Abstract: Improvement of equipment for attaching trailers with inertia controlled braking arrangement, being of the type including stabilizing bars whose exposure to tension provides an coupling arrangement for nullifying the reaction force affecting the supports of the movable control components. This reaction force results from inertia brake in the trailer and creates an increasing adverse force affecting said movable components. Characteristic is that this adverse force is generated by two elastically deformable arms freely articulated on a common axle located at the end of the coupling seat of the trailer. The free ends of either of these arms, usually curved downwards, is in permanent elastic abutment with the corresponding attachment bar. Elements are provided for keeping the arms on the bars during traction, turning and braking.

Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, a load restraining apparatus for cargo vehicles having a generally rectangular load space defined by side walls and a flat bed is provided having a pair of elongated slotted-rail assemblies each of which includes an inner longitudinal channel adjacent to and communicating with the longitudinal slot in the rails which are mounted in a spaced-apart parallel relationship the longitudinal length of the flat bed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for mounting on the front or rear bumper of a vehicle is disclosed. The hitch is useful for hauling trailers of various types and is particularly useful in launching boats from boat trailers while secured by the hitch to the front end of the vehicle. The trailer hitch comprises, a main hitch member having a bumper catch thereon, a pivot member pivotally connected to the main hitch member, a second bumper catch connected to the pivot member, adjustable legs connected to the main hitch member for supporting the hitch on the bumper, and a handle for drawing the second bumper catch against the edge of the bumper.

Abstract: A conversion kit for converting a two-wheel conveyance, such as a bicycle, into a three-wheel conveyance includes a connecting member which provides two wheel fork assemblies equally spaced on opposite sides of the plane of the rear wheel, a center steering member having two arms arranged in a "V" shape and being attached to the center post of the bicycle and supporting the handlebars, and two four-bar linkage arrangements each including an arm, a rod member and a link member, one such four-bar linkage being coupled to each wheel fork assembly. The two linkages couple turning movement of the handlebars into turning movement of the front steering wheels wherein the front steering wheel to the inside of the turning path of the conveyance is turned through a greater angle than the front steering wheel to the outside of the turning path for the same amount of turning movement of the center steering member.

Abstract: A rear leaf spring support for vehicles having a frame which includes a pair of spaced apart side members tapering inward from a rear portion of the vehicle to a front portion of the vehicle is disclosed. A pair of shackle supports, one for each spring, are affixed the frame at the frame rear portion. A pair of front spring supports, one for each spring are affixed a lower flange of the frame vertically above a forward end of the spring. Each front spring support comprises an upper wall affixed a lower flange of the frame side member, an inner edge aligned with an inner edge of the shackle support integral with the upper wall, an outer edge spaced outward from the frame aligned with an outer edge of the shackle support integral with the upper wall, the inner and outer walls extending downward a distance parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A forward end of the spring is positioned between the inner and outer walls and pivotally attached thereto.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising a sprung mass and unsprung masses, front and rear suspensions coupling said sprung mass through said unsprung masses so that said unsprung masses can move independently in a vertical direction with respect to said sprung mass. Each of said suspensions comprising a resilient element and levers, the ends of which are hingedly connected to an unsprung mass while their other ends are connected to said sprung mass. A unit for said resilient elements is arranged on said sprung mass; and a plurality of flexible elements, each coupling said unit for said resilient elements with an unsprung mass. The flexible elements are under tension in the entire range of the vertical movement of an unsprung mass with respect to said sprung mass due to pretightening of the resilient elements.

Abstract: A drop center livestock trailer is provided with a deck which is vertically adjustable within the trailer body to two separate positions for accommodating various forms of livestock and freight. A sectional gate structure which extends for either the full or a part of the inside trailer width is incorporated in the trailer for assuming a first position in which it acts as a gate limiting the movement of livestock in the trailer and a second position wherein it supports a ramp for facilitating the loading and unloading of the livestock. The ram is pivotally attached to one end of the movable deck and is supported by a lower section of the sectional gate structure. The ramp is allowed to drop from its normal horizontal to an inclined position by moving the lower section of the gate structure to an inclined position. Connected to the lower gate section is an upper gate section which is pivotally connected to the sidewalls of the trailer.

Abstract: An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles which comprises an electrical actuator device for detecting a vehicle collision, a mechanical actuator device for detecting a vehicle collision, and a valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for supplying high-pressure gas to a safety bag at the time of a vehicle collision. The electrical and mechanical actuator devices are operatively connected to the valve opening device, and are actuatable independently of each other. The valve opening operation of the high-pressure gas container is effected in response to actuation of at least one of the electrical and mechanical actuator devices. When the electrical actuator device fails to operate, the mechanical actuator device enables the safety bag to be inflated, thereby ensuring positive and reliable operation of the safety bag system.

Abstract: A load carrying vehicle such as a truck trailer or a railroad car has a generally flat, horizontal loading surface which is supported by an underframe which in turn is mounted to and carried by wheel assemblies, kingpin-saddle plate arrangement and the like. The underframe extends over the full length and width of the load carrying vehicle and each of its transverse cross-sections is of a substantially constant height while in a longitudinal direction the center portion of the underframe is of a relatively greater height than portions of the underframe adjacent the wheel assemblies. The underframe is constructed of a first corrugated plate in which the corrugations run longitudinal of the vehicle. A second corrugated plate is secured to the underside of the first mentioned plate and the plates are arranged so that the corrugation troughs of the upper plate are in longitudinal alignment with corrugation peaks of the lower plate to define a hollow core honeycomb pattern between the plates.

Abstract: A tracked agricultural tractor in which the frame of the driver's cab is mounted on the tractor body by a suspension including a pair of transverse suspension structures, a pair of rigid transverse support structures and first and second shock absorber means, can be driven at speed over rough ground without a substantial adverse effect on the driver's comfort, since the rolling and pitching oscillations of the cab relative to the tractor body are damped by the shock absorbers, and their amplitudes limited by stop elements acting between the suspension and the cab frame.

Abstract: A lubricating device for railway car center plates comprises an annular disc of hardened steel plate having a maximum diameter slightly less than the diameter of the truck center plate and an inside diameter substantially greater than the center plate center pin holes, the annular disc being of substantially harder steel than the opposed surfaces of conventional truck and body center plates. The plate is enveloped in a viscous lubricant and is formed with a plurality of holes distributed generally uniformly throughout its surface area and these holes are also filled with lubricant, such that upon relative rotation between the truck and body center plates and during relative radial movements of the annular disc with respect to the truck and body center plates accommodated by horizontal clearance between the periphery of the annular disc and the truck center plate side walls, lubricant is distributed between the top and bottom surfaces of the plate respectively and the body and truck center plate surfaces.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus including a reaction control valve operable to be opened by a force proportional to a speed of a vehicle, and to be closed under a pressure in a reaction chamber. The pressure of a source of hydraulic pressure or a pressure proportional to the pressure of the hydraulic pressure source is applied so as to open the reaction control valve even when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. Thus, a steering reactive force, which would otherwise be limited at the predetermined speed of the vehicle, is controlled so as to be proportional at a proper ratio to a resistance from a road as it increases, thereby assuring more accurate steering of a vehicle.

Abstract: For attaching an implement to an offset-type tractor with a top link and two lower links; a top-link-mounting bracket and a first and a second lower-link-mounting brackets are provided for the three links, respectively. The first lower-link-mounting bracket is fixed to an upper portion of an arm securely borne on and transversely protruding from a wall part of an offset transmission case of the tractor. The first lower-link-mounting bracket has on a lower portion thereof a first lower-link-mounting pin fixed thereto.

Abstract: A friction shoe particularly adapted for providing improved regulation of movement between a bolster and a side frame of a railroad car truck includes a central body portion and triangular-shaped wings formed on each side thereof. Pairs of these friction shoes are disposed in pockets formed at the ends of the bolster which in turn are resiliently carried in a window formed in each side frame. Each friction shoe wing has a downwardly and outwardly sloped wear surface to form a convex-like seating area. In turn, each bolster pocket has complementarily formed friction surfaces providing a concave-like receiving area. During operation of the truck, the shoe seating area interacts with the bolster pocket receiving area to produce a wedging action. This wedging action in turn insures improved frictional regulation of side frame-bolster movements and maintains such in an aligned relationship.

Abstract: A pivotal hatchback for a streamlined rear of an automobile, said hatchback comprising a glass pane, a frame circumferentially bordering said glass pane, and an aerodynamic drag reducing device provided in a rear area of hatchback, said device comprising an elastic body having a holding part, said body abutting the glass pane and frame with the holding part being fastened to the frame.

Abstract: A steering assembly for a radially steerable articulated railway car truck has a pair of steering arms that are operably joined to the truck axles and connected together by a linkage passing over the truck bolster adjacent the side frames. The steering arms can be retrofitted to an existing conventional (non-radially steerable) three piece railway truck regardless of the type of brake rigging the truck employs. The linkage structure includes a pivotable link located at each end of the bolster and joining the steering arms for articulated movement.

Abstract: A hand drive assembly for a wheelchair is disclosed. The assembly comprises a main axle adapted to be installed on each side of a regular wheelchair for rotatably mounting the wheel of the chair, a main gear rotatably mounted on the main axle and adapted to be coupled to the wheel, an elongated plate mounted upwardly at one end on the main axle and at a predetermined angular position with respect to the vertical ahead of the wheel, a driving axle rotatably mounted at the other end of the gear plate, a driving gear secured to the driving axle, a hand drive ring coupled to the driving axle for driving such driving gear, and an intermediate gear rotatably mounted on the gear plate and coupling the driving gear to the main gear to transmit motion of the hand drive ring to the regular wheel of the wheelchair.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle is provided, for use inter alia as a mobile anti-tank guided missile-firing platform, which is sufficiently inexpensive to be expendable in battle and can be readily carried by a helicopter. The vehicle has a main frame comprising a pair of longitudinal closed box section members joined to form a ladder construction by a cross member and having strong points for the mounting of an engine and gearbox. The ground wheels, which lean outwards by about 5 degrees, are mounted on stub axles journalled in the box section members and are all driven by chains housed in oil baths within the box section members. Steering is accomplished by braking the transmission on one side or the other. The wheel tires are low pressure raw hide tires. The closed box section members project below the body of the vehicle and have toboggan-shaped ends to act as runners in snow. The body of the vehicle is constructed as a waterproof box to give buoyancy.

Abstract: A guided vehicle having a body with rubber-tired steerable running wheels mounted on axles. A suspension system for the axles includes transversely extending upper and lower link arms which are parallel with each other and have equal arm lengths. Each of the links or link arms has one end connected with the wheel axle through a joint mechanism for a steering movement and a rotative movement about a longitudinal axis and its other end connected at two longitudinally spaced portions with the vehicle body for rotative movement about a second longitudinal axis. Air springs are disposed between one of the links and the vehicle body for normally maintaining the links substantially horizontally to thereby maintain the associated wheel always vertical.

Abstract: A sliding roof construction for a vehicle comprising a transparent slide roof member movable forwardly and rearwardly to close and open an opening provided in the roof of the vehicle and a sunshade slidably mounted beneath the transparent slide roof member for selectively covering the slide roof member. A guide rail is mounted on the roof of the vehicle for slidably supporting the slide roof member and the guide rail has first and second guide grooves extending substantially parallel to one another. One of the guide grooves slidably supports slider members respectively mounted on the slide roof member and sunshade in front to back relation such that when the slide roof member is opened, the sunshade is opened therewith, whereas when the slide roof member is closed, the sunshade can selectively cover and uncover the closed slide roof member. The other guide groove slidably supports a stay on the slide roof member which can be used to drive the slide roof member in its opening and closing movements.