Abstract: A motor truck comprising energy transforming means located between a chassis frame and a rear body and adapted to allow an upward movement of the body relative to the frame to absorb kinetic energy of the body upon collision.

Abstract: A stabilizer bar arrangement including cross-bars secured at their outer ends to the oppositely disposed lower control arms and having juxtapositioned inner ends, with a slot formed in one bar and a pin mounted on the other bar for extension through the slot, the pin serving (1) to slide freely in the slot when the vehicle sustains equal and opposite wheel and lower control arm displacements, and (2) to prevent opposite vertical movements of the inner ends of the bars during turning operations, thereby limiting roll or tilt of the vehicle.

Abstract: A heavy duty spring suspension for an off-road vehicle including an axle assembly formed of a transversely extending axle housing and a forwardly extending tongue rigid with the axle housing, the forward end of the tongue having a front ball and socket connection with the chassis. Vertically arranged adjacent the axle housing, and in centered position, is a damped spring suspension device which is connected at its upper end to the chassis and at its lower end to the axle assembly. In the preferred embodiment the suspension device is of "T" shape with the arms of the "T" including a transversely extending hinge type connection with the chassis. The lower end of the suspension is connected to the axle housing by a rear ball and socket connection, the front and rear ball and socket connections, together, defining a fore-and-aft extending roll axis.

Abstract: A power plant is shown having a turbine power unit with a gas producer for directing gases into the unit while an exhaust duct delivers gas from the unit and a drive shaft extends from the unit for delivering power. The turbine power unit includes a turbine rotor mounted in bearing assemblies in its front and rear end. The rear assembly is supported by rigid struts while the front bearing assembly is supported by the first stage vanes and an interconnecting specially constructed diaphragm with heat shields. The outer ends of the vanes are fixed to a cantilevered ring fixed to the turbine casing while the inner circumference of the diaphragm has a large interference fit with a cylindrical surface on the front bearing assembly housing.

Abstract: An automobile sun visor is provided with a transparent glare-reducing plate which is releasibly attached to a rod connected to the automobile. The plate releasible attaching means is in the form of clips having rearwardly facing open ends so that a forward impact on the plate will release the plate from the rod. An attachment having a transparent glare-reducing second plate is also releasibly attached to the rod in the same manner but positionable in parallel relationship to the first plate so that the viewer will see a still further substantially reduced glare. All of the securing means are releasible upon a forwardly directed impact on the plates.

Abstract: A bicycle of the type comprising a frame and a front and rear wheel rotatably mounted to the frame is provided with improved means for rotatably driving the rear wheel. The driving means comprises a right and left foot lever pivotally connected at one end to the frame and adapted to be alternately depressed by the feet of the bicyclist. Each foot lever is coupled by a link to a pivot rod pivotally connected to the frame so that the alternate depression of the foot levers rotates the pivot rod between a first and a second rotational position. A radial torque lever is secured to the pivot rod and coupled by a third link member to a radial torque lever on the rear wheel driving means.

Abstract: A heavy duty suspension for an off-road vehicle including an axle assembly formed of a transversely extending axle housing and a forwardly extending tongue rigid with the axle housing, the axle assembly having front and rear pivot connections defining a fore-and-aft extending roll axis. A rigid bracket extends downwardly from the chassis to a point substantially offset in the lateral direction from the roll axis. Connected to the bracket is a horizontal link, one end of the link being pivoted to the lower end of the bracket and the other end of the link being pivoted to the axle housing so that the link restrains the axle assembly from moving laterally with respect to the chassis while accommodating rolling and vertical movement as the vehicle passes over irregular ground.

Abstract: A suspension unit comprises a cylinder, a diaphragm within the cylinder forming an end wall a pressure space in the cylinder filled with a mixture of fixed masses of gas and liquid and a damping piston working in the pressure space with a piston rod extending sealingly through one end of the cylinder. The position of the diaphragm is variable to adjust the pressure in the pressure space.

Abstract: A cart having a bed with auxiliary wheels on the front end, front and rear legs depending from the bed and pivotally mounted to the bed, means for shifting the front legs to elevate the front of the cart so that it can be thrust into an ambulance with a high deck with the auxiliary wheels rolling on the deck and the front and rear legs swinging rearwardly to a collapsed condition. The front legs are also adapted to swing in the forward direction while the rear legs swing rearwardly in order to change the level of the cart when it is in a horizontal attitude.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use on a piston having a piston seal groove with spaced shoulders formed therein comprising a deformable sealing ring adapted to be maintained in the groove and having inner and outer peripheral sealing portions, and side surfaces, the sealing ring is comprised of a homogeneous thermosetting elastomeric material having a relatively high shear modulus and being wear, tear, and abrasion resistant; and a pair of unitary bearing means, each of which is juxtaposed opposite the side surfaces of the sealing ring and is made of a wear-resistant material which is harder than the material of the sealing ring. Each of the bearing means includes bearing section means and support section means.

Abstract: A tension controllable flexible connector for sway control devices for trailers passing over a frictionally damping surface or surfaces for preventing uncontrolled lateral movements of a towed vehicle.The flexible connector comprising a recently available tough, durable belt equal in strength to cable or chain has an external surface suitable for frictional damping use and is connected to the towed or towing vehicle by suitable connectors one of which is a toggle release means. A curved or arcuate structure is used in conjunction with the flexible connector for providing the friction damping surface which limits undesirable sway of the trailer. Simplicity of installation, operation and interchangeability of the flexible connector for use on other trailers to be towed by the same vehicle are features of the disclosed device.

Abstract: A lift bed highway trailer adapted to be coupled to a tractor to transport heavy loads through use of pallet frame units that can be quickly picked up and discharged at any point, wherein provision is made in the trailer gooseneck structure for safely dissipating the kinetic energy of the pallet frame unit through resistance of friction and gravity in event of an emergency stop.

Abstract: An installation for the energy absorption of motor vehicles, in which a deformation member has a wall structure delimiting a hollow space which cooperates with a pressure installation that acts upon the hollow space during an accident in dependence on a trigger mechanism and thereby deforms the wall structure in such a manner that the energy absorption efficacy of the deformation member is increased.

Abstract: A system for leveling vehicles such as those used for family camping employs a plurality of jacks secured to the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle. The jacks are adjustable in length and are pivoted to the front and rear bumpers and have a ground engaging fulcrum portion. When the vehicle is driven against the jacks, it tends to rotate the jacks into a vertical condition around the ground engaging ends of the jacks, and thereby partially lifts the vehicle off its spring suspension an amount corresponding to the height of the jack. To restore the vehicle to its operating condition, it need only be driven in a reverse direction, rotating the jacks out of their vertical condition and restoring the full weight of the vehicle to its spring suspension.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle in which one of the articulation pivots is mounted on the canopy of the vehicle. At least one of the hinge members of the pivot is in the form of a wide plate member to provide additional overhead protection for components mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive axle system of the type useable in a 6 .times. 6 vehicle, especially one utilizing a tandem axle assembly to transmit torque from the vehicle transmission to first and second rear drive axles. The system comprises torque dividing means within the tandem axle assembly and first and second torque transmitting means, such as the side gears of a differential. A first gear means transmits torque from the first differential side gear to the first rear drive axle and a second gear means transmits torque between the second differential side gear and the second rear drive axle. A third gear means is in engagement with the first gear means and may be clutched to a drive shaft to transmit torque directly from the tandem axle assembly to the front drive-steer axle, thus eliminating the need for a transfer case.

Abstract: A known ski scooter, for use as sport and training equipment, has a foot board, on which the user's foot is secured by a binding, and sets of wheels adjacent the ends of the boards, one set being braked by a brake element linked to a brake lever formed for engagement of a ski stick in it. The invention has the brake lever as a hinged element operable by pulling it with a ski stick fitted with an engaging device, for example a rubber end member for the ski stick or a basket or a bearing ring with diametrically opposed extensions on it.

Abstract: A bulkhead door assembly mountable within a storage compartment, such as a refrigerated trailer, for dividing the compartment into subcompartments. Tracks are mounted on the opposed sidewalls of the compartment adjacent the upper edges thereof, and a pair of support devices are mounted on the upper corners of the bulkhead door and coact with the tracks. The support devices permit the upper edge of the bulkhead door to be fixedly latched relative to the sidewalls when the bulkhead door is in a lowered position for dividing the compartment. The support devices also hingedly support the bulkhead door to permit it to be swung upwardly about a horizontal axis located adjacent the upper edge thereof for storage in a raised position adjacent the ceiling of the compartment. A pair of releasable lock mechanisms are mounted adjacent the lower edges of the door for securing the door in either the lowered or raised position.

Abstract: A vehicle base subassembly with a base frame comprising a pair of spaced apart side rails joined by spaced apart torque tubes with the torque tubes centered about the drive axes of the subassembly. A prime mover module is slidably mounted in the base frame with an internal combustion engine driving a pair of hydraulic pumps. A hydraulic drive motor is carried by opposite ends of each of the torque tubes with the motors on one side of the subassembly operated in tandum and independently from the motors on the other side. A wheel and tire assembly is carried by each drive motor and the output of the hydraulic pumps is controlled to operate the subassembly according to the skid-steer principle. A mounting platform for accessory equipment is provided on the base subassembly to accept different pieces of accessory equipment.

Abstract: An automatic circuit breaker for a vehicle, such as an automobile, truck, boat, airplane, or the like, having an internal combustion engine with at least one associated electrical power circuit which includes a switch in such power circuit together with a toggle joint operative to open and close such circuit and a pendulum-like weight adapted to move upon vehicle impact to actuate said toggle joint to open the switch, thus to avoid electrical ignition of the gaseous fuel subsequent to a gross impact of the vehicle. The same impact can be arranged to actuate the toggle joint to either open to close other circuits.