Abstract: A control-linkage assembly for a differential of a vehicle includes a differential housing and a linkage apparatus. The differential housing includes sides spaced from each other relative to a lateral axis. The sides each define a respective hole along the lateral axis. The differential housing includes a front end and a rear end spaced from each other relative to a central axis. The differential housing includes a support at the front end. The linkage apparatus is coupled to the support to control motion of the differential housing. An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing and the control-linkage assembly coupled to the axle housing. The control-linkage assembly includes the differential housing and the linkage apparatus as discussed above. The differential housing is fixed to the axle housing to form a unit. The linkage apparatus is coupled to the support to control motion of the unit.

Abstract: An inspection system for determining the efficacy and veracity of a bond-line, comprising: a robotic arm assembly providing a gimbal mount for enabling linear and rotary translation about multiple axes; an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the gimbal mount of the robotic arm assembly and comprising a planar array of transducer elements, each transducer element capable of transmitting and receiving reflected ultrasonic energy indicative of changes in acoustic impedance within the bond-line. The reflected energy of each transducer element provides acquired bond-line data indicative of the efficacy of the bond-line while select transducer elements produce orientation data indicative of the orientation of the planar array relative to the contour of the bonded joint. The bond-line and orientation data are combined to determine whether the direction of the transmitted pulse should be altered to validate the bond-line data.

Abstract: A vehicle lifting and parking aid system having sidewinder wheel units mounted on the axles between the brakes and the spindle of each wheel of a vehicle controlled from a control module located within the vehicle is disclosed. In the deployed position, each sidewinder unit is against the ground surface and lifts the vehicle approximately 0.5? off the ground. Using joysticks on a control module located within the vehicle, the user is able to operate, i.e. direct, the sidewinders to the left or right at different variations in speed whereby the vehicle is moved to the left or right by way of a rotating gear train.

Abstract: A robot has a track assembly having tracks configured to move the robot in a first direction and a wheel assembly having wheels configured to move the robot in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A toggling assembly switches between the track assembly and the wheel assembly. The robot modules can mate with each other. The robot module has an elongated shaft with a head and a narrow neck. The shaft extends outward from the side of the robot module. A mating robot module has a clamping mechanism with opposing clamps which in an opened position receive the shaft. In a closed position, the clamps define an opening which matches and engages the cross-section of the neck of the elongated shaft. The clamping mechanism has a drive mode to drive the module, a clamping mode for docking, and neutral mode for alignment prior to clamping.

Abstract: A robotic holiday testing apparatus for detecting and marking holidays in the protective coating atop a metal base plate of a storage tank, including: a. a vehicle, b. a power drive unit selectively coupled to a first set of wheels to move the vehicle in the forward or backward direction, and to a second set of wheels to move the vehicle and the right or left direction, c. a holiday detection apparatus having a wettable sponge electrical contact element for establishing an electric circuit with the base plate through each of the holidays, d. a tank for containing an electrolytic fluid supplied into the wettable sponge, and e. a controller which selectively operates the power drive unit to: move the vehicle in the forward direction for selected distance, and f. to move the vehicle in the left or right direction for selected distance, the vehicle thus being movable along a path while the holiday testing apparatus thereon detects and marks holidays for subsequent repair.

Abstract: A drive and steering unit for driving and steering a load support comprises a steering assembly, a slewing ring engaged with the steering assembly and being rotatable about an axis in response to actuation of the steering assembly, a drive assembly mounted to the slewing ring, and a drive power system coupled to the drive assembly and movable with the slewing ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insulating device containing a first machine element, in particular an exhaust gas pipe, and at least one second machine element, in particular an exhaust manifold. The insulating device at least partially surrounds the machine element and is connected to the unit. A base plate connected to the unit is provided-having at least two side parts arranged at a distance from each other forming an intermediate area, such that a sliding part is arranged in the intermediate area and is essentially sealingly connected the base plate and to the lateral parts by profiles and is detachably connected in relation to the base plate, a cover can be connected to the base plate by a detachable securing element. The cover rests upon the lower edges on associated areas of the lateral parts of the base plate and/or the sliding part(s).

Abstract: A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support.

Abstract: A parking device for motor vehicles to facilitate and expedite the parallel parking operation especially when the space available between two parked vehicles is not abundant. The device is typically operated after the car has entered the parking spot diagonally so that one of the front wheels is touching the sidewalk curb. The device is normally mounted on the bottom surface of a motor vehicle, preferably in the rear part of a motor vehicle. The device consists essentially of a powered wheel that is lowered to the ground and it is further pushed down to raise the rear part of a motor vehicle until the rear wheels are no longer in contact with the ground. The lowered wheel, perpendicular to the other wheels of the motor vehicle, is then powered to turn in either directions to cause the rear part of the motor vehicle to move toward the sidewalk until the motor vehicle is parallel to the sidewalk curb and mostly aligned with the other parked vehicles.

Abstract: A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support.

Abstract: A power unit includes an engine having a crankshaft, and a continuously variable transmission having a drive pulley operatively connected with the crankshaft, a driven pulley, and a belt extended between and wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The power unit further includes a transmission input clutch, which allows or interrupts the transmission of a rotational drive force of the crankshaft to the drive pulley, mounted on a drive pulley shaft; and a starter clutch, which allows or interrupts the transmission of a rotational drive force of the driven pulley to the drive wheel, mounted on a driven pulley shaft. The transmission input clutch and the starter clutch are arranged such that a continuously variable transmission is sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A parking assistance system includes front and rear auxiliary wheel assemblies mounted to a chassis of the vehicle and adjacent front and rear wheels of the vehicle. Each of the front and rear auxiliary wheel assemblies includes two auxiliary wheels and an auxiliary motor coupled to the auxiliary wheels for driving the auxiliary wheels to rotate in a forward or backward direction. A plurality of lift devices are mounted between the auxiliary wheels and the chassis and control upward and downward movement of the auxiliary wheels. At least one parking assistance controller is coupled to the auxiliary motors. A control unit is coupled to the at least one parking assistance controller and manually operable to control a rotating direction and speed of the auxiliary motors via the at least one parking assistance controller, controlling a moving distance and direction of the auxiliary wheels in the forward or backward direction.

Abstract: A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support. The traction device includes a storage position and a use position.

Abstract: A parking assistance system includes front and rear auxiliary wheel assemblies mounted to a chassis of the vehicle and adjacent front and rear wheels of the vehicle. Each of the front and rear auxiliary wheel assemblies includes two auxiliary wheels and an auxiliary motor coupled to the auxiliary wheels for driving the auxiliary wheels to rotate in a forward or backward direction. A plurality of lift devices are mounted between the auxiliary wheels and the chassis and control upward and downward movement of the auxiliary wheels. At least one parking assistance controller is coupled to the auxiliary motors. A control unit is coupled to the at least one parking assistance controller and manually operable to control a rotating direction and speed of the auxiliary motors via the at least one parking assistance controller, controlling a moving distance and direction of the auxiliary wheels in the forward or backward direction.

Abstract: A system for assisting a person of limited mobility in moving from room to room within a home and performing essential daily activities includes a personal mobility device which includes transfer drivers which engage a transfer system to transition from a first elevation to a second elevation.

Abstract: A hospital bed includes a carrier frame, a driven wheel unit disposed below the frame, a motor unit, a drive wheel unit disposed below the frame and coupled operably to the motor unit in such a manner that actuation of the motor unit results in rotation of the drive wheel unit. A lifting-and-lowering device interconnects the frame and the drive wheel unit for lowering and lifting the drive wheel unit with respect to the driven wheel unit between an upper position, in which, the drive wheel unit is disposed at an elevation above the driven wheel unit, and a lower position, in which lower surfaces of the driven and drive wheel units are flush with each other.

Abstract: A housing cannot be made compact by only securing a space corresponding to a reservoir tank at the upper part of the housing, and the space at the upper part of the housing cannot be utilized if the reservoir tank is integrally provided to the upper part of the housing. An axle driving apparatus comprising a tubular reservoir tank erected on the upper surface of the upper wall surface of the housing for accommodating an HST, wherein, since the reservoir tank is thinly elongated and is freely bendable, it can be disposed in a limited space. The housing is divided into a first room and a second room with which the reservoir tank communicates. Further, a first magnet is disposed at a position where the first and second rooms are connected, and a second magnet is disposed in the proximity of an oil filter connected to a closed circuit of the HST so that impurities can be removed.

Abstract: Pivoting hooks usable with four bar parallelogram implement lift linkages are provided. The hooks are pivotally attached at the forward edge of the implement to receive the cross bar of a suspension mechanism such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,617. The pivotal connection and axis about which the hooks are supported on the deck comprise one corner of the four bar parallelogram lift linkage. The hooks pivot forwardly and downwardly to receive the cross bar and then swing up as tension is applied to the hanger to support the deck. As the cross bar slides forwardly into the throats of the hooks when the hanger is tensioned, it is retained in the proper parallelogram lift geometry so that the deck remains level as it is adjusted throughout its vertical cutting height. The use of the pivoting hooks permits decks with extended fore and aft dimensions to be used with existing four bar parallelogram designs.

Abstract: A toy car has a body with front and rear wheels, wheel support members with rightward/leftward travel wheels, and an elevating mechanism for lifting up and down the wheel support members in order to set the rightward/leftward travel wheels with respect to the body in positions higher than the front and rear wheels and positions which is lower than the front and rear wheels and in which the rightward/leftward travel wheels are in contact with the ground. When the wheel support members are in lifting-up positions, the front and rear wheels, not the rightward/leftward travel wheels, are in contact with the ground, and the toy car travels forward or backward. When the wheel support members are in lifting-down positions, the rightward/leftward travel wheels, not the front and rear wheels, are in contact with the ground, the toy car travels rightward or leftward.

Abstract: A traveling carriage includes driven wheels for running on a running surface. For changing a running direction of the traveling carriage, the driven wheels are raised and separated from the running surface by an elevator mechanism and then turned to change their steered directions by a steering mechanism. While changing the steered directions of the driven wheels, the traveling carriage is fixed relative to the running surface by simple-structured leg-like members. Further, the driven wheels have their own turning centers to turn thereabout for changing their steered directions. This realizes a reduced turning radius for each of the driven wheels. Further, since the driven wheels are turned in phase with each other, the stable running of the traveling carriage is ensured.

Abstract: A parking apparatus is used for enabling the driver to move the rear end of a vehicle laterally out of a row of vehicles into a parking spot. For this purpose the vehicle is equipped with a lifting mechanism on auxiliary wheels so arranged that the rear end of the vehicle may be lifted off the ground with its ordinary wheels. The engine power may be used for this lifting of the vehicle. Once the ordinary rear wheels are off the ground the vehicle may be shifted in a direction extending substantially perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis without maneuvering as is normally required for so-called parallel parking between two vehicles spaced from each other longitudinally. The front wheels would be sharply turned in the direction toward the parking spot.