Abstract: A vulcanizer constructed in that a body structure which is wide in the vertical direction is provided above a lower frame for supporting a lower mold in such a manner that an opening/closing and tightening mechanism is disposed below a laterally extending plane of an upper mold and a lower mold. Accordingly, there is no opening/closing and tightening mechanism in the periphery of a radial direction of the upper and lower molds, which makes it possible to utilize a split mold of a complex shape.

Abstract: The following technical measure is taken to provide a bicycle speed change system or method wherein a speed change operation can be performed substantially without unhanding a handlebar and without erroneously shifting to a lower or higher speed.Specifically, the bicycle speed change system (1) comprises a front speed shifter (1a), a rear speed shifter (1b), and speed change operation assemblies respectively including cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) rotatably supported around right and left grip portions (3a, 3b), respectively, of a handlebar (2); each of the shifters being operated by a control cable (T) which is pulled or released by rotating a corresponding one of the cylindrical operation members, wherein each of the cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) is designed so that rotation thereof in a direction of moving its top surface rearward causes a corresponding one of the shifters (1a, 1b) to shift to a lower speed position.

Abstract: The following technical measure is taken to provide a bicycle speed change system or method wherein a speed change operation can be performed substantially without unhanding a handlebar and without erroneously shifting to a lower or higher speed.Specifically, the bicycle speed change system (1) comprises a front speed shifter (1a), a rear speed shifter (1b), and speed change operation assemblies respectively including cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) rotatably supported around right and left grip portions (3a, 3b), respectively, of a handlebar (2); each of the shifters being operated by a control cable (T) which is pulled or released by rotating a corresponding one of the cylindrical operation members, wherein each of the cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) is designed so that rotation thereof in a direction of moving its top surface rearward causes a corresponding one of the shifters (1a, 1b) to shift to a lower speed position.

Abstract: The following technical means is provided to achieve a chain shift operation with a minimum of the guide pulley travel distance, to improve speed change efficiency and operatability, and to prevent the speed change assembly from protruding sideward:At a forward location of a sprocket cluster (2), a link base (8) of a pantograph link mechanism (12) is supported by a chain stay (7), and from this, an inner link (9) and an outer link (10) are extended. To respective free end portions of these links, there is connected a movable member (11), which pivotally supports a chain guide (15) which is elastically urged. The guide pulley travel control means (18) functions in such a way that when the pantograph link mechanism (12) is deformed, it would cause a guide pulley (13) of the chain guide (15) to move inward axially of the hub shaft and at the same time forwardly downward substantially along a radial path of the sprocket cluster (2).

Abstract: A bicycle frame assembly including a shock absorbing system associated with a rear wheel. The frame assembly comprises a main frame section, chain stays, seat stays and a rocker arm element, which are combined with each other to form a four-link mechanism that is movable within a vertical plane including the main frame section. A shock absorbing device is arranged between the rocker arm element and the main frame body, for absorbing shocks transmitted from the rear wheel to the main frame section when the frame assembly is in use.

Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a top tube provided with bulge-processed regions at its front and rear end portions, formed with bores having axes which intersect a longitudinal axis of the top tube, for accommodating therein the upper end portions of the head tube and the seat tube, respectively. The frame further includes a down tube provided with a bulge-processed region at its front end portion, formed with a bore having an axis which intersects a longitudinal axis of the down tube, for accommodating therein the lower end portion of the head tube, and optionally provided with another bulge-processed region at its rear end portion, formed with a bore having an axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the down tube, for accommodating therein the lower end portion of the seat tube. The frame has an optimized distribution of effective section modulus in the longitudinal direction of the top and down tubes, to realize a markedly improved rigidity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bicycle speed change assembly comprising: a pantogtaph link mechanism including a link base supported on a chain stay ahead of a sprocket cluster mounted on a hub shaft, inner and outer link members each extending rearward, and having a base end pivoted by a connecting pin to the link base, and a movable member pivoted by connecting pins to respective free ends of the inner and outer link members; and a chain guide rotatably supporting a guide pulley and a tension pulley, the chain guide being supported on the movable member of the pantograph mechanism to pivot about an axis in parallel with the hub shaft while being elastically urged to tension a chain.

Abstract: A friction-type stepless speed change device includes a frictional transmission elements composed of a pair of driving discs connected to an input shaft, and an annular driven disc connected to an output shaft and embraced between and urged against opposite conical surfaces of the driving discs into wedge-engagement to generate frictional force and allow power transmission from the driving discs to the driven disc. The driving discs are at a variable eccentricity relative to the driven disc, with which an effective pitch diameter of the driving discs is varied to effect a stepless speed change. For reducing the size of the frictional transmission elements while preserving a required torque capacity, the device further comprises a driving rotary unit for transmitting power from the input shaft to the driving discs at an increased rotational speed, and a driven rotary unit for transmitting power from the driven disc to the output shaft at a reduced rotational speed.

Abstract: A built-in generator arranged within a hub of a bicycle wheel including a hub member of a wheel rotatably fitted on an axle fixed to a frame of the bicycle, a stationary hollow cylinder fixed to the axle in the hub member, a generating coil unit provided in the stationary hollow cylinder and fixed thereto, a rotor formed integrally with a magnet rotatably provided on the axle, and a planetary transmission device for transmitting rotation of the hub member to the axle at increased speeds. The planetary transmission device is formed of at least one planetary roller device which includes a sun roller integral with the magnet and rotatably provided on the axle, a plurality of planet rollers arranged to be circumscribed on the sun roller, a planet carrier rotatably supporting the planet rollers, and an elastic ring circumscribing on the planet rollers. The planet rollers are in pressure-contact with the elastic ring and the sun roller.

Abstract: A wheel rim for a two-wheeled vehicle has a spray coated metallic and/or ceramic layer covering at least a part of a rim surface with which a brake shoe is brought into contact when a brake is applied.

Abstract: A friction stepless speed change device includes an input shaft, a driven shaft and an output shaft arranged on a common axis, and a countershaft rotatably provided in parallel with the common axis. The device further includes tow rockable arms rockable about the countershaft, a cylindrical driving rotary assembly rotatably provided on free ends of the rockable arms to enclose the driven shaft, a set of driving friction discs rotating together with the driving rotary assembly, and a set of driven friction discs rotating together with the driven shaft. The countershaft includes a first gear in mesh with a gear fixed to the input shaft, a second gear in mesh with a gear fixed to the driving rotary assembly, and a third gear in mesh with a sun gear of a planetary gear provided on the driven shaft. The output shaft is integrally formed with an internal gear in mesh with planet gears of the planetary gear.

Abstract: A friction stepless speed change device includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a countershaft provided in parallel with the input and output shafts on one side thereof, two rocking arms rockable about the countershaft, a cylindrical driven rotary assembly rotatably supported on free ends of the rocking arms to enclose the input shaft, a set of driving friction discs rotating together with the input shaft, and a set of driven friction discs rotating together with the driven rotary assembly. The sets of the driving and driven friction discs are wedge-engaged with each other. A gear fixed to the driven rotary assembly is in mesh with one gear of an intermediate gear assembly, and a gear arranged on a planet carrier is in mesh with the other gear of the intermediate gear assembly. Planet gears journaled on the planet carrier are in mesh with an internal gear integrally fixed to the input shaft, and a sun gear integrally formed on the output shaft is in mesh with the planat gears.

Abstract: A caliper brake for a bicycle includes brake members formed as side-pull type caliper arms. The brake members are pivotally supported on a frame of the bicycle and support at ends thereof brake shoes. A pulley is rotatably provided on a free end of one of the brake members. A brake operating wire is connected to brake operating levers at handlebars of the bicycle. The brake operating wire consists of an inner wire and an outer wire. The inner wire extends about the pulley to form a brake operating force acting point of the one brake member by the pulley at which brake operating force acts on the one brake member. One end of the inner wire is connected to the other brake member, and one end of the outer wire is anchored to a free end of the other brake member to form a brake operating force acting point of the other brake member by the anchored point at which brake operating force acts on the other brake member.

Abstract: A caliper type brake for a bicycle, which includes brake members pivotally supported by a frame of the bicycle for supporting brake shoes adapted to be pressed to a rim of a wheel of the bicycle. Each of the brake members is shaped like a bell crank and has one end pivotally connected to the frame of the bicycle and the other end supporting the brake shoe. An operating radius between a pivotal point of each of the brake members and a point of the brake member on which a brake operating force acts is made as small as possible. The brake further inlcudes a generally V-shaped connecting rod whose ends are connected to the brake members, respectively for applying the brake operating force to the brake member, a pulley rotatably provided at an intermediate portion of the connecting rod, and an operating wire extending about the pulley and having one end fixed to the frame of the bicycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stepless speed change device which comprises: an input shaft and an output shaft concentric to each other, a disc progressively thinner toward its outer periphery and fixed to the input shaft, a hollow cylinder fixed to the output shaft for enclosing the disc, a ring progressively thinner toward its inner periphery opposite to that of the disc and fixed to an inner circumference of the hollow cylinder in the same plane as that of the disc, and an intermediate transmitting device having two discs for embracing the ring and the disc on both sides thereof and being movable from a concentric position with the input and output shafts to eccentric positions with desired eccentricities therefrom in a stepless manner. With the above arrangement, the input shaft may be used as an output shaft, and the output shaft may be used as an input shaft.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device has an input shaft and an output shaft. The device inlcudes a planetary carrier proviced at an inner end of the input shaft, a sun gear provided at an inner end of the output shaft to be in mesh with planet gears carried on the planetary carrier, and an internal gear in mesh with the planet gears to form a planetary gear. The device further includes a driven rotor rotatable about the input shaft and in the form of a hollow cylinder having flanges at both ends and concentrically connected to the internal gear, a driving rotor enclosing the driven rotor and including two members connected to the input shaft on both sides of the driven rotor, and an intermediate friction transmission ring whose eccentricity is adjustable and interposed between the flanges of the driven rotor and between the two members of the driving rotor for transmitting rotating power therebetween.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device including an eccentric cam assembly whose eccentricity is adjustable relative to a center shaft, a carrier rotatably arranged about the eccentric cam assembly, rotary members on input and output sides, respectively, and a plurality of friction pieces arranged in two rows each including a plurality of the friction pieces. The friction pieces in one row are rockably connected to the rotary member on the input side and free ends of the friction pieces are engaged with an inside of the carrier. The friction pieces in the other row are rockably connected to the carrier and free ends of the friction pieces are engaged with an inside of the rotary member on the output side. As an alternative, all the friction pieces are rockably connected to the carrier and free ends of the friction pieces in one row and the other row are engaged with insides of the rotary members on the input and output sides, respectively.

Abstract: An inscribed transmission device includes a substantially crescent-shaped space between an internal gear and an external gear circumscribingly in mesh with each other. The device comprises a rolling space holder having two sets of two rollers whose centers are situated on radial axes in the crescent-shaped space on both sides of a straight line connecting centers of the internal and external gears. The internal and external gears are provided with roller rolling portions on which the rollers roll. The two sets of rollers are supported by a block member or side plates. The rolling space holder smoothly moves to keep the crescent-shaped space, thereby preventing unintentional disengagement of the internal and external gears.

Abstract: A speed change device for a bicycle comprises a carrier jointed to a crank arm and a plurality of planet gears rotatably supported on a plurality of shafts arranged in a circle on said carrier. Each of the planet gears includes a plurality of planet gear elements different in number of teeth. The device further comprises an internal gear in mesh with ones of the planet gear elements of the planet gears and formed in an outer circumference with a sprocket to form a driven rotary body, one-way clutches for connecting the driven rotary body to the carrier, a plurality of sun gears provided on a crankshaft and in mesh with the planet gear elements of the planet gears, respectively, and one-way clutches provided between inner circumferences of the sun gears and a fixed bearing enclosing the crankshaft. One of the one-way clutches last mentioned is able to connect selectively.

Abstract: A front fork for a bicycle comprises a stem tube, a shoulder lug and two fork tubes. The shoulder lug is made of a light metal alloy by casting. The stem tube is set in dies and the light metal alloy is poured into the dies so that part of the stem tube is embedded in the light metal alloy to form the shoulder lug and simultaneously the shoulder lug is integrally formed with fitting protrusions. The fitting protrusions of the shoulder lug are fitted in the fork tubes and joined thereto by an adhesive.