Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment device for adjusting the camber of a wheel carried at one end of a lateral suspension member, such as an I-beam of a twin I-beam suspension. The invention includes apparatus for connecting the opposite end of the lateral member to a vehicle frame member whereby the inner end of the lateral member can be raised or lowered to alter the tow in of the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle having an air suspension system including air bags supporting the rear cargo area thereof, a deflation control system with automatic reinflation and control reset for manually actuated lowering of the rear cargo area to the minimum height to facilitate loading and/or unloading to the ground. A manually operable control valve delivers an air pressure signal from a source to an inversion valve to exhaust the air from the air bags. A normally open electrically operated air solenoid is interposed between the control valve and the air supply and shuts off air flow to the control valve when the ignition switch is activated to restore air pressure to the air bags. The driver/operator can control the system only when the ignition switch is deactivated. Thus the system provides for operator actuable deflation and automatic reinflation and control reset.

Abstract: A spring-loaded mount for connecting a truck body to a truck chassis which permits articulation comprising outwardly extending gungeon pin means attached to the chassis and cooperable spring means attached to the body; said spring means comprising a housing surrounding said gungeon pin means and containing a pair of springs acting on opposite sides of said gungeon pin means.

Abstract: A door checker which can be advantageously utilized for driving automotive equipment such as a seat belt reacher system in synchronization with the opening and closing action of the vehicle door. By appropriate arrangement of a spring and a taper in the door checker member, the force required to open and close the door is not unduly increased. By proper arrangement of the spring, the side thrust from the door checker member is always directed in one direction, whereby the structure for supporting the side thrust is simplified.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for disabling an automobile powered by an engine utilizing an automatic transmission with a gear selector movable between non-drive and drive positions. After the engine is started up with the gear selector in a non-drive position, the movement of the latter into a drive position initiates a timer to deliver a signal for a predetermined period of time such as 15 seconds. That signal is employed to disable the engine within the vehicle if during that period an acceleration or throttle measuring device indicates that excessive acceleration is occurring or that a seat sensor device indicates that the driver is not present. Acceleration is measured by sensing intake manifold pressure or throttle position.

Abstract: Suspension assembly consisting of a bearing structure capable of being fixed to the chassis of a vehicle. The structure holds the composite leaf spring in position to the ends of which the wheel supports are fixed. The supports are connected to the structure by the wishbones and the shock absorbers. Different positions of the composite leaf spring, wishbones and shock absorbers are described.

Abstract: A control system for a lift axle suspension wherein two or more axle suspensions are mounted on a vehicle frame and a liftable axle is automatically raised or lowered depending on the load on another of the axle or axles. An override to the automatic lift system is provided when the vehicle is fully loaded to lift a liftable axle selectively for a limited, relatively short period of time to assist in maneuvering the vehicle. The control system detects the load on one axle and automatically raises the second axle to the raised position when the load on the first axle is below a first predetermined value and automatically lowers the second axle to the lower position when the lower load on the first axle is above a predetermined value which is greater than the first predetermined value. A delay is provided in the operation of the control system to lower the second axle upon the detection of the load on the first axle to compensate for road bumps.

Abstract: An anti-theft security system for an off-road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a master control module, which may be part of the vehicle's instrument cluster, and a remotely located security module, which is directly adjacent to at least one electrically-operated actuator of the vehicle normally operated as part of transporting the vehicle to another location. The security module includes a tamper-resistant housing which obstructs physical access to at least part of the actuator. The master module, which may include a microprocessor and LED display, has an operator interface such as a keypad for entering a first access code known only to authorized operators of the vehicle. When the sequence of entered keystrokes matches the first access code stored within the master module, the module automatically generates and transmits to the security module a signal containing a second and different access code.

Abstract: An automotive steering gear includes a transverse steering member and a steering shaft like the steering rack and pinion shaft, respectively, of a rack and pinion steering gear. The steering shaft is operatively connected to the steering member through a bi-directional Chinese Windlass which pulls the steering member in opposite directions depending upon the direction of rotation of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A system for utilizing the waste heat from the exhaust systems of automotive vehicles to provide for increased traction of the drive wheels of such vehicles wherein the exhaust gases and/or air passing in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust gases pass through a blower unit and through conduits which direct the heated gases to areas proximate to the vehicle drive wheels.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply system includes a discharge rate variable fluid pump. The discharge rate of the fluid pump is controlled to vary depending upon the vehicle driving condition. In the control of the discharge rate of the fluid pump, greater discharge rate is ordered while the vehicle is running, than that during vehicle stopping condition.

Abstract: An automatic seatbelt system for a vehicle, which is designed to restrain the body of an occupant when an emergency situation of the vehicle occurs, has a slider which retains one end of a webbing and which is movable along a guide rail laid on the body of the vehicle between a position at which the webbing is fastened to the occupant's body (hereinafter referred to as a "webbing fastening position") and a position at which the webbing is unfastened therefrom (hereinafter referred to as a "webbing unfastening position"), and a continuous member for moving the slider between the above-described two positions. The continuous member and the slider are allowed to move relative to each other by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system for controllably restraining a passenger in an automotive vehicle in response to the opening and closing states of a vehicle door. The passive seat belt system is comprised of a seat belt which selectively takes a passenger releasing position at which the passenger is released from restraint and a passenger restraining position at which the passenger is restrained. A door switch is provided to output first and second signals when a vehicle door is in opening and closing states, respectively. A control circuit is electrically connected to the door switch and arranged to output a third signal in response to the first signal. A driving device is electrically connected to the control circuit and arranged to drive the seat belt in the direction of the passenger releasing position when being supplied with the third signal from the control circuit.

Abstract: A suspension for vehicles has a lower arm pivotally connected at its one end to the chassis of the vehicle and pivotally connected at its other end to one end of a carrier and also to one end of a strut. The other end of the carrier is pivotally connected to the strut, and the lower arm and the strut are connected to each other through an intermediate connecting mechanism such that said lower arm and said strut are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unauthorized starting of a motor vehicle. A timing interval of preselected duration is generated only upon detecting positioning of an ignition switch to a first position by means of a proper key inserted into the vehicle ignition switch. An electrical indication is generated when the ignition switch is positioned to a second position which, in one embodiment, corresponds to a start position of an automobile ignition switch. A starting circuit interrupt element remains in or is urged into a normally closed state to electrically complete the starting circuit only when the electrical indication appears during the time interval. The starting circuit may thereby only be energized for starting the motor during a normal preselected starting sequence comprised of key insertion followed by positioning of the switch from the first to the second state within the preselected time interval.

Abstract: A structure and assembly technique for providing an internal reinforcement for an air bag module to restrain bulging of the module while minimizing the size of the module. The air bag module comprises a container with a wall defining a cavity for a gas generator and at least a part of an air bag. The wall also defines an opening through which at least part of the bag is inserted into the cavity. A reaction member, preferably a fabric tether strap, is connected with at least two points of the wall adjacent the container opening and extends across the opening in the container. The tether strap is located internally of the container and resists deformation of the container under the pressures of air bag deployment, without increasing the size of the module. The tether strap is preferably constructed as a part of the air bag itself, and is incorporated into the container at the time the air bag is assembled with the container.

Abstract: An air bag door fastening structure having an air bag door including a base layer of synthetic resin, coupled at one side end thereof through hinges with an instrument panel and at the other side end thereof through breakaway members with the instrument panel characterized in that each breakaway member comprises two fastening portions integrally coupled through a thin integral hinge with each other as a coupler in such a manner that one fastening portion is coupled fixedly with the base layer or integrated with the base layer and the other fastening portion is coupled fixedly with the instrument panel.

Abstract: In a four-link parallel link vehicle suspension system, a generatrix or an imaginary king pin is defined as a line connecting an instantaneous center of rotation of the knuckle as defined by an upper pair of lateral links with another instantaneous center of the rotation as define by a lower pair of lateral links and the range of the intersection of the imaginary king pin with the tread contact surface is minimized for the purpose of reducing the change in the force required to maintain a certain steering angle of the wheel. Thereby, the handling of the vehicle is improved through the reduction in change in the force required to maintain a steering angle of the wheel while maintaining the freedom of parameter setting which is intrinsic to the four-link parallel link vehicle suspension system.

Abstract: A rod for the suspension system of a motor vehicle such as a bus which maintains fixed points of the chassis and frame or body in a fixed point to point alignment in the vehicle suspension system comprising a rod having openings at each end for an interference fit attachment to predetermined points or dowels, in which the openings are defined by a freely rotating bushing that is surrounded by a concentric cast polyurethane interface that is bonded to an inner concentric circular opening surface at the end of the rod. The rod is a replacement for transit bus torque rods.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided which maintains a substantially constant weight, and therefore traction, on all wheels, despite one wheel moving considerably higher or lower than the others, while avoiding a very soft spring suspension. The vehicle includes a chassis or body to be supported and a pair of side suspensions at either side of the body. In a six wheel vehicle, each side suspension includes a middle wheel, and front and rear linkages repectively coupling the front and rear wheels to the middle wheel. A body link pivotally connects the front and rear linkages together, with the middle of the body link rising or falling by only a fraction of the rise or fall of any of the three wheels. The body link pivotally supports the middle of the length of the body.