Abstract: A structure for a front portion of a vehicle having a ladder type frame installed on left and right side frames arranged longitudinally of a vehicle at a position a predetermined distance rearward from front tips of impact absorption beams at front ends of the side frames and forward of a dash panel in such a manner as to extend between the left and right side frames. The ladder type frame is disposed rearward of the impact absorption beams and forwardly of the dash panel so that auxiliary machines of the vehicle, such as a battery an air conditioning compressor, and the like, are mounted thereon. A crushable zone is provided in front of front side frames. In the above construction, the length of the zone for accommodating the auxiliary machines of the vehicle is markedly shorter than that provided by the prior art, and therefore it is possible to sufficiently reduce the length of the nose of the vehicle.

Abstract: In an electric vehicle the driven wheels connected to an electric motor are liquid-pressure braked in a condition in which a differential pressure regulating valve interposed between the driven wheels and a master cylinder has been opened, and the driven wheels are regeneratively braked in a condition in which the differential pressure regulating valve has been closed to inhibit the liquid pressure braking. By temporarily opening the differential pressure regulating valve at the start of depression of the brake pedal, a stroke of the brake pedal depending upon the play of the brake caliper is previously absorbed. Thus, when the differential pressure regulating valve has been opened to switch over the regenerative braking to the liquid pressure braking, the change in stroke of the brake pedal can be reduced by a stroke amount that corresponds to the play of the brake caliper.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprises a frame supported by wheels, a mower housing carried at the underside of the frame, a plurality of cutter blades located within the mower housing to cut grass, a collection bag mounted on the rear of the frame, a discharge chute extending between the mower housing and the collection bag and defining a clipping path from the cutter blades into the collection bag, a blower including an impeller housing attached to the mower housing and an impeller located within the impeller housing and cooperating with the butter blades to convey the grass clippings into the collection bag through the discharge chute. A short conduit connects the impeller housing to the upstream end of the discharge chute to conduct an air generated by the impeller into the discharge chute. A central axis of the conduit is offset downwardly from a central axis of the discharge chute.

Abstract: A brake disc and a wheel having circumferentially spaced mounting seats are secured by threaded studs to a radially extending flange of a hub to form a wheel assembly in which pressure-receiving portions of the wheel assembly are provided opposite the wheel mounting seats and a recess is provided between each pressure-receiving portion and a cylindrical portion of brake disc to permit deflection of pressure-receiving portions as hub nuts are tightened on the threaded studs.