Abstract: A hitch ball assembly includes a hitch ball supported on a housing, a bore within the hitch ball and housing, and a pin rotatable with respect to the hitch ball and housing. The pin is configured to engage a trailer coupler and rotate therewith. An angle sensor measures rotation of the pin to determine rotational movement of the trailer.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch includes a locking member that engages surfaces of a pair of jaws to retain the jaws in a closed position. A release handle is operably connected to the locking member whereby movement of the release handle shifts the locking member out of engagement with the jaws to permit movement of the jaws to an open position. A ratchet type mechanism retains the locking member in an engaged position relative to the jaws and compensates for wear of the components and/or differences in size between kingpins.

Abstract: A method of controlling the sideways motion of a trailer forming part of a combination vehicle, such as a road train, for road transport of heavy goods. The vehicle has a trailer including a semi-trailer body and a dolly mounted beneath the front of the semi-trailer body. The method includes steering at least some of the wheels on said axle sets relative to the dolly frame such that at high speeds, as the vehicle turns towards one side, steering the dolly wheels to induce the dolly to move towards that side and, at low speeds, as said vehicle turns towards that side, steering the dolly wheels to induce the dolly to move towards the opposite side.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a period of time elapsing after a stage was immediately previously shifted before the stage is currently shifted; if the elapsed period of time is at most a predetermined period of time, performing a process to advance an elevation rate applied to the rotation speed of an engine; determining an elevation rate applied to the rotation speed of the engine; and performing a process to control elevating the rotation speed of the engine.

Abstract: An electrical power-steering system for motor-vehicles includes a first pinion and a second pinion meshing with two portions of a rack member which controls the steering angle of the wheels. The two pinions are driven by respective electric motors which are in turn controlled by an electronic control unit. The two portions of the rack member are constituted by two separate elements connected to each other by a connection member interposed therebetween, such that the first and second portions of the rack member behave like a single rigid element when they are driven with identical displacements in a steering maneuver, whereas the connection member allows for a relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the first and second portions of the rack member, with a resulting lengthening or shortening of the rack member, when the first and second portions of the rack member are driven with differentiated displacements in an operative mode for adjustment of the convergence angle of the wheels.

Abstract: The present invention includes a load bearing mid-section weldment connected between a pair of telescoping incremental stepper assemblies to create a clearance space beneath the load bearing mid-section weldment and the telescoping incremental stepper assemblies thereby allowing the heavy machinery substructure to move and work over ground obstructions. Each telescoping incremental stepper assembly includes a bridge weldment connected between a pair of telescoping legs. Each telescoping leg includes at least one pair of nested leg sections and a linear actuator to adjust the length of the telescoping leg. Each telescoping leg further includes a fixed foot and an articulating pad assembly. The articulating pad assembly is configured to alternatively lift the foot and itself from the ground and moves the foot and itself relative to one another to move the heavy machinery substructure in incremental steps over the ground and any obstructions.

Abstract: In a motorcycle having a head pipe, and a pair of left and right frame sections including left and right down tubes extended rearward from the head pipe, a cross plate continuously connects the pair of left and right down tubes in a width direction of the motorcycle. The cross plate is elastically connected to the left and right down tubes. Such arrangement of the cross plate suppresses distortion of a pair of left and right frame sections including the down tubes extended so as to be connected by the head pipe, and also improves the controllability and straight traveling characteristic of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A boat trailer is equipped with a powered boat launch and retrieval system that negates the shallow entry of a launch ramp. The system uses a weldment frame, pivotally connected to the trailer frame. The weldment frame works in combination with a powered cylinder, gravity's effect on the weldment frame and the hull of the boat to automatically release the boat into the water or automatically retrieve the boat from the water.

Abstract: A front wheel power system which may enable independent control of power to each wheel as well as yield direct control over average and differential front wheel speeds.

Abstract: A frame structure of a saddle type vehicle that can easily secure the bending strength of welded portions by a structure that seat rails are welded to rear portions of pivot frames, etc. is provided. Elongated holes 71A extending along an axis L of a front portion 15F of the seat rail is provided to a side surface of the pivot frame 14, and the pivot frame 14 and the front portion 15F of the seat rail are welded to each other at the peripheral edge of the elongated hole 71A.

Abstract: In an outer tube for a front fork, a metal upper collar to which an upper vehicle body attaching bracket is connected is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar to which a lower vehicle body attaching bracket is connected, and a seal case for inserting and supporting the inner tube.

Abstract: A foldable bicycle comprises a frame having a rear portion supporting a rear wheel about a rear axis of rotation, a front portion supporting a front wheel about a front axis of rotation and a hinge system. The hinge system comprises a first part arranged on the rear portion and provided with a first plane surface, and a second part arranged on the front portion and provided with a second plane surface. Inside the first and second parts an actuator mechanism is arranged for actuating a stud that locks or unlocks said parts. The first plane surface and the second plane surface are disposed in a plane that is slightly inclined relative to a horizontal plane, said inclined plane being configured to facilitate pivoting of the front portion relative to the rear portion towards a folded position, in which the rear and front axes of rotation are in alignment.

Abstract: A shilly-car includes a main frame module with a rear-wheel tube and a main-frame tube, a front connecting tube and a swing module. A seat cushion is mounted onto a T-shaped structure comprised of the rear-wheel tube and main-frame tube, and two wheels are installed at both ends of the rear-wheel tube respectively. The swing module includes a pedal tube and a swing tube having a bearing sleeve and a bearing. The front connecting tube has an end rotably fixed to the swing tube and the other end fixed with the main-frame tube, and a C-shaped fixed element is installed at an end of the front connecting tube for receiving the bearing sleeve and the bearings, and a fixing shaft is provided for rotably fixing both bearing sleeve and bearing, so that the pedal tube can be stepped by both legs of a rider to move the shilly-car forward.

Abstract: A tow bar having a towing connector for releasably connecting a first hitch arrangement of a towing vehicle to a second hitch arrangement of a towed vehicle includes a pair of opposing legs, each leg having a fore section connected to the towing connector and an aft section connected to the second hitch arrangement, a pivot connector pivotally connecting the fore section to the aft section, a locking mechanism for converting the respective leg from an aligned tubular structure for towing purposes to an articulated structure for on-vehicle storage purposes, and a hanger for retaining the tow bar in a stored configuration. An auxiliary locking mechanism operatively prevents the legs from pivoting relative to the towing connector while the towed vehicle is being towed.

Abstract: A steerable caddy trailer is provided that has an improved structure including a main frame assembly, spindle assemblies attached to each end of the main frame for attachment of a wheel, a pair of swinging arms forwardly extending from the main frame and pivotally attached to the main frame, and tie rods connecting the swinging arms with the spindle assembly such that pivoting of the swinging arms steers the wheels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic steering arrangement with a hydraulically actuated steering valve arrangement, steering motor connections (CL, CR), which are connected to supply connections (HP, T) via the steering valve arrangement, and a steering unit. It is endeavored to equalize in a simple manner the steering behavior in both directions. For this purpose, it is ensured that the steering valve arrangement has a directional valve and a flow control valve.

Abstract: A motorcycle with an ABS module disposed to make it hard to affect the layout of other components while suppressing the influence of vibration on the ABS module. A motorcycle includes rear frames joined to corresponding rear portions of the main frames and extending upwardly and rearwardly at a position below the corresponding seat frames. Front wheel braking members apply a braking force to a front wheel. An ABS module is connected to the front wheel braking means. A seat is supported on the upper portions of the seat frames. The ABS module has at least a portion disposed below the seat and between the seat frames and the rear frames as viewed from the side. The ABS module is suspended and supported by front and rear cross stays spanned between the pair of seat frames via a front elastic members and a rear elastic member.

Abstract: A mounting bracket cantilevers a support arm off the side of a receiver tube of a hitch, using flats on the receiver tube or receiver tube lip to support the cantilevered weight. The support arm is configured to receive and support one or more mating electrical connection structures, with a plug/unplug direction matching the fore/aft direction of the towing vehicle. Flanges of the mounting bracket are pulled toward each other around the receiving tube using mounting bolts which extend on right and left sides of the receiving tube. The mounting bracket is preferably formed from stamped and bent sheet metal.

Abstract: An antilock brake control unit in a saddle-riding type vehicle includes a storage box disposed behind a head pipe and above an engine unit with a fuel tank disposed behind the storage box and obliquely above and behind the engine unit. A riding seat is disposed above the fuel tank. A seat supporting frame extends rearwardly and upwardly from rear parts of a pair of left and right main frames and crosses a front part of a fuel tank provided between the pair of left and right main frames with an upper end of the seat supporting frame supporting a front part of a riding seat. An antilock brake control unit is disposed at a position covered with the seat supporting frame from above.

Abstract: A suspension structure includes a pair of right and left cushion units. The right cushion unit is constituted of a compression coil spring and a right damper, and the left cushion unit is constituted of only a left damper having an outer diameter smaller than a diameter of the compression coil spring and larger than a diameter of the right damper. The left cushion unit is constituted of only the left damper and does not include the compression coil spring and hence, the suspension structure can be simplified. Further, in the left cushion unit, the left damper does not slide relative to the compression coil spring in performing a stroke and hence, no friction is generated.