Abstract: In one aspect, the vehicle is a relatively small-sized utility vehicle and includes front and rear wheels on the right and left sides of a body of the vehicle. A seat is located substantially midway between the front and rear wheels. At least part of a power unit is disposed in the space under the seat. The power unit includes an engine having a crank shaft and a transmission to which power is input from the output portion of the engine through a first power train. The crank shaft includes a rotational mass, and at least a portion of the transmission is located in the space below a swept area of the rotational mass.

Abstract: In a V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) of an ATV, a movable sheave half of a primary sheave is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a fixed sheave half, and a sheave drive mechanism for controlling the respective groove widths of the primary sheave and a secondary sheave through a driving force by an electric motor is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the movable sheave half of the primary sheave. A footboard of the ATV is located on the outer side of the V-belt CVT in the vehicle width direction and below a primary sheave shaft and a secondary sheave shaft. A portion of the electric motor is located above and in front of the primary sheave shaft as viewed in the sheave shaft direction. A straddle-type vehicle having the compact, yet durable V-belt continuously variable transmission achieves a speed change operation highly responsive to the vehicle running condition.

Abstract: A small-sized vehicle (SSV) capable of inhibiting a differential unit from becoming large in a vertical direction includes an engine, a rear output shaft portion arranged to extend rearwardly of the engine and serving to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward, an intermediate shaft portion rotated by the rear output shaft portion and extended in a vehicle width direction, a rear-wheel differential unit rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and serving for differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels.

Abstract: A V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a straddle-type vehicle includes a measurement plate for a rotational speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of a primary sheave shaft to control a speed change ratio. The measurement plate is disposed on an opposite end of the primary sheave shaft, to one end of which a driving force of an engine is input, with respect to a primary sheave.

Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle includes a first seat arranged on the vehicle and a second seat arranged behind the first seat. The vehicle includes a first floor arranged in front of the first seat and a second floor arranged between the first seat and the second seat wherein an engine is at least partially arranged between the first floor and the second floor with an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and having a first vertical pipe portion extending downward from a connecting portion to the engine and a horizontal pipe portion extending backward below the second floor.

Abstract: There is provided a small-sized vehicle (SSV) capable of inhibiting a differential unit from becoming large in a vertical direction. The small-sized vehicle comprises an engine, a rear output shaft portion arranged to extend rearwardly of the engine and serving to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward, an intermediate shaft portion rotated by the rear output shaft portion and extended in a vehicle width direction, a rear-wheel differential unit rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and serving for differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels.

Abstract: A power unit for a vehicle comprises an engine and a transmission assembly. The engine includes a crank shaft having a rotating mass. The transmission assembly includes a drive shaft having a first drive gear and being connected to the crank shaft through a first transmission mechanism, and a driven shaft connected to the drive shaft through a driven gear that meshes with the first drive gear. With the power unit oriented such that the crank shaft is substantially horizontal, at least a portion of the transmission assembly is positioned within a region extending below a swept area of the rotating mass.

Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including: a first seat arranged on the vehicle; a second seat arranged behind the first seat; a first floor arranged in front of the first seat; a second floor arranged between the first seat and the second seat; an engine having at least a part arranged between the first floor and the second floor; and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and having a first vertical pipe portion extending downward from a connecting portion to the engine and a horizontal pipe portion extending backward below the second floor.

Abstract: In a V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT), a sheave drive mechanism includes a movable tube coupled to a movable sheave half of a primary sheave so as to be rotatable with respect thereto and axially movable together therewith, a fixed tube disposed internally of and coaxially with the movable tube, and a ball screw mechanism provided between the fixed tube and the movable tube. The sheave drive mechanism further includes an outer peripheral wall arranged to cover the area from a fixed end of the fixed tube to the outer periphery of the movable tube, an oil seal provided between the movable tube and the outer peripheral wall to seal an internal space for enclosing the working surface of the ball screw mechanism, and a communication path for communication between the internal space and the outside of the outer peripheral wall. The V-belt (CVT) has a smooth feed operation of the ball screw mechanism in the sheave drive mechanism and has a high durability attained by waterproofing.

Abstract: In one aspect, the vehicle is a relatively small-sized utility vehicle and includes front and rear wheels on the right and left sides of a body of the vehicle. A seat is located substantially midway between the front and rear wheels. At least part of a power unit is disposed in the space under the seat. The power unit includes an engine having a crank shaft and a transmission to which power is input from the output portion of the engine through a first power train. The crank shaft includes a rotational mass, and at least a portion of the transmission is located in the space below a swept area of the rotational mass.

Abstract: A power unit for a vehicle comprises an engine and a transmission assembly. The engine includes a crank shaft having a rotating mass. The transmission assembly includes a drive shaft having a first drive gear and being connected to the crank shaft through a first transmission mechanism, and a driven shaft connected to the drive shaft through a driven gear that meshes with the first drive gear. With the power unit oriented such that the crank shaft is substantially horizontal, at least a portion of the transmission assembly is positioned within a region extending below a swept area of the rotating mass.

Abstract: In a V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) of an ATV, a movable sheave half of a primary sheave is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a fixed sheave half, and a sheave drive mechanism for controlling the respective groove widths of the primary sheave and a secondary sheave through a driving force by an electric motor is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the movable sheave half of the primary sheave. A footboard of the ATV is located on the outer side of the V-belt CVT in the vehicle width direction and below a primary sheave shaft and a secondary sheave shaft. A portion of the electric motor is located above and in front of the primary sheave shaft as viewed in the sheave shaft direction. A straddle-type vehicle having the compact, yet durable V-belt continuously variable transmission achieves a speed change operation highly responsive to the vehicle running condition.

Abstract: In a V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT), a sheave drive mechanism includes a movable tube coupled to a movable sheave half of a primary sheave so as to be rotatable with respect thereto and axially movable together therewith, a fixed tube disposed internally of and coaxially with the movable tube, and a ball screw mechanism provided between the fixed tube and the movable tube. The sheave drive mechanism further includes an outer peripheral wall arranged to cover the area from a fixed end of the fixed tube to the outer periphery of the movable tube, an oil seal provided between the movable tube and the outer peripheral wall to seal an internal space for enclosing the working surface of the ball screw mechanism, and a communication path for communication between the internal space and the outside of the outer peripheral wall. The V-belt (CVT) has a smooth feed operation of the ball screw mechanism in the sheave drive mechanism and has a high durability attained by waterproofing.

Abstract: A V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a straddle-type vehicle includes a measurement plate for a rotational speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of a primary sheave shaft to control a speed change ratio. The measurement plate is disposed on an opposite end of the primary sheave shaft, to one end of which a driving force of an engine is input, with respect to a primary sheave.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel and a method of manufacturing the same which comprises: forming a roll of luminous base film which includes a luminous layer made of phosphors embedded in an insulating material, the luminous layer being laminated upon a conductive film; forming a roll of a transparent conductive film; passing the luminous base film and the transparent conductive film between a pair of rollers while sandwiching a power supply bus bar made of a metal film therebetween, to thereby form the luminous film, the transparent conductive film and the power supply bus bar into an integrated body by means of pressurized heating; cutting the integrated body into at least one piece having a predetermined length; and mounting a terminal to the at least one piece packaging the at least one piece with a moisture proof film.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel and a method of manufacturing the same which comprises forming a roll of luminous base film which includes a luminous layer made of phosphors embedded an insulating material, the luminous layer being laminated upon a conductive film; forming a roll of a transparent conductive film; passing the luminous base film and the transparent conductive film between a pair of rollers while sandwiching a power supply bus bar made of a metal film therebetween, to thereby form the luminous film, the transparent conductive film and the power supply bus bar into an integrated body by means of pressurized heating; cutting the integrated body into at least one piece having a predetermined length; and mounting a terminal to the at least one piece and packaging the at least one piece with a moisture proof film.