Abstract: A rear suspension system for a bicycle. The system directs the rear wheel along a predetermined, S-shaped path as the suspension is compressed. The path is configured to provide a chainstay lengthening effect only at those points where this is needed to counterbalance the pedal inputs of the rider; at those points in the wheel travel path where there is a chainstay lengthening effect, the chain tension which results from the pedal inputs exerts a downward force on the rear wheel, preventing unwanted compression of the suspension. The system employs a dual eccentric crank mechanism mounted adjacent the bottom bracket shell to provide the desired control characteristics.

Abstract: Adjustable riding toys are provided in both bicycle and tricycle forms. The tricycle and bicycle have at least one wave ride wheel allowing a rider to change between a smooth ride and an up and down ride. Both rear wheels on the tricycle are provided with synchronized wave ride wheels which create a side to side wobble of the riding toy. Methods of adjusting the bicycle and tricycle are also provided.

Abstract: A guide, for guiding the towing tongue on a trailer onto the standard ball type hitch, which consists of vertical oriented plates attached to a horizontal plate which has an aperture that will receive the standard ball type hitch. The horizontal plate has an steel tube extension on it which will fit into the standard box receivers secured to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: In a control device for a hydraulic actuator used in steering for controlling a hydraulic actuator comprising an angle sensor for detecting an angle of rotation given to a steering wheel, and an angle sensor for detecting an angle of an angular displacement of a vehicle wheel disposed to a steering mechanism for controlling the directional movement of the vehicle wheel with the hydraulic actuator, in which the given angle of an angular displacement of a vehicle wheel to a control device is outputted as an aimed positional signal, an actual angle of an angular displacement of a vehicle wheel of the vehicle wheel is outputted to the control device as a feedback signal, the desired positional signal is compared with the feedback signal to and the aimed positional signal is calculated and outputted to the actuator to control the hydraulic actuator,a memory table for previously storing steering control characteristics is used in a circuit for comparative calculation of an output in accordance with inputs.

Abstract: A tricycle type vehicle that uses a reciprocating crank system to drive the vehicle is shown. In this design, the operating parts of the vehicle are enclosed by a padded shell that has a soft removable cover. The padded shell ensures that a child has no access to the moving parts while the vehicle is in motion The soft removable covers have different designs, such as animals (horses, lions, etc.), dinosaurs, cartoon characters, or any popular style. The soft covers are also designed to be used a bedding for children, throw rugs or as large stuffed toys. The device also has fenders to prevent contact with the large rear wheels. Finally, sound effects can be added to further enhance the overall operating effect as a toy.

Abstract: A trailer hitch is designed to be inserted in a conventional square-shaped sleeve or receiver fixed to the back of a vehicle. The hitch includes a sleeve and an arm which is received by and pivots simultaneously with the sleeve.

Abstract: An electric forklift truck having a single motor which drives a pump which provides, via a priority valve, hydraulic fluid for both the working hydraulics and a steer unit on the truck. The motor is driven continuously at an idle speed in order to generate in the steer unit a dynamic load sensing signal to control the position of the priority valve. An optical sensor is associated with the steering column in order to provide an electric control signal to the motor controller to step up the speed of the motor in response to a steering demand.

Abstract: A wheelchair for the disabled and sick in which two rear wheels (1) are each connected to an electric motor drive disposed on the rear axle (2) of each rear wheel (1) and each rear wheel is individually spring mounted in relation to the underframe (5) of the wheelchair by a spring member (6) which is coupled to the underframe (5) and the drive (3). A rocker identically configured for use on the right and left is mounted with its front end in a horizontal axis (8) on a longitudinal bar (9) of the underframe so as to be pivotable with respect to height, and with its rear longitudinal end the rocker is supported on the underframe longitudinal bar (9) and the spring member (6) coupled to the rocker (7). Drive (3 or 4) is attached to the rocker (7). Between the two rockers is a free space (FR) extending from the rear side of the wheelchair to the pivoting axes (8) of the rocker for easy insertion of a battery at the center of gravity.

Abstract: A hub for a bicycle can typically have an axle for being non-rotationally connected to a frame of the bicycle, a hub body rotatably mounted about the axle, and a drive element rotatably mounted on the axle. A plurality of transmission elements can preferably be disposed between the axle and the hub body for transmitting a drive force from the drive element to the hub body, and a selection between various gearing ratios provided by the transmission elements can preferably be provided by a selectively engageable ratchet mechanism and a control device for selectively engaging and disengaging the ratchet mechanisms. The ratchet mechanism can be provided by at least one pawl, biased radially inward by at least one spring, to non-rotationally couple a ring body in one direction of rotation with the axle.

Abstract: A steering system for use in a track-laying vehicle comprising: a steering motor that is forwardly and reversely rotatable and designed to drive crawler belts provided at both sides of the vehicle such that a relative travel difference is caused between the crawler belts, thereby turning the vehicle rightwards or leftwards; a forward/reverse drive state detector for detecting whether the vehicle is in its forward drive state or reverse drive state; a lateral turn instructing device for instructing right turn or left turn of the vehicle; and a steering motor forward/reverse rotation control unit for determining the forward or reverse rotation of the steering motor in accordance with the forward or reverse drive state of the vehicle detected by the forward/reverse drive state detector, such that the vehicle turns to the right or left in response to a right turn instruction or left turn instruction released from the lateral turn instructing device.

Abstract: A rowing powered cycle is provided with a pair of rowing arms movable through a fore-aft reciprocal stroke motion and coupled to a drive mechanism for driving the cycle. The rowing arms are additionally coupled to a steering linkage for steering the cycle in response to left or right tilting movement of the rowing arms. Cycle steering may be performed simultaneously with reciprocal stroking motion of the rowing arms to drive the cycle, or during coasting movement.

Abstract: An articulated tracked vehicle for agricultural harvesting which reduces damage to fields and can be driven on paved roads at reasonable speeds. The vehicle has front and rear elements, linked by an articulating joint which permits turning and rotation of one element with respect to the other. Each element is motivated by a pair of tracked power units which are hydraulically driven by a heavy duty differential between the units. Each power unit is rotatably mounted solely on a shaft sleeve of the differential and is free to oscillate vertically and independently to absorb irregularities in its path. Each unit includes an endless elastomeric track which has two rows of lugs on its inner surface. A novel drive mechanism engages these lugs to motivate the vehicle. A sealed transmission housing in each power unit protects key drive elements from environmental damage without interfering with operation of the unit.

Abstract: This discloses a two part assembly that allows one person from a vehicle to align a trailer onto any size hitch ball on a bumper or a receiver hitch in only one attempt. The first part of the two part assembly, the horizontal steel plate is attached to the bumper by its hitch ball. A similar horizontal steel plate is attached to a receiver hitch by its hitch ball also. The second part of the assembly, the V shaped guide, acts as the guide for the trailer tongue to be guided onto the hitch ball. The V shaped guide fits into the horizontal steel plate by its male dowels which are inserted into the female dowels of the horizontal steel plate. This extended V shaped guide will assist the towing vehicle in backing up to a trailer at any angle, allowing the trailer tongue to be guided onto the hitch ball of a bumper or receiver hitch that has a horizontal steel plate attached. The V shaped guide is then removed after the hitch ball has been locked into place.

Abstract: A traction control system for a motor vehicle has an engine with a catalytic converter in an exhaust path. The traction control system has wheel speed sensors for detecting wheel speeds of respective wheels, a slip amount detection device for calculating slip amounts in driven wheels based on the wheel speeds, an engine output controller for decreasing engine output based on predetermined engine output decreasing patterns which correspond to the slip amounts, and an octane number detection device for detecting a difference in octane numbers of fuel between fuel designated in the engine and fuel actually supplied to the engine. The engine output decreasing pattern is changed so as to decrease unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas flown into the catalytic converter when the octane number of the actually supplied fuel is more than a predetermined number smaller than that of the designated fuel.

Abstract: In a servo steering unit which is designed particularly for motor vehicles, a pinion in a steering housing meshes with a steering rack. A steering valve which serves to control the pressure medium for the servo steering unit has two inlet seat valves (10, 11) and two outlet seat valves (12, 13) whose closing members (14, 18) are displaced by actuating tappets (16, 17) depending on the rotation of a steering spindle. The outlet seat valves (12, 13) are open in the neutral position of the steering valve. The inlet seat valves (10, 11) can be actuated by the force of pressure springs (15) in the closing direction and are not opened until after closing of the associated outlet seat valve (12, 13). The pressure springs of both inlet seat valves (10, 11) on one side press against the actuating tappets (16, 17) and on the other side press constantly on the closing member (14).

Abstract: According to the present invention, front visibility is improved, entry into a cab or exit therefrom by an operator is facilitated, fine operability by a traveling pedal is improved, and foot fatigue is decreased. To achieve this, when the palm rest (56) is detected in its neutral position N, forward or rearward speed signals for respective traveling hydraulic motors in response to detection signals of control input detectors (19a, 20a) of left and right traveling knobs (19, 20) are outputted to respective control valves from a controller (15).

Abstract: A compensating apparatus resists movement of the steered wheels of a vehicle to either side of a selected center position, and returns them to this center position after such movement. The apparatus includes a cam member connected to the steered wheels for movement therewith and having a cam surface with a centering depression. A follower member is pivotally mounted on one end of an elongated rocker member and may be received in the centering depression to define the center position. An actuator assembly applies a resilient force against the other end of the rocker member to press the follower member into the centering depression in response to the pressing of a resilient mechanism by a fluid pressure system. The amount of the resilient force may be varied remotely either by the driver during vehicle operation or automatically in response to vehicle speed. The center position also may be changed during vehicle operation.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic steering system has a three position pilot operated directional valve disposed between a variable displacement pump and a pair of steer cylinders. The directional valve controls the direction of fluid flow from the pump to the steer cylinders while the displacement of the variable displacement pump is controlled to vary the rate of fluid flow to the steer cylinders. The directional valve is moved to an on position in response to a pilot signal delivered thereto from a pilot valve device while the displacement setting of the variable displacement pump is varied by an electrical signal delivered to a displacement controller from a position sensor mechanism.

Abstract: A portable mobile stand for a human which uses a pair of side member assemblies with a vertical support member being mounted therebetween. A human occupying compartment is located in the space provided between the side member assemblies. The vertical support member assembly includes a knee support pad and a hip support pad with a buttocks strap being connectable between the side member assemblies and locatable against the buttocks of the human user. A chest support pad is mounted on a support bar with this support bar being pivotally movably mounted on the vertical support member. This support bar is lockable at any one of various positions relative to the vertical support member. Each side member assembly includes a hand engagable handle with these handles being deflectable to a vertical out-of-the-way position. When these handles are located in the horizontal/usable position, such are locked in position.

Abstract: A steering stabilizer for bicycles utilizing a hydraulic fluid. A stabilizer body is secured to the frame of the bicycle. The stabilizer body has a hydraulic reservoir which is in the shape of an arc. A vane is supported by the stem of the bicycle which turns with the handlebars and the arcuate shaped opening is filled with a hydraulic fluid. As the handlebars are turned, the stem turns the stem vane and produces a resistance to turning. Preferably this resistance is variable by the placement of a valve between the two volumes on each side of the stem vane.