Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle frame, a swing arm and a fuel tank. The vehicle frame includes a front portion and a rear portion and defines a longitudinal centerline therebetween. The front portion is configured to support a recumbent seat. The rear portion is configured to be coupled to the swing arm and. The swing arm defines a longitudinal centerline and includes a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly. The wheel mounting portion defines a radial axis that is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane. The fuel tank is coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above the longitudinal centerline of the swing arm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for steering a three wheeled personal transportation vehicle is described. Steering is accomplished by one or more footpads attached to a fore and aft rotatable torsion bar, which in turn is attached at the front end to a Pitman arm and conventional steering mechanism. An adjustable steering centering assembly is also described.

Abstract: In a bump stopper (115) attached to a main frame (10) of a chassis frame (9) of a vehicle (1), a stopper body (116) is a panel which is, as viewed in a cross section along a horizontal direction, formed in a bag shape having an opening on an inner side in a vehicle width direction and formed so as to have openings at upper and lower ends. The stopper body (116) is attached to an outer surface of the main frame (10) at front and rear attachment parts (116c, 116d) which are end parts of the panel positioned at sides of the opening on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A contact member (118) contacting an arm (92) is attached to the stopper body (116) so as to be positioned in the vicinity of a lower opening (116) of the stopper body (116).

Abstract: A frame apparatus for a lightweight rollator has a front frame and a rear frame. The front frame has a base and a handle frame. The base has two connecting tabs, two locking elements and a mounting frame. The handle frame is rotatably connected to the base and has a front wheel and two connecting arms. The connecting arms are formed on and protrude from the handle frame and are pivotally connected to the base between the connecting tabs. The rear frame is connected to the front frame and has a bottom mount, two rear wheels and at least one driving motor. The bottom mount is connected to the mounting frame and has a guiding rod and an engaging shaft. The rear wheels are rotatably connected to the bottom mount. The at least one driving motor is mounted on the bottom mount and is connected to the rear wheels.

Abstract: An anchor and an attachment base assembly comprises a base having at least one base aperture, and an anchor selectively operatively connected to the base. The anchor is selectively inserted at least partially into the at least one base aperture and optionally into an aperture of an accessory. The anchor has a base part movable between a locked position where the anchor is secured to the base and an unlocked position where the anchor is free from the base. An accessory part is operatively connected to the base part. The accessory part is adapted to selectively connect at least partially to a brim of the aperture of the accessory for bracing at least partially the accessory to the base when the anchor is in the locked position. The anchor has other features. A vehicle having an anchor and an attachment base assembly is also presented.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing having a control port, a first accessory port, and a second accessory port. The housing defines a first flow path extending between the control port and the first accessory port and a second flow path extending between the control port and the second accessory port. The valve assembly also includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first accessory port and the second accessory port.

Abstract: Disclosed is an airbag apparatus for vehicles including a vent hole in an airbag cushion for discharging inflating gas. A cover is provided on an outer surface of the airbag cushion and is adjustable between a state where the cover is spaced apart from the vent hole to open it and a state where the cover comes into close contact with the vent hole to close it. A tether is connected at its first end to the cover and secured at its second end to an interior of the airbag cushion to impart a tensile force to the cover. A tether guide is provided on an inner surface of the airbag cushion to support the tether, and a sealing means is provided between the vent hole and the tether guide to support the tether, the tether passing through the sealing means.

Abstract: A valve device for a gaseous medium of an airbag is provided. The valve device includes a textile layer, in particular a woven fabric, which is permeable with respect to the medium at least in certain regions. The valve device also includes at least one film covering the textile layer in at least one region and which forms at least one passage region of the valve device, which is at least substantially closed in a closed position of the valve device and open at least in certain regions in an at least temporary passage position of the valve device.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor is provided that realizes the proper meshing between a plurality of internal teeth and external teeth with a simple movement of a spool. In the case of an emergency, external teeth of a pawl provided at a spool right side end mesh with internal teeth provided on a frame, and, with load acting on a seat belt, a spool left side end contacts a spool guide. Since the spool left side end tends to move further in the direction of seat belt load, the spool guide brings one external tooth at the spool left side end into contact with one target internal tooth provided on the frame. Hence, some of the spool external teeth are made to mesh properly with the respective internal teeth. Thus, some of the spool external teeth effectively mesh with the respective frame internal teeth with simple movement of the spool.

Abstract: A sub frame attached to a vehicle-body rear portion from below comprises a pair of right-and-left side members and a front cross member which interconnects substantially respective central portions, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the side members. As attachment portions for attaching lower links, there are provided a central attachment portion which is provided at an interconnection portion between the side member and the front cross member, a front attachment portion which is provided at the side member at a position located in front of the interconnection portion, and a rear attachment portion which is provided at the side member at a position located in back of the interconnection portion. Thereby, a sub frame structure of an automotive can be superior in the light weight, ensuring the support rigidity of the suspension links.

Abstract: A steering system for motor vehicles including agricultural machines is provided. The system includes a first conventional steering assembly for the front wheels to rotate only each of the front wheels within a respective first predetermined steering angle, each front wheel rotatable to a pre-determined first maximum value within its pre-determined angle. The system also includes a second steering assembly to independently steer a front axle and the front wheels within a second pre-determined steering angle. The second steering assembly is activated only after each of the front wheels have reached its respective first maximum value within its first pre-determined steering angle, during the conventional steering performed by the first conventional steering assembly.

Abstract: An axle actuator for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes an output lever, a torsion bar spring acting on a wheel side upon the output lever, and a rotary actuator adapted to adjust a tension of the torsion bar spring. A coupler links the output lever to a wheel guide element of the wheel suspension and is configured as a spring with defined spring rate and connected by joints with the output lever and the wheel guide element.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag includes a substrate having an airbag door region and a decorative covering disposed over the airbag door region. A tear seam is formed in the decorative covering along a path having an end portion that is non-orthogonal with respect to a hinge side of the airbag door region. The tear seam path may include a central portion that lies along a side of the airbag door region opposite the hinge side, along with end portions that form obtuse included angles with the central portion. In some cases, the end portions diverge from a perimeter of the airbag door region and may generally extend along high deployment stress regions of the covering. Tear seams formed along such a path may reduce airbag inflation energy losses associated with tearing the covering material(s) during airbag deployment.

Abstract: An airbag can include a base panel and a cushioning panel that cooperate to define an inflatable chamber. A deflector can be positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel. The deflector can be attached to the base panel so as to define a lower inflation aperture that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end of the base panel. In some arrangements, the airbag can include a tether that extends through the lower inflation aperture.

Abstract: A gas seal for containing a pressurized fluid in a container. The gas seal includes a rupturable portion having a stress riser formed therein, and an extension coupled to the rupturable portion proximate the stress riser such that a predetermined minimum force applied to the extension is transferred to the stress riser to produce a rupture of the rupturable portion.

Abstract: A vehicle airbag arrangement comprises a deployable airbag having a packed state and a deployed state, and a gas generator adapted to supply gas to deploy the airbag from the packed state to the deployed state. At least during initial deployment of the airbag, the gas generator may emit a gas flow substantially in a pre-selected direction. When the airbag is in the packed state, a portion of the airbag forms a starting pocket comprising two panels with an intermediate apex which extend substantially parallel to the pre-selected direction, the starting pocket positioned with the intermediate apex aligned with the pre-selected direction, such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow, thereby deploying the starting pocket in the pre-selected direction. Such an airbag arrangement may be included in a vehicle seat. A corresponding method of packing an airbag may achieve the airbag arrangement.

Abstract: A skid shield for attachment to vehicle side rails for protecting an underbody vehicle component, where the vehicle has a cross member mounted to the side rails with mounting hardware and receiving holes, includes a body and a skid plate. The body extends from the first side rail to the second side rail and around the underbody of the vehicle component. The body has at least one frame member. The at least one skid plate is attached to the frame member. The skid shield also includes first and second attachment brackets that attach the frame member to the side rails. The attachment brackets have receiving holes for receiving a fastener. The receiving holes are configured for alignment with the receiving holes in the side rails. The fastener fastens both the attachment bracket of the skid shield and the mounting hardware of the cross member to the side rails.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a modular apparatus and system for automatically raising and lowering the deck height of a towed trailer. The embodiment is comprised of a trailer frame to which a drop axle is attached via a dynamic height adjustable means, such as electrically operated air springs. The drop axle may have two or more wheels mounted to opposite ends of the drop axle and attached to the trailer frame via the dynamic height adjustable means. Thus allowing the dynamic height adjustable means to raise and lower the trailer frame above and below the centerline of the wheels, which aids loading and unloading of cargo onto the trailer.

Abstract: An active suspension system suitable for use with a vehicle, includes a passive suspension element with a first end adapted for rigid engagement to a sprung mass of the vehicle and a second end adapted for rigid engagement to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. Also included is an active suspension element with a linear switched reluctance actuator which has a first end adapted for rigid engagement to the sprung mass of the vehicle and a second end adapted for rigid engagement to the unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steering column for a vehicle. In a steering column (10) including an outer tube (100) accommodating a steering shaft (P), an inner tube (200) retracted into the outer tube (100), a main bracket (300) installed to the outer tube (100) and fixed to a vehicle body, a telescopic bracket (400) integrally fixed to the outer tube (100) and formed with a pair of slots for telescoping (410), and a position fixing bolt (600) installed through the slots for telescoping (410), wherein the telescopic bracket (400) is further formed with a slot for energy absorption (420) extending from at least one of the pair of slots for telescoping (410) and having a height (h) smaller than a diameter (D) of the position fixing bolt (600), thereby enabling impact energy to be absorbed by means of friction with the position fixing bolt during a vehicle impact.