Abstract: A plurality of catalytic units (42) and (43) are disposed in series with each other in a direction conforming to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G) and include respective honeycomb carrier structure each having a catalyst deposited thereon. Of the plural catalytic units, at least two catalytic units (42) and (43), which are positioned downstream and upstream relative to each other with respect to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G), respectively, are such that the downstream catalytic unit (42) has a higher cell density, a smaller capacity of the honeycomb carrier structure and a larger amount of an element, due to become a major catalyst, carried thereby per unitary capacity than those in the upstream catalytic unit (43).

Abstract: An engine of the present invention comprises a valve body configured to open and close ports and formed in a cylinder head, a drive cam mechanism operable in association with a crankshaft by a driving power transmission mechanism, a pivot cam mechanism which is configured to be pivoted according to movement of the drive cam mechanism to cause the valve body to open and close and is configured to change a pivot state to change a lift characteristic of the valve; and a servo motor configured to change the pivot state of the pivot cam mechanism, wherein the servo motor is positioned at one end portion of the pivot cam mechanism such that the servo motor is distant from the driving power transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A pivot cam mechanism included in a valve operating system is configured such that a coupling pin is supported at a pivot member in a position closer to a camshaft than a control shaft, and the pivot member and the driven member are integrally pivotable according to the rotation of the drive cam while changing relative attitudes of the driven member and the pivot member. Positions and shapes of the drive cam, the driven member, and the pivot member are designed so that a valve maximum acceleration point at which an acceleration of a valve body is at a maximum is located in a front part of a valve acceleration period in which the acceleration of the valve body has a positive value while the drive cam is rotating once.

Abstract: A lubricating system for a valve operating system includes a valve operating system configured to reciprocate a valve for substantially opening and closing a port connected to a combustion chamber of an engine, and an ejecting device provided with an outlet from which a lubricating liquid is ejected. The valve operating system includes a drive cam, a driven member configured to contact the drive cam, a pivot member which is attached to the driven member and is configured to transmit movement of the driven member to the valve, and a relative position changing device configured to change relative positions of the driven member and the pivot member. The outlet of the ejecting device is oriented to face sliding surfaces of the driven member and the drive cam at least in a period which is a part of one rotation of the drive cam.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes an engine in which angle intervals of crank angles respectively corresponding to expansion strokes of a plurality of cylinders are unequal, a motor configured to generate a torque applied to a driving power transmission system including a crankshaft of the engine, and a motor controller configured to drive the motor to add the torque of the motor to a torque of the engine.

Abstract: A motorcycle in which an engine is disposed between a front wheel and a rear wheel and an exhaust pipe for guiding exhaust gas emitted from the engine is extended forward relative to the engine, including an electric motor that is disposed behind a cylinder portion of the engine and is configured to apply a torque to a power transmission system including a crankshaft of the engine.

Abstract: A plurality of catalytic units (42) and (43) are disposed in series with each other in a direction conforming to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G) and include respective honeycomb carrier structure each having a catalyst deposited thereon. Of the plural catalytic units, at least two catalytic units (42) and (43), which are positioned downstream and upstream relative to each other with respect to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G), respectively, are such that the downstream catalytic unit (42) has a higher cell density, a smaller capacity of the honeycomb carrier structure and a larger amount of an element, due to become a major catalyst, carried thereby per unitary capacity than those in the upstream catalytic unit (43).

Abstract: A method of controlling a variable valve timing system comprising calculating, by a sliding mode control, a first control amount based on a deviation between a target value and an actually measured value of the position of the displacing member of the variable valve timing system, calculating a second control amount by integrating the deviation as an input when the deviation falls within a predetermined numeric value range containing a zero value, or by integrating the zero value as the input when the deviation falls outside the predetermined numeric value range; and adding the first control amount and the second control amount to set a compensation control amount for compensating the position of the displacing member.

Abstract: A pivot cam mechanism included in a valve operating system is configured such that a coupling pin is supported at a pivot member in a position closer to a camshaft than a control shaft, and the pivot member and the driven member are integrally pivotable according to the rotation of the drive cam while changing relative attitudes of the driven member and the pivot member. Positions and shapes of the drive cam, the driven member, and the pivot member are designed so that a valve maximum acceleration point at which an acceleration of a valve body is at a maximum is located in a front part of a valve acceleration period in which the acceleration of the valve body has a positive value while the drive cam is rotating once.

Abstract: An engine E of the present invention comprises a valve body 53 configured to open and close ports 0A and 20B formed in a cylinder head 20, a drive cam mechanism 50A operable in association with a crankshaft by a driving power transmission mechanism 28, a pivot cam mechanism 48 which is configured to be pivoted according to movement of the drive cam mechanism 50A to cause the valve body 53 to open and close and is configured to change a pivot state to change a lift characteristic of the valve; and a servo motor 73 configured to change the pivot state of the pivot cam mechanism 48, wherein the servo motor 73 is positioned at one end portion of the pivot cam mechanism 48 such that the servo motor 73 is distant from the driving power transmission mechanism 28.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes an engine in which angle intervals of crank angles respectively corresponding to expansion strokes of a plurality of cylinders are unequal, a motor configured to generate a torque applied to a driving power transmission system including a crankshaft of the engine, and a motor controller configured to drive the motor to add the torque of the motor to a torque of the engine.

Abstract: A throttle valve controller configured to control opening and closing of a throttle valve disposed in an air-intake passage of a throttle body coupled to an engine, including an input member that is rotatable in association with a rider's hand operation, a power transmission device with an input part thereof coupled to the input member, an output member that is coupled to an output part of the power transmission device and causes the throttle valve to rotate in association therewith, an actuator configured to drive the power transmission device to cause the output member to rotate relative to the input member to change a rotational ratio of the output member to the input member independently of the hand operation, and a movable stopper configured to change and restrict a rotational range of the input member in a closing direction of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A lubricating system for a valve operating system includes a valve operating system configured to reciprocate a valve for substantially opening and closing a port connected to a combustion chamber of an engine, and an ejecting device provided with an outlet from which a lubricating liquid is ejected. The valve operating system includes a drive cam, a driven member configured to contact the drive cam, a pivot member which is attached to the driven member and is configured to transmit movement of the driven member to the valve, and a relative position changing device configured to change relative positions of the driven member and the pivot member. The outlet of the ejecting device is oriented to face sliding surfaces of the driven member and the drive cam at least in a period which is a part of one rotation of the drive cam.

Abstract: A method of controlling a variable valve timing system comprising calculating, by a sliding mode control, a first control amount based on a deviation between a target value and an actually measured value of the position of the displacing member of the variable valve timing system, calculating a second control amount by integrating the deviation as an input when the deviation falls within a predetermined numeric value range containing a zero value, or by integrating the zero value as the input when the deviation falls outside the predetermined numeric value range; and adding the first control amount and the second control amount to set a compensation control amount for compensating the position of the displacing member.

Abstract: An oil feeding system of an engine equipped with a transmission configured to change a rotational speed of rotation of a crankshaft and to output the rotation, including an oil pump configured to be driven in cooperation with the rotation of the crankshaft, an oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump flows, in which the oil passage includes a transmission oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to the transmission, and an engine body oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to portions other than the transmission, and an oil control portion configured to change a ratio between a pressure of the oil flowing through the transmission oil passage and a pressure of the oil flowing through the engine body oil passage.

Abstract: A motorcycle in which an engine is disposed between a front wheel and a rear wheel and an exhaust pipe for guiding exhaust gas emitted from the engine is extended forward relative to the engine, including an electric motor that is disposed behind a cylinder portion of the engine and is configured to apply a torque to a power transmission system including a crankshaft of the engine.

Abstract: A throttle valve controller configured to control opening and closing of a throttle valve disposed in an air-intake passage of a throttle body coupled to an engine, including an input member that is rotatable in association with a rider's hand operation, a power transmission device with an input part thereof coupled to the input member, an output member that is coupled to an output part of the power transmission device and causes the throttle valve to rotate in association therewith, an actuator configured to drive the power transmission device to cause the output member to rotate relative to the input member to change a rotational ratio of the output member to the input member independently of the hand operation, and a movable stopper configured to change and restrict a rotational range of the input member in a closing direction of the throttle valve.

Abstract: To provide an improved swirl forming device in a combustion engine, which is effective to promote a vigorous and massive swirling motion of the charge mixture within the combustion chamber, the swirl forming device includes an auxiliary passage (24) for introducing an auxiliary gas, which may be either air or a charge mixture, into the combustion chamber (9) from a location immediately upstream of the intake port (70) that is selectively opened and closed by the intake valve (10). This auxiliary passage (24) has an open end (25) positioned adjacent the exhaust port (80), such that when viewed from top in a direction conforming to the longitudinal axis (CC) of the cylinder bore (3), the auxiliary gas is introduced in a direction different from the direction (N) normal to the inner peripheral surface (3a) of the cylinder bore (3) to thereby form a swirl (S) along the inner peripheral surface (3a) of the cylinder bore (3).

Abstract: An oil feeding system of an engine equipped with a transmission configured to change a rotational speed of rotation of a crankshaft and to output the rotation, including an oil pump configured to be driven in cooperation with the rotation of the crankshaft, an oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump flows, in which the oil passage includes a transmission oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to the transmission, and an engine body oil passage through which the oil outflowing from the oil pump is guided to portions other than the transmission, and an oil control portion configured to change a ratio between a pressure of the oil flowing through the transmission oil passage and a pressure of the oil flowing through the engine body oil passage.

Abstract: To provide an improved swirl forming device in a combustion engine, which is effective to promote a vigorous and massive swirling motion of the charge mixture within the combustion chamber, the swirl forming device includes an auxiliary passage (24) for introducing an auxiliary gas, which may be either air or a charge mixture, into the combustion chamber (9) from a location immediately upstream of the intake port (70) that is selectively opened and closed by the intake valve (10). This auxiliary passage (24) has an open end (25) positioned adjacent the exhaust port (80), such that when viewed from top in a direction conforming to the longitudinal axis (CC) of the cylinder bore (3), the auxiliary gas is introduced in a direction different from the direction (N) normal to the inner peripheral surface (3a) of the cylinder bore (3) to thereby form a swirl (S) along the inner peripheral surface (3a) of the cylinder bore (3).