Abstract: A control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a first differential provided between a front shaft and a rear shaft and a second differential provided between a right wheel and a left wheel. The control system comprises a first device provided in the first differential for restricting a differential between the front shaft and the rear shaft, a second device provided in the second differential for restricting a differential between the right wheel and the left wheel, and a device for controlling the restricting operations carried out by the first device and the second device. The controlling device includes a device for controlling operational timings in the first device and the second device so that the timing when the first device maintains the first differential in locking condition is different from the timing when the second device maintains the second differential in locking condition.

Abstract: A near surface vehicle including a vehicle body including a nose section having a canard with lift and pitch control. The vehicle body including a cockpit or cabin with a main wing mounted adjacent or above the cabin and including ailerons for lift and roll control. The vehicle body further including a tail section having a tail surface and a thrust air fan for providing air for lift and propulsion of the vehicle. The vehicle including an air diverter for deflecting air into a controllable lift area for initial lift and air deflectors or rudders for controlling vehicle direction and vehicle reverse thrust.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a motor mounted on a frame, a drive shaft extending from the motor transversely to the direction of travel, a rear wheel axle and a shaft drive mechanism extending longitudinally from the drive shaft to the rear wheel axle for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the rear wheel axle. The drive mechanism has an elongate housing with a first end portion pivotably mounted about the drive shaft and a second end portion pivotably mounted about the rear wheel axle. A drive gear is located on the drive shaft for rotation thereby, and an axle gear is located on the rear axle for driving the rear axle. A pinion shaft is supported by the housing so as to be rotatable about its own longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A coupling device for a tractor has a frame (4) which is mounted on the rear underside (3) of the tractor (1). A drawbar (14), with a coupling member (15), is guided in the frame (4). The drawbar (14) is moved by a slide (18) and can be swung sideways about a vertical axis. Centering pieces (34) and stop blocks with centering faces (35) and stop faces (38) engage one another to laterally align and fix the drawbar (14). In a lower position the drawbar facilitates lateral swivelling movement about the connecting pin (22). In an upper towing position the drawbar (14) is laterally fixed by the centering pieces (34) and the stop blocks (38). This results in improved control of the coupling members associated with the to be towed implement through lateral alignment of the drawbar and its automatic transfer into its centered position.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus having a main control section and a sub control section both for performing a control relating to a steering assistance, wherein the two control sections mutually detect abnormality each other by monitoring the cycle of a watchdog pulse signal that one control section sends to the other. When abnormality is detected in one or other of the control sections, the steering assistance is disabled. After the abnormal control section is restored to a normal operating state, the disabled steering assistance is released from the disabled state only after the vehicle speed has been reduced to zero. The sub control section detects abnormality in the main control section by performing simple arithmetic operations such as comparison of information relating to the inputs/outputs to and from the main control section.

Abstract: The invention provides a harvester or other such vehicle with front wheel, and front and rear wheel steering. Steering, at various times, is only provided by the front wheels and at other times provided by the front and rear wheels. For four wheel vehicles, this is called two wheel and four wheel steering.

Abstract: A superefficient bicycle frame having a plurality of dual tapered rectangular or square cross section frame members having constant wall thickness. The torsional/bending section modulus of a member is changed by providing a dual taper to the cross section of the frame members so that larger cross sections are used at points of greatest stress and smaller cross sections are used at points of lower stress. The method of manufacture is to cut various two dimensional shapes from sheet stock which are bent along nonparallel bend lines to form the various members. This method of manufacture permits the ends of the section members to be shaped as desired by laser or plasma cutting, or other means, in the flat before bending. The tapered frame members are then connected to form a superefficient frame.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for an articulated vehicle having a first section and a second section connected by an articulation joint. The steering mechanism includes an annular member connected to the first section and a moveable steering plate slideably mounted on the second section. The annular plate and the steering plate are connected by chains and a pair of opposed piston and cylinder devices are mounted on the second section and connected to the steering plate to move the steering plate and the chains to adjust the position of the annular plate to rotate the first section of the vehicle relative to the second section of the vehicle about the articulation joint between the sections.

Abstract: A steering assembly for a utility vehicle having a support frame. The assembly includes a fluid-powered rotary actuator, with a body having a rotatable hollow shaft extending therewithin. An annular piston is mounted within the body about the shaft for reciprocal axial movement and rollers are provided for transmitting torque between the body and the shaft to produce rotational movement of the shaft in response to axial movement of the piston. An axially extendable member extends longitudinally within a central bore of the shaft with a lower end portion projecting out of the body and being attached to forks to which a wheel is rotatably mounted. The central bore of the shaft and the extendable member have meshing straight splines which transmit the rotational drive of the shaft to the extendable member, while allowing free axial movement of the extendable member. The extendable member has a piston portion which defines an interior fluid chamber. An accumulator is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A steering control method for a motor vehicle with a differential. The quantity and direction of a torque displacement in the state in which restricting means is locked are calculated. When the direction of the torque displacement is from an outside wheel to an inside wheel, a restricting torque is set at zero. On the other hand, when the direction of the torque displacement is from the inside wheel to the outside wheel, the ratio between the load displacement magnitudes of a front axle is calculated. A front axle driving torque is calculated from a transmission gear position, an engine speed and a throttle opening degree. The restricting torque is calculated so that a torque distribution to the inside and outside wheels may become substantially equal to a load distribution to them. The correction amount of a steering assist force is calculated from the restricting torque, and the mass offset of a wheel tire, the diameter of the wheel tire and a steering gear ratio.

Abstract: A coupling device intended to be applied on a vehicle, and which includes an attachment portion and a coupling portion, one of said portions including a tube shaped female element and the other one a longitudinal male element intended to be received in the female element. A movable piston, sidewardly spring biased towards the female element, is able to be introduced a side recess in the male element, the piston being kept pressed into the side recess by an abutment element in a first mutual position of engagement between the piston and the abutment element.

Abstract: A side car for a motorcycle, wherein the side car box overlies the side car wheel directly thereabove. The lateral coupler between the side car and the motorcycle biases the side car wheel to incline interiorly of a curve, together with the motorcycle wheels, upon the moving vehicle taking a curve on a road. The side-car frame and box axially roll with the wheel, whereby the side-car center of gravity remains continuously within the plane of its wheel. As the motorcycle wheels progressively axially roll, their angular value relative to the vertical plane will increase relative to a second angular value corresponding to the roll of the side-car wheel relative to the vertical plane.

Abstract: A wheelchair driving mechanism includes a driving disk fastened to either large wheel of a wheelchair by a circular table and a circular casing for moving the wheelchair with the hand, and a ratchet wheel mechanism for permitting the respective large wheel to be rotated by the driving disk in one direction only. A hand lever may be fastened to the driving disk for rotating the respective large wheel with less labor. An adjustable foot plate stand may be extended out of the respective hanger bracket to match with the hand lever in supporting the wheelchair for permitting the wheelchair to be rotated over an obstacle.

Abstract: A chain adjusting device for vehicles having a rear fork pivoted to a main vehicle frame with an intermediate shaft and a driving shaft rotatably mounted to the rear fork. A primary chain coupling the intermediate shaft with the output shaft of an engine and a secondary chain coupling the intermediate shaft with the driving shaft directs power from the engine to a drive wheel. The intermediate shaft is mounted to the rear fork by means of a bearing assembly mounted to a bracket located between parallel cross members of the rear fork. An adjustment bracket is provided to mount arms associated with the bearing assembly in position.

Abstract: A stair-climbing wheelchair carrier, comprising a carrier portion comprising a pair of endless belt crawlers, and a handle rotatably mounted on the carrier portion. A guide body is provided to mount a wheelchair and secured to the handle so as to be rotated together with the handle. An electric screw jack is provided between the carrier portion and the guide body for holding the guide body at a desired position.

Abstract: A belted undercarriage assembly for a vehicle, such as a non-powered towed trailer, includes first and second endless belt assemblies, one positioned on each side of the vehicle, first and second wheel supporting frame assemblies associated respectively with the first and second belt assemblies, and a supporting axle connected to each of the frame assemblies and to the vehicle. Each of the frame assemblies includes first and second rectangular shaped tubes which are adapted to telescope together. A first threaded adjusting mechanism controls the telescopic relationship of the first and second tubes and a second threaded adjusting mechanism controls lateral movement of the first tube relative to the second tube. Providing proper belt tension and alignment of the belt on the guide wheels are important to efficient and economical operation of a belted undercarriage assembly. If proper tension is not maintained, or if the belt drifts to one side or the other, undesirable heat buildup and wear are produced.

Abstract: A system for reducing the forces applied to the wings of an aircraft in flight includes an accelerometer for measuring the vertical acceleration of the aircraft and generators for generating signals to control the aerodynamic surfaces in the wings of the aircraft as a function of the acceleration measured by the accelerometer. The control signal generator is not activated except when the vertical acceleration exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The trailer hitch alignment device includes a base member upon which a convex mirror is fixed. Two side members are hingedly attached to opposing edges of the base member so as to fold in sequence across the mirror in the closed position or to expose the mirror in the open position. The side members each have an angled slot, formed in the edge opposing the hinged edge. With the side members in the opened position, the angled slots are aligned to readily engage the top edge of a closed towing vehicle tailgate so as to support the base member and mirror in a position enabling observation from the driver's position of the relative movement of the towing hitch to the coupling of the towed vehicle. In the open position, the side members will open through an obtuse angle to a position limited by a stop formed on the hinge edge of the side members.