Abstract: A modular robot body assembly includes a generally rhombicuboctahedron geometric shape segmented into five modules symmetrically located around a horizontal center shaft system which allows the robot body, front legs, and back legs to rotate about a horizontal center axis with respect to one another. Four quarter-shell modules are arranged at 90 degree angles from each other about the common horizontal center axis and joined at edges to each other and at their inner facing edges to a core module containing a shaft rotatably mounted along the horizontal center axis. Each module may contain functionally different parts that can be mixed and matched with other modules to suit particular applications. A flexible coil conduit is connected between the shaft and the core module providing an electrical linkage form the robot body to the legs while maintaining rotational capability of the legs with respect to the body.

Abstract: A collapsible tow bar assembly adapted to extend between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. A frame is provided which includes a bearing element secured to the front end of the frame and a mounting element secured to the rear end of the frame. The mounting element is adapted to be selectively connected to the receiver hitch of a towing vehicle, while the bearing element extends rearward toward the towed vehicle. A pair of elongated, telescopic swing arms are pivotally secured to the bearing element and extend to the towed vehicle for attachment thereto. The bearing element further includes a yoke rotatable about a ball joint having at least two degrees of freedom which allows for movement of the swing arms in both vertical and horizontal planes. The swing arms further include pivot flanges that are pivotally secured to the swing arms at an end nearest the towed vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is a variable mechanical transmission for converting a rotary input into a rotary output. The transmission includes a spindle for mounting, allowing for rotation in response to the rotary input, a hub mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, and a plurality of elongate arms. The arms are each pivotally mounted on the hub, with the pivoting axes of the arms being arranged about the spindle axis. Each arm carries at its outer end a clutched pinion which rotates in one direction only. The pinions engage the teeth of a gear. The gear is mountable on a frame for rotation about a gear axis paralleling the spindle axis and also for movement on a frame between concentric and extreme eccentric positions, at which the gear axis has a minimal and maximal displacement, respectively, from the hub axis.

Abstract: A trailer attachable to an all terrain vehicle (ATV) and being particularly suited for use in off-road environments. The trailer has a main frame assembly and two wheels each supported from an independent axle support assembly having a substantially open gap extending therebetween. Each axle support assembly includes a skid component slidably engagable with off-road obstacles. Extending under and outwardly from the main frame assembly is a hitch arm having an end portion couplable to the ATV. The hitch arm includes a skid portion also slidably engagably with off-road objects. Both passengers and cargo may be simultaneously transported from a container housing. This container housing is supported upon the main frame assembly and defines a rearwardly extending cavity for cargo and a seat for passengers. A front shield extends vertically from the main frame assembly and provides a protective safety wall between passengers and the ATV.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle having a pair of longitudinally extending frame portions. The hitch assembly is attachable to a selected vehicle of a group of towing vehicles having frame portions spaced apart a variety of different widths. The hitch assembly includes a pair of end members. Each end member has an attachment connectable with a respective frame portion of the towing vehicle and a support fixed to the attachment. Each attachment has a plurality of elongate openings each for receiving a fastener to attach its end member to the frame portion of the towing vehicle. At least one of the attachment elongate openings in each attachment extends in a direction parallel to the support. At least one of the elongate transverse openings extends in a direction perpendicular to the support. The support has at least one elongate transverse opening extending in a direction parallel to the length of the support and a transverse circular opening.

Abstract: A single wheel running stroller for carrying a child which has a large front wheel with a U-shaped frame and foot supports for receiving the child's feet and has a curved main frame member which extends from the U-shaped frame to a handle at the upper end thereof. Cross-bars are attached to the frame member and a canvass seat is attached to the cross-members for receiving the child's body. A kick stand is attached to the main frame and can be moved into a support position when the stroller is stationary and can be moved to an upper position out of engagement with the ground when in use. A waist band bracket is attached with a universal joint to the main frame member of the stroller and the waist band fits around the user's waist to drive and stabilize the device. An upper extending handle is provided. The stroller may be folded and stored by use of a pivot in the main frame member which allows it to be folded over for storage purposes.

Abstract: A power steering system is disclosed which automatically corrects unexpected variations in the path of a vehicle without requiring a driver to make corrections. A rotary valve in the power steering system includes an inner sleeve connected to a steering wheel, an outer sleeve connected to a pinion shaft meshed with a rack bar, and a torsion bar coupled to the inner sleeve and the pinion shaft. The rotary valve switches oil passages communicating with a power cylinder by means of relative rotation between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to thereby assist in steering. The outer sleeve and the pinion shaft are connected to each other for slight relative rotation through an elastomer or resilient connecting member. If an unexpected variation in path is produced in the vehicle, the outer sleeve is rotated by the operation of a torque motor which causes the operation of the rotary valve, thereby moving the power cylinder whereby a steering force is produced for correcting the variation in path.

Abstract: A recumbent bicycle has a tubular frame member with a longitudinal axis running from front to rear. A rear support module includes a saddle for nestingly embracing a rear portion of the frame member. Cantilever support members extend downward from the saddle to free ends which are attached to an axle for a rear wheel. A head tube and bearing attached to the front of the frame member support a head shaft and a fork with a bifurcated lower portion suitable for mounting a front wheel. The fork lies generally in a plane and is supported, set forward of the head shaft, by extension plates such that the head shaft axis intercepts the fork plane. A drive sprocket assembly is at the front of the frame member. A seat assembly has opposing track slides engaging a track at the top of the frame member. The slides can be drawn together to clamp the track and fix the seat.

Abstract: A kit for converting a wheelbarrow for use as a towed garden cart is especially suited for wheelbarrows of the type comprising a pan supported on diverging beams, and a brace between forward ends of the beams, a forward wheel mounted to the beams adjacent the brace and a pair of depending legs mourned to the beams behind the forward wheel. The kit comprises rear wheel assemblies mounted to each of the depending legs and a front hitch plate releasably attached to the forward ends of the beams adjacent the brace and having a forwardly extending tongue adapted to connect to a hitch on a towing vehicle. The hitch plate has a riser received behind the brace and a return flange forming a channel to receive laterally extending support members which rest atop the beam forward ends. The rear wheel assembly preferably comprises an axle tube adapted to mount to each of the rear legs and axles bearing wheels releasably mounted within each of the axle tubes.

Abstract: In an auxiliary power steering intended especially for motor vehicles, a pinion (2) positioned in a steering housing (1) engages a steering rack (9). A steering valve (14) that is used to control the pressure medium for the auxiliary power steering provides two inlet-seat valves (15, 16) and two outlet-seat valves (17, 18) whose closing bodies (20, 21, 35, 36) can be shifted in the axial direction by a rotary movement of a steering spindle. Closing bodies (20, 21) of inlet-seat valves (15, 16) can be biased in the closing direction by the force of pressure springs (22, 23). In the process, pressure springs (22, 23) bias the closing bodies (20, 21) of inlet-seat valves (15, 16) only if the particular outlet-seat valves (17, 18) are in their neutral position. Each pressure spring (22, 23)--when steering valve (14) is in the neutral position--keeps closing body (20, 21) of the particular inlet-seat valve (15, 16) resting against a valve seat (26, 27) that is fixed on the housing.

Abstract: A dockable container chassis has a slidable bunk for carrying the container between transport and docking positions. This chassis may be used as the lead trailer of a "B train" or as a single semi-trailer. When the chassis is the lead trailer, a fifth wheel is mounted at the rear thereof between the chassis sides. The tail trailer is then equipped with a kingpin mounted to connect with the fifth wheel on the rear of the lead trailer, without interference between the chassis of the two units. The bunk on the lead trailer rides over the fifth wheel of the lead trailer which is located between the sides of its chassis. Locking mechanisms are provided to restrain the bunk from movement unless unlocked and the bunk is being moved from the docking to a transport position.

Abstract: A hitch alignment apparatus comprising a mount having a base for engaging an underside of a drawbar of a ball hitch and a latch pins for engaging the ball hitch above the base thereby holding the base to the drawbar, and a ramp member, having a pair of sidewalls, rigidly secured to a front end of the mount at an elevation above the latch pins, the pair of sidewalls converging as they approach the front end of the mount.

Abstract: A rotatable fifth wheel mechanism for use on converter dollies, truck tractors, and permanently attached dollies. The mechanism includes: a fifth wheel supported on a frame for rotation about a vertical axis; and a clutch secured between the fifth wheel and the frame, to control rotation of the fifth wheel relative to the frame. The clutch includes a drum secured to the fifth wheel, friction pad completely surrounding the drum and an inflatable bladder for applying pressure to the friction pad. The fifth wheel mechanism also includes apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure in the bladder to selectively vary the engagement force between the drum and friction pads. The apparatus for selectively increasing or decreasing pressure includes at least a pair of electrically operated air valves.

Abstract: The air cushion chambers of an air cushion vehicle are horizontally delimited by a skirt. The skirt comprises brushes with elongated downwards extended filaments (9), which have downwards diminishing cross-sectional area thereby providing the brushes with sufficient stiffness to maintain the pressure in the air cushion chamber and such a large flexibility in the lower section of the skirt that ice can hardly deposit thereon. The filament members are mounted in a guide profile (2) in such a manner that above the members there is a chamber (12) for dispersion and conveying of deicing fluid which form the chamber (12) via a flow passage in every filament member may pass down into a clearspace (10) between the filaments (9). At least one of the filaments (109) has forward protruding web (115) on one of its sides and a backwards protruding web (116) on its other side.

Abstract: A child's tricycle comprising a pair of rear wheels, a front wheel, a seat positioned between the front and rear wheels, a support for the seat extending between the front and rear wheels, a handle for steering, and a steering fork having an upper end for supporting the handle and a bifurcated lower end for supporting the front wheel. A one-piece crank extends through the front wheel and defines outer ends disposed on opposite sides of the front wheel for holding pedals whereby a child can propel the tricycle by applying foot pressure to the pedals to thereby turn the crank and associated front wheel. A driving connection between the crank and front wheel is provided by a centrally located bend in the crank, and a centrally located opening defined by the front wheel snugly receiving the bend. A head tube is eliminated by using a steering fork and steering wheel telescoping combination which extends through vertically-aligned openings in the tubular support extending longitudinally of the tricycle.

Abstract: A track supporting roller apparatus supports the articulated track chain of an undercarriage assembly of a track-type work machine. Vibrations and shock loads are generated to a track-type work machine when load bearing track rollers contact the articulated joints of the track chain and the born load is not picked up by an adjacent track roller. The subject roller apparatus has track rollers spaced to support the track chain and prevent the introduction of vibrations and shock loads.

Abstract: A towing apparatus for releasable securement between a wheel, or wheel gear, or wheel support structure, of an object-to-be-towed and a towing vehicle. A hitch connection is releasably secured to an elongated, resiliently bendable draft member at one end, and to an adjustable torque engaging member at the other end. A breakaway sleeve is secured to the bendable draft member in proximity to the torque engaging member. A breakaway support member having upper and lower bracing bars is pivotally secured to the breakaway sleeve, to provide arcuate travel of the bendable draft member. Limit stops extend between braces, to limit the arcuate travel of the bendable draft member to not more than 30 degrees. An expandable yoke is secured to the upper and lower bracing bars to provide an apparatus to releasably secure the towing apparatus to the object-to-be-towed.

Abstract: Braking apparatus for use on wheelchairs are provided by the present invention. The braking apparatus may be used on a wheelchair having a pair of rotatable wheels and a frame member. The apparatus includes a mounting assembly connected to the frame member wherein the mounting assembly comprises first and second clamp sections for securing the mounting assembly to the frame member; a quick release assembly for compressing the first and second clamp sections around the frame member; and frictional braking means for slowing the rotation of at least one of said wheels.

Abstract: A pair of air inlet openings and a pair of air introduction paths are formed in a leftwardly and rightwardly symmetrical relationship on left and right side portions of a windshield. The air introduction paths are each formed as a smooth continuous curved face in a transverse direction, and a body center side curved face of the air introduction path is formed more moderate relative to an outer side curved face. When surface air flows along the surface of the front face flow on the air introduction paths since the body center side curved faces are moderate, exfoliation occurs less likely, and the external air admission efficiency of the air inlet openings is raised.

Abstract: A motorized wheelbarrow comprises a pan for receiving a load to be transported by the barrow, at least a wheel arranged to bear on the ground and a motor arranged to rotate the wheel for moving the wheelbarrow over the ground. The motor is located under the pan and with its center of gravity in front of a vertical plane including the axle of rotation of the wheel as seen in the direction of movement in the transport position of the wheelbarrow.