Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system which is activated by a key switch or by a magnetically coded card and associated car reader to activate a latching solenoid valve to one state for disabling functions of the vehicle, preventing operation of the vehicle, or to the opposite state for enabling operation of the vehicle. The system requires a specified voltage at a level higher than the voltage of the vehicle battery to prevent compromising of the system as by the use of jumper cables or the like.

Abstract: A device for automotive vehicles for both traction control and cruise control is equipped with a common servo motor (13) which, by way of a self-locking gear (14), by way of a switchable friction gear (17) and by way of a linkage (23, 24; 25, 26) acts upon a transmission device interposed into the path of force transmission from an accelerator pedal (1) to the throttle-flap (2) of an internal-combustion engine or to the adjusting lever of the injection pump of a spark-ignition engine. Depending on the switch position of the friction gear (17), the servo motor (13) permits control of either the traction (VR) or the speed (GR). During traction control, a release of the accelerator pedal (1) leads at any time to closing of the throttle-flap (2), while an increase of the pedal force does not have any effect on the position of the throttle-flap. After the activation of cruise control, it is still possible to increase the engine power by further depressing the accelerator pedal (1).

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly having at least a head pipe on which a front fork is steerably supported, a pair of laterally spaced main pipes of rectangular cross section extending rearwardly from the head pipe, and a rear fork swingably coupled to the main pipes, a front wheel rotatably supported on the front fork, a rear wheel rotatably supported on the rear fork, an engine disposed between the front and rear wheels and supported on the frame assembly, a fairing extending rearwardly from a position in front of the head pipe in covering relation to part of the engine and the frame assembly, and a pair of laterally spaced side covers disposed adjacent to and behind the fairing. The fairing has an upper end fastened to the main pipes. The main pipes on rear portions thereof brackets with bolt holes therein. The rear edge of the fairing and the front edges of the side covers are fastened together to the brackets.

Abstract: A coupler for a ball type hitch has a body member that includes a socket portion and a closure mechanism that is slidably mounted on the body member for movement between the open position, a closed position, and a third overshoot position. The closure mechanism includes a lower retaining plate and a latch plate which automatically latches when the closure mechanism achieves the closed position. A spring biases the closure mechanism from the open position to the closed position and third position. The closure mechanism is retained in the closed position when the coupler is engaged to a properly sized hitch ball. The closure mechanism is free to move to the third overshoot position when the coupler is engaged to an undersized ball. Visual indicators exit the coupler body member when the closure mechanism is in the open or third overshoot positions. The retainer plate includes a lock receiving aperture for receiving a lock that prevents unauthorized opening of the coupler.

Abstract: An adjustable ride height motorcycle is provided which automatically compensates for lean by raising the motorcycle as leaning occurs, by reversibly increasing the displacement of front and rear suspension swing arms as a function of leaning into turns by rotating through an angle the upper portion of the shock absorbers acting upon the swing arms.

Abstract: The carriage of the automatic trackless self-propelled carriage conveyance installation contains a steered front wheel arranged at the central lengthwise axis of the vehicle structure. There are also provided two steerable rear wheels. The steering structure of the front wheel is connected by a coupling rod with a central steering crank which, in turn, is connected via steering or tie rods with steering levers or arms of the rear wheels. To render posssible a faultless travel of the carriage through curves of a predeterminate path of travel or course, the arrangement is structured such that imaginary extensions of the rotational axes of the front and rear wheels, when undertaking a steering deflection or steering action at the carriage, intersect at a common point whose spacing from the median plane of the front wheel corresponds at least approximately to the radius of curvature of the path of travel.

Abstract: A vehicle steering control apparatus for following a riderless vehicle over a reference path defined by a guide tape installed on a floor. A sensor assembly, mounted on the vehicle bottom surface, includes a plurality of sensor units arranged on a line. Each the sensor unit includes a downward-facing light emission diode operable to emit a light ray and a downward-facing photodiode sensitive to a light ray received thereon for generating a sensor signal corresponding to the sensed light intensity. The sensor signal from each the sensor unit is applied to a control circuit which provides a command signal corresponding to the received sensor signals. The riderless vehicle includes a steering device responsive to the command signal for correcting vehicle steering to aline the vehicle sufficient well over the reference path.

Abstract: An axle-to-beam connection for a vehicle having a beam type suspension system is disclosed. The beam-to-axle connection includes an axle connection, a beam connection and a resilient member located therebetween. The resilient member forms a continuous path between the axle connection and the beam connection such that the axle connection and the beam connection do not directly interface at any point. The axle connection includes a saddle plate, which retains the axle, and a pair of extension plates which are connectable to the saddle plate and extend down along both sides of the beam. The resilient member is of a non-uniform shape and thickness and includes a continuum of loci which is designed and shaped so that each locus assumes its fair share, but not more, of the torsional, vertical and horizontal forces exerted on the resilient member during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for controlling an extendable equipment part of a power vehicle such as a safety belt includes a guide member displaceable between two end positions. In order to enable a passenger in the car to easily adjust the safety belt the guide member is held on a stationary hinge by means of which the movement of a drive aggregate is translated into the pivoting motion of the guide member.

Abstract: An anti-jackknife system for use while towing a trailer with a tractor. The tractor and trailer are coupled to each other by a fifth-wheel assembly in known manner. The fifth-wheel assembly includes a wheel plate carried by the tractor and a cooperating pin carried by the trailer, the pin being rotatable within the wheel plate when the tractor and trailer are coupled to each other. First and second abutments are carried by the trailer on opposing sides of the pin. The abutments move in paths around the pin on a change in orientation between the tractor and trailer, as during turning, for example. Fluid-actuated cylinders are carried by the tractor on opposing sides of the wheel plate with each cylinder providing a stop movable between a first position out of the abutment path. The stops are normally in the second position. A jackknife condition is detected to actuate at least one of the fluid-actuated cylinders to move its associated stop into the first position.

Abstract: This actuation of a differential lock consists essentially of the locking differential (10) and the coupling (11) connected thereto, which via an electromagnetic actuating means (12) connects that part of the locking differential (10) driven by the universal shaft when and as long as a predeterminable value of the steering angle is attained or exceeded. The sole signal generator used for this purpose may be, as required, realized as a contact built immediately into the switching circuit of the electromagnetic actuating means (2), or an inductive switch or potentiometer, respectively, in the area of the angle-dependent steering elements, and held fast in the axle housing (2), protected from damage. The switching means (7) is capable of being actuated either via further switches (17) and (30) manually by the driver, or may be combined with the engagement lever for the supplementary drive on steering axle (1) so that the locking differential (10) can only be actuated under appropriate driving conditions.

Abstract: A power steering system is hydraulically operated to decrease the manual steering force in response to the steering wheel angular displacement. A main pump supplies a first hydraulic fluid to the power steering system to operate the same. The main pump is hydraulically coupled to the power steering system so that the pressure of the first hydraulic fluid is affected by the operation of the power steering system and therefore is indicative of the steering wheel angular displacement. A reaction chamber receives a second hydraulic fluid from a subpump and is hydraulically operated to increase the steering force in proportion to the pressure of the second hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The spanning device is a tool designed to assist in the working on front wheel drive automobiles. These front wheel drive automobiles are, generally, small automobiles with transverse engines or engines whose crankshaft is, substantially, at a right angle to the longitudinal axis to the automobile. This spanning device is of assistance while the engine and/or transmission must be held aloft or either the engine or the transmission removed from the automobile. The spanning device has a three point resting position which can be positioned on the windshield cowl, the radiator frame and the fender attachment point. A main longitudinal rod and a transverse rod can be held in position by a clamping means or a coupling means. A lifting device may be applied on each rod and at any point on the rod. A draw bolt lift attachment can be used for lifting the engine and/or the transmission and/or the combination of the engine and transmission.

Abstract: The heel hold-down device, notably for safety ski bindings, comprises a fixed body, a tilting heel retaining member, a control lever, and an elastic mechanism incorporating an axial coil compression spring. The fixed body has two lateral vertical walls and is operatively connected to a movable U-shaped piston of which the two flat side arms are adapted to slide parallel to the vertical walls of the body. The heel retaining member is pivoted to the side arms of the piston by means of a pair of trunnions engaging registering holes formed in the side walls of the heel retaining member and in the piston arms. The trunnions are also slidably engaged in longitudinal slots formed in the lateral walls of the fixed body.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated, energy efficient wheelchair utilizes a pair of identical wheelchair drive units, with each unit having a constant speed battery powered electric motor driving a hydraulic pump and associated hydraulic motor. Hydraulic fluid flow between each pump and its hydraulic motor is controlled by the operator through the use of a solenoid actuated proportional control valve to determine the speed and direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor. One of these hydraulic motors is mechanically coupled to each wheelchair drive wheel. Means are provided to discharge excess pressurized fluid upstream of the hydraulic motor so as to minimize the backpressure on the pump and to thereby conserve driving energy and increase battery life. A method for hydraulically driving the wheelchair is also disclosed.

Abstract: A skate comprises a boot and an ice skate blade with fixed molded plastics support. The molded plastics support includes a boot receiving means having the outline of the sole of the boot and having a ridge adapted to be fixed to the base of the boot. The support may be fixed to the boot by way of a suitable adhesive, and the boot receiving portion of the support replaces the sole of the boot.

Abstract: A four wheel drive system has an interaxle multiple disc friction clutch, an actuator for varying torque transmitted through the clutch to a front wheel drive shaft by varying a clutch pressure of the clutch, first and second sensors for sensing rotational speeds of the front wheel and rear wheel drive shafts, a third element for producing a third signal, and a control unit for controlling a driving torque distribution between the front and rear wheel drive shafts by sending a control signal to the actuator. The control means increases the torque transmitted through the clutch with increase in a speed difference between the front wheel and rear wheel drive shafts in accordance with one of characteristics selected in accordance with the third signal. The third element is designed to find a condition of the vehicle which can be controlled by a driver of the vehicle, and may take the form of an accelerator position sensor or a manually operated selector switch.

Abstract: In a radiator fastening arrangement for internal combustion engines with upper and/or lower brackets between body- and radiator-support places and elastic bearing elements between the brackets and the radiator-support places a cost-favorable, corrosion-secure and simply installable construction is provided in which the body support places consist of support surfaces, support edges and/or support apertures in body wall parts and/or body bearers and the brackets consist of one-piece plastic molded parts which elastically prestressed and detent-like connected in a three-point support with two body-support places each and a single radiator support place each. A socket-shaped mounting device for a buffer-shaped bearing element secured at the radiator is formed-on at the lower brackets. The two body support places at the brackets are matched to the shape of the support places for a positionally safe and detent-like engagement.

Abstract: A three point or other hitch for use in conjunction with a tractor, preferably for mounting onto its front end, a pair of side plates permanently mount onto the front side edges of the tractor, each side plate incorporating shaped cradles for holding the hitch thereto. The hitch incorporates laterally extending trunions for mounting onto the side plates, and the lift arms of the hitch have a stabilizing plate arranged intermediate thereof, in order to provide enhanced support. Each lift arm incorporates a clamp, at their frontal ends, with each clamp incorporating a support for holding a draw pin, and a dog associated with each clamp for locking the pin into position, but which can be manipulated by a cam for holding the respective dogs out of their locking position, so that any implement can be freed therefrom.

Abstract: A proximity hitch can be fitted to a towed vehicle, as for example a trailer, so that the trailer can be towed by a towing vehicle. The hitch comprises opposed main frame members which terminate in a flat mounted plate. A guide member is pivotally attached to the mounted plate and reciprocatingly receives a tongue therethrough. The tongue has a socket formed at one end thereof and a cam follower at the other end thereof. Opposed cam plates have confronting cam surfaces formed thereon with there being a notch formed between the cam surfaces. The cam follower is received within the cam notch when the proximity hitch is retracted. The cam follower rides against the cam surface as the socket is moved over a wide area of movement. The tongue and guide member are latched into a retracted position when the trailer is to be towed and unlatched when it is necessary to connect the trailer to the towing vehicle.