damper for modulating a retaining force of a seat belt is provided. The fluid damper includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder encloses an inner space. The fluid damper includes a piston shiftable in the inner space. The fluid damper includes a duct. The duct conductively connects a front fluid chamber disposed in front of the piston to a rear fluid chamber disposed behind the piston and/or a reservoir for the damping fluid. The duct includes an outer duct portion and an inner duct portion. The inner cylinder is deflectable from a rest position by a force acting on the piston so that the deflection of the inner cylinder causes an adjustment of an overlap of the outer duct portion and the inner duct portion depending on the magnitude of the force.

Abstract: Axle load detection system for a commercial vehicle includes a force transmission element and a sensor unit, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one sensor, wherein the force transmission element includes a first assembly area and a second assembly area, wherein the first assembly area is fixed or can be fixed indirectly and/or directly to a vehicle frame of a vehicle of a commercial vehicle, wherein an air spring and/or a control arm is arranged and/or configured to be arranged on the second assembly area, wherein the sensor unit is configured to determine and/or detect a force transmitted via the force transmission element between the first assembly area and the second assembly area in a supporting direction.

Abstract: An arrangement of the column (1) neutralising transient forces (C1, EA1) generated by a jolt to which the column (1) is subjected, by an automatic decoupling between two coaxial sections (1a, 1b) of the column (1). This decoupling is caused by angular movement of a coupling link (5) between the sections (1a, 1b), preventing transmission of the forces (C1, EA1) by a distal section (1a) to a proximal section (1b) of the column (1). Simultaneously with the decoupling, a compression is also caused of a prestressed elastic mounting region (6a) between the sections (1a, 1b), the jolt then no longer being absorbed by the driver but by the compression of the elastic region. The decoupling is followed by an automatic re-coupling between the two sections (1a, 1b) under the effect of the relaxing of the elastic region (6a).

Abstract: A spindle device has a spindle rod and a spindle nut, wherein an internal thread of the spindle nut interacts with an external thread of the spindle rod, and the spindle rod and/or the spindle nut can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the spindle rod. At least one bearing device is provided, in which the spindle rod or the spindle nut is mounted. The bearing device allows compensating movements, which are oriented at least radially to the longitudinal axis, for the spindle rod and/or the spindle nut. To compensate for tolerances of the spindle rod and/or the spindle nut, while at the same time intending to ensure a high degree of stiffness in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis, the bearing device has a plurality of elastically deformable bars for realizing the compensating movements.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a housing including a pair of side walls facing each other, a winding drum configured to wind up a webbing, a locking base prevented from being rotated in the pull-out direction, in an emergency of a vehicle, an impact energy absorbing member including a first end side coupled to the winding drum and a second end side coupled to the locking base, the impact energy absorbing member connecting the winding drum and the locking base so as to be integrally rotatable, in a normal state, at least one impact energy absorbing wire housed in at least one slot that is provided in the winding drum, and a stopper member configured to define an allowable amount of relative rotation between the winding drum and the locking base in a case where the impact energy absorbing member absorbs the impact energy.

Abstract: An airbag deployment apparatus includes: an active sensor detecting information of a collision object to a vehicle; a pressure sensor detecting pressure applied to the vehicle during a collision of the vehicle; an inertia sensor detecting acceleration of the vehicle; a first collision determination part determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the active sensor; a second collision determination part additionally determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the pressure sensor and a result of the first collision determination part; a third collision determination part additionally determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the inertia sensor and results of the first and second collision determination parts; and an airbag deployment determination part determining whether an airbag is deployed or not by a result of the third collision determination part.

Abstract: A Modular and Expandable Air Suspension Control System utilizes three basic units, a suspension control module, one or more pneumatic control modules, and an end cap usable across a variety of applications with different quantities of air springs, including 1-Corner, 2-Corner, 3-Corner, 4-Corner and more than 4-Corner systems. The invention is field expandable, with multiple sensing options as each pneumatic control module has an integrated air spring pressure sensor plus an electrical plug to connect with an electronic height sensor. This capability allows the system to level based on air spring pressure or air spring height depending on the customer use case. The sleek and compact design is piconet-enabled which gives the system connectivity to smartphone apps and dedicated piconet devices for user interface, and allows for over-the-air updating of the firmware inside of the suspension control module and pneumatic control modules to enhance functionality.

Abstract: A transition connection for a space frame can comprise a connection pad defining a first end of the transition connection, a node defining a second end of the transition connection opposite the first end, a pair of ribs on opposite sides, a first concave portion on a first side of one of the ribs, and a second concave portion on a second side of the one of ribs. In a side elevational view of the transition connection, an acute angle is formed on a same side as the first and second concave portions. The transition connection, which can be a casting, can be part of a pair or set of transition connections separate and distinct from each other. The pair of transition connections can be mirror images of each other.

Abstract: A method for coupling a semi-trailer with a top plate to a truck tractor with a coupling plate includes: importing a reference height profile assigning a reference gradient to different actual values for the relative height of the chassis to the rear axle of the truck-tractor; changing the relative height such that the coupling plate approaches the top plate; continuously determining actual height values and height gradients while changing the relative height, wherein an actual height value is assigned the currently determined actual height gradient; checking a coupling criterion by comparing a currently determined actual height gradient with the reference gradient, wherein the reference gradient which in the imported reference height profile is assigned to the same actual height value as the currently determined actual height gradient is applied; and, maintaining the relative height when the currently determined actual height gradient deviates from the reference gradient.

Abstract: A side airbag device having an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying and an inflator disposed on an inner side of the seat frame that supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and a holding part that holds the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes an inner expanding portion internally containing the inflator and an outer expanding portion connected to the inner expanding portion and is disposed on an outer side of the seat frame by being folded back at a front edge portion of the seat frame. The outer expanding portion includes a folded portion of the airbag cushion. A forward portion of the holding part contacts an outer surface of the folded portion of the outer expanding portion, and a rearward portion is connected to the seat frame. Furthermore, the holding part is configured to cover a part of the outer expanding portion.

Abstract: A high-pressure gas spring for vehicle suspension systems includes an integral gas damping system and an integral counter spring to reduce spring residual force at suspension rebound. The gas spring includes an inverted piston feature that reduces the overall length of the device. Additionally, there are other innovative features incorporated in the gas spring to improve performance, reduce cost and minimise weight.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, a positioning unit that detects a position of the vehicle body based on a signal sent from a positioning satellite, a support configuration portion installed on the vehicle body, an installing stay to which the positioning unit is fixed, and a base stay fixed to the support configuration portion. One of the installing stay and the base stay has a protruding piece portion. Another of the installing stay and the base stay has a hole portion into and with which the protruding piece portion is inserted and engaged.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus can be a dashboard member. The dashboard member can include a panel member. The panel member can include a weakening portion integrally molded with the panel member to create a tear seam. The dashboard member can include a chute member integrally molded with the panel member. The chute member can support an air bag and direct the air bag through the tear seam.

Abstract: An object is to provide a fixing structure of a webbing which can improve workability when a webbing is mounted and can also contribute to cost reduction, and a vehicle seat provided therewith. A fixing structure of a webbing in a vehicle seat having an airbag device, including an airbag module fixed to a seat frame of the vehicle seat, a first webbing and a second webbing surrounding the airbag module together with the seat frame and guiding the inflating airbag to an airbag outlet on a seat surface, a locked portion provided on a first end part of the first webbing, a fixed portion provided on a second end part of the second webbing, a locking member formed of a member having rigidity and having a fixing portion to which the fixed portion of the second webbing is fixed and a locking portion which hooks and locks the locked portion of the first webbing.

Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle seat including a seat back, an upper airbag mounted to the seat back, a lower airbag mounted to the seat back below the upper airbag, a flexible conduit fluidly coupling the upper airbag and the lower airbag, and a device actuatable between a first state permitting airflow through the conduit and a second state blocking airflow through the conduit.

Abstract: An airbag retainer to stably support a filter while minimizing a welding spot, and an airbag retainer assembly are provided, where the airbag retainer assembly includes an airbag retainer coupled to a filter, the airbag retainer including an accommodation hole to accommodate an inflator is formed in a base, and a cage extending from an edge of the accommodation hole, the cage being configured to cover the accommodation hole, one or more discharge hole formed in the cage to transmit gas discharged from the inflator, and a support formed in the cage along a circumference of the discharge hole to support the filter, wherein the filter is configured to block residue generated by gas discharged from the inflator.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system includes a manifold that defines: a channel for conveying a fluid, a discharge port, a drain port, and an expansion chamber defining a chamber axis. The discharge port defines a flow axis extending between a first end and second end and a receiving region at the second end. The pneumatic control system also includes a filter assembly with a filter member disposed in the expansion chamber, and an actuator configured to selectively control fluid communication between the channel and the discharge port. The chamber axis is substantially coplanar with the flow axis. A filter cap assembly includes a filter cap body enclosing an end of the expansion chamber and selectively removable from the manifold to provide access to the filter assembly. A purge valve body is configured to selectively control fluid flow between the expansion chamber and the drain port.

Abstract: A steering element with a steering control arm has an elongated metallic body that includes a thinner buckling section arranged between a distal part of the metallic body and a proximal part of the metallic body. An anti-corrosion coating is arranged on the metallic body on either side of the thinner buckling section over the distal part and the proximal part. A protective anti-corrosion element, different from the anti-corrosion coating, covers the whole of the thinner buckling section.

Abstract: To provide a vehicle seat which makes the load from the airbag more likely to be concentrated on a weakened part of a skin member, a vehicle seat provided with a seat cushion constituting a seating surface and a seat back constituting a backrest including a seat back frame forming a structural member of the seat back; an airbag module supported on a side portion of the seat back frame on a vehicle outer side; a pad member covering the airbag module; and a skin member covering a surface of the pad member, wherein the skin member is provided with a weakened part vertically extending on an edge part of the seat back on a vehicle outer side and a first low-elasticity reinforcement part extending from a vicinity of the weakened part in a direction intersecting with the weakened part.