Abstract: An electrical braking system is shown for a lightweight manual wheelchair. A rechargeable battery source on the wheelchair connects through a switch to a linear actuator for operation of an actuator rod. The actuator rod connects through a pulley to a single braking cable that connects to left and right caliper brakes mounted on the left and right wheels. Moving the center OFF switch a first direction will move the actuator rod, pull the braking cable, and apply both brakes. Moving the center OFF switch a second direction will move the actuator rod the opposite direction which releases the braking cable and hence the brakes. As soon as the switch returns to OFF, the linear actuator maintains the same amount of braking pressure, if any. A limit switch prevents too much braking pressure from being applied and protects the linear actuator.

Abstract: A gas generator for an air bag system has, in a housing provided with a gas discharge port, igniters activated upon an impact, and gas generating agents ignited and burnt by the igniters and generate a combustion gas for inflating an air bag, and two combustion chambers storing the gas generating agents. The combustion chambers are concentrically provided so as to be adjacent to each other in the radial direction of the housing, and a communicating hole which allows communication between the combustion chambers is provided, in the housing. The gas generator also has two igniters, two different gas generating agents, a connector having a lead wire, a combustion chamber, igniters provided in an inner cylindrical member, and an automatic ignition member, which can effectively restrain an occupant.

Abstract: A human assisted walking robot formed by a motor, a cargo bin, a pair of legs mounted to the carrier; and a stabilizing support mounted at its proximal end to the carrier and having a wheel rotatably mounted to the distal end. The motor drives the first and second leg members resulting in a walking motion. Each leg is formed by a thigh link and a shank link. A four-bar linkage is coupled between the motor and the thigh and shank of each leg so that rotational motion generated by the motor produces a walking motion by the legs.

Abstract: Conventional airbag apparatuses have a very large volume for offering the greatest possible protection for the passenger, and therefore block the driver's view of the traffic situation and preclude further steering actions. Additionally, the passenger is endangered if he is in an atypical sitting position. Multi-stage airbag systems permit an adaptation of the degree of deployment to the size and/or position of the passenger, but are very complicated and slow.

Abstract: A power unit of the motorcycle is provided with an engine unit in which a counter shaft is pivoted to a rear portion in a casing of an engine body provided with a crankshaft disposed along a motorcycle body width direction and a bracket having a fitting hole extending rearward so as to pass through in the width direction is formed in a rear portion outside the casing, a transmission unit and a bevel unit which are pivoted in a manner to be independent from the engine unit. One side surface of a front portion of the transmission unit is fixed to one side surface of a rear portion of the casing in the engine unit so as to connect the counter shaft to the input shaft to be integrally rotatable, the same side surface of the rear portion in the transmission unit is fitted and fixed to one side surface of the bracket so as to fit and fix the bevel unit to another side surface of the bracket. Thus, the output shaft is connected to a bevel input shaft to be integrally rotatable.

Abstract: In a front wheel suspension on a motorcycle, the front wheel is mounted in rearward-sloping supporting members which, in turn, are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle by bearing units comprising link elements and a springing function. The supporting member and the wheel are turnable about a steering line which slopes in a corresponding manner to the supporting members. The bearing units form separate upper and lower bearing units, which are provided with bearing units in or about which the supporting members and the wheel are turnable. Preferably, the upper bearing unit of the bearing units acts as a combined bearing and steering linkage member for the supporting members. The bearing units are torsionally rigid in their respective planes, which extend through the respective securement points or bearings of the bearing units in the chassis and the supporting members.

Abstract: An improved engine torque control method uses existing powertrain sensors and controls to reliably detect and suppress power-hop with minimum degradation of vehicle acceleration. Power-hop is detected by identifying a characteristic wheel jerk magnitude and oscillation frequency based on driven wheel speeds. Once a power-hop condition is detected, the control method computes a desired engine torque output for suppressing the detected power-hop without unnecessarily degrading vehicle performance, based on the wheel jerk magnitude, the engine speed and vehicle acceleration. A combination of engine cylinder fuel cut-off and spark retard is then scheduled for reducing the engine output torque to the desired level for the duration of the power-hop condition.

Abstract: In many types of construction machines, the frame assembly comprises a rear frame that supports the engine and drive train components and a front frame that supports the work implement. In this type of machine, the two frames are normally pinned together and the front frame is articulated with respect to the rear frame by a pair of steering cylinders to provide steering for the machine. In the area in which the two frames are pinned together it is necessary to provide structural support, especially in the hitch area of the front frame. The present invention provides a front frame assembly (12) that has an upper and lower hitch plate (118, 120) that are positioned between and secured to the rear portion of a pair of side plates (62, 64) defined by the front frame assembly (12).

Abstract: To enable a rider to control in real time the type of ride he desires, a snowmobile is equipped with a suspension system that includes at least one fluid actuated device which can be adjusted in real time to control the relative distance between the body of the snowmobile onto which the rider sits and the frame, or the slide tracks about which the drive belt is mounted. By setting a constant predetermined desirable distance between the body and the slide tracks, or the frame, of the snowmobile, an optimal cushioned ride for the rider is obtained. The control of the fluid actuated device(s) may be effected at any time manually by the rider, or be effected by a feedback system. The snowmobile is also equipped with an ABS system for enhancing the traction of the drive belt on snow and therefore the control of the snowmobile by the rider.

Abstract: A hitch link structure includes two hitch tubes angled with respect to each other and having forward ends connected by upper and lower hitch plates welded to the tubes. The plates include weld cutouts designed so the same plates can be used with a variety of different hitch tube angles, depending on the width of the mainframe hitch mount-up. Three apertures in the forward end of each of the plates receive bolts which connect the selected hitch link to the plates. The apertures also act as weld fixturing locators to speed hitch construction. The weld cutouts, in generally a half moon configuration, facilitate low cost fillet welds at easily accessible locations regardless of hitch tube angle and facilitate fillet weld connections in relatively lowly stressed areas. The lower plate is apertured to define an intermediate support hole for the safety chain, and the central bolt connecting the hitch link also attaches to the safety chain so the chain is accommodated without additional parts.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch (10) has a skid plate (28) pivotally mounted to a housing (18) for lateral pivotable movement. The hitch is closed with a sliding jaw plate and has a lock block (54) that optionally can affix the skid plate to the housing during towing of a trailer. Both the jaw plate (36) and lock block (54) are operated and set by a handle (20) that extends out of the side of the housing. The handle has a crank (21) that can both be rotated and pulled by the operator from the side of a pickup truck for convenience in operation to control both opening and closing the hitch and selectively setting the lock block.

Abstract: Method for maintaining a catalyst of an emissions system in a hybrid electric vehicle in an operative condition is disclosed. The method includes sensing that an engine of a hybrid electric vehicle has stopped operating. A time period is predicted after which a catalyst of an emissions system associated with the engine will cool to a light-off temperature below which the catalyst becomes ineffective. The predicting step is based on known qualities of the catalyst and ambient conditions in which the vehicle is being operated. The engine is restarted when the predicted time period has expired thereby maintaining the catalyst at temperatures in excess of the light-off temperature.

Abstract: A hydraulic power steering system (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle. The system (10) comprises a steering gear (12) including a hydraulic motor and a steering valve. The steering gear is susceptible to pressure fluctuations that cause noise during steering. The system (10) further comprises a pressure relief valve (14) having an unactuated condition and actuated conditions. The pressure relief valve (14), in the unactuated condition, restricts fluid flow through the pressure relief valve (14). In an actuated condition, the pressure relief valve (14) permits fluid flow through the pressure relief valve (14). The pressure relief valve (14) progressively is operable from the unactuated condition to an actuated condition as a pressure differential between the inlet (38) and the outlet (40) of the steering gear (12) increases.

Abstract: An inboard hub lock assembly integrated into a steering knuckle. Teeth are provided on an end of the CV housing and an adjacent flange extending from the wheel hub. A clutch member with corresponding teeth is movable between 1) an outboard position engaging the CV housing teeth and the wheel hub flange teeth, thereby transmitting drive power from a stub shaft to the wheel hub, and 2) an inboard position engaging only the CV housing teeth, thereby permitting the wheel hub to rotate freely relative to the stub shaft. A spring biases the clutch member to a 4×2 mode fail safe position by biasing the clutch member to the inboard non-engaging position.

Abstract: A device that enables a forklift beam to transport trailers or other mobile vehicles whereby a trailer hitch attachment is secured to a hollow shaft at one end of the device and a forklift beam on a forklift vehicle is secured to a hollow shaft at the other end of the device. When both the forklift beam and the trailer hitch are secured to the device, a mobile vehicle or trailer may be secured to the trailer hitch and transported via the forklift. The device may also receive a generic elongated beam in place of the trailer hitch such that the forklift can be used to lift heavy objects for transport such as combustion engines by securing a rope or chain to the engine and then securing the chain or rope around the beam.

Abstract: A side strut (5) for a lower steering arm of a tractor has a single-action hydraulic cylinder and a setting unit with a hollow cylinder (17) and an adjustable setting element 20. The setting element (20) includes a threaded bore (30) which receives a threaded rod (32). The hydraulic cylinder has a first attaching element (6) to connect to a tractor. The threaded rod (32) has a second attaching element (7) to connect a lower steering arm. In the fully moved-out position of the hydraulic cylinder, the setting element (20) is rotatable by an actuating lever (33). Thus, the threaded rod (32) moves in and out. To prevent any rotation, a first holding element (36) is provided. The actuating lever (33) engages the holding element in a rest position.

Abstract: A rear suspension for a bicycle. A bottom fork is mounted pivotally at the bicycle frame bottom bracket and its other end is mounted at the top fork. The bottom fork bears a wheel which is driven in rotation by a chain. The top end of the top fork is pivotally mounted at the end of an arm, the other end of which is pivotably mounted to the frame. The vertices of the articulated quadrilateral defined by the top and bottom forks, the arm and the frame are arranged so that a straight line passing through the rear wheel hub rotation axis and the center of curvature of the hub path during the suspension travel forms an angle ranging between 10-° with the horizontal straight line extending parallel to the bicycle median longitudinal plane.

Abstract: A towing device for vehicles is connected with a connection pin for a holding on the vehicle body and a hook-in eye connected with the pin, the connection pin having a fastening section as well as a lug part forming the hook-in eye. In a towing position and in an inoperative position, the connection pin is held in a support part of the vehicle body so that it cannot be lost, and, in the towing position, the connection pin with the fastening section can be fixed in a tension-resistant and pressure-resistant manner in a holding element of the support part and, in the inoperative position, can be fixed in the holding element by way of a locking device arranged adjacent to the hook-in eye.

Abstract: A hitch link structure includes two hitch tubes angled with respect to each other and having forward ends connected by upper and lower hitch plates welded to the tubes. The plates include weld cutouts designed so the same plates can be used with a variety of different hitch tube angles, depending on the width of the mainframe hitch mount-up. Three apertures in the forward end of each of the plates receive bolts which connect the selected hitch link to the plates. The apertures also act as weld fixturing locators to speed hitch construction. The weld cutouts, in generally a half moon configuration, facilitate low cost fillet welds at easily accessible locations regardless of hitch tube angle and facilitate fillet weld connections in relatively lowly stressed areas. The lower plate is apertured to define an intermediate support hole for the safety chain, and the central bolt connecting the hitch link also attaches to the safety chain so the chain is accommodated without additional parts.

Abstract: A trailer decoupling prevention device for preventing the trailer from decoupling from a trailer hitch mounted on a towing vehicle. The trailer decoupling prevention device comprises a bracket, and a connector assembly to connect the bracket to the trailer. A lower plate is movably supported by the bracket. A lower plate stop assembly is provided for selectively permitting movement of the lower plate between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. In the coupled position, at least a portion of the lower plate is positioned to prevent the trailer from being removed from the trailer hitch. In the uncoupled position, the lower plate is positioned to permit removal of the trailer from the trailer hitch. A unique coupling member for selectively coupling a flexible linkage to an attachment member is also disclosed.