Abstract: A transmission apparatus is used in an electrical bicycle which includes a power switch, a rear wheel and a hub in the rear wheel. The transmission apparatus of the electrical bicycle includes an upper transmission set including a speed-reducing motor connected to a drive gear which is meshed to a driven gear, a middle transmission set including an upper rod, a lower rod, and a universal joint connected therebetween, where the upper rod is connected to the driven gear, and a lower transmission set including a first bevel gear extended from the lower rod, a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear, a tube extended from the second bevel gear and received in the hub of the rear wheel, and at least one unidirectional needle bearing positioned between the hub and the extended tube allowing the extended tube to drive the hub to rotate thus moving the rear wheel forward yet not allowing the hub to drive the extended tube to rotate.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering device utilizes a hypoid gear wheel having a spherical bearing disposed eccentric to a center axis of the hypoid gear wheel. A stud shaft mounted to a rod has an end connected to the hypoid gear wheel via the spherical bearing so that rotation of the hypoid gear wheel moves the rod in an axial direction. The rod may then be jointed to the steering arms of a pair of wheels in order to steer them. This device is an improvement over the prior art in that it eliminates the costs of production required by a rack and pinion system, and the tensioning system therefor.

Abstract: A single track vehicle includes at least one front drive wheel and one rear steered wheel. A steering mechanism causes the front and rear wheels to substantially track each other during a turn and also causes the center of gravity of the vehicle to be raised during a turn. The steering mechanism further allows simultaneous variance of both the camber angle and turn angle of the rear wheel for even more exact tracking of the front and rear wheels. The steering mechanism further provides for a more linear relationship between the rate of change in the angle of rotation of the steering head of the vehicle and the rate in change of the turn radius of the vehicle. In other aspects, a steering mechanism is provided which allows the operator to maintain a constant width between his hands while turning a vehicle incorporating the steering mechanism. Preferred embodiments of the vehicle are shown in the form of a bicycle and a motorcycle.

Abstract: A hydraulic mechanism for driving a vehicle, and having right and left laterally spaced hydraulic motors which drive respective ground engaging wheels, an axle structure extending laterally between the right and left hydraulic motors for receiving operating loads from the ground engaging wheels, the right and left hydraulic motors being coupled with the axle structure for generally enclosing and sealing the axle structure, said generally sealed axle structure being adapted for containing hydraulic fluid and serving as a fluid reservoir, a hydraulic pump which drives the hydraulic motors, said pump being in operative fluid communication with the interior of the axle structure for drawing fluid therefrom, the pump being positioned outside the axle structure. The motors include input and output ports which are positioned within the axle structure, and hydraulic lines extend between the pump and the input and output ports.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel suspension is disclosed, which comprises two front fork assemblies capable of being elongated and contracted, each having an inner and an outer tube and slidable relative to each other. The lower ends of these front fork assemblies can support an axle. The front fork assemblies include respective attenuating mechanisms and. The attenuating mechanism in one front fork assembly can adjust the attenuating force during the contraction stroke of this front fork assembly. The attenuating mechanism in the other front fork assembly can adjust the attenuating force during the elongation stroke of this front fork assembly.

Abstract: A seat stay assembly for a bicycle frame includes a pair of stays which converge toward one another along a first length of the assembly proximal to the rear wheel axle support. Along an intermediate length the stays flair outwardly from one another and contour around to join one another at a distal end proximate the seat post. The contouring of the stays forms a pocket within which the rear tire can pass with substantial clearance from the stays. By this configuration, brake bosses mounted to stays at the points where they change direction are more rigidly supported than in conventional straight stay designs.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling hop in an all wheel drive machine having a torque control lever and a pump for supplying pressurized fluid to wheel motors for effecting all wheel drive. The method includes monitoring machine speed and motor pressure, sensing a first motor pressure fluctuation and subsequent motor pressure fluctuations indicative of a hop, determining desired pump pressure based upon machine speed, and overriding the torque control lever and holding pump pressure constant at desired pump pressure for a preselected time in response to detecting a predetermined number of hops occurring at a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A drive train of a steering apparatus for rear wheels of a vehicle transmits a driving force of a rotary motor to a steering shaft of rear wheels that is shiftable in the axial direction. The drive train comprises a reduction mechanism driven by the motor and a converting mechanism driven by the reduction mechanism for converting rotational motion of the motor to a linear motion for steering the rear wheels. The reduction mechanism includes a worm driven by the motor and a worm wheel driven by the worm. The converting mechanism comprises a trapezoidally-threaded screw mechanism including a trapezoidally-threaded female screw member and trapezoidally-threaded male screw member. One of the trapezoidally-threaded male and female screw members is driven by the worm wheel, and the other fixed to the steering shaft of rear wheels. A transmission efficiency of an input from the steering shaft of rear wheels to the trapezoidally-threaded screw mechanism is set to be zero.

Abstract: A golf cart for transporting a golfer and golf clubs about a golf course. The inventive device includes a manually powered cycle having a steerable front wheel and a pair of rear wheels. A golf bag holding assembly is secured to the cycle between the rear wheel for supporting and securing a golf bag. A drink holder and writing pad are also secured to the cycle for holding a beverage and a golf scorecard, respectively.

Abstract: A base plate has an aperture which allows the plate to be mounted flatwise on a drawbar under the hitch ball. The base plate has a front integral wall of short height which allows side to side swinging movement of a trailer tongue over the top of it when the tongue is hitched to the ball. A flared trailer tongue guide is removably seated on the base plate in contact with the rear surface of the short front wall. The flared guide is locked in place by a pair of pivotal latch members having latch fingers that engage firmly against the bottom surface of the base plate. The aperture in the base plate is oblong to allow adjustment for the stop position of a trailer tongue as it bottoms out in the flared guide.

Abstract: A gear box mounting for a motor vehicle has a first member adapted to be mounted with respect to the vehicle gear box and a second member adapted to be connected to a sub-frame. The first and second members are interconnected by resilient elements inclined towards one another in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in order to provide vertical and lateral compliance of the gear box relative to the sub-frame. Buffering elements are provided between the first member and the second member and between the first member and the sub-frame to provide progressive buffering in the vertical upward and downward directions.

Abstract: Maneuverability of a work vehicle having front steerable drive wheels is improved by increasing steering clearance. The front drive axle is pivoted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a fore-and-aft extending oscillation centerline located above the lateral centerline of the axle. The drive shaft is in substantially collinear alignment with the oscillation centerline. The axle has an input shaft that is below and in substantially parallel alignment with the oscillation centerline and is substantially perpendicular to the lateral centerline of the axle. The drive shaft and the input shaft are drivingly connected by intermeshing drive and driven gears mounted on the drive and input shafts, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively providing one of a plurality of working surfaces to a person in a wheelchair comprising a planar rigid member with a flat upper surface, a flat lower surface, and an arcuate concave recess formed at its interior edge; a second working surface having an upper surface and a lower surface parallel with the first working surface, and positioned at the outboard end of the first working surface; a plurality of vertically extending walls including an outboard wall coupling the outboard edges of the first and second working surfaces and vertically extending parallel side walls coupling the side edges of the upper and lower working surfaces; a pair of book props secured to the vertical wall at the outboard face of the device with pivot means to allow rotation of the book props independent of each other; and mechanism to couple the lower working surface to a wheelchair.

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 convertible trailer for towing behind a bicycle, the trailer being convertible between a trailer and a stroller. The trailer possesses a chassis frame, comprising a generally rectangular outer frame member having a front frame member, a rear frame member, and two side frame members. A tow bar is pivotally mounted to the trailer, pivotal between a towing position extending forwardly of the chassis frame, and a stroller position extending upwardly of the chassis frame. Releasible securement means is further provided for securing the tow bar in the towing position and in the stroller position. A second pair of wheels are pivotably mounted on the chassis frame. Each are pivotable between a retracted position when the tow bar is in the towing position, and an extended position forward of the first pair of wheels for travel on the ground when the tow bar is in the stroller position.

Abstract: A suspension assembly that is formed of an essentially horizontal swing arm which is pivotally attached at one end to the underside of a bicycle frame by a pair of short links and which carries the rear wheel at an opposite end. The geometry of the suspension assembly is designed to produce a substantially straight line trajectory of the rear wheel in an upward and rearward direction at an angle that is preferably 20.degree.-30.degree. with respect to a vertical line through the wheel axis of rotation to increase traction, making the acceleration forces apply an upward vertical force component to the frame, and a downward component to the frame under braking, independent of wheel position, that reduces rear frame lift (pitch). Furthermore, to obtain a constant pedal "feel," the suspension geometry is also designed so that the maximum vertical height movement of the pedal crank axis of rotation can be kept to less than 5% of the vertical wheel travel (e.g., a 0.

Abstract: Articulated bus, in particular of the type with a low floor, whereby said bus has a pulling vehicle (1), a pulled vehicle (2) and an articulated mechanism which connects both vehicles to one another and which contains a rotary junction (3) with a lower part (13) which is connected to the pulling vehicle (1) and an upper part (14) mounted thereupon in a rotating manner around an upward axis of rotation to which the pulled vehicle (2) is connected, whereby the connection between either of these parts (13 and 14) of the rotary junction (3) and the accompanying vehicle (1 or 2) is a hinged joint (20, 22 to 27) with an axis which is diametrically offset from the rotary shaft of the rotary junction (3), characterized in that the hinged joint between a vehicle (1 or 2) and either of the parts (13 or 14) of the rotary junction (3) contains two flexible supporting arms (18), which are situated on either side of the rotary shaft of the rotary junction (3), and which are each fixed to an end of the vehicle (1 or 3) on t

Abstract: A pair of elongated hitch bar assemblies including first and second ends have their first ends universally mounted from the forward ends of front-to-rear extending toe braces of the forward skis of a snowmobile and the second ends thereof releasably anchored to the rear ends of the toe braces.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal arm is mounted on an occupant powered vehicle. The pedal arm is elongated and tubular, extending from one end, mounting pedals and cranks, to a remaining end that is pivotably mounted to the vehicle frame for adjustable pivotal movement about an axis. An internal drive assembly is provided within the pedal arm, extending from the crank arms to the remaining end of the pedal arm. An external drive assembly connects the internal drive assembly to at least one of the vehicle wheels. An adjuster is mounted between the pedal arm and vehicle frame to permit selective adjustment of the pedal position relative to the occupant seat. The pedal arm with the use of a pedal arm adjuster, pivots about a jack shaft located on the vehicle frame to meet the occupant's preferred pedal position.

Abstract: A draw-bar coupling for a vehicle combination incorporates a sensor assembly for sensing the loads acting on the coupling in more than one plane, specifically two or three planes at right angles to each other.