Abstract: For covering hitch balls on the hitch systems of cars a loose covering hood is usually placed over the hitch ball which may easily be lost if it is loose, or create a noise if it is suspended in a chain, when the ball is being used. To avoid these problems, two semi-spherical shells are pivotally fastened to the hitch rod right below the hitch ball, such that they are pivotal from a covering position closed about the hitch ball to opposite projecting positions, in which the hitch ball is uncovered. On already existing hitch systems the shells are easily mountable by a simple clamp fitting, which is even well suited to be fixed on a conical hitch ball rod.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system in a wheeled vehicle includes a lateral control shaft operatively connected at its opposite ends with a set of rear steerable road wheels, and a rear-wheel steering mechanism operatively connected to a front-wheel steering linkage for effecting axial displacement of the control shaft in response to operation of the front-wheel steering linkage. In the rear-wheel steering mechanism, a hydraulic power cylinder is adapted to control axial displacement of the control shaft in such a manner that the control shaft is returned to and retained in a neutral position in the occurrence of unexpected trouble in a hydraulic control circuit of the power cylinder to retain the rear road wheels in their neutral positions.

Abstract: A bicycle has both manual drive and pedal drive assemblies which may be operated simultaneously or independently. The manual drive assembly is connected to the front wheel and the pedal drive assembly is connected to the rear wheel. Both the manual and pedal drive assemblies incorporate chain drive mechanisms as well as crank assemblies. The manual crank assembly is mounted at the top of the front fork journal and also serves as a handlebar assembly for steering the bicycle. In order to provide sufficient clearance between the chain which extends alongside the front forks and the frame, the frame is bent laterally (just behind the steering sleeve) to accommodate the chain during steering movements. In a first embodiment, the frame member extends generally downwardly and rearwardly from the steering sleeve to a sufficient degree to provide sufficient clearance between the crank assembly to allow the bicycle to be steered while the front wheel is being manually driven.

Abstract: A hydraulic power assisted vehicle steering system includes a steering input shaft which is journalled for rotation in a housing and fixed axially in the housing; an inner valve sleeve pinned to the input shaft and rotating therewith; and an outer valve sleeve fixed axially in the housing and rotatable about the inner valve sleeve. Turning the steering input shaft causes relative rotation between the inner and outer valve sleeves, directing fluid flow to control directional assist. The inner valve sleeve slides axially between the input shaft and the outer valve sleeve. Axial sliding movement of the inner valve sleeve progressively covers and uncovers wide end portions of fluid control grooves in one of the valve sleeves. When the wide end portions are uncovered, greater relative rotation between the inner and outer valve sleeves is required before assist is generated.

Abstract: A propelling transmission system of a tractor comprising a front transmission for driving front wheels and a rear transmission for driving rear wheels. The front transmission receives drive from an engine mounted at a front position of the tractor, through a main clutch housed in a clutch case, and transmits the drive to the rear transmission. The rear transmission returns part of the drive to a front wheel change speed mechanism included in the front transmission. The front transmission is housed in a front transmission case directly connected to a lower rearward position of the clutch case.

Abstract: A composite material bicycle frame having a single, cantilevered rear wheel suspension member. The rear wheel suspension member is integrally formed into the composite material bicycle frame and is formed with an elliptical cross-section having the major axis thereof disposed horizontally. The elliptical cross-section provides in-plane flexibility to the rear wheel suspension and out-of-plane rigidity. Internal and external vibration dampening devices are provided to dampen rear wheel vibration.

Abstract: A system for controlling at least one variable influencing the drive torque of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, with an electronic throttle control, an electronic ignition timing control and a control device which becomes active when there is a tendency to spin of at least one driven wheel. The instantaneous engine speed is stored and the drive torque reduced to a certain value, assigned to the engine speed, and subsequently increased again, at a rate of rise dependent on the engine speed, when the tendency of spin of the driven wheel subsides. Consequently, major excess torque are avoided and greater traction and lateral control force is achieved.

Abstract: A dropout member for bicycle frames is designed to cause an easily replaceble part to separate under stresses which would normally be sufficient to cause bending or other damage to the bicycle frame itself. A relatively lightweight piece of material is bolted, riveted, adhesively bonded or otherwise fastened to the main portion of the dropout such that a torque or bending moment placed upon the derailleur plate serves to fracture or bend the derailleur plate or disengage the attaching mechanism.

Abstract: A foldable portable snowmobile tow bar is set forth for the towing of disabled snowmobiles provided with a forward hitch pivotally mounting a plurality of legs foldable surrounding said hitch in a first position and extending rearwardly of said hitch in a second position. An adjustable cross link securing the two legs together fixedly secures the two legs in a predetermined angulation relative to one another in said second position. A plurality of through extending pins in respective bifurcated ends secures said tow bar and said legs to an associated disabled snowmobile.

Abstract: A bicycle frame of the present invention is formed as follows.First, the worker puts and bonds a pipe made by fibre reinforced plastics around a cylindrical projecting part of a lug made by thin wall thickness light alloy.Next, the worker covers a joining part of the said projecting part of a lug and pipe made by fibrer reinforced plastics by sheet molding compound, (hereinafter it is called "SMC").Last, the joining part of the projecting part of a lug and the pipe covered by said SMC is put in a molds for compression molding.As the SMC consists of required quantity of plastics and chopped fibre same as filament comprised in the pipe made by fibre reinforced plastics, bonding of the pipe made by fibre reinforced plastics and said SMC is very good. Consequently, the joining strength of the pipe and lug is very strong in the present invention.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle with a rearwardly extending ram (13) and an energizing means (14) for the ram, for assisting the vehicle in mounting precipitous objects. A preferred vehicle configuration uses only three, track direction changing rollers (6, 7, 8) so as to locate the center of gravity (16) of the vehicle as far forward as possible.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system has a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels, a controller for controlling the rear wheel turning mechanism to turn the rear wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics and a relay shaft which is connected to the controller to transmit turning of the front wheels to the controller. The front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism are caused to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to the respective straight-ahead positions while the relay shaft is disconnected from the controller. Then the controller is brought into the state corresponding to the straight-ahead positions of the front and rear wheels on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics. Thereafter, the relay shaft is connected to the controller.

Abstract: In a system for controlling the propulsion on motor vehicles, by a reduction of the drive torque by an intervention in ignition, carburator or fuel injection and/or brakes, includes a first device which reduces the drive torque when the maximum adhesion coefficient is exceeded, and a second device which reduces the drive torque to a value associated with the measured maximum value of the vehicle acceleration when the monitored wheel variable exceeds the threshold value, as a result of which too great an excess of torque is prevented and sufficient traction and cornering stability are retained without unnecessarily slowing down a propulsion of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle which is used for a four-wheel drive vehicle driving both the front and rear wheels by a driving force from an engine, in which a discharge amount of a hydraulic pump provided between a front wheel drive shaft and a rear wheel drive shaft to generate hydraulic pressure by a rotation speed difference between the two rotary shafts is desirably adjusted by a remote-controllable variable throttle valve provided on the way of a discharge oil passage extending from the hydraulic pump, so that a simple hydraulic circuit is used to make the coupling of two rotary shafts freely adjustable from loose condition to tight condition.

Abstract: A one-piece, ultralight, generally hollow bicycle frame having no internal structural components, and a method of manufacturing such a frame, are disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly generally in the form of a carriage specifically designed to movably support a child or infant occupant when maintained in a conventional protective and restraining chair wherein the chair is mounted on the suppport platform and the support platform is affixed to a wheel and axle assembly. A drafting structure extends outwardly from the support platform and is dimensioned and configured for connection to a person who propels the carriage by walking or jogging. The person can therefore perform the desired exercise program, such as jogging while an infant occupant can ride on the support platform of the carriage and thereby accompany the jogger.

Abstract: To the end of eliminating the problems arising from substantially rigid connection between a front wheel set and a rear wheel set in a four-wheel drive vehicle, there is provided a power transmission system in which a torque-dependent power transmission device is provided between the front wheel set and the rear wheel set so that both the wheel sets are substantially rigidly connected to each other in a low torque range and rotational power is transmitted only from the front wheel set to the rear wheel set in a high torque range. The power transmission device of this kind can be conveniently formed by a parallel combination of a one-way clutch and a torque limiter.

Abstract: A servo-control device for steering an articulated vehicle comprising four analog detectors (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) respectively connected to control amplifiers (30', 31', 32', 33') whose outputs are connected to the inputs (30", 31", 32", 33") of a multiplexer (40). The latter is connected to the input of a converter (41) which converts the analog signals of the detectors into digital signals transmitted to a digital calculator (42) powered by an energy source (43). The output of the calculator (42) is connected to a converter (44) whose output signal amplified by the amplifier (45) is directed to a servo-control device.

Abstract: A small sized air cushion vehicle includes a hull having a planar bottom surface with an upstanding lower flange disposed and extending upwardly at an angle of between 24.degree. and 30.degree. with respect to the planar bottom surface of the hull. A hollow plenum extends through the periphery of the hull. Apertures are formed in the upstanding lower flange of the hull and disposed in fluid flow communication with corresponding apertures in a plurality of inflatable members which are attached to the flange of the hull. Each inflatable member includes a downwardly extending aperture which directs air flow from the hollow plenum in the hull through each of the inflatable members to lift the vehicle a short distance above an underlying surface as well as providing forward or sideways propulsion. A steering mechanism is mounted rearward of the fluid propulsion source to control the direction of movement the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a means of coupling a trailer to an automobile comprising a self-aligning and shock-absorbing coupling means. The coupling means uses a fifth wheel and spring-loaded roller-detent means to maintain alignment in yaw between the vehicle and the trailer. A speed-responsive means reduces the "stiffness" in yaw between the automobile and the trailer when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value.