Abstract: A wheel assembly for driven or non-driven trolleys or the like, comprising at least one set of wheels (10, 11) having at least three wheels (11) which are mounted on the trolley by a bearing means (13). The bearing means (13) has a center of rotation (C) which is located on the axial center line of the set of wheels (10, 11) and is connected to the trolley, at a distance from this center of rotation (C). When the wheels (11) encounter an abstacle as the trolley is run, the bearing means (13) will rotate relative to the set of wheels (10, 11), which causes shifting of the center of gravity so as to permit the set of wheels to climb over the abstract without the need of any appreciable additional effort.

Abstract: In common style cycle kickstands, particularly bicycle kickstands by cycles used and parked on dirt or soft blacktop drives, the weight of the cycle when the stand is in cycle supporting position will cause the kickstand foot to dig into the surface. The cycle will then fall over on its side damaging the cycle and if the cycle was on a blacktop surface, the stand damages that surface also. This problem is overcome by the present invention which is an accessory for the kickstand that is constructed from deformable plastic or rubber. The accessory is provided with a passageway slightly smaller in cross-section than the stand leg and foot so that it can be manually pushed over the kickstand leg and foot frictionally engaging the kickstand leg and foot in a tight fit.

Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle with variable undercarriage geometry comprises a cross-frame member extending between and interconnecting undercarriage support beams which are provided with vehicle propulsion means, the cross-frame member including means permitting a change of its length so as to provide for adjustment of the track width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A bicycle having a frame, a driven wheel rotatably supported on the frame, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on the frame, a driven sprocket fixed to said wheel, a chain extending between the sprockets; a pair of levers pivotally attached to the frame, and a pair of links extending between the drive sprocket and levers, a pedal fixed to the extremity of each lever, and wherein said drive sprocket is rotated by the reciprocation of said pedals.

Abstract: An ambulator which can be mated to a wheeled frame to form a wheelchair is rovided to enable a paraplegic to stand on the ambulator and be separated from the frame for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the frame to the standing position on the ambulator; the compact base of the ambulator containing a drive mechanism for moving the ambulator in any desired direction through controls conveniently located on an arm rest. When the ambulator is mated with the frame, the linkage is lowered to carry the paraplegic in the sitting position.

Abstract: A device for supporting and towing a trailer includes a first part engageable with the kingpin of the trailer, a second part engageable with an edge portion of the trailer, and a pair of tension members extending from the first part past the second part at spaced positions therealong, and secured to a supporting or towing vehicle.

Abstract: A anti-jackknifing device for a motor vehicle having two articulated units with a friction brake therebetween has a hydraulic control means for controlling the torque applied by the brake. A hydraulic sensor activating cylinder with two working spaces senses the jackknifing angle between the two units. A three-position four-way reversible valve is connected to the hydraulic brake activating cylinder, between a third port and a check valve and the valve in its first position connects its first and third ports and its second and fourth ports and in its second position connects its first and fourth ports and its second and third ports. A steering angle sensor is provided which determines the desired jackknifing angle therefor.

Abstract: A wheelchair having a chair frame, a pair of front wheels, independent front wheel suspension for the front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a rear suspension assembly for said rear wheels. The chair frame has a pair of laterally spaced side frame assemblies, a seat frame assembly connected between the laterally spaced frame assemblies, a pair of arm rest assemblies detachably attached to the top of the respective side frame assemblies, and a back rest assembly detachably connected between said arm rest assemblies. The independent wheel suspension assembly has a laterally extending left front wheel support arm having the left front wheel attached thereto, adjacent its free end and the opposite end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the chair frame. A laterally extending right front wheel support arm has the right front wheel attached thereto adjacent its free end and the opposite end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the chair frame.

Abstract: A hydrostatic support structure wherein, to move a surface with a load disposed thereupon with respect to a bearing surface, a liquid cushion is provided due to a feeding of a liquid into an inner space defined by the bearing surface and a housing having a sealing member. Within the housing there is disposed a piston provided with its own sealing member which seals the gap between the housing and the piston, whereas the first sealing member defining the liquid cushion being formed along the perimeter of the inner space is rigidly secured to the housing of the support structure.

Abstract: A fuel tank construction of a motor vehicle, wherein a fuel tank disposed in a tunnel projecting upwardly from the surface of a floor panel, opening downwardly, disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and formed at the central portion in the widthwise direction of the floor panel is of such an arrangement that a pair of upper and lower tanks being of substantially triangular shapes are welded into a substantially square shape in cross section to form the fuel tank and seam portions formed by the welding are located at opposite corner portions and on one of diagonal lines of a space formed by the substantially square shape.

Abstract: In an articulated combine, front and rear bogies are connected by spaced-apart upper and lower links. The upper link permits relative lateral movement between the bogies due to oscillation about a longitudinal axis. At the lower link, a rigid tongue of the rear bogie is connected to the front bogie by a ball hitch. Steering of the vehicle is through a pair of hydraulic cylinders controlled in part by a feedback cylinder. The steering cylinders are connected together to the rear bogie, at a common ball joint. All other connections of the hydraulic cylinders are ball and socket type and their effective pivot centers define respective transverse (kneel) and longitudinal (oscillation) axes, intersecting at the ball hitch. Forward connections of the steering cylinders and one end of the feedback cylinder lie on the kneel axis. The common rearward steering cylinder connection and the connection of the other end of the feedback cylinder lie on the oscillation axis.

Abstract: A multi-axle driving mechanism for agricultural carrier comprising two individual transmissions driven by the same power source, one of the transmissions is secured and connected to a differential disposed between two front half driving axles each provided with a front driving wheel while the other transmission is secured and connected to a continuous rear driving axle provided with a pair of rear driving wheels; a pair of lost motion means disposed between the end of the continuous rear driving axle and the rear driving wheels; and front and rear frames respectively secured on the front and rear driving axles, and connected one with the other by means of a rotatable shaft longitudinally arranged therebetween.

Abstract: A power steering system including a power cylinder and a hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder through a control valve to produce a hydraulic assisting force. A control device is provided to drive the hydraulic pump only when one or both of the vehicle power clutch disconnecting member and the brake actuating member are actuated under a vehicle speed lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A camping trailer is provided having a configuration to cooperatively combine with a towing automobile to integrate interior compartments and spaces of each into usable space. The trailer has a wheeled chassis provided with a forwardly extending tongue assembly and hitch assembly for interconnecting with the towing automobile and carrying a body structure having a front end portion configured to detachably interconnect with the rear end of the automobile. The front end portion has a front wall surface inclined upwardly in a forward direction to complement an opposed rear wall surface of the towing automobile and is provided with a flexible bellows that is detachably secured to the towing automobile around a rear hatch-type door of the automobile. An opening in the front wall surface of the trailer body structure permits opening of the rear hatch door of the automobile by swinging movement of the door through the opening and into the interior of the trailer thereby enabling combined use of the interior spaces.

Abstract: A control device carried beneath the fifth wheel of the tractor or truck of a tractor-trailer vehicle and coupled to the trailer, in which dangerous lateral movements of the trailer with respect to the tractor while under way are prevented by arresting means responsive to the vehicle brakes applied during the initial lateral movement of the trailer. The lateral travel of the trailer is stopped before it can reach a point beyond which it cannot be returned to a normal position and which might result in jackknifing. The device acts upon normal vehicle brake application by the driver and without regard to the direction or directions of lateral movement.

Abstract: A vehicle axle for use in a vehicle having both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive operating modes. The vehicle axle includes a pair of flanged axle shafts interconnected through an axle differential. One of the shafts has inner and outer sections which can be selectively coupled and uncoupled through a shiftable clutch collar to obtain four-wheel drive mode of operation or two-wheel drive mode of operation, respectively. The shifting of the clutch collar is effected by a vacuum motor which is responsive to a control signal to cause the collar to shift between positions for mode selection. The vacuum motor has a flexural diaphragm whose displacements are transmitted through linkage to the clutch collar to effect its shifting. In the two-wheel drive operating mode, the outer section of the axle shaft is not coupled to the inner section and rotates freely under the influence of its associated wheel.

Abstract: An agricultural tractor in which two sets of pedals are mounted on the tractor body forwardly and rearwardly with the rearward pedals at a higher position than the forward pedals. A seat can be selectively fixed at a rearward position opposed to the forward pedals or a forward position opposed to the rearward pedals, the forward position of the seat being higher than the rearward position. A steering wheel can be fixed to either a forward or rearward position corresponding to the position of the seat.

Abstract: A tricycle is disclosed having a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels and a front wheel which has a central hub and which is mounted for free rotation on the front end portion of the frame. Rider operable means for driving at least one of the rear wheels comprises a chain drive mechanism including a driven sprocket operably connected to said at least one rear wheel, and a drive sprocket journalled for rotation independently of the front wheel about a horizontal axis which is disposed through the hub of the front wheel. The axle of the drive sprocket is provided with foot pedal cranks.

Abstract: The invention provides a transport converter dolly for use as the front wheels of a trailer towed by another vehicle, when it is required to provide a substantial spacing between the vehicle and the trailer so as to meet axle loading requirements of the regulatory authorities. The dolly is connected by a towing connection to a transversely-extending bar connected to the rear of the towing vehicle. The wheels of the dolly are forcibly steered as the vehicle train negociates a curve by means of a steering connection between the bar and the dolly wheels. The steering connection preferably is a parallelogram linkage that can be altered in length without affecting the steering it produces. The dolly wheels may be mounted on steerable stub axles or the entire axle may be swivelled by mounting it to the dolly frame via a turntable bearing. The dolly frame may be fixed to the rear trailer or connected thereto by a fifth wheel connection.

Abstract: A "finger walker" apparatus for remotely traversing a flat surface having a regular array of openings, such as the tube sheet of a nuclear steam generator. The apparatus has a rectangular base having four base fingers disposed in a rectangular pattern for engagement with the openings. An annular platform surrounds the base and is rotatable about the base. The base is adapted to move linearly a pitch multiple within the platform. Fingers on the platform are adapted for engagement with the openings. The apparatus can orient itself for movement in one of many directions by engaging the platform fingers, disengaging the base fingers and rotating the base until the axis of the base is aligned with the intended direction of travel. The apparatus then advances by alternatingly engaging and disengaging the base and platform fingers in coordination with the base and platform moving linearly relative to each other.