Abstract: This guiding rail (5) comprises at least in its part for guiding a slidable element comprising a bolt cooperating with a safety belt buckle, two lateral guiding portions (5b, 5c) for the displacement of the slidable element. These two portions are disposed on each side of a slot (5d) through which the bolt projects. This rail is also formed by a bearing portion (5a) for the slidable element disposed in facing relation to said slot. These lateral portions (5b, 5c) and this bearing portion (5a) are in the shape of semi-circular lobes.

Abstract: A wheel locking device for use on a wheelchair, including a locking bar connected to a shaft that is movably axially and rotationally within a fixed tube, by a single operating handle. As the operating handle is moved from a release position to a locking position, the shaft is first axially translated by means of a cam on the handle, and simultaneously rotated by means of a guide pin extending radially from the shaft and engaging a slot in the tube, to move the locking bar from a retracted position well clear of a wheel of the chair to an operative position located transversely with respect to the wheel circumference. Further movement of the operating handle translates the locking bar transversely into locking engagement with the wheel.

Abstract: A tracklaying undercarriage for bulldozers, crawler loaders or other tracklaying vehicles including a central main frame and two tracklaying frames disposed on opposite sides of the main frame. The tracklaying frames are mounted at one end on mutually aligned supporting axles, which are fixed to the main frame, and at the other end on a rocker bridge, which is pivoted at its center to the main frame. The undercarriage also includes track chains, which are trained around driving and reversing chain sprockets mounted at mutually opposite ends of the tracklaying frames, and rotary hydraulic motors for driving the driving chain sprockets. The motors are supplied with fluid by hydraulic pumps, which are driven by an internal combustion engine mounted on the main frame. The tracklaying frames are mounted on the supporting axles by means of elastic bearings, which have outer and inner races that are interconnected by elastic material.

Abstract: A gangway bellows is used as a cross-over shelter between two vehicles which are flexibly connected to each other. The sidewalls of the gangway bellows have a double-wall design. Each internal wall is constructed as a curtain, which is suspended at its upper end from the roof of the gangway bellows and ends with its lower end immediately above a crossover unit, between the vehicle sections, having a turntable. The inner walls cover the track groove and, between themselves and the side walls of the gangway bellows, form chambers in which service facilities can be accommodated. Each curtain is folded preferably to correspond to the gangway bellows. Support elements may be interposed between each curtain and the respective side wall of the bellows.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive arrangement for vehicles having a transversely mounted engine includes an angular drive arrangement which incorporates several design features to reduce undesirable movement of the arrangement and resulting noise inside the vehicle. These features include support of the angular drive gear assembly at a point other than where it is fastened to a transmission/differential combination (e.g., by a bracket fastened to the engine), formation of the clutch and differential gear housing as an integral unit, resonance decoupling of a cardan shaft arrangement driven by the angular drive gear, and design of the angular drive gear assembly housing so as to reduce the length of the output shaft and associated bearing support. Specific arrangements for supporting the angular drive gear assembly and sections of the cardan shaft arrangement are also disclosed, as are specific features of the unitary housing which contributes to the overall reduction of inside noise levels.

Abstract: A power steering control device in an electronically controlled power steering system in which the degree of opening of an orifice in a liquid pressure circuit is controlled to adjust the steering power assist includes a driver for controlling an actuator for the orifice, a memory for storing, in the form of a table, values set in accordance with a combination of external factors affecting the adjustment of the steering power and orifice opening-degree control data corresponding to the combined values of actual external factors, a detector for detecting the concrete values of the external factors, and an access means for reading an orifice opening-degree control signal from the corresponding memory region in the memory.

Abstract: A method for regulating the bending stability of road vehicles with at least two vehicle parts linked by an articulation as well as an articulation unit with an articulation operable by means of a hydraulic adjusting assembly and a hydraulic control mechanism controllable by an electronic computer with check valves arranged in a hydraulic circuit and at least one damping valve. For the steering angles possible with a stable travel state firstly the relevant articulation is determined and then when travelling a check is repetitively made after a predetermined distance to establish whether the articulation angle predetermined at the start of the journey as a function of the steering angle corresponds to the articulation angle at the end of the journey.

Abstract: A mounting for the transmission of a track laying vehicle wherein the transmission is longitudinally installed and removed from a power-pack compartment in the hull of the vehicle. The mounting includes a pair of collars slidably disposed on bosses on opposite sides of the transmission case for movement between laterally inboard and outboard positions. As the transmission is pushed into the power-pack compartment, the collars are in the retracted positions. When the transmission achieves an installed position with the collars aligned on the sprocket axis of the hull, the collars are moved to the extended positions wherein an external bearing surface on each collar engages an internal cylindrical pilot surface on a web adapter rigidly attached to the adjacent hull wall. The transmission is supported at the sprocket axis through the collars.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle having foot pedals which are shiftable longitudinally to vary the distances between the pedals and the driver. The pedal assembly is made up of a frame, one or more rotatable pedals fixed to the frame, and a power transmission device coupled to the frame and to the pedals for providing an output in response to pedal rotation.

Abstract: A unitary-frame, straddle-type, crop-working vehicle with independent adjustability of straddle height, track width, and tool position is described. The vehicle features two lower tool-mounting arms and lateral and fore-and-aft adjustment to a center upper tool-mounting arm. Independent height adjustment of each of the vehicle's vertical mast structures facilitates upright hillside operation. Crawler tracks are utilized for ground travel and provide desirable weight distribution during crop-working operations.

Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle includes a variable displacement fluid pump such as a radial plunger pump provided at a crankshaft of pedals and a fixed displacement fluid motor such as a gear motor at a rear wheel or a front wheel. The fluid pump and motor are connected through hydraulic passages. Plungers of the radial plunger pump are driven by a cam assembly whose eccentricity is adjustable by means of an eccentricity control means dependent upon the load acting upon the vehicle in a stepless manner, so that the speed of the vehicle can be changed in a stepless manner. Moreover, the vehicle includes automatic speed change means which automatically change the eccentricity of the eccentric cam assembly according to hydraulic pressure of the variable displacement fluid pump, so that the speed of the vehicle can be automatically changed.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a steering shaft including a torsion bar to join an input shaft on the side of a steering wheel and an output shaft on the side of a steering road wheel so that they can be rotationally displaced relative to each other, and a non-contact type sensor using a Hall effect device provided in association with the input and output shafts to sense a relative rotational displacement based on a torsion of the torsion bar. The electric power steering apparatus further comprises an electric motor provided around a steering gear body within which the steering shaft is disposed and is driven by a signal from the non-contact type sensor to render a steering assistance to an output shafting leading to the steering road wheel.

Abstract: A boat trailer having a carriage assembly which can move longitudinally with respect to its supporting wheel assembly. Due to this arrangement, the supporting wheels of the trailer do not have to be submerged in water in order to launch the boat thereby preserving the wheel bearing lift. Also provided is a retractable auxiliary wheel assembly at the rear of the carriage assembly to support the same when the carriage is moved rearward with respect to the supporting wheel assembly.

Abstract: A rear wheel suspension system for bicycles having "on-demand" mode selection. The bicycle can be made "rigid" (no shock-absorbing movement of the rear wheel) or "sprung" (rear wheel movement) by means of a swing-arm wheel mount and an elastomer cylinder inside a rear shock absorber, which is manually actuated, such as by a remote lever on the handlebars, and connected to the shock absorber by a cable.

Abstract: A wheelchair has two foldable side frames, link members which cross one another and are pivotable about a common horizontal axis so as to fold the side frames, front wheels and rear wheels connected with the side frames, a back rest with upwardly extending back supporting members, a seat with seat supporting members which are movable upwardly and downwardly in dependence upon a folding movement, and a foot support with foot support carrying arms, wherein each side frame is provided with guide receivers for the seat supporting members, and with supports for the link members, and wherein a rear wheel axle block and the front support carrying arms are formed as a one-piece element of synthetic plastic material. Such side frames have a lower weight, but are stable nevertheless, and also result in an improved handling of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A steering system for a forklift truck having a tiltable steering column which rotatably supports a steering shaft carrying a steering wheel. The tiltable steering column is pivotally supported between its operative position and its rest position, about a pivot axis parallel to an axis of rotation of drive wheels of the truck. The system comprises: a biasing spring for biasing the steering column toward its rest position; an engaging member provided on the steering column; a locking member for locking the steering column in the operative position, the locking member being supported movably between its locking position and its unlocking position, and when placed in the locking position, engaging the engaging member of the steering column in the operative position; and an actuator associated with the locking member to move the locking member to the unlocking position and thereby permit the steering column to be pivoted to the rest position under a biasing action of the biasing spring.

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle having foot operated hydraulic controls consisting in one embodiment of a safety shield which activates a parking brake so that when the shield is in a lowered position the parking brake is set and the shield covers the hydraulic controls of the vehicle as well as being a foot rest, and when the shield is in upright position, the parking brake is released and access is obtained to the hydraulic controls; and in another embodiment of a safety bar which activates a locking lever which prevents operation of the foot controls when the safety bar is raised and permits operation of the foot controls when the safety bar is lowered.

Abstract: A fifth wheel assembly (10) comprising a lower support structure (12) adapted to be mounted on the chassis of a prime mover and an upper support plate (13) upon which a trailer is to be supported, and between which a cam operated linkage mechanism is incorporated which has a pair of space apart main link assemblies (14) pivotally attached at one end (19) to the lower support structure and pivotally attached adjacent their other ends (13) to the upper support plate. Cam members (15) are pivotally supported on the link assemblies with their cam surfaces in contact with the lower support structure, whereby rotation of the cam members pivots the link assemblies upwardly about their pivotal connections to the lower support structure to thereby raise the upper support plate attached to the other ends of said link assemblies.

Abstract: A coupler device for use on frameless dump trailers to guide and position the dump body on the fifth wheel plate. The coupler is comprised of a coupler saddle having an inverted generally U-shaped cavity that engages and registers with an upstanding coupler positioned on the fifth wheel plate of the trailer providing multiple axis positioning of the frameless dump body.

Abstract: A locking-type differential (5; I, II) is automatically engaged to locked position upon sensing of certain vehicle operating conditions, and unlocked upon sensing other vehicle operating conditions. If the steering wheel is deflected, or transverse acceleration is sensed, the differential is inhibited from locking; likewise, if the brakes are applied, or the engine is operating under idle condition, the locking-type differential is either unlocked or prevented from locking. On the other hand, if a kick-down signal from the accelerator is sensed, or if the difference in speed of driven and rolling wheels exceeds a predetermined amount, thus indicating slippage of the driven wheel, or if a brake applied to the driven wheel is then engaged, and the speed between the wheels coupled to the differential has become essentially uniform (FIG. 2, terminal 17), the differential is controlled to lock.