Abstract: An impact energy absorbing structure for a vehicle includes impact energy absorbing devices attached to a side wall of the passenger compartment of the vehicle to absorb impact energy resulting from a lateral collision and tending to act laterally on an occupant of the vehicle. The impact energy absorbing devices include a chest protecting shock absorbing unit disposed opposite to an occupant's chest and having a shock absorbing pad protruding from the side wall of the passenger compartment toward the interior of the passenger compartment, and a lumbar region protecting shock absorbing unit disposed opposite to an occupant's lumbar region and having a shock absorbing pad protruding from the side wall of the passenger compartment toward the interior of the passenger compartment. Rigidity enhancing elements cover the shock absorbing pads so as to enhance the rigidity of only the side surfaces of the shock absorbing pads facing the interior of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A rear end portion of a triangular arm member and a vehicle body side member are interconnected by an assisting link member extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body so as to allow the movement of a rear end portion of the triangular arm member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body but to restrict the movement thereof in the transverse direction of the vehicle body. Accordingly, the rear end portion of the triangular arm member undergoes displacement in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body without rotating in the transverse direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An accelerometer for a passenger restrain system in a motor vehicle includes a housing with a path for an inertial element, and a coil spring member for urging the inertial element toward a preselected position. When the vehicle decelerates at a rate higher than a preset rate, the ball moves away from the preselected position and closes an electrical contact.

Abstract: An accessory for attachment to the front end of a vehicle for mounting engine driven components 84, 86 to the vehicle including a frame extension and mounting platform 42 having a front end 48 and a rear end 50, apertures 60 for use in mounting the frame extension and mounting platform 42 to a vehicle frame 10, 12, additional apertures 52 at the front end 48 for use in securing a vehicle bumper 40 to the frame extension and mounting platform 42, still further apertures 92 for use in mounting at least one engine driven component 84, 86 to the frame extension and mounting platform 42, a transfer shaft 66 having an axis directed generally from front to rear of the frame extension and mounting platform 42, bearings 68 on the frame extension and mounting platform for journaling the transfer shaft 68, a transfer pulley 70 mounted on the transfer shaft 66 near the rear end 50 and adapted to be connected by a belt 72 to an engine 24 to be driven thereby, a further pulley 74 on the transfer shaft 66 for connection by

Abstract: A suspension control system employs a first lateral acceleration sensor for monitoring a lateral acceleration at a first point on a vehicular body and a second lateral acceleration sensor for monitoring lateral acceleration at a second point on the vehicular body, which second point is provided at a longitudinally offset position from the first point. A controller derives a lateral shifting of vehicular load at the front suspension systems on the basis of a first lateral acceleration monitored by the first lateral acceleration sensor, and a lateral shifting of the vehicular load at a rear suspension system on the basis of a second lateral acceleration monitored by the second lateral acceleration sensor. Control for front and rear suspension systems is performed independently on the basis of the lateral load shifting at the front and rear suspension systems.

Abstract: A fail detecting system for an electromagnetic actuator avoids influence of a dither signal in detection of a failure of the electromagnetic actuator. Avoidance of influence of the dither signal is achieved by performing a comparison of a suspension control command with a driver current applied to the electromagnetic actuator in absence of the dither signal. An error value between the suspension control command and the driver current obtained through the comparison is compared with a predetermined fault detecting criterion for judging a failure of the electromagnetic actuator when the error value is greater than the fault detecting criterion.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus is disclosed having a locking device which is adapted to prevent the inflation of a bag accommodated in an air bag body before the air bag body is mounted on a chassis, the bag being adapted to be inflated in front of a seat occupant when a predetermined acceleration has acted on the air bag body. This locking device is arranged such that an actuating member is driven by an operator's operation after mounting the air bag body on the chassis to release the locking device, thereby canceling a locked state and making the air bag body operable.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile. The apparatus includes a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. The apparatus further includes a piston assembly disposed in the pressure cylinder and having a valve body forming first and second flow passage for providing fluid communication between the first and second portions of the working chamber. The valve body forming first and second annular recesses adjacent the first and second portions, respectively, of the working chamber. The apparatus further including a first unloader disposed within the first annular recess and which is operable for controlling the flow of damping fluid through the first flow passage from the second portion to the first portion of the working chamber during compression.

Abstract: A steerable electrically powered three-wheeled vehicle has an upstanding seat post mounting a seat thereon. The seat post is telescopically and revolvably received in a seat post support fixed to the frame of the vehicle. A seat motor is provided on the vehicle which has a drive connection to the seat post assembly for raising and lowering it and there is a control on the vehicle for selectively operating the seat motor forwardly or reversely to raise or lower the seat post and seat. A pair of master lock parts are provided, one on the seat post support and the other on the seat post, and parts on the respective lock parts are automatically engaged when the seat post and seat are lowered to lowered position for locking the otherwise relatively revolvable parts against relative rotation. The lock parts automatically prevent operation of the motor driving the vehicle, unless the seat is in the forward facing position.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an air bag unit having an air bag to be inflated, an inflator for generating a gas for the air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag in a folded state in a normal condition. An instrument panel provides a space in which the air bag unit is disposed, a dash upper panel is disposed in front of the air bag unit in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a protective structure or device prevents the dash upper panel from interfering with a proper operation of the air bag unit. A proper operation of the air bag system can, therefore, be successfully maintained.

Abstract: A passive seat belt control apparatus includes a retractor for housing part of a seat belt. The retractor includes an arrangement for sensing acceleration and deceleration of a vehicle door and the speed at which the seat belt is pulled out from the retractor, and a mechanism for locking the seat belt. A solenoid operates to cancel the function of the retractor, and a door switch detects opening and closing of the vehicle door. A main control unit actuates the solenoid when the door switch detects that the door is open, and the main control unit includes an arrangement for continuously maintaining the solenoid operative for a predetermined time whenever the door switch detects that the door is closed after it has previously detected that the door is open.

Abstract: An active suspension system for an automotive vehicle is provided which regulates relative displacement between a vehicle body and wheels. This suspension system includes first and second gain controllers associated with hydraulic cylinders for supressing vehicular rolling based on lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle body. The first and second gain controllers amplify the level of the lateral acceleration, monitored by a sensor, by first and second gains respectively to vary pressure of the hydraulic cylinders. The suspension system further includes a low-pass filter which restricts a frequency of a signal output from the acceleration sensor high than a preselected cutoff frequency to decrease the second gain relative to the first gain to reduce the degree of load shift for the rear wheels relative to that of the front wheels.

Abstract: A restraint system mounting includes a plurality of hollow support members mounted within the hub portion of the steering wheel in a predetermined pattern. The support members interfit with mounting members which depend from a restraint system module and are arranged in the same pattern. Aligned recesses in the interfitting annular members receive a leg of a spring clip to releasably secure the members to each other. A key inserted through an opening in the hub portion into each pair of interfitting members cams the spring leg out of engagement with the mounting members to release the restraint system module for removal.

Abstract: An inflatable bag assembly is suitable for a seat of a vehicle such as an assistant driver's seat and has a bag which is inflatable in a curved configuration offset to one side. The bag is accommodated in a retainer case in a folded position. A gas generator has a gas outlet which is offset to one side with respect to the bag. Alternatively, the bag itself may be distributed less to one side of the retainer case than to the other side. Such a configuration of the gas generator or the bag allows the bag to begin inflating at the particular side mentioned above.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system employs a lateral acceleration sensor for monitoring lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicular body. The lateral acceleration is shifted frontwardly from a gravity center of the vehicle body at the neutral position or non-rolling condition. The magnitude of frontward offset of the lateral acceleration sensor is so selected as to cancel influence of phase delay when the lateral acceleration sensor is oriented at the position of the neutral gravity sensor.

Abstract: An air bag mount device for mounting an air bag unit on a steering wheel device comprises an inflatuble air bag body in the air bag unit, an air bag cover provided in the air bag unit for covering the air bag body, a bag storing portion provided in the air bag unit for receiving the air bag body, and a control switch for controlling accessories mounted on a vehicle. The air bag cover is formed with a breakable split line, along which the air bag cover is split to form an opening through which the air bag body is inflated. The control switch is arranged on the air bag cover outside of opposite ends of the split line so as to be kept from being influenced by breaking of the air bag cover and the inflation of the air bag.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a unitary housing includes a "V" shaped slot defining an upper and lower planar wall, with an acute angle therebetween. The lower planar wall includes a blade member arranged essentially coextensively therewith, with the slot arranged for receiving a seat belt for emergency severing thereof. A plurality of hook and loop fasteners mounted to a first side wall of the housing is selectively and removably securable to a like plurality of hook and loop fasteners mounted to an associated seat belt. The organization may further include an illumination member mounted to a forward end wall of the housing operative through a switch for use with the organization during conditions of limited available light.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting pneumatically cushioned independent front steer axle suspension for s Class 8 (33,001 lb+GVW) highway truck. An air spring rocker is provided to improve the fit arrangement of the front suspension components. By its pivoting action, the air spring rocker serves to take the vertically-directed suspension load and redirect this load to compress a suspension air spring in a horizontal direction, against a chassis frame rail side member. The left hand side road wheel is enabled to articulate independently of the articulation movement of the right hand side road wheel, and vice versa.

Abstract: A air spring suspension system includes ground-engaging wheels mounted on an axle housing which is secured to trailing arms pivotally mounted at one end to the frame of the vehicle for vertical swinging movement relative thereto. The other ends of the trailing arms are connected by a transverse beam which extends between them. The beam is connected with the trailing arms by bushed articulating joints which permit the trailing arms to move with respect to each other. A stiffener arm is mounted at one end to each trailing arm by a bushed connection, and rigidly secured at another end to the transverse beam near to where the transverse beam is connected to the trailing arm. The bushed connection between the stiffener arm and the trailing arm provides limited articulation, and resists roll forces imparted to the suspension when the vehicle turns to provide increased stiffness at low rates of roll.

Abstract: A passive impact energy absorbing collapsible steering column assembly including a main support bracket fixed at its base to the steering column body and having side members extending in the direction of the steering column and disposed on opposite sides of the steering column. Each side member including a guide slot bifurcating the side member into separate side rail portions, one of which constitutes a guide rail and the other constituting an impact energy absorbing side rail. A bolt is passed through each guide slot to secure the main support bracket to a support structure and is of a diameter greater than the width of the guide slot thereby offering resistance through bending deformation of the energy absorbing side rail portion to the collapse of the steering column body throughout the period of sustained impact.