Abstract: A static trimmer for a hovercraft is provided for shifting the center of buoyancy of an air-cushion of the hovercraft in relation to the center of gravity. The static trimmer includes a peripheral elastic skirt (2) having a plurality of skirt segments (5) each having a back skirt (3) and a finger skirt (4). The peripheral elastic skirt (2) further includes at least four independent lateral sections (6, 7, 8, 9) which can be moved in an inward or outward direction independently of each other. The static trimmer further includes at least two tension cables (15, 16) disposed in each independent lateral section (6, 7, 8, 9) for moving each finger skirt (4) of each of the plurality of skirt segments (5). Each of the tension cables (15, 16) further include a first partial tension cable and a second partial tension cable.

Abstract: A towing assembly for towing a portable machine across a surface includes a drawbar assembly pivotally connected to a frame member of the machine, to permit the drawbar assembly to be pivotable between a first towing position a second support position. An adjustable support assembly is removably connected to the machine for selectably supporting one end of the machine on the surface.

Abstract: To control the speed of a lawn mower, the speed of the lawn mower is changed in a forward direction along a longitudinal plane, resulting in a tendency to turn because of different speed characteristics of the right and left wheel drives. The speed is corrected by lateral movement of a control lever to increase the speed of one wheel motor and decrease the speed of the other wheel motor. When turning, if the lawn mower is not aligned along the longitudinal axis after the turn, the deviation is indicated in the position of the control lever to the right or left. This can be corrected by momentarily applying a motor speed change to one of said right and left hydraulic motors while observing the control lever until the control lever is centered in the longitudinal plane, whereby the speed of the lawn mower will be aligned along the longitudinal plane.

Abstract: The invention is a variable mechanical transmission for converting a rotary input into a rotary output. The transmission includes a spindle for mounting, allowing for rotation in response to the rotary input, a hub mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, and a plurality of elongate arms. The arms are each pivotally mounted on the hub, with the pivoting axes of the arms being arranged about the spindle axis. Each arm carries at its outer end a clutched pinion which rotates in one direction only. The pinions engage the teeth of a gear. The gear is mountable on a frame for rotation about a gear axis paralleling the spindle axis and also for movement on a frame between concentric and extreme eccentric positions, at which the gear axis has a minimal and maximal displacement, respectively, from the hub axis.

Abstract: A tag axle latching mechanism is disclosed that includes opposed matching engaging components wherein a first is attached to a tag axle system and a second is attached to a truck frame. The components cooperate to direct supporting forces associated with the tag axle system through the truck frame. The tag axle system is mounted on a tailgate such that the engaging components are aligned as the tailgate is operated between a closed and an open position. The tag axle system is connected to the tailgate such that it is covered by the tailgate but forces associated with support provided by the tag axle system are not transferred to the tailgate.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus having a fluid source for discharging pressurized fluid, a power cylinder, a control valve responsive to operation of a steering wheel for supplying the power cylinder with pressurized fluid from the fluid source, and a reservoir. The control valve has a first control portion for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid from the fluid source to the reservoir, and a second control portion for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to the power cylinder. The first control portion has two paths connecting the fluid source and the reservoir, each of the paths being formed with at least one variable orifice of a center-open type which opens when the control valve is in a neutral state.

Abstract: A track tensioning system for maintaining a substantially uniform tension on the endless track of a track-propelled vehicle is disclosed herein. The track tensioning system comprises first and second walking beam pivotally mounted on respective lateral sides of a vehicle frame. The first walking beam includes two wheel support assemblies and the second walking beam comprises one wheel support assemblies. The two walking beams are linked through a pivot positioned above a hypothetical line passing through the center of the wheel support assemblies, resulting in an increase or decrease of the effective length of the second walking beam to maintain the tension on the endless track substantially uniform. The effective length of the second walking beam is increased when the vehicle passes over a concave surface and the effective length of the second walking beam is decreased when the vehicle passes over a convex surface.

Abstract: A track tensioning system for maintaining a substantially uniform tension on the endless track of a track-propelled vehicle is disclosed herein. The track tensioning system comprises first and second walking beam pivotally mounted on respective lateral sides of a vehicle frame. The first walking beam includes two wheel support members and the second walking beam comprises one wheel support member. The two walking beams are linked through a pivot positioned above a hypothetical line passing through the center of the wheel support assemblies, resulting in an increase or decrease of the effective length of the second walking beam to maintain the tension on the endless track substantially uniform. The effective length of the second walking beam is increased when the vehicle passes over a concave surface and the effective length of the second walking beam is decreased when the vehicle passes over a convex surface.

Abstract: A quick-release skewer that secures the frame of a bicycle to the hub of the rear wheel in the usual manner and that includes provision for pivotally attaching the frame of a trailer to the rear axle of the bicycle. Both the nut and the cam housing of the quick-release skewer include integral posts that extend axially outward from the center of the rear wheel of the bicycle. A sleeve is mounted for rotation on each of the posts, and a trailer fork member is retained on each of the sleeves. In a preferred embodiment the sleeves are bobbin-shaped and low-friction bushings are interposed between the sleeves and the posts.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch assembly (10) which is mounted on the hitch ball (32) of a gooseneck subassembly (12), is described. The subassembly is mounted in the bed (14A) of a pickup truck (14) such that the subassembly is parallel to the rear axle (16) of the truck and the hitch ball is directly centered over or slightly fore or aft of the axle differential housing (58). A pair of flexible half-shell bearings (39) are positioned on the hitch ball to form a complete bearing (38) completely surrounding the top portion (33) of the hitch ball. A fifth wheel hitch assembly with a permanently mounted adaptor (42) is mounted with the adaptor extending over the complete bearing when the complete bearing is positioned on the hitch ball. A pair of securing rods (52) extend through the adaptor and the complete bearing below the ball (33A) of the top portion of the hitch ball and securing the adaptor on the complete bearing and the hitch ball.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus for a vehicle including a steering mechanism having a torsion bar, a rotary valve connected to an oil pump and disposed between an input shaft and an output shaft, a valve driving mechanism having a pressed portion projected on either the input shaft or the output shaft and a plunger on the one shaft of the input shaft or output shaft on which the pressed portion is not projected for pressing the pressed portion, setting a target assist force of an assist force of an assist force obtained by rotating the rotary valve in the torsion direction of the torsion bar and an assist force obtained by rotating the rotary valve in the reverse direction to the torsion direction, a plunger driving mechanism for driving the plunger so that the preset assist force is obtained, controlling the pressure itself of the rotary valve to the operation angle of the rotary valve, whereby varying the steering force of the steering wheel over a wide range of steering condition with a reduced burden to the dr

Abstract: A shock absorbing fork for a bicycle having an air damping feature to rapidly and effectively diminish the cyclical motion of the struts of the fork resulting from the compression and expansion of the resilient shock absorbing pads provided in the struts of the fork when an obstacle is encounter by the front wheel of the bicycle. The struts have an inner cylinder slidably mounted in an outer cylinder with the pads captively mounted between the bottom of the inner cylinder and a member of the outer cylinder. An air chamber within the outer cylinder is contracted by movement of the inner cylinder into the outer cylinder and is expanded by movement of the inner cylinder out of the outer cylinder. The pads, as the inner cylinder is moved into the outer cylinder are compressed to absorb the shock and the air in the chamber is compressed. The compressibility of the air allows the fork to immediately respond to the impact force.

Abstract: A control appliance for a motor vehicle steering system provides automatic control intervention (or steering intervention) without corresponding movement of the steering wheel. To this end, the drive connection between the steering wheel and the steered vehicle wheels can, in effect, be separated. The automatic control can be either a closed-loop control or an open-loop control.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch includes a frame for mounting to a towing vehicle and a head assembly for engaging a trailer to be towed. The head assembly is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the frame by means of a pivot pin secured to the head assembly, a yoke for receiving the pivot pin, a support bracket on the frame for receiving the yoke and a damping element for engaging the yoke and the support bracket. A connecting pin secures the pivot pin in the yoke.

Abstract: In a steering-rack-equipped auxiliary power steering which is intended particularly for motor vehicles, a pinion (2), positioned in a steering housing (1), engages a steering rack (6). A servomotor (11) is operationally connected with steering rack (6) for auxiliary power support. Pinion (2) is positioned swingably in a fixed bearing (3) and a loose bearing (4). In the area of loose bearing (4), there are arranged two control valves (26, 27) whose axes are essentially perpendicular to the axis of pinion (2). Loose bearing (4) is guided in a movable fashion in steering housing (1), perpendicularly with respect to its axis only in the direction of the axes of the two control valves (26, 27). In this steering-rack-equipped auxiliary power steering, one can make sure that to activate the control valves, one will not use the axial forces that act upon pinion (2) but rather the lateral forces. As a result, the activation of the control valves is independent of the helix angle or slope angle of the pinion gearing.

Abstract: A bicycle front suspension system includes a pair of V-shaped strut supports secured to a bicycle head tube in a spaced apart arrangement. Each strut support receives and secures the upper portion of a collapsible suspension strut to provide increased suspension travel. The lower end of each suspension strut is secured to the axle of a bicycle front wheel in a clamping action which increases the strength of the cycle front suspension. Each strut includes an oil dampened air spring mechanism in which the compression and rebound characteristics of the strut are independently adjustable.

Abstract: A tether for towing a medical support structure relative to a wheelchair. The inventive device includes a wheelchair mounting bracket securable to an associated wheelchair. A support mounting assembly is pivotally coupled to the wheelchair mounting bracket and extends therefrom for coupling to a medical support structure, such as an IV pole or the like. The device permits an individual to tow the medical support structure behind the wheelchair without necessitating a manual grasping of the support structure during movement of the wheelchair.

Abstract: An armrest-driven wheelchair in which the armrests are pivoted to the wheelchair frame and turned turned back and forth about a respective pivot to rotate the wheels forwards or backwards by a respective transmission rod, which is driven by the respective armrest to connect a first bearing means, which is driven to turn the respective wheel forwards, or a second bearing means, which is driven to turn the respective wheel backwards, to the respective armrest.

Abstract: A vehicle which goes up and down stairs includes a vehicle body 101, front and rear wheels 102 and 103 provided at the front and rear of the vehicle body 101, respectively, front and rear auxiliary wheels 105 and 107 for lifting up or down the front and rear wheels 102 and 103 by one step of stairs, respectively, a driving unit for driving each wheel, a pivoting unit for pivoting the front and rear auxiliary wheels 105 and 107, sensors 121 to 124 for detecting a riser portion of stairs, and a control unit 120 for controlling the driving unit and the rotating unit in accordance with results of the sensors 121 to 124. Since the vehicle goes up and down stairs by rotation of the auxiliary wheels 105 and 107, a corner portion of the step of stairs is not damaged while the vehicle goes up and down stairs.

Abstract: In bicycle having a frame on which is mounted a front wheel and a rear wheel having a primary axis of rotation, said rear wheel including a rotary drive connected with a multi-speed gear; a wheel frame constructed to support a tire rim connected to said rotary drive, a plurality of spokes for supporting said tire rim on said hub said, and a plurality of spokes, the improvement comprising; a weighting device releasable attached to said rear wheel for adding weight concentrated at said rear wheel's periphery consisting of a matched pair of rings, releasable clip fastener for mounting the weighting device adjacent the periphery of the rear wheel by fastening said rings on the spokes; wherein rotational momentum is increased and concentrated in the rear wheel as said rear wheel is driven by said rotary drive operated by said multi-speed gear by the rider wherein said weighting device acts as a flywheel member adding to said momentum of said cycle.