Abstract: A noise reduction structure for a hybrid vehicle in which a cover covers at least part of an air intake system connected to an engine capable of giving power to a driving wheel, an exhaust muffler constituting part of an exhaust system connected to the engine, and an electric motor capable of giving power to the driving wheel. When at least part of the air intake system, the exhaust muffler constituting part of an exhaust system, and the electric motor is covered with the common cover, heat generated by the exhaust muffler is prevented from affecting the electric motor. The rotational axis of the electric motor extends in a longitudinal direction of a body frame and is disposed forwardly of the central position of the exhaust muffler extending in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A vehicle having an electric generator control apparatus is provided for gradually reducing an engine load imposed due to electricity generation while a throttle valve is in the process of becoming fully open, thereby increasing a vehicle acceleration capability. The electric generator control apparatus is incorporated in a vehicle which has an ACG starter motor for generating electric power from power of an engine and supplying the generated electric power to a battery and other electric loads. When an engine throttle opening exceeds a preset value, the electric generator control apparatus continuously gradually reduces the amount of electric power generated by the ACG starter motor depending on the throttle opening in a fully opening direction which exceeds the preset value. The load imposed on the engine by electricity generation is gradually reduced, resulting in a corresponding increase in the acceleration capability of the vehicle.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan is mounted to an inner plate of a centrifugal clutch as a heat-generating rotating device, and an intake port of a casing is formed near a front side in the axial direction of the centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan includes a base plate connected to the inner plate of the centrifugal clutch, plural fins formed on the base plate, blow-off holes each formed between arbitrary adjacent fins and extending axially through the base plate, and guide walls for guiding a radially outward air flow over the base plate into the blow-off holes. Air just after admitted from the intake port passes through the blow-off holes and is blown against the centrifugal clutch.

Abstract: To provide a power module driving control apparatus and a hybrid vehicle capable of obtaining sufficient accelerator response despite adoption of a speed sensing type clutch for connection and disconnection of a power drive between an engine side and a driving wheel side. When a rotational speed on an input side of a centrifugal clutch falls short of a set value, at which the clutch can be connected, and an acceleration request is made by a rider, a control unit controls a motor generator so as to bring the rotational speed on the input side of the clutch near to the set value. When the motor generator is made to function as a motor, rotation on the input side of the clutch is assisted. When the motor generator functions as a generator, an amount of electricity generated is decreased.

Abstract: The present apparatus for a continuously variable transmission ensures good acceleration performance during starting operations and following an engine stall occurring before a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is shifted back to a low speed. The control apparatus includes sensors, a gear ratio return control unit, and a one-way clutch. One sensor detects a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission. The other sensor detects whether an engine is in a stationary state. The gear ratio return control unit drives a motor in a backward direction when the engine is in the stationary state and the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is one other than a low gear ratio. The one-way clutch turns idly relative to a backward drive of the output shaft. The gear ratio return control unit brings the motor to a stop when the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission sufficiently lowers.

Abstract: A motor cooling structure for efficiently cooling a driving motor in a power unit case of the electric vehicle includes a transmission case cover having an air filter mounted on a side surface of a transmission case adjacent to a fan, and a ventilation gap defined between a rear portion of the transmission case cover and the transmission case. The transmission case cover includes a cooling air inlet facing the ventilation gap. When the fan is rotated in synchronism with a crankshaft, an outside cooling air is introduced from the cooling air inlet into the transmission case cover and then passes through the air filter to enter the transmission case, thereby forcibly cooling a transmission. Thereafter, a part of the cooling air is discharged from a central air outlet to the outside of the transmission case, and the remaining cooling air is drawn to the driven portion of the transmission.

Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission includes a continuously variable transmission for transmitting power of an engine to a driving wheel; a shift actuator for changing a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission; and a gear ratio controller for controlling the shift actuator such that the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission exhibits a predetermined shift pattern. The shift controller further includes a battery monitor for detecting remaining charge of a battery charged by a generator connected to the engine, and the shift pattern is changed according to the remaining charge of the battery. The shift control apparatus ensures an operating feel similar to that during ordinary running regardless of remaining charge of a battery. A method of controlling a continuously variable transmission in a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: To efficiently cool accessory equipment used in controlling an electric motor of an electric vehicle. A storage box and a vehicle body cover are provided under a seat for a rider to sit thereon. The storage box and the vehicle body cover are formed in such a way as to surround the storage box. Driver units for controlling an electric motor as a power source are provided between the storage box and the vehicle body cover. The vehicle body cover is provided with intake ports for guiding headwind as cooling air for the driver units into the vehicle body cover and exhaust ports for discharging the headwind guided in through the intake ports to outside of the vehicle body cover.

Abstract: To provide a power switchover apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which can perform power switchover smoothly. Target follow-up control is started, and when the engine speed reaches a clutch-in speed of a starter clutch, the input power shaft of a continuously variable transmission starts rotation. The speed of the output power shaft also begins to gradually rise in response to the starting of rotation. The engine speed then reaches a target, and transmission ratio raising control of raising the transmission ratio based on the difference between the motor speed of a drive shaft and the speed of a driven side pulley is started. The motor speed Nm of the drive motor and the speed of the driven side power transmission pulley then become equal to each other and the one-way clutch is placed into a connected state. Consequently, the transmission ratio raising control is stopped and normal control is entered.

Abstract: An automatic engine shutdown apparatus for automatically shutting down an engine under a predetermined running or operating condition. The apparatus includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a throttle sensor for detecting a throttle opening, a travel history memory for storing a travel history of a vehicle, and an engine shutdown controller for automatically shutting down the engine depending on the vehicle speed, the throttle opening, and the travel history. The engine shutdown controller shuts down the engine after elapse of a standby time depending on the travel history since a predetermined engine shutdown condition has been satisfied. As a result, the automatic engine shutdown time is optimized depending on predetermined running or operating conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery mounting structure is provided for an electric vehicle which is operated using a motor as a driving source in which running wind is effectively utilized for cooling the batteries, and the cooling efficiency of a battery unit is enhanced. The electric vehicle is provided with a body frame where a front frame member extends from a head pipe diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle body. The battery mounting structure is attached to the front frame member of the body frame so that the cooling face of the battery unit is directly exposed to running wind. The battery mounting structure includes cooling fins which confront the running wind, and is covered by a body cover having louvered air intakes and air exhausts. The louvers direct the running wind smoothly to the cooling fins and protect the battery mounting structure.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, a hydraulic pump is linked to a hydraulic motor by a hydraulic closed circuit to change the capacity of the hydraulic motor so as to change the speed of a motorcycle continuously. A clutch device comprising a clutch valve for connecting and disconnecting a high pressure side oil passage and a low pressure side oil passage constituting the hydraulic closed circuit. A governor mechanism for generating governor force corresponding to the input rotation speed of the hydraulic pump and applying this governor force in the closing direction of the clutch valve. A spring for giving urging force in the opening direction of the clutch valve, and a buffer mechanism having a variable oil chamber and an oil pool chamber for easing the opening and closing movements of the clutch valve activated according to the governor force and the urging force.

Abstract: To provide an arrangement structure for bearings which overlap in the axial direction. A driven shaft and an intermediate shaft are linked to each other and are disposed to be substantially parallel with respect to each other. The driven shaft and the intermediate shaft are rotatably supported via the radial ball bearings, respectively with the respective radial ball bearings being disposed so as to overlap partly with each other in an axial view. An inner wall portion for supporting the respective radial ball bearings is provided with the respective radial ball bearings being mounted to the inner wall portion substantially in the same direction.

Abstract: A hydrostatic continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, supported by a common support shaft, and hydraulically connectable to each other through a hydraulic circuit including an inside passage and an outside passage. A clutch device includes a valve spool, which is slidably disposed in a hollow internal bore formed in the transmission support shaft. The valve spool is operable to make or interrupt fluid communication between the inside passage and the outside passage, according to the movement thereof. A governor mechanism is mounted to a pump casing of the hydraulic pump, and the governor mechanism generates a governor force corresponding to the rotating speed of a clutch cap, by use of centrifugal force generated by the rotation thereof. The valve spool is effectively moved in the hollow internal bore, using the governor force generated from the governor mechanism, to engage or disengage the clutch.

Abstract: To achieve reduction in manufacturing costs of a one-way clutch device and to improve handleability of a motorcycle. A one-way clutch device includes an inner clutch and an outer clutch with rollers which are provided between the clutches. Weight members include weight main bodies coming into contact with the rollers with arm parts rotatably supported by the inner clutch. If the inner clutch rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined rotational speed, the weight member moves the roller to a position where the roller allows a connection between the inner clutch and the outer clutch. Moreover, in a motorcycle, the inner clutch of the one-way clutch device is connected to an output side of a power transmission medium, and the outer clutch thereof is connected to a drive wheel.

Abstract: In order to do away with the need for a power source switching operation, and to improve motor regeneration charge efficiency in a hybrid vehicle, a one-way clutch is provided between an internal combustion engine and an electric drive motor.

Abstract: To provide desired shaft torque to a drive wheel without increasing the number of parts or increasing the size of a motor, to improve cooling capability of a generator housed inside a transmission case, and to improve energy transmission efficiency and electrical generation efficiency in an engine unit of a hybrid vehicle. A power unit structure for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, a continuously variable transmission, a driven shaft, a drive motor and a reduction gear mechanism. The drive motor is attached to the reduction gear mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle including a body frame (20) commonly used on a two-wheeled automotive vehicle (10), a three-wheeled automotive vehicle (140), and a four-wheeled automotive vehicle (200). A head pipe (23) is formed on a front frame (22) of the body frame. The head pipe has an adjustment mechanism (60) for adjusting a position and an angle of a center line (A1) of a steering shaft (42) relative to a center line (C1) of the head pipe. A rear frame (24) of the body frame has rear walls formed with pluralities of rear mount portions (27) to allow rear units (91, 171, 265) of different kinds for the two-, three- and four-wheeled automotive vehicles to be selectively mounted.

Abstract: A rear wheel suspension system for a four-wheeled vehicle suitable for attaining vehicle weight reduction, setting weight distribution of the vehicle, improving vehicle design freedom, and decreasing the number of components as compared to conventional rear wheel suspension systems. The system includes a joint member mounted in a rear portion of a vehicle body with a pair of left and right front wheels secured thereto, the joint member including a roll shaft extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and connecting to a vertical swing shaft extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle body. In addition, a power unit for supporting the two rear wheels is connected to a rear portion of the joint member by means of the vertical swing shaft, thereby allowing the power unit to be secured to the vehicle body rollably and swingably.

Abstract: A joint case includes a flange, a joint shaft extending from the flange, and a case main body fitted to the joint shaft. The flange is fitted to a rear portion of a front vehicle body, whereas the side of the case main body of the joint case is fitted to a rear vehicle body. With the above construction of the joint case, the distance between the front vehicle body and the rear vehicle body can be reduced, and a reduction in the overall length of the tricycle can be obtained.