Abstract: A wheel includes an axle, a motor, a hub and a rotational displacement detection mechanism. The axle is supported on a body frame of a wheelchair. The motor is mounted on the axle. The hub includes a wheel hub mounted on the axle and handrim base section relatively rotatably supported on the axle and rotatable relative to the wheel hub. The rotational displacement detection mechanism detects rotational displacements of the handrim base section relative to the wheel hub and has a center of rotation coinciding with an axle center of the motor.

Abstract: A wheel includes an axle, a motor, a hub and a rotational displacement detection mechanism. The axle is supported on a body frame of a wheelchair. The motor is mounted on the axle. The hub includes a wheel hub mounted on the axle and handrim base section relatively rotatably supported on the axle and rotatable relative to the wheel hub. The rotational displacement detection mechanism detects rotational displacements of the handrim base section relative to the wheel hub and has a center of rotation coinciding with an axle center of the motor.

Abstract: A bar handle 5 is provided to extend from the rear parts of right and left side frames 3 and to form a gate shape in a double member structure made up of a fixed member 32 attached to the rear parts of the right and left side frames 3 and a movable member 33 disposed along at least upper side portion of the fixed member 33. A displacement detecting means 42 is interposed between the fixed member 32 and the movable member 33 to detect displacement of the movable member 33 relative to the fixed member 32. A control means is provided to control a driving motor so as to produce assisting power commensurate with the detected displacement.

Abstract: A drive unit (54) for an electric motor-operated vehicle is provided with a planetary gear mechanism (58) having; a sun gear (58a) rotating together with a motor output shaft (57a), a planetary gear (58b) meshing the sun gear (58a), and a ring gear (58c) meshing the planetary gear (58b); and constituted that an arm plate (58d) supporting the planetary gear (58b) is rotated with the rotation of the motor (57) at a specified speed reduction ratio. The ring gear (58c) is supported for rotation relative to a housing and a switching mechanism (65) is provided to hold or release the relative rotation of the ring gear (58c).

Abstract: A bar handle 5 is provided to extend from the rear parts of right and left side frames 3 and to form a gate shape in a double member structure made up of a fixed member 32 attached to the rear parts of the right and left side frames 3 and a movable member 33 disposed along at least upper side portion of the fixed member 33. A displacement detecting means 42 is interposed between the fixed member 32 and the movable member 33 to detect displacement of the movable member 33 relative to the fixed member 32. A control means is provided to control a driving motor so as to produce assisting power commensurate with the detected displacement.

Abstract: A drive unit 54 for an electric motor-operated vehicle is provided with a planetary gear mechanism 58 having; a sun gear 58a rotating together with a motor output shaft 57a, a planetary gear 58b meshing the sun gear 58a, and a ring gear 58c meshing the planetary gear 58b; and constituted that an arm plate 58d supporting the planetary gear 58b is rotated with the rotation of the motor 57 at a specified speed reduction ratio. The ring gear 58c is supported for rotation relative to a housing and a switching mechanism 65 is provided to hold or release the relative rotation of the ring gear 58c.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of power-assisted manually operated vehicles, specifically wheelchairs. An arrangement is providing for sensing the amount of manual force inputted and then providing a power assist related to that input force. Once the operator either decreases the input of the manual force or discontinues it, the power assist is maintained for a predetermined time period so as to provide further assist. The power assist is reduced either gradually or in steps and may be held constant for a time before or after the power reduction. This provides a more natural effect and still reduces the necessity for operator input. Separate controls are provided for each of the wheels and a helper assist is also provided.

Abstract: A wheelchair having an electric motor power assist controlled by a sensor that senses the manual force applied by a rider to the hand rim. An arrangement is provided for facilitating adjustment of the sensor so as to permit accurate adjustment without requiring special tools or gages. This mechanism includes an LED that outputs a signal when the sensor signal output is zero. In addition, an arrangement is provided for facilitating the adjustment of the spring and also for ensuring that the hand rim is axially located so as to preclude cocking and binding.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric motor operated wheelchair comprising right and left wheels (2) each provided with an electric motor unit with electric power supplied from a battery (46) disposed on one side wheel (2) through a wiring harness (electric cables) (45), (51) and a main switch (28) to each of the electric motor units, wherein the main switch (28) and a switch lever (29) for driving the switch (28) are integrated at least with the electric motor unit on the side where the battery (46) is located.Therefore, according to the invention, the wiring harness (45) for interconnecting the main switch (28) and the electric motor unit do not appear outside the vehicle body frame (3), the number of electric cables and associated components is reduced to a minimum, the structure is simplified, and ease of attaching and removing the wheels (2) is improved.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a manual electric wheelchair equipped with a supplemental drive force system consisting of a man power detect means constituted by a potentiometer (27), etc., a signal transmit means constituted by a rotation transformer (39), a control means constituted by a controller (35), a drive force transmit means constituted by a drive motor and gears (G1-G4), etc., a set consisting of the man power detect means, the signal transmit means, the control means, the drive motor, and the drive force transmit means is arranged about an axle (11) of the hub (2a) and of the stationary plate (31) of each drive wheel (2), the stationary plate (31) being fixed to a frame (3) at a location in the vicinity of the hub (2a) in a manner such that the stationary plate (31) is prohibited from rotating, and each drive wheel (2) is capable of being attached to and detached from the chair body together with the respective stationary plate (31).

Abstract: A number of embodiments of small lightweight outboard motors adapted to be mounted on a watercraft that does not have a transom through a mounting bracket that spans the sides of the hull and is detachably affixed thereto. The outbaord motor is powered by small internal combustion engine that is contained within the lower unit and at least partially submerged beneath the body of water in which the watercraft is operating. Excess cooling of the engine is avoided by circulating at least a portion of the exhaust gases from the exhaust port around the exterior of the internal combustion engine. The engine is powered by a gaseous fuel contained under pressure in a container that is mounted on the mounting portion. Variations in placement and orientation of pressure regulators are disclosed so that fuel pressure will be constant regardless of the trim adjustment of the outboard motor.

Abstract: A vehicle which uses "blended" fuel, i.e., fuel and lubricating oil combined, is provided with a fuel tank and an oil tank. A measuring device receives a predetermined amount of oil, and when an actuation occurs, usually associated with a fuel-filling operation the measured amount of oil is discharged into the fuel tank where it blends with the fuel. The actuation may, for example, be derived from the opening and/or closing of a fuel tank closure, or from the insertion of a fuel filler nozzle into the tank.

Abstract: A tricycle having two spaced fore wheels and a single rear wheel connected to a frame structure. The fore wheels are connected to the frame by a longitudinally extending shaft. A double wishbone suspension comprised of a pair of upper arms and a pair of lower arms connected by vertical links at their outer ends join the fore wheels to the frame and longitudinal shaft. The upper arms are pivotally connected to the frame while the lower arms are pivotally and separately connected to the longitudinal shaft by a shock absorbing cushion.

Abstract: A vehicle which uses "blended" fuel, i.e., fuel and lubricating oil combined, is provided with a fuel tank and an oil tank. A measuring device receives a predetermined amount of oil, and when an actuation occurs, usually associated with a fuel-filling operation, the measured amount of oil is discharged into the fuel tank where it blends with the fuel. The actuation may, for example, be derived from the opening and/or closing of a fuel tank closure, or from the insertion of a fuel filler nozzle into the tank.

Abstract: A tricycle including a front frame, front wheel provided on the front frame, a rear frame provided with two adjacent and parallel wheels coupled to the front frame such that the center of the front frame is offset to one side of the tricycle relative to the center of the rear frame. Furthermore, if the tricycle is motorized, the motor is coupled to the rear frame such that the center of gravity of the motor is offset to another side of the tricycle relative to the center of the rear frame.