Abstract: The slip control is conducted so as to cause an amount of the slip of the driven wheel to become a target value by controlling the torque to be transmitted to the driven wheel. The target value is altered during the slip control on the basis of a requirement for road holding capabilities of the driven wheel against a road surface.

Abstract: A sealed, air-containing vehicle suspension assembly. The assembly includes an endless track unit trained over a pair of wheel units each supported by the end portion of an axle, a pair of side plates, and a pair of dynamic seal assemblies. The dynamic seal assemblies each include a diaphragm portion with its outer margin secured to outer margins of the track unit and its inner margin carried by support units extending inwardly from the track. The primary seal unit has a tubular cross section and its inner sidewall affixed to the inner diaphragm margin. A part of the primary seal outer sidewall has a smooth sidewall sealing surfaces which engages an inwardly facing surface of its associated end plate along a path generally parallel to the travel path of the track.

Abstract: A tenon-and-mortise coupler for releasably connecting any type of work implement to the front chassis of any conventional tractor. The tenon part defines an open frame, fixedly secured at its rear end to the front bottom of the tractor chassis, and tapered at its front end. The mortise part defines a hollow tapered casing, fixedly secured at its small end to the bracket assembly of the work implement and frictionally engageable by the tenon tapered end at its opposite large open end or mouth. A manually-operated lever is transversely mounted in the tenon part and defines an intermediate offset section carrying a longitudinally-extending latch bar, which is guided for combined longitudinal and vertical movement between a forward and lowered retracted position and a rearward and upper latching position. The tenon-and-mortise parts are first assembled with the latch bar in retracted position.

Abstract: In this improved ball-and-socket trailer hitch, the heavy coil spring, conventionally utilized to forwardly bias a latching collar, is eliminate; instead threaded means are provided to move the collar back and forth when it is rotated manually. Unlatching is much easier in the absence of strong spring bias on the collar, so the need for additional collar-actuating mechanism such as levers, handles and linkages, often required is conventional hitches, is eliminated. The collar may locked in a forward latched position by the inclusion of a pivoted, thumb-operated lock lever, which is spring loaded to automatically drop into the rear edge of the collar when the collar is moved into its latched position, and thus lock the collar in this latched position, constrained against rearward or rotational movement, to eliminate risk of trailer uncoupling due to unintended unlatching of the hitch. The lock lever may be adapted to accept a padlock to avoid trailer theft.

Abstract: A motorcycle frame design featuring a uniplanar isolation system. This is a system for vehicles which have motors that have basically uniplanar vibrations. It provides mounting means which allow the motor to have vertical and longitudinal movement, but prevent lateral motion of the motor and rear suspension unit with respect to the main frame.

Abstract: A closed hydraulic system (22) is provided for transmitting steering movement to servo valve (24) of a rear wheel power steering assembly (26) in response to a steering movement of a front wheel steering assembly (14). The front wheel steering assembly is controlled by a steering wheel (18) and a power steering assembly (20). The closed hydraulic system (22) includes a pump assembly (50) and an actuator assembly (96) connected together by conduits (54,56) to define closed fluid flow branches or fluid links (112,114) for moving a piston (98) in the actuator assembly in response to movement of a piston (78) the pump assembly. Movement of the actuator piston is transmitted to a valving member (106) of the servo valve via a cam assembly (104) which moves the valving member (106) to effect same direction rear wheel steering for rather small front wheel steering angles and to effect opposite direction rear wheel steering for greater front wheel steering angles.

Abstract: A closed hydraulic system (22) is provided for transmitting steering movement to a rear wheel steering assembly (16) in response to steering movement of a front wheel steering assembly (14). The front wheel steering assembly is controlled by a steering wheel (18) and a power steering assembly (20). The closed hydraulic system (22) includes a pump assembly (44) and an actuator assembly (46) connected together by conduits (48,50) to define closed fluid flow branches or fluid links (49,51) for moving a piston (94) in the actuator assembly in response to movement of a piston (72) in the pump assembly. Movement of the actuator piston is transmitted to the rear wheel steering assembly via a cam assembly (92) which effects same direction rear wheel steering for rather small front wheel steering angles and which effects opposite direction rear wheel steering for greater front wheel steering angles.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame, a front wheel and Y-shaped rockers attached to the axle of the front wheel on either side. Also attached to each rocker is a rigid fork which directly connects the rocker to the frame of the motorcycle and a springed fork which connects the rocker to shock absorbing means which are likewise mounted on the rigid fork. The springed fork is mounted to the rocker intermediate the points at which the rigid fork and axle are mounted to the rocker. The rigid fork is attached to the rocker using an adjustable, split spherical bearing which is attached and held to the rigid fork by a stud. This bearing arrangement engages a pair of bearing races which are held in two prongs of the Y-shaped rocker. Similarly, the springed fork has a stud passing therethrough which also holds a spherical bearing. The bearing engages a bearing race which is held within the rocker.

Abstract: A vehicle having a fore-and-aft body including transversely spaced apart side walls or supports carries between the supports a forkless steerable wheel and axle structure arranged in conjunction with right and left force-exerting means so that on right-hand turns the wheel is steered about an upright right-hand axis and on the left-hand turns is steered about a left-hand axis. The arrangement, by dispensing with typical fork structure, provides for steering movement such that the wheel moves laterally away from the side wall opposite to the direction in which the wheel is steered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand for a motorcycle. The stand comprises an elongate transverse frame member, which has a non-circular cross-section, a first pair of similar elongate leg members, and a second pair of similar elongate leg members. Each leg member of both pairs has a non-circular transverse socket at one end. The shape of the socket corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the transverse frame member. The leg members are slid on the frame member and secured with the members of the first pair in a first plane at an acute or right angle to the members of the second pair in a second plane. A transverse member is mounted on each leg of the first pair for engagement with the undercarriage of the motorcycle. Alternatively, a channel member, which has a hole cut through each of its sides, the holes in register with one another, is slipped about each front fork of the motorcycle between the bottom crown and fork slider.

Abstract: An intelligent slave vehicle follows the movements of a master vehicle without imposing a requirement on the master vehicle to supply towing power for the slave vehicle, the slave vehicle being self powered and self controlling in dependence on movements of the master vehicle.

Abstract: A stair-climbing wheelchair carrier, comprising a carrier portion comprising a pair of endless belt crawlers, and a handle portion rotatably and detachably provided on the carrier. The handle portion is adapted to be rotated between an operating position and a wheelchair engaging position. The endless belt crawler has an oblique overhand portion which has a height higher than a usual height of a step of stair. A guide body is provided to mount a wheelchair secured to the handle portion so as to be rotated together with the handle portion to the operating position.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling a four-wheel drive vehicle wherein said method hydraulically controls a distribution of a drive force between the front and rear wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle and a change of the gear ratio of an automatic transmission of the vehicle. After either the drive force distribution control or the gear ratio change control has been started, the other control is forbidden until a predetermined condition is satisfied. This control is either the lapse of a predetermined period of time or the end of one of the controls which is determined by the result of a comparison of the number of revolutions of the transmission or the result of a comparison of the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A flow control passage fluidly interconnects an output flow passage and a return flow passage to bypass a control valve. A control valve operation modifying variable orifice is disposed in and partly defines the flow control passage. The control valve operation modifying variable orifice is variable in flow area in response to at least one of vehicle control factors other than steering torque. A fixed flow area orifice is disposed in and partly defines the flow control passasge at a location downstream of the control valve operation modifying variable orifice. The control valve has a plurality of steering torque responsive variable orifices and bypass passage means for bypassing at least one of the steering torque responsive variable orifices. A differential pressure passage provides communication between the upstream and downstream sides of the fixed flow area orifice. An actuator is disposed in and partly defines the differential pressure passage.

Abstract: A four wheel steering system for non-articulated vehicles including a digital angle register for periodically generating front wheel angle information .theta..sub.F1, .theta..sub.F2 . . . .theta..sub.FN representing the incremental angular positions of the front wheels and a rear wheel angle generator for storing the information and utilizing it after a delay distance D to control the angular positions .theta..sub.R1, .theta..sub.R2 . . . .theta..sub.RN of the rear wheels.

Abstract: A road vehicle has steerable front and rear wheels, the rear wheels being steered by an electro-hydraulic system responsive to the manual control input to the front wheels. The hydraulic actuator of the system is biased to the straight-ahead steering position by springs, so that the rear wheels are centered in the event of electric or hydraulic failure, and an hydraulically restrained latch element is spring biased to then latch the actuator piston in its centered position.

Abstract: The vehicle disclosed offers significant economies from both manufacturer and user standpoints, by virtue of its being embodied in two distinct sections, front and rear, that are joined by way of a detachable coupling located between the swivel sleeve which carries the front fork and the frame which carries the rear wheel, or wheels; in a preferred embodiment, the detachable coupling is of a quick-release type.

Abstract: A drawbar type trailer hitch comprising a frame supported telescoping tongue extended and retracted by a first pressure cylinder while a second pressure cylinder may be operated to position the rearward end portion of the telescopically extended tongue in a lateral direction for correcting the direction of rearward movement of a towed vehicle being backed toward a parked position by the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A method and control system for controlling the wheel slip of a vehicle having at least one driven wheel coupled to an internal combustion engine. Feedback variables are generated and summed to generate a feedback control signal for controlling the engine throttle to reduce the wheel slip. One feedback variable is related to engine torque output at the time the torque output is delivered from the engine. More specifically, a measurement of intake manifold pressure is delayed for a time approximately equal to an integer multiple of the time delay between an intake stroke and power stroke of an engine cylinder.

Abstract: An uneven ground vehicle comprises a plurality of running means each having a support frame for supporting wheels, tires, crawlers or the like. Each support frame is connected to the body of the vehicle so as to be swingable in the front and rear direction of the vehicle whereby the wheels, crawlers or the like can continue to contact a ground surface even when the vehicle runs on an uneven ground.