Abstract: A steering gear (12) has a rack bar (36) and a housing (22). The rack bar (36) is movable linearly relative to the housing (22) for turning steerable wheels (68) of the vehicle. Movement of the rack bar (36) relative to the housing (22) is resisted by friction. An electric motor (14) is connected with the rack bar (36) and causes linear movement of the rack bar (36) relative to the housing (22). A controller (16), in response to a vehicle speed signal and a torsion signal, generates a motor control signal for controlling the electric motor (14). The controller (16) stores data indicative of the friction resisting movement of the rack bar (36) relative to the housing (22) of the steering gear (12). The controller (16) modifies the motor control signal to compensate for the friction.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a control unit 12 for outputting an electric motor control signal VO to control an electric motor 8 for adding an auxiliary steering torque, in response to at least the manual steering torque signal T from a torque sensor TS. The control unit 12 carries out a control to limit a maximum value of the electric motor control signal V0 in response to an electric motor current signal IMO sent from an electric motor current detecting unit 14. The control unit 12 includes a maximum value limitation indicating unit 26 for measuring the number of times of a maximum value limitation of the electric motor control signal VO and has such a structure that conditions for starting the maximum value limitation of the control signal VO are set to be more strict at a first time than those at a second time and thereafter.

Abstract: A human powered drive units each including a pair of a rotatable member having a sprocket and a supporting member having a sprocket, which are arranged up and down, and including a chain extended around the rotatable member and the supporting member, are disposed at left and right sides, respectively. The left and right rotatable members 1, 100 are fixed on a driving shaft 15. A chain ring 6 on which the load is applied is mounted on the driving shaft between upper rotatable member 1 and rotatable member 100. In each of the units, constraining means including a free crank (10 for the right-hand unit, and 1000 for the left-hand unit) and arm (11 for the right-hand unit, and 1100 for the left-hand unit), is provided so as to maintain perpendicularity of a shaft of the pedal relative to the plane in which the chain moves.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine (20) for converting sheet-like stock material (22) into a three-dimensional cushioning product (P) including a device (400; 400′; 500; 600; 600′; 700) which controls the width of the strip and which may be selectively adjusted to change the width of the strip. By selectively setting the device (400, 400′, 500; 600; 600′; 700), a cushioning product of a desired width may be produced. For more sophisticated packaging needs, the stock material may be converted into a first portion of a certain width, the device adjusted, and then the stock material may be converted into a second portion of a different width whereby the cushioning product will have continuous portions of different widths.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for adjustably securing an axle and a brake carrier to a front monofork of a motorcycle. The axle is received within an eccentric axle carrier and extends through a lower end of the brake carrier. An opposite end of the brake carrier includes an opening through which a carrier mounting device extends. The carrier mounting device is secured to the monofork and guides or aligns the brake carrier relative to the monofork. When the axle carrier is rotated to adjust the attitude of the motorcycle front end, the mounting device moves relative to the brake carrier while the brake carrier is maintained in a relatively fixed relationship to the wheel.

Abstract: A device for controlling the attitude of a vehicle and having a number of electronically controlled shock absorbers and an electronic central control unit for driving the electronically controlled shock absorbers in such a manner as to regulate, instant by instant, the damping capacity of each; the electronic central control unit having a control circuit for determining when a gear shift is about to be made, a selection circuit for determining a shock absorber regulation strategy best suited to counteract the onset of attitude variations produced by the pending gear shift, and a shock absorber drive circuit for controlling the electronically controlled shock absorbers in such a manner as to implement the shock absorber regulation strategy selected by the selection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved anti-tip wheel assembly for a wheelchair. The preferred embodiment of the assembly includes a cam mechanism to allow the initial height of an anti-tip wheel above ground to be adjusted dependent on the obstructions which the wheelchair is expected to encounter. The cam mechanism fixes the position of the anti-tip wheels to prevent the wheels from unintentionally displacing when an anti-tip wheel contacts the ground or an obstruction.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a runner or blade for an ice skate having a novel configuration and structure, such as a blade having greater width at the edge at both the anterior end and posterior end relative to the middle, or alternately, a blade having greater width at the edge at the anterior end relative to the middle and posterior end. Further, a runner or blade for an ice skate can include a thermoplastic material, fiber fillers, metal fillers, and a hydrophobic material. In addition, the present invention teaches a hinged blade for a hockey skate.

Abstract: A motorcycle comprising a frame; an engine mounted to the frame; a steering assembly interconnected with the frame; a front wheel rotatably mounted to the steering assembly; a swingarm mounted to the frame, the swingarm including a hollow portion adapted to contain oil for use in the engine; and a rear wheel rotatably mounted to the swingarm. A removable plate closes the hollow portion of the swingarm, and first, second, and third fittings are associated with the plate. An oil breather tube may be interconnected with the first fitting, an oil pickup tube interconnected with the second fitting, and an oil return tube interconnected with the third fitting. A fixed-position caliper mounting boss is provided on the swingarm, and the swingarm includes a fixed axle for the rear wheel such that the caliper is properly spaced with respect to the rear wheel.

Abstract: A towing device for an agricultural apparatus (2), includes at least one wheel (6) which is arranged in a front area of the agricultural apparatus (2) and can rotate about an essentially horizontal wheel axle (8); a link arm (10) which is connected to the wheel axle (8) and is coupled in an articulated manner to a frame (4) arranged on the agricultural apparatus 92) about an essentially vertical first axis (12); and a draw bar (14) which can be coupled to a towing vehicle. A control member (22) is arranged between the draw bar (14) and the frame (4) in order to control the pivoting of the link arm (10) about the first axis (12) as the towing vehicle turns, so that the agricultural apparatus (2) turns at least less than the towing vehicle.

Abstract: To provide a four-wheel vehicle for traveling on an irregular road superior in weight balance and traveling stability. A center line (L3) of a rotational axis of a torque converter and a longitudinal center line (L2) of a drive shaft or a propeller shaft, which transmits a driving force from a transmission mechanism M to front or rear wheels, are distributed right and left in an opposed relation to each other with respect to a longitudinal center line (L1) of a vehicle body.

Abstract: An obstruction inference apparatus for a vehicle, for inferring the type of an obstruction which the vehicle has hit, which comprises a member deformable in correspondence with an impact force with which the vehicle hits the obstruction, deformation rate detecting means for detecting the deformation rate of this deformable member, timer starting means for starting a timer when the deformation rate detected by the deformation rate detecting means reaches a preset first reference rate in the course of increasing, second reference rate generating means for setting as a second reference rate a value equivalent to a value obtained by multiplying the maximum deformation rate by a preset constant, elapsed time calculating means for stopping the timer when the deformation rate reaches the second reference rate and obtaining the elapsed time from the timer being started to the timer being stopped, and inference signal generating means for, when the elapsed time is within a preset time range, inferring that the obstruc

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a suspension mechanism that is built into the rigid frame members of a vehicle such as a motorcycle to provide a softer ride while preserving the clean look of the rigid frame. The vehicle has a wheel mount for a wheel, a steering head for a steering handle, and a vehicle frame. The suspension mechanism comprises a lower frame member of the vehicle frame extending from the wheel mount, and an upper frame member of the vehicle frame extending from the wheel mount and being disposed above the lower frame member. An upper frame arm of the vehicle frame extends from the steering head and is movably coupled with the upper frame member at a location between the steering head and the wheel mount. The upper frame member is slidable relative to the upper frame arm along an upper arcuate path centered around a pivot axis disposed between the upper frame member and the lower frame member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casing module (1), especially for a pillar (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising an accommodating space (3) for an airbag (4), a fastening device (5) for fastening the casing module to the pillar (2), and at least one pivotal section (6) which can swing outward and which forms at least one part of an outer wall (7) of the casing module (1) that is oriented toward the passenger compartment. The aim of the invention is to provided a casing module (1) which is easier to handle and construct and which, at the same time, ensures the deployment of the inflating airbag (4) in a reliable and controlled manner. To this end, the accommodating space (3) is arranged directly adjacent to the outer wall (7), and the pivotal section (6) forms at least one part of the accommodating space (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manually powered vehicle, such as a child's ride-on toy. The vehicle is powered by a rocking, or up-and-down, motion of the rider. The rocking motion is mechanically translated into a force for propelling the ride-on vehicle via one or more ratcheting levers. The vehicle has two front, driven wheels and a single, rear steerable wheel.

Abstract: An extended shaft for connecting a standard, transmission mounted power take-off device to an auxiliary device which permits non-interference mounting configurations of the auxiliary device to the power take-off device. The extended shaft further provides mounting bracketry to prevent stresses when thermal expansion or contraction of relevant parts occurs during the operation of the motor vehicle or power take-off device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the steering of a trailing section of a multi-sectioned vehicle is described. The trailing section follows the path of the first section. Data is acquired by a controller from sensors on the various sections. The controller then processes this data, generating a configuration needed for the controller-steered wheels to follow a path approximately equivalent to the path taken by the first steered section. Power is then applied by some means to steer these controller-steered wheels, forcing them into the desired configuration. The complexity of the control system can be varied with different algorithms providing alternative steering patterns as desired. This system can be extended with more trailing sections without necessitating more than minor changes to the control algorithms.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus is composed of a wheel gear connected with a steering wheel, a worm shaft tooth-engaged with the wheel gear, and an electric motor rotatably driving the worm shaft in which a worm tooth portion of the worm shaft is formed with a compound lead. Further, the worm shaft is fixed in an axial direction by at least one locknut provided at a portion of a separate side of the electric motor. Further, one end of the worm shaft is rotatably supported through a ball bearing and is fixed by the locknut in the axial direction of the worm shaft, and the other end thereof is rotatably supported through another ball bearing or is fixed by a circlip through a disc-shaped spring in the axial direction. Furthermore, only respective outer rings of the ball bearings are further secured to a housing in which the worm shaft and the wheel gear are disposed.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle, the steering system includes a rack-independent actuator. The rack-independent actuator has component parts isolates from undesirable loads by two universal joints that isolate mechanical components of the actuator from transient loads that may be encountered by the rack or rack housing.

Abstract: A bicycle for providing stair-stepping exercise motion, recreation, and mode of transport comprising a frame that includes a unique triangular rear portion, a pair of wheels, one for the front, one for the back, a chain driven, teardrop-shaped propulsion system, left and right pedals having multiple positions between a horizontal and angular vertical upon which the operator rides, adjustable handle bars for steering, and a safety housing for covering the propulsion and wheel sprockets, chain, braking mechanism, and bike stand.