Abstract: A structure for mounting a suspension on a car body in which a shock absorber and an upper arm connected to a steering knuckle and extending inward are supported by a bracket. The bracket is pivotally connected to the upper arm and is connected to the shock absorber. The upper arm and the shock absorber are mounted on the car body via the bracket.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a latch device for a movable anchor in a passive seat belt system for mounting on a vehicle. The latch device includes a movable anchor, a latch releasably engageable with the movable anchor, actuator means releasably holding the latch in engagement with the movable anchor, an actuator member for bringing the latch into engagement with the movable anchor by way of the actuator means when the movable anchor moves to its occupant-restraining position, and switch means associated with the latch in such a way that it is actuated when the movable anchor has reached the occupant-restraining position and the latch has been brought into engagement with the movable anchor. The position of the latch is directly related to whether the movable anchor has been locked by the latch or not. It is thus necessary to provide only one switch means for stopping the rearward movement of the movable anchor and for confirming the latching between the movable anchor and the latch.

Abstract: A supporting structure for a shift-control apparatus of a four wheeled buggy having a main frame and a steering wheel operated by a driver from a sitting posture, comprising a lower pipe, a pair of suspension pipes, an upper pipe, a pair of steering column pipes, a bracket supporting pipe, and brackets for supporting a shift-control apparatus, whereby the shift-control apparatus can be arranged in a central position of the main frame to facilitate the driver's manipulation with respect to a shift lever of the shift-control apparatus and to facilitate and simplify the wiring operation of a operation cable for a control system and electric wires for an electric system.

Abstract: An emergency locking retractor with a non-locking mechanism is provided. The mechanism includes a lock means and first, main and auxiliary control means. The lock means is movable between an operated position, where it prevents rotation of a take-up spindle, and a non-operated position where it permits free rotation of the spindle. The first control means detects acceleration and brings the lock means to the operated position. The main control means can take either a holding state, where it holds the lock means at the non-operated position, while the lock means is not required to operate or a non-holding state where it allows the lock means to operate. The main control means is normally biased in the holding state. The auxiliary control means is movable between a first position, where it holds the main control means in the non-holding state, and a second position where it allows the main control means to be brought into the holding state.

Abstract: A belt clamping guide loop includes a frame mounted on the vehicle body and a bracket mounted for limited vertical movement relative the frame. A belt deflecting loop is carried by the frame. A spring acts between the frame and the bracket to establish a normal position of the bracket and yields in response to the imposition of an occupant restraint load on the belt to permit movement of the bracket. A first clamping jaws is fixedly mounted on the frame below the guide loop and a second clamping jaw is movably mounted on the frame in spaced relation from the first clamping jaw to define a belt passage therebetween. A toggle linkage acts between the bracket and the second clamping jaw to forcibly move the second clamping jaw into belt clamping proximity with the first clamping jaw in response to the downward movement of the bracket.

Abstract: A suspension control system detects application of vehicular brakes to make the anti-dive suspension control active. During anti-dive suspension control, the vehicle height is continuously monitored to measure both the amplitude and rate of change of the vehicle height. If the height of the vehicle above the road surface changes by more than a predetermined vehicle height change criterion within a given period of time following application of the brakes, the suspension is ordered to become more stiff. This increase in stiffness suppresses the intensity of nose-dive during deceleration. Preferably, after a harder suspension is ordered, the suspension is held at the hardened level for a predetermined period of time and thereafter returned to the normal level.

Abstract: The proposed safety-belt arrangement in a vehicle has a three-point belt, for which an upper deflecting fitting, together with a guide part of a belt feeder arm, is retained on the vehicle center column so as to be vertically adjustable on a common support. The belt lug of the feeder arm can consequently be made as small as possible, while still accommodating passengers of varying sizes.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid pump apparatus for use in supplying hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic lift cylinder used tilting the cab of a truck, the hydraulic fluid pump apparatus including a control cartridge for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the fluid reservoir, pump chamber and hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A shock unit for a vehicle that has a frame, a pair of wheel assemblies and a pair of guiding members for independently guiding the wheel assemblies, in which the guiding members are pivotally connected to the shock unit. The invention consists of a housing connected to the frame. The housing has a pair of oppositely positioned horizontal piston chambers. A pair of spring biased piston assemblies are provided. Each of the piston assemblies extend outwardly from each of the piston chambers and connect to lower portions of one of the guiding members for controlling vertical movement of one of the wheel assemblies with respect to the frame. A device for adjusting spring tension of each of the piston assemblies is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for the suspension of a forwardly tippable cab on a vehicle frame with at least one spring means and one movement restrainer arranged between the cab and the frame, said spring means being adapted to absorb the oscillations of the cab and the restrainer being adapted for restricting the vertical movement of the cab relative the frame.When tipping the cab on the kind of vehicle mentioned above, the center of gravity of the cab is moved, whereby the weight of the cab is successively transferred to the spring means. The latter then contracts and the necessary play between the vehicle drive unit and lower portions of the cab necessary for tipping the cab decreases, resulting in that the cab can collide with the drive unit.

Abstract: A suspension control system can precisely control the damping characteristics of vehicular suspension for successfully and satisfactorily providing anti-dive and anti-rebound feature. The suspension control system is adapted to detect vehicle deceleration on the basis of a variation of a vehicle speed and to compare the vehicle speed with a predetermined vehicle speed criteria across which damping characteristics of the vehicular suspension vary between a harder suspension mode and a softer suspension mode. The vehicle speed criteria is variable depending upon vehicle deceleration so that the criteria becomes higher when the magnitude of deceleration is greater than a predetermined level. By hardening the suspension at an earlier timing during relatively abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, the magnitude of nose dive is reduced and the magnitude of rebounding motion after nose-dive can be reduced. This assures riding comfort by reducing the magnitude of pitching behavior of the vehicle front end.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a vehicle comprises a steering wheel, a front wheel turning mechanism for turning the front wheels in response to operation of the steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism including a rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit for determining the rear wheel steering ratio and an actuator for turning the rear wheels according to the rear wheel steering ratio determined by the rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit. The four-wheel steering system is provided with a road condition sensor for detecting road surface conditions which can weaken the road gripping force of the wheels and a rear wheel steering ratio controller for changing the rear wheel steering ratio determined by the rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit so that the rear wheel steering ratio is increased when the road condition is such that the road gripping force of the wheels can be weakened.

Abstract: In a center bearing and support mechanism for a two-piece propeller shaft, a center bearing surrounded by an insulator is supported at one of axially separated portions thereof on a frame of a vehicle chassis and at the other of the axially separated portions on a vehicle body so that vibrations of the propeller shaft are transferred through two paths to the vehicle body to be counterbalanced.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a swing frame on a body of a vehicle in which rear wheels are rotatably mounted on the swing frame carried on the rear portion of the vehicle body so that the swing frame is swingable up and down with respect to the body, the rear wheels being driven by a shaft drive transmission mechanism accommodated within the swing frame. The swing frame comprises left and right rear arms disposed in a laterally spaced relation and extending longitudinally of the vehicle body and axle cases connecting the rear arms together and carrying the rear wheels, the left and right rear arms having left and right short pivot shafts, respectively, which are secured to the insides of the front portions of the left and right rear arms, these pivot shafts supporting the swing frame rotatably on the rear portion of the vehicle body for vertical swinging motion around the pivot shafts.

Abstract: A near rear suspension controller for a vehicle having a suspension between a vehicle body and a rear wheel includes: a front height detection section for measuring a distance between the vehicle body and a front wheel for generating a front height signal; a judgement section for generating a judgment result signal when the front height signal exceeds a predetermined range; and a rear height control section for increasing the rear vehicle height when it receives the judgment result signal.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a single handgrip mounted adjacent the driver's seat for pivotal displacement in a laterally extending plane. Interconnection structure provides a motion transmitting train between the handgrip and suitable power-assisted steering components in the engine compartment to regulate steering of a vehicle's wheels as the handgrip is laterally pivoted. The interconnection structure may include a plurality of serially-connected rotatable shafts, power-steering fluid control valves directly actuated by the handgrip or electrical switches controlled directly by the handgrip to regulate power-steering fluid valves disposed in the engine compartment.

Abstract: When a sporadic shock due to a protrusion or sinking of a road surface is detected at front wheels of a vehicle during its cruising on the road surface, the characteristic of the rear wheel suspension of the vehicle is immediately altered to improve the controllability and the stability of the vehicle or the feel of the ride thereof. For that purpose, a height sensor for detecting the distance between the body of the vehicle and each of the right and left front wheels thereof, a judgement section by which a front wheel vehicle height signal generated by the height sensor is compared with a predetermined reference range signal, and a controller for altering the characteristic of the rear wheel suspension of the vehicle depending on the result of the comparison are provided. In addition, a returning control of the characteristic of the suspension to the original state immediately after the rear wheels of the vehicle have passed over the protrusion or sinking which causes a sporadic shock may be performed.

Abstract: A motorcycle having an improved frame and fuel tank arrangement that define a ram air inlet channel for delivering cooling air to the engine induction system.

Abstract: A rear suspension controller for controlling the suspension characteristic of a vehicle having a suspension which supports a vehicle body on plural wheels, wherein the acceleration of the vertical movement of at least one of the front wheels is measured and a corresponding signal is produced for detecting sporadic irregularities on a road surface. This acceleration signal is compared against preset reference signals and the characteristic of the rear suspension is altered, e.g., the suspension is made harder or softer, in dependence on the comparison in order to keep the controllability and stability or to maintain a good ride comfort according to demand. Additionally, the preset reference signals themselves are changed depending upon the vehicle speed because the influence of the shock caused by the irregularities changes according to the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive system with a multi-speed transmission connected to the vehicle engine, the output shaft of the transmission having a gear engaging a gear on casing of a differential for rotating same, the differential including the first pair of wheel axles of the vehicle, and a separate gear on the differential casing engaging an input gear in a transfer mechanism having a drive shaft to the second pair of wheel axles. The transfer mechanism includes a clutch and the input gear is rotatably supported on the casing as well as supporting the shaft having the clutch.