Abstract: There is provided a supported catalyst which has an excellent catalyst performance and is stable against highly concentrated methanol. The supported catalyst for a fuel cell electrode comprises a carrier and a catalytic metal supported on the carrier, characterized in that the carrier is hydrophilic and a metal oxide capable of accelerating proton conduction is provided on at least a part of the surface of the hydrophilic carrier.

Abstract: An exhaust device includes an exhaust pipe connected at its upstream end to a cylinder head of the engine and an exhaust muffler connected to the downstream end of the exhaust pipe for suppressing the generation of noise from a heat insulating cover that covers a part of the exhaust pipe. A heat insulating cover covers a portion of the exhaust pipe near the engine and a stay is fixed to the heat insulating cover. The stay includes a supporting plate portion curved so as to partially surround the outer circumference of the exhaust pipe. A first vibration isolating member is provided that is sandwiched between the outer circumference of the exhaust pipe and the supporting plate portion, a band member is tightened to mount the supporting plate portion to the exhaust pipe, and a second vibration isolating member is sandwiched between the supporting plate portion and the band member.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes first and second main shafts that enable switching of power transmission from an engine; a counter shaft connected to a drive wheel; and gear trains with a plurality of shift stages provided between each of the first and second main shafts and the counter shaft. The vehicle transmission also includes shifters which switch between engagement with and disengagement from a gear constituting part of each of the gear trains so as to switch the established states of the gear trains, and to prevent, during running at the most frequently used shift stage, the occurrence of gear rattle produced by a gear train other than the gear train with such a shift stage. With this configuration, in the running state of using a particular gear train with the highest frequency of the established states among the gear trains, the gear trains, excluding the particular gear train, are in the non-established state.

Abstract: A vehicular air intake system including a resonator for eliminate the possibility of dust and water droplets collecting in the resonator. An end portion of an air intake duct is branched into a resonator and an air intake section. In the air intake section, a chamber is formed having an air intake port for taking in outside air. The resonator is disposed upwardly of the air intake port. A branch pipe section and the chamber are positioned such that they are slightly inclined downwardly toward a main pipe section. In this arrangement, the air intake duct is disposed downwardly of a seat and a resin cover such that the air intake port is located a required distance away from a rear external surface of a fuel tank.

Abstract: A manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle eliminates a striking sound without losing an adjusting function of an adjustment nut. The manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle includes an arm for operating a driving changeover device and for connecting a wire which extends from a manipulation lever to the arm. An adjustment bolt is mounted on a distal end of the wire with a joint slidably mounted on the adjustment bolt on an axis thereof. An adjustment nut for supporting the joint is fastened to the adjustment bolt. A pair of side plate portions, respectively, forming elongated holes which allow the joint to pass therethrough is mounted on the arm. The adjustment nut is inserted between the pair of side plate portions with a buffer cover being mounted on the adjustment nut with a clearance formed between the adjustment nut and the respective side plate portions.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte membrane includes: a porous material layer and an inorganic material layer. The porous material layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The inorganic material layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the porous material layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. A solid electrolyte membrane alternatively includes: a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a through-hole that is filled with an electrolyte. The second porous layer is provided so as to face to at least either side of a principal surface of the first porous layer and has an opening that is filled with an electrolyte. The average diameter of the opening is smaller than the average diameter of the through-hole.

Abstract: A meter support structure for a vehicle includes a leg portion of a meter stay that is joined to a top bracket disposed on an upper end of a steering shaft by way of a mounting portion at a lower end portion of the leg portion. An upper portion of the meter stay is bent rearwardly to form a meter support portion. The meter support portion extends to an area upward of the top bracket and a meter is mounted thereon. The meter is then fitted with a meter cover. A pressure contact portion extends downwardly from a trailing end of the meter support portion. A rubber cushion mounted to the pressure contact portion is pressed up against a receiver member fixed to a side of the top bracket. Support stiffness is thereby enhanced and vibration-proof support is thereby provided.

Abstract: A muffler structure capable of suppressing generation of abnormal noise in the muffler even when the outer and the inner tubes expand thermally. Provided is a double-pipe muffler structure including an inner tube and an outer tube. In the muffler structure, an annular front step portion and an annular rear step portion are formed in the inner tube, while the step portions is brought into contact, from inside, with the outer tube and thus are supported by the outer tube. The outer tube supports the front and the rear step portions by being brought into close contact with the step portions partially and elastically.

Abstract: A fuel cell which generates electricity by using a fuel and oxygen, includes: an anode; a cathode; and a plate-like member provided between the anode and the cathode, the plate-like member including: a matrix having a plurality of through holes; and an electrolytic material buried in the through holes. The electrolytic material allows passage of protons and preventing passage of the fuel. The through holes have an aperture ratio distributed in the plate-like member so that the plate-like member has a uniform in-plane temperature when reaction between the anode and the cathode reaches a steady state.

Abstract: A seat support structure for facilitating assembly of a frame support member. The seat support structure includes a seat support portion mounted on a seat rail of a vehicle, the seat support portion having an opening portion; a mount rubber having an engaging groove portion on an outer peripheral portion thereof, an insertion portion arranged closer to a distal end side than the engaging groove portion, and a through hole penetrating through the mount rubber. Upon mounting the seat, the insertion portion of the mount rubber is inserted into the opening portion of the seat support portion, the portion of the seat to be supported is inserted into the through hole, and the mount rubber is moved in the radial direction in an inside of the opening portion, and a portion of a groove wall of the engaging groove portion is brought into pressure contact with the opening portion.

Abstract: A readout controlling apparatus for controlling reading conditions at the time of reading data coded in units of predetermined code blocks from a recording medium capable of performing error correction at a high reliability even when the playback conditions are poor by calculating an error rate using the number of bytes for which outer code error correction has been completed etc. in the error correction in an error corrector and controlling the reading conditions so that the error rate becomes small.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane includes a porous membrane and a proton conductive inorganic material loaded in the porous membrane. The proton conductive inorganic material has a super strong acidity. The proton conductive inorganic material contains a first oxide and a second oxide bonded to the first oxide. The first oxide contains an element X formed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn and Ce. The second oxide contains an element Y formed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Me, W and B.

Abstract: An electrolytic membrane comprising a porous membrane substrate containing a cross-linked polymer electrolyte having at least a structural component shown by following chemical formula 1: wherein A represents a repeating unit having an aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group, B represents a repeating unit having one of a nitrogen-containing hetero ring compound residue, and the sulfate, hydrochloride or organic sulfonate thereof, C represents a repeating unit having a cross-linked group, and X, Y and Z represent mol fractions of respective repeating units in the chemical formula 1, with 0.34?X?0.985, 0.005?Y?0.49, 0.01?Z?0.495 and Y?X and Z?X, provided that, in the repeating unit A, a ratio of the aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group is 0.3 to 1.0, and the number of the sulfonic acid group in the aromatic hydrocarbon group is 1 to 3.

Abstract: To enhance the balance in weight of the right and the left of the body of a four-wheel vehicle. In a four-wheel vehicle, an engine is supported by a body frame. A swing arm is swingably attached to the body frame. Rear wheels are supported by the swing arm. A rear cushion unit is attached between the rear of the body frame and the side of the rear end of the swing arm. Power from the engine is transmitted to the rear wheels via a rear propeller shaft. The center of the engine (that is, an axis of a crankshaft) and the rear cushion unit are set on one side and the rear propeller shaft is set on the other side respectively with respect to a center line of the body extending in a longitudinal direction of the body.

Abstract: A vehicular air intake system including a resonator for eliminate the possibility of dust and water droplets collecting in the resonator. An end portion of an air intake duct is branched into a resonator and an air intake section. In the air intake section, a chamber is formed having an air intake port for taking in outside air. The resonator is disposed upwardly of the air intake port. A branch pipe section and the chamber are positioned such that they are slightly inclined downwardly toward a main pipe section. In this arrangement, the air intake duct is disposed downwardly of a seat and a resin cover such that the air intake port is located a required distance away from a rear external surface of a fuel tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle's air intake device. In an embodiment, the intake device comprises an intake pipe, an air cleaner case in fluid communication with the intake pipe, a connection pipe in fluid communication with the air cleaner case, a carburetor attached to the connection pipe, and a plurality of resonators. In an embodiment, the intake device comprises an intake pipe, an air cleaner case in fluid communication with the intake pipe, a connection pipe in fluid communication with the air cleaner case, a carburetor attached to the connection pipe, and means for reducing intake sound levels.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge includes a container having an outlet port section, and a liquid fuel provided in the container. The liquid fuel contains a cationic impurity excluding H+. The concentration of the cationic impurity falls within a range of 1×10?7 to 6×10?6 equivalent/L at the outlet port section.

Abstract: A lubricating system for a power unit for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. A static oil hydraulic type non-stage transmission is disposed on a left lateral side of a crankshaft, and a lubricating oil tank is formed integrally with a main body of the internal combustion engine and is disposed on a right lateral side opposite to the side of the transmission, with the crankshaft therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention provides fuel cell system to supply liquid fuel and air to a stack to thus cause reaction, thereby generating rated power. The fuel cell system includes a liquid fuel supply system, and an air-supply system. An air-supply rate being a volume of air supplied from the air-supply system per unit time, the air-supply rate of the air is set to a first air-supply rate upon start-up. The first air-supply rate is higher than the air-supply rate during the rated power generation.

Abstract: A fuel cell cartridge filled with liquid fuel includes a warning mechanism including a detector to detect a concentration of metal ions in the liquid fuel and a comparator to compare the concentration of metal ions with a predetermined value, and issuing a warning when the concentration of the metal ions exceeds the predetermined value.