Abstract: A device for preventing theft of a towed trailer vehicle having a socket-like hitch coupler mounted on an elongate trailer tongue member. The device includes an elongate base plate, a post mounted on the base plate to be received in the socket of the hitch coupler, a second elongate plate hingeably interconnected to said base plate to be positioned over the hitch coupler, a locking bar to secure the second plate in place over the hitch coupler, and a lock enclosure to protect a locking means against tampering when the device is in place upon the trailer vehicle hitch coupler.

Abstract: A steering system for a wheeled vehicle having a steering linkage including a rack bar arranged between a pair of digirible road wheels to steer the road wheels in accordance with the driver's steering effort applied thereto, which comprises a lateral rod operatively connected in parallel with the rack bar for displacement therewith, and a single pneumatic cylinder arranged perpendicularly to the lateral rod and having a piston contained therein and a piston rod extending outwardly from the piston and being operatively connected to the lateral rod in such a manner that the piston is located in a stroke end and when the lateral rod is in a neutral position and that the piston rod is pulled in accordance with displacement of the lateral rod to increase an internal pressure in the pneumatic cylinder. The internal pressure in the pneumatic cylinder acts on the rack bar through the lateral rod as a reaction force against the driver's steering effort.

Abstract: A wheelchair latching device designed to connect a wheelchair to a commode, which latching device includes a latch mechanism mounted on the wheelchair and designed to engage a receiver mechanism secured to the floor and/or the commode. An axle component of the latch mechanism is designed to engage a pivoting latch tongue provided in the receiver mechanism to releasably secure the axle against a pair of spring-loaded tension receivers which are forced rearwardly in the receiver mechanism housing responsive to impact with the axle when the axle engages the latch tongue. The axle is thusly locked between the tension receivers and a lip provided on the latch tongue, and the seat of the wheelchair is thereby securely positioned immediately adjacent to the commode seat.

Abstract: The caterpillar chassis (1) for heavy vehicles, such as bucket-wheel excavators or wheeled loaders, has four caterpillars (2, 9) being arranged such that they spread out a supporting triangle (4). The front caterpillars (9), which are located at a smaller distance from the longitudinal axis (3) of the chassis, are designed for being dirigible. The swivel axis (11) of the traversing gear supported on the supporting triangle (4) is displaced out of the position (10) of the center of gravity of the supporting triangle (4) in direction to the front end (8) of the supporting triangle along the height line (7), so that the load acting on the caterpillars (2 and 9) is made more uniform.

Abstract: A chassisless fiberglass tank trailer. The tank trailer includes a tank shell formed of a fiberglass reinforced isotholic resin, with fiberglass filaments bias-wound at an angle of approximately 45.degree.. The tank shell has a forward head and a rear head for forming a fluid carrying container. A forward cradle is attached to the tank shell with mounting portions used for mounting a fifth wheel member, and a rear cradle is attached to the tank shell and having mounting portions used for mounting a rear wheel carriage. The cradles further include a plurality of holes extending therethrough and a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. The holes and protrusions interact with the resin and fiberglass winding to rigidly hold the cradles to the tank shell. A plurality of circumferential reinforcing ribs are located between each of the mounting portions and at other desired locations longitudinally on the tank shell. The ribs are also molded in with fiberglass reinforced resin.

Abstract: A multi-wheeled vehicle of the motorcycle or motor scooter type including having a vehicle body including a front cover, a rear cover and a low-slung step portion which extends beneath the line connecting the front and rear axle of the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a tandem seat which is positioned downwardly and forwardly. The vehicle body includes a frame having two lower members and one upper member arranged at the apices of a triangle and, in a preferred embodiment, at the apices of an isosceles triangle. A fuel tank is provided in the protected space between the body members and various metal flange members such that the tank is substantially arranged at the same level as the power unit and the lower surface of the tank may alson be below the level of the front and rear axles.

Abstract: Mechanisms for mounting a main stand on a motorcycle are disclosed. The linkage between the front portion of the motorcycle power unit and the motorcycle body frame is used to mount the main stand. One mechanism employs a link connected to a bracket on the body frame and to bosses extending from the power unit. Another mechanism uses two links connected to each other and a bracket and bosses. A main stand is mounted to the rear end portion of the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A power steering system uses an electric motor to produce an auxiliary torque which is added to the torque applied to the steering wheel of vehicle by the driver.

Abstract: A bicycle frame with a down tube, seat mast, and rear fork has a crank hanger in the form of an open bottomed bell having substantially planar front, top and rear surfaces substantially perpendicular to long axes of the lower ends of the down tube, seat mast and rear fork respectively and parallel to end surfaces thereof, the end surfaces squarely butting the respective bell surfaces and being secured thereto. A crank bearing assembly is readily mounted in the crank hanger, and held therein with a single cotter pin, permitting easy demounting as well. The axle shaft of a crank is journaled in bearings mounted in housings of a size to fit closely within an enlarged portion of key hole slots in opposite parallel side walls of the bell, but too large to pass through neck portions of the key hole slots.

Abstract: The locking mechanism of the present invention is comprised of a pawl which is rotatable to a locking position, where it contacts the latch which covers the pintle that carries the trailer drawbar. The pawl has a central cavity which contains a pair of rotatably mounted prongs that normally extend outwardly from the sides of the pawl but which can be placed into the cavity when manually deflected. When the pawl is in its locking position, against the latch, the prongs extend into notches in the side walls of the body of the coupling and thereby prevent the pawl from being lifted off of the latch. A cam, which is rotatably mounted on the bolt which journals the pawl, has paired plates which fit behind the prongs and prevent them from being deflected into the cavity. Thus, before the prongs can be deflected and thereafter the pawl lifted to unlock the latch, the cam must be rotated to a position where its faces are moved away from the prongs.

Abstract: A motorcycle frame in which both the front and rear wheels are supported by respective pairs of swing arms pivotally supported by two side frames. Each side frame has a front and a rear bracket and a connecting structure extending upwardly and longitudinally over the engine. The connecting structure may be integral with both of the brackets or may be a pipe frame bolted to the brackets.

Abstract: A device comprising a rear adapter frame with an idle crawler track and adapted to be mounted, together with a front steering skid, in lieu of the rear and front wheels, respectively, of a motor-scooter so as to enable a quick conversion thereof, when desired, into a vehicle suitable to travel on snowy ground.

Abstract: In an anti-jackknifing apparatus for a semitrailer rig, upon coupling of a semitrailer to a tractor by insertion of a king pin and a wedge on the trailer into a fifth wheel of the tractor, a pin connected to the wedge traverses a guideway to execute therealong a movement limited and attenuated by double-action hydraulic cylinders connected to hydraulic valve group in turn electrically tied to a control unit. At the guideway, limit switches are provided for setting for each direction of angular motion a predetermined maximum jackknifing angle dependent on vehicle construction. The attenuation of rotary movement between the tractor and the semitrailer is implemented by throttle valves as a function of vehicle speed as measured by a speedometer and as a function of brake pressure as measured by two pressure switches.

Abstract: A four-wheeled freight trailer adapted particularly to farm use has its front axle beam fixed with respect to the frame of the trailer, and has steerable wheels at the opposite ends of this beam. The tongue of the trailer is fixed with respect to the frame against rotation on a vertical axis. A crank arm on the front of the tongue engages an abutment on the hitch of a towing vehicle, so that turning the vehicle induces rotation of the crank arm which actuates a steering linkage connected to the front wheels of the trailer.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a steering force of a vehicle which uses a power steering apparatus in which a driving shaft for a sub-pump for feeding pressure oil into a hydraulic pressure reaction chamber provided internally of a main valve and a main pump for supplying pressure oil for the power steering apparatus is made common to both said pumps to increase an discharge amount and hydraulic pressure of the sub-pump. When speed information and steering angle information of the vehicle are obtained, the hydraulic pressure fed to the hydraulic pressure reaction chamber is controlled by a throttle means subjected to numerical control by output signal of the controller which is provided with predetermined data according to the travelling state of the vehicle and the other throttle means by way of analog control wherein a variation of road resistance is sensitively transmitted as a variation of hydraulic pressure to vary an opening in response thereto, thus always obtaining a proper steering force.

Abstract: There is disclosed a quick coupling assembly for coupling a working implement to the front of the tractor. A front push-frame is adapted to be attached to the tractor chassis, with the front portion of the push-frame projecting forwardly of the tractor. Said front portion includes two upright legs, each provided with a horizontal stud and with a retractable locking pin below the stud. The assembly further includes a hook frame adapted to be attached to the back of a working implement, such as a plow or snowblower. The hook frame includes a pair of transversely-spaced hook plates, each having an upper downwardly-turned hook member and a hole below the hook member. To couple the hook frame, to the front push-frame, it is only necessary to drop the hook members on the studs and to allow the spring-biased locking pin to enter the holes of the hook plates. Hydraulic cylinders are provided to raise and lower the working implement through action on the push-frame.

Abstract: A road vehicle, particlarly a human-powered type, comprises a rotatable chassis section rotatable with respect to a fixed chassis section, a steering mechanism and a banking mechanism controlled by the steering mechanism for automatically rotating the rotatable chassis section with respect to the fixed chassis section about the horizontal axis whenever the steering mechanism is actuated to steer the vehicle. The vehicle also comprises a novel hydraulic shock absorber and a novel hydraulic rear-wheel suspension, both of which are influenced, e.g., stiffened or loosened, according to the load applied to the vehicle.

Abstract: A power steering system which includes a fluid source that supplies pressure fluid of a constant flow rate, a fluid motor for supplementing manual steering torque, a servo-valve for distributing fluid to the fluid motor, and a reaction device for applying hydraulic reaction or feeling to a starting wheel in accordance with fluid pressure applied thereto. A magnetic control valve having a solenoid therein is connected to the reaction device to vary fluid pressure applied thereto in a predetermined range of pressures in accordance with vehicle operating condition. A mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure applied to reaction device at a predetermined pressure in the predetermined range of pressure even when the current supplied to the solenoid becomes abnormal is incorporated in the magnetic control valve.

Abstract: A mounting for the draw rod of the coupling body of a trailer coupling is proposed. The draw rod passes through a cross-piece bore of a cross-piece fast with the towing vehicle. The cross-section of the draw rod at the passage through the cross-piece bore corresponds to the cross-section of the cross-piece bore. A bearing tube secured to the cross-piece for the guidance of the draw rod extends from the cross-piece only in the direction pointing away from the coupling body. Between the end of the draw rod remote from the cross-piece and the end of the bearing tube remote from the cross-piece a support acting in both force directions is provided, that is to say a support for traction force transmission and a support for thrust force transmission. In the solution according to the invention the cross-section of the draw rod can be enlarged compared with conventional forms of embodiment.

Abstract: A remote controlled multi-axis all terrain vehicle includes front and rear lugged driving wheels, with front and rear wheels steerable about a vertical axis, and pivotal about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The vcehicle is remotely controlled and includes hydrostatic drive for the wheels of the vehicle. A level control system includes level sensing instruments and controls for automatically leveling the frame of the vehicle for up to thirty-five degree slopes.