Abstract: In a saddle seat type motor vehicle for use on uneven ground and including a front final assembly provided between left and right front wheels, the front final assembly provides the left and right front wheels with driving torques differentiated at a predetermined ratio when the wheels rotates at different speeds. When the motor vehicle turns, large driving torque is supplied to inner wheels rotating at low speeds compared with outer wheels rotating at high speeds. This enables the motor vehicle to turn effectively and to reduce steering effort.

Abstract: A differential mechanism comprises a differential case assembly having a casing body connected to a source of drive force and a cap member coupled with the casing body to cover one opened end of the casing body, a plurality of input blocks housed in the case assembly and being movable circumferentially of the case assembly in correspondence with rotation of the casing body, and a pair of output cam members for clamping the input blocks relatively slidably and being independently rotatable owing to a frictional force produced with respect to each of the input blocks to thereby initiate a differential motion on an output side of the differential mechanism. The input blocks are provided in at least two different types and having projected portions. The projected portions of the input blocks of one type have a first upper end width while the projected portions of the input blocks of another type have a second upper end width different from the first upper end width.

Abstract: A two/four-wheel drive switching device for a vehicle which permits a rear brake an engine brake to be applied to front and rear wheels even in a two-wheel drive mode and which can minimize a switching noise. A switching unit permits and inhibits the transfer of power in a power transfer mechanism and is provided with a drive shaft. A driven shaft is fitted on the drive shaft through an annular clearance. An odd number of engaging/disengaging members are disposed in the clearance between the drive shaft and the driven shaft to connect and disconnect both shafts. A switching mechanism is provided for locating the engaging/disengaging members selectively in a position in which the drive shaft and the driven shaft are connected together and a position in which both shafts are disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A real wheel is fitted directly to the brake drum, and cooling fins are provided at the outer surface of the brake drum for dissipating heat. A seal member is fitted to an open edge of the brake drum, and an L-shaped plate for mating with lips of the seal member is fitted to the brake base section attached to the side of the vehicle. A brake shoe is then housed in a space formed between the brake base section and the brake drum. With this arrangement, the number of parts can be reduced compared with the related art. Also, the width of the vehicle can be reduced compared with, for example, fitting a wheel to a hub provided separately from a drum. The drum brake can be housed within the wheel, and the vehicle can be made lightweight. Heat dissipation for the drum brake can also be improved.

Abstract: A two/four-wheel drive switching device capable of avoiding interference with other components as far as possible at the time of installation of the device. All portions of a two/four-wheel drive switching device which portions are connected to a final reduction unit for front wheels are positioned below an upper surface of the device body.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle comprises first and second wheel halves joined together, and a center plate being generally cross-shaped. Each wheel half has a disk portion and a rim continuing from the disk portion. The center plate is inter-posed between the disk portions and has a diameter smaller than an outside diameter of each of the disk portions. The first and second wheel halves and the center plate are unitarily connected together by means of a plurality of sockets each having a countersunk head and a cylindrical shank. This arrangement increases freedom of design of the wheel and facilitates production of the same.

Abstract: A saddle type vehicle for attaining an appropriate weight distribution and a low centroid position. Suspension mechanisms are each composed of an upper arm and lower arms, the upper and lower arms being disposed in vertically spaced positions. A shock absorber is interposed between the upper arm and a body frame. A stabilizer is disposed between both suspension mechanisms. A lower end of the shock absorber is pivotably connected to the front-side lower arm, while an upper end of the shock absorber is pivotably connected to an inside position in the vehicular transverse direction of the body frame.

Abstract: A two-wheel and four-wheel driving change-over device for a vehicle wherein the existing construction as little as possible. A change-over unit intermittently performs power transmission for the power transmission mechanism. The change-over unit includes a driving shaft connected to a driving side, a driven shaft fitted to the driving shaft with an annular clearance therebetween. A plurality of engaging or disengaging members installed in a clearance between the driving shaft and driven shaft are engaged with or disengaged from the opposing surfaces for performing a connecting operation and a disconnecting operation between the driving shaft and driven shaft. A change-over mechanism is provided for selectively positioning the engaging or disengaging members between a position where said driving shaft and driven shaft are connected and a position where said driving shaft and driven shaft are disconnected.

Abstract: To enlarge the up and down stroke of a front wheel without changing the layout of a steering shaft and a tie rod. An upper arm and a lower arm are arranged in an upward and downward manner, respectively. The upper and lower arms are pivotably attached to a vehicle body and respective front end portions thereof are connected by a knuckle. The upper arm constitutes substantially a triangular shape and is provided with a front pipe, a rear pipe and a vehicle body attaching portion. Furthermore, a joint pipe is provided with a ring-like portion and a ball joint is attached thereto. A rear end portion of the vehicle body attaching portion, an escape portion in the vicinity thereof and an attaching center B of a cushion attaching portion provided on the joint pipe, are respectively arranged forward from a joint center line L passing through center A of the ball joint and orthogonal to a vehicle body center line C.

Abstract: A brake lever conjunctive switch is provided which is capable of making the operating timings of a pair of switches different while minimizing changes in the shape of a switch box. The brake lever conjunctive switch includes a switch box to which a brake lever is pivotally attached. A pair of switches are mounted in the switch box. The switches are disposed in parallel along the axial direction of pivoting of the brake lever. The brake lever is provided with a first contact member for operating one of the switches when the brake lever is turned by a predetermined angle. The brake lever is further provided with a second contact member located on the pivot shaft of the brake lever for operating the other of the switches by being oscillated by the brake lever when the brake lever is pivoted by not less than the predetermined angle.

Abstract: A drum brake includes a brake drum attached to an axle, and a brake panel. The brake drum includes a disc portion and a cylindrical portion extending from an outer peripheral end portion of the disc portion towards the brake panel. On an outer peripheral end portion of the cylindrical portion, there is mounted a seal member. The brake panel includes an annular flat surface portion, and a cylindrical projecting portion projecting from an outer peripheral end portion of the annular flat surface portion towards the brake drum so as to surround the seal member. The seal member has plural resilient axial sealing lips and at least one resilient radial sealing lip. The axial sealing lips are in sealing contact with the annular flat surface portion, and the radial lip is in sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical projecting portion.

Abstract: In a four wheel drive type buggy, an output shaft of an engine is connected to a front wheel propeller shaft and a bevel gear of a front wheel differential gear via a connecting pipe. The front wheel propeller shaft is provided with a large diameter section around an outer periphery surface thereof near and behind a rear end opening of the connecting pipe. A dust cover covers the outer periphery between the large diameter section and the rear end opening and a band fastens both ends of the cover. The large diameter section has approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of a spline section formed at the tip of the front wheel propeller shaft. When connecting the front wheel propeller shaft to the connecting pipe, the spline section is insertable into the free opening of the dust cover, with the dust cover previously covering the outer periphery surface of the rear end opening.

Abstract: An pinion gear includes a shaft having an input end, an output end and an intermediate portion being disposed therebetween. The input end includes a spline portion for directly securing the pinion gear to a drive shaft. The output end includes gear teeth for meshing engagement with a ring gear of a drive gear assembly. The intermediate portion includes a surface for mounting a bearing for supporting the pinion gear during use.

Abstract: An axle for a vehicle includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion being disposed therebetween. The elongated shaft includes a predetermined diameter extending over a portion thereof. The first end of the elongated shaft being designed for mounting a first wheel thereon. The second end of the elongated shaft being designed for mounting a second wheel thereon. The intermediate portion includes a flange extending a predetermined distance along the length of the axle, the flange being designed for mounting and positioning a drive gear assembly and a brake drum assembly relative to each other with the flange being disposed therebetween. The flange is provided as an enlarged diameter section having a diameter greater than the predetermined diameter extending over a portion thereof and is displaced to one side relative to a center section of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: A saddle-riding type vehicle including a simple, lightweight and high rigidity frame structure. The frame structure includes bending upward center pipes 22, which are joined to lower pipes 21 extending backward from the lower portions of a pair of right and left front pipes 20, respectively; connecting the front pipes 20 to the center portions of the center pipes 22 with straight main pipes, respectively; putting front side pipes 25 between the front pipes 20 and the lower pipes 21 for constituting the three-sides of triangles together with the front pipes 20 and the lower pipes 21, respectively; extending seat rail pipes 26 backward from the center portions of the main pipes 24 by way of cross pipes 23 put between the upper portions of the center pipes 22, respectively; and laying reinforcing pipes 27 put between the front side pipes 25 and the main pipes 24 on the same straight lines as those of the seat rail pipes, respectively.

Abstract: In a four-wheeled buggy which has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels and a seat arranged around the middle of the vehicle to enable the rider to operate the vehicle in a sitting posture thereon, a pair of right and left main frames are two-dimensionally bent upwardly at the forward sections thereof and adapted to support at the front ends thereof a front wheel axle so as to prevent a front wheel driving device from hitting ground. The rearward sections of the main frames extend horizontally rearwardly to define a lowermost height from ground and are adapted to support a power unit behind the seat close to the rear wheels so as to obtain mass concentration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fallable type pole supporting device comprising a wire extending in a longitudinal direction of a pole extended to a mounting side end of a pole member. A resilient member is disposed between an extreme end of the wire and a mounting side end of the pole member. The pole member and the longitudinal direction of the wire are maintained in a straight line by a resilient force in an axial direction of the resilient member. A lower mounting end of the pole member is tiltably maintained and the pole member is made engageable with a base body through said wire.

Abstract: A radiator device particularly adapted for use on off-road type vehicles includes a radiator body disposed rearwardly of the seat and spatially offset therefrom. The radiator body is enclosed about its periphery by a shroud that includes laterally extending, air-gathering wings. Fins forming part of a lattice-like grill are inclined in the direction of offset of the radiator body to direct the gathered air into the radiator body.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle contains a floor panel including a first inclined portion facing the seat and forming a foot rest and a second inclined portion disposed adjacent to and facing the seat and having an irregularly formed surface thereon to protect the driver against slipping upon entering and existing the vehicle. The second inclined portion has an angle of inclination less than that of the first inclined portion and has surface irregularities comprising longitudinally spaced flats interconnected by angularly displaced surface sections.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes an engine mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle frame and a recoil starter for starting the engine. The recoil starter has a pulley operatively coupled to the crankshaft of the engine, and a cord member wound around the pulley. The cord member has an outer end extending rearwardly from the recoil starter for allowing the cord member to be easily pulled from behind the vehicle frame.