Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radius of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radiuses of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radiuses of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber loaded therearound with a compression coil spring so improved that a side force generated by the compression coil spring can be effectively alleviated by making both or any one of an upper sheet 13 mounted to an absorber rod 3 and a lower sheet 16 mounted on an absorber tube 2 so as to be loaded therebetween with the compression coil spring 17 free to rock relatively to each other in a predetermined direction or in any direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle wheel suspension which includes a strut mounted at the upper end thereof on a vehicle body for supporting a wheel, a lower seat fixed to the strut, an upper seat mounted on the vehicle body, and a helical compression spring mounted between the lower seat and the upper seat, with the strut enclosed in the spring. The spring has a coil axis substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. The lower seat is tilted at a first predetermined angle in such a direction that the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the vehicle body is shortened when the spring is mounted between the upper seat and the lower seat, and/or the upper seat is tilted at a second predetermined angle in such a direction that the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the vehicle body is shortened when the spring is mounted between the upper seat and the lower seat.

Abstract: A heat resistant cushion in the form of a compact of a toroidal structure which is formed by an annular network structure of knitted metal wires, the network structure including a first segment which forms an outer surface of the toroidal structure and a second, inner segment, the second segment containing yarns of an inorganic fiber which are disposed at a given axial separation and extending circumferentially of the network structure and which are support by engagement with selected loops of the metal wires which forms the second segment, the network structure being rolled upon itself beginning with the free end of the second segment.

Abstract: A catalytic converter is mounted within an exhaust gas passage formed by a pair of tubular members each having an outwardly extending flange at their one end and connected together in tandem and in a concentric manner by means of mounting means which cooperate with the flanges. The catalytic converter includes a cylindrical, metallic shell having a pair of flanges at its opposite ends which extend radially inward and which define a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a catalyst carrier formed by a monolithic, porous ceramic body having a coating of catalyst, and elastic support means for supporting the catalyst carrier within the shell. The shell is provided with an annular rib having a pair of side surfaces which project outwardly from its cylindrical surface, the annular rib defining a pair of cylindrical portions of the shell which are contiguous with the respective side surfaces.

Abstract: A catalytic converter of cassette type having a monolithic honeycomb structure of catalyst-coated ceramic body which is resiliently supported within an outer cylindrical metal shell. The shell includes first and second circumferential portions of an equal diameter which are at opposite axial ends thereof, and a third circumferential portion located therebetween and which has a greater outer diameter than the first and second portions. Thus bevelled areas are defined between the first and the third and between the second and the third circumferential portions. The converter is rigidly mounted in a gas passage defined by a pair of tubular members which are connected in tandem with an internal combustion engine. One of the tubular members has an inwardly extending annular rib at a given distance from the end thereof.