Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steered wheel assembly wherein the steered wheel is mounted on a hub member which is rigidly secured to one end of a telescopically sprung fork assembly the other end of which is pivoted to the frame. A radius arm assembly is also pivoted to the frame and to the hub member. The pivotal connection between the fork assembly and the frame is adjustable to alternative frame-fixed positions to vary the steering characteristics of the motorcycle.

Abstract: An improved caulking gun providing greater trigger-leverage and more nearly parallel trigger swing through location of the trigger pivot above the plunger shaft, a provision also providing maximum wear-point-access and oiling reminder, and simplifying fabrication and assembly together with a free-insert drive-grip spring, a self-pivoting release grip retained together with the counter-spring on the plunger shaft; subassembly requires only three welds for part securance and final assembly securance requires only one rivet and one upset-attachment.

Abstract: A child's convertible pedal tricycle readily assembled into upright and underslung configurations is disclosed. It has an integral plastic frame member with upright and underslung seating walls on opposite sides, a pair of rear wheels on its rear end, a front fork member removably, reversibly and rotatably mounted on its front end with a pedal driven front wheel on its lower end and a handlebar member removably mounted on its upper end for easy convertibility into either configuration whenever desired.

Abstract: A motorcycle sidecar frame composed of five elongate struts secured together at their respective ends into a shape substantially conforming to that of a tetrahedron. In one embodiment, a portion of an elongate frame member found on a motorcycle comprises the sixth edge of the tetrahedron. Two of the vertices of the tetrahedral frame are respectively located at two spaced points of the frame member. The remaining two vertices of the tetrahedron are respectively secured to a sidecar suspension system. One of the vertices is secured to the top of a shock absorber, which extends downwardly to the axle of the sidecar wheel, and the other vertex is pivotally secured to the end of an arm, the other end of which is secured to the sidecar wheel axle. In an alternative embodiment of the basic tetrahedral frame, the function of the five elongate struts of the first embodiment and the sixth strut is provided by the edges or corners of a tetrahedron formed by suitable sheets of metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel propulsion means and first and second speed change means for a bicycle. The propulsion means comprises lever means adapted to be pumped up and down by the operator for driving the rear wheel of a bicycle through the speed change means, a propulsion wheel, and sprocket means.

Abstract: A braking control apparatus for a vehicle which locks and holds the brake pedal of the vehicle in a given depressed position. The apparatus is rendered inoperative when the vehicle is in such a condition that the locking and holding of the brake pedal is undesirable. When starting the vehicle, an accelerator pedal switch operatively connected to the accelerator pedal deenergizes an electromagnet for locking the brake pedal. With the brake pedal locked in any given depressed position, any further depression of the brake pedal results in deenergization of the electromagnet by the brake pedal switch operatively connected to the brake pedal. With the vehicle at rest, when the door is opened, the electromagnet is deenergized by a door switch. Also, during rapid braking of the vehicle, another brake pedal switch which is operatively connected to the brake pedal actuates a latching relay to deenergize the braking control apparatus.

Abstract: A cambering vehicle employing a cambering device which interconnects the trailing arms for controlled pivotal movement and includes means for locking the trailing arms together and for allowing the vehicle to be folded into a compact configuration so as to facilitate stowage thereof.

Abstract: A self steering two-wheel trailer including frame and hitch means for rigidly securing the trailer to a motor vehicle so as to be pivotable relative thereto in the vertical direction only, and adjustable link means pivotally connected between the wheels, the adjustable link means including tie bars axially aligned and interconnected at their inner ends by damper means suitable for responding to road load conditions upon reversing the direction of travel to automatically accommodate pivoting of the wheels to a toe-in attitude in the new direction of movement.

Abstract: A system for disabling or neutralizing a vehicle when less than a predetermined force is exerted upon the spring assembly of the operator's seat of such vehicle. A contact plate is mounted directly upon the spring assembly interiorly of the padding and outer covering of the seat. A pressure responsive push-type switch is mounted upon a pair of torsion springs attached to the seat frame also interiorly of the padding and outer covering. At any time a given predetermined force is exerted upon the outer covering, padding and contact plate, the switch will be in contact with the contact plate and will permit the vehicle to operate. Whenever, through excessive operator bouncing or the like, such predetermined force is removed, contact between the plate and switch will be interrupted and the vehicle will be rendered inoperative.

Abstract: A driving gear system, suitable for use in connection with a vehicle having a three speed transmission, and for use in connection with a high-power vehicle having an adjustable track width, the vehicle including a differential gear system having first bearing means, features a bridge housing mounted on said vehicle, a first planetary gear system disposed in the bridge housing and including a first sun wheel, a plurality of first planet wheels, each having a first radius, and first supporting means operable for supporting the first planet wheels, a second planetary gear system disposed in the bridge housing and including a second sun wheel, a plurality of second planet wheels, each having a second radius, and second supporting means operable for supporting the second planet wheels and mounted for coaxial rotation with respect to the second sun wheel, the second radii being smaller than the first radii, the first bearing means being disposed in the first supporting means, housing shells connected to the bridge

Abstract: A gear selector for use on an electrically assisted cycle includes a body which is arranged to be secured to the frame of the cycle. A lever is movable manually relative to the body and is arranged to be connected to the gear mechanism of the cycle whereby movement of the lever relative to the body causes operation of the gear mechanism to change the gear ratio. A cam is movable with the lever and a cam follower engages the cam and is moved thereby. An electrical switch carried by the body and operated by movement of the cam follower, and the cam is such that the cam follower is moved to operate the switch during any movement of the lever to effect a change in gear ratio. The cam is also such that the switch is returned to its initial operative condition after the movement which effects the gear change. In an electrically assisted cycle utilizing such a gear selector mechanism the switch controls energization of the electric motor such that the motor is not energized during gear change operations.

Abstract: A supplementary hydrostatic front wheel drive for a motor grader or the like utilizes pump flow from an already existing implement system as the source of supply to operate the drive wheel motors. The drive wheel motors are of the variable displacement over center type, and the system provides equal flow to both drive wheel motors to establish a synchronized rotational speed of both drive wheel motors. The displacements of the drive wheel motors are responsive to vehicle ground speed. The drive wheel components may include friction driving means which are responsive to the primary vehicle drive system.

Abstract: A cambering vehicle having a steering frame which pivotally supports a pair of trailing arms with one of the trailing arms being provided with a lock bar that is movable from a stored position into a position wherein the free end of the bar is connected to the other trailing arm so as to prevent relative movement of the trailing arms and thereby permit the vehicle to be parked.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel speed retarding system comprising a positive displacement fluid pump in a liquid system adapted to be driven by positive engagement with means on the wheel drive. The output of the pump is delivered to a valve and governor means also driven by the vehicle wheel drive operates the valve to reduce its flow capacity with increase in speed, thus retarding the positive displacement pump and, hence, the vehicle wheel. Manually regulated means, such as controlled air pressure acting against a diaphragm, resists movement of the valve to control the speed capacity of the device. Failure of air pressure will result in minimum speed capacity.

Abstract: This invention relates to ground-reaction machines, such as hovercraft, and is particularly concerned with flexible enclosure arrangements, often referred to as skirts, for enclosing a fluid cushion beneath the loading platform of the machine. According to the invention, air fed into the arrangement to form the cushion, is channelled or directed by cells having walls which are linked in series along the periphery of the platform. This ensures the feed and enclosure of a single undivided central cushion at a pressure which is substantially uniform and of which the boundaries represent an auxiliary structure. In a preferred construction, each of the cells is bounded by two flexible walls, all the horizontal sections of which are of bi-convex, lenticular shape.

Abstract: An off-the-road earth-moving truck having a rearwardly dumping body, has equal weight distribution between a steerable drive axle and a drive axle both when fully loaded and when empty.

Abstract: A loop driven vehicle such as a motor cycle has a pivoted fork which supports the rear wheel mounted on the engine unit, and the engine unit mounted at its rear on the frame of the vehicle by a mounting which permits angular movement of the engine unit about a second axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the rear wheel, and fore and aft movement of the second axis. This movement of the engine unit is accommodated by one or more second mountings which permit the fore and aft and angular movement and may constrain the engine unit against movement in other directions. The mounting at the rear of the engine unit may comprise a pivoted member, or a flexible plate secured between the engine unit and frame.

Abstract: A vehicle riding on air cushions in which the lift of a platform is ensured by an arrangement of flexible skirts defining a central air-lift area at substantially constant pressure and a partitioned peripheral air-lift area. A closed loop of adjacent tubular skirts is inserted between the central and peripheral air-lift areas to increase the flying stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: To facilitate broadcasting fertilizer from different levels above the ground, in addition to linkages for mounting the device on a three point power hitch of the tractor, linkages and an accompanying hydraulic system are provided for elevating the spreader above the level to which the tractor power hitch can raise it. The device comprises an open frame 2 formed by upright supports 5 and a cross arm 4. The open frame construction facilitates the connection of the tractor power take-off shaft to the spreader, and the connection of linkages between the tractor and spreader for control of the metering mechanism of the spreader.

Abstract: Electric control circuitry is provided for preventing a tractor engine from being started with the tractor transmission or power take-off engaged and for preventing the tractor from being driven with the park brake engaged. The control circuitry includes normally open power take-off and transmission condition sensing switches connected in series with each other and a starting solenoid and thus defining a portion of a starting circuit. These two switches in the starting circuit are respectively held closed only when a power take-off control lever is in a clutch-disengage position and the transmission shift lever is in a neutral position. The control circuitry also includes a second normally open transmission condition sensing switch connected in parallel with a normally open park brake condition sensing switch, these two switches being in series with the ignition coil and thus defining a portion of an ignition circuit.