Abstract: A front suspension fork assembly suitable for use with a scooter-type vehicle. The front fork assembly is rotatably supported by a frame of the scooter and supports a front wheel of the scooter on its lower end. Desirably, the front fork assembly includes right and left fork legs extending along opposing sides of the front wheel. Each fork leg includes an upper fork tube telescopically engaged with a lower fork tube. An interconnecting portion, or support bridge, extends between the left and right fork legs. A central portion of the support bridge is coupled to a steering tube of the scooter and an intermediate portion of the support bridge extends between the central portion and each upper fork tube. Desirably, the left and right upper fork tubes and the support bridge are monolithically formed. Preferably, an upper end portion of each fork leg extends to a height above the central portion of the support bridge.

Abstract: An illuminated shifter linkage apparatus for coupling the shifter pedal and the transmission of a motorcycle includes an inner rod having a plurality of light-emitting elements seated within a corresponding set of inner rod apertures, and an open-ended outer hollow shaft into which the inner rod is received. When fully assembled, the light-emitting elements align with the corresponding apertures in the outer hollow shaft to facilitate the passage of light through the shaft apertures, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance and enhancing the visibility of the motorcycle at night and in poorly lit areas.

Abstract: A transportable storage container assembly for transport by a tow vehicle. The assembly includes a trailer having a center rail with a two-point trailer hitch at the front end and a pivotable single wheel at the rear end. The trailer has a first cross channel adjacent the front end of the rail and a second cross channel adjacent the rear end of the rail. A storage container mounted on the trailer includes bottom support skids at each end that seat in the cross channels and are secured in the channels by casters that are attached to the skids through mounting holes in the cross channels. There is a jack on the bottom of the trailer rail adjacent the midpoint to facilitate the raising of the trailer for attachment to, and disattachment from, the tow vehicle trailer hitch.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus comprises an electric motor generating rotational torque, an electric control device controlling the rotation of the electric motor, a motion converting device converting the rotational torque of the electric motor into a propulsion force, an output shaft outputting the propulsion force, a rear wheel steering angle detecting device detecting a steering angle of the rear wheels steered by the output shaft, a regulating member for prohibiting the output shaft from rotating while allowing the output shaft to move axially, a neutral return device manually returning the rear wheels to a neutral position upon failure of the motor or the electric control device, a neutral return detecting device for detecting the return of the output shaft to the neutral position and a neutral return notification device for notifying the return of the output shaft to the neutral position.

Abstract: A moving unit provides a wheel that supports a body portion in a condition that the body portion can be moved, a supporting member that is mounted at a position that does not interfere with rotation of the wheel and an arm that is mounted at a position shifted from an axis of the supporting member and that can move a distal end of the arm toward a direction away from the axis of the supporting member by being driven with the supporting member as a foothold and is so arranged that the body portion can be lifted up together with the wheel by grounding the distal end of the arm when the moving unit is transported, the crank and the arm are incorporated around an axle of the wheel in a compact state, which makes it possible to operate the moving unit stably.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position includes a patient support having head and foot ends and a wheeled base supported by castered wheels. Auxiliary wheels are suspendably mounted on a wheel support structure with the axis of the auxiliary wheels spaced from a midpoint of the wheeled base. A control apparatus controls the wheel support structure to move the auxiliary wheels between a first deployed position whereat castered wheels at one end of the carriage are elevated from a floor surface, and a second stored position with the auxiliary wheels out of engagement with the floor surface. The wheeled carriage includes a drive motor for powering the auxiliary wheels. A drive member applies force to a load cell on the wheeled carriage. The load cell outputs a drive signal to drive the auxiliary wheels.

Abstract: An anti-jackknifing apparatus is disclosed for reducing articulation between a tractor having a fifth wheel and a trailer having a king pin. The anti-jackknifing apparatus comprises a rotatable shaft, a lug mounted on the shaft and a rotary actuator operatively engaged with the shaft.

Abstract: A bracket, apparatus and method are provided for adapting a simple draw bar and hitch ball arrangement to allow connection to a sway control device. The bracket includes an aperture for receiving the threaded stem of the hitch ball, a notch for receiving and engaging the draw bar and a second aperture for receiving a sway control device connector such as a sway control ball. The bracket allows connection to any number of sway control devices available in the industry so that a simple draw bar and hitch ball may be converted for sway control capability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a trailer hitch receiver including a cross member, a hitch receiver box carried on the cross member and a pair of opposed mounting brackets. Each of the opposed mounting brackets includes a first mounting arrangement or series of apertures that secures the mounting brackets to the cross member in a first position and a second mounting arrangement or second set of mounting apertures for securing the mounting brackets to main frame member in a second position. Additionally, each mounting bracket includes a notch in the forward edge thereof which provides the necessary clearance for mounting the mounting brackets inboard of mounting flanges carried by the cross member. Accordingly, the mounting brackets may also be mounted in an inboard or outboard position as necessary to meet the needs of any particular application.

Abstract: A powered wheel assembly for use in connection with a wheelbarrow includes in one embodiment a frame that includes support members, a wheel assembly that includes a wheel, an axle, and axle housing, and a pin for connecting the axle and axle housing, and a drive assembly that includes a primary gear drive and a final chain drive. Upon retrofit to an existing wheelbarrow, the powered wheel assembly permits an operator to selectively operate the wheelbarrow in a powered and non-powered mode of transport.

Abstract: A power steering system in which an electric motor (9) makes available a damping torque to a steering system via a mechanical transmission (4). The transmission (4) is arranged between the steering wheel (2) and a steering rack (5). The electric motor (9) is actuated by a control unit (1) in accordance with the steering torque sensed by a sensor (3) and the vehicle speed sensed by a sensor (10). In addition, a damping module (8) of the control unit (1) receives binary or continuous signals relating to the braking state, in particular relating to the brake activation (11) and to cornering (9). By means of these signals the damping torque which is generated by the electric motor (9) can be adapted in such a way that vibrations which are caused by unequal wear of the brakes in the steering system are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a snowmobile including a reduction drive system including planetary gears. In an alternate embodiment, a reversing unit is provided. In a further alternate embodiment, an offset is provided in the drive system.

Abstract: A liquid pressure type steering damper system for generating a damping force for preventing a handle from being swung due to a kick-back upon a disturbance wherein the generation of the damping force is nonlinear so that the steering angle would not be enlarged so much even if the kick-back becomes greater. A liquid pressure type steering damper is provided with a restriction passage for a working liquid and a solenoid-type control valve for varying the passage sectional area of the restriction passage. A needle portion is formed at the tip end of a plunger constituting the solenoid valve and is made to advance and retract in a restriction portion connected to a bypass passage.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle occupant safety system based on crash severity. The system uses an acceleration signal indicating the acceleration of the vehicle upon occurrence of a crash to determine whether to trigger a restraint device. A controller implements a crash sensing algorithm to determine whether the severity of the crash warrants deployment of the safety restraint. The algorithm uses a predicted velocity and an acceleration peak time derived from the acceleration signal. The predicted velocity is indicative of the relative velocity between the passenger and the vehicle at a predetermined time following detection of a crash event. The acceleration peak time is the time period between peak acceleration values that correspond to contacting of significant structural elements of the vehicle, such as the bumper and the radiator.

Abstract: In driving force controlling apparatus and method for a four-wheel drive vehicle, a driving force distribution controller determines whether there is a vehicular driver's demand on the driving force, calculates a driving force distribution ratio between front and rear road wheels in such a manner that a driving force distribution rate for auxiliary driven wheels is updated to its maximum value on the basis of a slip quantity of main driven wheels when determining that there is the vehicular driver's demand on the driving force, calculates another driving force distribution ratio therebetween in accordance with the acceleration slip quantity when determining that there is no vehicular driver's demand on the driving force, and is operated to adjust variably the driving force therebetween in such a manner that the driving force distribution ratio between the front and rear road wheels indicates that calculated by either one of the above-described two methods.

Abstract: A side swing hitch for a rear end of an agricultural combine. The hitch includes a hitch support bracket having opposite end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, a first of the end portions including at least one element for mounting to a rear chassis member of the combine with the other end portion suspended in a position rearward of the rear axle assembly connected to the chassis member. A draw bar is pivotally mounted to the second end portion of the hitch support bracket for pivotal movement between a rearwardly extending towing position generally perpendicular to the rear axle assembly and at least one generally transversely extending stored position at least generally perpendicular to the towing position and beside the rear axle assembly, the draw bar having an opposite end including a hitch element connectable to a tongue of a vehicle such as a trailer or cart to be towed by the combine.

Abstract: All all-terrain vehicle has a shiftable transmission that is coupled to a variable speed V-belt transmission. The variable speed V-belt transmission is joined to a crankshaft through a centrifugal clutching arrangement. The shiftable transmission enables an operator to go between low, high, neutral, reverse, and park. In the park position, the transmission is locked from substantial rotation such that the engaged wheels of the all-terrain vehicle are also locked from substantial rotation, whether or not the engine speed is sufficient to allow the centrifugal clutch to be engaged with the variable speed transmission.

Abstract: A snowmobile has an engine with a compact arrangement that includes a crankshaft, an output shaft, and an auxiliary shaft. The crankshaft extends along a first axis, the output shaft extends along a second axis, and the auxiliary shaft extends along a third axis. Two of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are disposed in a common plane. The other of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis is offset from the common plane.

Abstract: There is provided a multistage gas generator for an air bag in which the entire size of a container is suppressed, a volume ratio of each combustion chamber can arbitrarily be adjusted. Ignition means 311 are respectively disposed in the combustion chambers 305 and 306 provided in a housing 303. At least one of the combustion chambers is provided inside an inner shell 304 disposed eccentrically with respect to the center axis of the housing 3. The respective ignition means are disposed eccentrically with respect to the center axis of the housing 3. Further, a communication hole which allows mutual communication between the combustion chambers is provided. An automatic ignition material (AIM) which is to be ignited and burnt by a transmitted heat is provided in either one of the combustion chambers. One or both of axial end surfaces of a cylindrical filter means 350 are formed as inclining end surfaces 351 which get narrower in the axial extending direction.

Abstract: The joint between two vehicles or vehicle parts, such as an articulated bus or a railcar for example, comprises at least two joint members (11, 12; 11a, 21a; 111a, 112a) that are held apart from a central longitudinal axis (50) of the vehicle (2, 3; 102, 103) and with at least one, preferably two joint arms (12a, 12, 22; 113, 114) that is/are carried so as to be capable of rotating about the two joint members.