Abstract: A continously variable transmission has a fixed pulley piece and has a movable pulley piece which is supported for movement toward and away from the fixed pulley piece, the width of a groove between the pulley pieces being increased or decreased in order to increase or decrease the radius of rotation of a belt looped around a driving side pulley and a driven side pulley which include the fixed and movable pulley pieces to thereby vary a belt ratio. A hydraulic clutch is engaged and disengaged under control of a clutch pressure in order to vary a driving force output by the continuously variable transmission, and a control arrangement controls and hydraulic clutch so that creep caused by slippage of the hydraulic clutch in a hold mode during a reverse gear operation of the continuously variable transmission is larger than creep caused by slippage of the hydraulic clutch in a hold mode during forward gear operation of the continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: An oil tank device mounted upon the body frame of a motorcycle provided with a head pipe and other frame members for storing engine oil therein comprises a tank rail connected to the head pipe and provided with an inner hollow portion, a down tube connected to the head pipe so as to extend downwardly and also encompass an inner hollow portion, a bridge frame connected to the tank rail and down tube and provided with an inner hollow portion, and front reinforcements connected to both bilateral sides of the tank rail. The down tube and the bridge frame partially define an inner space between the front reinforcements and the inner space formed by means of front reinforcements communicates with the respective inner hollow portions of the tank rail, the down tube and the bridge frame. The lower end portions of the tank rail and the down tube have wall thicknesses which are gradually increased in the downward direction.

Abstract: A transmission assembly for a vehicle including a transmission casing, at least two generally parallel transmission shafts rotatably supported within the casing, gears coacting between the transmission shafts for defining plural drive paths having different speed ratios, axially shiftable clutches coacting with the gears for permitting selection of different drive ratios between the transmission shafts, and a shifting and selecting mechanism for the clutches. The last-mentioned mechanism comprises a shift and select unit having a shift and select shaft which is rotatably and axially slidably supported relative to the casing. The shaft projects into the interior of the casing in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the rotational axes of the transmission shafts. The shift and select shaft has a shaft end portion which projects outwardly through the wall of the transmission casing for a selected axial extent.

Abstract: A method of controlling a continuously variable transmission which includes a fixed pulley member and a movable pulley member supported relative to the fixed pulley member so as to be movable both toward and away from the fixed pulley member, including the steps of decreasing and increasing the width of a groove defined between the pulley members to thereby respectively increase and decrease a rotational radius of a belt which is received between the pulley members in the groove. When a target engine rotational speed based on throttle opening degree and vehicle velocity changes during vehicle running, a transient speed change control is performed so as to change a belt ratio of the transmission based on a predetermined rate limit value. A control unit is provided for receiving the throttle opening degree and vehicle velocity and executing the transient speed change control.

Abstract: A motor bicycle is provided with a main frame supporting a head tube operatively connected a steering shaft of a front wheel. The main frame includes a backborn which is connected to the head tube and extends rearwardly along the main body of the motor bicycle and the backborn comprises two members extending rearwardly from the head tube with a certain angle in bilaterally oblique directions in a plan view. A helmet storage box is disposed in a space between these two members, the seat and the head tube so as to have an inner volume sufficient for accommodating a helmet or the like. This arrangement makes it possible to locate a fuel tank below the seat without changing the outer appearance of the motor bicycle.

Abstract: A hydraulic control method is applied to a continuously variable speed change gear mechanism including a pulley having a fixed pulley member fixed to a rotary shaft and a movable pulley member movable by oil pressure toward and away from the fixed pulley member so that a groove width between the fixed and movable pulley members is decreased or increased to thereby reduce or increase the effective rotational radius of a belt extending between the pulley members and thus change a change gear ratio and control the gear change.

Abstract: A non-stage automatic transmission for vehicles includes a pair of adjustable pulleys supported for rotation within a transmission casing, and an endless metal belt which is wound around and frictionally engaged with the pulleys for rotation therewith. A mechanism for supplying lubricating oil between the belt and the pulleys is provided, along with an arrangement for directing lubricating oil, which has been scattered from the belt onto the transmission casing, back toward the belt.

Abstract: An engine unit is equipped with a cylinder head and a crank case in which an oil feed pump and a scavenge pump are disposed. A lubricating and cooling system for the engine unit comprises an oil tank constituted by a hollow main tube, a hollow down tube, a hollow bridge tube connecting the main tube and the down tube so as to communicate with each other through oil ports and frame members covering a space defined by the respective tubes. A feed pipe connects the down tube to the feed pump, a scavenge pipe connects the oil tank to the scavenge pump, and a flowout pipe directly or indirectly connects the cylinder head to the oil tank. The oil pots formed in the main tube, the down tube and the bridge tube have opening sizes selected to effectively separate air from the engine oil during the circulation thereof.

Abstract: A continuously variable non-stage transmission for a vehicle includes a pair of pulleys with a belt wound around them, and an arrangement cooperable with the pulleys for varying the radius of gyration of the belt. A fluid coupling, a reverse drive brake, a neutral clutch, and one of the pulleys are positioned in a row beginning at the vehicle engine and extending along a rotatable shaft. The fluid coupling includes a pump impeller, a turbine runner, and a stator wheel which is lockable against rotation by the brake to provide reverse rotation of the turbine runner. A direct clutch is built into the fluid coupling and prevents cavitation in the fluid coupling. An operating mechanism of the brake is fitted in a hollow cavity in the case of the transmission. The cavity is formed by a retaining portion of the transmission case, which retaining portion supports a bearing of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an ignition timing for a marine engine has a temperature sensor for detecting a cold or warm-up state of the engine and for outputting an ON/OFF signal, and has an ignition timing controller for receiving the signal from the temperature sensor, for receiving signals representing an engine rotational speed and a throttle opening degree which are sent from other sensors, and for setting an optimum ignition timing.

Abstract: An engine of a motor-bicycle is provided with a crank case which includes a transmission chamber within which a transmission mechanism and a gear change mechanism are arranged. The gear change mechanism comprises first and second shift fork shafts, a gear shift cam shaft arranged between the first and second shift fork shafts, and a gear shift shaft operatively connected to the gear shift cam shaft. The first and second shift fork shafts and the gear shift cam shaft are disposed in within the transmission chamber and the gear shift shaft is disposed externally of the transmission chamber within a gear shift shaft chamber integrally formed with the crank case and fluidically separated from the transmission chamber.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission has a fixed pulley piece and a movable pulley piece supported on the fixed pulley piece so that the movable pulley piece can be moved toward and away from the fixed pulley piece, the width of a groove between the pieces being increased or decreased by changing hydraulic pressure so that the rotational radius of a belt looped around the pulleys is increased or decreased to vary a belt ratio. A clutch pressure control device includes a hydraulic clutch for which engagement and disengagement is controlled according to various control modes, and a control arrangement which calculates a target clutch pressure with reference to a slip amount of the hydraulic clutch and which feedback controls the target clutch pressure so that the slip amount of the clutch is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A method of controlling a clutch of a continuously variable transmission system which controls a transmission system by either expanding or contracting the width of a channel between a stationary pulley member and an axially movable pulley member to expand or contract the radius of rotation of a belt wound on the pulleys to eventually vary the belt ratio. The continuously variable transmission system includes a controller unit which executes a control operation by feeding actually detected clutch pressure back to an objective clutch pressure, and an oil-pressure circuit which controls oil pressure in response to signals from the controller unit.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve, a throttle valve positioned in an inlet passage, a bypass passage communicating with the inlet passage downstream of the throttle valve, an arrangement for admitting ambient air into the bypass passage, and means for calculating a normally desired amount of fuel to be injected into the inlet passage by the fuel injection valve based on the air pressure in the bypass passage. In order to compensate for differences between the respective air pressures in the bypass passage and the downstream part of the inlet passage, means are provided for calculating an adjusted amount of fuel to be injected which is different from the normally desired amount of fuel.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine for a marine vessel which includes, when a sudden fluctuation of a load is to be generated due to connecting or disconnecting of a load at a low speed of the engine, the step of advancing the spark ignition timing by a few degrees at the time the connecting or disconnecting is performed. A different feature is a method which includes, when the throttle opening of an engine for a marine vessel is changed from a predetermined opening degree to a substantially closed state, the step of advancing the spark ignition timing by a few degrees.

Abstract: A motor bicycle is provided with an article accommodating box for a helmet which is disposed above an upper portion of an engine unit. The article box is provided with a bottom portion extending rearwardly along the upper portion of an intake system connected to the engine unit and the front portion of the bottom portion rises upwardly at the upper rear portion of the engine cylinder head. The box is provided with a cover having an improved solar heat insulation structure by forming an air passage within an upper portion of the cover. The box is further provided with a ventilation member for air circulation within the interior of the box. The box is locked by means of a locking mechanism which is provided with a device for preventing the box cover from being erroneously locked or unlocked. The motor bicycle may be provided with an additional article accommodating box for an extra helmet at a location defined by means of a space between the head pipe, the cowling and the front fork.

Abstract: A valve moving mechanism for a four-cycle engine of a vehicle is operatively connected to a crank shaft of the engine and is adapted to move intake and exhaust valves. A cam shaft of the valve moving mechanism is operatively connected to the crank shaft and cam means including first, second and third cams is mounted upon the cam shaft, the second and third cams having outer profiles different from that of the first cam disposed between the second and third cams. Rocker arm means are mounted so as to be rotatable upon the rocker shaft which is rotatably mounted and includes first, second and third rocker arms driven in engagement with the first, second and third cams, respectively. The rocker arm means is operatively connected to the intake and exhaust valves, the first, second and third rocker arms having supporting bases mounted upon the rocker shaft.

Abstract: An audio alarm outputting device for an outboard engine includes a plurality of sensors for detecting abnormalities, such as in the cooling water flow, and a speech outputting circuit for receiving output signals from the plurality of sensors and outputting abnormal conditions of the signals in a vocalized form. A variable voice level setting circuit cooperable with the speech outputting circuit automatically increases in steps the output level of the speech outputting circuit as the engine speed increases.

Abstract: A cruise control apparatus includes an actuator adapted to cooperate with an accelerator to open and close an intake throttle valve to a specified opening position, and to prevent the throttle valve from returning to a fully closed position to thereby maintain a selected vehicle speed. A control unit is provided to control the actuator so that movement of the throttle valve to a fully closed position is retarded for a predetermined time period after disengaging the cruise control function. The control unit controls the actuator so as to permit free movement of the throttle valve toward the fully closed position after the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a driving side pulley and a driven side pulley each having a fixed pulley part and having a movable pulley part supported for movement toward and away from the fixed pulley part, the width of a groove between the pulley parts of each pulley being increased and decreased to increase the decrease at each pulley the rotating radius of a belt wound around both of the pulleys to change a belt ratio. A revolution controller for the transmission limits the rate of change of a target number of revolutions for an engine driving the transmission to a rate limit lower than a prescribed rate when the target number of revolutions of the engine specified by a speed change schedule map based on a throttle opening and a vehicle speed is changed during travel of the vehicle.