Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for an automotive vehicle in which a cable linkage is adapted to operatively interconnect front and rear wheel steering mechanisms. The cable linkage is provided with a displacement transmitting mechanism which includes an input element operatively connected to a front lateral bar in the front wheel steering mechanism through the cable linkage, an output element operatively connected to the rear wheel steering mechanism, and a spring element disposed between the input and output elements to transmit displacement of the input element to the output element without any deflection in a condition where the output element is freely movable and to absorb displacement of the input element in a condition where the output element is restrained by an excessive load applied thereto from the rear wheel steering mechanism.

Abstract: A suspension system for a sidecar-type motorcycle which operates to maintain the motorcycle in a level, vertical disposition irrespective of uneven terrain being traversed by the motorcycle. The sidecar wheel is mounted on a beam which is pivotally mounted at one end on the sidecar frame. The lower end of a shock absorber is pivotally connected to the other end of the beam and the upper end of the shock absorber is connected to a lever which is pivotally mounted on the sidecar frame and which is operated by an extensible motor. The extensible motor may comprise a screw jack, an air cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder. The extensible motor is operated either automatically by a level sensing device carried by the motorcycle or manually by the operator.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a power driven support mechanism for parked two-wheeled motor vehicles, in which the support member pivots between its upright and retracted position by activation of a support member drive mechanism. In particular, it concerns a support mechanism and its installation configuration, constructed in such a way as to eliminate the above described problems of exposure to the elements, diminished ground clearance, and excessive lateral bulk. By constructing the vehicle in such a manner that the under-chassis support material is caused to extend beyond the chassis in an interior and posterior direction, and furthermore, so that the anterior aspect of the power unit for applying driving force to the drive wheel (conventionally the rear wheel) is mounted on this protruding under-chassis support material, a space is created between the protruding under-chassis support material, the power unit, and the under-chassis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle steering and controlling apparatus, which controls the steering angle of and the braking force or the driving force acting on each wheel according to the direction of the resultant force caused by the acceleration of the car body acting on each wheel and the traveling direction and turning radius desired by a driver to thereby improve the vehicle's traveling stability by enabling turning while traveling at the turning radius desired by the vehicle's driver.

Abstract: A vehicle acceleration wheel slip control system monitors wheel slip and when a wheel slip condition becomes excessive as wheel slip increases during vehicle acceleration, engine torque output is initially reduced in accord with the rate of change in wheel slip. This derivative adjustment produces a significant correction to the engine torque output before the slip condition becomes very large. Thereafter, when the slip condition represents recovery from the excessive slip condition, the engine torque output is controlled in accord with the error in wheel slip from a desired value. This proportional adjustment maintains a desired slip value while maintaining stable acceleration slip control.

Abstract: In a method of traction control, fuel injectors are selectively disabled to unfuel respective cylinders of an engine to reduce engine torque output. The method provides for limiting the number of cylinders that can be disabled for acceleration spin control based on engine and vehicle operating parameters to improve traction control performance and provide protection for the vehicle catalytic converter.

Abstract: Hitch structure for towing first and second implements forwardly one behind the other in a transport position and in a side-by-side relationship in a field-working position. The hitch structure includes an elongated rear hitch pivotally connected to a rear corner of the first implement by a 180 degree horizontally folding hinge and rockable by a rear hydraulic cylinder between a transport position wherein the rear hitch connector for the second implement is centered behind the first implement, and a field-working position wherein the connector is offset to one side of the first implement. A fore-and-aft extending forward hitch includes an aft end pivotally connected to the first implement at a location offset to the side of the implement and a forward connecting end attached to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: A steering safety mechanism for an automotive vehicle includes a steering shaft, a steering rack for turning a tire in response to rotation of the steering shaft, a steering motor for rotating the steering shaft or oscillating the steering rack leftward and rightward, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. The motor is rotated in a direction which limits rotation of the steering shaft in dependence upon vehicle velocity and steering angle, or vehicle velocity alone. This makes it possible to prevent the vehicle from skidding sideways and rolling over when the driver turns the steering wheel too sharply.

Abstract: A facade (10) for simulating the appearance of another object which is attached to a child's play vehicle (12). It includes a first substantially planar member (14) which has a front surface (18) and is attached to a forward portion of the play vehicle (12). The first member (14) is shaped to have a perimeter which substantially defines an anterior profile of the object. A second substantially planar member (16) is folded into a three-dimensional shape and attached to the first member (14). The second member (16) projects fowardly from the front surface (18) of the first member (14) and is shaped to define a forward profile of the object. It may also include a rear portion (160) which has first and second substantially planar side panels (162, 164) which are connected along upper edges (168, 170) and attached to the play vehicle (12) in a position to partially cover a rear wheel (172) of the vehicle (12).

Abstract: When the driven wheel of the vehicle slips against the road surface to a large extent, such a large slip of the driven wheel can be converged by reducing torque to be applied to the driven wheel by slip control, i.e., by control the throttle valve for adjusting a load of the engine in a direction of forcibly closing the throttle valve prior to operation of the accelerator. In a region of the opening angle of the accelerator nearby its full open region, for example, accounting for 75% or more, a control-unreactive region is provided which is unreactive to slip control, thereby preventing the throttle valve from lowering a given opening angle, for example, 25%. This arrangement can retain the opening angle of the accelerator nearby its full open position even if slip control cannot work normally, thereby ensuring an open state of the throttle valve and allowing the vehicle to run at least to a tune-up factory nearby.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for, e.g., electrically driven vehicles, comprising a hydraulic, double-acting steering piston-cylinder device which co-acts with a control unit which is actuable by means of a steering member, and which is connected to a hydraulic pump, driven by an electric motor, and to a tank, and which includes a control signal outlet through which a control signal is delivered for maintaining and interrupting the supply of steering hydraulic fluid to the steering-piston cylinder device.

Abstract: A traction control system controls the engine torque so as to prevent wheel slip during acceleration. The system has an electric control unit ECU which detects the state of wheel slip on the basis of the deviation of the drive wheel speed from a target drive wheel speed computed in accordance with signals from various sensors such as drive wheel speed sensors, trailing wheel speed sensors, shift position sensor for sensing the shift position in an electronic control transmission ECT, engine speed sensor and accelerator sensor for sensing the amount of operation of accelerator. The ECU computes, in accordance with the state of the slip, a limit drive torque which does not allow surplus wheel slip during acceleration.

Abstract: A battery powered steerable electric drive unit for detachable connection to a conventional wheelchair having a collapsible wheelchair frame comprises: a support releasably connectable to the wheelchair frame by an adjustable releasably lockable attachment mechanism; a drive assembly pivotably (steerably) mounted on the support and including a ground-engaging wheel and a battery powered electric motor for driving the wheel; a solenoid-operated brake engageable with a disc-like surface of a pulley in the drive mechanism for the wheel; a detachable steering column having a handle mounted thereon and pivotably and rotatably mounted on the support; an adjustable steering mechanism mounted on the support and connected between the steering column and the drive assembly to effect steering when the steering column is rotated about its longitudinal axis; and an electric controller comprising an off-forward-reverse switch, a speed control switch and a brake switch mounted on the handle, and further comprising a solid-s

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing or eliminating rearward amplification of yaw in commercial multi-trailer highway combinations by maintaining constant tension on a cable-and-pulley system connecting a towed trailer with a towing trailer, and offering constant resistance to motion of the cable through the pulleys when the towed vehicle begins to yaw with respect to the towing vehicle. The cable is wrapped around a drum having a vertical axis of rotation. Cable tension is maintained by an air spring which slides the drum in a fore-and-aft direction. Resistance to movement of the cable connecting the vehicles is achieved by controlling rotation of the drum by means of a pneumatic brake.

Abstract: A snow vehicle having a frame, a body, a windscreen on the frame, two front steerable skis and two rear crawler tracks. An engine and drive train are located at the rear for driving both of the tracks. The drive train includes two fluid couplings, each coupling a crawler track, respectively. Two seats are positioned forwardly of the engine at the intersection of two lines seen in plan to extend from the geometric centers of front skis to the geometric center of opposite rear crawler tracks. A steering ski is located between the rear crawler tracks and extends downwardly just below the lower surfaces of the tracks. The ski is mounted to the crawler track suspension and pivots about a substantially vertical axis in a direction opposite to the motion of the front skis.

Abstract: An improved stud and alignment tool which may be pivotally engaged to forcibly slide the draw bar of a hitch assembly onto the stud of an implement frame includes a stud having an elongate body and a spherical tip member attached at a first end thereof. The alignment tool has a similar elongate body and has, at a first end thereof, a cavity extending longitudinally through a portion of the tool body. The cavity is shaped so as to receive the spherical tip member of the stud, thereby releasably and pivotally coupling the alignment tool with the stud. A method for aligning a stud with a hitch assembly draw bar includes the steps of pivotally and slidably engaging the alignment tool with the draw bar, pivotally engaging the alignment tool with the stud, and pivoting the alignment tool into axial alignment with the stud while slidably forcing the draw bar off the alignment tool and about the stud.

Abstract: A suspension for a steerable or dirigible wheel for a vehicle wherein the improvement involves the providing of a horizontal pivot axis that allows the wheel's camber to be effected independently of the steering axis inclination and the caster angle. Camber may be controlled physically by a caster control arm engaging a caster control slot in the suspension yoke, or it may be controlled hydraulically by means of caster control pistons or the like.

Abstract: A separative trailer tongue having first and second assemblies united by a winching apparatus. The first assembly is a housing integral with a handle and a coupler. A bracket, spring return brace, rod stop and pulleys are within the housing. The brace supports the first assembly such that the second assembly can be pulled, lifted, aligned and united therewith. The second assembly has bifurcated bars sandwiching blocks. The blocks have longitudinally aligned apertures having a pull, lift, align rod slidingly disposed through the apertures. One end of a winch cable is attached at a tapered forward end of the rod. The cable now extends to and trains about the first assembly pulleys, the cable returning through an aperture at the tapered forward end of the rod, continuing to extend to a winching apparatus.

Abstract: A sulky apparatus attachable to a self-propelled power mower for transporting an operator in a standing position includes a rigid arm attached to the mower by a hinge which normally rotates about a horizontal axis. Operator foot-receiving platforms are supported by a wheel and are attached to the arm by means of a pivot for enabling the platforms to rotate about a normally vertical axis of the pivot. The horizontal distance between the hinge and the pivot is greater than the horizontal distance between the pivot and the rearwardmost portion of the apparatus to permit unlimited movement of the foot-receiving platforms and the wheel about the pivot axis. As a result, the mower and the apparatus can be moved in a reverse direction and the apparatus can be folded up under the handlebars of the mower.

Abstract: A trailer hitch positioning aid having a magnetic switching unit mounted upon the hitch ball and a corresponding permanent magnetic field unit secured to the socket of the hitch. The magnetic switches are mounted about the ball in a triangular pattern, while the magnetic field is in a "U" shape, so that closing of one or more of the magnetic switches indicates relative position of the hitch ball and socket. No physical connection is necessary between the trailer and the towing vehicle.