Abstract: A vehicle comprising a radar system for surveillance of a side and rear area and a rearview mirror unit mounted on the outside of the vehicle body. The antenna reflector of the radar has a light-transmissible structure and is received in the frame of the rearview mirror unit so as to be spaced rearwards from the mirror and to protrude sidewise from the outline of the vehicle body. This antenna arrangement is most appropriate to side-rear lookout and is favorable to the appearance of the vehicle.

Abstract: A light-weight cargo-protecting and air-flow-drag-reducing wind-deflector is made quickly and easily attachable to the roofs of automobiles or truck cabs by suction cups and conventional gutter-anchorable straps. The wind-deflector is formed of a curved fiber-reinforced plastic sheet and is made adjustable about a transverse horizontal axis close to the vehicle roof at a fore-aft location selected for optimal effectiveness. The slip-stream-modifying angle adjustability is provided simply by a pair of arms medially divided and slightly overlapped, which arms laterally connect the rear portions of a rectangular base frame to the upper side portions of the plastic sheet. The arms are made effectively length-adjustable by changing the angle defined at the interconnections between their divided sections. The overlapped mating faces of the divided arms are preferably radially die-grooved about bearing apertures which co-axially receive the ends of a single axle-rod.

Abstract: Independent rear suspension for automobiles of the type including at each side of the vehicle a semi-trailing control arm swingable on an axis angularly displaced with respect to a transverse plane of the sprung mass, is further provided with a stabilizer bar connected between the control arms by having end crank arm portions of the bar each anchored at its terminal end to the control arm and further connected to the control arm at a spaced location from the anchor by a swingable bushed linkage such that the stabilizer bar experiences no stress affecting the suspension spring rate during normal pitch and ride motion of the sprung mass.

Abstract: A two piece dirigible wheel of an automotive vehicle has its steering axis on the vertical center line of the wheel, and a brake disc is supported along the inner periphery of the wheel with annular braking surfaces in vertical planes adjacent to the center line and engaged by caliper type brake shoes.

Abstract: An air-deflecting arrangement in a motor vehicle for maintaining a predetermined portion of a side window in a door of said motor vehicle substantially clear and unobscured from airborne road dust, said motor vehicle door having a bodywork portion located adjacent a forward edge of said side window and a rear-view mirror mounted on said door so as to be readily visible to an occupant of the vehicle through said predetermined portion of said side window, said air-deflecting arrangement comprising an air-deflecting edge member extending substantially vertically along said bodywork portion and adjacent said forward edge of said side window, said air-deflecting edge member being formed with a smoothly curved lip portion extending away from said side window such that, when the vehicle is in forward motion, the air stream passing said side window is deflected away from said predetermined portion and thus substantially prevented from depositing thereon any road dust and water entrained in said air stream.

Abstract: In order to prevent warm or cool blast from an air conditioner from blowing through the interspace between the bottom of a seat cushion and the floor of the body of a car, a warm or cool blast-intercepting member is disposed at a front end and side ends under the seat cushion.

Abstract: A forage wagon includes an interior storage area having a rear access opening. An endless belt conveyor assembly is carried within the interior storage area and includes a rear drive gear mechanism mounted along the rear access opening. The forage wagon further includes an access door hingedly mounted on the rear access opening and movable between an open and closed position. The access door includes an inside surface area facing toward the interior storage area, an outside surface area facing away from the interior storage area and an integral baffle assembly attached to the inside surface area and adapted to enclose the rear drive gear mechanism when the access door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A seat suspension system includes a rigid support plate angled downwardly and pivoted to a supporting vehicle at the plate's forward end. A bucket seat is connected to the plate by hand screws that extend through slots in the plate to provide leg room adjustment. One end of the coil spring is adjustably attached to the seat support plate by a connector extending through a slot in the plate to provide forward and rearward adjustment, independent of the seat adjustment, thereby comfortably supporting operators of different heights and weights between about 100 and 400 pounds. A safety interlock switch prevents operation of the tractor unless an operator is in the seat, and a latch is provided to latch the seat in an inclined position when the tractor is not in use.

Abstract: A door for a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle having a bumper, has an upper region made of sheet metal provided with a window opening and a lower region made of plastic material. Each region is formed by an individual, prefabricated component which is separately manufactured and subsequently assembled together with the other component. When assembled, the two components have overlapping, facing boundary zones which are connected together at the level of the vehicle bumper.

Abstract: An exterior room for a trailer in which front, rear and side panels cooperate with an external frame connected to the trailer body to provide an external screen room. The front and side panels are joined at the junctures thereof by zippers to provide entry and exit to the screen room. The front panel is maintained under tension by means of a cable between supports for the side panels. Each of the front, rear and side panels is provided with an envelope at the bottom thereof which contains a watertight container. Water in the watertight container provide ballast to prevent the panels from flapping in the wind.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for mounting a wheel bearing axle suspension to a vehicle comprising a rigid sub-frame to which the wheel bearing axle suspension is attached, a runway on which the sub-frame may slide in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the axle, stop means which limit the distance of travel of the sub-frame on the runway, a horizontal turn-table bed plate to which the runway is attached, a horizontal turn-table top-plate fixedly attached to the vehicle and in which the bed plate may concentrically rotate, the stop means being such that when the vehicle is travelling forward, the sub-frame assumes a position in which the vertical plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the axle trails the vertical axis of the bed plate and top plate and is forward of the vertical axis when the vehicle travels in reverse.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system capable of accommodating considerable upward and downward movement of individual wheels and having a lever which is pivotable relative to the chassis about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle against the action of a spring, one end of which is slidable transversely relative to the lever.

Abstract: A steering linkage for a pair of wheels with upright pivot axes is comprised of links and pivots. Torque can be applied to each wheel via a pivotal connection to an intermediate link when control links are pivoted about their fixed pivots by a drive applied through a tiebar. Each wheel can be rotated about its pivot axis by at least 180.degree., and the turning circles of the wheels have a common center which, when the wheels are steered describes a line parallel to the line which joins the pivot axes of the wheels. In a four wheeled vehicle the described line is coincident with the rotational axes of the second set of wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a rear window arrangement having first and second rear window portions at different angles from the vertical, and a spoiler with an upper deflection surface having an angle of at least 90.degree. from the vertical. The two portion rear window arrangement provides increased rearward visibility and decreased vehicle wind resistance. The spoiler may be arranged to form a flow channel around the edge where the two window portions meet, to deflect an air stream and prevent accumulation of dirt on the lower rear window portion.

Abstract: A suspension system for a tracked vehicle has a hull provided with double crawler tracks positioned on either side of the hull. Each crawler track runs around a track drive wheel, track roller assemblies and a take-up idler. A torsion unit assembly connects each track roller assembly to the hull. The torsion unit assembly includes a plurality of torsion units mechanically connected in series, with the torsion unit at one end of the series being fixed to the hull and the torsion unit at the other end of the series being connected to and suspending the respective track roller assembly in order to obtain a large amount of suspension travel for the track roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automobile having front and rear seat structures, the rear seat structure comprising forward and rearward rows of folding seats. The forward and rearward rows of seats of the rear seat structure are interconnected in such a manner that the rearward row can be moved towards the forward row, and then both the forward and rearward rows can be moved towards the front seat structure to provide a substantially unobstructed space behind the folded rows of seats.

Abstract: An elastomeric suspension system for wheeled vehicles includes an equalizing beam pivotably mounted about its center to a trunnion tube which is rigidly mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The trunnion tube is press fitted into an aperture in a trunnion rubber bushing which, in turn, is press fitted into an aperture in the equalizing beam. Near each end of the equalizing beam is an axle mounted transversely to the beam. Each axle has mounted thereon one end of a cylindrical elastomeric spring which is connected at its other end to the equalizing beam. A rebound shaft is slidably connected at one end to each axle and at the other end to each end of the equalizing beam to prevent excessive rebound of the equalizing beam with respect to the axles. Each axle is pivotably connected to a central portion of the equalizing beam through radius rods. The elastomeric rubber spring isolates a substantial amount of vibrations of the axle, particularly vertical vibration, from the equalizing beam.

Abstract: A landfill or trash compaction machine has an enclosure which includes an upper removable housing and a lower removable underpan. Power means is provided for lowering the underpan to the ground and for returning it to and holding it in its normal position. When lowered, the underpan provides access to the interior of the machine from below and serves as a platform on which the servicing mechanic may stand within the machine.

Abstract: A truck with a driver cab that includes two separate structural units, of which one is equipped as independently spring-supported operating cell essentially only with seating elements or seating and berthing elements as well as with control and operating elements while the other unit forms as covering and/or support unit a mounting unit for the operating cell and shields the operating cell on the rear side or on the rear and bottom side thereof.

Abstract: A vertically swingable control arm has a pivotal connection with a bracket on the vehicle frame and another connection to a bracket on the axle. One or more of these connections includes a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the bracket and control arm. The bracket apertures have a larger cross dimension than the bolt to facilitate alignment of the axle relative to the frame. The axle is initially secured in aligned relation by tightening a nut on the bolt. A plate carried by the bolt is then welded to the bracket to fix the relative alignment of the axle and frame.