Abstract: A breather device comprises a substantially enclosed breather chamber (132) defined between a first end wall (102D) of a motor case and a second end wall (82B) of a gear case opposing each other, a motor communication hole (122) provided in the first end wall, an external communication passage (124) formed in the motor case or the gear case at a position lower than the motor communication hole so as to communicate the breather chamber to outside, and a partition wall (128) extending laterally across the breather chamber and projecting from one of the first end wall and the second wall toward the opposing end wall so as to define a small gap (130) between the partition wall and the opposing end wall, the partition wall being positioned between the motor communication hole and the external communication passage.

Abstract: A breather device (140) for a gear case (82) defining a gear chamber (83) therein, comprising a breather chamber (146) defined in a part of the gear case; a breathing hole (152) formed in a wall part defining an upper part of the breather chamber so as to communicate the breather chamber with outside; a communication hole (148, 150) formed in a wall part separating a lower part of the breather chamber from the gear chamber so as to communicate the breather chamber with the gear chamber; and a separating wall (154) extending partly across the breather chamber so as to define a circuitous passage between the breathing hole and the communication hole.

Abstract: A work machine includes: a drive rotation speed detector configured to detect a signal indicating a rotation of a drive source; a work rotation speed detector configured to detect a signal indicating rotation of a work rotation shaft; and a control device configured to, on the basis of comparison between signals acquired from the drive rotation speed detector and the work rotation speed detector, stop the drive source in a case where there is a rotation speed difference between a driven shaft in a rotating state due to power transmission from the drive source and the work rotation shaft. The work rotation speed detector includes: a detection target member configured to rotate together with the work rotation shaft; and a sensor mounting member configured to hold a detection sensor configured to detect rotation of the detection target member.

Abstract: A snow removal machine has: a storage unit that stores a vehicle speed coefficient map indicating the relationship between an incline angle and a vehicle speed coefficient for decreasing an instructed vehicle speed; a vehicle speed coefficient setting unit that sets the vehicle speed coefficient on the basis of a detected incline angle and the vehicle speed coefficient map; and a vehicle speed setting unit that sets the vehicle speed of a traveling unit by way of multiplying the instructed vehicle speed by the set vehicle speed coefficient. The vehicle speed coefficient map sets the vehicle speed coefficient so same is smaller for larger incline angles when at least the traveling unit is going forward on an upslope. A travel control unit controls a drive source so that the traveling unit travels at the set vehicle speed set by the vehicle speed setting unit.

Abstract: A breather device and a snow removal machine having the breather device have a casing into which blowby gas of an engine flows, an air suction port for letting out gas from the inside of the casing, and a gas-liquid separation mechanism for separating moisture contained in the blowby gas. The gas-liquid separation mechanism separates an inlet, which allows the blowby gas to flow in, and the air suction port by a predetermined distance, and has the air suction port positioned above a liquid path through which the moisture flows. A gas path allows the blowby gas to flow from the inlet to the air suction port without passing through an air cleaner element.

Abstract: A suspension mechanism has a tube member that is movably attached to an attachment shaft and includes an outer peripheral surface of approximately hemispherical shape, a first attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis to swingably retain the attachment shaft with an outer peripheral surface of the tube member abutted on its inside surface, a shaft lower end portion of slip surface shape provided at lowermost part of the attachment shaft, a second attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis below the first attachment shaft retaining member and having a vertex equivalent section of approximately conical shape and a slope equivalent section to retain the attachment shaft with the slip surface shape shaft lower end portion abutted onto the vertex equivalent section or the slope equivalent section, and a biasing member that biases the tube member and the shaft lower end portion away from each other.

Abstract: In an autonomously navigating vehicle including a sensor (contact-lift sensor) configured to produce an output proportional to displacement between a chassis and the cover and the control unit configured to receive output of the sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether change of the sensor output per prescribed time period is equal to or greater than the threshold value, count up time period during which change has been determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold value, and compare time period counted up by the time integration unit with prescribed time periods (first prescribed time period and second prescribed time period) and discriminate whether the vehicle has contacted an obstacle or whether the cover has been lifted from the chassis based on the result of the comparison with the prescribed time periods.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (10) fitted with a carburetor (40) is provided with a fire-resistant cover member (62) having a front wall (65A) facing an air inlet port (44) of the carburetor, and a breather tube (60) having an inlet end (60A) connected to a crank chamber (28) of the internal combustion engine main body, and an outlet end (60B) supported by the cover member at a position located between the front wall and the carburetor.

Abstract: A snow removal machine has: a storage unit that stores a vehicle speed coefficient map indicating the relationship between an incline angle and a vehicle speed coefficient for decreasing an instructed vehicle speed; a vehicle speed coefficient setting unit that sets the vehicle speed coefficient on the basis of a detected incline angle and the vehicle speed coefficient map; and a vehicle speed setting unit that sets the vehicle speed of a traveling unit by way of multiplying the instructed vehicle speed by the set vehicle speed coefficient. The vehicle speed coefficient map sets the vehicle speed coefficient so same is smaller for larger incline angles when at least the traveling unit is going forward on an upslope. A travel control unit controls a drive source so that the traveling unit travels at the set vehicle speed set by the vehicle speed setting unit.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (10) fitted with a carburetor (40) is provided with a fire-resistant cover member (62) having a front wall (65A) facing an air inlet port (44) of the carburetor, and a breather tube (60) having an inlet end (60A) connected to a crank chamber (28) of the internal combustion engine main body, and an outlet end (60B) supported by the cover member at a position located between the front wall and the carburetor.

Abstract: A breather device and a snow removal machine having the breather device have a casing into which blowby gas of an engine flows, an air suction port for letting out gas from the inside of the casing, and a gas-liquid separation mechanism for separating moisture contained in the blowby gas. The gas-liquid separation mechanism separates an inlet, which allows the blowby gas to flow in, and the air suction port by a predetermined distance, and has the air suction port positioned above a liquid path through which the moisture flows. A gas path allows the blowby gas to flow from the inlet to the air suction port without passing through an air cleaner element.

Abstract: An autonomous lawn mower includes a movable cover covering a traveling frame and holding devices holding the movable cover. Each holding device includes a holding shaft and a shaft holding unit. The holding shaft includes a lower half portion and an upper half portion. The shaft holding unit holds the lower half portion accommodated in an accommodating portion of the traveling frame such that the lower half portion can slide in only a horizontal direction. The upper half portion extends through a through hole of the movable cover by extending upward from the traveling frame, thereby holding the movable cover so that the movable cover is vertically displaceable. A coil spring intervenes between a receiving portion and an upper wall of the movable cover. One holding device includes a detector which detects the slide displacement amount of the lower half portion.

Abstract: A suspension mechanism has a tube member that is movably attached to an attachment shaft and includes an outer peripheral surface of approximately hemispherical shape, a first attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis to swingably retain the attachment shaft with an outer peripheral surface of the tube member abutted on its inside surface, a shaft lower end portion of slip surface shape provided at lowermost part of the attachment shaft, a second attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis below the first attachment shaft retaining member and having a vertex equivalent section of approximately conical shape and a slope equivalent section to retain the attachment shaft with the slip surface shape shaft lower end portion abutted onto the vertex equivalent section or the slope equivalent section, and a biasing member that biases the tube member and the shaft lower end portion away from each other.

Abstract: In an autonomously navigating vehicle including a sensor (contact-lift sensor) configured to produce an output proportional to displacement between a chassis and the cover and the control unit configured to receive output of the sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether change of the sensor output per prescribed time period is equal to or greater than the threshold value, count up time period during which change has been determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold value, and compare time period counted up by the time integration unit with prescribed time periods (first prescribed time period and second prescribed time period) and discriminate whether the vehicle has contacted an obstacle or whether the cover has been lifted from the chassis based on the result of the comparison with the prescribed time periods.

Abstract: An autonomous lawn mower includes a movable cover covering a traveling frame and holding devices holding the movable cover. Each holding device includes a holding shaft and a shaft holding unit. The holding shaft includes a lower half portion and an upper half portion. The shaft holding unit holds the lower half portion accommodated in an accommodating portion of the traveling frame such that the lower half portion can slide in only a horizontal direction. The upper half portion extends through a through hole of the movable cover by extending upward from the traveling frame, thereby holding the movable cover so that the movable cover is vertically displaceable. A coil spring intervenes between a receiving portion and an upper wall of the movable cover. One holding device includes a detector which detects the slide displacement amount of the lower half portion.

Abstract: An auger snow-removing machine includes left and right forward rotation augers rotatable in a first direction during snow removal and left and right reverse rotation augers rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction during the snow removal. The forward and reverse rotation augers are coaxially disposed in alignment in a width direction of an auger housing within the housing. Distal ends of the left forward rotation auger and the right reverse rotation auger have phases set to substantially simultaneously reach a lowermost location when the forward and reverse rotation augers rotate. Distal ends of the right forward rotation auger and the left reverse rotation auger have phases set to substantially simultaneously reach the lowermost location when the forward and reverse rotation augers rotate.

Abstract: In an auger snow plow, right and left forward rotating augers and right and left backward rotating augers are disposed on a same axis and aligned in a width direction of an auger housing. A blower housing is disposed at a rear portion of the auger housing and also positioned at a widthwise center of the auger housing. A blower is disposed inside the blower housing. The right and left forward rotating augers are positioned at least in an entire range of a width of the blower housing. The right and left backward rotating augers are separately positioned on both sides of the right and left forward rotating augers and positioned only at a more outer side than the width of the blower housing in the width direction.

Abstract: In an apparatus for guiding an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery (30) for operating a lawn mower blades, other electric motors for driving wheels, and two magnetic sensors attached at the front for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire to perform operation and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, the area wire is laid with an offset to right or left when viewed in a plane such that the vehicle is turned from a straight-running position to a direction of the offset and then is returned to the straight-running position when the vehicle runs to be connected to the charging device, thereby guiding the vehicle to the charging device.

Abstract: Riding lawn mower switchable between mulching and bagging modes includes: a delivery passage for delivering grass, cut by cutting blades in a housing, from the housing to a receptacle by delivering air; and a scroll guide provided in an entrance of the passage for directing the grass clippings to the passage. An overall shape of the scroll guide as viewed in top plan is a substantial isosceles triangle extending into the housing while tapering forward from a scroll guide's base section located in the entrance and as viewed in side elevation is a substantial triangle tapering forward from the base section. Left and right side surfaces of the scroll guide each comprises lower and upper slanting surfaces formed as different slants, each of which gradually increases in area from the distal end of the scroll guide toward the base section.

Abstract: In an auger snow plow, right and left forward rotating augers and right and left backward rotating augers are disposed on a same axis and aligned in a width direction of an auger housing. A blower housing is disposed at a rear portion of the auger housing and also positioned at a widthwise center of the auger housing. A blower is disposed inside the blower housing. The right and left forward rotating augers are positioned at least in an entire range of a width of the blower housing. The right and left backward rotating augers are separately positioned on both sides of the right and left forward rotating augers and positioned only at a more outer side than the width of the blower housing in the width direction.