Abstract: A towing system for a vehicle comprises a coupling frame attachable to the rear end of a towing vehicle and to the front end of the vehicle to be towed. The coupling frame includes a rotatable coupling member which permits independent tilting movement of each fron wheel of the towed vehicle during towing operation thereof.

Abstract: A steering gear for an automotive vehicle includes a linear electric motor having a plunger linked to an axle set of roadwheels with a vehicle and a controller for operating the linear motor. The controller may include sensors for torque applied to a steering shaft attached to a steering handwheel operated for the driver and for also sensing vehicle speed. A controller and steering gear according to the present invention may be used with four-wheel steering systems in which no mechanical link is provided between the front steering gear and the rear steering gear.

Abstract: To permit horizontal alignment of a baggage or luggage carrier frame (11) in which the luggage carrier is supported by at least two support legs (16, 17) extending from side elements (12, 13) of the frame and converging to a holder (18) attached to the bicycle frame adjacent an axle receiving portion (6) thereof, the legs are coupled to the longitudinal elements (12, 13) of the frame by releasable attachment elements (37, 52, 56, 61), which permit sliding of the support legs along the longitudinal side elements so that the support legs can be located along the side legs at arbitrarily selected positions and thus permit horizontal alignment of the baggage carrier with bicycles having attachment points for the baggage carriers at various selected locations and/or being designed, respectively, for wheels of various diameters.

Abstract: A towed vehicle comprises a longitudinal frame having front and rear portions; a hitch for securing the front portion to a towing vehicle; a first member disposed transversely across an intermediate portion of the frame adjacent the rear portion and secured thereto, the first member and the longitudinal frame forming a cross configuration; first and second cantilever springs each having one end secured to respective ends of the first member and disposed toward the rear portion; an axle, including ground engaging apparatus, secured to the other respective ends of the first and second cantilever springs; first and second stabilizer members each having one end secured to respective ends of the first member and disposed toward the rear portion and the other ends being secured to the axle, the first and second cantilever springs and the first and second stabilizer members respectively forming an "X"-shaped configuration when viewed along an axis of the axle; a second member secured adjacent the end portion and dip

Abstract: An improved three-speed or coaster bicycle having a driver bevel gear connected to the pedals, a driven bevel gear at the hub of the rear wheel, one or more drive shafts having beveled gears at each end and capable of transmitting the rotation of the driver gear to the driven gear.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting member is mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and is capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is made possible.

Abstract: A boat trailer having a frame with a tongue section at the front end and a pair of transversely spaced parallel frame members at the rear end, a wheel and axle unit interconnecting the frame members, and a crossmember extended between the frame members, the improvement comprising a bracket connected to each end of the crossmember and connected also to an adjacent frame member, an arm extended outwardly and upwardly of each frame member, a fastener securing one end of the arm to the bracket, and a bunk-type cushion secured to the other end of the arm for engaging a boat hull upon loading of the boat onto the trailer.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the distribution of drive power in a motor vehicle includes a pair of pressure regulating valves, a pair of regulated pressure passages interconnecting the pressure regulating valves, respectively, and torque transmission clutches which transmit drive power to a pair of drive wheels, and a shut-off valve mechanism disposed between the regulated pressure passages for selectively bringing the regulated pressure passages into and out of each other.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus of the invention is provided with a rotary detector for detecting a rotational position of a motor, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque, a calculating means for calculating angular velocity of aforesaid motor on the basis of aforesaid rotational position, and a target angular velocity setting means, wherein flow quantity of electric current to a motor for assisting steering force is made larger, when the steering torque is within a dead zone, correspondingly to the increase of the deviation on the basis of the deviation between the target angular velocity and the calculated angular velocity, thereby stabilized steering feeling in the vicinity of the steering angle middle point at the time of returning the steering wheel steered by mostly using the steering torque being in the dead zone.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle includes an articulated frame formed by front and rear frame sections which are pivotally joined. A hydraulic motor is coupled to a front pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the front frame section. An oscillating axle assembly which includes a rear pair of wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear frame section for rotation about an axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal extent of the vehicle. The rear pair of wheels are coupled to the front pair of wheels through a drive assembly. A transverse torsion bar is rotatably mounted to the rear frame section. A pair of torsion arms are rigidly mounted to opposite ends of the torsion bar and extend rearwardly toward the oscillating axle assembly. A pair of links are pivotally coupled to the torsion arms via a pair of pivot mounts. Further pivot mounts pivotally couple opposite ends of the links to opposite ends of the oscillating axle assembly.

Abstract: A support beam, for supporting and connecting a track-type vehicle on first and second roller frame assemblies, has first and second end portions connected to a respective track roller frame and a middle portion connected to the vehicle. The connections between the track roller frames and the support beam provide adjustment of the track roller frames to various lateral positions, thereby providing various gage settings of the track of the vehicle.

Abstract: A dolly particularly suitable for manipulation of tail wheel aircraft is disclosed as having a wheel and axle assembly with an elongated lever extending rearwardly from the axle. A wheel-holding assembly comprised of two arms forming an open rectangle extends from the lever. The wheel-holding assembly is fitted around the tail wheel of an aircraft without manipulation of the aircraft. A handle member is supplied at the end of the elongated lever to aid in manipulation and in lifting of the lever to remove the tail wheel of the aircraft from the ground so that the plane may be manipulated through the dolly. The dolly is also provided with a hitch assembly for use with tractor vehicles.

Abstract: A variable effort automotive power steering gear including an input or stub shaft, an output shaft or pinion head, a torsion bar between the stub shaft and pinion head defining an open-center position of one relative to the other, and detent reaction apparatus between the stub shaft and pinion head. The detent reaction apparatus includes a radial socket in a cylindrical wall of the pinion head, a detent groove in a stem of the stub shaft in the cylindrical wall, an insert rotatably supported in the radial socket with an eccentric bore offset from the centerline of the radial socket, and a detent element slidably supported in the eccentric bore in the insert and having a spherical end adapted to seat in the detent groove. The spherical end of the detent element is centered in the detent groove by rotating the insert until the detent element is at an innermost radial position.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for cleaning the debris-laden transmission of an assembled bicycle having a bicycle frame, the transmission including chainrings and a free wheel gear cluster. The apparatus comprises a first reservoir adapted to be secured to the bicycle in proximity to the chainrings, the first reservoir including a first receptacle adapted to hold a quantity of liquid cleaning composition and to collect debris removed from the chainrings; and a second reservoir adapted to be secured to the bicycle separately from the first reservoir in proximity to the free wheel gear cluster, the second reservoir including a second receptacle adapted to hold a quantity of liquid cleaning composition and to collect debris removed from the free wheel gear cluster.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a power unit, at least a pair of driving wheels rotated by an output from the power unit, fluid pressure cylinders, inserted between a vehicle body and the driving wheels, for adjusting a vehicle height of the vehicle body at a side where the driving wheels are arranged, a fluid pressure source for supplying a high-pressure working fluid to the fluid pressure cylinders, a flow control mechanism for controlling supply and discharge of the high-pressure working fluid to and from the fluid pressure source, a slip detection device for detecting a driving force slip of the driving wheels, a brake device for decreasing a rotating force of the driving wheels, a slip suppressing device for, when the slip detection device detects a slip of the driving wheels, operating the brake device to suppress the slip, and a suspension control device for controlling the flow control mechanism to increase the vehicle height of the vehicle body of the side where the driving wheels are arranged while the slip sup

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of the steering of the wheels of a dolly interposed between a tractor and a semi-trailer. The bars controlling the steering of the wheels of the dolly are actuated by a power system controlled from a pilot stage detecting the steering movement of the wheels of the tractor. The pilot stage comprises a pilot link freely rotating on a shaft and driven in rotation by a transmission connected to the steering lever of the wheels of the tractor; the rotation of the pilot link selectively controls a hydraulic valve which actuates a double-acting actuator connected to a link controlling the steering bars.

Abstract: A slip control system for a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine having a knocking control system for controlling an ignition timing retarding amount in accordance with a degree of knocking detected by a knocking sensor mounted on a body of the engine. The slip control system controls the torque applied to drive wheels of the vehicle in accordance with a degree of slip generated at the drive wheels. A circuit is provided for cancelling the operation of the knocking control system during the operation of the slip control system.

Abstract: An improved trailer for a tractor-trailer combination is disclosed. The trailer has a first frame member which is designed to support a heavy load. Associated with the first frame member is a hitch pin assembly which can be slid along a portion of the first frame member and locked in pre-selected locations. The trailer also includes a rear slider assembly which carries the axles and wheels of the trailer. The rear slider assembly is also capable of being longitudinally slid between extended and retracted positions with respect to the first frame member. Locking means are also provided for locking the rear slider assembly to the first frame member at the desired location.

Abstract: A motor vehicle with four driving wheels and driven differential gearing for the drive, where (in the case of rotational-speed differences occurring between the wheels) a control device intervenes to distribute the drive power of an engine to the permanently driven wheels and/or the other driven wheels. This intervention occurs for a particular holding time which is progressively extended if a new intervention by the control becomes necessary after a test disconnection of the respective intervention. In addition, or alternatively, the control device can respond more sensitively and thus more quickly to rotational-speed differences of the wheels which may later occur during, or after, a test disconnection.

Abstract: An apparatus including a wheel chair, with a horizontal mount positioned between upper and lower horizontal framework members of the wheel chair, with a yoke member secured to the mount positioned interiorly of the wheel chair framework. A bicycle structure includes a forward and rear wheel mounted within a framework, with the framework further including drive crank mounted to the frame of the bicycle adjacent an upper tubular extent of the framework, and wherein the bicycle includes a rearwardly directed boss member securable to the yoke of the wheel chair, wherein the boss member is spaced above a lower contact portion of a rear wheel of the bicycle a predetermined distance greater than a spacing of the yoke relative to a bottom contact surface of a forward wheel assembly of the wheel chair to elevate a forward end of the wheel chair in securement to the bicycle.