Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: A bicycle frame assembly includes a frame including a first segment, a second segment connected to the first segment at a first hinge, and a third segment connected to the second segment at a second hinge. A synchronization cable extends through the second segment from the first hinge to the second hinge.

Abstract: A dry bulk tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The dry bulk tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A tracked powered chair is described. A side drive assembly comprises a powered sprocket, a forward non-powered two wheel bogey, and a rearward non-powered two wheel bogey. Each bogey has a respective pivot member pivotally fastened at a first pivot member end between the first and second bogey wheels, and a second pivot member end fastened to the frame such that the forward and rearward bogey each pivot independently from one another around its respective pivot member. The geometry of the drive assembly creates a non-isosceles shaped triangular appearance (no two sides are of equal length).

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes a control valve. The control valve includes a valve seat formed with a closing face, a valve body configured to come into contact with the closing face, and a valve shaft configured to transmit an operation force applied from a driving unit to the valve body. The control valve is defined with an upstream side flow channel extending from an inlet coupled to the upper end opening, via a space in which the valve body moves, to the closing face, and a downstream side flow channel extending from the closing face to an outlet. The control valve is disposed above the cylinder so that a central axis of the valve shaft is inclined relative to a central axis of the vehicle body side tube and the wheel side tube.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift apparatus for assisted wheelchair loading and unloading includes a base frame having a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side. A plurality of wheels is coupled to the base frame. A vertical frame is perpendicularly coupled to the rear end of the base frame. A lift track is coupled to the vertical frame. A lift car is coupled to the lift track and has a track engagement portion and a perpendicular platform. The track engagement portion is slidably engageable with the lift track. A seat is coupled to the perpendicular platform. A lift bracket is coupled to the rear end of the base frame. A lift mechanism is coupled to the lift bracket and is in operational communication with the lift car to move the lift car to and from a lowered position and an alternate raised position.

Abstract: A tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A bicycle comprises front and rear wheels, a frame, a seat post, and a damping member. An upper portion of the seat post is movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position. The damping member couples the seat post to the frame to dampen movement of the upper portion of the seat post. The damping member can be positioned at least partially in a top tube of the frame. Preferably, the seat post flexes when the upper portion of the seat post moves. The frame further includes a securing location for securing the seat post, and the securing location is a distance from the upper end of the seat tube that is at least 30% of a length of a seat tube. The seat post has a front-to-rear width, and the seat tube has a rear wall spaced from the seat post by a gap that is at least 25% of a front-to-rear width of the seat post.

Abstract: An independent suspension self-balancing electric vehicle comprising a main frame, two wheel assemblies, suspension assemblies, a shock absorber device and a power control module, therein two wheel assemblies are respectively defined on both sides of the main frame, the wheel assemblies are connected to the main frame by the suspension assemblies, the shock absorber device is respectively connected to the main frame and the suspension assemblies, and the power control module is configured to drive wheels to rotate and control the independent suspension self-balancing electric vehicle to steer; the number of the suspension assemblies are two, each of the wheel assemblies are connected to the main frame by one suspension assembly, and the each of the wheel assemblies individually jumps while the independent suspension self-balancing electric vehicle is driven on an undulating road surface and a stair step to obtain well passivity and shock absorbing performance.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an assist wheel including a wheel, a handrim, an elastic component, two contact components, a driving assembly, two film sensors. The wheel is configured to be rotatably disposed on a wheelchair frame. The handrim is disposed on the wheel and rotatable with respect to the wheel. Two opposite ends of the elastic component are respectively connected to the wheel and the handrim. The two contact components are respectively disposed on the wheel and the handrim. The driving assembly is configured to be fixed to the wheelchair frame. The two film sensors are disposed on the driving assembly and respectively pressed by the two film sensors. Each of the two film sensors is configured to generate a sensor value. The controller is configured to receive the sensor values from the two film sensors and signal the driving assembly.

Abstract: An electromechanical power steering device may include a servomotor that drives an axially movable component via a ball nut mounted in a bearing such that the ball nut can be rotated about a longitudinal axis in a housing. The ball nut may be engaged with a threaded spindle configured on the axially movable component. The ball nut may include a ball screw on its inner side for balls to roll on, and an external ball return means that connects a start of the ball screw to an end of the ball screw to make endless circulation of the balls possible. A return channel of the ball return means may be formed by way of a deflecting body and a pulley wheel.

Abstract: A robotic device that can adhere to the surface of an object by negative-pressure suction and that can travel in a Y-axis direction and an X-axis direction. The robotic device is equipped with four suction cup units, Y-axis actuators and X-axis actuators. As for the planar shape of each suction cup, it has a shape of each quadrangle when a roughly square was divided into four quadrangles of the same shape. The quadrangles are formed provided with two right-angle portions in a diagonal portion. One right angle of the two right-angle portions of each suction cup overlaps with one of the four right angles of the square. Two of the sides that constitute the above right angle of the suction cup overlap with two of the edges that constitute the above right angle of the square.

Abstract: Provided is a wheel including: a main housing with a series of apertures disposed radially thereabout; an inner shaft disposed within the main housing and rotatably coupled thereto; a set of spokes distributed radially around the inner shaft and attached thereto at a first end, each spoke positioned within one of the series of apertures in the main housing; a set of linkages distributed radially around the inner shaft and attached to a second end of the spokes, the linkages positioned within the apertures; and a set of rollers distributed radially around the inner shaft and mounted on the linkages; wherein the spokes, linkages, and rollers can be moved from a first, contracted position, to a second, expanded position.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel and method of manufacturing a vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having an airbag door with one or more t-shaped stiffening ribs embedded in the airbag door. The t-shaped stiffening ribs help increase the rigidity of the airbag door, which can help improve deployment performance of the airbag. The t-shaped stiffening ribs may be co-molded or insert molded with the substrate.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, a seat attached to the frame, a first forward wheel on a first side of the frame and a second forward wheel on a second side of the frame, a first rearward wheel on the first side of the frame and a second rearward wheel on the second side of the frame, a first drive wheel on the first side of the frame positioned intermediate between the first forward wheel and the first rearward wheel and a second drive wheel on the second side of the frame positioned intermediate between the second forward wheel and the second rearward wheel, and actuators to independently control the vertical position of the first forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first drive wheel relative to the frame and the vertical position of the second drive wheel relati

Abstract: Provided is a power steering apparatus capable of improving accuracy of relative positions of a first circulation member and a second circulation member. A tube 23 includes a first first-tube-side abutment portion 40 and a second second-tube-side abutment portion 51, and a second first-tube-side abutment portion 41 and a first second-tube-side abutment portion 51, which are configured to restrict relative positions of a first tube 31 and a second tube 32 in a circumferential direction relative to a nut 8.

Abstract: An alignment and locking system for a battery assembly is disclosed. The system may be located onboard of an electric vehicle powered by a battery pack disposed in the battery assembly. The system includes a set of receiving members fixed to the chassis. The battery assembly includes a cage with mounting bars. When the mounting bars are received in the receiving members they may be locked into place against the chassis. The system can also include a set of v-blocks that engage vertically oriented bars in the cage to help with horizontal alignment of the battery assembly.

Abstract: An adaptable wheel has a central hub, radial segments connected to the central hub at a proximal end and extending radially from the central hub, each radial segment having a linear actuator configured to change a length of the radial segment; a shoe connected to a distal end of the radial segment for contacting a surface being traversed by the wheel; and a locking mechanism for selectively preventing linear motion of the linear actuator. A control system for an adaptable wheel includes a distance sensor on a vehicle for determining distance to a surface in the path of the vehicle and a computer for receiving distance information from the distance sensor and, responsive to the distance information, determine a desired length of a segment of an adaptable wheel for maintaining a hub of a wheel level, and provide control signals to a linear actuator of the segment.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle provided with a steering handle and configured such that an attitude angle of the driver seat surface relative to a horizontal reference plane is changeable, so that a first attitude changing operation switch and a second attitude changing operation switch for changing the attitude angle are disposed in such positions as to be operable with a thumb of the driver of the vehicle from a steering handle grip of the steering handle.

Abstract: A suspension structure for an in-wheel motor drive device of the present invention includes an in-wheel motor drive device (10), a shock absorber (76), a torsion bar (81), and a stabilizer link (86), wherein: the shock absorber includes an upper spring seat (79a) provided in an upper end region of the shock absorber and a lower spring seat (79b) provided in a lower end region of the shock absorber and forming a pair with the upper spring seat; an upper end (87a) of the stabilizer link is arranged between a vehicle back edge (79d) of the lower spring seat and a vehicle front edge (79c) of the lower spring seat; and a lower end (87b) of the stabilizer link is arranged so as to overlap with a hub wheel (12) as viewed in an axial direction of the hub wheel.