Abstract: A omnidirectional vehicle includes a chassis, wheels and wheel steering mechanisms. The wheel steering mechanisms are configured between the chassis and the wheels, and are arranged to drive the wheels to rotate about a steering center shaft of each wheel with 180° or more. The omnidirectional vehicle can achieve longitudinal driving and lateral driving, or other driving manners.

Abstract: Provided is a traveling apparatus including a front wheel steered by an operation by a user and two rear wheels that are rotationally driven independently from each other disposed along a traveling direction and on which the user rides when traveling, the traveling apparatus including: a front wheel supporting member; a rear wheel supporting member; an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a wheel base length between the front wheel and the rear wheels by changing, by the user, a relative position of the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member; and a controller configured to control a rotational speed of each of the rear wheels based on the wheel base length and a steering angle of the front wheel in such a way that a moving track of the front wheel and moving tracks of the rear wheels draw a concentric arc.

Abstract: A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a front chassis section including a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a front support point configured to contact the surface. The vehicle also includes a rear chassis section supporting a follower wheel. The front and rear chassis sections are connected by joints including a hinge joint and a four-bar linkage. The hinge is configured to allow the trailing assembly to move side-to-side while the four-bar linkage allows the trailing assembly to move up and down relative to the front chassis. Collectively, the rear facing mechanism is configured to maintain the follower wheel in contact with and normal to the surface and also maintains the front support in contact with the surface and provides stability and maneuverability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing an auxiliary torque and/or an additional steering angle into a steering shaft of an electromechanical power steering system may comprise a gearwheel that is attached fixedly on the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft and that is operatively connected to a drive element of a drive motor for driving the gearwheel. The apparatus may further include a sensor that is connected fixedly to the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft. So that the attachment of the sensor can take place with less complexity and use less installation space as far as possible, the sensor and the gearwheel may be connected to one another at contact faces.

Abstract: Power equipment such as a riding mower 2 is provided with a center pivot axle 16 for non-driven wheels 9 thereof and a rigid axle 14 for driven wheels 8. A control unit 1 of the power equipment is configured to accelerate the left driven wheel when a right end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by an axle sensor 25, and to accelerate the right driven wheel when a left end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by the axle sensor when substantially no steering input of a steering device 22 is detected by a steering sensor 24 so that the power equipment may maintain a straight course.

Abstract: A vehicle and a steering system of a vehicle. The steering system includes a steering column emulator that generates an electrical driving signal in response to a driver input, a steering rack assembly that receives the electrical driving signal from the steering column emulator and controls steering of the vehicle as indicated by the received signal, and a backup system. The backup system provides a backup electrical driving signal to the steering rack assembly upon a failure of the steering column emulator, and the steering rack assembly steers the vehicle as indicated by the backup electrical driving signal upon the failure of the steering column emulator.

Abstract: A wheelchair is provided which includes a body, and driving wheels arranged on the both sides of the body. The wheels include a rim portion, a hub portion, an hand rim, and fastening members. A tire is attached to the outer peripheral part of the rim portion. The hub portion is arranged at the center of the rim portion and coupled to the rim portion by connecting members. The hand rim is arranged along the rim portion on the exterior side of the rim portion. The fastening members fasten the hand rim to the rim portion. An insertion prohibition spacing is formed between the rim portion and the hand rim. The spacing has a distance capable of prohibiting insertion of user's thumb into this spacing.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a fluid pump, an actuator in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump, a hydrostatic steering system and an electro-hydraulic steering system. The hydrostatic steering system includes a fluid controller having a first proportional valve in fluid communication with the fluid pump and a fluid meter in fluid communication with the first proportional valve and the actuator. The electro-hydraulic steering system includes a second proportional valve in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump and the actuator. The second proportional valve is disposed in parallel to the first proportional valve. The electro-hydraulic steering circuit further includes a load-reaction switching valve assembly disposed in series with the first proportional valve of the hydrostatic steering system. The load-reaction switching valve allows fluid communication between the actuator and the fluid controller when the first proportional valve is in a neutral position.

Abstract: Snowmobile having a suspension assembly comprising an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, and a ski leg. The ski leg is pivotably connected to the upper A-arm via an upper A-arm connector and to the lower A-arm via a lower A-arm connector and is pivotable about a kingpin axis. A ski is connected to the ski leg via a ski connector. The upper A-arm connector, the lower A-arm connector and the ski connector are positioned one with respect to the others such that the kingpin axis is behind the ski connector at a level of the ski connector when the ski is viewed from the side.

Abstract: A zero turn radius vehicle with a single steered wheel is described. The vehicle may include a pair of power transfer mechanisms driving a pair of wheels, an operator control mechanism for controlling the steering, speed and direction of the vehicle and a controller in communication with the operator control mechanism. A steerable wheel is located adjacent the front of the vehicle frame, on a first side of the vehicle frame and an electric actuator is connected to the controller for steering the front steerable wheel. A second, non-steerable front caster wheel is located on a second side of the vehicle frame. The controller controls the pair of power transfer mechanisms and the electric actuator based on operator input to the operator control mechanism.

Abstract: An attachment for use with a safety chain which has a leading link and a following link, the attachment having a clevis with first and second lateral side sections and an opening between the side sections into which a leading end of the leading link is receivable; and a pin receivable by the first and second side sections so as to extend across the opening to couple the leading link to the clevis and a portion of the clevis defined between the first and second sections has a configuration complementary to a configuration of the leading end of the leading link; and/or portions of the first and second side sections have configurations complementary to configurations of portions of a leading end of the following link, such that there is a close fit between the clevis and chain when the leading link is coupled to the clevis by the pin.

Abstract: A gasoline engine boosting system including a fuel tank, an engine, a fuel tube, an accelerator line, a drive sprocket, a drive chain, a discharge pipe and a fixing bracket. The fixing bracket includes an adjustable engine fixing bracket. The adjustable engine fixing bracket includes a first front fixing rod, a second front fixing rod, a first rear fixing rod, a second rear fixing rod, a front fixing base, a rear fixing base, a first tube clip and a second tube clip, the front fixing base and the rear fixing base are respectively fixed on a front side and a rear side of the engine. The front fixing base includes a front sliding adjustment groove. The rear fixing base includes a rear sliding adjustment groove allow. The gasoline engine boosting system is adaptable to a bicycle frame.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle may include a knuckle rotatably supporting a wheel and a plurality of arms connecting the knuckle with a vehicle body wherein an arm among the plurality of arms may be a virtual link formed by a virtual link module and a point at which the virtual link applies a constraint force to the knuckle may be formed at a virtual space.

Abstract: An attachment thimble is disclosed for attaching a rope shackle to a vehicle for towing, pulling, or other tasks. In one embodiment, the attachment thimble has spaced apart flanges and a mid-portion with a diameter less than the dimensions of the flanges. A through-bore is formed through the thimble from one flange to the other flange. The thimble is sized to be slid into a hitch receiver or disposed between mounting dogs of a D-ring mount. In one application, a rope shackle is formed into a loop by pressing the knot on one end of the shackle through the eyelet on the other end. The thimble is then disposed in the loop and the knot, eyelet, and thimble are slid into the hitch receiver of a vehicle until its through-bore aligns with holes in the receiver. A securement pin is then slid through the receiver and through the thimble to secure the rope shackle to the hitch receiver for use.

Abstract: Devices and systems for securing and locking tractor trailer support legs in the down position are described herein. A securing pin passing through one of the support legs of a trailer while in the down position prevents the trailer legs from being raised. The pin can be locked in place such that only authorized users may remove the pin, raise the support legs, and move the trailer. A variety of kits for retrofitting existing trailers with securing devices are also provided.

Abstract: A track assembly is formed from a frame, first and second idler wheels, an endless track, and a tensioning assembly. The track is stretched around the wheels. By using the tensioning assembly to increase or decrease the distance between the first and second idler wheels, the tension within the track is adjusted. The tensioning assembly is formed from an outer tube, an inner member having an indicator, and a cage assembly having an opening. The outer tube is supported by the frame and is coupled to the second idler wheel. The inner member is telescopically received within the outer tube and is coupled to the first idler wheel. The opening is alignable with the indicator in response to relative longitudinal movement of the cage assembly and the inner member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus of vector control system that calculates steering assist command values of dq axes based on at least a steering torque, calculates dq-axes current command values from the steering assist command values, converts the dq-axes current command values into 3-phase duty command values, driving-controls a 3-phase brushless motor by an inverter of a PWM control, and applies an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, wherein the electric power steering apparatus has plural dead time compensating functions of which efficiencies to respectively perform a dead time compensation of the inverter are different each other, and performs the dead time compensation by gradually shifting from one of the plural dead time compensating functions to an another dead time compensating function while mixing the plural dead time compensating functions.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and components for an omnidirectional traction module for use in a robot, such as a crawler robot used in in situ gap inspection in a machine, such as a generator, an electric motor, or a turbomachine. The traction module may include an outer frame and a rotating frame rotatably mounted within the outer frame. At least one drive system may be mounted within the rotating frame. The at least one dive system may have a fixed orientation within the rotating frame. An actuator may be operatively connected to the rotating frame to controllably rotate the rotating frame to a desired orientation for robot travel.

Abstract: A transport chair is provided that includes a base frame, a seat assembly pivotally mounted to the base, and a footrest assembly pivotally mounted to the base frame, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly so as to pivot in unison with the seat assembly until the seat assembly is pivoted forward to an extent at which the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly does not pivot further upon further forward pivoting of the seat assembly. Further embodiments of the transport chair allow the seat assembly to recline, alone or in unison with a leg rest assembly, while the footrest remains in position.