Abstract: A wheel with an asymmetrical cross-section for use with a roller skate. The wheel also has a tread portion that can be easily and inexpensively replaced. An apparatus for multi-line roller skates that has two or three lines of wheels. The wheels in the center line have a coefficient of friction that is lower than the coefficients of friction of either of the outer lines of wheels. The wheels in the outer lines have asymmetrical cross-sections, while the wheels in the center line have symmetrical cross-sections. A multi-line roller skate that employs these technologies is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for improving roller skate performance employing the aforementioned technologies.

Abstract: The present invention is a seating/storage add-on section for use with a shopping cart, having a non-rigid connector for engaging the rear wheels of a shopping cart. In addition, the connector allows relative movement between the add-on section and an attached shopping cart. The shopping cart can be quickly attached to and detached from the add-on section without requiring tools.

Abstract: A tiltable seating frame (10) for selectively positioning seating in a wheelchair, in which a seat platform (12) has opposing sides (18) that each extend to an arcuate distal edge (20) and each side defines an arcuate slot (22) parallel to the distal edge. A base (14) has opposing sides (70) that receive pairs of front and rear rollers (72, 74) on which the distal edges (20) travel. Each side (70) also receives a guide roller (76) attached intermediate and vertically spaced relative to the front and rear rollers (72, 74). The guide rollers (76) extend through the respective arcuate slot (22) of the seat platform (12), to guide the movement of the seat platform (12) relative to the base (14).

Abstract: During normal operation of a truck engine (12), a catalytic partial oxidizer (30) provides syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to regenerate NOx traps (35), for brief periods of time, or diverted (33) to the inlet (13) of an engine (12) via the EGR system (43–46). Some hydrogen is extracted from syngas by a palladium membrane separator (63) and passed to the fuel inlet (52) of a fuel cell stack (51). The stack (51) provides auxiliary electric power to the truck. Humid air from the air outlet (55) of the stack is provided to a fuel/exhaust/air static mixer (25). A methanator (66) may convert CO, leaked through the palladium membranes, into CH4. Water/gas shift or steam reformer catalyst (76) at the inlet to or inside of the palladium membranes separator may provide some additional H2.

Abstract: An engine mount system for connecting an engine to a chassis, includes a mounting plate and first, second and third engine mounts. The first engine mount secures a first engine side to a first side of the chassis. The second and third engine mounts secure the mounting plate to the chassis. The mounting plate is also secured to a second side of the engine and is configured to mount a drive shaft of the engine and a driven shaft of a vehicle transmission system.

Abstract: A snow ski has at least one channel formed in the running surface to expose the inner sides of the ski edges for translating the force exerted by the ski during a turn and creating positive engagement with the skiing surface. The channel may extend the length of the ski or only a portion thereof. The channel forms edge tips on the ski edges where the inner sides are exposed. The edge tips may have different shapes to improve the bite on the skiing surface.

Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle includes a slip controller which controls a lockup mechanism to slip in a set driving range, and an assist limiter which restricts assist of the motor generator in the range where slip occurs.

Abstract: An in-line roller skate is disclosed to include a frame with a curved lower portion, which supports a point stop at the front end followed by a ball support, a string of rotating rollers and a tail ball support. The point stop is preferably another roller fixed in position. The in-line skate allows performing all the maneuvers as the regular ice skate without significant additional training and therefore can be used advantageously during off-season training by ice skaters as well as for a broad range of recreational activities.

Abstract: The present invention has a plurality of pivoting linkages to lift and retract a front castor assembly to facilitate traversing an obstacle or rough terrain. In this regard, a wheelchair suspension having a frame member and at least one a pivoting assembly is provided. The pivoting assembly has, for example, a first linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member and a second linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member. At least one front caster assembly is coupled to the first and second linkages wherein upward pivotal movement of the first linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement inward toward the wheelchair.

Abstract: A skateboard includes a board having a tip portion and a tail portion. A substantially U-shaped first aperture is formed in the tip portion, with an open end of the first aperture opening toward a central portion of the board. A substantially U-shaped second aperture is formed in the tail portion, with an open end of the second aperture opening toward a central portion of the board.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the driving speed of a vehicle. The method and arrangement make possible a use of a driving speed controller even for adverse road conditions. A desired value (VDES) is inputted for the driving speed in dependence upon the friction contact between the vehicle wheels and the roadway. Control of the driving speed is deactivated during intervention of the drive slip control in the drive power of the vehicle. The desired value (VDES) for the driving speed is reduced after the intervention of the drive slip control.

Abstract: A wire and pipe-laying structure for a fuel cell vehicle including a rear frame which is disposed at a back of the fuel cell vehicle and extends in a longitudinal direction of the fuel cell vehicle; a side sill which is disposed at a side of the fuel cell vehicle; and a floor frame which is disposed inside the side sill and extends in a longitudinal direction of the fuel cell vehicle. The floor frame together with the side sill are connected to a front end of the rear frame so as to form a Y-shaped frame having a crotch portion. A fuel pipe or a high-voltage wiring is disposed so as to pass through the crotch portion of the Y-shaped frame, and the fuel pipe or high-voltage wiring connects a fuel tank for fuel gas or a storage device to a fuel cell box.

Abstract: A wheelchair suspension having plurality of pivoting linkages to lift and retract a front castor assembly to facilitate traversing an obstacle or rough terrain. In this regard, a wheelchair suspension having a frame member and at least one a pivoting assembly is provided. The pivoting assembly has, for example, a first linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member and a second linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member. At least one front caster assembly is coupled to the first and second linkages wherein upward pivotal movement of the first linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement inward toward the wheelchair.

Abstract: Rolling or gliding sports equipment, such as an in-line roller skate, including such equipment or skate adapted to receive an independent boot. The equipment/skate according to the invention includes a frame, a base connected to the upper portion of the frame, and has an upper surface provided to support the walking sole of the boot, a rear quarter receiving the heel portion of the boot, an upper portion equipped with a comfort element surrounding the user's lower leg, a device for tightening the forefoot pressing the front portion of the boot against the upper surface of the base, a device for tightening the lower leg which tightens the upper portion against the user's lower leg, a device for maintaining the instep exerting a force on the instep portion of the boot and a reinforcement ensuring a continuous support from a lateral side to a medial side, and from the instep zone to the upper portion of the boot.

Abstract: A hydraulic driving apparatus for a wheeled vehicle including a prime mover and a pair of wheels comprises a stepless transmission mechanism for traveling which transmits driving force from the prime mover to the drive wheels so as rotate the drive wheels in a common forward or rearward direction, and a steering transmission mechanism including a hydrostatic stepless transmission including a variable hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to each other, wherein a rotational force of the hydraulic motor is divided into opposite directive rotations transmitted to the respective drive wheels. A switching valve is disposed between the variable hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor in the steering transmission mechanism.

Abstract: An oversized, break apart dolly for picking up and lifting massive articles such as snowmobiles. The dolly stands more than six feet tall. A typical operator of the dolly brings his arms over his head to reach the handle of the dolly, and then uses his weight to draw the handle down to in turn lift up the other end of the dolly that is engaging and lifting the heavy article. The oversized dolly can be adjusted in height and in width to receive articles of different height and width. The pick up of the dolly (the mechanism that engages the article) can be adjusted toward and away from a central axis of the dolly to be positioned as desired on the heavy article. The oversized dolly may be broken down to a relatively compact size by the legs being removably engagable with the handle, by the pick ups being removably engagable from the legs, and by the legs themselves being broken down into two pieces which are reassembled when needed.

Abstract: A creeper having a pair of relatively large diameter wheels is provided for maneuverability along uneven surfaces. A torso support and extensions are positioned on a tubular frame. Approximately midway along the longitudinal length of the torso support is an axle for mounting of the wheels along each side. A pair of battery powered lights are positioned on the extension handles at the front end of the creeper and therebetween a retractable shelf resides for use by a worker such as when in a crawl space beneath a house.

Abstract: A stowable platform for use with a vehicle movable from the stowed to the extended position in a single plane. Once extended, the platform support is locked, preventing further movement, and the platform itself is capable of further extension or elevation.

Abstract: A clearance 44 is provided between the outer periphery of a duct 42 and a vehicle body, that is, a radiator support 50 and, at the same time, the clearance 44 is made to have a labyrinth structure. In this structure, it is possible to prevent vibrations of the vehicle body from being propagated from the radiator support 50 to the duct 42 while preventing a current of air, such as one caused by movement of the vehicle, from flowing around heat exchangers, such as a radiator 10, and flowing downstream through the clearance 44. Therefore, it is possible to improve the cooling performance of heat exchangers such as the radiator 10 while preventing the duct 42, that is, a duct shroud 40 from being damaged by vibration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bicycle of the type driven by operation of a handle. According to the present invention, a shaft rod of the bicycle is installed with a hinge so as to enable the handle to rotate forward or backward. The handle is bent by a constant angle on the basis of the hinge, thereby being divided into both upper and lower portions on the basis of the hinge. The handle is formed at the lower portion thereof with an elongated guide bore, and a roller is inserted inside the guide bore so as to move upward and downward along the guide bore. The roller is connected to the upper end of a rod, which is installed so as to move upward and downward in a rectilinear course according to pulling and pushing operation of the handle.