Abstract: A steering damper is configured to adjust a damping force of a rotor covered by a lower casing and an upper casing by changing the viscosity of a magnetic fluid with an electromagnet. Since a magnetic fluid chamber is provided with a volume compensating unit, even when the volume of the magnetic fluid expands, or air entrainment occurs, air bubbles lighter than the magnetic fluid are collected in the volume compensating unit. Thus, characteristic variations of the steering damper due to volume expansion or air entrainment of the magnetic fluid are prevented.

Abstract: A steering damper control apparatus includes a steering damper configured to generate a damping force which acts on a steering device, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a front wheel suspension, a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle of the steering device, and a damping force adjuster configured to adjust the damping force of the steering damper with one of a first command value which is a damping force command value according to a change rate of the pressure, and a second command value which is a damping force command value according to a steering angular speed, based on each detection result of the pressure sensor and steering angle sensor.

Abstract: A steering damper system for a saddle riding type vehicle having an MR damper includes a damping force calculating unit arranged to calculate a damping force according to a steering angle speed, and an adjusting command output unit arranged to determine a running state from a vehicle speed and a steering angle detected by sensors, with reference to a reference table, and correcting the damping force calculated according to the running state. The reference table has areas divided by a steering angle range according to vehicle speed, and damping force adjustment factors according to running states are assigned to these areas. The steering angle range dividing the areas becomes narrower with an increase in vehicle speed, to accurately reflect the running states of the vehicle. A proper damping force can be generated according to a running state of the vehicle. The steering damper system eases the rider's burden accompanying steering operations, and is excellent in controllability.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle that reduces steering pull of a handle caused by a disturbance and also prevents degradation in a steering feeling includes a detector that detects a steering angle of a steering shaft, a steering damper, and a control device. The steering damper is arranged around the steering shaft and includes an electromagnet, a magnetic member, and a magnetic fluid stored in a gap between the electromagnet and the magnetic member. The control device includes a steering angular velocity determiner adapted to determine a steering angular velocity based on a steering angle detected by the detector, an instructor adapted to instruct a supply of current to the electromagnet for a first reference time when the determined steering angular velocity exceeds a first reference velocity and to instruct a stopping or reduction of the current supply after the first reference time elapses, and a driver that supplies the electromagnet with current in response to an instruction from the instructor.

Abstract: In a steering damper control apparatus, when a command value output unit detects an idle spin of a rear wheel, a damper driver increases a damping force of an MR damper to be higher than a damping force thereof used when the rear wheel is not spinning idly. Therefore, skidding of the rear wheel is prevented to prevent a posture change of a motorcycle. As a result, a driving direction of the rear wheel deviating from a traveling direction is prevented to efficiently use the drive of the rear wheel during traveling.

Abstract: A steering damper control apparatus includes an MR damper having an adjustable steering damping force, a suspension pressure sensor that detects a pressure of a front suspension, a command value output unit that determines a damping force command value according to a pressure change rate of the front suspension based on a detection result of the suspension pressure sensor, and a damper driver that causes the MR damper to generate a damping force corresponding to the damping force command value. At a point of time when steering becomes easily shakable, the damping force corresponding to the damping force command value is generated to prevent shaking of the steering beforehand.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle includes a support mechanism arranged to support a pair of wheels to be movable up and down relative to a vehicle body, a lock mechanism connectable to the support mechanism and arranged to limit up-and-down motion of the pair of wheels, various sensors arranged to detect vehicle states, and a controller arranged to control the lock mechanism based on results of detection by the various sensors. The controller controls the lean limitation to the up-and-down motion of the pair of wheels and its cancellation automatically. The rider need not carry out a special control for operating the lock mechanism. In addition, the lock mechanism is controlled according to the vehicle states, which allows the rider to travel lightly and comfortably.

Abstract: A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support a pair of wheels to be movable up and down relative to a vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean amount acquiring device arranged to detect a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged, based on detection results received from the lean amount acquiring device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body exceeds a first angle, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is at the first angle or less. This system can conveniently inhibit the vehicle body from leaning in excess of the first angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic stress measurement method of measuring a residual stress of a measuring target layer in a measuring object using an ultrasonic wave, the method comprising, setting a plurality of vibration modes according to a number of degree of freedom of the measuring target layer in the measuring object, performing, for each vibration mode, a measurement operation of emitting an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the set vibration mode to the measuring target layer, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the measuring target layer, and measuring an eigenfrequency of the measuring target layer, and measuring the residual stress of the measuring target layer based on plural measurement data of the eigenfrequency with respect to each vibration mode obtained by the measurement operation. The residual stress of the measuring object thus can be measured at higher accuracy.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle that reduces steering pull of a handle caused by a disturbance and also prevents degradation in a steering feeling includes a detector that detects a steering angle of a steering shaft, a steering damper, and a control device. The steering damper is arranged around the steering shaft and includes an electromagnet, a magnetic member, and a magnetic fluid stored in a gap between the electromagnet and the magnetic member. The control device includes a steering angular velocity determiner adapted to determine a steering angular velocity based on a steering angle detected by the detector, an instructor adapted to instruct a supply of current to the electromagnet for a first reference time when the determined steering angular velocity exceeds a first reference velocity and to instruct a stopping or reduction of the current supply after the first reference time elapses, and a driver that supplies the electromagnet with current in response to an instruction from the instructor.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a head pipe, a steering shaft, and a steering damper. The head pipe is attached to the front end of the vehicle body frame. The steering shaft is inserted rotatably in the head pipe. The steering damper includes an electromagnet, a magnetic member, and a magnetic fluid. The electromagnet is provided around the steering shaft and has a first surface. The magnetic member is provided around the steering shaft and has a second surface opposed to the first surface. The magnetic fluid is stored in a gap formed between the first and second surfaces. One of the electromagnet and the magnetic member is attached to the steering shaft and the other is attached to the head pipe.

Abstract: A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support at least a pair of traveling members that contact a traveling surface and are provided at opposite sides of the vehicle body to be movable up and down relative to the vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean information detecting device arranged to detect information on a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged to perform control, based on detection results received from the lean information detecting device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is increasing, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is decreasing.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a head pipe, a steering shaft, and a steering damper. The head pipe is attached to the front end of the vehicle body frame. The steering shaft is inserted rotatably in the head pipe. The steering damper includes an electromagnet, a magnetic member, and a magnetic fluid. The electromagnet is provided around the steering shaft and has a first surface. The magnetic member is provided around the steering shaft and has a second surface opposed to the first surface. The magnetic fluid is stored in a gap formed between the first and second surfaces. One of the electromagnet and the magnetic member is attached to the steering shaft and the other is attached to the head pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic stress measurement method of measuring a residual stress of a measuring target layer in a measuring object using an ultrasonic wave, the method comprising, setting a plurality of vibration modes according to a number of degree of freedom of the measuring target layer in the measuring object, performing, for each vibration mode, a measurement operation of emitting an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the set vibration mode to the measuring target layer, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the measuring target layer, and measuring an eigenfrequency of the measuring target layer, and measuring the residual stress of the measuring target layer based on plural measurement data of the eigenfrequency with respect to each vibration mode obtained by the measurement operation. The residual stress of the measuring object thus can be measured at higher accuracy.

Abstract: A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support at least a pair of traveling members that contact a traveling surface and are provided at opposite sides of the vehicle body to be movable up and down relative to the vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean information detecting device arranged to detect information on a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged to perform control, based on detection results received from the lean information detecting device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is increasing, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is decreasing.

Abstract: A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support a pair of wheels to be movable up and down relative to a vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean amount acquiring device arranged to detect a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged, based on detection results received from the lean amount acquiring device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body exceeds a first angle, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is at the first angle or less. This system can conveniently inhibit the vehicle body from leaning in excess of the first angle.

Abstract: A steering damper system for a saddle riding type vehicle having an MR damper includes a damping force calculating unit arranged to calculate a damping force according to a steering angle speed, and an adjusting command output unit arranged to determine a running state from a vehicle speed and a steering angle detected by sensors, with reference to a reference table, and correcting the damping force calculated according to the running state. The reference table has areas divided by a steering angle range according to vehicle speed, and damping force adjustment factors according to running states are assigned to these areas. The steering angle range dividing the areas becomes narrower with an increase in vehicle speed, to accurately reflect the running states of the vehicle. A proper damping force can be generated according to a running state of the vehicle. The steering damper system eases the rider's burden accompanying steering operations, and is excellent in controllability.

Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle includes a support mechanism arranged to support a pair of wheels to be movable up and down relative to a vehicle body, a lock mechanism connectable to the support mechanism and arranged to limit up-and-down motion of the pair of wheels, various sensors arranged to detect vehicle states, and a controller arranged to control the lock mechanism based on results of detection by the various sensors. The controller controls the lean limitation to the up-and-down motion of the pair of wheels and its cancellation automatically. The rider need not carry out a special control for operating the lock mechanism. In addition, the lock mechanism is controlled according to the vehicle states, which allows the rider to travel lightly and comfortably.

Abstract: A control unit controls a vehicle having a body to allow a user to step on, a power generator arranged to generate power that drives the body, and a first sensor and a second sensor. Each sensor preferably outputs a load value representing a load that has been applied to the body. The control unit preferably includes a processor arranged to output a command value associated with a bias of the load based on first and second load values that have been respectively detected by the first and second sensors, and a drive controller arranged to control the power generator in accordance with the command value.

Abstract: A control unit is designed to control a vehicle which includes a body arranged to allow a user to step onto the body, a power generator arranged to generate power that drives the body, and a load sensor unit arranged to output a load value representing a load that has been applied to the body. The control unit preferably includes a processor arranged to calculate a bias of the load based on the load value that has been detected by the load sensor unit and to output a command value as a function of the bias, and a drive controller arranged to control the power generator in accordance with the command value. The processor outputs the command value for generating the power when there is substantially no bias in the load.