Abstract: An air-spring assembly includes a flexible bellows extending from a top end to a bottom end and enclosing an air-spring chamber between the top end and the bottom end, a first panel partially defining the air-spring chamber and movable in response to a pressure of the air-spring chamber, an enclosure partially defining a working chamber fluidly isolated from the air-spring chamber, a second panel partially defining the working chamber and movable relative to the enclosure, and a linkage member fixed relative to the first panel and to the second panel and defining a fixed distance between the first panel and the second panel. The top and bottom ends are fixable to a frame and a wheel of a vehicle, respectively. A volume of the air-spring chamber varies with movement of the bottom end relative to the top end. Movement of the second panel changes a volume of the working chamber.

Abstract: A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors are also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based vehicle conditions determined by sensor output signals.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a frame structure, four wheels, and four independent suspension systems coupled to the frame structure and configured to support the wheels relative to the frame structure. Each suspension system may include a suspension arm movably coupling a respective wheel to the frame structure, a torsion bar coupled to the suspension arm and imparting a spring force on the suspension arm, a preload arm coupled to the torsion bar, and a preload adjustment motor coupled to the preload arm and configured to rotate the torsion bar to adjust a preload on the torsion bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a vehicle body height of a vehicle and generating power includes a rack gear connected to a wheel and configured to be moved in a vertical direction by a vertical movement of the wheel relative to a road surface, a pinion gear configured to be rotated by movement of the rack gear while engaging with the rack gear, a one-way bearing connected to the pinion gear and configured to be rotated together with the pinion gear, the one-way bearing being configured to operate to transmit a load when rotating in one direction and not to transmit a load when rotating in the other direction, an electric generator connected to the one-way bearing and configured to generate electricity by the rotation of the one-way bearing in one direction, and a capacitor connected to the electric generator and configured to accumulate electricity generated by the electric generator.

Abstract: A shock absorber device for a vehicle, the shock absorber device comprising a shock absorber and a lifting device, the lifting device being configured to adjust a length of the shock absorber along the axis between a second length and the first length, the second length being less than the first length, wherein the lifting device has a released configuration wherein the lifting device allows the first part and the second part to axially move with regard to each other along the axis and an engaged configuration wherein the lifting device axially couples the first part and the second part together.

Abstract: A compact utility vehicle including a chassis supporting a prime mover, ground engaging wheels or tracks, an implement, and a rear standing platform operably coupled to the chassis. The vehicle can be equipped with a control console that is operably coupled to the chassis at an elevation above the rear standing platform. The console can have two manual input devices, including a first manual input device configured to control the ground engaging wheels or tracks located along the lateral direction of the vehicle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and 50% of a distance to a first side of the control console, and a second manual input device defining a rigid grip and a thumb switch control portion to control the operation of the implement, located along the lateral direction of the vehicle between the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and 50% of a distance to a second side of the control console.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes: a vehicle body frame to which a roll-over protection structure (ROPS) is detachably attachable; and a reinforcing frame that is detachably attachable to the vehicle body frame instead of the ROPS. The vehicle body frame includes a first vehicle body frame located forward of a driver's seat, and a second vehicle body frame located rearward of the driver's seat. The reinforcing frame couples the first vehicle body frame and the second vehicle body frame to each other.

Abstract: A battery powered electric scooter (100) having two front wheels, a deck (102) and tiller (104), and a dual mode steering system responsive to turn the wheels upon rotation of the tiller (104) about a vertical axis and/or upon rotation of the deck (102) about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: According to the present embodiments, it is possible to quickly and stably store and withdraw the steering wheel to secure a space in the driver's seat, limit the contracting stroke of the steering column during collapsing motion to stably perform collapsing motion, and set various collapsing strokes.

Abstract: Proposed is a steering column apparatus including a housing having a hollow shape, an input shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, and a lower bushing interposed between the housing and the input shaft, the lower bushing being elastically deformable when coming into contact with the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a utility vehicle having a pivotable seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform. The pivotable seat configured to pivot between a first position and a second position defining a standard seat location and a first wall of a cargo bay, respectively. A seatback is configured to form a second wall of a cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position. First and second opposing side walls are positioned on either side of the pivotable seat. The side walls are configured to form barriers at either side of the cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position.

Abstract: An anti-fire safety system for a transport vehicle has one or more storage tanks storing hydrogen. The system includes a first hydrogen-releasing system, which is configured to release outside the vehicle hydrogen contained in at least one of the storage tanks. The system also includes a second release system, which is arranged to intervene and bypass the first hydrogen release system under predetermined operative conditions. The second release system is configured to transform by a chemical reaction, at least a part of the bypassed hydrogen flowing outward from at least one storage tank, into at least one different substance.

Abstract: Described herein is a lock system (e.g., for a vehicle door) including an NFC circuit in communication with a microcontroller that monitors the voltage of a battery (e.g., the vehicle battery). The microcontroller switches the NFC circuit to card emulation (CE) mode with energy harvesting capability when the battery voltage falls below a threshold so that the NFC circuit can harvest energy from a nearby Qi wireless charging field and store that harvested energy in an energy storage device. When the energy storage device is sufficiently charged, it is used power the microcontroller and an electronically actuated mechanical lock (e.g., vehicle door lock), then the microcontroller cooperates with the NFC circuit to switch the NFC circuit to NFC reader mode and attempt to verify a nearby NFC device. If the NFC device is verified, the microcontroller operates the lock, otherwise, it maintains the lock in an inactive state.

Abstract: Described are devices, systems, and methods that enable greater control and customization of variable suspension systems via mechanical modification, among other advantages. In one example, a linkage device is configured to be attached to a suspension arm of a vehicle and to a vehicle frame of the vehicle. The linkage device is configured to mechanically modify one or more physical states detected by a sensor of the vehicle, thereby causing the sensor to output modified signals to a controller, and causing the controller to output modified control signals to a variable shock absorber connected between the vehicle frame and the suspension arm, thereby modifying one or more variable physical properties of the variable shock absorber.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for a suspension system of an off-road vehicle that allows the springs to be mounted remotely, in any location on the vehicle, enabling the use of spring sizes, spring rates, motion ratios, and damping profiles that would be impractical with traditional suspension designs. The suspension system includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled between a suspension component and a chassis, in lieu of a conventional spring. The hydraulic cylinder is in fluid communication with another, second hydraulic cylinder, by way of a hydraulic hose. The second hydraulic cylinder presses against a suspension spring that is in contact with a fixed spring stop, thereby transferring spring forces to the wheel. Alternatively, the spring stop may comprise a control actuator that moves, enabling active control over spring load.

Abstract: Information regarding an impact occurring in a vehicle is analyzed from an observed signal by a sensor installed in the vehicle. An acquisition unit (11) acquires an observed signal by a sensor (S) installed at a predetermined position of the vehicle. The analysis unit (12) analyzes the type of impact at each time from the observed signal with respect to the impact occurring on the vehicle at a position different from the position at which the sensor (S) is installed in the vehicle. The type of impact includes at least one type of impact among impact from collision of an obstacle with the vehicle, impact from the vehicle driving over a curb, impact from collision of a flying object with the vehicle, impact from the vehicle rubbing against an object other than the vehicle, and impact from an object other than the vehicle rubbing against the vehicle. An output unit (13) outputs a result obtained by analyzing a time at which the impact occurs and the type of impact.

Abstract: A component for a vehicle interior may comprise a panel comprising a structure, and an airbag comprising a cushion for deployment through the panel. The airbag may be directly attached to the structure. The airbag may comprise a set of holes for attachment to the structure. The structure may comprise a set of posts for the set of holes. The structure may comprise an airbag chute. The component may comprise a cover coupled to the structure and an inflator coupled to the cover. The cover may clamp the airbag between the cover and the structure. The airbag may comprise at least one flap coupled between the cover and the structure. The cover may be staked to the structure. The structure may comprise a frame for attachment of the airbag and the cover to the structure. The component may comprise a trim component, instrument panel or door panel.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback and an armrest coupled to the seatback. An airbag is positioned in the armrest and is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The airbag includes a first chamber positioned to extend downward from the armrest and a second chamber positioned to extend upward from the armrest when the airbag is in the inflated position.

Abstract: An adjustment unit including a bearing having an inner core formed with a passage extending in the longitudinal direction of the inner core. A spacing element is arranged in the passage, which spacing element has an opening for receiving a bearing pin, the opening extends along a longitudinal axis which defines the attachment axis of the bearing, and the attachment axis and the bearing axis are adjustable relative to one another by adjusting the spacing element. The spacing element is movably arranged in the direction of extension of the passage. When the bearing is installed, the spacing element is axially adjusted along the attachment axis and causes a translational deflection of the inner core transversely to the attachment axis.

Abstract: A method for changing a ride height position of a motor vehicle comprises measuring a respective relative distance of a vehicle superstructure from corresponding wheels, with spring travel sensors and transmitting a respective spring travel signal to an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control device of the motor vehicle. The spring travel signals pass through a frequency filtering in the electronic open-loop and closed-loop control device The frequency filtering initially comprising a bandpass filtering which splits the spring travel signal into a signal component excited by the wheel and a signal component excited by the vehicle superstructure. The signal component excited by the vehicle superstructure is filtered out, the frequency filtering then comprising an absolute value conversion of the bandpass-filtered spring travel signal and subsequently a low-pass filtering.