Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprises a hydraulic cylinder for displacing a steering rod connected to left and right rear wheels axially, a centering spring for biasing the steering rod toward a neutral position, and a centering spring cancelling mechanism for preventing a biasing force of the centering spring from acting on the steering rod. A partition wall of the hydraulic cylinder defines an oil chamber in the cylinder and is formed as a cup shape having a central concave portion which constitutes a pressure chamber of the centering spring cancelling mechanism.

Abstract: A protector (14) for preventing the front forks (12) of a bicycle (10) from resting on the ground (20) when the front wheel has been removed is disclosed. The protector (14) includes a bracket (26) for being attached to one fork (12), a shoe (30) for engaging the ground (20) and a link (28) attaching the shoe (30) to the bracket (26).

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the magnitude of changes in a vertical force transmitted to a tractor from a trailer through a fifth wheel hitch. The changes in vertical force are caused by the trailer reacting as an inertial mass as the trailer is moved over uneven pavement during pulling of the trailer by the tractor. The apparatus includes a sensor for providing a signal. The signal is indicative of the vertical force transmitted from the trailer through the fifth wheel hitch. An actuator is disposed between the fifth wheel hitch and the tractor. The actuator applies a vertical force to the fifth wheel hitch and the tractor. A control device operates the actuator for varying the amount of vertical force applied to the fifth wheel hitch by the actuator. The operation of the actuator is responsive to the signal indicative of the vertical force transmitted from the trailer through the fifth wheel hitch.

Abstract: A power steering system for controlling the dirigible wheels of an automotive vehicle includes a pump that develops a pressure in an accumulator, the pump being deactivated when accumulator pressure reaches a predetermined range and being activated when the accumulator pressure is lower than that range, a pressure distributor steering valve situated between a power steering motor and the accumulator that responds to a directional steering torque to distribute directional steering pressures to the motor and a solenoid valve under the control of a microcomputer that establishes a steering pressure that is determined by the torque, vehicle speed and pressure characteristics stored in the memory portion of the microcomputer.

Abstract: An improved, self energizing bicycle saddle post clamp easily operated by local or remote control from a handlebar lever. The design is self energizing, with holding action increasing with load. No adjustment is required; small variations in post size or wear are self compensating. Basically only one simple moving part is involved.

Abstract: A controller for preventing unnecessary idling of a vehicle engine, such as when the vehicle is left unattended with the engine idling. The controller includes a motion detector having a predetermined detection pattern directed to the driver's position within the vehicle. The motion detector is preferably a passive infrared motion detector. When the motion detector fails to detect the presence of the driver for a preselected time, the engine is shut down by a control circuit. The engine idle shut-down controller may also include various sensors, such as a vehicle speed sensor, and engine load and temperature sensors, to determine that the vehicle is not moving before shutting down the engine.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly is provided for coupling a trailer to a vehicle, the lead vehicle being equipped with a standard ball-type hitch, and the trailer hitch assembly comprising a body securely attached to the trailer, the interior surface thereof forming a cylindrical cavity, the cylindrical cavity being open at one end thereof for insertion of the ball-type hitch and the opposite end thereof being closed, the interior surface at the closed end forming a curved surface which substantially conforms to a portion of the ball-type hitch; a plurality of steel balls rotatably embedded within the body such that a portion of each steel ball extends through the interior surface of the body into the cavity to secure the ball-type hitch within the cavity; and retraction means for temporarily retracting the steel balls completely within the body to allow ingress and egress of the ball-type hitch into and out of the cavity, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bowling-lane maintenance machine having a driving mechanism which includes four turnable drive units and four lift cylinders. Each of the drive units includes a lane running wheel, a ride-on-approach and transverse running wheel having a diameter larger than that of the lane running wheel, and a drive motor operatively connected with the wheels. When the bowling-lane maintenance machine is moved on the approach by the rotation of the ride-on-approach and transverse running wheels, the lane running wheels will not be brought into contact with the surface of the approach. When the bowling-lane maintenance machine is lifted under the actuation of the lift cylinders, the drive units may be turned to change the direction of movement in which the machine is to be moved.

Abstract: A single step, bi-level portable storage tank which includes contiguous forward and rear generally rectangular liquid storage sections each having side walls and having a common bottom wall, the forward storage section having a lower roof than the roof of the rear storage section. A forwardly facing break wall joins the forward end of the roof of the rear storage section to the rear of the roof of the forward storage section at a location which is about one-third of the distance from the forward end of the tank to the rear end thereof. A ladder and stairway at the forward end of the storage tank accesses a rearwardly extending walkway which crosses the roof of the forward storage section to the break wall.

Abstract: An air-isolated fifth wheel system for use in connecting a trailer to a semi-tractor in a manner to isolate vibrational input of the trailer to the fifth wheel from being transferred to the semi-tractor. An inflatable air bag is operably disposed in a centered location beneath the fifth wheel support plate to eliminate vertical fifth wheel load from being transferred to the semi-tractor. The system is light weight and can easily be included into existing fifth wheel assemblies without significant alteration to the chassis of the semi-tractor.

Abstract: An ignition timing control system for an internal combustion engine in which an ECU sets a basic spark advance value in response to operating condition of the engine, corrects the set basic spark advance value, and delimits the corrected spark advance value in a spark retarding direction by means of a retard limiting value. The ECU further detects operation of a slip control system which detects a predetermined slip state of driving wheels of the vehicle and controls the engine so as to reduce output thereof upon detection of the predetermined slip state. When the slip control system is operative, the ECU changes the retard limiting value toward an advanced side relative to a value set when the slip control system is inoperative.

Abstract: A cycle in the form of a bicycle or a tricycle has an elongate horizontal main frame member with a rear wheel support assembly at the rear end and a front wheel support assembly at the front end. The front wheel support assembly supports the steerable front wheel at the lower end of a slanted steering column and handlebars at the top end slanted toward the rear. A seat and seat back are supported on a rearward-slanting seat standard that is clamped onto the horizontal frame member and may be adjusted fore and aft to provide comfortable access to the pedals mounted on the front end of the horizontal frame member. The seat remains at the same elevation regardless of the adjustment and the pedals are forward and below the hips of the rider. Force on the pedals forces the back against the backrest for enhanced leverage.

Abstract: A hitch guidance mechanism for an agricultural vehicle having a pair of movable draft links for coupling to an implement and having a pair of brackets attached to the rear end of a frame of the vehicle. The brackets are positioned above and on opposite sides of a PTO shaft which projects from the frame. Pivot arms are pivotally suspended from the brackets. Left and right sway block supports are pivotally coupled to the lower ends of the pivot arms. The sway block supports are rigidly interconnected to each other by a rectangular plate and an adjustable length rod. A pair of sway blocks slidably engage the draft links and are adjustably fixable to the sway block supports. An actuator is coupled between the frame and one of the sway block supports for controlling lateral movement of the sway block supports, the sway blocks and the draft links.

Abstract: A hitch pin is arranged for coupling a tongue relative to a socket of a conventional hitch structure to include a central cylindrical body formed with a top plate member mounted to the body. The top plate member includes a plurality of first diametrically disposed latch members, each latch member including a concave saddle positioned at an upper end of each latch member at an upper end of a ramp of each latch member to receive a handle loop upon each saddle to withdraw a central lock rod through the cylindrical shaft. The lock rod includes an actuator plug mounted to the lock rod spaced from a lower terminal end thereof to effect displacement of a plurality of locking legs exteriorly of the shaft. The lower terminal end portion of the lock rod includes a lock rod lower end plate to capture a spring between the lower end plate and a cylindrical shaft cavity floor.

Abstract: In a transfer for use in a transaxle for a four-wheel drive vehicle, a transfer shaft for transmission of power to rear wheels is drivingly connected to a ring gear which is in turn directly connected with a pinion gear in such a manner that a center axis of the pinion gear intersects a center axis of the ring gear at right angles and in such a manner that the center axis of the pinion gear is offset upward from the center axis of the ring gear.

Abstract: The rear wheels of a motor vehicle are independently steered in an inward (toe-in) direction to improve yaw stability and on-center response. In moderate-to severe turning maneuvers, the rear wheel on the outside of the turn is controlled. In low-to-moderate turning maneuvers, the rear wheel on the inside of the turn is controlled.

Abstract: A track-laying vehicle has two tracks, each with a hydrostatic drive unit, where at least one drive motor 1, 2 adjustable in working volume is provided in each drive unit and to which at least one pressure medium supply line 3, 4, 5, 6 connected to a hydrostatic pump leads and which has a working volume adjusting device 9, 11, 10, 12 that can be influenced by a signal dependent on the operating pressure. To avoid unintentional changes in direction of the track-laying vehicle in the case of different resistances to the tracks, it is proposed to connect the pressure medium supply lines 3, 4, 5, 6 of all the drive motors 1, 2 to a shuttle valve circuit 32, 33, 34 which determines the highest of the operating pressures of the hydrostatic drive unit and empties in a signal line 19 that is connected to the control elements of the working volume adjusting devices 9, 11, 10, 12 of all the drive motors 1, 2.

Abstract: A track-type vehicle having first and second endless track assemblies and first and second steerable wheels includes a weight management apparatus including a measuring assembly for measuring the angle of steer of the steerable wheels, a hydraulic cylinder connected between the frame of the vehicle and the axles of the steerable wheels, and an actuating device for actuating control valves which control pressure of the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinder. Controlling the pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinder, as a function of the angle of steer of the steerable wheels, changes the ground pressure applied by the steerable wheels and the track assemblies. The pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinder also determines the amount of contact the track assemblies have with the ground. Steering of track-type vehicles is more difficult than wheel-type vehicles due to the large contact area of the track assemblies with the ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive assembly for driving the wheels of a four wheel drive vehicle. The drive assembly comprises a propeller shaft 8 consisting of two portions 9, 10. Furthermore, the propeller shaft 8 comprises a viscous coupling 14 arranged at one end of the intermediate bearing 13 and a joint 15 arranged at the other end of the intermediate bearing 13 and non-rotatingly connected to the viscous coupling 14. Such a propeller shaft 8 ensures quiet running of the bearings of the assembly and prevents the joint and viscous coupling from influencing each other.

Abstract: A primary drive line for delivering power from a power-take-off (pto) shaft on a tractor to an input shaft on an implement includes a swivel hitch comprised of an upper gearbox and a lower gearbox. The upper gearbox is fastened to a pair of spaced apart, upper vertical plates carried on a tongue extending forwardly from the implement, and the lower gearbox is fastened to a pair of spaced apart, lower vertical plates carried by a yoke assembly that is attached to the tractor. An output shaft on the upper gearbox is coupled to the implement input shaft. The lower gearbox has two shafts, the first of which is coupled to an input shaft on the upper gearbox. The second shaft on the lower gearbox is connected to the tractor pto shaft. The lower gearbox is mounted by using bushings with rubber inserts which permit limited repositioning of the lower gearbox with respect to the yoke assembly in order to compensate for any misalignment of the lower gearbox first shaft when coupling it to the upper gearbox input shaft.