Abstract: An inverted pendulum type vehicle (1) includes a propulsion unit (50) provided in a lower part of a vehicle body to actuate a main wheel (52), a drive unit (90, 130) provided in a vertically intermediate part thereof and a seat (200) provided in an upper part of the vehicle body. A battery case (251) is mounted in a part of the vehicle body above the main wheel and behind the drive unit. The battery case is provided with an opening (257) extending from an upper part thereof to a lower end of a rear part thereof. A lid (260) hinged to the battery case selectively covers the upper end of a battery (250) received in the battery case. The battery is retained in the battery case with the help of suitable engagement arrangements (262, 263, 270, 271, 273, 274).

Abstract: A drive unit includes a main wheel having an annular member, and a plurality of driven rollers that are rotatably attached to the annular member, a plurality of first drive rollers and a plurality of second drive rollers, which are provided with the annular member between them and arranged such that they make contact with the outer peripheral faces of the driven rollers, a first holder and a second holder, which are arranged with the annular shaft between them and respectively hold the plurality of first drive rollers and the plurality of second drive rollers while allowing them to rotate, and a first drive unit and a second drive unit that rotationally drive the first holder and the second holder respectively; grooves are formed in the outer peripheral faces of the driven rollers at an angle to the circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: A drive force distributing apparatus includes a first roller that is rotatable with a main drive wheel system and a second roller that is rotatable with a subordinate drive wheel system. Control of the drive force distribution between the main drive wheel system and the subordinate drive wheel system is carried out by turning the second roller by the rotation of a crankshaft to thereby adjust a radial pressing force of the second roller against the first roller. A bearing support includes an exterior wall disposed in a housing, a first through bore formed in the exterior wall for receiving a shaft portion of the first roller, a first interior side wall extending radially outward from the first through bore, a second through bore formed in the exterior wall for receiving a crankshaft, and a second interior side wall extending radially outward from the second through bore.

Abstract: Heat generated by a drive source of a friction drive device such as an electric motor is allowed to efficiently dissipate to the atmosphere, and the friction drive device and an omni-directional vehicle using the same is designed in a highly compact manner. Left and right electric drive devices are placed on a central axial line of left and right rotatable drive members, and external teeth members serving as output members of the electric drive devices are directly connected to the respective rotatable drive members in a torque transmitting and heat transmitting relationship.

Abstract: In a frictional drive device comprising a pair of drive disks (48) rotatably supported by a frame (10) around a central axial line (AL, AR) in a mutually opposing relationship, a pair of motors (64) supported by the frame for individually rotatively actuating the drive disks, a plurality of drive rollers (56) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk at a regular interval and each having a rotational center line so as to be rotatable along a plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the central axial line, and an annular main wheel (84) disposed approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (86) and a plurality of driven rollers (92) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member, the main wheel engaging an object to the actuated, the central axial line of at least one of the drive disks is tilted in an outward directio

Abstract: A drive unit includes a main wheel having an annular member, and a plurality of driven rollers that are rotatably attached to the annular member, a plurality of first drive rollers and a plurality of second drive rollers, which are provided with the annular member between them and arranged such that they make contact with the outer peripheral faces of the driven rollers, a first holder and a second holder, which are arranged with the annular shaft between them and respectively hold the plurality of first drive rollers and the plurality of second drive rollers while allowing them to rotate, and a first drive unit and a second drive unit that rotationally drive the first holder and the second holder respectively; grooves are formed in the outer peripheral faces of the driven rollers at an angle to the circumferential direction thereof.

Abstract: A gearless transmission is provided for transmitting rotational velocity from an input shaft to an output shaft without gears. The transmission includes an input shaft connected to a wedge. Both the input shaft and the wedge have rotational axes. The rotational axis of the input shaft is disposed at an angle with respect to the rotational axis of the wedge. As a result, rotation of the input shaft results in a processional motion of the axis of the wedge. The wedge engages an output plate which is connected to a universal joint which, in turn, is connected to an output shaft. The processional rotation of the wedge is transmitted to the output plate and, consequently, to the output shaft without the need for a geared or enmeshed relationship between the wedge and the output plate.

Abstract: Traction drive transmissions which may be utilized as speed increasers or speed reducers for various power and rotary motor applications including for use in transmissions for helicopter main rotor and tail rotor drives wherein power from the primary input source is transmitted to output shafts or driven elements which may be disposed at a variety of angular relationships with respect to the input source through multiple rollers which are shaped and in frictionally driven contact with one another so as to effectively divide the input load into multiple power paths to the output shafts or driven elements and wherein the rollers are oriented so as to reduce or eliminate the radial loading of stresses on the bearings in which the rollers are mounted.