Abstract: A device for assisting in the alignment of the coupling socket of a trailer with the ball of a bumper trailer hitch utilizes paired horizontally disposed elongated bars having a parallel region and rearwardly directed funnel-shaped divergent portion. An upwardly directed guidepost is positioned upon the trailer above the socket. The bars are supported by downwardly directed posts in a manner to permit their removability when not in use or storage in a configuration closely adjacent the bumper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive assembly for a four wheel drive vehicle with the distributor assembly for distributing driving torque arranged between the front wheels and the rear wheels of a driving axle. A distributor differential (13) and axle differential (15) distribute the driving torque. Both the distributor differential (13) and the axle differential (15) may be at least partially locked via viscous couplings (39, 40) in order to cancel the differential function. I order to achieve the shortest possible design, the two viscous couplings (39, 40) are arranged coaxially one inside the other.

Abstract: A solar power system for use with a space vehicle for achieving extended mission duration is disclosed. The solar power system includes sets of foldable solar panel casings which are unfolded and extended to the starboard and port sides (.+-.Y axis) of the space vehicle. During stowage the laterally offset sets of casings are placed in an overlapping arrangement to reduce the lateral space occupied within the payload bay of the host space vehicle. The casings are further extended away from the space vehicle by extending an extendable boom along the .+-.Y axis. The extendable boom preferably includes a first and second boom section rotatably attached at their inboard end of the support structure. The solar panels contained within the casings are extended in a .+-.Z axis and a hinge is provided between the ends of the boom sections ad the casings such that the deployed panels can rotate about the .+-.Z axis. A pitch drive motor rotates the boom sections about the .+-.Y axis.

Abstract: A traction control is effected by an engine torque reduction with fuelcut operation. In order to prevent deterioration of a catalytic converter during split cylinder operation, a number and an arrangement of cylinders to be disabled are determined in response to a slip rate and a parameter indicative of exhaust gas temperature, respectively.

Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle control apparatus will compute banking angle and handlebar steering angle to control the vehicle. One feature of the vehicle which is controlled is light distribution from the headlight. A dynamic center value for the headlight will be utilized in this control unless the apparatus determines this value has a low level of accuracy. The control apparatus will store certain control values for a predetermined time after the vehicle is turned off. If the vehicle is traveling in excess of a predetermined velocity, the control apparatus will modify its control of the vehicle. Further, if the velocity is less than another predetermined level and the turning of the handlebar is below a certain level, the control apparatus will stop controlling the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is traveling over a bumpy road, the control apparatus can recognize this and accordingly modify the control of the vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable length drawbar assembly includes a cage which is pivotally attached to the rear of a vehicle and a drawbar which slides in the cage. A plurality of spaced apart bores extending laterally through the drawbar. A pair of claws are mounted to a selected one of the bores by a pin and springs bias the claws towards the drawbar. A pair of recesses are formed at the rear end of the cage adjacent to a pair of ramp surfaces. The claws are spread apart as they slide over the ramp surfaces, and the claws have tabs which are received by the recesses to releasably lock the drawbar into the desired position with respect to the cage. The claws may be pulled away from each other and out of the recesses, and then rotated on the pins 90.degree. to disable the locking mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hinge system for cowl doors in nacelles for aircraft engines. The invention allows the cowl door to be opened without invasion of the interior of the nacelle. Invasion requires that some interior space of the nacelle be kept free of equipment. The invention eliminates this requirement, allowing otherwise idle space to be utilized.

Abstract: A motorcycle construction having a seat and a pair of foot pegs to accommodate the feet of the rider seated on the seat. A brake system for the motorcycle includes a master cylinder that is operated by a pedal at one side of the motorcycle through a force applying linkage system. The power unit of the motorcycle includes a change speed transmission which is operated by a pedal positioned at the other side of the motorcycle through a force applying linkage system. Both the brake and transmission control pedals are spaced inwardly of the foot pegs and forwardly thereof so as to afford a narrow construction.

Abstract: A helicopter with a retractable rotor for transport wherein the rotor and its blades, the swashplate, the pitch change rods and support mast are lowered or raised in unison by the hydraulic flight control servos as commanded by the helicopter computerized flight control when being commanded by special rotor retraction/extension software.

Abstract: A motorcycle front wheel suspension assembly for interconnecting the main frame and the front wheel of a motorcycle includes a main strut having upper and lower portions with the lower portion connected to the front wheel and a secondary strut that is substantially parallel with and offset from the main strut member with its lower end terminating at a point outside the circumference of the wheel.

Abstract: A steering turntable for the front wheel assembly of trailers and the like is formed of first and second turntable ring members each having cooperating projecting circular wall sections configured to interconnect with each other to prevent separation of the ring members from each other while allowing relative rotation of the ring members. A plastic ring of ultra high molecular weight synthetic resin, such as polyurethane, is interposed between the bearing surfaces of the first and second rings to provide a reduced-friction bearing surface therebetween.

Abstract: A power steering device for a motor vehicle whereby when the vehicle is under a high or middle speed movement, the slide torque is controlled to a relatively low constant level irrespective of the turning of the steering wheel. The device includes a hydraulic pump for producing a hydraulic pressure; a power cylinder powered by the hydraulic pressure for producing a force to assist the steering job; a hydraulic valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure supplied to the power cylinder, the hydraulic valve including a valve shaft and a valve body; a chattering protection seal associated with the hydraulic valve to assure a concentric rotation of the valve shaft relative to the valve body with an assistance of hydraulic pressure applied thereto; and an electronically controlled solenoid valve.

Abstract: The bicycle can be disassembled in a compact arrangement, and comprises front and rear foldable subassemblies, and first and second couplers for detachably connecting these front and rear subassemblies together. The couplers connect respectively a front end of the crossbar to the head tube, and a lower end of the down tube to the pedal crank axle housing. The front subassembly includes a down tube having an upper end pivotally connected to the head tube for folding the down tube over the front wheel fork.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for damping induced fundamental vibrations in an aircraft high lift device (3) are provided. The arrangement includes a wing (2), a high lift device (3) mounted upon and movable along a pre-determined path with respect to the wing between a stowed cruise position and an extended high lift position, a track beam (8) interconnecting the wing and the high lift device (3), and a damping device (15) interconnecting the track beam and said wing and the track beam (8) pivotally connected to the wing (2) and including a trackway (20) for sliding interconnection with the high-lift device (3) such that while the high lift device (15) operates within acceptable vibrational tolerances the damping device is isolated but induced fundamental vibrations will cause angular displacement of the track beam (8) inducing a reactive force in the the damping device (15) to substantially nullify the fundamental vibrations.

Abstract: An improved form of bicycle frame comprising a down tube attached to a seat tube at their lower ends and a back top tube affixed between the down tube and seat tube to form a first large triangle similar to a conventional bicycle frame. The upper end of the down tube is connected to a head tube, as is an upper end of a front top tube. A lower end of the front top tube is connected intermediate the ends of the back top tube thereby forming a small triangle between a portion of the down tube, a portion of the back top tube, and the front top tube. This smaller triangle functions as a gusset to provide a new frame configuration and to increase the strength thereof as well as increase the crotch clearance of the frame.

Abstract: An automated guided vehicle for carrying and moving heavy loads providing the vehicle with a gross weight of more than about 100 tons includes a vehicle platform or deck for carrying the loads and wheel assemblies at either end of the platform for both steering and driving the vehicle along a predetermined path. Each of the wheel assemblies includes a differential gear assembly and a drive arrangement therefor for driving the wheels, and each wheel assembly includes a drive arrangement for rotating the wheel assembly to steer the vehicle. Suspension arrangements are disclosed for supporting the vehicle against the imposition of undesirable forces on the wheel assemblies during loading.

Abstract: The effect of orbit plane precession is used to place a plurality of satellites into one or more desired orbit planes. The satellites are distributed within each desired orbit plane in a selected configuration. The satellites are transported into orbit on one or more frame structures referred to as "pallets". When more than one pallet is used, they are placed on top of each other in a "stack". After the stack of the pallets has been launched into an initial, elliptical orbit, the pallets are separated sequentially from the stack at selected time intervals. Thrust is applied to transfer a first pallet from the initial orbit to a first, circular orbit, wherein the initial and first orbits are in planes that process at different predetermined initial and first rates, respectively.

Abstract: An air floater comprises a balloon body which seals a gas therein and balancing means detachably attached to the balloon body. The balloon body comprises a film composed of a central layer made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer-resin, an aluminum evaporated layer provided outside the central layer, and a heated adhesive layer provided inside the central layer. The balancing means comprises a plurality of magnetic cards which are attracted by an attraction portion composed of a magnetic body attached to the balloon body. The plurality of magnetic cards includes one card having a reference weight matched with the buoyant force of the balloon body, first weight balancing cards having weight heavier by stages than the reference weight, and second weight balancing cards having weight lighter by stages than the reference weight. The balancing means may comprise sublimate sealed in a bag body.

Abstract: An incline climbing brake for wheelchairs in which each of the large wheels on a wheelchair is provided with a selective ratchet assembly which enables the wheels to rotate in only one direction thereby enabling a wheelchair occupant to safely maneuver a wheelchair in order to roll it up an incline in either a forward or rearward direction. The ratchet assembly includes a ratchet gear non-rotatably secured to the wheelchair at the center of rotation of the wheel by a bracket attached to a frame member of the wheelchair and connected to the axle bolt in a manner to prevent the axle bolt from rotating in relation to the wheelchair frame member. Manually operated direction controlling pawls are engageable with the stationary ratchet wheel. Expandable arms mount the ratchet assembly from the rim of the large wheel of a wheelchair with the ratchet assembly enabling rotation of the wheel in one direction only with the pawls enabling reversal of the one-way direction of rotation of the large wheelchair wheel.

Abstract: A canopy with an improved leading edge structure is provided. The canopy will include a top and bottom surface connected at their respective trailing edges. A plurality of rib members will extend from the trailing edge to the leading edge of the canopy. A portion of the top surface leading edge will overlap with a top portion of the rib leading edge.