Having Specific Motor-to-body-frame Relationship Patents (Class 180/291)
  • Publication number: 20090183938
    Abstract: A vehicle having a center console 29 provided with left and right walls 29a and 29b, and a top wall 29c, provided to the rear, in the front/back direction of the vehicle, from a front panel 5, extending rearward, in the front/back direction of the vehicle, from the center portion, in the direction of width of the vehicle, of the front panel 5 to at least the front end of a seat 7, wherein the top wall 29c is provided at a position that is higher than the bottommost end a of the front portion of a seating surface 7e of a seat cushion portion 7a of the front seat 7 and higher than the top end of an engine 6, and at a position that is lower than a top end 5b of the front panel 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Cover, Craig Smith, Satoshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 7562737
    Abstract: A vehicle power unit supporting apparatus supports a transversely-mounted power unit having a power source and a speed reduction gear connected to each other. The power unit is supported on a vehicle body by at least a power-source-side mount and a speed-reduction-gear side mount on both of the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction. These mounts are disposed at a position higher than a position of the center of gravity of the power unit. Spring axis lines of the power-source side mount and the speed-reduction-gear side mount are inclined to intersect with each other at a position higher than the position of the center of gravity of the power unit when the vehicle is viewed from the front. An elastic center of the entire power unit supporting apparatus is located at a position lower than the position of the center of gravity of the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyahara, Tatsuhide Sakai, Masafumi Kyuse, Mutsuru Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7562736
    Abstract: A saddle ride type four-wheel vehicle includes an electronic control type fuel injection system in a fuel supply system for an engine mounted thereon, wherein a fuel pump is disposed on the rear side relative to the rotational center axis of front wheels and on the front side relative to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Eguchi, Yuichiro Tsuruta, Kazuhito Hotta, Atsushi Ito, Naoki Urano
  • Patent number: 7559400
    Abstract: A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. A trailing arm-type wheel support supports a stub axle in a cantilevered fashion. A spring urges the wheel support apart from the frame. A planar portion of the wheel support, the wheel support pivot joints, and the spring are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In another embodiment, the frame includes a recessed pocket which facilitates use of ramp for wheel chair access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aloha, LLC
    Inventor: Earl Dallas Smith
  • Publication number: 20090173564
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine disposed in an engine compartment provided with a hood, and also an electrical machine for at least assisting in driving the vehicle and generating electric energy, and a power electronics system for controlling the electric power supply to, and from the electric machine during operation of the motor vehicle by the internal combustion engine and/or the electrical machine, the power electronics system is arranged in the engine compartment above the internal combustion engine and below the hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Elbert, Peter Gere, Arnold Klimas, Lena Krimstein, Van Dung Nguyen, Werner Walter
  • Patent number: 7558658
    Abstract: An operating system for a tractor to which an implement is attachable, the operating system comprises: a steering wheel provided rearwardly of a hood that houses an engine located in a forward region of the tractor; a control panel provided rearwardly of the hood and adjacent the steering wheel; a center cover extending generally vertically below the steering wheel; an operation lever provided at a position laterally of the control panel; a valve unit with a pair of spools, the valve unit being located at a lower position with respect to the steering wheel and being covered by the center cover; a link mechanism that links the operation lever and the pair of spools, the link mechanism being covered by the center cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Hiroshi Shimada, Yoshio Tomiyama, Takeshi Komorida, Hironobu Nishihara, Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20090166121
    Abstract: To concentrate mass, to lower the center of gravity, to efficiently and optimally arrange an intake part for making a compact vehicle body. A cylinder inclined to the rear is arranged under a fuel tank and a body of an intake box is housed between a radiator arranged in front of the cylinder and the cylinder. An upper part of the body of the intake box is fixed to a body frame at the bottom of the fuel tank and air taken in is supplied to an intake port through an intake funnel and a throttle body respectively built-in. A lid of an intake duct can be extractably inserted into a window hole provided to the front of the body, a duct part integrated with the lid is arranged over the radiator, and an air intake guide port takes a flow of air in front of the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kinuo Hiramatsu, Yoshiyuki Kurayoshi
  • Patent number: 7549676
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle is constructed to allow the positions at which the headlights are attached to be designed freely, and allows a large amount of design freedom in the vicinity of each headlight. Left and right brackets are detachably mounted to the body frame so as to be below the left and right front fenders, respectively, and the left and right headlights are mounted to the left and right brackets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20090139791
    Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Matsuda, Sosuke Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 7523804
    Abstract: The present small swing type excavator is characterized by comprising an engine (81) disposed in the rear section of a rotating frame (8) in such a condition that the longitudinal direction thereof is directed to the lateral direction of the rotating frame (8), a hydraulic oil tank (82) disposed on one lateral side in front of the engine (81), a cabin (83) disposed on the other lateral side, an air conditioner (85) disposed under a floor (84) of the cabin (83) and having two surfaces facing to, respectively, the front side and the left outer side of the rotating frame (8), and a fuel tank (86) formed so as to be arranged along at least two surfaces of the front and left side surfaces of the air conditioner (85) and detachably attached to the rotating frame (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Tanaka, Shintaro Sakitani, Takayuki Okunishi, Hiroshi Morita, Hiroshi Shimokakiuchi, Yoshiyasu Umezu
  • Patent number: 7520364
    Abstract: The present invention can speedily and easily perform the maintenance or the like of hydraulic equipment and the like. Accordingly, in the present invention, in a tractor in which a prime mover portion is arranged on a front portion of a machine body, a driving portion is arranged behind the prime mover portion, a transmission portion is arranged below a driver's seat which is formed in the driving portion, left-side and right-side rear wheels are mounted on the transmission portion by way of a rear axle case, and a cover body is extended over the driving portion, the transmission portion and the left-side and right-side rear wheels, the cover body constitutes a step portion of the driving portion and, the cover body covers the transmission portion from above and covers the left-side and right-side rear wheels from the front side and above, the cover body is formed of a plurality of split-portions, and at least the split-portion which covers the transmission portion from above is detachably formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yozo Oka, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7506717
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hydraulic pump (11), a variable displacement hydraulic motor (5) for traveling driven by pressure oil from the hydraulic pump (11), a motor displacement control means (17, 18) for adjusting a displacement of the hydraulic motor (5) in correspondence to a drive pressure at the hydraulic motor (5), an operating member (22) through which a forward travel command and a backward travel command for the vehicle are issued, a control means (12) to be driven in response to an operation of the operating member (22), for controlling a flow of pressure oil from the hydraulic pump (11) to the hydraulic motor (5), a reverse operation detection means (41A, 41B) for detecting a reverse operation of the operating member (22) performed to a reverse side opposite from a direction along which the vehicle is advancing, and a cavitation preventing means (25A,25B) engaged in operation so as to prevent occurrence of cavitation at the hydraulic motor (5) when the reverse operation at the operating mem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tatsuno, Kazuhiro Ichimura, Hidetoshi Satake
  • Publication number: 20090071741
    Abstract: A motorcycle is provided in which the size of the body frame is restricted from increasing in a vehicle-width direction while enhancing the frame rigidity. The body frame includes a head pipe and left and right front frame sections which extending from the head pipe. The left and right front frame sections have left and right side wall sections which extend in a longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle. Left and right side wall sections are disposed on the left and right sides of the engine unit. The engine unit is supported by the left and right side wall sections which have relatively high rigidity, thereby enhancing the supporting rigidity of the engine unit. This type of engine unit support ensures body frame rigidity without widening the space between the left and right body frame sections in a vehicle-width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Yasunobu Kanou
  • Patent number: 7490691
    Abstract: A subframe arrangement is configured for a mobile vehicle chassis assembly to enhance isolation of the subframe platform and drive mechanism from flex in the chassis assembly caused by dynamic forces associated with operation of the chassis assembly. The chassis assembly includes a frame having a front and a rear frame support, and a pair of elongated frame side supports interconnected therebetween. The subframe arrangement includes a subframe platform configured to receive the drive-unit, and a plurality of subframe mounting couplings operable to attach the subframe platform to the pair of elongated frame side supports. Each of the plurality of subframe mounting couplings is located along a generally isosceles triangular-shaped arrangement that enhances isolation of the subframe arrangement and attached drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: CNH America, LLC
    Inventors: Scott D Reese, Richard A Moen, Bruce G Bastin, Kevin C Lent
  • Publication number: 20090026000
    Abstract: An engine for a snow vehicle has a crank shaft supported by a crank case along the width direction of the snow vehicle. An oil pan is disposed below the crank case. A cylinder block is disposed above the crank case. The engine is mounted on the snow vehicle such that an axis of the cylinder block is inclined rearward. An oil pump is disposed behind and below the crank shaft. An oil filter is disposed in front of the crank shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideto NAKAMURA, Toshio HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20090020354
    Abstract: A drivetrain for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission and electric machine, and an electrical energy store. The electric machine is usable as a generator for charging the electrical energy store and/or as a motor while discharging the electrical energy store. The electrical energy store is implemented as a flywheel mass accumulator having an assigned second electric machine. The flywheel mass accumulator is able to be mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine via a separate clutch, and thus also is mechanically chargeable and dischargeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin ROTH
  • Patent number: 7475754
    Abstract: A front cross member is installed between a pair of (right and left) front side members, and a plate-shaped sub-cross member, as a mounting member for a suspension or the like, is installed ahead of the front cross member. The front cross member and the sub-cross member are coupled by a backbone brace which is secured to the front cross member and the sub-cross member at positions in right and left portions of the front cross member and the sub-cross member by bolts or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Misaki, Kazumi Yasaka, Toshiyuki Matsumi
  • Publication number: 20080284124
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Louis James Brady, Jeffrey David Bennett, Benjamin J. Dieter, Sean E. Sherrod, Ryan K. Lovold, Harry Pongo
  • Publication number: 20080283327
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Dieter, Jeffrey David Bennett, Sean E. Sherrod, Nathan D. Dahl, Steve L. Nelson, John D. Schreier
  • Publication number: 20080283326
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Bennett, Benjamin J. Dieter, Nathan D. Dahl, John D. Schreier, Steve L. Nelson, Sean E. Sherrod, Scott E. McKinster, Alan S. Olson, Louis James Brady
  • Patent number: 7445075
    Abstract: A four-wheeled vehicle includes a steering mechanism having a bar handle, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels. The vehicle includes a front cover and a windshield disposed in front of the bar handle. The vehicle includes a driver's seat, and a rear passenger seat disposed behind the driver's seat and between the rear wheels. The rear passenger seat is directed forwardly. The vehicle includes a power unit part disposed below the rear passenger seat, and a body cover disposed rearwardly of the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Ozawa, Oumi Iida, Seiji Higashihara, Yumio Shibata, Koichi Sugioka, Kiyotaka Fujiwara, Paolo Allasia, Marco Ferrario, Raffaele Vergano, Andreas Wachtler
  • Patent number: 7431116
    Abstract: A snow vehicle includes an engine containing a crankshaft and a balancer shaft, a track belt mounted behind the engine, and a front axle for transmitting the driving power from the engine to the track belt. The balancer shaft is located above a line connecting the crankshaft and the front axle and near the rear end of the crankshaft. The snow vehicle improves the stability of the vehicle during operation while minimizing an increase in the dimension of the engine in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ashida
  • Patent number: 7431121
    Abstract: A drive section of an industrial truck has a vehicle frame (1), a drive unit (4) having a steerable drive wheel, and at least one pivoting roller (5, 6) located at a lateral offset in relation to the drive wheel (4d). The vehicle frame (1), when viewed in the transverse direction of the drive section, has a first, centrally located mounting for the drive unit (4) and a second, laterally located mounting for the drive unit (4). Optionally, a drive unit (4) or a pivoting roller (5, 6) can be fastened to the mounting that is located to the side. The vehicle frame (1) has a mounting for a pivoting roller (5, 6) on the side opposite the lateral mounting for the drive unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Goguelet, Dominique Rousseau
  • Publication number: 20080236524
    Abstract: In a V-type engine for a vehicle, in which a hydraulic valve rest mechanism which selectively holds at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve corresponding to a part of plural cylinders in a valve-closed rest state in correspondence with a vehicle running status is provided in a valve actuation unit, and a hydraulic controller which controls hydraulic pressure of the valve rest mechanism is provided in a main engine body, to reduce the distance of oil passage from the hydraulic controller to the hydraulic valve rest mechanism and simplify the structure of the oil passage. A hydraulic controller is provided on at least one side surface of a cylinder head, and may be generally oriented along a line which is substantially parallel to a central axis of a cylinder bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Shinji Saito, Takaaki Tsukui
  • Patent number: 7419021
    Abstract: A vehicle powered by a hybrid drive system configured to improve ergonomics within an operator compartment, minimize engine noise within the operator compartment, and/or reduce the transmission of heat associated with the drive system into the operator compartment is disclosed. The operator compartment is carried and/or supported on a chassis relative to the hybrid drive system. The hybrid drive system is coupled to the chassis and comprises an engine coupled to a generator portion. When coupled to the chassis, the generator is positioned in front of the engine. In one embodiment, the vehicle is a refuse vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Oshkosh Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jon J. Morrow, Gary W. Schmiedel, David Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7419028
    Abstract: In a motorcycle, a pivot plate on a drive shaft side is arranged closer to a vehicle body center axis side than the drive shaft and, at the same time, a swing arm mounting portion of the pivot plate in the vicinity of the drive shaft is flattened. Further, a lower cross pipe is extended between the left and right pivot plates in a state that the lower cross pipe projects from the pivot plate on the drive shaft side, a down tube is lowered from a head pipe, a lower pipe is extended rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body frame from a lower end of the down tube, and a rear end of the lower pipe is connected to a projecting portion of the lower cross pipe thus offsetting the pivot plate arranged closer to the drive shaft side than the lower pipe to the vehicle body center axis side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamakura, Takero Shibukawa
  • Publication number: 20080202840
    Abstract: An engine suspension device for a motorcycle can be increased in design flexibility and weight. An engine suspension device for a motorcycle has a suspension link provided between a body frame and an engine for pivotably supporting the engine. The suspension link includes a link body. Two pairs of right and left cylindrical members are provided at opposite ends of the link body and are connected to the body frame and the engine, respectively. The pairs of right and left cylindrical members are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the motorcycle. The suspension link further includes a right connecting member for connecting the right cylindrical members and a left connecting member for connecting the left connecting members. The right and left connecting members are connected to each other by the link body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Noriya SHIMOZATO, Satoru Ikami, Yuichiro Morikawa, Jun Fujii, Susumu Michisaka
  • Patent number: 7413050
    Abstract: The method includes in succession a first step of assembling a power unit into a sub-frame in almost the same position as in a mounted state on a car body frame by interposing a torque rod and at least two on-board mounts between the power unit and the sub-frame; a second step of attaching the sub-frame on which the power unit is mounted to the car body frame; and a third step of supporting the power unit via a power source side mount and a speed reducer side mount on the car body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Miyagawa, Toshiyuki Inaba, Yasuhisa Suzuki, Hitoshi Itaba
  • Publication number: 20080185208
    Abstract: A motorcycle cruise arm assembly includes a pair of arm assemblies mountable to a motorcycle frame. Each arm assembly includes a mount block and an arm rotatably mountable to the mount block. The mount block includes a body and a head attached to the body, where the body defines a substantially planar surface configured for attachment to the motorcycle frame and the head defines an engagement surface opposite the substantially planar surface. The arm includes a first end opposite a second end, where the first end is configured to be rotatably mountable to the head of the mount block. A second end of each arm is configured to connect to either a foot peg or a angled arm. A support arm connects between the mount blocks of each arm assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Darron B. May
  • Patent number: 7407031
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle has necessary rigidity despite a split-type body frame being used. A body frame is split into front and rear subframes along a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the subframes being detachably linked to each other via bolts. An upper linking section between the subframes is disposed between an engine upper suspension section for suspending an upper portion of an engine unit and an engine rear suspension section for suspending a rear portion of the engine unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hayashi, Masayuki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20080161142
    Abstract: A power unit includes an engine having a crankshaft, and a continuously variable transmission having a drive pulley operatively connected with the crankshaft, a driven pulley, and a belt extended between and wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The power unit further includes a transmission input clutch, which allows or interrupts the transmission of a rotational drive force of the crankshaft to the drive pulley, mounted on a drive pulley shaft; and a starter clutch, which allows or interrupts the transmission of a rotational drive force of the driven pulley to the drive wheel, mounted on a driven pulley shaft. The transmission input clutch and the starter clutch are arranged such that a continuously variable transmission is sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoo Shiozaki, Toshimasa Mitsubori, Erika Hara
  • Publication number: 20080149410
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement structure of component parts for a fuel cell vehicle that efficiently arranges various component parts of a fuel cell system, a hydrogen supply system and an electric driving system to make the best use of interior space, improve weight distribution of the vehicle, reduce noise, and provide security against a rear-end collision. The arrangement structure of the present invention includes an engine room, in which a motor 11 and an air blower 12 are mounted on an upper portion of a frame 10, and component parts of an electrical system and a fuel cell system are arranged on an upper portion of the motor 11; an under-floor 20, on which a humidifier 21, a stack 22, a fuel processing system (FPS) box 23, and a hydrogen tank 40 are mounted; seats 29, beneath which electronic parts are arranged on the under-floor 20; and a trunk room, in which a super-capacitor and an initial charging device are mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Soo Yang, Seng Jong Lyoo, Hwan Ik Kim
  • Publication number: 20080150203
    Abstract: A noise isolation system for damping a mounting structure that couples a powertrain of a motor vehicle to a frame of the motor vehicle includes an isolator having a first surface and a second surface. The isolator is coupled to the mounting structure such that the first surface is adjacent to the mounting structure. The noise isolation system further includes a washier coupled to the mounting structure. The washer is coupled to the mounting structure such that the washer is between the second surface of the isolator and the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Hamid Mir, Jerry R. Balogh, Eric F. de Hesselle
  • Patent number: 7389844
    Abstract: A motor vehicle main chassis includes left and right main frame rails having extending along opposite lateral sides of the chassis. An extended rear frame member having left and right rear frame rails is disposed below and attached to the main frame rails, the rear frame rails extending horizontally in a plane situated below and parallel to the main frame rails. Left and right intermediate spacer rails are attached, respectively, to a bottom surface of the left and right main frame rails and extend rearwardly of the main frame rails. The left and right rear frame rails may be attached, respectively, to a bottom surface of said left and right intermediate spacer rails and extend rearwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Spartan Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon H. Van Der Bijl
  • Publication number: 20080128192
    Abstract: A motorcycle engine cover system includes a backing plate, a cover, and a fastener. The backing plate has at least one aperture for fastening the backing plate to a motorcycle engine and a protrusion including an aperture to accept the fastener. The cover has a mating aperture that is shaped to mate with the protrusion and a fastening aperture extending from a side surface into the mating aperture. The fastener extends through the fastening aperture of the cover and into the at least one aperture of the backing plate for attaching the cover to the backing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Timothy G. Kruse
  • Patent number: 7374009
    Abstract: A control box mounting bracket is attached to a vehicle body frame. The control box mounting bracket mounts an engine control box on the vehicle body frame and in the periphery of the control box mounting bracket. The control box mounting bracket includes an attaching portion to which the control box is attached and a coupler support portion which supports a plurality of couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Tomohiko Yashiro, Shigeto Inami, Masaki Yamazaki, Kunihiko Fukui
  • Patent number: 7364002
    Abstract: At the underside of a vehicle body, a fuel tank and an exhaust muffler are disposed alongside of each other along a vehicle body longitudinal direction, with a drive shaft being disposed between the fuel tank and the exhaust muffler. The front and rear of the fuel tank are attached with tank bands to two cross members. The exhaust muffler is attached to the two cross members via rubber supports. Because the exhaust muffler and the fuel tank are attached to common cross members, the noise vibration characteristics of the vehicle body are improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoki Mabuchi, Koji Mineda, Takashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7360620
    Abstract: In a low floor type vehicle 10, a banking angle ?1 of a longitudinal V-type engine 100 mounted below a low floor is set to an angle equal to or exceeding approximately 90°. The V-type engine is arranged with a bisector L1 of the banking angle directed toward a head pipe 21 of a body frame 20. The body frame is composed of a pair of right and left upper frames 22 extended backward and downward from the head pipe and a pair of right and left down frames 23 extended downward from the head pipe and coupled to the front of a crankcase 104 of the V-type engine and is a diamond type frame from which the V-type engine can be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Takenaka, Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7360622
    Abstract: A differential mounting structure includes a pipe into which a bushing coupled to the differential is forcibly inserted. The pipe is inserted into a through hole of a cross member and is fixedly attached at one end thereof to a flange. Coupling bolts penetrating the flange are connected to nuts welded to the cross member. When the bushing used for installing the differential to the vehicle body is worn down and can no longer do its job, only the bushing mounting assembly is replaced or repaired in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung-Hak Lee, Hyun-Ju Bae, Byong-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 7350881
    Abstract: In a motorcycle provided with an antilock brake system, a front fork supporting a front wheel of a motorcycle is supported to be rotatable by a head pipe which is located at the front end portion of a body frame of a motorcycle, a handle-bar is secured to an upper end portion of the head pipe, master cylinders attached to the handle-bar are connected to hydraulic wheel brakes, respectively, via brake pipes. An antilock brake system includes an ABS-unit for antilock control disposed in an intermediate portion of the brake pipes. The ABS-unit is disposed immediately behind the head pipe and between a pair of body frame components disposed on both lateral sides of the motorcycle body and extending, from the head pipe, obliquely downward and backward, while extending outward in directions opposite to each other in the width direction of the motorcycle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Asahi
  • Patent number: 7343998
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a subtransmission detachably fastened to an engine casing. The engine crankshaft includes a drive pulley connected via a belt to a driven pulley in the subtransmission, thus providing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) between the engine crankshaft and the subtransmission. The subtransmission includes a 2WD-4WD selector mechanism to select two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive and also includes a transmission selector mechanism to put the vehicle in park, neutral, reverse, high-speed drive or low-speed drive. By disposing these selector mechanisms in the subtransmission, mass centralization is improved relative to prior-art drivetrains wherein the 2WD-4WD selector mechanism connects to the front differential. When operating in 2WD mode, the drivetrain does not waste energy rotating the front drive shaft, as in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vincent Morin, Ghislain Caron, Ronald Schapf, Roland Ennsmann
  • Publication number: 20080053736
    Abstract: There is provided a wheel motor device comprising a hydraulic motor main body, a speed reduction gear mechanism for reducing a speed of a rotational output of the hydraulic motor main body, an output member for outputting the rotational output whose speed has been reduced by the speed reduction gear mechanism to a driving wheel and a casing for accommodating the hydraulic motor main body and the speed reduction gear mechanism. The casing has a motor space and a gear space for respectively accommodating the hydraulic motor main body and the speed reduction gear mechanism, the motor space being capable of storing fluid in a state of being liquid-tightly separate from the gear space. The casing is provided with a flow-in port for introducing fluid into the motor space and a flow-out port for discharging fluid outward from the motor space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Kengo Sasahara, Norihiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20080054538
    Abstract: A mounting scheme for attaching a power train to a motor vehicle frame includes a plurality of mounts. At least one of the mounts is a solid engine mount having a metal housing and an elastomeric bushing. The elastomeric bushing contains no voids other than a central bore used to attach the mount to a bracket. The elastomeric bushing includes frustoconical portions, where one end of each of the frustoconical portions is unconstrained by the metal housing. The stiffness of the mount may be tuned to reduce noise and improve handling. The stiffnesses of any of the axes may be adjusted so that the power train roll center aligns with the power train center of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Igami
  • Patent number: 7337611
    Abstract: A flywheel 2 and an HST unit 5 are accommodated in a flywheel housing 13 of a working vehicle, the HST unit 5 comprising an oil hydraulic motor 9, an oil hydraulic pump 10, an oil hydraulic circuit block 17 containing an oil hydraulic circuit therein and supporting one end of an oil hydraulic motor shaft and one end of an oil hydraulic pump shaft, and a cover housing 18 secured to the oil hydraulic circuit block to cover the oil hydraulic motor and the oil hydraulic pump and support the other end of the oil hydraulic motor shaft and the other end of the oil hydraulic pump shaft; the oil hydraulic circuit block 17 being secured to an intermediate housing connected to the flywheel housing 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigenori Sakikawa
  • Patent number: 7331416
    Abstract: This invention provides an oil-hydraulic vehicle whose driving force can be adjusted finely and which can be run smoothly and comfortably. The oil-hydraulic vehicle comprises a wheel-driving means 40 for driving a wheel 31, which includes an oil-hydraulic motor 45 to drive the wheel 31 and a means 41 for controlling the rotational frequency of the oil-hydraulic motor 45. The oil-hydraulic motor 45 includes an output shaft 45s on which the wheel 31 is mounted and a plurality of oil chambers 45a-45e. Each oil chamber contains (i) a driving cogwheel 46 which is mounted on, and drives, the output shaft 45s and (ii) a driven cogwheel 47 which engages with the driving cogwheel 46. The means 41 for controlling the rotational frequency of the oil-hydraulic motor 45 includes a housing 42 with a circular rotor chamber 42h in it and a rotor 43 fitted in the circular rotor chamber 42h for free rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Corporation
    Inventor: Shigetomi Kumon
  • Patent number: 7328767
    Abstract: In a power train supporting apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, at least three mount portions support a power train constituted by an engine and a transmission on a frame of a vehicle body in such a manner that the output axle of the engine intersects a center line of a vehicular longitudinal direction as viewed from a top of the vehicle. The three mount portions comprise engine front and rear side mounts arranged on a vehicular front side and a vehicular rear side with respect to the engine and a transmission side mount arranged in the vicinity of the transmission. The mounts are arranged in such a manner that a distance from a weight center of the power train to each of the engine front and rear side mounts is shorter than a distance from the weight center of the power train to the transmission side mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenshi Mori, Hitoshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7316286
    Abstract: A light weight portable pressure washer with improved vibration damping includes a plate member disposed between the engine and the supporting frame of the pressure washer. The plate member is mounted to the base of the engine and extends laterally beyond the base of the engine and is supported on the frame of the pressure washer by multiple elastomeric vibration isolators. The plate member and the frame may be constructed of stainless steel or of aluminum, and the frame components may be joined without welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mi-T-M Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory J. Hillary
  • Patent number: 7311170
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle is capable of preventing the temperature of air supplied to an engine and the temperature of a battery from being excessively increased and has a large minimum ground clearance. An object-mountable supporting box is bridged between left and right frame members of a body frame. A battery is located above a bottom plate of the supporting box. An air cleaner is located between the left and right frame members and rearward relative to the supporting box. An intake passage is located in an area which is between the left and right frame members, above the bottom plate of the supporting box, and beside the battery. An exhaust passage passes through an area above a bottom of the frame body and below the bottom plate of the supporting box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Isoda, Masayuki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7303042
    Abstract: There are provided an engine disposed between right and left front side frames provided in an engine room, a radiator disposed obliquely such that its upper end is located forward in a disposition space in front of the engine, an air cleaner disposed above the radiator, and an electronic control device disposed in a space above the radiator and below the air cleaner. Accordingly, there can be provided a disposition structure of engine functional components for a vehicle which can properly dispose the electronic control device with respective to the radiator and air cleaner, preventing the temperature of the electronic control device from increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kanehira, Tsunetoshi Yokokura, Minoru Shitamori, Megumi Toyota
  • Publication number: 20070267240
    Abstract: A transmission driving mechanism of a transmission in an internal combustion engine is provided in which where a separate transmission driving mechanism for manual operation is not required in addition to an automatic transmission driving mechanism, whereby the number of parts is reduced, the structure is simple, no maintenance is required and the cost is reduced The transmission transmits the rotation of a crankshaft to an output shaft at a modified speed, and includes a transmission driving mechanism which rotates a shift spindle using a shift actuator in order to automatically shift gears within the transmission and change the outputted speed of the engine. One end of the shift spindle extends through an engine case cover, and protrudes outside, and a turning tool is fitted onto a fitting portion formed at the protruding end of the shift spindle, whereby manual shifting of the transmission gears can also be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Inui, Dai Arai, Kenji Matsuo