Abstract: An articulated, rear wheel motorcycle suspension system including two rocking arms, each pivotally mounted between its forward and rearward terminals to the vehicle main frame, in the vertical plane of, and approximately parallel to, a trailing arm of the U-shaped swing arm assembly. Each rocking arm is linked adjacent its rearward extremity through a connecting link to the rearward extremity of the trailing arm therebeneath. The connecting link is pivotally attached at each of its ends, and linked adjacent its forward extremity to the vehicle main frame through a resilient, compressible, and dampened unit (shock absorber) which is pivotally attached at each of its ends.

Abstract: Power steering apparatus comprising a changeover valve adapted to be operated in one direction or the other by turning of a steering shaft so that a supply oil passage connected to an operational oil pressure source is selectively connected to a right or left chamber of a power cylinder. At least one external oil pressure reaction chamber is arranged to be reduced in volume by the operation in either direction of the changeover valve to resist displacement thereof, the oil pressure reaction chamber being connected through a first oil passage to a control pressure source for delivery of oil at a pressure corresponding to vehicle speed. The first oil passage is connected through a second oil passage to the supply oil passage and a control valve is mounted in the second oil passage to be opened when the pressure within the first oil passage is higher by a predetermined value than the pressure within the supply oil passage.

Abstract: A flanged half bearing has flanges connected to a bearing liner by lugs on the flanges which engage in slots in the liner edges to permit the liner to flex radially. The liner edges have abutments to hold the flanges on the liner and the inner circumferential edges of the flanged ends of the bearing are curved in profile as viewed in cross-section through the bearing axis.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle which is provided with an automatic track tensioning assembly of the type adapted to control the pressure in the hydraulic cylinders tensioning the endless track. This track tensioning assembly distinctively includes a main control circuit and a pilot control circuit which are hydraulically isolated from each other with the main control circuit being operatively closed and isolated from the supply pump to more freely optimize the distinct functions of these circuits such as the response of the main control circuit. This track tensioning assembly includes a pilot valve for each hydraulic cylinder, an accumulator, and a relief valve in the main control circuit for release of pressure from the cylinders to the accumulaotr through the relief valve. The pilot valves are selectively operable by control valves in the pilot control circuit.

Abstract: A double deck bus has a wide front entrance door and two rear exit doors, one from each deck. The upper deck is at selected standing headroom height from the lower deck, and at selected sitting headroom height from the vehicle roof. A channel passageway with selected standing headroom is provided lengthwise of the upper deck. A curved front stairway leads from the front entrance door to the front end of the upper deck passageway, and a descending stairway leads from the rear end of said passageway to one of the rear exit doors. The fare box is located within the curve of the front stairway to be visible to the driver, whose seat is well above the lower deck. An engine compartment is provided at the rear end of the bus, and a wall separates it from the lower deck passenger compartment.

Abstract: A front wheel suspension unit for motorcycles, in which the center part of a crank-shaped bent shaft having two parallel axes is taken as the axle, so that buffer effects may be produced against impact inputs in the horizontal direction of movement as well as in the vertical direction, and the wheel is supported, rotating freely around the axis of the said axle, while the other shaft part of the said bent shaft is held at the lower part of the front fork, so that the wheel may be supported while turning freely around the axis of the said shaft part.

Abstract: An automatically variable speed ratio transmission for a pedal driven vehicle such as a bicycle with a chain and sprockets. A pedal operated chain driving sprocket is capable of having its diameter infinitely variable through a predetermined range. The driving sprocket consists of a plurality of small sprockets journally mounted on bell-crank arms having planar offsets for rotation of the small sprockets in one direction only. The bell-crank arms are pivotally mounted on a disc in a uniform circular pattern therearound. The arms and their small sprockets are arranged and constructed to define the vehicle's driving sprocket. The plurality of bell-crank arms are interconnected with each other and are arranged to be uniformly spring biased in one direction.

Abstract: An inflatable band restraint for vehicle safety systems secured to the terminal webbing with longitudinal stitching such as a zig-zag stitch capable of yielding in at least two dimensions when the belt is inflated to prevent failure of the stitching.

Abstract: A vehicle subject to high level and low level impact conditions includes an occupant restraint cushion which is inflated at a relatively high rate under high impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions. The inflator for the cushion includes a pressure vessel containing pressurized stored gas and a combustion chamber containing a propellant. Under low level impact conditions, the propellant is ignited and the resultant gases flow through a fluted orifice into the pressure vessel and then flow with the stored gas to the cushion. The area of the orifice controls the flow rate of the resultant gases out of the combustion chamber to control the pressure within the chamber and the burn rate. Under high level impact conditions, a ball within the combustion chamber is explosively fired into the orifice to restrict the flow area of the orifice. This increases the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the burn rate and the flow rate to the cushion.

Abstract: A lifting device for a motorcycle or similar type of two-wheeled vehicle having a frame and retractable vehicle standard, the device comprising a pair of manually engageable handles located on the laterally opposite sides of the motorcycle frame at a position below the seating area for the vehicle operator, with the handles being pivotably movable between a position extending generally parallel to the frame and a position extending laterally outwardly therefrom. In one embodiment of the invention, the handles are combined with foot pedals for the passenger on the associated motorcycle.

Abstract: A self-contained propellant gas generating cartridge for use in connection with safety systems utilizing inflatable confinements. The cartridge has a tubular body portion housing a propellant charge, a head portion at one end of the body portion in which is mounted an ignitor for the propellant charge, and a nozzle member closing the other end of the body portion. In one embodiment the tubular body and head portion may be metallic while in another embodiment they may be plastic. The cartridge may also include means to reduce the effective throat area of the nozzle when a fast deployment of the system is desired.

Abstract: A hand operated hydrostatic throttle & shut-off switch for remotely transmitting signals from a skier's hand to a power-driven ski's engine, comprising of a hand operated master cylinder, a slave cylinder for activating the throttle and a flexible coiled tube through which throttle control and shut-off signals are transmitted between the hand and the engine.

Abstract: An anchorage member for adjusting the position of a safety belt with regard to body shape and seat position. The anchorage member is attached to a door pillar or alongside a seat and comprises a slide member for selectively engaging a series of abutments. The slide member is biased into engagement with the abutments and may be locked in position.

Abstract: An earthmoving scraper including an overhung tractor and a trailing scraper bowl in which the latter units are respectively provided with a front axle and a rear axle having a pair of driven wheels. The rear axle of the scraper is rigid with the scraper bowl while the front axle is supported by a suspension including a leading arm the front end of which is fixed with the front axle and the rear end of which is supported by the tractor frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis located below a horizontal plane passing through the rotational axis of the front wheels. Spring means are provided between the front axle and the tractor frame for cushioning movement of the front axle about the aforementioned transverse horizontal axis.

Abstract: An axle beam has a pair of side plates individually secured to the ends of a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower plates and a vertically disposed plate secured to the forward edges of the upper and lower plate. A pair of wheel drive gears are individually journalled on a pair of spindles individually secured to the outer surfaces of the side plates with the spindles having a horizontal axis extending therethrough. A differential disposed within the axle beam is secured to one of the plates and has a pair of jackshafts extending outwardly from its opposite sides. Each jackshaft extends through an aperture formed in the side plate and has a gear formed on its distal end mating with the respective wheel drive gear.

Abstract: A portable baby holding device is provided which may take the form of a combination baby carriage, stroller, infant seat, car seat, car bed, bassinet, high chair and the like and comprises baby carrier means and baby shielding or protective means movably connected to said carrier means, for protecting the baby from severe or inclement weather while the baby is being held in said carrier means. The baby shielding means may comprise a plastic, metal, and/or cloth canopy, which is adapted to completely cover the baby. The carrier means includes a collapsible frame and baby holding means supported on the frame.

Abstract: An inflator for a vehicle occupant restraint system of the type having an inflatable confinement for restraining the vehicle occupant in the event of a collision. The inflator includes reservoir means containing pressurized fluid and gas generating means disposed within a region encompassed by the reservoir means, and means defining an outlet passage. The fluid outlet of the inflator is covered by a diffuser having a plurality of spaced peripheral exit ports, the diffuser having an initially collapsed closed condition and, upon activation of the gas generating means in response to a collision, the diffuser is moved to a deformed open position permitting fluid flow to the diffuser exit ports.

Abstract: The shift mechanism of an automotive power transmission system is locked in the neutral or parking position by a locking device which is responsive to completion or incompletion of a prescribed manipulative procedure to render a safety device such as a safety belt arrangement into a proper protective position, the locking device including a cam movable with any suitable member of the shift mechanism and a catch member which is moved into locking engagement with the cam if the prescribed manipulative steps to move the safety device into the proper protective position is incomplete.

Abstract: A steering control hookup for use in connection with a mobile assembly comprised of a conventional tractor in which the normal, steerable front wheel and axle structure is in a raised, non-ground engaging disposition, and a grader blade attachment provided with a ground-engaging front wheel and axle unit having a steering apparatus. The steering hookup includes an arrangement of selectively shiftable hydraulic valves interposed in a power steering system of the tractor in order to render the steering apparatus of the attachment responsive to actuation of the power steering system while at the same time rendering a steering mechanism associated with the tractor front wheel end axle structure inoperative, thus making the turning movements of the mobile assembly responsive solely to the operation of the steering apparatus of the attachment.

Abstract: A tractor trailer vehicle embodying an articulated vehicle in which a hydraulic load compensation unit in the form of a particular connecting bridge is provided between the tractor and the trailer vehicle so that trailer loads are transmitted to the tractor without impairment of the maneuverability or road holding properties of the overall vehicle unit.