Abstract: Outboard engine body is mounted via a swivel shaft to a stern bracket. Angle sensor, provided on the stern bracket, includes a contact having a maximum operating angle set to be not greater than half of a maximum steered angle of the engine body, and it outputs detection information indicative of an operating angle of the contact. Curved member is provided on the engine body and normally held in engagement with the contact, and it has a continuously varying radius of curvature from the central axis of the swivel shaft, so that the contact varies in operating angle while sliding along a curved outer peripheral surface of the curved member in response to steering operation. Thus, a steered angle is determined on the basis of the detection information from the angle sensor.

Abstract: A self-propelled snow remover has a machine body, a snow-removing implement mounted to a front part of the machine body for undergoing rolling and vertical movement relative to the machine body, and an operating unit mounted to a rear part of the machine body. An alignment operating member is mounted to the operating unit for rolling and vertically moving the snow-removing implement. The alignment operating member is disposed on one of opposite sides of a widthwise central line of the machine body. A return operating member is mounted to the operating unit for automatically returning the snow-removing implement to a predetermined reference position. The return operating member is disposed proximate to the alignment operating member at a position closer to the widthwise central line of the machine body than the alignment operating member and further towards the rear part of the machine body than the alignment operating member.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a small boat having a hull and two outboard motors mounted on a stern of the hull and an actuator adapted to open/close a throttle valve of each engine of the motors for regulating speed of the engine, acceleration acting on the boat in a direction of gravity axis when the boat ascends or descends the ocean wave and angular acceleration about the gravity is detected and a correction amount of the engine speed is calculated based on the detected acceleration so as to change behavior of the boat, thereby mitigating a burden on the operator and improving stability of the boat.

Abstract: Outboard engine body is mounted via a swivel shaft to a stern bracket. Angle sensor, provided on the stern bracket, includes a contact having a maximum operating angle set to be not greater than half of a maximum steered angle of the engine body, and it outputs detection information indicative of an operating angle of the contact. Curved member is provided on the engine body and normally held in engagement with the contact, and it has a continuously varying radius of curvature from the central axis of the swivel shaft, so that the contact varies in operating angle while sliding along a curved outer peripheral surface of the curved member in response to steering operation. Thus, a steered angle is determined on the basis of the detection information from the angle sensor.

Abstract: A self-propelled work machine, in which the load of the work unit increases according to an increase in the travel speed. The self-propelled work machine includes electric motors for driving the travel units, an engine for driving the work unit, a work drive instruction unit for instructing the work unit to turn on, and a control unit for controlling the electric motors. The control unit reduces the actual speed of the electric motors by using PID control so that the actual rotational speed of the engine returns to a reference rotational speed when the actual rotational speed of the engine falls below the reference rotational speed in the state in which the work unit is turned on by the work drive instruction unit. The reference rotational speed is a reference value used when the work unit is driven by the engine.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a small boat having a hull and two outboard motors mounted on a stem of the hull and an actuator adapted to open/close a throttle valve of each engine of the motors for regulating speed of the engine, acceleration acting on the boat in a direction of gravity axis when the boat ascends or descends the ocean wave and angular acceleration about the gravity is detected and a correction amount of the engine speed is calculated based on the detected acceleration so as to change behavior of the boat, thereby mitigating a burden on the operator and improving stability of the boat.

Abstract: A walk-behind electric working machine has a frame, an electric motor mounted on the frame, and a handle support section mounted on the frame, the handle support section having a pair of electrical terminals. A handle post has a first end portion for removable connection to the handle support section, a second end portion, and an electrical terminal disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the first end portion for electrical connection with the electrical terminals of the handle support section when the first end portion of the handle post is connected to the handle support section. A handle is removably mounted on the second end portion of the handle post and has handle portions. Grip members are mounted on the respective handle portions and are configured to be gripped by respective hands of an operator. An operation button controls power to operate the electric motor when the electrical terminal of the handle post is electrically connected to the electrical terminals of the handle support section.

Abstract: A walk-behind self-propelled working machine has a machine body, a working unit mounted on the machine body to perform a working operation, an engine mounted on the machine body to drive the working unit, and a traveling unit mounted on the machine body and drivable to cause the machine body to travel. A control unit controls operations of the working unit and the traveling unit. An operating section is operatable by a human operator to provide signals to the control unit to control operations of the working unit and the traveling unit. A mode selector switch is mounted on the operating section for operation by the human operator to select one working operation mode from among plural alternative working operation modes that are set in advance in the control unit on the basis of a combination of a travel speed of the machine body, a revolving speed of the engine, and an opening of a throttle valve associated with the engine.

Abstract: A working machine has a machine body, a working unit attached to the machine body, an internal combustion engine for driving the working unit, a traveling unit mounted on the machine body 11 for displacing the working unit over a ground surface to perform a work operation on the ground surface, and an electric motor for driving the traveling unit. A battery supplies electric power to the electric motor in a battery mode of the working machine to thereby drive the electric motor. A battery mode switch switches between an ON position in which the working machine is in the battery mode and an OFF position in which the working machine is not in the battery mode. A power generator is driven by the internal combustion engine to supply electric power to the battery and to the electric motor.

Abstract: A self-propelled working machine has a pair of transporting parts, a working part, an engine for driving at least the working part, and a main switch for turning the engine on and off. A locomotion preparation switch produces a command for moving the transporting parts when turned on and produces a stop command for stopping movement of the transporting parts when turned off. A locomotion speed setting member orders a target locomotion speed of the transporting parts. A work switch switches the working part on and off. A control part stops the engine when a first condition that the main switch is on, a second condition that the locomotion preparation switch is off, a third condition that the transporting parts have stopped moving and the target locomotion speed ordered by the locomotion speed setting member is zero, and a fourth condition that the work switch is off, are satisfied.

Abstract: An electric vehicle has a control unit having a decelerating control function of decelerating an electric motor disposed on a side of a vehicle body corresponding to a turning direction of the electric vehicle, and an accelerating control function of outputting an accelerating control signal for performing acceleration control to accelerate the electric motor when operation of the electric vehicle is switched from a first traveling mode to a second traveling mode. When the electric motor has a speed not exceeding a predetermined reference speed, the accelerating control function performs the acceleration control such that a level of the accelerating control signal is increased abruptly for a temporary time from the switching of the operation of the electric vehicle from the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode.

Abstract: A self-propelled work machine, in which the load of the work unit increases according to an increase in the travel speed. The self-propelled work machine includes electric motors for driving the travel units, an engine for driving the work unit, a work drive instruction unit for instructing the work unit to turn on, and a control unit for controlling the electric motors. The control unit reduces the actual speed of the electric motors by using PID control so that the actual rotational speed of the engine returns to a reference rotational speed when the actual rotational speed of the engine falls below the reference rotational speed in the state in which the work unit is turned on by the work drive instruction unit. The reference rotational speed is a reference value used when the work unit is driven by the engine.

Abstract: A walk-behind self-propelled snow-removing machine includes a snow-removing-unit posture control member disposed on an operating section at one side thereof, a travel ready lever comprised of a deadman's lever mounted on one operation handlebar at the other side of the operating section, and a mode selector switch disposed on the operating section and located forwardly of the travel ready lever for selecting one of plural alternative snow removing operation modes that are set in advance in a control unit on the basis of a travel speed of a machine body, a revolving speed of an engine, and an opening of a throttle valve.

Abstract: A self-propelled snow remover having a snow-removing implement mounted to the front of a machine body so as to be capable of lifting, lowering, and rolling. The self-propelled snow remover includes an alignment operating member and a return operating member mounted to an operating unit. The alignment operating member is provided for both rolling and vertically moving the snow-removing implement and is disposed towards a left or right side with respect to a widthwise center of the machine body. The return operating member is operated as the snow-removing implement is returned automatically to a predetermined reference position and is disposed in the vicinity of the alignment operating member.

Abstract: A walk-behind electric working machine has a frame, an electric motor mounted on the frame, and a handle support section mounted on the frame, the handle support section having a pair of electrical terminals. A handle post has a first end portion for removable connection to the handle support section, a second end portion, and an electrical terminal disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the first end portion for electrical connection with the electrical terminals of the handle support section when the first end portion of the handle post is connected to the handle support section. A handle is removably mounted on the second end portion of the handle post and has handle portions. Grip members are mounted on the respective handle portions and are configured to be gripped by respective hands of an operator. An operation button controls power to operate the electric motor when the electrical terminal of the handle post is electrically connected to the electrical terminals of the handle support section.

Abstract: An electric vehicle in which left and right electric motors respectively driving left and right transporting parts are controlled by a control part and particular turning control of the electric motors is carried out when the electric vehicle turns. The electric vehicle has a left and right pair of push-button turn switches. When one of the turn switches is operated, the control part selects a pattern from multiple preset deceleration patterns and decelerates the motor on the inside of the turn, which corresponds to the turn switch being operated, on the basis of this deceleration pattern. The electric vehicle makes turns and returns to straight-line travel optimally and smoothly and can be operated easily by an operator with no skill or experience.

Abstract: A working machine has a machine body, an engine mounted on the machine body, an electric motor mounted on the machine body, a working part driven by the engine during a working state of the working part for performing a working operation, and a transporting part driven by the electric motor for transporting the working machine during the working operation.

Abstract: A walk-behind electric working machine has a frame, an electric motor mounted on the frame, and a handle support section mounted on the frame, the handle support section having a pair of electrical terminals. A handle post has a first end portion for removable connection to the handle support section, a second end portion, and an electrical terminal disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the first end portion for electrical connection with the electrical terminals of the handle support section when the first end portion of the handle post is connected to the handle support section. A handle is removably mounted on the second end portion of the handle post and has handle portions. Grip members are mounted on the respective handle portions and are configured to be gripped by respective hands of an operator. An operation button controls power to operate the electric motor when the electrical terminal of the handle post is electrically connected to the electrical terminals of the handle support section.

Abstract: In a travel control method for an electric vehicle, an accelerator angle is obtained from a position of an accelerator lever. An accelerator percentage is determined in accordance with the accelerator angle. The ON times of first and second brake buttons are read. Brake percentages of first and second brakes are determined in accordance with the ON times of the respective first and second brake buttons. A control value for a first electric motor is determined by correcting the accelerator percentage with a corrected brake percentage of the first brake obtained by applying an influence of the brake percentage of the second brake to the brake percentage of the first brake. A speed of the first electric motor is controlled using the control value of the first electric motor.

Abstract: In a travel control method for an electric vehicle having first and second electric motors for driving respective first and second driven wheels, a speed of each of the first and second electric motors is calculated. The speed of the first electric motor is reduced to equal the speed of the second electric motor when the speed of the first electric motor is higher than the speed of the second electric motor. Reduction of the speed of the first electric motor is not carried out when a first condition, in which a difference between the speeds of the first and second electric motors is below a first preselected threshold value, and a second condition, in which the speed of the first electric motor is below a second preselected threshold value identical or substantially equal to a low speed range of the electric vehicle, are met.