Abstract: An assembly of a bearing unit with inner and outer members and rolling elements between them and a universal joint member, with a retaining element which has been deformed to hold the members together and removal of which to permit dismantling of the assembly leaves at least one of the members undamaged and fit for further service. Torque transmission between the members may be by way of tapered splines.

Abstract: A hydraulic lift arm assembly for vehicle including parallel sidewalls between which an axle tube is fixably mounted. The lift arm assembly is rotatably mounted around the axle tube.

Abstract: A safety device for tractor trailer rigs having a fifth wheel coupling arrangement comprising a trailer bed plate having a pair of oppositely situated slots and a king pin therebetween which extends downwardly into a precisely configured slot in the fifth wheel. The slots in the bed plate are curved along an arc of approximately 160.degree. on opposite sides of the trailer's bed plate about an axis extending through the king pin. The slots are of varying depth which increases towards the middle with resilient shock absorbers mounted at both ends of each slot. A pair of diametrically opposite fluid cylinders are mounted on the fifth wheel to engage the bed plate slots with a plunger element. When the brakes are actuated the pressure of the plunger elements increases against the base of the slots which in an alternate embodiment may be located together with the plunger elements at an angle to the horizontal to achieve a firm coupling.

Abstract: A pair of fluid reaction chambers at opposite ends of a valve piston of a steering control valve are connected in series with a vehicle speed dependent control mechanism by fixed flow restrictors between the servo pump and reservoir of a servo power steering system. Check valves unidirectionally limit pressurization of the reaction chambers through which feedback forces are generated in response to displacement of the control valve.

Abstract: A steering force control device for a power steering device, wherein various inputs including input and output torques respectively applied to and generated by the power steering device are detected and input to a digital computer. The computer selects one of plural objective output torque values stored in a memory device based upon the various inputs except for the output torque and then, calculates a control output value based upon the detected output torque and the selected objective output torque. The calculated control output value is applied to a linear solenoid valve which is provided in a fluid system of the power steering device, whereby the output torque generated by the power steering device is controlled to follow the selected of the objective output torques.

Abstract: A light and strong tube structure for frames of bicycles and motorcycles has its cross sections with a variable thickness of the tube wall. Said wall is formed by two or more layers of different materials, of which at least one is metallic material and at least another one has a preferential direction of tensile strength. Preferably, the straight cross sections of the tube are outwardly defined by a circle and inwardly defined by an ellipse and the said layers comprise an external metallic layer and an internal layer of fibers incorporated into resin.

Abstract: The chassis features left and right lateral frames rotatably supporting at their front and rear ends front and rear wheels. The rear wheels are pivoted for steering. First and second connecting members arranged in a cross and lying in a horizontal plane extend between and are attached to the lateral frames to confine the movements of the lateral frames into predominantly parallel planes. A third connecting member extends horizontally between and is attached to the lateral frames in a position spaced above the horizontal plane so that when the chassis is viewed from the side at the most only two frame mounting points fall on a straight line. Elastic relative movement between the left and right lateral frames is achieved as a result of the inherent elasticity of the connecting members and in addition resilient mountings at the attachment points of the connecting members to the lateral frames.

Abstract: In a vehicle wherein a rear wheel is supported by a power unit which comprises an integral combination of an engine and a transmission case incorporating a transmission mechanism and which is suspended from a rear part of a vehicle body frame through a damper, a power unit supporting device which supports the power unit for swinging motion at an intermediate portion of the vehicle body frame. The power unit supporting device comprises a front bracket fixed to the vehicle body frame, a rear bracket pivotably connected to the power unit, and leaf spring members having the front and rear ends thereof fixed to the front and rear brackets, respectively, and which cross each other to define substantially an X-shape in side elevation. The power unit supporting device has a relatively high rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in the right and left torsional direction and a relatively low rigidity in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A crane boom is supported during transport such that it may pivot about a horizontal axis located forward of the terrain contacting wheels of a support assembly. The support assembly is detachably connected to the boom and has a telescoping frame which is pivotally attached to the boom adjacent its forward end.

Abstract: A hitch for mounting on the back of a vehicle for towing a trailer or other equipment. A ball is mounted on the extended end of a hook portion of the main hitch body and is adapted to receive either a lunette or hooded-type coupler thereon. A closure latch is pivotally mounted on a rear portion of the hitch body and is engageable with the ball when securing a lunette coupler on the hitch and is alternately engageable with the hood of a hooded coupler when securing such a coupler on the ball. A spring-biased first locking pawl is pivotally mounted on the closure latch and is clamped against a shoulder on the hitch body by a spring to lock the latch in closed position with a hooded coupler. A second locking pawl is pivotally mounted on the first locking pawl and is clamped against the shoulder by the spring to lock the closure latch in engaged position with the hitch ball when securing a lunette coupler thereon.

Abstract: The structure comprehends a power transmission for a power drive cleaner where the clutching arrangement is on the output shaft that provides a direct geared drive to the wheels.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting first and second portions of a vehicle relative to each other, the assembly having a main frame adapted to be secured on the first portion of the vehicle in fixed relation thereto with the second portion of the vehicle above the main frame in an unadjusted relationship; a subframe mounted on the main frame in upstanding relation adjacent to the second portion of the vehicle; and a belt interconnecting the main frame and subframe and being tensionable to engage the second portion of the vehicle in supporting relation thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to motorcycles of the kind comprising a rear wheel axis carried by at least one suspension arm mounted for oscillations about a suspension travel axis, a resilient suspension member acting between a frame and the suspension arm, and a loop transmission connecting a driving pinion with a driven pinion solid with the rear axle. The technical problem is to provide such a motorcycle with greater suspension stability by under acceleration. In accordance with the invention, in the flat road running condition, the suspension travel axis is disposed in the same plane as the axes of the driving and driven pinions, in front of the driving pinion, so that transmission loop tension tends to reduce suspension excursions. The invention is applicable to chain drive and other loop drives.

Abstract: A tractor has three pairs of ground wheels: front and rear steerable pairs which cooperate to steer the tractor, and a central pair. The central pair of wheels each are connected to the frame through a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly which can be controlled to raise those wheels above the ground or to lower the wheels to engage the ground. The central wheels can be the same as the other wheels or traction caged wheels of hollow beams wherein a hub is connected to outer fellies with spokes. Supports interconnect the fellies at the inner or outer sides. All of the wheels can be driven independently by an engine and the central wheels are each detachable from a driven axle. The hub of the central wheels includes an outer cylindrical sleeve to which and end plate and the spokes are affixed. Each wheel is mounted on a hydraulic motor which is mounted on the tractor's frame, the forward and rear motors being turnable with the wheels mounted thereon.

Abstract: A ground vehicle final drive system includes a hydraulic motor powered by an engine driven pump, and a planetary gear final drive unit mounted between the frame of the vehicle and the wheel hub. A two-speed gear box is mechanically coupled between the hydraulic motor and the final drive unit and includes a remotely operable hydraulic shifter which can shift the two-speed gear box between two gear ratios by the use of a coupling that is splined to the output shaft and slides between an annular recess in one output gear and onto a spline connection on the other output gear.

Abstract: An automatic hitch device for use on a tractor with a three-point hitch is disclosed. The device allows a tractor operator to engage or disengage a tow vehicle without leaving the tractor. Two fail-safe mechanisms are disclosed which prevent inadvertent disengagement of the tow vehicle. Structure for transmitting the towing load to the tractor drawbar is described. A hydraulic cylinder is used to operate a hitch pin. An alignment spring which helps direct the hitch pin into the tow vehicle hitch also relieves lateral force on the hydraulic cylinder. Co-operation between the fail-safe mechanisms and manual disengagement of the fail-safe mechanisms are also described.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle has an inner driving element with an outer circumferential surface and an outer driven element with an inner circumferential surface, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the inner driving element has a smaller diameter than the inner circumferential surface of the outer driven element, and thereby the outer driven element is arranged loosely on the inner driving element and has a contact with the latter over a small circumferential region.

Abstract: A construction for a crane carbody and lower axle construction which permits use of either fixed or adjustable length axles with common tread members and carbodies, each of the tread members having sockets and a pair of adjustable length axles, each axle having a pair of side by side hydraulic rams, defining an offset therebetween connected to axle beams engageable with and secured to said sockets. A pair of fixed length axles, each having beam ends which are out of alignment by an amount equal to said offset so that the fixed and adjustable length axles are interchangeable.

Abstract: A four-wheel vehicle drive system comprising a power unit having an output shaft in a lateral direction of the vehicle; a transmission gear unit having input and output shafts parallel with an extension of the axis of rotation of the output shaft of the power unit; a power transfer gear rotatable about an axis parallel with the transmission input and output shafts and driven by the transmission output shaft; a first wheel drive unit comprising a differential gear assembly for one first pair of road wheels and a planetary gear assembly having a first rotary member driven by the transfer gear, a second rotary member driving the differential gear assembly and a third rotary member; low-and-high speed shifting clutch means to provide coupling selectively between the power transfer gear and the third rotary member and between the third rotary member and a stationary member fixed in the vehicle; a second wheel drive unit wherein the driving power transmitted to the second rotary member is split into two components,

Abstract: Rack and pinion steering gear incorporating a rack guide providing a takeoff for steering linkage actuation, the rack guide has shock absorbers formed at the opposite ends thereof for the cushioned engagement with stop shoulders in the steering gear housing at opposite ends of the rack guide track, the rack guide has spring finger runners integrally formed at opposite sides of the guide engaging the track for lash reduction and for the low friction sliding of the guide in the track.