Abstract: A trailer locking device adapted to be fixedly inserted into the cup of a trailer hitch. The locking device, which can be in the shape of a ball, includes an outer shell made from a plurality of movable plates. Once inserted into the cup of a trailer hitch, a locking mechanism is used to separate or otherwise move the plates apart in order to expand the size of the outer shell. Once locked into position, the trailer locking device becomes lodged within the cup of the trailer hitch preventing a trailer in association with the trailer hitch from being stolen.

Abstract: Electric motors having controllable induced armature fields, such as induction motors and synchronous reluctance motors, are used in power assisted steering systems for motor vehicles. Power is conserved by tailoring induced armature fields or rotor flux in accordance with the speeds of motor vehicles including the power assisted steering system. In particular, one or more flux programs or maps are provided for the power assisted steering system with the flux map or program being accessed or addressed by means of the vehicle speed. During low speed operation of the motor vehicle, for example to perform parking maneuvers where speeds are near zero and steering forces are near or at maximum, the rotor flux is programmed to maximum.

Abstract: A vehicle speed responsive power steering apparatus enables a pressure which acts upon a power cylinder to be variably controlled in accordance with a vehicle speed or the like, thus allowing an assisting force to be controlled in a variable manner. A control valve CV selectively connects a pump P and a tank T to left and right chambers CL, CR of a power cylinder. The control valve comprises a first and a second fluid pressure bridge circuit 10, 20. The first fluid pressure bridge circuit includes a left and a right path 12, 13, in which a first and a second pair of variable throttles 1R, 1L and 2L, 2R are disposed which are opened or closed in response to a steering operation. The left and the right chamber of the cylinder are connected to the respective paths at the junctions between the variable throttles.

Abstract: A work vehicle has an engine hood which may be opened and closed. The vehicle includes a connecting mechanism for allowing the hood to be pivoted upwards after displacement of the hood in the forward or rearward direction relative to the vehicle body, and includes also a movement restricting mechanism for checking sideways and upward movements of the engine hood after the hood is closed. The connecting mechanism includes a first bracket pivotally attached to a vehicle chassis, a second bracket provided to the engine hood, and a connecting member for pivotally interconnecting the first bracket and the second bracket. The movement restricting mechanism includes an engaging portion fixedly provided to the engine hood and an engaged portion provided to the vehicle body for engaging the engaging portion.

Abstract: A personal traction transportation vehicle which includes two gear-motor-wheels which drive a connected chassis forward. The chassis is stabilized by a third trailing caster wheel. The vehicle is electrically driven by a removable battery pack. At least one and preferably two drag poles simulating ski poles are attached to the chassis through universal joints in a manner allowing the handles of the ski poles to be free to move in the plane normal to the direction of forward movement. The vehicle is steered by either twisting the poles which turn the front two wheels, or by motoring the front drive wheels independently, or by differentially pulling on the drag poles.

Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes a vehicle body including a handlebar, a drive wheel mounted to the vehicle body, a driving unit for driving the drive wheel, and a manual-driving-force sensing unit for sensing a manual driving force exerted to the handlebar to move the vehicle body and generating a control signal for controlling the driving unit in accordance with the sensed manual driving force. The manual-driving-force sensing unit includes a displaceable grip mounted displaceable along the length of said handlebar, a potentiometer for sensing displacement of the grip and generating the control signal in accordance with the sensed displacement of the grip, first and second stop members disposed spaced from each other along the length of the handlebar, a spring having one end contacting the first stop member and having the other end contacting the second stop member, and a piston having first and second portions adjacent to said first and second stop members, respectively, for driving the spring.

Abstract: A user-propelled walking apparatus comprising a frame assembly having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The pair of front wheels are maintained substantially parallel to one another. An upper body and seat assembly having a seat and a movable torso support unit is mounted to the frame assembly. The movable torso support unit is allowed to rotate or pivot. The rotation or pivoting movement of the movable torso support unit is connected to a mechanical transmission for controlling steering which controls the direction of the front wheels. A gait guide system comprising a pair of independent gait guides attached to the frame assembly to limit the movement of the user's feet. Each of the gait guides includes an elongate rail pivotally connected to the frame assembly. A sleeve is slidably mounted on the elongate rail and a shoe bracket is pivotally connected to the sleeve.

Abstract: A hood control apparatus includes a single dampening cylinder disposed along a fore-aft centerline of a forward tilting hood, one end of the cylinder being pivotably attached to the hood and another end pivotably engaging a mounting bracket for same engaged to an under hood cooling package frame in a manner to maintain the cylinder above the cooling package components at all times. A spring-loaded locking mechanism may be provided to automatically prevent retraction of the dampening cylinder when the hood is in a fully open position until it is desired to close the hood.

Abstract: A wheelchair frame includes a pair of side frame assemblies, a connector connecting the two side frame assemblies, a seat, caster wheel mountings, drive wheel mountings, and a leg rest mounting. Each of the side frame assemblies have an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member is pivotally connected at its forward end to the forward portion of the lower frame member and supported at its rearward end by a suspension support member (i.e., shock absorber) connected to the rearward end of the lower frame member. The seat is attached between the upper frame members of each side frame assembly. With this configuration, the upper frame members and the seat are free to pivot about the pivotal connection between the upper frame member and the lower frame member. In operation, the upper frame members and seat "float" up and down on the shock absorber to provide cushioning to the user.

Abstract: An all-wheel steered vehicle in which all wheels are always parallel and have an equal role in steering the vehicle. It consists of a plurality of wheel assemblies capable of wheel rotation about the wheel's axis. The shaft of each wheel assembly (14) passes through bearings (16) such that the shaft is fastened to the chassis (15) but rotatable in its vertical axis. These wheel assemblies are attached to a common steering linkage (18) by lever arms(17). The steering linkage maintains the wheels in parallel, but allow the wheel assemblies to rotate simultaneously about their vertical axis. The vehicle body or seat (23) is rotatable about the center of the chassis. The vehicle body or seat is in linkage with the wheel assemblies such that a rotation of vehicle body or seat relative to the chassis causes a simultaneous and equal rotation of all the wheel assemblies about their vertical axis. That is, both the vehicle body or seat and all of the wheels are maintained parallel to one another.

Abstract: A fork capable of absorbing the vibrations produced by the irregularities of the ground where a bicycle travels. In this way, vibrations do not end up being transmitted to the bicyclist's hands and arms, which is an advantage over conventional bicycles having rigid forks. The fork includes in each one of its two vertical arms or branches a shock absorber that comprises a group of elements that operates by means of oil and a gaseous fluid. Located between these elements is a floating piston that separates an oil chamber from the other gaseous fluid chamber. The fork includes a mechanical blocking system whose structure and functioning are very simple.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes an articulation joint between a front section and a rear section. The articulation joint comprises two vertically spaced pivotal support bearings defining a rotational axis of the joint. First and second drive trains extend through the joint for transmitting drive power between the front and rear sections of the vehicle. Steering actuators which are coupled between the front and rear sections for selectively articulating the joint are trunnion-mounted, providing a compact articulation joint. Free volumes are provided adjacent to cap ends of the actuators to allow for pivotal movement of the steering actuators during articulation of the joint. The first drive train extends between an engine in one section of the vehicle and a transmission in the other section for driving the transmission and a first set of wheels, while the second drive train extends from the transmission to the first section of the vehicle for driving a second set of wheels.

Abstract: A bicycle frame assembly includes a main frame portion having a steering tube at its forward end and a pedal crankset bracket at its rearward end. An intermediate frame portion is pivotably connected to the main frame portion near the steering tube and extends rearwardly therefrom to a seat tube. A rear frame portion includes a pair of upper arm members and a pair of lower arm members connected at distal ends defining a pair of rear wheel drop outs. The upper arm members angle diagonally upwardly and are connected to the intermediate frame portion through a shock absorber. The lower arm members connect through a first link assembly to a main pivot point provided on the main frame portion above and in closely spaced relation to the crankset bracket. The first link assembly extends forwardly and upwardly from the main pivot point and defines another pivot point for connection to a frame member extending downwardly as part of the intermediate frame portion.

Abstract: A wheelchair frame assembly made by connecting a plurality of unit frames together, each unit frame including a plurality of metal frame tubes, and a plastic cover shell directly molded on the metal frame tubes, each metal frame tube having one end embedded in the plastic cover shell and an opposite end exposed to the exterior for mounting another element, the cover shell having a plurality of integral arm sections respectively connected between each two adjacent metal frame tubes, a plurality of integral rod sections respectively fitted into the embedded end of each metal frame tube, and at least one coupling portion for connection of a respective coupling portion of another unit frame.

Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus, a motor current target value of a steering force assisting motor is determined on the basis of a torque detected by a torque sensor. The drive of the motor is controlled using the motor current target value as a target value of an automatic control, and using the driving current of the motor as a feedback value of the automatic control. When the detected torque is within a predetermined range, the motor is inhibited from being driven in the direction opposite to the detected torque. The electric power steering apparatus has a motor non-drive detecting circuit for detecting that the motor current target value is zero, and a drive inhibition holding circuit for holding the motor drive inhibition state, wherein the motor is inhibited from being driven in the direction opposite to the detected torque, until the motor non-drive detecting circuit detects that the motor current target value is zero.

Abstract: A connection apparatus for connecting a vehicle to a wheeled container for towing the container including a handle having at least a portion lying generally parallel to the container wheel axle. The apparatus is connected to the vehicle in a manner permitting the container to pivot and to roll slightly so as to track well during towing. A channel is formed between an elongated angle and one or more angular brackets for receiving the container handle. A clamping device is movable between positions closing the open side of the channel to clamp the handle in the channel and an open position for removal of the handle. The channel is adjustable in width and height and the angular bracket positions are adjustable to accommodate various handle shapes. A releasable locking device is provided to lock the channel closed around the handle during towing. The locking and clamping devices are adjustable to accommodate various handle heights and shapes. The apparatus is thus adaptable to almost any handle configuration.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering or control system with a servomotor, especially an electric motor, which can be coupled to the rack by way of a mechanical transmission and runs continuously in one direction is provided. The rack is designed over a certain area as a screw which interacts with a recirculating ball sleeve which can be driven in two directions of rotation by the motor. To control the direction of rotation, use is made of normally disengaged clutches which can be controlled as a function of a small displacement of the recirculating ball sleeve.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly has a gear housing, axle tubes extending outwardly of the gear housing, and an axle shaft disposed in each axle tube with an external wheel hub at a protruding end of the axle shaft. Each axle shaft is rotatably supported in a flanged end collar at a remote end of the axle tube by a bearing assembly that is mounted on the axle shaft and retained in the end collar by a screw cap. The drive axle assembly includes a brake member mounted externally on the end collar in juxtaposition to an external shaped flange of the end collar. The screw cap clamps the brake member against the external flange to locate the brake member on the axle tube in an axial direction and to nonrotatably couple the brake member to the axle tube.

Abstract: A directional drive transmission control system drivingly coupling a rotary output drive source of a powered vehicle with a pair of drive wheels thereof, includes right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on and rotatable relative to right and left transverse drive shafts and drivingly connected with the rotary output drive source so as to rotatably drive forward and reverse drive pulleys in opposite directions.

Abstract: An adjustable fifth wheel hitch includes a support frame having base rails that are secured to the frame of a vehicle and a pair of spaced guide rails that bridge between the base rails. The fifth wheel hitch also includes a head assembly having a jaw assembly for engaging a kingpin on a trailer. A head support and a pair of uprights mount the head assembly for relative fore-and-aft sliding movement along the guide rails between a towing position and a maneuvering position. A releasable lock secures the head assembly in either selected position. The lock includes a dual bar latch and a leaf spring for biasing the latch into a locking position. The dual bars of the latch are offset or dimensioned so that each bar is selectively received in only one of two similarly offset or dimensioned, cooperating apertures formed in one of the guide rails.