845results about "Passenger vehicle superstructures" patented technology

The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.

A control system for a vehicle comprises a power source, a power transmission link, a plurality of input and output devices, a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, and a communication network that interconnects the interface modules. The interface modules are also each coupled to respective local subsets of the input and output devices. Each of the interface modules collects input status information from the respective local subset of the input devices and transmits the input status information over the communication network to the remaining interface modules.

A power distribution and control system for a military vehicle comprises a power source, a power transmission link, a plurality of input and output devices, a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, and a communication network that interconnects the interface modules. The interface modules are also each coupled to respective local subsets of the input and output devices so as to permit distributed data collection from the input devices and distributed power distribution to the output devices. Each of the interface modules collects input status information from the respective local subset of the input devices and broadcasts the input status information over the communication network to each of the remaining ones of the interface modules. Each of the remaining ones of the interface modules receive the input status information and locally store the input status information.

A refuse vehicle is disclosed comprising a refuse loader capable of moving a load of refuse along a path and into the refuse vehicle and an electronic control system capable of controlling the refuse loader. The refuse loader controlled by the electronic control system is capable of moving the load along the path and performing an operation in relation to a position along the path.

An electrode structure having at least two oxide layers that more reliably switch and operate without the use of additional devices and a non-volatile memory device having the same are provided. The electrode structure may include a lower electrode, a first oxide layer formed on the lower electrode, a second oxide layer formed on the first oxide layer and an upper electrode formed on the second oxide layer wherein at least one of the first and second oxide layers may be formed of a resistance-varying material. The first oxide layer may be formed of an oxide having a variable oxidation state.

A three-wheeled vehicle having two parts that can be tilted around a longitudinal axis. A rear part has a chassis for two-track wheels and the front part, which can be tilted relative to the rear part, accommodates a driver seat. Connected to a front end of the front part is a tiltable front wheel suspension to which a front wheel and an engine and gears for the front-wheel drive are attached. The two vehicle parts that can be tilted relative to each other each support or form a body which can also be designed for the front part as a monocoque and forms a closed and heatable driver cabin.

There is provided a vehicle comprising a chassis, two surface-engaging front wheels, at least one surface-engaging rear wheel and a propulsion unit for driving either the front wheels or the rear wheel or wheels. Each front wheel being connected to the chassis by means of a front wheel support assembly, wherein the front wheel support assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder associated with each front wheel. Each hydraulic cylinder comprises a housing connected to one of the chassis and the front wheel support assembly, and a piston connected to the other of the front wheel support assembly and the chassis. The piston is moveable within the housing and arranged to divide the hydraulic cylinder into first and second chambers each having respective ports arranged to allow hydraulic fluid to enter and exit the respective chamber, the ports of the first chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication and the ports of the second chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication such that movement of hydraulic fluid from the first or second chamber of one hydraulic cylinder to the respective first or second chamber of the other hydraulic cylinder displaces the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders in opposing directions relative to the respective housings to enable the vehicle to tilt.

A method of reducing congestion on a roadway is disclosed comprising dividing selected lengths of selected normal lanes of a roadway into two commuter lanes, providing distinctive lane markings to identify the commuter lanes, and dynamically designating selected lengths of selected lanes as either normal lanes or pairs of commuter lanes. In order to dynamically change lane configurations, a set of indicators can be provided as lane markers together with a control system to alter particular lane configurations between normal lanes and commuting lanes both cyclically according to a preprogrammed schedule and dynamically in response to sensed vehicle traffic volume, unusual events such as accidents, weather, and so on. Commuter lanes are designated cyclically and dynamically in response to traffic conditions to increase the capacity of the affected road. Normal lanes are designated at other times. To facilitate entry and exit from designated commuter lanes, transition zones can be provided where entering and exiting commuter lane traffic has right of way.A commuter vehicle is disclosed for use on commuter lanes. A typical commuter vehicle weighs less than 650 lbs., has at least three wheels, an enclosed seating compartment, and a low center of gravity with at least one occupant. In one embodiment, occupants sit in a near-kneeling position to lower their center of gravity. In, an alternate embodiment also providing a low center of gravity, occupants sit in a recumbent position. A mechanism can be provided to raise and lower the seats to facilitate occupant entry and exit. Occupants can be position in-line, one behind the other. Embodiments with two, three, or more seats can be provided.

An electrode structure having at least two oxide layers that more reliably switch and operate without the use of additional devices and a non-volatile memory device having the same are provided. The electrode structure may include a lower electrode, a first oxide layer formed on the lower electrode, a second oxide layer formed on the first oxide layer and an upper electrode formed on the second oxide layer wherein at least one of the first and second oxide layers may be formed of a resistance-varying material. The first oxide layer may be formed of an oxide having a variable oxidation state.

A transportation vehicle configured for riding and walking modes of use includes a support frame having a front end and a rear end; and a plurality of front wheels rotatably coupled to the front end, and a plurality of rear wheels rotatably coupled to the rear end. A seat is coupled to the frame and configured to support a driver. A steering assembly is operably coupled to the front wheels and configured to controllably pivot the front wheels for steering. A braking system is operably configured to stop motion of the vehicle. A rigid walking arm is pivotally coupled to the steering assembly at a pivotally mounted end of the walking arm. Motor operation and braking controls are provided on the walking arm for walking mode and adjacent to the seat for riding mode. A relay disables controls for one mode (e.g., walking mode or riding mode controls) while the other mode is effective. Switching logic for selecting between walking mode and riding mode is also provided. A motor controller receives input from controls, sensors and switches, and governs motor speed and direction in accordance with preset walking mode and riding mode control parameters.

A double deck bus having an overall height of twelve feet six inches or less configured to provide the maximum number of passenger seats and wherein the passenger aisle of the lower deck is offset the passenger aisle of the upper deck. The aisle of the upper deck is a channel which depends generally downward from the floor of the upper deck which allows at least seventy-five inches of clearance between the bottom of the upper aisle and the bus roof. The aisle of the lower deck is positioned along one side of the bus such that the upper aisle and lower aisle are offset thereby providing the maximum amount of head room for passengers traversing either aisle. Approximately eighty passenger seats can be provided in the bus due to this orientation without exceeding the preferred height, width or length restrictions which makes the bus acceptable for commuter purposes in and round large cities with tunnel and bridge size restrictions.

A “super fuel efficient”, safe, low-cost and yet high performance 4-wheeled vehicle is configured with motorcycle wheels and tires having continuous radius tires and of outside diameter (20-26 inches). A special configuration of the invention permits a 4-wheeled vehicle to naturally camber while engaging a corner, or while maneuvering on a slope. Integration of a “short-cycling”, low storage mass hybrid drivetrain into the vehicle, and further, an exhaust heat energy recovery system, secures the efficiency opportunity.

An all terrain vehicle (ATV) includes a plurality of wheels and a fender structure positioned over the wheels having a support portion designed as and defining a load-bearing surface. The fender structure may include a plurality of raised support portions that increase rigidity and load capacity. Additionally, it is not necessary to support either the fender structure or the support portion using the bumper of the ATV. The fender structure may be formed with plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or fiberglass-charged polyethylene, and may be manufactured using a blow-molding technique or an injection molding technique. The ATV may also include mud guards and a floor board that extends between the mud guards. The mud guards and the floor board may be formed as an integral or one piece unit with the fender structure. The mud guards can be injection molded or blow-molded while the fender structure can be blow-molded.

A beach wagon is disclosed which is convertible from a beach-wagon to a table. The wagon is used for transporting goods and contains a large cargo container with an open top. The beach wagon is easily converted from motorized to manual and back again, through the disengagement and re-engagement of the drivetrain. When motorized, a d-c battery-driven motor drives the rear wheels, and the rechargeable battery thereof is optionally aided by a solar panel. Forward gearing includes low-speed for pavement and hard sand and high-speed for soft sand. A rectangular deck has a pair of table leaves hingedly attached thereto and operable between an open and closed position. The leaves form opposite sides of a cargo container and in the closed position form a table. A pair of container panels attach to the table leaves and deck to form the cargo container.

Long range hydrogen fueled vehicle which carries at least two passangers, which has at least three wheels, said passengers sitting in tandem and most of the batteries or fuel cell systems are located on the sides of the passengers. The vehicle has an aerodynamically shaped body with substantially reduced frontal area and drag. The body is lightweight, made from shock absorbing materials and structures, and has pressure-airless tires, which enhances the safety of the passengers. The vehicle also includes an advanced hydrogen-electric or hydrogen-pneumatic hybrid propulsion system with quick refueling from existing infrastructure and various additional optional features and systems.

An electric vehicle which carries at least two passengers, which has at least three wheels, said passengers sitting in tandem and most of the batteries or fuel cell systems are located on the sides of the passengers. The vehicle has an aerodynamically shaped body with substantially reduced frontal area and drag. The body is lightweight, made from shock absorbing materials and structures, and has pressure-airless tires, which enhances the safety of the passengers. The vehicle also includes an advanced hydrogen-electric hybrid propulsion system with quick refueling from existing infrastructure and various additional optional features and systems.

A roof and mounting structure and a school or commercial bus vehicle provide improved leakage protection to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The roof is an integral unitized roof structure that reduces or eliminates the opportunity for leakage by replacing rivets with adhesive or adhesive tape as the joining force between the roof skin and supporting structure and by decreasing the number of potential leakage points by decreasing the number of parts making up the roof from many overlapping panels to what is effectively a single sheet. This single unitized roof may actually be comprised of two strips of metal welded together or crimped together along a seam.

A morphable vehicle member utilizing at least one active material to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The change in at least one attribute is a change in a shape dimension, a shape orientation, an expansion, a contraction, a morphing, a yield strength property, a flexural modulus or a combination. Preferably, the change in at least one attribute in the morphable vehicle member is reversible. Also disclosed herein are methods for the morphable vehicle member utilizing at least one active material to change at least one attribute on demand in response to an activation signal.

A body cover structure for a seat type vehicle provides a non-slip portion that can be formed integrally on a floor surface located between the tire housings. In a body cover structure for a seat type vehicle in which a body cover made of resin that covers a body frame is split into a front cover, a center cover, and a rear cover, and in which tire housings are formed in the front cover, a floor panel portion extends between tire housings and is formed integrally in the center cover. Non-slip portions are integrally formed on the floor surface of the floor panel portion.

A modular passenger semi trailer incorporating a vehicle construction technique in which the assembled passenger and alternate industrial embodiment modules observe structural strength, weight and balance and fail safe design considerations. The modular passenger semi trailer cabin module, including all interior seating and equipment, is assembled as a single unit upon a single, top, flat production joint face of the lower structure module, that module having a plurality of closed box beam compartments. A substantially sized cylinder compartment at the rear of the vehicle houses a pneumatically, reciprocally operative piston assembly containing a unipoint suspension which operates cooperatively with a wheel unit in the lower portion of the compartment. The wheel unit is captively located by a wheel shaft and cam block, swivel block external members, sandwiched, acting cooperatively within a forward and aft set of vertically disposed guideplates, the wheel unit operative along its vertical, longitudinal and lateral axis.

A four wheeled utility vehicle includes a pair of right and left rear wheels, a cabin arranged between the front wheels and the rear wheels, the cabin being defined with a cabin frame and accommodating an operational unit for the vehicle and seats for a passenger of the vehicle, a front fender for covering the front wheel and a front portion of the cabin frame, a protective frame disposed from a front portion of the cabin to a rear portion of the cabin through an upper portion of the cabin, and a front fixing member fixed rigidly to the front portion of the cabin frame so as to extend upward and project from the front fender through a through hole formed in the front fender, wherein a fore lower end of the protective frame is detachably and attachably fixed to the front fixing member at an upper end portion of the front fixing member.

A personal refueling station for a personal-sized electric vehicle has a polygonal base structure housing a refueling system and a plurality of flat panels hinged thereto which open to form a flat surface and close up to an upright pyramid for storage. The flat panels have solar PV arrays mounted on their inside surfaces which generate electricity from sunlight in the open position. The electricity is used to generate hydrogen for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, or is stored for recharging non-hydrogen electric vehicles. Alternatively, hydrogen or electricity may be provided from an external renewable power source. The station can also have utility hookups to provide excess hydrogen or electricity to an external energy usage, such as a home, business, or other station. The personal refueling station has a compact design that can be installed at home or business locations. It is designed to accommodate a personal-use electric vehicle such as an electric car or cart or a personal VTOL hovercraft. It can be used in a stationary location or transported for remote use, as well as operated by remote control.

An automotive vehicle having a power-actuated ramp includes a vehicle body having a roof, front portion, rear portion, opposed side portions, and a floor that cooperate to define a passenger area. At least one door provides boarding and alighting relative to the passenger area, which defines a flat area of the floor adapted to receive a mobility device. A ramp cartridge is operatively supported by and received within a recessed section of the floor and includes a frame assembly having a main deck and cooperating with and being substantially coplanar with the flat area to provide a substantial flatness of the floor, a ramp assembly having a ramp that is adapted to be retained in a stored position below the main deck, and a drive assembly adapted to actuate the ramp between the stored position and a first ramp position and between the stored position and a second ramp position.

An all-terrain vehicle including: a first seat arranged on the vehicle; a second seat arranged behind the first seat; a first floor arranged in front of the first seat; a second floor arranged between the first seat and the second seat; an engine having at least a part arranged between the first floor and the second floor; and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and having a first vertical pipe portion extending downward from a connecting portion to the engine and a horizontal pipe portion extending backward below the second floor.

A method of reducing congestion on a roadway is disclosed comprising dividing selected lengths of selected normal lanes of a roadway into two commuter lanes, providing distinctive lane markings to identify the commuter lanes, and dynamically designating selected lengths of selected lanes as either normal lanes or pairs of commuter lanes. In order to dynamically change lane configurations, a set of indicators can be provided as lane markers together with a control system to alter particular lane configurations between normal lanes and commuting lanes both cyclically according to a preprogrammed schedule and dynamically in response to sensed vehicle traffic volume, unusual events such as accidents, weather, and so on. Commuter lanes are designated cyclically and dynamically in response to traffic conditions to increase the capacity of the affected road. Normal lanes are designated at other times. To facilitate entry and exit from designated commuter lanes, transition zones can be provided where entering and exiting commuter lane traffic has right of way.A commuter vehicle is disclosed for use on commuter lanes. A typical commuter vehicle weighs less than 650 lbs., has at least three wheels, an enclosed seating compartment, and a low center of gravity with at least one occupant. In one embodiment, occupants sit in a near-kneeling position to lower their center of gravity. In, an alternate embodiment also providing a low center of gravity, occupants sit in a recumbent position. A mechanism can be provided to raise and lower the seats to facilitate occupant entry and exit. Occupants can be position in-line, one behind the other. Embodiments with two, three, or more seats can be provided.

An all-terrain vehicle includes a first seat arranged on the vehicle and a second seat arranged behind the first seat. The vehicle includes a first floor arranged in front of the first seat and a second floor arranged between the first seat and the second seat wherein an engine is at least partially arranged between the first floor and the second floor with an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and having a first vertical pipe portion extending downward from a connecting portion to the engine and a horizontal pipe portion extending backward below the second floor.

The front wheels of the vehicle having an adjustable wheel base are joined to the front portion of a main frame, on which a vehicle seat is mounted. The upper ends of a pair of rotating arms are rotatably joined to the main frame. The lower ends of the rotating arms are rotatably joined to the rear wheels. The upper arms and the lower arm are provided rotatably connected together such that the main frame and the rear wheels are joined at the back of the rotating arms. The operating portion of the operating apparatus, on which the main frame is installed, is joined via the operating links to the rotating arms. By operating the operating apparatus, the rotating arms are rotated by the operating links and the rear wheels are moved with respect to the front wheels. Simultaneously, the inclination of the main frame is changed.