Abstract: A lock for a bicycle wherein a locking cable is stored in an upwardly extending frame tube of the bicycle. A weight on the cable within the frame tube has a triple function, in that: it prevents the cable from being pulled completely out of the frame tube when the bicycle is being locked; it pulls the cable back into the frame tube when not in use; and, it jams the pedal crank shaft against operation in the event a thief should cut the cable when the bicycle is locked.

Abstract: A seatbelt system wherein the intermediate portions of an outer webbing for restraining an occupant are turned back at slip anchors provided at the upper and lower portions of a vehicle door, whereby, in the normal running condition of the vehicle, relative movement between the webbing and the slip anchors allows the occupant to have high freedom in moving, and, in an emergency of the vehicle, when the occupant is moved by an inertial force in the direction of a collision, relative movement between the webbing and the slip anchors is prevented to restrain the occupant, thus preventing the upper body of the occupant from being thrown out in the direction of the collision.

Abstract: A multi-terrain vehicle for travelling on or above the ground or the like. The multi-terrain vehicle has a rigid body portion and a series of rigid ribs are rotatably connected on each side of the body portion that are capable of being rotated to their fully deployed positions. A sailcloth made from a material known by the trademark Dacron is located between each of the ribs so that the ribs and the sailcloth provide a collapsible air duct. When these air ducts are extended and provided with a source of air, this air can cause the multi-terrain vehicle to float or be located above the ground or the like. The rigid ribs also have spring members or the like that permit them to be self-adjusting to automatically maintain proper ground clearance. When the ducts are deployed the multi-terrain vehicle can be moved horizontally over the ground by controlling the amount of air flow through the various ducts.

Abstract: An input-output force correlated drive system for driving a driven device such as the rear wheel of a bicycle or the like comprising: input force applying apparatus for transmitting input force to and causing operation of the drive system; rotatable output force transfer apparatus operable by the input force applying apparatus for transferring output force to the driven device; and input-output force correlation apparatus being continuously operatively connected to and operable by the input force applying apparatus and being continuously operatively connected to and operating the output force transfer apparatus for variably changing the rotational speed and circumferential location of the output force transfer apparatus relative to the input force applying apparatus during each revolution in accordance with predetermined input-output force correlation characteristics to be provided by the drive system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a trailer hitch for a vehicle. The trailer hitch is designed to be connected to a vehicle and permits two degrees of freedom for the hitchpoint. The first degree of freedom is in a lateral direction which permits the hitchpoint to have freedom to move horizontally in a lateral direction. This degree of freedom is dampened by a viscous dampener to improve the lateral stability of a trailer connected to the hitchball. Further, springs are provided to resist lateral movement and to restore the hitchpoint to its original position during the pulling of a trailer. In addition, a second degree of freedom is provided which permits rotation of the hitchball about a longitudinal axis. Permitting the rotation of the hitchball permits the accidental overturning of a towed vehicle without overturning the towing vehicle.

Abstract: An articulated joint for an articulated vehicle. Upper and lower pivotal connections, each employing a ball and socket, allow pivoting of two vehicle sections about a vertical axis. The ball of the lower joint is attached to one section while the socket is attached to the other section of the vehicle. The socket and ball of the upper joint are attached to a support member free to move along a shaft in a transverse direction between two stops. The ball of the upper joint is free to move along a vertical shaft joined to the other section of the vehicle. The transverse shaft provides a bearing surface to transmit loads between the two vehicle sections. Seals along the support member prevent entrainment of dirt along the shaft and bearing. The stops are part of the structure attaching the transverse shaft to the vehicle.

Abstract: A first body member is arranged to be secured on a vehicle and has an outwardly facing socket. A second body member is provided, and this member has an inwardly facing socket. A connecting neck has opposite ends arranged to be received in the sockets of the first and second body members, the neck in one embodiment being straight to provide a straight hitch on a vehicle and the neck in another embodiment having a vertical body portion and oppositely extending ends to provide a drop hitch. The second body member has a pair of hitch coupler portions on opposite surfaces thereof, and this body member has a pair of adjusted mounted positions on the neck so that one or the other of the hitch coupler portions can be used conveniently.

Abstract: A personnel carrier particularly suited for use in agricultural weed spraying is designed to be pulled behind a tractor having a standard three-point hitch. The carrier has two wings that extend laterally and forwardly from the attachment point behind the tractor at an angle of approximately 45.degree.. Platforms are provided on each wing for personnel to spray weeds from and wheels are located at the outer end of the wings to aid in support and balance of the device. A pair of skids whose lateral spacing corresponds to that between the front wheels of the tractor is located at the rear of the device and serves to support a large portion of the weight of the device in conjunction with the three-point hitch.

Abstract: A power steering device includes a steering shaft assembly, a driven member for operative connection with the steering road wheels for a vehicle and operatively connected with the steering shaft assembly, an hydraulic cylinder of actuating the driven member by fluid under pressure supplied thereto, an hydraulic circuit connecting the cylinder to a source of fluid pressure, and a switching valve having a valve member to be moved in response to rotation of the shaft assembly in an axial direction, the valve disposed within the hydraulic circuit to control the supply of fluid under pressure in response to axial movement of the valve being member. A cam mechanism is associated with the steering shaft assembly to conduct the axial movement of the valve member in response to rotation of the steering shaft assembly.

Abstract: A personal safety restraint assembly for vehicle occupants employs a broad band of flexible webbing or sheet material to distribute the restraining forces over a large area of the occupant's rib cage and pelvic region. One end of the band is secured to a floor mounted support, located at the rear innermost side of the seat. The other end is slidably attached to a guide mounted to the adjacent vehicle door by means of a convenient manually positionable locking mechanism, whereby the tension applied to the restraining band can be varied at will.

Abstract: A front wheel suspension assembly for a motorcycle includes parallel telescoping forks of the hydraulic shock absorber type which straddle the wheel and which are inclined in a forward direction. The bending moment imposed on the telescoping parts by this inclination is partly or fully opposed by a counter bending moment imposed by one or more springs positioned rearward of a vertical plane containing the wheel axis and below a bottom bridge joining the front fork tubes. The purpose is to reduce the frictional resistance between telescoping forks in their axial sliding motion. The springs apply the compensating bending moment between the telescoping parts, or between the lower telescoping fork parts and the frame of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A gearshift linkage for a cab-over-engine type truck having a shift lever extending up through the cab floor enables the forward tilting of the cab on the frame, about the cab pivot axis, without disengagement of the shift linkage and without dislocation of the shift lever from the cab. In the preferred embodiment, a conventional shifter control unit is secured to the cab just below the floor, with the shift lever extending up from the control unit. The control unit is equipped to accept side-to-side movement of the shift lever and translate it into rotation of a control unit output shaft, and to accept forward and rearward movement of the shift lever and translate it into generally forward and rearward movement of the output shaft. The control unit output shaft is connected through a first universal joint to a control shaft which extends forwardly and downwardly from the cab, being connected at its other end to a specially configured universal joint.

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 material handling system comprising a plurality of material-transporting lorries adapted to be pivotally connected end-to-end and a towing vehicle adapted to pull a train of connected lorries. Each of the lorries has a load-carrying body portion, end portions extending transversely of the body, and ground-engaging wheels arranged in substantially spaced pairs supported on the end portions. The towing vehicle has a low-profile rear section which can be moved under one of the end portions of the lorries between the wheels to releasably connect the towing vehicle and the first lorry. A projection extends upwardly from the rear section of the towing vehicle, into a recess formed in the front side of the lorry end portion and is maintained therein by a spring actuated abutment member which engages the back side of the lorry end portion. The projection and the abutment member thus cooperate to restrict relative horizontal movement of the towing vehicle and the lorry.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00158 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 16, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 16, 1979 PCT Filed Mar. 16, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO80/01894 PCT Pub. Date Sept. 18, 1980A vehicle component (10) is removably mounted on a stationary support (11) thereof. A pair of rollers (17,17a) rotatably mounted on the component (10) each engages a rail (18,18a) secured on the support (11) to thus precisely guide movements of the component (10) upon installation or removal thereof. The apparatus of this invention provide for the expeditious and precise handling of the component (10), compensate for avoidance of interference with structural parts of the vehicle during such handling, and are adapted for use with components, such as modular transmission packages having varied designs.

Abstract: A heavy duty hinged bi-level hitch for mounting on a tubular bumper of a vehicle. The bi-level hitch includes an upper hitch assembly with an upper hitch ball. The upper hitch assembly is integrally formed in the center of the bumper. A lower hitch assembly is pivotally attached to the bottom of the bumper. By loosening a pair of bolts, the lower hitch assembly can be pivoted from a raised storage position underneath the vehicle to a lowered position directly below the upper hitch assembly. The bi-level hitch eliminates the need of lowering or modifying the bumper of a high axle vehicle and provides a low pull point for the vehicle.

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: A narrow gauge, hydrostatic-drive tractor comprises an air-cooled prime mover, a Sundstrand hydraulic transmission mechanically coupled thereto, a fixed-displacement hydraulic motor hydraulically coupled to the Sundstrand transmission, an air conduit extending vertically upward from the fan housing of the prime mover for supplying ambient air to cool the prime mover, and cooling device disposed in the air conduit functioning to cool the hydraulic fluid. The motor is disposed beneath the fan housing and is coupled through a differential to drive wheels which, advantageously, have a diameter substantially the same as the width of the tractor. Advantageously, also, a manually-operated selector valve and a pressure-actuated cross-over relief valve is provided for by-passing the motor to protect the motor and to permit the tractor to be moved manually. There is also disclosed a scraping device for use with the above or like narrow gauge tractor.

Abstract: A torque converter comprises an input member and an output member that are interconnected by a planetary gear arrangement. A planet carrier of the planetary gear arrangement is driven by the input member and a sun wheel of the planetary gear arrangement is also driven by the input member, but through an infinitely variable change-speed mechanism which includes an adjustable pulley chain-drive mechanism using a chain. A preferred construction for the chain includes links pivoted to one another by members that bear on one another with convex surfaces. The torque converter can be used singularly or two torque converters can be employed, independently to drive the rear wheels of a tractor and to assist steering of the tractor.

Abstract: A fuel transport land vehicle formed by a tractor and a trailer carrying fuel in which the tractor has a plurality of axles all of which are steerable. The tractor and trailer are detachably coupled so that they remain along the same general longitudinal axis and sideways relative motion between the tractor and trailer is prevented. A pumping module is removably coupled to the vehicle and has disposed therein means for pumping, filtering and modulating the flow of fuel from the trailer.