Abstract: A brake pedal operated manually by the driver, a driving arm connected to a brake cable, and a ratchet wheel driven by a motor are rotatably supported on a pedal shaft. A ratchet member, mounted on the driving arm, is meshed with the ratchet wheel. When the brake pedal is depressed in a direction A, the brake pedal and the driving arm are coupled to each other through a limiting device and the driving arm, with a locking recess 35.sub.1 urged by a locking pin, is turned in the direction A to operate a brake. When the driving arm is otherwise turned in the direction A, only the arm is turned in the direction A, with the brake pedal separated by the limiting device being left at the brake operating position and prevents the operating foot from being caught between the pedal and vehicle body while such driving arm is otherwise turned and such brake is applied.

Abstract: A ratchet wheel, connected to a motor through a worm gear and a worm wheel, is supported on a pedal shaft which pivotally supports a brake pedal. The ratchet wheel engages a ratchet member mounted on the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is depressed, the ratchet member rotates on the pedal shaft so that the brake pedal is turned with the ratchet wheel remaining stationary. When the motor is driven, the ratchet member is brought into engagement, so that the brake pedal is turned along with the ratchet wheel. When the ratchet member is operated by a release arm, the brake pedal is released from the ratchet wheel and returned to an original position.

Abstract: In an automobile, a silencer connected to an exhaust pipe includes a casing made of thermally resistant synthetic resin and provided at an inner surface with a thermally insulating material. The silencer is disposed between a side frame and a side body and covered with an undercover from below the silencer and is disposed between a side frame and a side body of an automatic vehicle in a space behind a rear wheel.

Abstract: An electric dynamometer which includes a rotor mounted for rotation on a shaft and a stator surrounding the rotor, the stator including a yoke surrounding the rotor in radially spaced relation therewith, and a loss drum disposed between the yoke and the rotor so as to be rotatable 360.degree. about the rotor. An electric motor is coupled through its rotor to the loss drum so as to rotate the loss drum therewith. A stator of the electric motor is fixed to the yoke, and the yoke and stator of the motor are supported for rotation about the respective rotors. A torque detector is fixed to the stator of the motor so as to measure the combined torque exterted on the yoke and the stator of the motor about the rotors.