Abstract: A road simulation apparatus wherein front excitation means capable of exciting a front axle of a motorcycle upwardly and downwardly as well as forwardly and rearwardly is connected to the front axle of the motorcycle while rear excitation means capable of exciting a rear axle upwardly and downwardly is connected to the rear axle so that a road load proximate to that experienced by a motorcycle actually running on a road can be reproduces. A bendable link mechanism L comprised of a plurality of links La and Lb are disposed in the forward and rearward directions of the motorcycle for permitting mutual bending motion therebetween is connected for pivotal motion to a stationary support member S. The posture of the test vehicle body is maintained while the regeneration accuracy of road loads is augmented.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle which measures the degree of over-discharge of a battery depending on the temperature of the battery, and which performs control for protecting the battery.

Abstract: In an alternate energization process for alternately energizing a valve closing electromagnet and a valve opening electromagnet periodically, one of the valve opening electromagnet and the valve closing electromagnet is de-energized and thereafter the other electromagnet is de-energized at a time delayed by a predetermined time Toff. The alternate energization process is finished when the displaced position of a valve head which is detected by a displacement sensor has reached a predetermined position Vinit while the valve opening electromagnet is being energized. Thereafter, the valve opening electromagnet is continuously energized to seat the valve head in a closed position (initial position) from the time when the displaced position of the valve head has reached a predetermined position Vstart.

Abstract: A drum slicing apparatus is capable of highly accurately and efficiently slicing a drum made of a thin metal sheet which is relatively highly flexible. The drum slicing apparatus has a support shaft rotatable about its own axis, a cylindrical drum holder supported on the support shaft for holding the drum by pressing engagement with an inner circumferential surface of the drum over an entire length thereof, and a slicing device having slicing edges for slicing the drum into the metal rings by engaging and cutting into the drum at predetermined cutting positions thereon while the drum is being rotated by the support shaft through the drum holder.

Abstract: A fixing band-tightening apparatus comprises a holding section for gripping a shaft section at both ends in an axial direction, the holding section being provided rotatably in a circumferential direction in accordance with a driving action of a rotary driving source, a stopper section arranged in a lateral direction substantially horizontal with respect to the holding section, for positioning a projection of a fixing band in the lateral direction except for a vertical direction, and a band-tightening section for forcibly nipping the projection of the fixing band positioned by the stopper section to tighten the fixing band.

Abstract: In an intake system of a variable air-intake characteristic type for a multi-cylinder engine, an intake air-dispensing box is comprised of a dispensing box body which includes an intake air inlet, first and second intake branch pipes and one of halves of a partition wall and which has an opening provided in its outer wall opposite from the first and second intake branch pipes to extend between first and second dispensing chambers, and a lid detachably coupled to the dispensing box body to close the opening and having the other half of the partition wall. The lid is made of a light alloy by casting, and a valve bore and bearing bores for supporting a valve shaft of the on-off valve are defined in the other half of the partition wall. Thus, it is possible to carry out the maintenance of the on-off valve only by removing the lid disposed outside the intake air-dispensing box from the box, leading to an enhancement in maintenance property.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for steering a vehicle with zero turning radius capability includes a movable steering handle, first and second CVT devices for independently driving first and second drive wheels, respectively, a transmission control device, and first and second biased guide members. The transmission control device interconnects the steering handle and the first and second CVT devices, and includes a mixing lever for controlling operations of the first and second CVT devices. Movement of the steering handle in a first steering direction causes the first guide member to move the mixing lever in a first actuating direction, and movement of the steering handle in a second steering direction causes the second guide member to move the mixing lever in a second actuating direction.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a foil type fluid bearing including a foil assembly. The foil assembly supports a journal within a stationary retaining member and includes a top foil that is disposed on the inside in the radial direction, three mid foil layers that are disposed outside the top foil, and corrugated bump foils disposed outside the mid foil layers. When the journal is radially displaced, a large frictional damping force is generated between the three mid foil layers, thereby enhancing the function of supporting the journal. Moreover, layering the three mid foil layers can increase the rigidity against a load in the radial direction, thus preventing the top foil from deforming in a wavelike manner and thereby allowing the function of the foil type fluid bearing to be reliably exhibited.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage apparatus M stores a liquid hydrogen tank 1, hydrogen filling passage 3 that fills liquid hydrogen in to the liquid hydrogen tank, a degassing passage 4 provided with a relief valve V1 that opens when the pressure of hydrogen gasified in the liquid hydrogen tank reaches a predetermined level, and a hydrogen occlusive tank 2 that accommodates a hydrogen occlusive alloy 21 for storing the gasified hydrogen. When liquid hydrogen is being filled into the liquid hydrogen tank 1, the pressure in the hydrogen occlusive tank 2 is lowered using a duct 51, a cooling fan 52, and a conduit 54 for cooling the hydrogen occlusive tank 2. Accordingly, the filling time is shortened and the fuel efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A two-piece rear grip apparatus 22 for a personal watercraft includes a body member 23 having either a U-shaped or an H-shaped cross-sectional shape. The body member includes a recessed portion 28, which opens upwardly. The apparatus also includes a grip face member 24 for placement covering the sculpted recess. The two component parts of the apparatus may be formed from a plastic resin. The grip face member 24 may be injection molded, and has slipresistant textured irregularities 36 formed thereon to provide purchase for the palm of a user's hand. The two component parts of the apparatus may be formed by compression molding or injection molding. Even if the surface of the grip face member includes fine detail work, injection molding can effectively transfer such detail from a metal mold into the finished part. Accordingly, the grip face member can be made to include fine detail work.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically locks the doors of a vehicle based on mutual communications between a portable unit and a vehicle-side control unit. After the doors are closed and locked after all the passengers get off the vehicle, the user of a portable unit unlocks the doors in order to allow a person without the portable unit to fetch something left in the vehicle. After the person opens a door, takes whatever he or she needs, and closes the door, the doors are automatically locked. When a door sensor is operated to unlock the doors, and one of the doors is opened, a memory means stores information indicating that the portable unit is present in a predetermined range outside of the vehicle. If the memory means stores information that the doors are unlocked, then the doors are automatically locked.

Abstract: A gas generated by an inflator is supplied through a branching pipe to first and second air bags, which are deployed from a side of a seat to a space between an inner surface of a side of a vehicle compartment and an occupant. A one-way valve mounted in the branching pipe permits the gas to move from the second air bag to the first air bag and inhibits a back flow of the gas, whereby the internal pressure in the first air bag can be maintained higher than that in the second air bag, to thereby restrain the occupant' waist more strongly than the occupant's breast. Moreover, the gas generated by the single inflator is diverted by the branching pipe and supplied to the two air bags. Therefore, the two air bags can be deployed while minimizing the number of the inflator.

Abstract: In an occupant detecting apparatus for detecting an occupant seated on a passenger seat of a vehicle with an airbag for the occupant, a load sensor is provided in a bottom part of the seat. A plurality of first electric field sensors are provided in the bottom part of the seat, and a plurality of second electric field sensors are provided in a rear part of the seat. An airbag inflating permission control unit permits inflation of the airbag in accordance with output signals of the load sensor and the first and second electric field sensors.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a canister for collecting fuel vapors generated in a fuel tank is provided. The canister is disposed within the space between a front end and a rear end of a subframe for supporting rear suspensions. The subframe is mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An air bag device includes an air bag which is accommodated in a folded state along sides of a seat back and a seat cushion of a seat for an occupant. Upon side collision of a vehicle, the air bag is expanded by a gas generated by an inflator and deployed between an inner surface of a side of a vehicle compartment and an occupant. The air bag is disposed outside a lap belt of a seat belt device, and hence is deployed from the sides of the seat back and the seat cushion, so that a shock-absorbing effect can be effectively exhibited.

Abstract: A frame and support assembly for a vehicle lacking a conventional, separate B-pillar includes first and second frame members and a plurality of support assemblies. Each support assembly includes a plurality of bulkheads, a pair of outriggers, and a cross member. The bulkheads are incorporated into first and second side sill assemblies. The outriggers extend between the side sill assemblies and the first and second frame members. The cross members extend between the first and second first frame members. The strength of the bulkheads, outriggers, and cross members is selected such that the cross member is stiffer than the outriggers, and the outriggers are stiffer than the bulkheads so that the support assemblies progressively crush during a side impact.

Abstract: An automobile front pillar (1; 40; 50) includes, at a portion thereof positioned closely to a passenger compartment (16) of an automobile (10), a weak portion (27b; 47b; 62) for initiating the buckling of the front pillar upon application of a shock to that part of the front pillar positioned remotely from the compartment. When an obstacle collides with the front pillar portion positioned remotely from the compartment, the weak portion collapses by the resulting collision shock to cause the front pillar to buckle. The collision shock is partly absorbed by the buckling front pillar, whereby the shock applied to the obstacle is significantly damped.

Abstract: In mounting a crankshaft direct-driven oil pump to an engine, the oil pump is mounted to a cylinder block which supports a crankshaft, as well as an integral bearing cap in which bearing cap portions are connected to each other by beam portions.

Abstract: The tube material 2′ extrusion-molded by the extrusion molding machine has an air chamber peripheral wall 3i, a sealant chamber peripheral wall 3o and a partition wall 4. An air chamber 5 is defined between the air chamber peripheral wall 3i and the partition wall 4, and a sealant chamber 6 is defined between the sealant chamber peripheral wall 3o and the partition wall 4. On the air chamber peripheral wall 3i are protrusively formed a plurality of rib-shaped projections 15 each forming a thick portion for reinforcement. The thickness t3 of each of the projections is approximately equal to the thickness t1 of the peripheral wall 3 and the thickness t2 of the partition wall 4. It is possible to efficiently extrusion-mold the tube material 2′ having the thick portions for reinforcement by thus approximately equalizing the thickness of each part of the tube material 2 including the rib-shaped projections 15.

Abstract: Drive shaft of a plant cutter apparatus includes an elongate main shaft portion made of a titanium alloy, and end shaft portions made of steel and integrally joined to the opposite ends of the main shaft portion. The titanium alloy has substantially the same mechanical strengths as the steel. Therefore, the titanium-alloy-made main shaft portion can secure rigidity that is normally required of the plant cutter's drive shaft, and can also reduce the weight of the drive shaft to thereby minimize unwanted sagging-induced vibrations of the drive shaft caused by the shaft's own weight.