Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly includes a frame member and hitch receiver box, a pair of mounting brackets and a pair of accessory ports carried on the frame member inboard of the mounting brackets. The accessory ports each project rearwardly from the frame member a distance D and include a circular opening for receiving a recreational and/or utilitarian accessory. The receiver box has a first longitudinal axis extending in a first plane A. The accessory ports are parallel and have a second longitudinal axis extending in a second plane B where the planes A and B define an included angle of approximately 10-30°.

Abstract: Fitting type chainless transmission and speed adjustment mechanism of bicycle which can be directly installed on an existent chain transmission bicycle to change the chain transmission bicycle into a chainless transmission bicycle without changing the bicycle frame. The front gear set is disposed at the pedals of the bicycle, including a driving gear and a driven gear engaged therewith. The axes of the driving and driven gears are positioned on different planes. The driven gear of the rear gear set is drivingly engaged with a transmission gear. The axes of the driven gear and transmission gear are positioned on different planes. The transmission gear is drivingly connected with output end of the speed adjustment mechanism. The input end of the speed adjustment mechanism is drivingly connected with the output end of the driven gear of the front gear set.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for venting an inflatable restraint assembly 12. The apparatus 10 includes a conventional pyrotechnic cylinder 30 which is communicatively coupled to a controller 28, a selectively pivotable door 32 which selectively seals and/or covers an opening 33 within assembly 12, and a latch mechanism 34 which is coupled to the cylinder 30 and which selectively engages and disengages door 32. Controller 28 is communicatively coupled to a seat position sensor 36, seat belt sensor 38 and crash severity sensor(s) 40. Controller 28 determines when a crash situation has occurred or will imminently occur and selectively activates assembly 12 if such a determination is made, thereby protecting the vehicle occupant 18 from harm and/or injury. Controller 28 further determines whether and/or when to vent air bag module 12 based upon the data received from sensors 36-40 and selectively activates cylinder 30 in response to such a determination.

Abstract: A baby tricycle steering control arrangement is disclosed to include a base frame, a head unit and a steering control bar respectively pivoted to the front and rear sides of the base frame, a swivel member pivoted to the pivot between the front side of the base frame and the head unit and fixedly connected to the head unit, a link received in the base frame and coupled between the bottom end of the steering control bar and the swivel member for enabling the head unit to be controlled by the steering control bar, and a spring member coupled between the swivel member and the base frame and adapted to return the head unit to the middle position automatically after release of biasing force from the steering control bar.

Abstract: A vehicular electric power steering apparatus with an enhanced supporting structure for improving the bending strength of a rack bar includes a motor having a rotor, a stator and a motor shaft inside the same; a housing installed such that it can communicate with the motor; a rack bar installed inside of the motor and housing and having a ball screw installed at the outer circumferential surface of one end and a rack gear formed at the outer circumferential surface of the other end; a ball nut installed at the outside of the ball screw for supporting the rack bar at a first point and moving the same in the axial direction; and a rack guide installed at the inside of the housing for supporting the rack bar at a second point and guiding axial movement by enclosing the rear surface of the rack gear, where the rack bar is supported at a third point by a supporting bush disposed at the inside of the front end of the housing adjacent to the rack guide.

Abstract: An inflator 10 of a vehicle occupant protection system contains an elongated housing 12 having a plurality of gas exit orifices 14 spaced along the length thereof. An ignition body 30 and propellant 16 are provided in lengths substantially equivalent to the length of the housing 12 wherein the ignition body 30 is placed in physical contact with the propellant body 16 for all or most of their respective lengths. Once the ignition body 30 is ignited upon a crash event, resultant uniform ignition and combustion across the length of the propellant 16 results in uniform gas generation and uniform inflation of an airbag 26, wherein the airbag 26 is at least substantially coextensive with and in fluid communication with the housing 12. Preferred mixtures of propellant 16 contain silicone, a perchlorate oxidizer, and a coolant.

Abstract: A folding bicycle comprises a frame including a front part whereon is mounted pivoting a steering rod having a lower end provided with a first wheel and an upper end provided with a handlebar, a rear part whereon is mounted a second wheel, and a central part whereon are mounted a saddle and a crankset connected to the rear wheel by transmission elements, such that the saddle, the crankset, the steering rod, the front wheel and the rear wheel are substantially contained in a common plane when the bicycle is unfolded. The frame includes elements articulating the front part and the rear part to the central part to reduce the bicycle wheelbase associated with elements for maintaining at least the front wheel and the rear wheel in the plane.

Abstract: A method and device for steering a heavy load transport vehicle includes a variable length strut which cooperates with a power steering valve. The length of the variable length strut changes as a function of tow bar rotation. This length variation is mechanically coupled to the power steering valve, which in turn controls an automatic steering system. The present invention permits mechanical steering of the transport vehicle even in the event of failure of the automatic steering system, and does so without placing mechanical stress upon the power steering valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic steering damper (9) is designed to be fitted inside a steering sleeve (3) between the steering sleeve (3) itself and a steering pin (2) that is coaxial with the sleeve (3) and having an axis of rotation (A). The damper (9) includes a cylindrical lining (11), that can be fixed to the steering sleeve (3), and a cylindrical wall (13), that can be fixed to the steering pin (2). The lining (11) and the wall (13) form between them a gap (16) designed to hold a hydraulic fluid (17) and divided into a first and a second chamber (28, 29), which are in fluid communication with each other through a conduit (30). The damper (9) further includes a blade (25) attached to the cylindrical wall (13) and designed to push the fluid (17) from one to the other of the chambers (28, 29) when the steering pin (2) is rotated relative to the steering sleeve (3).

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.

Abstract: A vehicle steering control system is provided which is capable of reliably protecting a motor for driving a wheel steering shaft. The offset output characteristic of a current sensor for detecting the electric current applied to the steering shaft drive motor is actually measured prior to the actual use of the steering control system, and offset compensation information is prepared based on the measured value of the offset output characteristic for storage in an EEPROM. Further, an output value of the current sensor and an output value of a reference current measuring system are measured independently of each other with the supply voltage for use in measurement being set to a constant value. Then, current gain compensation information is prepared based on the output values so measured and is stored in the EEPROM. In the later actual use (i.e.

Abstract: A bicycle having dual-purpose pedals is provided, wherein the structure of a main shaft tube of the bicycle is improved. The structure has a main shaft, a first spring, a gear bushing, a crank, a second spring, a washer and a fixing unit. The main shaft is received in the main shaft tube. The first spring is telescoped onto the main shaft. The washer, the second spring, and the gear bushing are received in order in a crank hole of the crank. The washer is fixed at the distal end of the main shaft by a screw. The fixing unit passes through and is fixed on the main shaft tube. The bicycle can be used as a conventional bicycle having a one-up-one-down, 360-degree, circular rotation pedaling function. The user can also change and control the two pedals to accomplish a same-up-same-down pedaling function for enhancing entertainment during use.

Abstract: The present invention involves a steer-by-wire actuating system and method of actuating road wheels of a vehicle with the steer-by-wire actuating system. The system includes a steering linkage assembly including an input shaft, an output shaft, and a gear unit linking the input shaft and the output shaft for linear movement of the output shaft to rotate the road wheels of the vehicle. The system further comprises a microcontroller for controlling an actuation strategy including normal and fault detection modes. The microcontroller is configured to receive a steering signal indicative of steering input at a steering interface. The system further includes first and second power electronic drivers in electrical communication with the microcontroller for electric power supply. The system further includes a first motor and a second motor for simultaneous operation with the steer-by-wire steering device.

Abstract: A stabilizing system for a reclinable wheelchair connects anti-tip members to the wheelchair seat such that pivoting of the seat causes pivoting of the anti-tip members. In one embodiment, the stabilizing system includes cables connected at opposite ends to the seat and to the anti-tip members. The cables may be connected to the seat bottom or, alternately, to the seat back. The anti-tip members may incorporate a pivoting suspension member that includes a drive motor for the wheelchair. Pivot control mechanisms connected to the cables can be used to permit a predetermined amount of seat pivot without corresponding pivot of the anti-tip members. The stabilizing system alternatively includes axially compressible link members connecting the seat back to the anti-tip members to provide controlled pivoting of the anti-tip members based on pivoting of the seat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system (14, 18). A crash sensor (32, 36) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal (110, 160) indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined (118, 168) in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage (90, 94) of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated when the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeds a low threshold (130, 132, 180, 182). A crush zone accelerometer (40, 42) senses crash acceleration at a crush zone location. The crush zone acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared (226, 256) against a crush zone threshold (220, 222, 250, 252). The value of the low threshold (130, 180) is switched to a different value (132, 182) when the crush zone acceleration exceeds the crush zone threshold.

Abstract: Objects of persons in a vehicle are detected with a sensor. The data of the sensor signal or evaluated sensor data are transmitted to a remote control unit for an occupant protection system. The sensor data are in addition stored in a device comprising the sensor if the control unit indicates that an impact has been recognized.

Abstract: A trailer hitch apparatus for use with a lunette eye mounting includes a housing with a lunette eye on one end. A housing has a plurality of rectangular inserts, the inserts having a recess on one face adapted to hold and enclose a lunette eye and hold the lunette eye of the trailer firmly within the housing. A retention pin extends through the apertures in the housing the lunette eye of the trailer and the apertures in the rectangular inserts to hold the adapter and parts together. For attachment to a towing truck or other vehicle.

Abstract: The following invention is directed to a pedal powered two wheel scooter. The invention discloses a scooter having a steerable front wheel assembly, a rear wheel assembly and a frame linking the front and rear wheel assemblies. The scooter has a drive mechanism comprising front and back crankshafts rotatably attached to the frame and attached to left and right pedals. The front crankshaft transmits power to the rear wheel by means of a front sprocket gear, a continuous chain and a rear sprocket gear. In another embodiment the drive mechanism comprises a front crankshaft rotatably attached to the frame that is also attached to the right and left pedals by means of a freewheel ratchet mechanism with the other end of the right and left pedals attaching to a see-saw bar that pivotally engages the frame in a position between the left and right pedals.

Abstract: A wheelchair has a frame assembly with longitudinal beams having grooves accommodating connecting members that retain the connecting members without welds on the beams. Expansion devices hold the connecting members in fixed positions on the beams. Supports secured to the connecting members are attached to wheels, a back rest, and a foot rest assembly.

Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle has: a target wheel steering angle production unit for producing a target wheel steering angle on the basis of a detected steering wheel angle; a wheel steering angle control unit for controlling steering angles of wheels turned for steering so that a detected wheel steering angle and a target wheel steering angle coincide with each other; a target reaction production unit for producing a target reaction on the basis of the steering wheel angle; a first reaction torque control unit for controlling a reaction torque produced in the steering wheel by driving a reaction control mechanism so that the reaction torque and the target reaction coincide with each other; and a second reaction torque control unit for compensating an output from the wheel steering angle control unit so that the reaction and the target reaction torque coincide with each other.