Abstract: A crawler motor vehicle includes a pair of crawler belts trained around drive rear wheels and idle wheels which are rotatably mounted on the motor vehicle body. The crawler motor vehicle also has a pair of front wheels having respective tires and rotatably mounted on the motor vehicle body such that the front wheels will be subject to a camber thrust in the same negative direction as the negative direction of a camber thrust applied to the crawler belts.

Abstract: A crawler belt for use on a crawler motor vehicle has an elongate belt body drivable in a predetermined direction, and a plurality of ridges mounted on a ground contact side of the belt body, each of the ridges having at least one sipe defined in a free end thereof for allowing the ridge to be flexibly deformable in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Each of the ridges has a plurality of sipes defined therein and extending longitudinally thereof or substantially perpendicularly to the predetermined direction. The ridges comprise a plurality of chevron-shaped ridges pointing toward the predetermined direction and succesively arranged at predetermined spaced intervals in the predetermined direction. The ridges are divided into a plurality of groups each including a plurality of ridges by grooves extending transversely of the belt body, and divided into a plurality of segments by at least one longitudinal groove extending longitudinally of the belt body.

Abstract: A suspension device in a crawler vehicle has a vehicle body, a pair of parallel spaced swing beams mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle body by a suspension for angular movement about a first axis located substantially longitudinally centrally thereof, a rear idle wheel rotatably supported on a front portion of each of the swing beams for rotation about a second axis, a rear drive wheel rotatably supported on a rear portion of each of the swing beams for rotation about a third axis, a crawler belt trained around the rear idle wheel and the rear drive wheel, and a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front portion of the vehicle body. The distance from the second axis to the first axis is greater than the distance from the first axis to the third axis. The second axis is positioned on a front end of each of the swing beams, and the third axis is positioned between the first axis and a rear end of each of the swing beams.

Abstract: A manually operated gear shift mechanism for a motorcycle, or the like, includes a cable-driven pulley system operative to move a clutch to alternate operative positions in a power transmission system. The cables are arranged such that one is in tension regardless of the direction of rotation of the pulleys. The handle for operating the pulleys carries a releasable locking mechanism operative to secure the pulleys and, concomitantly, the clutch in their respective operative positions.

Abstract: A manually operated gear shift mechanism for a motorcycle, or the like, includes a cable-driven pulley system operative to move a clutch to alternate operative positions in a power transmission system. The cables are arranged such that one is in tension regardless of the direction of rotation of the pulleys. The handle for operating the pulleys carries a releasable locking mechanism operative to secure the pulleys and, concomitantly, the clutch in their respective operative positions.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch includes drive friction discs rotatably mounted around an output shaft, driven friction discs mounted around the output shaft against rotation relative thereto, a clutch pressure member mounted around the output shaft for movement therealong relative to a chamber plate fixedly mounted on the output shaft, the pressure member cooperating with the chamber plate to form a hydraulic pressure chamber. The drive and driven discs are movable along an axis of the output shaft. The pressure member has outlet port means communicating with the hydraulic pressure chamber. A clutch lifter member is mounted around the output shaft for movement therealong and is normally urged by urging means against the clutch pressure member to close the outlet port means.

Abstract: An operation device of a clutch master cylinder including a clutch master cylinder slidably incorporating therein a piston and a clutch lever pivotally supported by a pivot on a lever holder and having a piston operating arm. The clutch lever has a bearing hole formed substantially parallel to the pivot and a rotor is turnably fitted into the bearing hole. A push rod which comes into contact with the piston so as to be able to rock is interconnected to the rotor. To adjust the play stroke of the clutch lever, the length of the push rod is adjustable in one embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment, the pivot is fitted to a shaft hole of the clutch lever and the axis of the pivot is eccentrically disposed with respect to the center of the shaft hole.

Abstract: A damping system for a drive train having a cam coupling mechanism which advances an intermediate member axially along a driven shaft under high torque loads. The intermediate member is spring biased and is associated with a variable volume chamber containing fluid. Damping mechanisms are positioned concentrically within the driven shaft and are in communication with the variable chamber. The damping mechanisms include a check valve for one-way communication with the lubricant supply system of the associated engine, and a flow restricter for generating damping energy. An accumulator piston accommodates volume changes resulting from operation of the piston and allows for leakage flow from the system to insure renewal of oil without temperature build-up and oil deterioration.