Abstract: The present invention provides for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, that is capable of sufficiently absorbing shock applied in the vehicle width direction due to uneven terrain, such as bumps and potholes, on the ground or road during turns. The vehicle, such as the motorcycle, includes a head pipe for supporting a front wheel, a main frame for supporting a rear wheel to which the head pipe is attached for rotation about a torsion axis of a shaft part extending longitudinally, and a torsion spring for absorbing shock as the head pipe rotates with respect to the main frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, that is capable of sufficiently absorbing shock applied in the vehicle width direction due to uneven terrain, such as bumps and potholes, on the ground or road during turns. The vehicle, such as the motorcycle, includes a head pipe for supporting a front wheel, a main frame for supporting a rear wheel to which the head pipe is attached for rotation about a torsion axis of a shaft part extending longitudinally, and a torsion spring for absorbing shock as the head pipe rotates with respect to the main frame.

Abstract: Three embodiments of hydraulic assemblies for controlling the position of an outboard drive mounted on the transom of a watercraft and for permitting the outboard drive to pop up when an underwater obstacle is struck and to return to its normal position once the underwater obstacle is cleared. In one embodiment, a hydraulic circuit is provided that permits the return to any of a plurality of trim adjusted positions without the necessity of employing a floating piston. In all embodiments, there is also provided a control valve assembly for manually opening the circuitry between the chambers of the hydraulic assembly for manual tilt and trim movement. This control is accessible from either side of the unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic tilt lock mechanism for a marine outboard drive that resists popping up operation when the outboard drive is operated in reverse but permits the outboard drive to pop up when an underwater obstacle is struck with sufficient force when traveling in a forward direction. A bypass passage is provided for selectively bypassing the shock absorbing function of the tilt lock mechanism to permit manual tilt and trim up and tilt and trim down operation. A control valve arrangement for controlling the flow through this bypass passage is incorporated which includes an operator that moves along an axis that is parallel to the cylinder bore of the hydraulic tilt lock mechanism and thus affords a compact and easily accessed construction.

Abstract: An improved steering mechanism for a marine outboard drive wherein the steering rod connected to the outboard drive end of the wire actuator steering cable is slidably mounted in a guide tube that is formed integrally with a hydraulic assist cylinder and which are affixed to the transom independently of the tilt pin and forwardly of it. This permits the steering mechanism to be assembled as a unit separately from the outboard drive and attached to the transom separately from it.

Abstract: Two embodiments of concentric tilt and trim cylinder arrangements for machine propulsion units for achieving trim and tilt-up operation. Each embodiment includes an arrangement that permits the outboard drive to pop up when an underwater obstacle is struck, but which preclude popping up operation when operating in reverse. In addition, one embodiment incorporates an arrangement for ensuring against inadvertent trim up when trim down is being called for.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of hydraulic assemblies for interpositioning between a marine outboard drive and a watercraft for controlling the position of the outboard drive relative to the watercraft. Each embodiment includes a double acting cylinder assembly but the chambers of the cylinder assemblies do not communicate with each other so that they may be filled with different fluids and/or a fluid and a gas and at different pressures to provide manual tilt up assistance. Various control valve arrangements are also disclosed for permitting popping up action and for permitting manual tilt up operation.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement is provided for mounting an outboard drive for movement between a tilted down position through trim adjusted positions to a tilted up out of the water position. The arrangement includes a quadrilateral linkage system and a hydraulic motor device which simultaneously lifts and tilts a motor relative to an associated watercraft. The invention allows the links employed in the linkage system to be constructed so that the cross-sectional areas along their lengthwise axes are greatest along their central regions, whereat they are pivotally connected together, and decreases towards each of their ends, thereby minimizing the weight of the arrangement.

Abstract: An outboard motor for mounting on the transom of a boat, having a horizontal engine and output shaft, an exhaust system having horizontal and vertical portions including an enlarged cross sectional water jacketed muffler within a water chamber having a retaining wall defining the water level, is tiltable and provides an enclosure for the engine area including a cowling, hood, and moveable hood section and a sleeve between the moveable hood and engine to perfect enclosure during tilting.

Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement for controlling tilt and trim of an outboard drive. The hydraulic arrangement comprises a single cylinder assembly having a single bore inside wherein an upper portion of the bore has a relatively small diameter and a lower portion of the bore has a larger diameter. Two separate pistons, one in each bore portion, are supported for reciprocation. The smaller diameter piston has a piston rod that is directly connected to an element of the outboard drive, while the opposite end of the cylinder assembly housing is connected to an element affixed to an associated watercraft, so as to insure against any undesirable noise or undue wear in the system, and to afford a compact assembly.