Abstract: An override system for use in combination with an automatic air suspension leveling system for a vehicle is provided The override system includes a cylinder having a piston and a piston rod associated therewith. The cylinder is mounted to the chassis so that the piston rod extends from the cylinder so as to be engageable with a control arm of the air suspension leveling system to move the control arm to an up position upon moving the piston rod from a retracted position to an extended position. The piston and the piston rod are actuated by a pressurized fluid source from the retracted position wherein the control arm is maintained in the neutral position to the extended position wherein the piston rod engages the control arm and causes the control arm to be pivoted to the up position so as to open the regulating valve to cause additional air to be introduced into the air spring thus resulting in the chassis being raised relative to the axle.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel includes an air bag door integrally formed in the panel and defined by a door perimeter including a frangible edge of reduced cross section. A dispenser supports the air bag behind the door. A metal reaction plate is positioned between the air bag and the door. When the air bag inflates, it forces the reaction plate to bend around a horizontal hinge line. As the reaction plate pivots it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps to predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation. A stop member may be included to limit reaction plate bending.

Abstract: An extendable truck frame includes extended frame rails and interconnecting members. One end of the extended rails includes a connection that can be received by and secured into the back end of truck frame. In one embodiment, the extended rails can be positioned either at the general level of the truck frame to essentially extend the truck frame in the same general plane as the truck frame, but alternatively can be secured to the truck frame at a different, for example lower, position. The extended frame is releasable by interconnecting mechanisms so that extended frame can be selectively used.

Abstract: A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an elongated housing which consists of two side pieces and in which a flow channel for compressed gas is provided, a gas bag which can be transferred by the compressed gas from a folded position into an unfolded position and which is accommodated in the housing in its unfolded position, and a closure plate constructed in one piece with one of the side pieces. The flow channel is formed by the side pieces of the housing and by the closure plate. The closure plate has passages for the compressed gas. Further, a method or producing a gas bag module is provided wherein the flow channel is formed by bending a cast or injection molded plastic housing.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint system with selectable ventilation, including a base plate defining a vent aperture, an inflatable cushion secured to the base plate, and a single conventional inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion with inflation gas. In some vehicle impacts, the vent aperture remains sealed with a vent plug, which inhibits ventilation of the inflation gas from the inflatable cushion through the vent aperture. In other vehicle impacts, depending on the placement and force of the impact, the speed and direction of the vehicle, and the size and placement of the passengers, the energy absorption characteristics of the inflatable cushion may be controlled. This is accomplished by an initiator, which may be selectively activated to rupture the vent plug and thereby allow selective ventilation of the inflation gas through the vent aperture.

Abstract: An arrangement for fastening a gas generator in a housing, in particular for fastening a tubular gas generator in a diffuser of an airbag module has a plastic adaptor located between the housing and the gas generator at an open end of the housing. The gas generator is screwed to the housing at the end of the housing opposite the open end. The housing also adjoins the gas generator near the open end of the housing in the operational direction of a fastening screw at a point next to the adapter and/or in the region of an opening in the adapter.

Abstract: A camber angle control suspension system includes left and right swing arms having ends connected to left and right axle shafts, and a trailing arm having opposite ends with downwardly bent elbows which are pivotally connected to the swing arms. The trailing arm is rotatably connected to a vehicle body by rotatable bushings mounted on the trailing arm. Shock absorbers are interposed between the swing arms and the vehicle body so as to make a connection therebetween, and springs are coiled around the shock absorbers. A stabilizer bar is fixed at opposite ends to the swing arms and connected to the vehicle body by rotatable bushings at a center portion thereof.

Abstract: An inflator having a combustion chamber and a stored gas chamber separated by a bulkhead. The bulkhead includes a flow passage extending between the combustion chamber and stored gas chamber, with a plurality of exit ports opening onto the flow passage. A flow plug is initially received in the flow passage to block the flow of the stored gas from the stored gas chamber. Activation of the inflator causes increased pressure in the combustion chamber, which forces the flow plug from the flow passage to permit the stored gas to flow through the exit ports, and for the heating gas from the combustion chamber to mix with the stored gas. A head flange may be formed on the flow plug to permit the stored gas to begin exiting the stored gas chamber prior to mixing with the heating gas. A slide nozzle may also be interposed between the flow plug and flow passage to form a nozzle forcing the heating gas to mix with the stored gas prior to exiting the inflator.

Abstract: A dual initiator inflator for selective activation, depending upon detection of a low impact vehicle collision or a high impact vehicle collision, is provided for use with an air bag in a vehicle. The inflator can be configured to function at any one of a number of vehicle locations, including a driver side inflator and a passenger side inflator. The inflator includes first and second initiators and first and second propellants. When a low impact vehicle collision is detected, the first initiator is triggered to ignite the first propellant. Essentially all inflation gases that are received in the air bag are due to products of combustion from the first propellant and stored gas contained in the inflator housing. After a predetermined time delay, the second propellant is ignited by the second initiator so that no combustible propellant remains after inflator usage.

Abstract: An air bag module (12) for mounting on a steering wheel (10) includes an air bag (102), an inflator (100) for inflating the air bag, and a cover (104) for covering the air bag and the inflator. The module (12) has an uninstalled condition and has an installed condition in which the module is fixed to the steering wheel (10) for rotation with the steering wheel about a steering axis (22). The module (12) is rotatable in a first direction (26) relative to the steering wheel (10) to move the module from the uninstalled condition to the installed condition. The apparatus further comprises retainer structure (44, 110) for retaining the module (12) on the steering wheel (10) and for blocking movement of the module relative to the steering wheel from the installed condition to the uninstalled condition.

Abstract: An anti-theft steering wheel has a box-like housing in its central transverse hub portion disposed below the plane of the surrounding annular steering wheel ring portion. The housing is secured to the steering shaft upper end to rotate therewith and has a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal tubular passageways. A pair of metal security rods telescopically mounted in the tubular passageways are movable between a fully retracted position within the tubular passageways and a fully extended position extending radially outward from laterally opposed sides of the steering wheel central transverse hub portion a sufficient distance beyond the annular ring portion to obstruct and prevent effective rotation of the steering wheel.

Abstract: An integral frame structure for vehicles that includes a telescopically extending tubular member with rear and front support assemblies mounted perpendicularly to the ends. Transverse cross members are perpendicularly mounted to the longitudinally extending tubular member. The tubular member has a relatively large diameter with respect to the transverse cross members that are kept in perpendicular position with respect to the tubular member defining a plane below the longitudinal upper portion of the tubular member. A load is supported by the front and rear support assemblies as well as the cross assemblies. The load is also supported by the upper longitudinal portion of the tubular member, specially, the portion adjacent to the rear portion. The structure is easily assembled and capable of being stored in a volumetrically efficient manner.

Abstract: A restraint system is disclosed which with high reliability trips one or more restraint devices, if in a collision there is the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. This restraint system is equipped with at least one seat position senor (SPS1, SPS2, . . . , SPSm), with which a change in the seat position of at least one vehicle occupant can be ascertained, and a control unit (SE) forms a first criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if the rate of change of the seat position exceeds a predeterminable threshold. The control unit (SE) forms a second criterion for tripping one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) if one or more precrash sensors (PCS1, PCS2, . . . , PCSn) signal an incipient collision. The control unit (SE) does not cause the tripping of one or more restraint devices (R1, R2, . . . , Rk) unless both tripping criteria are satisfied and also a braking datum (BI), advantageously generated by a brake light switch, is present.

Abstract: An airbag of an airbag device has a primary hole for receiving an inflator and a secondary hole for receiving a securing device which secures the inflator to a base plate. A section surrounding the secondary hole is sandwiched between the inflator put in the airbag and the base plate. Therefore, the section of the airbag sandwiched between the inflator and the base plate can be enlarged and thus a high securing strength of the airbag can be acquired. The primary hole can comprise a vent hole that is used to discharge the gas from the inflator to the outside of the airbag. This structure need not make the vent hole separately. Therefore, the airbag is made simple and the production cost thereof becomes lower.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus includes an axle. The axle includes a pair of trailing arms with a transverse beam. Resilient bushings connect the forward ends of the trailing arms to the vehicle superstructure. A linkage mechanism connects the beam to the vehicle superstructure. Under force causing lateral displacement of the axle, the linkage mechanism induces moment on the beam to counteract oversteer tendency due to the lateral displacement of the axle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is disclosed having a foam pad 13 located in the vicinity of a foot pedal 14, 15. The foam pad 13 has a recess into which the pedal 14, 15 can be fully accommodated when it is fully depressed. The thickness of the foam pad 13 is such that the upper surface of the foot pad 15 of the foot pedal is co-planar with the surface of the foam pad 13 when the foot pedal is at its extreme of travel so that it may support a foot 5 applied to the foot pad 15.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device incorporated into a vehicle with an A-pillar and a B-pillar, comprises an inflatable head-side gas bag extending from the A-pillar up to at least the B-pillar of the vehicle and a gas generator. The gas bag has a front section which covers the A-pillar at least to a major extent in the inflated condition of the gas bag and in the case of an offset head-on collision and a skew front-end collision prevents head contact with the A-pillar.

Abstract: During a collision, an air bag causes deformation of a roof head lining as the air bag expands. A roof head lining deformation limiting structure restricts inward deformation of the roof head lining. Thus, the roof head lining is prevented from interfering with an interior equipment, e.g., a sun visor, thereby reducing breakage of the sun visor provided adjacent the roof head lining. The deformation limiting structure can take the form of an assist grip or a card holder. Also, the assist grip or the card holder can be mounted onto a member, e.g., a bracket, that plastically deforms upon being struck by the occupant's head during a collision, thereby absorbing a portion of the impact that would otherwise be transferred to the occupant.

Abstract: A zero roll suspension system for a vehicle is proposed which includes a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly having an axis of rotation about which a wheel of the wheel assembly rotates. The suspension system substantially eliminates rolling of the vehicle frame and includes a first weight bearing member and a second weight bearing member, each having a first end and a second end. One of the first and second ends of each of the first and second weight bearing members are rotatably connected to a portion of the wheel assembly and the other of the first and second ends of each of the first and second weight bearing members are rotatably connected to the vehicle frame. The first and second weight bearing members are oriented in substantially parallel planes between the wheel assembly and the vehicle frame and cross one another in superposition along a crossing axis, substantially prohibiting the vehicle frame from rolling during a cornering operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A swing-to-tree feller buncher has its boom swing-house assembly adjustably supported from its track carriage frame by a leveling mechanism which includes a front link, a rear link, and a pair of laterally spaced apart hydraulic cylinders. Both links are fixed to the frame toward the front of the carriage and the front link is shorter than the rear link. The upper ends of the hydraulic cylinders connect to the turntable support of the swing-house assembly at a position forward of the rear link and extend rearwardly to connect at their lower ends to the frame of the carriage at a position which is rearward of the rear link. The turntable support is also pivotable from side to side relative to the carriage about a minor axis.