Abstract: A self-propelled snowplow vehicle includes a vehicle frame equipped with an auger at a front end portion thereof and pivotally connected to a propelling frame equipped with driving wheels, and a frame lift mechanism for lifting the front end portion of the vehicle frame up and down relative to the propelling frame. The frame lift mechanism comprises an electro-hydraulic cylinder actuator having a piston rod and an electric motor rotatably driven to produce a fluid pressure for reciprocating the piston rod in response to operation of a manual operating switch. The snowplow vehicle also includes a control unit arranged to forcibly stop the electric motor when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation switch is activated, the predetermined time being equal to an operating time of the cylinder actuator which is required to extend or contract the piston rod over a maximum stroke defined between a fully extended position and a fully contracted position of the piston rod.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism driven by an engine via a belt drive power transmission mechanism, and an overload protection device associated with the belt drive power transmission mechanism for protecting the engine against overload. The overload protection device comprises a tension sensor for detecting the tension in an endless belt and generating an electric overload signal to disengage an electromagnetic clutch in the belt drive power transmission mechanism when a belt tension greater than a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: An electric vehicle has left and right speed control levers provided alongside left and right grips provided at the ends of left and right control handles. The electric vehicle also has left and right electric motors for driving left and right driven wheels and left and right brakes for braking the left and right driven wheels. The left brake and the speed of the left electric motor are controlled with the left speed control lever, the right brake and the speed of the right electric motor are controlled with the right speed control lever, and a driver can execute changes of direction and pivot turns and spot turns while holding the vehicle in a good attitude.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler has a travel ready lever mounted to one of the left and right handlebars and adapted to be gripped by a human operator to place the electric motors in an operative condition, and a clutch control pushbutton switch disposed on the control board at a position close to the other handlebar, the clutch control pushbutton switch being adapted to be manually operated to actuate the electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: A self-propelled snowplow vehicle includes a vehicle frame equipped with an auger at a front end portion thereof and pivotally connected to a propelling frame equipped with driving wheels, and a frame lift mechanism for lifting the front end portion of the vehicle frame up and down relative to the propelling frame. The frame lift mechanism comprises an electro-hydraulic cylinder actuator having a piston rod and an electric motor rotatably driven to produce a fluid pressure for reciprocating the piston rod in response to operation of a manual operating switch. The snowplow vehicle also includes a control unit arranged to forcibly stop the electric motor when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation switch is activated, the predetermined time being equal to an operating time of the cylinder actuator which is required to extend or contract the piston rod over a maximum stroke defined between a fully extended position and a fully contracted position of the piston rod.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism driven by an engine via a belt drive power transmission mechanism, and an overload protection device associated with the belt drive power transmission mechanism for protecting the engine against overload. The overload protection device comprises a tension sensor for detecting the tension in an endless belt and generating an electric overload signal to disengage an electromagnetic clutch in the belt drive power transmission mechanism when a belt tension greater than a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism driven by an engine via a belt drive power transmission mechanism, and an overload protection device associated with the belt drive power transmission mechanism for protecting the engine against overload. The overload protection device comprises a tension sensor for detecting the tension in an endless belt and generating an electric overload signal to disengage an electromagnetic clutch in the belt drive power transmission mechanism when a belt tension greater than a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler has a travel ready lever mounted to one of the left and right handlebars and adapted to be gripped by a human operator to place the electric motors in an operative condition, and a clutch control pushbutton switch disposed on the control board at a position close to the other handlebar, the clutch control pushbutton switch being adapted to be manually operated to actuate the electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: A snow removing machine having an electromagnetic clutch mounted to an output shaft of an engine, and a drive pulley. The electromagnetic clutch is mounted to a proximal end of the output shaft to be remotely separate from the engine. As a result, heat generated in the engine during operation thereof is not directly transferred to the electromagnet clutch whose magnetic force generated during operation is not deteriorated. The drive pulley is mounted to the output shaft at an area closer to the engine. The drive pulley has a lower weight than the electromagnet clutch, thereby mitigating load to be exerted to a part which supports the output shaft.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism disposed on a front portion of a vehicle body, an engine disposed on a longitudinal central portion of the vehicle body for driving the snowplow mechanism, a left crawler belt and a right crawler belt disposed on a left side and a right side, respectively, of the vehicle body, and left and right electric motors disposed on a rear portion of the vehicle body for driving the left and right crawler belts, respectively. With this arrangement, the crawler snowplow has a good weight balance such that the load or weight of the vehicle body is born evenly by the crawler belts. Since the snowplow mechanism and the crawler belts are driven separately by different power sources, the crawler snowplow can exhibit a good traveling performance regardless of the load exerted on the snowplow mechanism.

Abstract: An electric vehicle has left and right speed control levers provided alongside left and right grips provided at the ends of left and right control handles. The electric vehicle also has left and right electric motors for driving left and right driven wheels and left and right brakes for braking the left and right driven wheels. The left brake and the speed of the left electric motor are controlled with the left speed control lever, the right brake and the speed of the right electric motor are controlled with the right speed control lever, and a driver can execute changes of direction and pivot turns and spot turns while holding the vehicle in a good attitude.

Abstract: A motorized vehicle includes left and right electric motors mounted on a vehicle body for independently rotating left and right driving wheels, respectively, at variable speeds, and an actuator for causing the left and right electric motors to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions, thereby ensuring that the vehicle making a turn through a desired angle while staying at the same position. The actuator includes left and right turn control levers respectively mounted to left and right handlebars so as to extend along left and right handgrips. The turn control levers are operationally connected to left and right brakes and the left and right electric motors for causing the simultaneous rotation of the motors in opposite direction based on the position of the turn control levers.

Abstract: In a snow-removing machine, an expandable and contractible regulating mechanism is coupled between a steering handlebar of a machine body including a snow-removing section and a drive section capable of being turned relative to the machine body about a wheel driving shaft, and is capable of regulating the level of the snow-removing section relative to the drive section. The expandable and contractible regulating mechanism is comprised of a cylinder connected to the machine body, a piston which divides the inside of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber, a piston rod coupled to the piston and connected to the drive section, a communication passage permitting communication between the first and second chambers, and an on-off valve for opening and closing the communication passage. A high-pressure gas is filled in the first and second chambers, so that the expansion and compression of the high-pressure gas is permitted upon closing of the on-off valve.

Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism driven by an engine via a belt drive power transmission mechanism, and an overload protection device associated with the belt drive power transmission mechanism for protecting the engine against overload. The overload protection device comprises a tension sensor for detecting the tension in an endless belt and generating an electric overload signal to disengage an electromagnetic clutch in the belt drive power transmission mechanism when a belt tension greater than a predetermined value is detected.

Abstract: A continuously shifting-type steering system includes a pair of left and right hydrostatic continuously variable transmissions each of which is comprised of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, and a pair of left and right planetary gear mechanisms each having a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a two-step planetary gear and a carrier. A first driving gear connected to an engine, is operably connected commonly to the left and right first sun gears. Left and right second driving gears secured to motor shafts of the left and right hydraulic motors, are operably connected to the left and right carriers, respectively. Left and right output shafts are operably connected to the left and right second sun gears, respectively. Thus, it is possible to provide an increase in the shifting range of the continuously shifting-type steering system, and an enhancement in low-output performance.