Abstract: A lead-acid battery having a reliable exhaust structure suppressing unexpected leakage of acid mist and gas to outside the battery. The battery having a first gas exhaust path A for guiding gas generated in a plate pack from a cell compartment to a recess formed in a cover. A top lid is placed on the top surface of the cover to extend over the recess. The top lid and the cover form a closed shape so that the recess and the top lid form an exhaust chamber. A through hole for establishing communication between a first opening formed in the recess and a second opening formed in the outer surface of the cover, serves as a second gas exhaust path B which establishes communication with the first gas exhaust path A through the exhaust chamber.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus includes a clutch outer member for supporting friction discs, which are nonrotatable relative to the clutch outer member, and are axially slidable along a clutch axis; a clutch inner member for supporting clutch discs, which are nonrotatable relative to the clutch inner member, and are axially slidable along the clutch axis, and a pressure plate having a deep recess for accommodating a clutch spring engaged with the clutch inner member. The deep recess includes a bottom portion having a spring seat for receiving the clutch spring, and a partially cylindrical shape wall portion having an axis parallel to the clutch axis. The wall portion is oriented towards the clutch axis. The deep recess has a communicating portion formed therein for establishing the communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall portion so as to discharge oil towards the friction and clutch discs during operation.

Abstract: To provide a rear portion structure of a saddle-type vehicle, which enables securement of a space for arranging vehicle-mounted components on the upper side of a drive chain at a position apart from a pivot shaft. A motorcycle includes a rear wheel swingably provided on a main member via a swing arm, a drive chain entrained about a driven sprocket provided on the rear wheel and a drive sprocket, and a seat frame. An air-exhaust pipe extends from an engine on a lower portion of the seat frame, an extending portion extends rearward of the vehicle from the seat frame, and a chain guide roller is mounted on the extending portion.

Abstract: To provide a rear portion structure of a saddle-type vehicle, which enables securement of a space for arranging vehicle-mounted components on the upper side of a drive chain at a position apart from a pivot shaft. A motorcycle includes a rear wheel swingably provided on a main member via a swing arm, a drive chain entrained about a driven sprocket provided on the rear wheel and a drive sprocket, and a seat frame. An air-exhaust pipe extends from an engine on a lower portion of the seat frame, an extending portion extends rearward of the vehicle from the seat frame, and a chain guide roller is mounted on the extending portion.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus includes a clutch outer member for supporting friction discs, which are nonrotatable relative to the clutch outer member, and are axially slidable along a clutch axis; a clutch inner member for supporting clutch discs, which are nonrotatable relative to the clutch inner member, and are axially slidable along the clutch axis, and a pressure plate having a deep recess for accommodating a clutch spring engaged with the clutch inner member. The deep recess includes a bottom portion having a spring seat for receiving the clutch spring, and a partially cylindrical shape wall portion having an axis parallel to the clutch axis. The wall portion is oriented towards the clutch axis. The deep recess has a communicating portion formed therein for establishing the communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall portion so as to discharge oil towards the friction and clutch discs during operation of the clutch apparatus.

Abstract: A lead storage battery including a cell, a cell chamber, and a gas exhaust unit. The gas exhaust unit includes a small chamber provided in a battery lid and including a first exhaust path having an opening at the cell chamber side, a covering body mounted on a bottom wall of the small chamber to cover the opening of the first exhaust path, a drop-off prevention member provided in an upper part of the small chamber and including a second exhaust path, a gap formed in at least a part between the bottom wall of a periphery of the opening and the covering body, and space for allowing movement of the covering body between the covering body and the drop-off prevention member in the small chamber. The gas is exhausted to an outside via the first exhaust path, the gap and the second exhaust path.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lead-acid battery having a reliable exhaust structure suppressing unexpected leakage of acid mist and gas to outside the battery, and a method for fabricating such a lead-acid battery. A first gas exhaust path A for guiding gas generated in a plate pack from a cell compartment 2a to a recess 4 formed in a cover 3 is formed in the cover 3 of a lead-acid battery. A top lid 7 is placed on the top surface of the cover 3 to extend over the recess 4. Then, when the top lid 7 and the cover 3 are welded together by applying laser light 8a onto the top lid 7, a joint 10 is formed to continuously extend in the form of a band and form a closed shape so that the recess 4 and the top lid 7 form an exhaust chamber 11.

Abstract: A tension-adjusting mechanism for adjusting tension on an endless loop member associated with a driven transmission gear is operable to adjust the tension of an endless loop member on a vehicle. The tension-adjusting mechanism is made compact to reduce weight of the vehicle. In particular, the rear end of an arm of a frame rear fork includes an elongated adjustment slot, and one end of an axle, passed through the adjustment slot, is supported by a slider. The rear end of the fork is provided with a projecting portion on a front side relative to the slider, and a tension-adjusting bolt is threadably engaged with a threaded hole provided in the projecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid-inlet cap (13) is installed in a liquid inlet (11) provided in a battery casing, the liquid-inlet cap (13) having a ventilating hole (12) for expelling a gas from the inside of a battery to the outside of the battery. A control valve section (21) is installed inside a cylindrical body (20) of the liquid-inlet cap (13) separately from the cylindrical body (20) and responds to the internal pressure of the battery to form a ventilating passage from a vent hole (22) provided on one end to a ventilating opening (28) provided on the other end.

Abstract: A tension-adjusting mechanism for adjusting tension on an endless loop member associated with a driven transmission gear is operable to adjust the tension of an endless loop member on a vehicle. The tension-adjusting mechanism is made compact to reduce weight of the vehicle. In particular, the rear end of an arm of a frame rear fork includes an elongated adjustment slot, and one end of an axle, passed through the adjustment slot, is supported by a slider. The rear end of the fork is provided with a projecting portion on a front side relative to the slider, and a tension-adjusting bolt is threadably engaged with a threaded hole provided in the projecting portion.