Abstract: A sprag wheel is a one-wheeled recreational vehicle. Two treads extending on opposite sides of a ground wheel provide a place for the rider to stand. A flywheel concentrically mounted with the treads and ground wheel and housed within the ground wheel provides pitch stability for the rider. That is, the flywheel is coupled to the treads and ground wheel so that the flywheel rotates faster than the ground wheel. The treads are coupled to the flywheel so that the treads will move only by changing the rpm of the flywheel. Thus, a relatively large force is required to move the treads, and, in any event, a force greater than that necessary for the rider to balance on the treads. The sprag wheel of this invention is designed to imitate Thor's wheel in the "B.C." comic strip, so the ground wheel has a relatively large diameter and a moderate width so that a rider may balance on the wheel.

Abstract: A wheelchair capable of climbing a flight of steps has a cluster of rear wheels rotatably mounted on a member (19) which can pivot on a body (10) of the chair to move the rear wheels upwardly and downwardly and thereby compensate for differences in the levels of the surfaces on which the rear wheels and front wheels of the chair rest. The member (19) is pivoted automatically in accordance with differences between the rotation of front and rear drive elements.

Abstract: An improved wheelchair formed of a frame, two pairs of support wheels for the frame, and a seat portion rockably connected to the frame and normally maintained in a generally horizontal alignment when the chair is unoccupied by bias springs that permit the seat to rock about its rockable connection while the frame and wheels of the chair are completely stationary.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus which includes an input member rotatably mounted in a valve housing, an output member rotatably and axially slidably mounted in a gear housing integral with the valve housing and arranged coaxially with the input member, a valve rotor integral with the input member, a valve sleeve rotatably mounted in the valve housing and arranged in surrounding relationship with the valve rotor, the valve sleeve being connected integrally with the output member to cooperate with the valve rotor for selectively directing fluid under pressure to opposite ends of a hydraulic power cylinder in response to relative rotation between the input and output members, a cam follower element positioned between the inner ends of the input and output members for permitting relative rotation between the input and output members, and a pressure mechanism arranged to apply fluid under pressure responsive to the vehicle speed to the outer end of the output member for increasing the resistance to relative rotation of

Abstract: A wind powered propulsion device has a sail mount and harness means for retaining the sail mount on the back of a person. A sail is mounted on the sail mount. Preferably the harness means includes a backpack-like device having a back rest and strap for fitting over the shoulders and around the waist of a person. The mount may include a mast for holding the sail in a generally vertical position and a swinging arm. The sail is mounted at a first end of the swinging arm which is pivotal at a second end about an axis through the sail mount.

Abstract: A hub and fork ends of bicycle includes a pair of annular bearings each fixed within an annular bearing shell fixed on the fork end and each composed of an outer race and an inner race formed by engaging a first ring with a second ring, a hub formed with several grooves and a spindle formed with several lengthy extensions corresponding to the grooves on the hub so that after passing the spindle through the two bearings and the hub, the hub with a bike wheel can be instantly mounted on the front fork of a bicycle.

Abstract: A combination automobile infant seat and baby stroller assembly that allows the automobile infant seat to be easily and quickly converted to a conventional baby stroller. The conversion is accomplished by a retractable wheel and fender assembly. When the invention is in the infant seat configuration, the wheels and fenders are in the retracted position allowing the wheels to serve as a stable platform. When it is desired to use the invention as a baby stroller, it is removed from the vehicle compartment and the wheel and fender assembly is pressed downwardly to cause the wheel locking mechanism to lock the wheels in place. The invention also features an infant seat attachment base that allows various models of infant seats to be safely secured and angularly adjusted. Two other designs are also disclosed where each employ a different type of wheel retracting and extending mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic assist power steering system for providing assist capability which decreases with increasing vehicle speed but which is prevented from falling below a predetermined level in response to handwheel rotation regardless of vehicle speed.

Abstract: A wheeled golf cart which can be manually pulled over a golf course for transporting golf equipment or carried to and from a golf course to storage or transporting in a vehicle. The entire hand-carried cart can be converted into a full manually mobile golf cart in seconds for operation on golf course.

Abstract: A motorcycle front fork assembly comprises substantially parallel fork legs (15), each leg being connected to an articulated linkage (16). The articulated linkage comprises a telescopic member (19) concentric with or adjacent to each fork leg (15) and axially movable substantially in the plane of the fork legs and a suspension link (17) having a first end for supporting a wheel spindle (24), a second end (22), and being pivotally connected between the two ends (22, 24) to the telescopic member (19). So that trail variations may be kept to the minimum, restraining means pivotally connect the second end (22) of the suspension link (17) to the leg (15) and allow translational movement of the second end (22) during axial movement of the telescopic member (19) in response to movement of the said first end (24). By simple experiment suitable dimensions may be determined to maintain trail variation substantially constant for any steering variation.

Abstract: Situated between the opposite end walls (13, 13') of a fixed steering casing (10) is a hollow rod (14) carrying a fixed piston (16) on which a cylinder assembly (50, 51) slides, on which is elastically mounted, through the intermediary of elastic components (34), a rack block (30) meshing with a pinion (20) which is coupled to the output component of a distribution valve (40).

Abstract: Interfitting connector plates on the base and crawler track frames of a crane or other heavy equipment are notched and apertured near their tops and bottoms to receive at least at one of these locations tapering wedge pins having multiple flat faces to engage complementary faces of the notches and apertures of the interfitting connector plates. The notches and apertures at the second location may receive straight pins or tapering wedge pins to complete the connection. The connection is very secure and tight as well as resistant to wear under the heavy pounding to which it is subjected. Easy and rapid assembly without special tools is enabled.

Abstract: The specification discloses a three-wheeled vehicle with a steering mechanism configured and arranged to provide driver-controlled wheel and body lean as the vehicle is making a turn. A cradle is rotatably mounted at the front of the vehicle for rotation about an axis generally longitudinal relative to the body. An axle connected to the cradle is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cradle and a spindle is pivotally connected to each end of the axle. A wheel is rotatably mounted on each spindle. A tie rod pivotally connected at its ends to the spindles is held in a selected position about the axis of the axle by a tie rod linkage. A coupler rotatably connects the linkage to the body. The linkage is also rotatably connected to the axle for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axle to move the tie rod laterally. When the linkage is disposed to hold the tie rod forward of the axle, a force causing rotation of the movement of the tie rod laterally produces a conventional turning effect.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the cold weather startup of a hydrostatic transmission in a skid-steer loader is disclosed wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid is directed through the hydraulic system for operating the work implement to heat up the hydraulic fluid before being directed into the hydrostatic transmission prior to engaging the drive to the transmission. By disconnecting the drive between the engine and the hydrostatic transmission, the fluid in the hydrostatic transmission can be warmed before engaging the drive to reduce the startup problems due to inherent resistances of cold hydrostatic transmissions. Utilization of the hydraulic control valve for controlling the operation of the work implement to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid over a relief valve built therein permits the hydraulic fluid to be heated quickly.

Abstract: A control system for a four wheel drive vehicle is disclosed which either prevents the transmitting of the power of an internal combustion engine incorrectly or gives a warning signal indicative of incorrect operation. The control system includes two sensors for separately detecting the rotational frequency of front and rear propeller shafts, a control circuit for determining the rotational frequency difference between the front and rear propeller shafts and for generating control signals relative to a predetermined set point. A contact or a switch is operated by the control circuit. In one embodiment, an alarm buzzer and an alarm lamp are also provided.

Abstract: A motorcycle having an engine with a built-in dynamo therein is provided with a second dynamo in addition to the first dynamo. This second dynamo is used for purposes other than that for the driving of a vehicle. This second dynamo is installed outside of the engine and driven by the engine through a belt transmission device. Provision is made to establish a driving relation between the second dynamo and the engine, or to disconnect such relation.The belt transmission device is covered with a cover having an air inlet port, a cooling fan is mounted on a rotor shaft of the second dynamo, and the belt transmission device is compulsorily cooled by air flowing from the air inlet port to the second dynamo.A socket for taking off the output of the second dynamo is provided on the vehicle body.The motorcycle includes a vehicle body having a main frame and a lower frame extending in a generally parallel relation with respect to each other. The engine is supported on the lower frame.

Abstract: Single-row roller skates with widened parameters of movement for figure skating on dry surfaces as on ice, said skate comprising a rigid foot plate mounted on spatial cylindrical body of circular cross section, said body has supports for rotating bearings in horizontal axis of motion and has bung (stop) housings extended on both ends for mounted bearing elements and on them supports for twin-carrier yokes having near the supports of said bearing elements spring elements of regulated brakes remaining in elastic contact with rotating brake surfaces of bungs also having on their opposite ends on shoulders formed spatial yokes, said yokes in horizontal static position form supports for vertical auxiliary eliptical surface rollers, said bi-plane yokes interconnected for mounting front and rear main bearings of skate rollers, said rollers have generating surfaces of coaxial microgrooves, said grooves parallel to plane of roller rotation in direction of travel; said skate has distinctive length between axes of front

Abstract: In a rack power-steering system, the axial movements of a helical pinion meshing with the rack, resulting from torque applied to the pinion, cause corresponding movements of the movable member of a control valve of the system. This is achieved through a transmission including a piston movable axially with the pinion and defining a variable-volume compartment filled with a substantially-incompressible, deformable material, such as a fluid (oil or grease) or rubber, this material being intended to transmit a control pressure to the movable member of the control valve through a rod which may be formed integrally with the movable member or as a separate member. The variable-volume compartment is located at one end of a cylindrical chamber of the box of the system within which the piston is slidable and the latter is located in a position axially intermediate the variable-volume compartment and an end of the shaft carrying the helical pinion.

Abstract: An aligning device for aligning hitches of towing and towed vehicles that facilitates trailer hookup. The device includes a bracket which releasably attaches to the towing vehicle. A rod is slidably mounted to the bracket. The rod points rearwardly for contacting the target located on the towed vehicle. When the rod contacts the target and the vehicle moves rearwardly a short distance, a switch will signal alignment of the hitches.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus which includes an input member rotatably mounted in a valve housing, an output member rotatably mounted in a gear housing integral with the valve housing and arranged coaxially with the input member, a valve rotor integral with the input member, a valve sleeve rotatably mounted in the valve housing and arranged in surrounding relationship with the valve rotor, the valve sleeve being connected integrally with the output member to cooperate with the valve rotor for selectively directing fluid under pressure to opposite ends of a hydraulic power cylinder in response to relative rotation between the input and output members, a cam follower element axially movable in an internal axial bore in the output member and being engaged at one end thereof with the inner end of the input member for permitting relative rotation of the input and output members upon the application of a predetermined torque to the input member, and a pressure mechanism arranged to apply fluid under pressure responsiv