Abstract: A saddle ride type all-terrain vehicle includes left and right front wheels supported independently of each other on a vehicle body such that driving power is transmitted to said front wheels by way of a pair of left and right drive shafts extending from a driving source side. The vehicle also includes universal couplings provided at opposite end portions of each of the drive shafts, covered by rubber boots. The vehicle further includes a protector for covering the rubber boots.

Abstract: A catalyst-aided chemical processing method can process hard-to-process materials, especially SiC, GaN, etc. whose importance as electronic device materials is increasing these days, with high processing efficiency and high precision even for a space wavelength range of not less than several tens of ?m. The catalyst-aided chemical processing method comprises: putting a workpiece in a processing liquid in which halogen-containing molecules are dissolved; and moving the workpiece and a catalyst composed of molybdenum or a molybdenum compound relative to each other while keeping the catalyst in contact with or close proximity to a surface to be processed of the workpiece, thereby processing the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: To provide a motor-driven power steering unit support structure that can absorb mounting errors of a steering shaft. A vehicle includes a steering shaft rotatably supported on a vehicle body frame. A steering bar handle is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft. A motor-driven power steering unit is mounted onto the lower end of the steering shaft, and the vehicle includes at least two front wheels. The motor-driven power steering unit is supported on the vehicle body frame from the vehicle width direction. A front support member and a rear support member for supporting the motor-driven power steering unit are provided in the vehicle body frame on the front and rear sides, with the steering shaft therebetween.

Abstract: A steering shaft support structure for an all terrain vehicle in which both forces of push and pull applied to an EPS unit are reduced when a load is applied to handlebars. The structure includes a steering shaft rotatably supported by a body frame and handlebars attached to the steering shaft. The EPS unit is also supported by the body frame. Two sets of adjustable joints are interposed between the steering shaft and the EPS unit in such a manner that their axes are shiftable. With this, if a load is applied to the handlebars, the adjustable joint associated with the steering shaft follows the inclination of the steering shaft, so that the connection point (swing point) of the adjustable joint associated with the EPS unit does not shift. This reduces both forces of push and pull applied to the EPS unit.

Abstract: To make an electrically-operated power steering unit less susceptible to influence of change in a positional relationship between supporting sections respectively at the two ends of the electrically-operated power steering unit. A gear case included in a electrically-operated power steering unit is attached to the lower section of a vehicle body frame, and the lower end portion of a steering shaft is rotatably supported by a housing annexed to the gear case with an upper bearing interposed in between, in a vehicle in which an input shaft provided to the electrically-operated power steering unit is linked to the lower end portion of the steering shaft, and in which an output shaft provided to the electrically-operated power steering unit is rotatably supported by the lower section of a vehicle body.

Abstract: To provide a layout structure for a motor-driven power steering unit controller configured to take into account the water level at which submergence of the vehicle is expected to occur. In a vehicle including a steering shaft rotatably supported on a vehicle body frame, a steering bar handle attached to the upper end of the steering shaft, a motor-driven power steering unit mounted onto the lower end of the steering shaft, and at least two front wheels, a controller for controlling the motor-driven power steering unit is laid out on the front side relative to the steering shaft and above a horizontal line indicative of the submergence limit of the vehicle.

Abstract: A weight balance of a vehicle body is provided in an all terrain vehicle wherein an engine is supported by a vehicle body frame and an electric power steering device having an actuator unit is provided on a steering shaft. An electric motor is provided in the actuator unit, and heavy objects including a battery and a muffler are disposed on an opposite side to the electric motor in a vehicle width direction with respect to a vehicle body centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and on an opposite side to the electric motor in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the engine. To shorten and reduce weight the steering shaft is supported on a vehicle body frame through a radial bearing and ball bearings. Of the plurality of bearings, at least one of the bearings is made self-aligning.

Abstract: A structure for attaching an electrically-operated power steering apparatus for a vehicle. The structure includes a body frame, more specifically, sub slant frames having respective motor brackets for supporting an actuator unit. The motor brackets have bolts that fasten the actuator unit, and the bolts extend perpendicularly to a steering shaft. With this configuration, the structure is not affected by a manufacturing error of a body frame and other parts of the vehicle. Further, the structure takes account of a direction in which fastening means is tightened.

Abstract: To constrain a load applied to a steering shaft and a power assist unit. In a rough terrain vehicle including a power assist unit including an electrically-driven power steering apparatus provided coaxially with a steering shaft, and an electrically-driven motor provided in the power assist unit arranged so as to be orthogonal to the steering shaft, a rear end portion of the electrically-driven motor is supported by a motor supporting member which is mounted to inclined frames of a vehicle body frame.

Abstract: A saddle ride type all-terrain vehicle includes left and right front wheels supported independently of each other on a vehicle body such that driving power is transmitted to said front wheels by way of a pair of left and right drive shafts extending from a driving source side. The vehicle also includes universal couplings provided at opposite end portions of each of the drive shafts, covered by rubber boots. The vehicle further includes a protector for covering the rubber boots.