Abstract: A hitch control system for a work vehicle combines a front suspension position signal, a hitch load signal and a hitch position signal to generate a valve command signal that controls hitch position so as to alleviate pitching and maximize front wheel ground contact time.

Abstract: A dual flow inflator for airbags is disclosed, together with related manufacturing, installation, and deployment methods. The inflator may have a gas chamber with a first end with a first exit orifice and a second end with a second exit orifice. The exit orifices may be directed into inlet ports of an inflatable curtain so that inflation gases exit the inflator through the exit orifices and enter directly into the inflatable curtain. The exit orifices may provide axial gas flows in opposite directions so that each gas flow neutralizes the thrust of the other. The exit orifices may comprise frangible structures such as burst discs, scored surfaces, and compression closures. If desired, pistons may be utilized to ensure that the exit orifices are completely and simultaneously opened. Furthermore, the gas chamber may comprise a variety of configurations, including a unitary, one-piece structure, a multi-part structure with vessels attached to a tubular or spherical bulkhead, or a generally spherical shape.

Abstract: An air bag module for venting inflation gas if an out-of-position vehicle occupant is too close to the module for proper air bag deployment. The module has an air bag canister comprising a side wall having gas channel port to communicate with the ambient air, an inflator, an air bag cushion, a deployment door, a structural gas channel, and a venting system connecting the structural gas channel to the at least one gas channel port. The venting system permits venting of gas through the gas channel port when the out-of-position occupant applies sufficient force on the deployment door to prevent the air bag cushion from reaching a fully deployed condition.

Abstract: A method for triggering a gas generator for an air bag in a motor vehicle having acceleration sensors, air bags, and gas generators uses an air bag control unit for evaluating an impact. Evaluation of the impact takes place by using the signals of the acceleration sensors for triggering a gas generator. The gas generator has a triggerable valve which can be controlled into at least two conditions with a different passage cross-section. The air bag control unit controls the gas generator as a function of the seriousness of an accident such that the position of the valve of the gas generator alternates several times successively between two conditions in order to adapt the inflating operation to the collision.

Abstract: A method of folding an air bag (10) includes locating the air bag in a first configuration with front and back parts (140, 142) overlying each other and with a side part (70) folded and extending outwardly from the front and back parts. First and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) are on opposite sides of a top to bottom centerline (154). A retainer (114) is located adjacent the top edge (144) of the configuration. The air bag (10) is folded from bottom to top to a second configuration in which it overlies and has a height corresponding to the height of the retainer (114). The first and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) have portions (151, 153) that project laterally beyond the sides (124, 126) of the retainer (114). The laterally projecting portions (151, 153) are moved laterally inward to overlie the retainer (114), and the air bag (10) has a width corresponding to the width of the retainer.

Abstract: A height adjuster (100, 200, 400) for a seat belt system comprising a mounting bar (102, 202, 402), a carrier (120, 220,460, 460a) and a spring-loaded locking lever (170, 270,490). The mounting bar is preferably oval or rectangular in cross-section with at least one wall (side wall), which acts as an engagement or locking surface. The engagement surface can include a plurality of small teeth. The bar is adapted to be mounted to a support surface or structure. The carrier is slidably mounted on the bar and is movable to different positions. The carrier includes a main portion, which may be U-shaped in cross-section with a top, a bottom and a center wall. Each of the top and bottom walls includes a first opening through which the mounting bar extends.

Abstract: A frame type tractor having an engine mounted in a front region of a main frame extending longitudinally of a tractor body, and a transmission case mounted in a rear region of the main frame. A backhoe mounting frame is attached to a rear end of the main frame. Rollover protection system mounts are arranged in upper portions of the backhoe mounting frame for fixedly supporting a rollover protection system. The backhoe mounting frame has a frame structure defining an inside space therein and including a pair of right and left side walls, a top wall interconnecting upper ends of the side walls, and a bottom wall interconnecting lower ends of the side walls. The right and left side walls have the rollover protection system mounts and backhoe attaching portions for engaging and connecting a backhoe unit.

Abstract: A locking state detecting apparatus of a buckle includes a hall sensor, a switching element, and resistors. Operation of the hall sensor is based on the locking state of the buckle. The operating state of the hall sensor affects the operating state of the switching element, which in turn affects voltage values that fall across the resistors. An electronic control unit senses the voltage values across the resistors to determine the operating state of the hall sensor and detects the locking state of the buckle.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system and a method for operating the same are disclosed as including an impact detector unit (3) having two impact sensors (6a, 6b), which detect impact to produce sensory outputs representing impact status that is classified into three discriminating factors including an actuation demand timing judgment factor, calculation enabling judgment factor and an operation enabling judgment factor, and outputting data representative of ON/OFF states of the discriminating factors. A control unit (4) receives data, transmitted from the impact detector unit and representing ON/OFF states of the discriminating factors, and detects transition processes of received data for outputting an actuation signal to operate an occupant restraint device (2) when detected transition process is determined to be correct. Thus, the operation of the occupant restraint device is precisely controlled without being adversely affected by noise.

Abstract: An airbag has a slit group arranged in a flexible peripheral wall. The slit group is formed by arranging a plurality of slits intermittently along one line. As an inflating gas flows into the airbag so that the internal pressure of the airbag rises, a portion designed to rupture between the slits ruptures to open a vent hole in the area of the slit group for discharging the inflating gas. At the peripheral edges of the individual slits of the peripheral wall, there are portions which are solidified after melting. In this airbag, the shape holdability is retained at the peripheral edges of the slits. Therefore, the effective area and the opening timing of the vent hole is uniform for every airbag.

Abstract: An air-bag (8) is mounted in the roof of a motor vehicle to be deployed in front of an occupant (7) of the vehicle. The air-bag is constrained by tear straps (15) within the air-bag to inflate initially as a “curtain” in front of the occupant of the vehicle, that curtain only having a relatively narrow thickness (t). When the tear-straps break, the bag has a more rounded configuration. The bas is releasably retained within a recess (9) which initially houses the bag. When the bag is fully inflated, the bag becomes totally separated from the recess, to prevent the bag forcing the head of the occupant rearwardly as the torso of the occupant moves forwardly during an accident.

Abstract: An adjustable suspension system includes a torsion spring, four Scott-Russell linkages for each wheel of the vehicle, and a worm gear for rotating the torsion spring. At least one of the Scott-Russell linkages for each wheel is responsive to the torsion spring to adjust the ride height of the vehicle while maintaining a substantially constant camber angle for the wheel. In one exemplary method for adjusting the ride height of a vehicle, a dynamic parameter of the vehicle is sensed and, based on the sensed dynamic parameter, the torsion spring is automatically rotated to change the orientation of the Scott-Russell linkages and thereby adjust the ride height of the vehicle. The dynamic parameter may be the speed of the vehicle, the pitch and body roll of the vehicle, or the lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The operation of automatically rotating the torsion spring may be controlled by a microprocessor.

Abstract: For improving horn switch operability, an air bag apparatus 4 supports the side wall 26b of the cover body 26 and is movable back and forth on the outer periphery of the surrounding wall 24 of the base plate 24. Hook 24h protrudes from the surrounding wall 24b and is locked onto lock receiving portion 26h of the side wall 26b, thereby regulating the moving range of the cover body 26. Bracket 35 is mounted on the under surface of the covering portion 26a and is positioned at each of the spokes 7. A movable first contact 36e, 136e is mounted on the bracket 35. A fixed contact support portion 31 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 24b of the base plate 24 to protrude therefrom or support 131 in the shape of a pillar is provided integrally to protrude from the core metal 7a of the spoke 7. A fixed second contact 31d, 131d that is opposed to the movable contact 36e, 136e is provided to oppose the movable contact 36e, 136e.

Abstract: A wheel suspension for land vehicles that is provided with a spring resting against at least one seat, with a dashpot, and with an attachment for a stabilizing rod, whereby one seat can be adjusted axially parallel to the spring. The object of the invention is to allow the stabilizing rod's attachment to be situated in the vicinity of the seat. An attachment (10 or 20) for the stabilizing rod is accordingly directly mounted on or indirectly attached to the spring seat (8). The attachment can also be mounted on or attached to the mechanism that adjusts it, at a variable distance from the seat.

Abstract: A tensioner for a safety belt includes a cylinder, a piston which is slidably arranged within the cylinder, and a traction transfer element which is connected with the piston to transfer a movement of the piston to the safety belt. The tensioner further includes a drive which may exert a driving force on the piston to tension the safety belt. The piston is provided with a deformation element which the traction transfer element engages.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, secured to the vehicle at points along a non-linear line above an opening in the vehicle. The arrangement incorporates an inflatable element, connectors to secure an edge part of the inflatable element to the vehicle, and an inflator to inflate the inflatable element. The invention also incorporates a tether arrangement including a first and second tether. The first tether has opposed ends secured to the inflatable element. The second tether has a first end associated with the first tether intermediate its ends and a second end secured to the motor vehicle. When the inflatable element is inflated, a lower region of the inflatable element and the tethers extend between two opposed ends of the non-linear line and are substantially taut.

Abstract: In an over the highway vehicle, a frame including a pair of elongate frame rails and a plurality of cross members is disclosed. One of the rails includes an integrally formed bracket projecting laterally. The bracket is adjacent a rail aperture formed by cutting the one rail to define the bracket and after such cutting bending the bracket out of a plane of the one rail.

Abstract: A suspension arm mounting arrangement for a vehicle, including a suspension arm having a rear end relative to a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. A pin extends from the rear end of the suspension arm in a rearward direction of the vehicle. An elastomer bushing supporting the pin includes an outer cylindrical member substantially coaxially extending with the pin. The elastomer bushing is adapted to be secured to a body of the vehicle. A stop is positioned forwardly apart from the outer cylindrical member and projects in a downward direction of the vehicle to be opposed to the outer cylindrical member.

Abstract: An inflator comprises a cylindrical inflator housing elongated in an axial direction and containing a gas generating material for inflating an air bag, and an activation assembly for generating an activation gas for activating the gas generating material. A cylindrical diffuser assembly is provided in an axial end of the inflator housing. The diffuser assembly has an end surface, and also has a plurality of outlet holes in a peripheral wall surface thereof. A through-hole is formed in the end surface of the diffuser assembly, and a stud bolt for fixing the inflator is inserted into the through-hole. The stud bolt is fixed by a flange portion provided on an end portion thereof.

Abstract: A head protection airbag system for a vehicle with a roof side rail includes an airbag stored in the vehicle along the roof side rail, and an inflator mounted to the roof side rail. The inflator is operable to supply a gas that inflates the airbag so that the airbag deploys into a curtain-like shape along a side wall of a passenger compartment. A bracket, which is formed of an energy absorbing material, is interposed between the roof side rail and the inflator for mounting the inflator to the roof side rail such that the inflator is movable over a predetermined distance, whereby an external force applied to the inflator is mitigated by the bracket.