Abstract: A run-flat support and tire assembly designed so that when air sealed within a tire is lost, the vehicle may be supported by support members in place of air pressure within the tire. The run-flat tire has a split rim, a tubeless tire mounted on the rim, and a plurality of annularly disposed circular support members. The support members each comprises a thin-wall casing body having lattice-like reinforcing ribs for partitioning the interior of the casing body into a plurality of chambers. Connecting protrusions project from the casing body. The connecting protrusions are detachably connected to one another for each incorporation of the support members into the tire.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber for vehicles which includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod and a piston rod guide. In order to minimize noises which might otherwise be transmitted to the vehicular chassis through the piston rod, the piston rod is constructed of axially arranged divided piston rod members which are integrally connected through an elastic member. The piston rod guide may include radially arranged divided rod guide members which are integrally connected through an elastic member.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for vehicles which includes a pinion rotatably mounted on an arm movable longitudinally in response to turning movement of a steering wheel, and a pair of longitudinally movable racks held in meshing engagement with the pinion. One of the racks is operatively coupled with front wheels of the vehicle and with a pivot arm pivotable on a movable pivot which is displaceable along the pivot arm in response to vehicle speeds. The other rack is coupled through a pivotable lever with an arm which is pivotally mounted on the pivot arm and is operatively coupled with the rear wheels. When the steering wheel is turned, the front and rear wheels are turned in the same direction or in opposite directions, depending on the position of the movable pivot on the pivot arm, which position is a function of the vehicle speed. The front and rear wheels are turned in the same direction when the vehicle is running at a high speed, and in opposite directions when the vehicle is running at a low speed.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle including a pair of pivotable knuckle arms connected to a pair of respective front wheels and actuatable through a steering gear by rotational movement of a steering wheel. One of the knuckle arms is pivotally connected to one end of a connector rod extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the other end of the connector rod being connected to a cam plate slidable in a housing. The cam plate has an inverted S-shaped cam groove or alternatively an S-shaped cam groove within which is slidably received a pin mounted on a tie rod pivotally connected between a pair of pivotable support arms supporting a pair of rear wheels, respectively. Due to the shape of the cam groove, the rear wheels are turned in the same direction as the front wheels when the steering wheel is rotated through a relatively small angle, and the rear and front wheels are turned in opposite directions when the steering wheel is rotated through a relatively large angle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a suspension spring device having at least two suspension coil springs arranged in series between a vehicle body and wheels, the same interconnected through a spring adjusting cylinder disposed movably up and down relative to the body, and a lock device disposed on the body for restraining the upward and downward movements of the spring retaining cylinder.

Abstract: A safety wheel designed so that when air sealed within a tire is lost, the vehicle may be supported by a flat protector and bead stopper members in place of air pressure within the tire. The safety wheel comprises a split rim, a tubeless tire mounted on the split rim, and a flat protector of an annular configuration. The flat protector is divided into a plurality of circular protector elements whose opposed opposite ends are connected with each other through the bead stopper members adapted to restrain relative movement between the bead portions of the tire and the split rim.

Abstract: A safety wheel including a combined flat protector and bead stopper structure radially fitted in the tire around the inner periphery thereof and having a closed frame-like cross-sectional configuration of a substantial modulus of section. The flat protector, being made itself of an elastic material in a substantially H-shaped cross section, is easily deformable and can be readily inserted in the tire and, once combined with the bead stopper, which clamps the opposite side wall portions of the flat protector and the respective bead portions of the tire against the rim flanges, exhibits a substantial rigidity enough to support the vehicle weight, as when the tire is punctured. The rigidity of the flat protector per se is also increased by means of reinforcing cords of unstretchable material embedded therein.

Abstract: A device for sealing joining surfaces of a split rim in a wheel. The split rim comprises an outboard rim and an inboard rim. A joining surface of the outboard rim is formed at its outer periphery with an annular recess of L-shaped section. The annular recess has a bottom surface formed at its base portion with a peripheral groove which receives therein an inner periphery of a seal ring. A joining surface of the inboard rim has at its outer peripheral portion an annular projection of a stepped-like section. The depth of the annular recess is shorter than the sum of the diameter of the seal ring and the thickness of the inner annular projection.

Abstract: A wheel suspension apparatus for a vehicle of the strut type, comprising a hydraulic damper disposed between the body and a wheel of the vehicle and including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder slidably fitted thereover to define a main hydraulic chamber; an auxiliary cylinder is slidably fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder to define an auxiliary hydraulic chamber therebetween in communication with the main chamber, said auxiliary cylinder is urged in one axial direction under the hydraulic pressure in said third hydraulic chamber. A suspension coil spring is disposed under compression between the auxiliary cylinder and the outer cylinder for resiliently biasing the former in the other axial direction. The apparatus affords a freedom in designing the coil spring particularly in respect of the disposition space, length and diameter thereof in accordance with specific conditions required.

Abstract: A tubeless tire and rim assembly including an annular bead lock in the form of an endless train of lock elements interconnected by flexible joints. The bead lock can have not only a fully expanded circular configuration to fit over the rim base but also a partly folded configuration to lie within the inner peripheral circle of the tire. This particularly facilitates the mounting of such bead lock while effectively preventing any improper positioning thereof. An embodiment incorporating a flat-protector together with the bead lock is also contemplated to further improve the driving safety.

Abstract: A device including a torsion bar rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame transversely thereof and a pair of rock arms extending integrally from the opposite ends of the torsion bar at right angles thereto and connected with a right and a left wheel, respectively. An abutment arm is fixed to the torsion bar at the middle thereof and engageable with a stop pad provided on the vehicle frame, when either or both of the wheels are moved down, to restrain further downward movement thereof. Thus, the spring rate of air springs associated with the respective wheels is in effect increased as the loads thereon are reduced, particularly in a lower load region.

Abstract: A structure for sealing air valves for split rim type wheels having an outer split rim member with a hole therein passing through a first end surface. The hole is provided with a screw thread. An inner split rim member has a passage therethrough from the periphery to a second end surface which butts with the first end surface of the outer split rim member. A sealing member is disposed in the hole, and an air valve is threadedly engaged in the hole to compress the sealing member against the second surface of the inner split rim member.