Abstract: A weight distributing hitch for towing a trailer behind a vehicle includes a hitch bar for mounting to the vehicle and a ball mount head for mounting on the hitch bar at a selected tilt angle. A pair of spring bars are mounted to the ball mount head. These spring bars distribute the weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. Each spring bar is substantially L-shaped and includes a turned groove at a proximal end received in a cooperating aperture in the ball mount head. A retainer of spring steel engages in the grooves to hold the spring bars in position. The relative tilt angle of the ball mount head is adjusted by means of an eccentric angle adjusting element in the form of a washer. This washer is fixed to one of the ball mount head or hitch bar and includes a cam surface for engaging the other of the two elements.

Abstract: Braking device for skates including an item of footgear composed of a quarter articulated to a shell which is in turn associated with a supporting frame for one or more wheels. The device includes a rod member connected to the quarter and is slidingly associated with the shell. The rod member has an end which, upon a rotation of the quarter, pushes toward the ground, a braking element articulated to the frame.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft for use in a motor vehicle steering column. The telescopic shaft comprises at least two tubular members of circular cross section which fit one into the interior of the other. The tubular members have longitudinally grooved regions which define a set of longitudinal ribs and are meshed with one another. Such meshing prevents relative rotational movement between the tubular members and allows relative axial movement therebetween. At least one of the tubular members includes at least one projection directed toward the other tubular member(s) and engaging an end of at least one longitudinal rib. Sliding of the tubular members with respect to one another can only occur when deformation of the longitudinal rib(s) engaged by the projection(s) also occurs. The telescopic shaft therefore provides a braking action whenever it is forcefully collapsed.

Abstract: An actuator for a hydraulic brake for use on a bicycle with a handlebar, including a handle housing, a hydraulic master cylinder which contains a piston, and which hydraulic master cylinder is filled with brake fluid and is integrated into the handle housing, a brake handle by means of which the piston can be moved to generate pressure in the master cylinder by means of the brake fluid, a brake hose and a vent line, whereby located in the handle housing are a brake line and a vent line which are connected to the master cylinder and are at an angle to one another. On their ends, the two lines have connection threads which are identical, so that the brake hose can be connected both axially parallel to a straight handlebar and at an angle .alpha. when a curved handlebar is used.

Abstract: A delta wing form body is provided having a central forward apex as well as rear opposite side apices. Each apex includes a vertical powered fan duct assembly extending therethrough and the rear of the wing form body includes forward thrust developing horizontal fan duct assemblies while the center of the body includes laterally and longitudinally shiftable weight structure for omnidirectional shifting of the center of gravity of the wing form body. The center and opposite side fan duct assemblies open downwardly into central and opposite side downwardly opening longitudinal tunnels, respectively, each including retractable and extendable front and rear flap assemblies. The wing form body also includes rear forward thrust developing propulsion fan duct assemblies and all of the fan duct assemblies are variably speed driven from a single power source.

Abstract: A powered, adjustable height, fifth wheel hitch comprising a support plate having a front end portion and a rear end portion, a fifth wheel plate above the support plate having a front portion and a bifurcated rear portion, coaxial transverse trunnion pins supporting the fifth wheel plate on the support plate, a pair of spaced rear mounts on the support plate rear end portion, torque frame linkage between the rear mounts and the trunnion pins, a pair of spaced forward slides on the support plate front end portion, a pair of spaced forward links between the torque frame linkage and the slides, lock pin receiving openings in the forward links, interconnected lock pins shiftable simultaneously between lock position in the openings and unlock position out of the openings, a pair of laterally spaced cam follower rollers on respective torque frame linkage, a pair of laterally spaced, slidably movable, vertically tapered wedging cams on the support plate, engageable beneath respective ones of the cam followers, a pa

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering gear having a spool shaft connected to a steering wheel, a pinion head connected to a steered wheel, a torsion bar between the spool shaft and the pinion head, a valve for regulating a hydraulic steering assist boost pressure in response to rotation of the spool shaft from an on-center position relative to the pinion head against a restoring force of the torsion bar, and a quiet preload apparatus including a C-shaped spring around the spool shaft having a pair of resilient jaws, a drive pin on the spool shaft clamped with a preload between the resilient jaws, and a cushioned abutment on the pinion head clamped with the preload between the resilient jaws. The cushioned abutment includes a pair of radial cantilever springs which flex upon engagement with corresponding ones of the resilient jaws during forced oscillation of the pinion head back and forth through the on-center relative position of the spool shaft to minimize audible noise associated with such engagements.

Abstract: Changing the wheelbase on tractor trailer combinations in an effort to better distribute the cargo load weight has resulted in the use of a sliding bogey from which is suspended the trailer running gear. The sliding bogey is independent from the trailer frame and slides fore and aft along the trailer frame and can be locked into a variety of positions along the trailer frame. Currently available bogey systems utilize sliding members of generally rectangular cross section and are subject to binding both from the build up of road contaminants and the inherent difficulties associated with rectangular sliding mechanisms. A more reliable and substantially sealed sliding system utilizes a pair of generally elongated telescoping tubes, each pair located on either side of the trailer frame with one member of each pair forming an integral part of a sliding bogey while the other member of each pair acts as a support piece for the trailer frame, is fixed to the trailer frame and thus moves with the trailer frame.

Abstract: Maneuverability of a work vehicle having front steerable drive wheels is improved by increasing steering clearance. The front drive axle is pivoted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a fore-and-aft extending oscillation centerline located above the lateral centerline of the axle. The drive shaft is in substantially collinear alignment with the oscillation centerline. The axle has an input shaft that is below and in substantially parallel alignment with the oscillation centerline and is substantially perpendicular to the lateral centerline of the axle. The drive shaft and the input shaft are drivingly connected by intermeshing drive and driven gears mounted on the drive and input shafts, respectively.

Abstract: An electrically operated power steering apparatus for applying an assistive steering force to a steering system has an electric motor for producing an assistive steering force to be applied to the steering system, a steering torque sensor for producing a steering torque signal indicative of a steering torque of the steering system, and a rotational speed sensor for producing a rotational speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of the electric motor. A controller produces a differential signal of the steering torque signal, calculates a steering rotational speed of the steering system based on the differential signal and the rotational speed signal, and controls the electric motor based on the steering torque signal and the steering rotational speed. The rotational speed signal may be calculated based on a motor current signal indicative of a motor current of the electric motor and a motor voltage signal indicative of a motor voltage of the electric motor.

Abstract: An all-terrain stroller having a pair of rear wheels, each having a receiver fixedly attached thereto for rotation therewith. The receiver has a plurality of circumferentially distributed receiver openings which open inward toward the opposite rear wheel. A pair of brake rods is movably supported by the rear axle of the stroller for lateral movement of each toward and away from one of the receivers under the urging of a coil spring. A foot pedal actuator is rotatable between brake engaged and disengaged positions. The foot pedal carries a cam which moves the brake rods toward and into one of the receiver openings of the corresponding receiver when the brake pedal is rotated to engaged position to lock the rear wheels against rotational movement. The cam permits withdrawal of the brake rods from the receiver openings when the foot pedal is rotated to the disengaged position. The foot pedal is provided with stops to limit rotation of the foot pedal beyond the engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: In a traction control device in which an initial control torque of an engine is determined in accordance with an acceleration of the vehicle, when an excessive slipping of driven wheels is detected, a time taken for proceeding of the excessive slipping of the driven wheels from a large slip state to a small slip state is counted by a timer. If such time is smaller than a reference time and a gear ratio of the vehicle is of a first gear shift to provide a low vehicle speed, it is decided that the vehicle is traveling on an upward sloping road, and a lower limit value for defining the initial control torque of the engine determined in an initial control torque calculating means is corrected into an increased value in an initial torque correcting means. This prevents the initial control torque of the engine from being excessively reduced at the start of a traction control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tandem axle suspension of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,553, for use with trailer tag axles with structural modifications being made thereto adapting the tandem axle suspension of the present invention for use with a vehicle having a tandem pair of drive axles. The suspension includes a torque spring bracket that enables torque springs to be easily assembled to or disassembled from the suspension assembly, the spring bracket being equally well suited for tandem axle suspensions as well as single axle suspensions.

Abstract: A combined steering knuckle and wheel ball bearing assembly has a double row, externally convergent design with a pair of separate, outer bearing races and inner pathways integrally ground into a rotating spindle. The outer races are assembled to the steering knuckle in such a way as to create a hub that is effectively integrated to the knuckle, but without requiring a complexly shaped knuckle. The knuckle has a central opening defined by a simple cylindrical edge and two bordering annular faces, all of which have clear access to be accurately machined. With the spindle, one ball row and one outer race in place, the other outer race can slide into the knuckle far enough to create a large enough radial clearance to load in the other ball row. Then, the remaining outer race is pulled back and locked in place by C shaped rings pressed between it and one face of the knuckle.

Abstract: A multi-fumction electric wheel-chair is disclosed which comprises: a main frame foundation having two rollers, a front portion, a back portion; a chair-like sitting block placed above the main frame foundation, the sitting block comprising a backing plate, a sitting plate and two arm-rest plates; a drive-gear is placed under a rear part of the sitting block; two pedal-rods placed in front of the sitting block which are symmetrically hinged to a front part of the sitting plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively providing one of a plurality of working surfaces to a person in a wheelchair comprising a planar rigid member with a flat upper surface, a flat lower surface, and an arcuate concave recess formed at its interior edge; a second working surface having an upper surface and a lower surface parallel with the first working surface, and positioned at the outboard end of the first working surface; a plurality of vertically extending walls including an outboard wall coupling the outboard edges of the first and second working surfaces and vertically extending parallel side walls coupling the side edges of the upper and lower working surfaces; a pair of book props secured to the vertical wall at the outboard face of the device with pivot means to allow rotation of the book props independent of each other; and mechanism to couple the lower working surface to a wheelchair.

Abstract: A simpler, more direct mechanism for locking and unlocking of a king pin of a fifth wheel is provided. The mechanism includes a jaw member, a wedge member, a bumper member and a lever member interconnecting the jaw member, the wedge and the bumper member. The system may be operated by a two-way air cylinder, a one-way air cylinder or in an alternate embodiment, may be incorporated into an existing manually operated fifth wheel system as a retrofit assembly so as to convert existing fifth wheel locking mechanisms to the arrangement of the present invention.

Abstract: Shock absorbing fork, especially a front fork, for a two-wheeled vehicle, particularly a bicycle, of the type having a pair of telescoping struts and a hydraulically damped shock absorbing arrangement disposed within each of the telescoping struts, the shock absorbing arrangement having a piston which divides a hydraulic fluid containing cylinder into upper and lower chambers, a valve regulating flow of hydraulic fluid through the piston between the upper and lower chambers, and a piston rod connected to the piston. Among the improvements of the invention is the provision of a spring for absorbing shocks that acts on the piston of the hydraulic shock damping arrangement upon compression of the telescopic struts, and a location sensitive flow control arrangement having a flow path extending between opposite sides of said piston and a flow adjusting element which is displaceable into and out of said flow path as a function of the extent which the spring is compressed by compression of the telescopic struts.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom vehicle employs a compliant linkage to accommodate the need for a variation in the distance between drive wheels or drive systems which are independently steerable and drivable. The subject vehicle is provided with rotary encodes to provide signals representative of the orientation of the steering pivot associated with each such drive wheel or system, and a linear encoder which issues a signal representative of the fluctuations in the distance between the drive elements. The wheels of the vehicle are steered and driven in response to the linear encoder signal, there being provided a controller system for minimizing the fluctuations in the distance. The controller system is a software implementation of a plurality of controllers, operating at the chassis level and at the vehicle level. A trajectory interpolator receives x-displacement, y-displacement, and .theta.

Abstract: A bicycle (10) with a frame (12) formed of composite material is disclosed. The frame of this bicycle includes a head section or module (34) that is attached to two body units (36, 38). The body units are formed by injection molding and include outer shells and inner ribs 200. Alternatively, the body units may be formed of a urethane core with a stiffened fiberglass, carbon fibers, or like nonmetallic skin. The head section and body units are formed with bores (78, 81, 83, 90) in which sleeves and cables are seated to accommodate the installation of the other components of the bicycle to the frame. The body is further formed with a set of rearwardly extending members that form the chain stays (22) of the bicycle. Dropouts (104) are seated in recesses formed in the chain stays. The bicycle includes a front derailleur/rear brake assembly (30) with a front derailleur (134) that can be both selectively moved up and down and selectively pivoted along a lateral axis of the bicycle.