Abstract: Provided is a method in which a communication state between a main control unit and each sub control unit can be judged to be normal or abnormal, in a condition where a noise may be generated from a drive system power line. This method includes a power supply step s4, a test communication step (see arrows (3) and (4)), and a judgment step s6. In the power supply step s4, power is supplied to first sub control units 2a from a drive system power source 6 while no power is supplied to actuators 7 from the power source 6. In the test communication step, communication of a test signal is performed between the main control unit 1 and each of the sub control units 2. In the judgment step s6, whether the communication state is normal or abnormal is judged based on the result of the communication of the test signal between the main control unit 1 and each of the sub control units 2.

Abstract: A shock absorbing structure of a two-wheeled vehicle capable of sufficiently absorbing shock and desirably maintain the steerability of the two-wheeled vehicle. The structure includes a shock absorbing member projecting from a front wheel, wherein the shock absorbing member is crashed when the vehicle collides with an obstacle so as to absorb shock. A ceiling wall of the shock absorbing member is located at such a position that the ceiling wall does not block a forward viewing area for a driver. A center of a leading end contact surface of the shock absorbing member is located at a position higher than a vertical position of a center of gravity G of both a motorcycle and the driver, and right and left side surfaces of the shock absorbing member are offset to a center of a vehicular body from right and left side surfaces of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric power steering system is provided, which controls a motor for applying assist steering torque to a steering line of a vehicle at least according to steering torque signal of the steering line, vehicle velocity signal and motor current signal. The control apparatus includes a target current controller for setting target current signal for driving the motor, a deviation calculator for computing a deviation between the target current and motor current signals, a deviation adjuster for adjusting the deviation with a variable gain according to the vehicle velocity signal, a proportional element for executing proportional control for the motor, an integral element for executing integral control for the motor and an gain adjuster for adjusting the gain according to a differential of the steering torque signal.

Abstract: A tricycle with independently-suspended rear wheels and having a rocking mechanism and a single shock absorber used to effect the damping action of both the left and the right suspension arms connected to the rear wheels. The left and right suspension arms are connected by a shock absorber and arcuate links and bell cranks provided at the opposite ends of the shock absorber. In response to upward and downward movement of the left and right suspension arms, the single shock absorber can be expanded and contracted to effect damping action of the left and right suspension arms. Accordingly, weight and cost can be reduced when compared with a conventional tricycle having two shock absorbers, one provided for each of the left and right suspension arms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a panel seal structure having a seal mounted around the outer circumferential edge of a panel body, such as glass panel, covering an opening formed in a vehicle body. An upper face of the seal is set to be substantially flush with an upper face of the panel body. A lip to be contactable with an edge of the panel body is formed along the upper face of the seal, and the edge of the lip is deformed downward upon contact with the edge of the panel body. Thereby, since the edge of the lip is deformed downward, a dimensional error of the panel body is accommodated for, and the continuity between the upper face of the seal and the upper face of the panel body is enhanced.

Abstract: A spring stand for motorcycles for making a return spring invisible from the outside to provide a neat appearance. A side stand is installed on a side lower section of a motorcycle body through a stand bracket. The side stand is formed on a pipe-shape in which a return spring and an engaging member which is biased in the projecting direction by the return spring are provided. A roller provided at the top section of the engaging member is caused to mount a mounting section provided on a stand bracket and to selectively engage a second engaging recession or a stand switch.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane obtained by subjecting a sulfonated polyarylene membrane having an initial water content of 80-300 weight % to a hot-water treatment. A composite polymer electrolyte membrane comprising a matrix made of a first sulfonated aromatic polymer having a high ion exchange capacity, and a reinforcing material constituted by a second sulfonated aromatic polymer having a low ion exchange capacity in the form of fibers or a porous membrane.

Abstract: A fuel gas passage, an oxygen-containing gas passage, and a coolant passage extend through a fuel cell stack. Each of the fuel gas passage and the oxygen-containing gas passage is formed by serially connecting passages between the first through third fuel cell modules. The fuel gas flows through the fuel gas passage, and the oxygen-containing gas flows through the oxygen-containing gas passage from the first fuel cell module toward the third fuel cell module. The coolant passage is formed by serially connecting passages between the first through third fuel modules. The coolant flows through the coolant passage from the third fuel cell module toward the first fuel cell module. The direction of the flow of the coolant is opposite to the direction of the flows of the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A rocker shaft holder that supports a rocker shaft and a camshaft holder that supports an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft in association with the rocker shaft holder are superimposed and connected to each other on the upper surface of a cylinder head, and a fuel pump that supplies fuel at high pressure to an injector is driven by a journal on a shaft end of the exhaust camshaft. The fuel pump is fastened to the cylinder head by means of a bolt; to the integral type camshaft holder, in which a plurality of bearings are integrally connected together via connecting parts, by means of a bolt; and to the rocker shaft holder by means of bolts, and the rigidity of that parts on which the fuel pump is mounted is thereby enhanced to reliably support the camshaft and the rocker shaft.

Abstract: Engine starting performance is enhanced by a brushless motor having no rotor position detecting sensor. In the first place an engine is rotated forward and then is reversely rotated to overcome a high load region of the engine. Then, the engine is accelerated and rotated forward and started. In a light load region of the engine, the engine is immediately accelerated and normally rotated. It is judged whether the region of the engine is the high load region or light load region based on the rotation speed when the starting operation is started. After the starting operation is started, if the forward rotation speed reaches a first speed, and a second speed which is higher than the first speed is obtained even after predetermined time is elapsed, an immediate starting-judging section 36 outputs a detection signal to a starting/normal rotation control section 37.

Abstract: An engine including an engine oil return passage for returning engine oil from a cylinder head side to an oil pan having a balance shaft forming a balancing system for said engine; and a housing disposed below a crankshaft for accommodating rotatably therein the balance shaft. A part of the engine oil return passage is provided in the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel stack comprising: a plurality of fuel cell units stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element, a pair of electrodes holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of separators holding the electrodes therebetween; a pair of terminal plates each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit located at an end of the stacked fuel cell units; and a terminal element extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the terminal plates; wherein the location from which the terminal element extends is located within an area on the terminal plate, corresponding to an area in a passage for an oxidizing gas formed in the end fuel cell unit disposed adjacent to the terminal element where the partial pressure of water vapor is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure.

Abstract: To provide a system for lubricating an engine for a personal watercraft, which is capable of simplifying an oil piping structure. An oil pump driven by a crankshaft of an engine and a relief valve for controlling a discharge pressure of the oil pump are provided in an oil tank provided on an extension of the crankshaft of the engine. Suction/discharge passages and the like for the oil pump are provided integrally with a tank main body. An oil filter in communication with the oil pump is provided in an upper portion of the oil tank, and communication passages for the oil filter are provided integrally with the oil tank. The oil filter is aligned with an opening of a deck. The tank main body covers drive chambers for accessories such as an ACG, a balancer shaft, and a starter motor of the engine.

Abstract: A driver authentication apparatus and method permits a vehicle driver to be identified using a simpler method without using an ID card or the like, and without performing any special operation. The apparatus has a feature amount storing section for storing preset feature data of each registered driver; an operation detecting section for detecting an operation performed by the driver, and outputting data indicating details of the operation; and a feature data managing section for storing the data output from the operation detecting section and generating operation feature data of the driver based on the stored data, and comparing the operation feature data with the preset feature data stored in the feature amount storing section and determining any identity between the compared operation and preset feature data.

Abstract: A vehicle seat wherein left and right seat backs are attached to left and right seat cushions, respectively, in such a manner as to be folded up thereon. A support shaft is provided on the left and right seat cushions for allowing the left and right seat cushions and the left and right seat backs folded up on the left and right seat cushions to be rotated toward the rear of a vehicle individually. The seat cushions and the seat backs so rotated about the support shaft are stored in a recessed portion in a vehicle body floor. The support shaft is provided on the vehicle body floor so that the support shaft is supported in the vicinity of edge portions of the recessed portion.

Abstract: To provide the fuel cell system, which can prevents the imperfect combustion of the fuel gas in combustor caused by shortage of the air exhausted from the fuel cell so that the harmful components is not contained in the exhausted gas, and can prevents the decreasing of the cell voltage by enabling drainage of the produced water from fuel cell certainly. A flow rate controller 8 is provided in the position between the air compressor 4 and the fuel cell 1 of the air supply line 6. The control unit CU is connected to the air supply line 6, and set the openings of the flow rate controller 8 as temporally wide, and a flow rate of the air supplied to the fuel cell is increased for a predetermined period of time. Then, set the opening of the flow rate controller 8 as gradually narrow, and the flow rate of the air supplied to the fuel cell is decreased gradually.

Abstract: A float valve mounted to a tank body made of a synthetic resin. A welding flange provided on a cover made of a synthetic resin having a large swelling rate is welded to an outer periphery of an opening defined in an upper wall of a tank body made of a synthetic resin having a large swelling rate, so that the cover covers the opening, and a fixing flange provided at an upper portion of a protector having a small swelling rate for supporting the float case of the float valve by a concavo-convex engagement is fixed between the outer periphery of the opening of the tank body and the welding flange of the cover. The protector is formed of the synthetic resin having the small swelling rate and, hence, it is possible to reliably prevent the float case from being dropped out due to the swelling of the protector.

Abstract: In separately excited DC brush motors ML and MR, an armature current control circuit for feeding power to armatures 61 and a field current control circuit for feeding power to a field system 62 form separate systems and are independently controllable except that both the control circuits share a battery B2 between them. When the overrotation of the motors ML and MR is detected from the backflow of an armature current and a rise in the voltage of the battery B2 or when the reverse rotation of the motors ML and MR is detected from an increase in the armature current and a decrease in PWM for the armature current, the generation of counter electromotive force is restrained by reducing the field current of the motors ML and MR so as to prevent the armature current control circuit from being damaged.

Abstract: Storable/slidable vehicular seat apparatus includes a seat with a seat base that can be flipped upwardly via a pivot to be stored against a wall of a vehicle compartment. The seat base is slidable in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle bodywork. The seat base is pivotally attached at its one side to the vehicle bodywork. Leg member is secured to the underside of the seat base via a second slider and second sliding rail. When the seat base is flipped upwardly via the pivot, the leg member, second slider and second sliding rail are moved upwardly and stored together with the seat base.

Abstract: The controller possesses a reference torque signal setting unit which generates a reference signal which becomes high when the detected signal becomes high based on at least the signal detected from the steering torque sensor; a correction torque signal setting unit which generates a correction torque signal (DN*RT*RV), which becomes high when the detected signal becomes high based on at least the signals detected from the revolution number sensor for the electric motor and from the vehicle speed sensor; and a target torque signal calculator which subtracts the correction torque signal from the reference torque signal (DN*RT*RV) to output a target torque signal (DT+−DN*RT*RV) to the electric motor; and the controller also making the correction torque signal high when failure of the vehicle speed sensor is detected.