Abstract: A trailer coupler is described in which a pair of elongated hitch capturing members, each having a hitch socket part at a forward end are mounted to a base member for selective movement forward and rearwardly between a forwardly extended and open hitch receiving position wherein the hitch socket parts are separated and a rearwardly retracted and closed hitch capturing position wherein the hitch socket parts are closed together. A hitch positioner member is movably mounted to the base member and including a hitch abutment surface positioned between the hitch capturing members in the forwardly extended and open hitch receiving position. The hitch positioner member is connected to at least one of the hitch capturing members to move the hitch capturing member rearwardly in response to engagement by a rearwardly moving hitch.

Abstract: A vehicle with a driving track assembly and a pair of secondary driving and steering assemblies disposed on opposing lateral sides of the track. Each secondary driving and steering structure includes a ground engaging driving and steering structure that is preferably a ground engaging wheel. The driving track assembly includes an endless ground engaging track that drives the vehicle. The flanking driving and steering structures also engage the ground and are rotated to impart force to the vehicle. A steering device is operatively connected to the secondary driving and steering assemblies. the steering device control operation of the secondary driving and steering assemblies so as to affect a vehicle steering operation wherein the ground engaging driving and steering structures are operated to turn said vehicle with respect to said vehicle driving and steering direction.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus, including a pump, a power cylinder, a control valve and a switching valve. The switching valve is for connecting the cylinder chambers in accordance with pressure change of the operating fluid responsive to operation of the control valve in order to return the steering wheel toward a neutral position. When the rotation of the steering wheel is substantially stopped, the switching valve reacts to the pressure change in order to connect the cylinder chambers, so as that the higher hydraulic pressure of one of the cylinder chamber releases to the other. This hydraulic pressure releasing of the operating fluid returns the power piston toward the neural position, smoothly. The steering wheel also returns toward the neutral position in accordance with the return of the cylinder piston, so as that restoring force of the steering wheel is enhanced.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus which generates a steering assist force by a hydraulic pressure of a pump driven by an electric motor. The apparatus includes: an electric current sensor for sensing an electric current flowing through the electric motor; and a control circuit for switching a voltage to be applied to the electric motor from a standby voltage to an assist voltage if the motor current is higher than a first threshold or if a change rate of the motor current is higher than a second threshold.

Abstract: A removable underlift T-bar support accessory for tow trucks with underlift T-bars for lifting and towing a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer. The underlift T-bar comprises a boom connected to a crossbar having two legs. The accessory mounts on the underlift T-bar and provides a fifth wheel hitch assembly or a hitch ball at an appropriate working elevation thereby enabling the lifting and towing of a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer by a tow truck equipped with an underlift T-bar.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a fail-safe circuit for, on the basis of an engine running-state signal from an engine running-state sensor, enabling an electric motor to be driven by a motor drive unit so that a steering assist force from the electric motor is applied to the steering system of a vehicle. The fail-safe circuit, when the vehicle velocity detected by a vehicle velocity sensor is above a predetermined value, enables the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive unit even if the engine running-state sensor fails to detect the running state of the engine. Thus, even when a failure arises in the engine running-state sensor during movement of the vehicle, the motor can continue application of the steering assist force to the steering system. The electric power steering apparatus can always provide a good and stable steering feel as long as the vehicle is running even though the running state of the engine is not detected.

Abstract: A hydraulic steering device, in particular for vehicles, is disclosed, having a housing in which two sliders are arranged to move relative to one another and together form at least one adjustable throttle, a restoring device for restoring the two sliders to their neutral position being provided, one of the two sliders being driveable and the other of the two sliders being in operative connection with a measuring device. In such a steering device it is desirable to improve the correlation between steering torque and flow amplification; in particular it is desirable to linearize the relationship better. For that purpose the measuring device is arranged in a flow path closed in itself, and operates as a pump, while an open flow path runs past the closed flow path from an inlet connection arrangement to an outlet connection arrangement.

Abstract: A wheel chair with a waste elimination opening provided in the seat of the wheel chair and that included a frame sized and configured to back over the bowl of a commode to allow the individual to handle his/her waste disposal privately and with dignity. A cover is provided for covering the waste elimination opening when it is not needed.

Abstract: A rear swingarm is made by casting an aluminum alloy having a front cross member with pivots at a front end thereof, a rear cross member having axle holders at the rear end thereof, and a pair of hollow arms connecting the front and rear cross members along the length of a buggy. The rear swingarm has an opening for cut-away excess metal, which is in the shape of an egg when viewed from above. A front wall, an inner wall and a rear wall, constituting the opening, are rounded with curvatures R1, R2 and R3, respectively. The inner wall is uniformly rounded with the curvature R2. A width of the arms is gradually increased from the front end thereof toward the rear end of the buggy.

Abstract: In a working vehicle such as an agricultural tractor, a front wheel change speed device for transmitting drive to front wheels includes an equal speed clutch for driving the front wheels substantially at the same speed as rear wheels, and an accelerating clutch for driving the front wheels substantially at a higher speed than the rear wheels. In the front wheel change speed device of this invention, the equal speed clutch and accelerating clutch are arranged coaxially. The front wheel change speed device further includes a shift member axially shiftable for selectively operating the equal speed clutch and accelerating clutch, and an actuator for axially shifting the shift member.

Abstract: Adaptor structure is provided for towing a pintle hitch trailer behind a truck having a fifth wheel ball mount. The adaptor structure includes a mounting plate constructed and arranged to be mounted to a surface of a tongue of a trailer to be towed. The mounting plate includes a mounting tab extending from opposing ends of the mounting plate. Beam structure is provided having first and second ends. The first end is removably coupled to the mounting tabs by a pin connection. The second end includes a fifth wheel ball receptacle constructed and arranged to engage a fifth wheel ball mount of a truck. A tension arm is coupled at one end thereof to the beam structure at a position between the first and second ends of the beam structure. Another end of the tension arm defines a pintle hitch coupler constructed and arranged to engage a pintle eye of the trailer.

Abstract: A motorized wheelchair is advantageously provided with a rate-of-turn feedback sensor and with forward/reverse motion, lateral motion, and vertical motion acceleration feedback sensors that are integrated into a closed-loop wheelchair servo control system to differentially control the rotational speed of wheelchair opposed motor-driven wheels and thereby obtain improved wheelchair motion stability through reduction/elimination of likely wheelchair spin-out and wheelchair tipping during wheelchair operation.

Abstract: A bicycle with a drive mechanism using reciprocal rectilinear pedal motion to propel a pinion gear against a crown gear face associated with a rear bicycle wheel, rotating the rear wheel. The pinion gear receives motion from a helical member surrounded by a slider. Each pedal is united with the slider which moves linearly along a guide or track, forcing rotation of the helical member as the slider is pushed rearwardly by a pedal. A freewheel or overrunning clutch permits power transfer only when the pedal moves rearwardly and allows freewheeling when the pedal is reset. Reciprocal, linear pedal strokes power the bicycle.

Abstract: A reduced weight fifth wheel generally mountable on a tractor for coupling between a tractor and a trailer, which fifth wheel has the approximately the same bearing surface area, a more continuous surface area by elimination of a lever-bar pin port in the bearing surface, thinner support ribs and smaller fillets, a shorter longitudinal length with a wider kingpin receiving slot for receipt of a trailer kingpin, with a locking-jaw mechanism having a redesigned lever-bar pin and pin-receiving port to enable reduction of the weight and to enhance production casting practices, which fifth wheel further encompasses lateral support ribs at the plate outer perimeter and rearward of the mounting brackets to define support pockets ahead of the engaging ramps to avoid lateral deflection and deformation of the plate at vertical loading.

Abstract: A suspension system for the front wheel of a motorcycle, comprising a ball joint fork, which is rotatably and swivellably connected with the vehicle frame; a suspension element which is connected with the vehicle frame and by way of a ball joint is connected with a lower fork bridge; and spring elements which are supported on a movable part of the suspension system and on the vehicle frame. The suspension element is constructed as a central suspension element with a linear suspension function and is rigidly connected to the forward frame of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A steering mechanism that controls a drive and steer transmission and that causes the transmission to execute turns in the direction a steering wheel is turned when operating in either the forward or reverse direction of travel. In response to operator engagement of a drive control, an actuation linkage shifts an elongate member within a slot formed in a cam member that pivots in response to turning of a steering wheel. Shifting of the rod member between two positions on either side of the cam member pivot axis causes the drive and steer transmission to steer the vehicle in the desired direction when the vehicle is traveling in both forward and reverse.

Abstract: A steering cylinder retention system is provided that replaces the conventional bolted joint with a pin and snap ring arrangement that requires fewer parts and is easier to assemble. The retention system provides a pair of annular axle brackets whereby the steer cylinder is received in both axle brackets. The steer cylinder is retained in the axle brackets by a shoulder, pin and snap ring assembly. More specifically, the steer cylinder is formed with a seating shoulder that abuts one of the axle brackets, and a slot is provided between the cylinder and axle bracket to prevent rotational movement of the cylinder with respect to the axle bracket. A snap ring arrangement fastens the cylinder against axial movement with respect to the axle cylinder.

Abstract: A mounting frame 10 is intended to be used with a three point hitch apparatus 4 on the rear of powered vehicle, such as a tractor. The frame 10 is rectangular so that the center is open to permit clearance for a power take off. A ball socket 20 is mounted on a horizontal lower frame beam 12 for attachment of a towed vehicle to the powered vehicle. The top of the frame 10 is attached to the tractor by a telescoping arm 60 that can be extended from a retracted to an extended position so that the frame 10 can be tilted or dumping or similar operations. A ball adaptor 34 can be mounted in the center of the mounting frame 10 to permit attachment of a towed implement or vehicle with a male attachment member, such as a ball. A center beam 78 can also be mounted on the center of the mounting frame 10 for supporting and carrying loads. The mounting frame 10 facilitates towing, hauling, dumping, scraping and is compatible with a power takeoff as used for conventional farm implements.

Abstract: A suspension system for a motorcycle, including a motorcycle mainframe, a swing arm pivotally mounted to the motorcycle main frame about a pivot axis, and an air bag suspension unit. The air bag suspension unit includes at least one air bag constructed of an elastomeric material. Without tools, the rider can adjust the air pressure in the air bags while operating the motorcycle by use of a power switch operably connected to a small compressor mounted on the motorcycle. The air bag(s) are housed within a slidable housing and which is mounted at one end to the slidable housing and its other end to mounting brackets on the motorcycle main frame. The housing is attached at its front end to the motorcycle main frame and at its back end to the swing arm. The housing also includes slide rods fixed to its forward end which slide within a pair of bushings. One alternative embodiment incorporates a conventional shock absorber along with the air bags to improve the handling of the motorcycle on rough or uneven terrain.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve for a vehicle that returns at least some of the hydraulic oil sent to a hydraulic actuator is provided. The valve has a body, two passages located at intermediate portions of two pipes, respectively, an oil path passing through the body for connecting the two passages to return the hydraulic oil from the one pipe to the other, and a valve mechanism provided within the body, the valve mechanism including a portion of the oil path and a valve body for opening and closing the oil path. Each of the two passages includes a bypass passage that does not pass through the valve mechanism. Therefore, the pressure loss of the hydraulic oil passing through the valve when the valve is closed is not significant.