Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A valve system for an internal combustion engine capable of changing the valve timing and valve lift of the intake and exhaust valves driven by rocker arms and overhead camshafts. A cam support member is pivotally mounted to the engine head and is positioned by a gear segment mounted to the camshaft support member in combination with a drive including a worm gear and a servomotor located on an engine block. The camshafts are driven by the crankshaft coupled with an idler gear. The idler gear is coupled with the camshaft gears through reduction gears, reducing the overall size of the drive and allowing flexibility as to valve timing.

Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine includes a variable length intake tract having a moveable intake pipe which selectively abuts a fixed intake pipe. During high speed operation, the moveable intake pipe is separated from the fixed intake pipe to provide a relatively short intake pipe length while in low speed operation, the moveable intake pipe abuts the fixed intake pipe so that a longer intake tract is formed. The influence of positive pressure waves on the air/fuel ratio during low speed operation is reduced by air flow resistance control means which increases the resistance of the intake system during low speed operation. This may be accomplished by use of an induction housing having a high speed chamber receiving the outlet of the fixed intake pipe and a low speed chamber receiving the outlet of the intake system when in the low speed intake mode, the low speed chamber having an intake opening having a higher air flow resistance than that of the opening of the high speed chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intake device for an internal combustion engine mounted on motorcycles or other various vehicles. The intake device comprises an air flow resistance adjusting mechanism for adjusting the air flow resistance in an intake passage in linkage with a variable intake pipe length mechanism to provide an excellent optimum air/fuel ratio over the entire speed range of the internal combustion engine. The variable intake pipe length mehcanism comprises a stationary intake pipe connected to a carburetor, a guide pipe separated from the stationary intake pipe, and a movable intake pipe slidably mounted on the guide pipe so tat the movable intake pipe is capable of coming in contact with or being spaced from the stationary intake pipe in response to the engine revolving speed. The movable intake pipe is connected to the stationary intake pipe below the predetermined engine speed and separated from it above the predetermined engine speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved hydraulic lash adjustor in a valve operating mechanism for automatically eliminating valve head clearance of the type which includes a cylinder, a plunger slidably fitted into the cylinder and a check valve accommodated in a valve cage secured to the bottom portion of the plunger, said check valve being adapted to control communication between a hydraulic chamber defined below the plunger and a hydraulic oil reservoir chamber formed in the plunger in dependence on operation of an engine. A flange portion of the valve cage is firmly held in position between the bottom portion of the plunger and a caulking ring fitted into an annular engagement groove formed on the plunger. The annular engagement groove has upper and lower side wall surfaces and at least the lower side wall surface is formed as a tapered face which extends radially inward at a downward inclination angle.

Abstract: A valve operating device for internal combustion engine which includes a cam shaft rotated by a crankshaft and a rocker arm which follows the cam of the cam shaft to open and close an intake or exhaust valve of the engine. Oil-pressure-operated control is provided for suspending the operation of the intake or exhaust valve according to the operating conditions of the engine. For this purpose, a cam shaft passage is formed in an oil pressure supplying passage which extends from an oil pressure source through an oil passage in the rocker shaft to the control mechanism in such a manner that the cam shaft passage extends through one end portion of the cam shaft. A changeover valve for opening and closing the cam shaft passage is provided at the one end portion of the cam shaft.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus in an internal combustion engine comprising a control device for biasing the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas toward the rich side or the lean side from the theoretical perfect air-fuel ratio in accordance with an operating condition of the engine. The control device can include a control valve controlled to open and close according to the output signal of an exhaust gas sensor interposed in a secondary air introducing passage connected to the exhaust passage of the engine upstream of the catalyzer. The control device can also include a device for causing a delay in opening or a delay in closing of the control valve in accordance with the operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a lubricant heating system for an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust pipe which is connected with a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger is constructed to include a communication passage, which communicates with the exhaust pipe so as to be heated by the engine exhaust gas, and a radiating unit which is disposed adjacent to the communication passage and contacts with the lubricant of the internal combustion engine thereby to heat the lubricant with the heat in the exhaust gas transferred from the communication passage. The heat exchanger thus constructed is adapted to promptly heat the lubricant, which is mixed with a fuel, by the use of the exhaust heat of the internal combustion engine, thus promoting the warm-up of the engine. Moreover, impurities such as the mixed fuel or water are evaporated and separated from the lubricant and are promptly discharged out as a blow-by gas.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for internal combustion engines, comprising an exhaust system having an exhaust port, a secondary air supply system having an upstream secondary air supply passage communicating with the atmosphere and a downstream secondary air supply passage communicating with the exhaust port for supplying the exhaust system with secondary air, and a reed valve device disposed in the secondary air supply system and adapted to open and close in response to the pulsations of the exhaust gas pressure in the exhaust system. The reed valve device includes a valve housing constituted by a housing structure formed on the cylinder head cover of the engine and a cover member secured to the housing structure, the cover member having a plurality of projections projecting inwardly from the inner surface thereof. The reed valve device also includes a reed valve member clampingly held between the upper surface of the housing structure and the projections of the cover member.

Abstract: A safety arrangement in a kickstart apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which the starting of the engine is limited to the condition that the transmission only be in neutral. A drive gear mounted on the crank shaft of the engine is connected to the input side of the transmission and a starting gear operated by a kick pedal is connected to the driving gear through a clutch having a movable half portion and a stationary half portion. A claw is engageable with the movable half portion to arrest the same and a detector detects the position of a shift drum which shifts the transmission in order to selectively engage the claw with the movable half portion of the clutch when the transmission is in any position other than neutral.

Abstract: A power plant for prime mover-equipped bicycles wherein a bicycle running and engine running can be changed over to each other. The running speed can be changed over to a low speed and high speed. The power transmitting system, including the speed changing mechanism, can be made simple and compact in structure, and a jointless change having no neutral position in the speed changing operation is possible. It is further possible to feed and interrupt the fuel and to switch the current source on and off with the jointless change.

Abstract: A bicycle comprising a vehicle frame having a front wheel, a rear wheel, a pedal crank shaft connected, for manual drive, to the rear wheel, and an internal combustion engine connected, for a mechanical power drive, to the rear wheel. A gear train is interposed between the pedal crank shaft and the rear wheel and comrises an input gear, an output gear and an intermediate gear, the latter being rotatably mounted on a rotatable supporting shaft and interposed between the pedal crank shaft and a driving sprocket connected to the rear wheel such that upon transmission of a torque through the gear train, the supporting shaft is turned in proportion to the torque. There is provided on one side of the supporting shaft a rotary shaft which is arranged to be driven with the intermediate gear so as to be turned in correspondence with the rotation speed of the intermediate gear.

Abstract: A bicycle comprising a frame having a front wheel, a rear wheel and a pedal crank shaft connected to the rear wheel. An internal combustion engine is also connected to the rear wheel. A gear train comprising an input gear, an output gear, and an intermediate gear in mesh with the two gears is interposed between the pedal crank shaft and a driving sprocket connected to the rear wheel, the intermediate gear being loosely and rotatably mounted on a rotatable supporting shaft such that by driving the pedal crank shaft in rotation the supporting shaft can be turned due to frictional engagement by the input and intermediate gears. A throttle control member for the engine is connected to an end portion of the supporting shaft so that the member is operated by turning of the shaft. The supporting shaft is provided on one side with a dashpot coupled with the shaft so that rotation of the shaft is dampened.