Abstract: A strut for a front fork of a two-wheeled vehicle including an inner tube, an outer tube and a cushion spring resisting the telescoping of one tube toward the other. A damping mechanism is illustrated also using damping fluid. Bearings are provided between the inner and outer tubes which include a collar slidably mounted to one of the tubes. A circular bearing is positioned adjacent the collar to retain the collar relative to the other tubes. The collar may move with the tube on which it is mounted through a preselected distance at which time it is constrained by the other tube. A spring biases the collar away from the stop provided on the other tubes such that some relative motion between the tubes can occur prior to the sliding of the collar along the tube upon which it is mounted.

Abstract: An anti-dive device for the telescopic front fork assembly of a motorcycle includes a contraction regulator mounted on the forward face of the bottom case. The bottom case carries the axle for the front wheel. Braking torque causes the movement of a member which movement is reflected through a bell crank assembly to close the valve in a passage connecting the two oil chambers in the front fork assembly. A bypass passage has an orifice member which may be moved to vary the size of a restriction in the bypass passage.

Abstract: A disc brake system for a motorcycle having a wheel hub includes a brake disc fixed on one side of the hub to rotate with the hub. A caliper member is fixed to the motorcycle for braking engagement with the brake disc. A side panel of substantially the same diameter as the disc covers the brake disc and has a cooling air introduction port. A radial fan for inducing radial outward air flow from the brake disc is positioned adjacent the periphery of the brake disc and fixed to rotate with the hub. The hub includes a plurality of bosses extending towards the brake disc. The disc brake contains cutout portions for engagement with the bosses. The radial fan includes a ring attached to the ends of the bosses on the other side of the brake disc from the hub to retain the brake disc on the bosses. A radial flange extending from the hub covers the inner periphery of the radial flow fan.

Abstract: A disc brake having a caliper assembly support bracket and caliper assembly arranged with the caliper assembly slidably mounted in a U-shaped mounting socket to slide perpendicular to the braking surfaces of the brake disc. Brake pads extend between mounting faces of the socket on either side of the brake disc in such a way that the braking forces are resisted by the sliding engagement of the brake pads on the mounting faces. The interface width of the pads is increased to give better torsional resistance to the braking forces and hard stainless steel liners are disclosed for the mounting faces to extend the life of the support bracket.

Abstract: A disk brake for a motor vehicle includes a brake disk carried by a wheel hub and which has radial fins, the fins dissipating heat and inducing a flow of air over the brake disk. A cover closes the side of the brake disk remote from the wheel hub and supports a caliper brake mechanism, an arcuate segment of the fins being removable to permit replacement of brake pads of the brake mechanism.

Abstract: A rear-wheel suspension device on a tricycle vehicle having front and rear vehicle portions interconnected by a rolling joint having a sleeve bearing. To provide increased stability between a pair of rear wheels of the tricycle vehicle, a casing of the rolling joint is pivotably mounted on a frame of the front vehicle portion for pivotable movement. The rolling joint has a spindle connected in a fixed positional relationship relative to axles of the rear wheels. A shock absorber is interposed between the frame and the casing. To increase damping and vibration-isolating ability, the casing is pivotably connected to the frame by a link, and the shock absorber is oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to a straight line passing through an axis of the rear-wheel axles when they are loaded and a pivot point at which the link is pivotably connected to the casing.

Abstract: A brake disk is fixed to a wheel hub to rotate therewith, and axially spaced bearings support the wheel hub on an axle. A non-rotary caliper member extends through a central opening in the brake disk and carries pads which engage opposite surfaces of the brake disk when hydraulic pistons are energized. A portion of the caliper member encircles a portion of the wheel hub, and a wide supporting surface is provided to minimize tilt or cant of the caliper member. In a preferred embodiment a support rim encircles the portion of the wheel hub to provide wide spacing of supports for the caliper member. Another embodiment places the central plane of the brake disk in the center of one of the wheel hub bearings and in the central portion of the cylindrical rim. Limited axial movement of the caliper member after wear of the brake disk and friction pads is accommodated by resilient bushings at both ends of a torque arm which prevents rotary movement of the caliper member.

Abstract: An improved wheel construction for a motorcycle or other vehicle wherein a wheel hub is combined wih a wheel rim by a plurality of pairs of radially-extending trapezoidal-shaped spoke members, each pair including two symmetrically opposed spoke members. In the vertical cross-section, the oppositely-disposed spokes of each pair from an isosceles triangle with the hub forming the base of the triangle, while a second triangle is formed by opposite side edges of adjacent spokes (in a side view) and a part of the wheel rim, with the apex of the second triangle formed at an intermediate connecting portion between the radially extending spokes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a disc brake apparatus exhibiting an arrangement in which a pair of side panels are disposed on either side of the exterior of a wheel hub. These panels are provided, at their inner surfaces, with a pair of brake pistons, each of the pistons being arranged to face, at the forward end of a brake pad, a disc brake secured to one side surface of the wheel hub. The invention is characterized by the provision of an air space within the wheel hub, such air space being in communication with the ambient air. Further, each brake disc is provided on its back surface with plural fins projecting therefrom, such fins also being exposed to the aerodynamic conditions within the air space within the wheel hub.

Abstract: A spokeless wheel for a motorcycle or other vehicle is made by combining a wheel hub with a wheel rim through several sets of plates, wherein each set includes two opposed plates. In the vertical cross-section, the plates form an isosceles triangle with the hub forming the base of the triangle.

Abstract: Vinyl polymers are prepared by emulsion polymerization using as an emulsifier a nonionic surfactant which has been prepared by adding 30 to 100 mols of alkylene oxide to one mol of a polyhydric alcohol having from 3 to 10 functional hydroxyl groups to form a first reaction product and then esterifying said first reaction product to introduce therein one to 2 mols of an acyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-skid brake control mechanism consisting solely of mechanical components, particularly for use in two-wheel vehicles comprising a first brake device for primarily absorbing vehicle travelling energy and a second brake device for secondarily absorbing a vehicle travelling energy when the braking force applied by the first brake exceeds a critical level of the braking force corresponding to wheel speeds. The apparatus further comprises a rotation overdrive device adapted to overdrive a rotative inertial body and centrifugal weights in the same direction as that of a wheel hub so as to minimize the shock produced when the braking force transmission means is actuated. A sliding rod is provided with an outer end portion thereof outwardly extended from the axle shaft and has marks indented thereon to visibly sense wear of clutch plates.

Abstract: A brake on the front wheel of a motorcycle is associated with a member which is arranged for angular displacement relative to a front fork upon application of the brake. Torque exerted on this member upon braking is utilized, as through a leverage mechanism, to lock the pair of telescopic shock absorbers of the front fork against compression which may be caused by inertia at that instant. In another embodiment of the invention the angular displacement of the member results in the closure of a shutoff valve arranged between hydraulic fluid chambers within one of the shock absorbers. The front wheel brake can be either an internal-expanding shoe brake or a caliper-type disc brake.