Abstract: A circuit for the electrical system of an automotive vehicle, such as a truck, interfaces a two-speed axle selector switch (20) and a two-speed axle solenoid (18) with the vehicle ignition, or key, switch (12), the vehicle brake actuation switch (16), and the vehicle transmission neutral switch (14) to allow the axle to be shifted between its two speed ranges under certain conditions and to disallow such shifting under other conditions. The circuit includes a high range relay (22), a high range enable relay (24), a high range disable relay (26), and a low range relay (28).

Abstract: A front axle assembly for a tractor or similar motor vehicle is provided with a front axle and a connecting unit interposed between the front axle and the frame of the tractor. The front axle assembly has an axle casing closed by oil-tight closing device supporting a gear for receiving motion from a propeller shaft forming part of the connecting unit.

Abstract: A driveshaft assembly includes a male shaft and a female shaft slidably engaged with the male shaft. The shafts absorb energy during axial deformation of the driveshaft while substantially maintaining radial alignment of the male and female shafts.

Abstract: A personal all-terrain vehicle (ATV) includes an engine of vertical shaft type, which has a power output shaft extending vertically above the engine. The engine power output shaft carries one pulley assembly of a belt-type continuously variable transmission (CVT), the second pulley assembly is carried by a vertically extending shaft supported in a bearing assembly secured to the engine. The vertically extending shaft carries shaft power vertically to a level below the engine at which a gear unit of T-configuration is disposed. The T-configuration gear unit provides for selection. of forward/reverse directions of travel for the vehicle, and also provides for splitting of shaft power between forward and rear differentials of the vehicle.

Abstract: A torque converting linkage (10) comprising two turbines, an impeller and a reactor (12 & 14), which rotate on shafts (16 & 18) within separate fluid-filled housings (20 & 22) is disclosed. Each housing (20 & 22) includes an outlet port and an inlet port (24 & 30, 28 & 26) which are coupled by two conduits (32 & 34). An external torque applied to shaft (16) turns the impeller turbine (12). Vanes (38) on the impeller turbine (12) force the fluid (36) out of the impeller housing (20) through a first conduit (34) into the reactor housing (22). The fluid (36) entering the reactor housing (22) acts on the vanes (38) of the reactor turbine (14), causing it to rotate and to transfer rotational energy to shaft (18).

Abstract: A transmission (14) for a vehicle (2) having a motor (9) including a motor unit (33) and an output shaft, the motor (9) being arranged outside the longitudinal center plane (7) of the vehicle (2). The transmission (14) comprises a reducing transmission (19) including a housing (22) for a fixed connection to the motor unit (33) and an output shaft (37) arranged out of line with respect to its input shaft (16), a transfer transmission (21) for driving drive shafts (11) arranged in the region of the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle (2), the transfer transmission (21) including a housing (27) and an output shaft (18) arranged out of line with respect to its input shaft (38). The housing (27) of the transfer transmission (21) is provided for a fixed connection to the housing (22) of the reducing transmission (19).

Abstract: A feed-forward control section controls, in a feed-forward manner, left and right hydraulic clutches C.sub.L and C.sub.R of a driving force distributing device by presuming such a driving force distribution amount .DELTA.T that a yaw rate corresponding to a turning state of a vehicle is obtained, based on an engine torque, an engine revolution-number, a vehicle speed, a steering angle and a lateral acceleration. On the other hand, a feedback control section calculates a deviation between a reference yaw rate calculated from the vehicle speed and the lateral acceleration and an actual yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor, and corrects the driving force distribution amount .DELTA.T calculating in the driving force distributing device in order to converge the deviation into zero.

Abstract: The monitoring method includes the steps of: acquiring a signal from an acceleration sensor; calculating a transform in the frequency domain of the signal to obtain a sequence of samples; acquiring a sample in the sequence of samples; calculating an actual amplitude value of the acquired sample; calculating a relative deviation between the actual amplitude value of the acquired sample and a reference amplitude value; and comparing the relative deviation with at least one predetermined threshold to immediately detect any irregularity in, and so prevent in-flight failure of, the helicopter transmission assembly.

Abstract: The monitoring method includes the steps of: acquiring a signal from an acceleration sensor associated with an epicyclic assembly; sampling the signal at a predetermined sampling frequency to obtain an initial sequence of samples; dividing the samples in the initial sequence into groups, each defined by a predetermined number of samples; acquiring predetermined groups of samples; filtering the acquired groups of samples to obtain an intermediate sequence of samples; processing the intermediate sequence of samples to obtain a final sequence of samples; calculating a sixth-order moment of the final sequence of samples; and comparing the sixth-order moment with at least one predetermined threshold to detect any vibrational irregularity in the epicyclic assembly of the helicopter.

Abstract: The method includes the steps of: acquiring a signal from an acceleration sensor; calculating the Fourier transform in the frequency domain of the signal to obtain a sequence of samples; acquiring from the sequence of samples a set of samples including samples at the meshing frequency of the gears monitored by the sensor, and samples at the harmonic frequencies of the meshing frequency; calculating the energies associated with the set of samples and the signal; calculating a noise energy parameter correlated to the ratio between the energy of the set of samples and the energy of the signal; comparing the noise energy parameter with at least one predetermined threshold; and generating an alarm signal in the event the noise energy parameter exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: The method includes the steps of: acquiring a signal from an acceleration sensor; calculating the Hilbert transform of the signal filtered and sampled beforehand; defining a complex signal having the filtered and sampled signal as the real part and the Hilbert transform of the filtered and sampled signal as the imaginary part; calculating a phase signal given by the difference between the phase of the complex signal and a reference phase; calculating the variance of the phase signal; comparing the variance with at least one predetermined threshold; and generating an alarm signal if the variance exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels.The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement).Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.

Abstract: A speed-responsive wiper for a car which includes a plurality of push switches respectively disposed at different stage portions of an indicator of the car at which a gear-shifting lever is disposed, and a plurality of resistors respectively having different resistance values. Each resistor is connected between each corresponding push switch and a wiper motor. By this construction, the drive speed of the wiper is automatically adjusted in accordance with a varied position of the gear-shifting lever depending on the running speed of the car.

Abstract: An electric road motor vehicle with a switchable winding electric motor propulsion system, a switchable winding electric motor propulsion system in an electric road motor vehicle, and a switchable winding electric motor propulsion system for a motor vehicle. For the optimization of an electric motor propulsion system of a vehicle, the electric motor equipped with a rotary field winding is connected through a switching system to an electronic converter, so that due to the switching system, the number of phase windings of the rotary field winding to be connected to the individual output connections can be changed. The switching system is controlled by a control circuit through a actuator. The control circuit also controls the converter and deactivates the driver currents fed to the rotary field winding, while it switches over the switching system through the actuator. The switching system can thereby be made simpler and smaller.

Abstract: A transmission has a pair of hydraulic motors for hydraulically driving crawler type vehicles. The hydraulic motors are connected by a drive train having rotary members. The hydraulic motors are disposed such that a rotary axis of an output shaft on one hydraulic motor is offset from a rotary axis of an output shaft on the other hydraulic motor. A clutch is provided between one output shaft and another rotary member, which is coaxially disposed on the one output shaft. The clutch in accordance with the invention improves the accuracy of straight forward movement of the vehicle. In accordance with the invention, when a steering unit for steering the vehicle is moved to a steering position, for turning the vehicle, and a non-steering position, for straight forward movement of the vehicle, vehicle impact and clutch damage are reduced. The transmission can also be made more compact. In addition, a parking brake can be equipped on the other output shaft.

Abstract: A crawler-propelled truck includes a chassis frame assembly, an engine mounted on the chassis frame assembly and having a substantially vertical crankshaft, a gear transmission case having an upper portion coupled to the engine and housing a gear transmission operatively coupled to the engine, drive wheels supported on a lower portion of the gear transmission case and rotatable by the engine through the gear transmission, driven wheels rotatably supported on the chassis frame assembly forwardly of the drive wheels, crawlers trained around the drive and driven wheels, and a load carrying table mounted on the chassis frame assembly above the crawlers.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic control apparatus for control of an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle which controlling a motor to shift the transmission to said desired transmission state when the desired transmission state differs from the present transmission state signal. The electronic control apparatus detects and stores any faults in controlling the motor, and generates an output indicating any stored fault codes in response to a particular operator input. In the preferred embodiment the operator input is via plural push-buttons with corresponding lamps. In normal operation a single lamp is turned ON to indicate the present gear. Fault codes are indicated by turning ON the lamps in a code corresponding to the fault code. Detected faults include invalid transmission state signal, time out without completing the shift and over current in the motor.

Abstract: A tractor includes: (a) a one piece frame having opposite ends defined by respective members adapted for receiving ballast with the rear member including a hitch located below any mounted ballast, (b) a dual screen filtering arrangement located upstream of a radiator and an engine combustion air inlet, (c) an implement lift system including a main spring lift assist which is locked out when the implement is lowered and an auxiliary lift assist for increasing the lift assist for front-mounted implements but is mounted so as to join the main lifts assist to produce a near constant lift force during lifting the implement while producing a minimal lift force when the implement is completely lowered (d) short and long effective lengths of a steering pitman arm may be selected, for respectively minimizing steering effort or maximizing responsiveness, by respectively connecting a mounting point closest to or a mounting point farthest from a pivot axis of the arm to a drag link, (e) a steering wheel is tiltable toget

Abstract: A drive transmission structure for a tractor comprising a propeller shaft extending between and interconnecting an output shaft of an engine disposed forwardly of a driver's section and an input shaft of a transmission disposed rearwardly of the driver's section. The engine is disposed at a rearwardly downward slant with the output shaft thereof extending toward the input shaft of the transmission. The transmission is disposed at a forwardly upward slant with the input shaft thereof extending toward the engine output shaft.

Abstract: A frame has mounted thereon an engine and a speed change unit arranged adjacent to each other widewise of the frame to provide a vehicle body. The vehicle body has a front axle supporting a pair of front wheels thereon, a rear axle supporting at least one steering rear wheel, a mount assembly at its front portion for attaching thereto a mower having at least one cutter, and a clipping container mounted on its rear portion. From a clipping outlet formed in the rear portion of the mower, a duct extends rearward generally horizontally under the front axle, is bent upward behind one of the front wheels and is connected to the clipping container.

Abstract: A driving power transmission which is simply changeable of the axis of a counter shaft in order to facilitate a change in a reduction ratio and mountable of a gear train different in the reduction ratio and which inserts a bevel gear to be fitted onto an output shaft at the transmission unit into a mission case prior to coupling of a lower mission case thereof with an upper mission case and places the bevel gear on a mounting table so that the bevel gear can be fitted onto the output shaft only by being later inserted into the bevel gear.