Abstract: A new air cushion support system for air cushion vehicles is composed of a plurality of annular peripheral jet units or modules distributed in an array in a common plane. Each peripheral jet module develops a separate air cushion or air bubble under the module to provide a plurality of independent air cushions under a vehicle. Each peripheral jet module or unit is a spring-loaded pressurized air valve with a control piston at the center of the valve spring biased to respond to back pressure variation of the air bubble or air cushion developed beneath the module caused by variations in terrain over which a vehicle is traveling. Each module or valve is formed by a pod defined by an inwardly sloping peripheral outer wall or pod skirt for directing pressurized air inwardly and downwardly toward the pod. Each module further includes a valve head, piston or pit seating within the pod skirt.

Abstract: A fork lift truck includes a loading portion to be raised including a loading fork. Pivot levers are connected to the loading fork and lifting wheels are supported in the pivot levers. A lifting linkage extends inside the fork arms. A vertical battery case is mounted on the end of the loading fork. A shaft is supported in the lower portion of the vertical battery case for actuating the lifting linkage. A drive portion includes a horizontal frame plate. A drive mechanism for steering the truck, a support wheel and a pivotable hydraulic cylinder are supported on the frame plate. A lever arm has a rectangular lever plate of spring steel which is twistable about its longitudinal axis, which has a ratio of length to width of substantially 3:1 and which is disposed on edge. The lever plate has one end with a bore formed therein in which the shaft supported in the loading portion is centrally disposed and welded. The lever plate has another end with another bore formed therein.

Abstract: A steering gear includes an elongate member having a screw thread portion adjacent one end thereof and a rack portion adjacent the other end thereof. The steering gear also includes a steering input shaft and a pinion gear rotatable by the input shaft. The pinion gear meshes with the rack portion of the elongate member. An electric motor is adjacent the screw thread portion of the elongate member. A ball nut is rotatable by said electric motor and cooperates with the screw thread portion to move the elongate member axially upon rotation of the ball nut. A linkage is attached to the elongate member intermediate the screw thread portion and the rack portion to effect axial movement of the linkage upon axial movement of the elongate member. The linkage turns steerable vehicle wheels upon movement of the linkage.

Abstract: Transport carrier apparatus and techniques are described for transporting repair items to and from an agricultural pivot sprinkler device of the type used to irrigate row crops. The apparatus is self-propelled and includes: (a) a frame having an open front to receive repair items, (b) support area at the front of the frame to support the repair items being transported, (c) at least four wheels attached to the frame to support it above the ground, (d) a power source (e.g., a gasoline engine) for driving the wheels, and (e) handles on the rear portion of the frame for steering the apparatus. The transport apparatus is sufficiently narrow to enable it to travel between adjacent rows of growing row crops so that replacement wheels, gear boxes, etc. can be transported to and from a tower of the sprinkler system without trampling the crops. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a transmission having forward and reverse gears.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for use with a tow vehicle which includes a receiver defining a tubular passage way mounted on the rear of the vehicle in longitudinal alignment, a winch extending a retractable cable rearward through said passage way, and a hitch bar connectable to the end of the cable as well as to the hitch fixture of the towed element, whereby the cable can be retracted to draw the hitch bar up within the receiver passage way with the towed element aligned and the hitch connection locked.

Abstract: A standing support having a truncated lower horizontal side frame member has an extension flange mounted thereon to laterally displace the drive wheel assembly outward relative the side frame member to widen the rear facing cavity defined therebetween. A cantilevered floor pan configuration removes transverse obstructions between the side frame members to allow the further longitudinal insertion of a conventional wheelchair within the cavity therebetween. A hand crank assembly mounted to the main frame aids in the transfer of the handicapped user from the conventional wheelchair to the improved standing support of the present invention.

Abstract: An automotive suspension comprises a wheel support for rotatably supporting a rear wheel, a pair of front and rear lateral link systems for supporting the wheel support on the vehicle body so that it is swingable on the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle body and producing a toe-in movement in the rear wheel when the rear wheel is subjected to rearward force, and a trailing link system for supporting resiliently either one of the wheel support and the connecting portion of the lateral links with the wheel support to the vehicle body so that the wheel support is allowed to travel a short distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. At least one of said front and lateral link systems is set to exhibit a non-linear deformation characteristic with respect to lateral force acting on the rear wheel. The trailing link system is set to exhibit a non-linear deformation characteristic which has a given relation with said non-linear deformation characteristic of said lateral link system.

Abstract: A vehicle is described having a front pair of ground contacting wheels, a rear pair of ground contacting wheels, an internal combustion engine, hydraulic motors for driving each said ground contacting wheel, and a plurality of variable flow hydraulic pumps for driving the hydraulic motors. In such a vehicle the internal combustion engine (7) is arranged to drive directly first and second variable displacement pumps (12, 13) for driving the motors (46, 47) of the front pair of wheels (2) and the motors (47, 48) of the back pair of wheels (3) respectively as well as first and second boost pumps (14, 15), while a control valve (22) is supplied with hydraulic fluid from one of the boost pumps (14) and is arranged to give an output hydraulic pressure which is dependent on the speed of the engine (7).

Abstract: A frame type tractor comprising an engine in a front portion, a transmission case in a rear portion thereof, a transmission shaft extending from the engine to the transmission shaft, and a front wheel drive shaft extending from the transmission case to a front wheel axle. The transmission shaft and front wheel drive shaft are connected to lower positions of the transmission case. An operator's step is mounted over the transmission shaft and front wheel drive shaft.

Abstract: A remote actuator for a trailer hitch of the type having a main body, a ball receiving socket at one end of the main body and the other end of the main body being attachable to the end of a tongue, for example. A pivotal member is hinged at the ball receiving socket end of the hitch. The main body and the pivotal member form hinged sections and the socket is formed jointly in the two hinged sections. A collar is reciprocatingly received about the main body in a position to releasably receive the free marginal end of the pivotal member therein to thereby releasably latch the hinged sections together so that a ball can be captured therewithin. A remote actuator is mounted to the hitch apparatus by which the hinged sections are forced together and thereafter the collar is moved into the latched position over the hinged sections. The remote actuator includes a control lever pivotally mounted for movement respective to said main body.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle has a transmission, main drive wheels operatively connected to an output shaft of the transmission, auxiliary drive wheels, and a transfer clutch for transmitting output of the transmission to the auxiliary drive wheels. A control system is provided with a detector for detecting speed ratio of front-wheel speed and rear-wheel speed and for producing a speed ratio signal, which represents steering operation of the vehicle and for producing a steering angle signal. A control unit is responsive to the steering angle signal for controlling torque of the transfer clutch so as to cause the transfer clutch to slip in dependency on the steering angle signal.

Abstract: There is an electric power steering apparatus comprising: an electronic control circuit to output a drive signal having a vehicle velocity response characteristic and steering response characteristic in accordance with the vehicle velocity, steering torque, and steering direction; and a motor for assisting a steering force which is made operative by the drive signal. The electronic control circuit has a braking control circuit to short-circuit between both terminals of the motor when the steering operation is stopped and the supply of the drive signal to the motor is stopped while the vehicle is running at a high speed. With this apparatus, when the steering operation is suddenly stopped when the vehicle is running at a high speed, the inertia rotation of the motor can be rapidly reduced. The yawing of the vehicle body due to the inertia rotation can be effectively prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tow bar which can be removably attached to the towed unit and is comprised of a mounting bracket assembly and a tow bar/tie rod assembly; which tow bar can be conveniently stored when not in use, is lightweight yet sturdy, and can be easily attached to the towing unit by a single person.

Abstract: A fuel supply system in an off-road vehicle including front and rear wheels having wide tires, respectively, an engine mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle frame, and an exhaust pipe extending from the engine and disposed on one side of the engine transversely of the vehicle frame. The fuel system comprises a fuel tank assembly disposed on the other side of the engine transversely of the vehicle frame, and an air cleaner case disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank assembly. The vehicle frame comprises a plurality of welded pipe members. The fuel tank assembly has an outer peripheral flange supported at plural locations thereon by at least two of the pipe members of the vehicle frame. The fuel tank assembly has a cap for detachably closing a fuel inlet hole, the cap including a resiliently biased cover swingably mounted on an upper surface for covering a key slot from above.

Abstract: In a device for mounting an implement on a tractor wherein a body of the tractor is provided with an upwardly and downwardly movable hitch to which the implement is adapted to releasably mounted, a drive shaft associated to the hitch and drivingly connected to a PTO shaft of the tractor is supported by the hitch and is operable to transmit a power to an input shaft of the implement through shaft coupling means. The hitch is provided with an upper engagement hook opened upwardly and a lower engagement hook opened toward the implement to be engaged with the implement. The shaft coupling means includes a self-aligning mechanism.

Abstract: A three-wheeled cycle includes a frame and first and second wheels, each rotatably mounted to the frame about substantially a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame about a horizontal axis. Pedal structure is provided for driving the drive wheel. Steering structure is provided for rotating the first and second wheels about their vertical axis. Structure can also be provided to automatically adjust the chamber of the first and second wheels into a turn.

Abstract: A front wheel speed-up mechanism for a four wheel drive vehicle when turning, which, when front wheels serve as steering wheels, corrects a delay at the rotational circumferential speed of the front wheels later than the actual moving speed when the vehicle is turning, thereby gradually increasing the rotational circumferential speed of the front wheels in proportion to a length of a turning radius thereof.

Abstract: An installation for the forward drive regulation acting on the output torque of a drive aggregate in motor vehicles with a regulating circuit responding to the slippage of each driven wheel on which is superimposed a regulating circuit responding to exceeding an acceleration threshold value of each driven wheel which replaces the slippage regulating circuit designed for optimum traction from the regulation beginning for a predetermined duration and as a result thereof rapidly stabilizes the vehicle because only a small excess torque which can be controlled in few regulating cycles, can occur owing to the early regulation beginning.

Abstract: A road vehicle power assisted steering system comprises a power assisted steering gear assembly (1) in which power assistance to the displacement of an output member of the steering gear (1) is provided by an electric motor in response to a steering gear torque applied to the input member (2). Motorcon also of the electric motor are capable of being switched from a power supply (10), to a resistive load and are controlled by control means (11) in response to the steering torque so that any kinetic energy of the displaceable components of the steering gear (1) may be dissipated by the resistive load to which the coils are switched by the control means when the steering torque falls below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A small boat trailer consists of a pair of spaced wheeled housing aligned and loosely supported apart by spacing members. A telescopic tongue has a rear end portion loosely connected to one of the spacing members. Included are two transverse cables connected to the spaced housings and a longitudinal cable connected to the opposite ends of the tongue. The structural members are forced together into a firm body by tightening all cables.