Abstract: A snowmobile is disclosed having a tunnel to accommodate and cover the drive track of the snowmobile underneath and to support the straddle seat of the snowmobile above. The tunnel includes portions interconnecting the sidewalls of the tunnel to the top portion of the tunnel and which provides clearances to fit a narrower straddle seat thereon thereby improving manoeuvrability and rider comfort. A straddle seat adapted to register with the tunnel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A seat tube for a bicycle includes an upright tube, a head and an inner tube all of which are made of fiber reinforced material. The upright tube has an inserting portion at a top thereof. The head has an inside chamber and a sleeve portion at a bottom thereof. The sleeve portion of the head is sleeved onto the inserting portion of the upright tube such that the inside chamber of the head is communicated with an inside of the upright tube. An outer wall of the inserting portion of the upright tube is a taper face converging upward. The inner tube is disposed at a junction of the upright tube and the head and interconnected with the upright tube and the head. Thus, the seat tube has strong structure with light weight.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a steering system for mobile medical equipment is disclosed including left and right steerable wheel assemblies including left and right steerable wheels, left and right parallelogram linkages coupled to the left and right steerable wheel assemblies, a steering function generator coupled to the left and right parallelogram linkages, and a steering tiller coupled to the steering function generator. The left and right parallelogram linkages transfer differing left and right wheel angles to the left and right steerable wheel assemblies respectively. The steering function generator generates the left wheel angle (LWA) of the left steerable wheel and the right wheel angle (RWA) of the right steerable wheel. The steering tiller receives an input steering angle to generate the left wheel angle and the right wheel angle to control the direction of the mobile medical equipment around flooring.

Abstract: An operation torque estimating portion estimates an operation torque Th of a driver based on an input angle ?h and an input torque T output from a torque sensor. A non-holding state detecting portion determines whether the driver is holding a steering wheel by comparing an absolute value of the operation torque Th and a predetermined value ?1. An equilibrium detecting portion determines whether an equilibrium point is reached by comparing the absolute value of the input torque T with a predetermined value ?2. When it is determined that the driver is not holding the steering wheel and the equilibrium point is reached, a switching portion switches to such a position that causes a target steering adjusting portion to multiply a target output angle ? pm by a predetermined gain G according to the input torque T so that the target steering angle is made smaller.

Abstract: A compact dual hydraulic pump unit having a low profile configuration. The inlet and outlet ports of the pumps may be located on opposite transverse sides of the unit for easy connection to adjacent motors coupled to the drive wheels of a vehicle.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle, which can reduce the steering load and allows accurate steering angle control, is provided. In the steering apparatus for a vehicle, an estimation unit estimates a mechanical impedance upon a driver's steering manipulation. A control unit controls the steering reaction force of a steering wheel based on the estimated mechanical impedance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting a payload within a vehicle, especially a land vehicle. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cradle that permits the payload to translate fore and aft during sudden decelerations of the vehicle, such as when an off road vehicle runs into an obstacle. Preferably, the payload motion is damped by dampeners that couple the payload to the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a motor 12 for giving a steering assist force to a steering system and a controller 15 for controlling a turning on state of the motor 12 in accordance with a steering torque of the steering system. The motor 12 and the controller 15 are respectively formed with separate units. Further, the motor 12 has a flange part 13 attached to an attaching member of a steering mechanism. The flange part 13 further includes a flange extension part 14 formed by projecting a part of the flange part in a direction of circumference. The controller 15 is attached to the flange extension part 14 to be mounted on an output shaft side B of the motor 12.

Abstract: A hitch release system for releasing the locked engagement of a hitch, the hitch having a manually operable release bar coupled to a locking mechanism, the hitch release system includes a selectively actuatable power assist system, the power assist system being releasably, operably coupled to the release bar, wherein actuation of the power assist system acts to translate the release bar in a first axial direction, such translation acting to release the locking mechanism. A method of release is further included.

Abstract: A power-steering system, e.g., for a motor vehicle, having an electric motor, which transmits a steering-assist force via a belt transmission to a ball-screw transmission for displacing vehicle wheels, includes a cam, via which the ball-screw transmission and/or electric motor is supported in a steering-gear housing. The tension of a belt of the belt transmission is adjustable by rotating the cam in the steering-gear housing. The cam has at least one cutout on the circumference, and/or the steering-gear housing has at least one cutout in its inner wall. A locking element may be inserted into the cutout, in order to fix the cam in position with respect to the steering-gear housing. After being inserted, the locking element is operatively connected to the cam and the steering-gear housing.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism of a motorcycle includes a drive case which is disposed at the rear end of and outside of a rear swing arm, and which surrounds the axle of a rear wheel and incorporates a transmission device. In addition, the power transmission mechanism includes a drive shaft extending from an output shaft of an engine for transmitting power of the drive shaft to the rear wheel. The transmission device converts the direction of a driving force of the drive shaft and transmits it to the rear wheel. The drive shaft constituting part of the power transmission mechanism is disposed below the rear swing arm and the pivot shaft. The result is a motorcycle configuration that suppresses the vehicle width without expanding the rear swing arm.

Abstract: An engine support bracket for a motorcycle is formed as an L-shaped channel member that is horizontally mounted on a vehicle body frame. Mounting portions of an engine are mounted on the L-shaped channel member and are fastened to the L-shaped channel member using a bolt. With this arrangement, assembling of the engine onto the vehicle body frame can be completed with a simple operation, and hence, the operability in assembling the engine is enhanced. Further, as parts for connecting the engine to the vehicle body frame, only the L-shaped channel member need be provided. Thus, the number of parts is decreased thus also providing a simple structure. Further, a head of the bolt and a nut, which fix the engine to the vehicle body frame, do not appear on a side surface of the mounting portions of the engine. Hence, the appearance of the motorcycle is enhanced.

Abstract: The wheelchair attachments are configured for removable attachment to a wheelchair to facilitate use of the wheelchair by occupants and/or attendants. One attachment is a retractable tray spanning the armrests at the front of the chair when deployed and retracting between the chair structure and a wheel for storage. Another attachment is a series of interchangeably installable handgrips or handles removably installable to the front or back of the chair for use by an attendant. At least some of the various handgrips or handle assemblies provide horizontal and/or vertical adjustment. Yet another attachment is an underseat storage compartment, primarily accessible by an attendant from the back of the chair. All of the various attachments may be installed upon and/or used with a wheelchair independently of one another or in combination with one another, or may be adapted for use with other devices as well.

Abstract: A reciprocal upward and downward pedaling bicycle structure includes a main shaft of a free wheel at a chain wheel shaft, a driving body pivotally coupled to a frame of the main shaft, a pedal crank and a support rod on the driving body, and a driving belt linked to the main shaft and the support rod. An end of the driving belt is dragged to the frame by a resilient element. By the action of the resilient element ands the rotation of the main shaft, the crank and pedal are pulled by the driving belt to provide an upward bounce and the chain wheel drives the rear wheel shaft through the main driving belt. When the pedal is stepped downward, the main shaft and the chain wheel are rotated synchronously to drive the rear wheel of the bicycle to move forward.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicycle fork comprising an improved axle with non-round tapered ends affixed into dropouts with openings to match the axle ends through a taper-lock affixation for improving the torsional strength of the fork and facilitate ease of the axle installation. The improved axle consists of a first non-round end with interior female threads connecting an intermediate cylindrical portion which connects to a second non-round tapered end. An improved tapered split non-round nut having a cylindrical bolt possessing male threads lock the nut to the first end of the axle, wherein said bolt has an another preferred embodiment which connects a rotatable handle for ease of the axle installation.

Abstract: A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft.

Abstract: A fuel-tank assembly disposed in a space between a rear wheel and a seat of a straddle-type vehicle without impairing ride comfort, At least part of the seat is disposed above the rear wheel. A fuel tank has a bottom including a part inclined in a front-rear direction of the vehicle above the rear wheel and below the seat. A fuel pump unit for supplying fuel in the fuel tank to an engine has a body extending on and along the inclined part of the bottom in the fuel tank.

Abstract: A vehicle drawbar hammer strap assembly may be coupled to an implement tongue with a drawbar pin. A cross pin with a lever arm is operable to releasably hold the drawbar pin. A trigger is engagable with the tongue and the cross pin, and is pivotal from a latched position wherein it engages the cross pin and holds the cross pin in its locked position to an unlatched position wherein it is spaced apart from the cross pin. The tongue engages the trigger and pivot the trigger in an over-center manner from its latched to its unlatched position. The trigger includes a latch member attached to a wire form part which is pivotally coupled to the hammer strap. The latch member is engagable with the lever arm and with an end of the tongue.

Abstract: A motorcycle engine guard is disclosed which comprises a bar that surrounds the engine of the motorcycle. The bar has a first side that extends from the bottom of the engine on one side of the engine to the top of the engine and the second side that extends from the bottom of the opposite side of the engine to the top of the engine. A spring-loaded footrest is disposed in each side of the bar and the spring-loaded footrest has a retracted position when not in use and a deployed position when in use.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a rear arm, at one end of which a rear wheel is axially supported and the other end of which is pivotally supported by a body frame via a pivotally supporting shaft. A spring unit is interposed between the rear arm and the body frame so as to be located between the pivotally supporting shaft and the rear wheel. A lock arm placing section houses a lock arm for theft prevention having left and right arm sections and a bent section coupling ends of the left and right arm sections to each other. The lock arm placing section houses the lock arm in a position in which the left and right arm sections of the lock arm are located on both sides of the spring unit.