A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

A suspension is provided for coupling a front wheel with a chassis of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises upper and lower suspension arms that each includes two inboard mounting points to the chassis and one outboard rod-end joint to a spindle assembly coupled with the front wheel. A ball comprising each outboard rod-end joint is fastened by way a bolt between a pair of parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. The upper suspension arm is configured to facilitate coupling a strut between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A steering rod is coupled with the spindle assembly by way of a steering rod-end joint that is disposed forward of a drive axle, thereby decreasing leverage of the front wheel on the steering rod and substantially eliminating bump steer that may occur due to rough terrain.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

To show an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus in which an object to be heated such as a half-finished light alloy wheel can be heated efficiently to have a predetermined temperature in a short time. An electromagnetic induction heating apparatus 1 includes a rotating body 2 with a plurality of magnets 21 arranged such that the same pole is positioned on the side of an object to be heated 8 and a rotation driving motor 3 for rotating the rotating body 2, in which the object to be heated 8 is heated by an induced current generated when the rotating body 2 is rotated. By controlling the distance D between the magnets 21 of the rotating body 2 and the object to be heated 8 with a moving motor 6, a light alloy wheel or the like, which has a high thermal expansion coefficient, can be well-heated efficiently.

To show an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus in which an object to be heated such as a half-finished light alloy wheel can be heated efficiently to have a predetermined temperature in a short time. An electromagnetic induction heating apparatus 1 includes a rotating body 2 with a plurality of magnets 21 arranged such that the same pole is positioned on the side of an object to be heated 8 and a rotation driving motor 3 for rotating the rotating body 2, in which the object to be heated 8 is heated by an induced current generated when the rotating body 2 is rotated. By controlling the distance D between the magnets 21 of the rotating body 2 and the object to be heated 8 with a moving motor 6, a light alloy wheel or the like, which has a high thermal expansion coefficient, can be well-heated efficiently.

An apparatus for a single-track motor vehicle includes a first wheel disc and a second wheel disc. The first wheel disc and the second wheel disc are configured on the wheel rim so as to be mutually spaced apart in a transverse direction parallel to the rotation axis (A) of the disc wheel, and extend from the wheel rim in the direction of the wheel hub. The wheel discs converge in the direction of the wheel hub and are connected to one another in such a manner that at least one cavity between the wheel discs and the wheel rim is formed. At least one cutout toward the at least one cavity is formed in a rim well of the wheel rim.

A metal component is produced using a casting-and-forming tool by casting a melt of a metal alloy into the casting-and-forming tool, wherein the melt is poured from above into a base part or reservoir of the casting-and-forming tool at a first pressure, applying pressure to the melt between the base part and an upper part while the melt is solidifying to a component, wherein the solidifying melt is pressurized at a second pressure, which is larger than the first pressure, when the melt is at least partly, i.e., mostly solidified to form a component compressing the component by relative movement of the base part to the upper part so as to compress the component with a third pressure, which is higher than the second pressure.

An alloy for cladding cast iron is disclosed. The alloy may include on a weight basis, about 6.2% to about 9.3% of chromium (Cr), about 3.0% to about 4.5% of iron (Fe), about 1.4% to about 2.15% of silicon (Si), about 0.5% to about 0.8% of boron (B), about 0.1% of carbon (C), and a balance of nickel (Ni) and incidental impurities.