Motor vehicles inventions 04/06

20060086542 - Control mechanism of the steering differential device for an electric vehicle: The control mechanism for a steering differential device of an electric vehicle includes a touch sensor switch assembled on the fixed shaft sleeve of the head tube on the electric vehicle, with a feeler in a downward configuration state. The electric circuit of the sensor switch is connected with the...

20060086543 - Turning behavior control device for vehicle: A turning behavior control device for vehicle has a left and right wheel driving force adjustment mechanism for adjusting a difference in driving force between rear wheels, a braking force adjustment mechanism for adjusting a difference in braking force between the wheels, a front wheel auxiliary steering mechanism for adjusting...

20060086544 - Dynamic balancing vehicle with a seat: A device for transporting a human subject over a surface. The device is a dynamically balancing vehicle having a control loop for providing balance. The device includes a platform defining a fore-aft plane. The platform supports a payload including the human subject. A ground contacting module is included which may...

20060086545 - Hybrid drive system wherein clutch is engaged when engine speed has exceeded motor speed upon switching from motor drive mode to engine drive mode: A hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electric motor, (c) a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to the engine, a second rotary element connected to the electric motor and connected through a first clutch to an output member connected to vehicle drive...

20060086546 - Internal combustion engines for hybrid power train: A hybrid power train and method for operating same in which the operation of the engine is modified to effect an improvement in the fuel economy and/or emissions performance of the hybrid power train. In one embodiment, the battery of the power train is employed to provide auxiliary heat to...

20060086547 - Electric drive system for vehicle, electric control system for vehicle, electric drive method for vehicle: In an electric drive system for a vehicle, an alternator is driven by an engine to generate electric power which is used to drive a motor to generate a driving force. During a retardation of the vehicle, the motor is operated as an alternator to convert kinetic energy to electric...

20060086548 - Support structure of cooling air intake duct for intercooler of vehicle: The duct comprises the upper member and the lower member, which are formed separately and assembled integrally by being attached to one another. There is provided the seal member to interconnect the opening at the lower member and the intercooler, which is pressed against the upper face of the intercooler....

20060086549 - Integrated fan shroud air intake system: An integrated fan shroud air intake system for a tractor provides an air passage through a fan shroud positioned between the radiator and internal combustion engine. The air passage has an intake and an outlet laterally displaced from the intake. An air filter is mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis...

20060086550 - Microburst cold air forced induction system: An air intake system including a filter, a first pipe, a fan, and a second pipe. The filter is located behind the grill or inside the fender well outside the engine bay so the filter does to not draw any hot under-hood air. The filter is attached to the first...

20060086551 - Truck hood actuator: A truck hood actuator is provided which, operating via a gear rack and DC motor-powered traveler or pinion gear and ring gear, can operate more quickly than a hydraulic actuator, or a worm or screw gear actuator. Further, by employing the disclosed gear rack and traveler, the actuator of the...

20060086552 - Adjustable seat for a snowmobile: An adjustable seat for a snowmobile has a base having an upper sitting portion for accommodating a driver and a slidable coupling for sliding the seat relative to a chassis of the snowmobile. The seat is movable between a forward position and a rearward position. Threaded fasteners or other connectors...

20060086553 - Electric vehicle with partitionable structure: An electric vehicle with partitionable frame includes a chassis assembly, a head tube, a front wheel, left and right rear wheels, and a seat. The front wheel is assembled at the base of the head tube through a fork, and the bottom part of the head tube is pivoted and...

20060086554 - Wheelchair reversible between front wheel drive and rear wheel drive: A wheelchair has a base and a seat assembly, the base having drive wheels and caster wheels, the seat assembly being readily removable and replaceable to convert the wheelchair from a rear wheel drive configuration to a front wheel drive configuration, and from a front wheel drive configuration to a...

20060086555 - Three wheeled vehicle with tilting mechanism: A three wheeled vehicle (1) has a front section (10) having a front frame (105), a directionally controllable front wheel (101) and a steering column (104) with a handlebar (1040). A rear section (11) has a rear frame (107) and two rear wheels (102,103). The front section (10) of the...

20060086556 - Driving force distribution control apparatus of vehicle: A driving force distribution control unit 60 calculates front/rear driving force distribution cooperative control addition yaw moment by multiplying front/rear driving force distribution control addition yaw moment by a front/rear driving force distribution cooperative control gain. Under steering accelerating condition, when it is possible to judge that actual lateral acceleration...

20060086557 - Inherently failsafe electric power steering system: An electronically controlled hydro-mechanically coupled power steering system includes a double-acting power cylinder having a directional control under-lapped four-way open center valve and a motor driven pump. A controller selectively provides pressurized fluid to the double-acting power cylinder to function in the manner of an inherently failsafe EPS system....

20060086558 - Folding and positioning structure of the head tube for an electric vehicle: An electric vehicle with an innovative folding and positioning structure of the head tube includes a head tube having a bottom connected to the top of a top tube through a movable joint, constituting the swivel part of the head tube. The top of the top tube has a ratchet...

20060086559 - Steering device: A steering device comprises an upper steering shaft, a lower steering shaft for transmitting rotations of the upper steering shaft to a steering gear, an engaging projection provided on a fitted-in portion of the upper shaft, an engaging groove provided on a fitted-in portion of the lower shaft for engaging...

20060086560 - Vehicle steering apparatus: A vehicle steering apparatus is comprised of an assist motor, a steering torque sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. The controller has a torque producing section for estimating a virtual steering model input torque from a torque sensor detection value and a steering angle detection value, a virtual...

20060086561 - Vehicular steering apparatus with capability of providing suitable steering angle correction and power assistance: A vehicular steering apparatus according to the invention includes a steering angle correction mechanism, a steering power assist mechanism, and a controller. The steering angle correction mechanism works to provide a correction steering angle to a steerable road wheel of a vehicle. The steering power assist mechanism is configured to...

20060081405 - Controller and control method for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the...

20060081404 - Hybrid drive system: A front end portion of an output shaft is supported by a bearing mounted to an inner peripheral surface of a partition that separates a power distributing planetary gear and a speed change unit. A rear end portion of the output shaft is supported via a bearing which is interposed...

20060081406 - Hybrid drive apparatus: An output shaft is divided into a first output shaft and a second output shaft. Torque from a motive power distributing planetary gear is transferred to the first output shaft. The first output shaft is supported on partition walls by a both-end support structure via bearings. Assist torque from a...

20060081407 - Front suspension for recreational vehicle: A front suspension system for a recreational vehicle such as a snowmobile has a lower A-arm assembly and an upper suspension arm for connecting each front ski to the chassis of the recreational vehicle. The lower A-arm restrains the front ski from moving backward or laterally while the upper arm...

20060081408 - Motorcycle seat with integrated lock: A motorcycle has a frame, a structure mounted on the frame, and a locking assembly locks the structure on the frame and has a latch pin mounted on the frame, and a latch housing mounted on the structure and having a passage into which the latch pin extends. A latch...

20060081409 - Steering control device: A steering control apparatus in which a steering shaft coupled to a steering wheel is mechanically separated from a turning mechanism to turn a turning wheel, a steering angle of the steering wheel is detected, and the turning mechanism turns the turning wheel by a turning angle corresponding to the...

20060081410 - Force-based power steering system: A power steering system includes a double-acting power cylinder having a four-way valve for controlling steering direction. An accumulator stores pressurized fluid that is controllably supplied to the four-way valve by an electronically controlled three-way valve based upon an applied torque measured at a steering wheel....

20060081411 - Power steering apparatus: A power steering apparatus includes a hydraulic power cylinder, a reversible pump including a first outlet connected with a first pressure chamber of the power cylinder through a first fluid passage, and a second outlet connected with a second pressure chamber of the power cylinder through a second fluid passage,...

20060076167 - Bimodal conveyance mechanism: A virtual wheel provides a leg pair as a conveyance mechanism for a land vehicle. The virtual wheel propels the vehicle across a surface using a repetitive motion of the legs that contact the ground as would a wheel, due to their geometry. Vehicle embodiments include at least two-, three-,...

20060076168 - Modular multi-traction vehicle: This invention relates to a modular track vehicle whose main feature is the possibility of using three types of tracks by changing only two different sets of dead axles while keeping a base configuration and common hydrostatic traction system. The basics elements of this design is a hydrostatic transmission coupled...

20060076169 - Running wheel arrangement for a wheelchair: i

20060076170 - Powered golf bag vehicle with speed control: A powered golf bag vehicle with speed control includes a drive portion comprising a battery case, a built-in motor, a drive wheel and its accessories, a speed control portion comprising a speed regulator, an optical counter, a PC circuit board and its accessories, a main body portion comprising a frame,...

20060076171 - Regenerative braking methods for a hybrid locomotive: The present invention relates generally to regenerative braking methods for a hybrid vehicle such as a hybrid locomotive, which are compatible with optimum management of a large battery pack energy storage system. Four methods for recovering energy from regenerative braking and for transferring this energy to an energy storage systems...

20060076172 - Vehicle or lawn and garden maintenance equipment having a generator, and power takeoff assembly for a vehicle or lawn and garden maintenance equipment: A vehicle or equipment having a frame, a plurality of wheels, and an engine coupled to the frame. The engine includes a shaft. The vehicle or machine further comprising a first driving member coaxially coupled with the shaft, a first driven member driven in response to the first driving member,...

20060076173 - Industrial truck with a lateral maintenance opening: An industrial truck, in particular a reach truck or reach-fork truck, has a maintenance opening. At least the following components are accessible through the same maintenance opening: at least one electric connector (10, 16, 17), a hydraulic tank (4) for level monitoring and/or for topping up hydraulic fluid, and electrical...

20060076174 - Running toy: A running toy having: a pair of right and left wheel supports to rotatably support right and left wheels, respectively; and a pair of right and left support portions to support the right and left wheel supports to be movable and adjustable along a back and forth direction, respectively, the...

20060076176 - Grab rail and muffler support structure: A grab rail and a muffler support structure has a reduced number of components and a simplified structure. Therefore, the cost is reduced. A grab rail is attached to the rear portion of seat rails supporting a seat. The grab rail is provided with left mount holes and right mount...

20060076175 - Motorcycle: In a motorcycle, a pivot plate on a drive shaft side is arranged closer to a vehicle body center axis side than the drive shaft and, at the same time, a swing arm mounting portion of the pivot plate in the vicinity of the drive shaft is flattened. Further, a...

20060076177 - Motorcycle with a rear-mounted radiator: A motorcycle is provided having front and rear wheels. A frame is supported on and connected to the front and rear wheels. The frame includes a rear swing frame pivotally connected to a front frame. A seat and an engine are mounted to the frame. The engine is disposed between...

20060076178 - Method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means in a motor vehicle: The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible vehicle occupant protection means in a motor vehicle having a driving state sensor system and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means. The reversible vehicle occupant protection means can be triggered before the collision time and as a result moved into...

20060076179 - Differential mounting structure: A differential mounting structure includes a pipe into which a bushing coupled to the differential is forcibly inserted. The pipe is inserted into a through hole of a cross member and is fixedly attached at one end thereof to a flange. Coupling bolts penetrating the flange are connected to nuts...

20060076180 - Rack and pinion type power steering apparatus: A rack shaft is supported at three positions including a gear housing receiving an engagement portion between a rack gear and a pinion near one end in an axial direction with respect to a rack housing corresponding to a support body thereof, a housing near the other end, and a...

20060076181 - Electric power-steering device: An electric power steering apparatus includes a reduction gear mechanism (17) for reducing the rotation speed of an output shaft (16) of an electric motor (15). The reduction gear mechanism (17) comprises an inscribed gear (39) rotatable interlockingly with the output shaft (16), and a circumscribed gear (40) in which...

20060076182 - Steering control apparatus: A steering control apparatus of a simple configuration is adaptable so as to construct a redundant system from an input to an output system at low cost in a reliable manner. A torque sensor detects a steering torque, and a motor (3) provides torque to a steering system. A motor...

20060070774 - Trailer mule vehicle for moving semi-trailers: A trailer mule vehicle with a frame, two independent drive wheels located at the rear of the frame on a common axis, two caster support wheels located at the front of the frame, and a fifth wheel plate generally centered between and positioned above the rear drive wheels. Each drive...

20060070775 - Toroidal propulsion and steering system: An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A drive system includes a...

20060070776 - Power takeoff for an electric vehicle: A power take-off for an electric vehicle. The power take-off includes a variable speed electric motor for driving at least one wheel of the vehicle. A transmission, including a neutral state, coupled to the electric motor. An auxiliary output shaft is coupled to the transmission. When the transmission is in...

20060070777 - Small diameter split-rim drive wheel geared hub: A drive wheel includes a pneumatic tire, a substantially solid split rim wheel configured to receive the pneumatic tire, and a geared hub with an internal transmission with multiple selectable speeds. The split rim wheel includes opposing side portions, and the geared hub is disposed between the opposing side portions...

20060070778 - Wheel assembly with integral electric motor: The subject invention provides a wheel assembly (20) having a spindle (26) for attachment to a vehicle along a rotational axis (R). An electric motor (22) is disposed radially about the spindle (26) and includes a stationary stator (34) and a rotor (36) rotatable about the rotational axis (R) relative...

20060070779 - Closed-loop power control for hybrid electric vehicles: A control system and control method for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, an electric motor and an electric generator with gearing for effecting split power distribution from separate power sources. Power delivery to vehicle traction wheels is coordinated to meet a driver's demand for power as much...

20060070780 - Power supply device for a power-driven wheelbarrow: A power supply device for a power-driven wheelbarrow includes a housing, a battery unit and an electrical connector unit. The housing includes a housing body adapted for mounting on the wheelbarrow and formed with an open end. The battery unit is inserted removably into the housing body via the open...

20060070782 - Long track mountain snowmobile and track therefor: A novel mountain snowmobile comprises a frame, an engine disposed on the frame, at least one ski disposed on the frame, a seat disposed on the frame, a steering device disposed on the frame forward of the seat that is operatively connected to the at least one ski for steering...

20060070781 - Snowmobile steering and suspension for improved performance in turns: A snowmobile steering mechanism adapted to place higher pressure on the outside ski than on the inside ski when the snowmobile enters and exits turns, said steering mechanism being adapted to include the suspension in the steering action of the snowmobile causing the snowmobile to automatically lean into a turn...

20060070783 - Skid control training system: The system of imitating automotive vehicle skidding on a straight or curved part of the track utilizes a front wheel drive vehicle. The front wheels subsystem, operated by driver or an instructor, generates the lateral yaw by selective braking of only one of front wheels. The rear wheels subsystem has...

20060070784 - Electrically-assisted cycle having physical strength promoting function: In an electrically assisted cycle, a rotor shaft (61a) of an electric generator/motor (61) is connected to a transmitting device (M) mounted between a crankshaft (17) and a rear wheel (10r); a clutch (46) is incorporated in a transmitting path between the electric generator/motor (61) and the rear wheel (10r)...

20060070785 - Small diameter split-rim drive wheel with internal transmission: A drive wheel includes a pneumatic tire, a substantially solid split rim wheel configured to receive the pneumatic tire, and a hub with an internal transmission configured to provide a variable transmission ratio. The split rim wheel includes opposing side portions, and the hub is disposed between the opposing side...

20060070786 - Motorcycle: A motorcycle design that easily secures space for exchanging tires. A unit-swing type, rear wheel driving power unit is disposed on one side of a rear wheel in a transverse direction and has a swing fulcrum in front of a rear wheel axle, and a right and left pair of...

20060070787 - Method and device for monitoring dead angles of a motor vehicle: A method for monitoring the blind spot at the side of a motor vehicle, a warning function being activated which gives out a warning to the driver if an object is located in a warning region, includes the following steps: a) determining the relative speed between the object and the...

20060070788 - V-drive motor arrangement: A V-drive motor arrangement for a motor vehicle, with the motor vehicle including a pair of frame members maintained in a spaced apart relationship. The V-drive motor arrangement includes a first motor mounted between the two frame members and coupled to a first gear set. A second motor is mounted...

20060070789 - Rotatable vehicle accessory: A decorative rotatable accessory includes one or more rotatable decorative elements mounted about a cylindrical vehicle component, such as an automobile exhaust, a motorcycle fork, a head lamp, handle bar, or the like. In one implementation, an assembly comprises an interface that is mounted to the vehicle component. A rotator,...

20060070790 - Long range and ultralight vehicle body construction: A long range and safer, steerable vehicle which has a body for carrying at least one passenger and which body rides on at least two wheels and is constructed from ultra-lightweight materials, such as magnesium frame with polyolefin body panels. The frame is constructed from extruded tubings, joined with aid...

20060070791 - Method and system for anti-static steering for vehicle steering systems: A method for implementing anti-static steering for vehicle steering systems includes receiving a desired rear wheel angle input and receiving a vehicle speed input. An approved rear wheel angle output is generated using the desired rear wheel angle input and the vehicle speed input, wherein the approved rear wheel angle...

20060070793 - Hydraulic system and forklift with the same: The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump for supplying hydraulic oil to a hydraulic actuator, an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump, hydraulic pipes provided between the hydraulic actuator and a tank, a hydraulic motor provided in one of the hydraulic pipes for recovering the hydraulic oil and adapted...

20060070792 - Power steering system: A power steering system includes first and second communication passages for providing communication between a first oil passage and a second oil passage, a third communication passage for providing communication between the first and second communication passages, a directional control valve disposed in the third communication passage, a first check...

20060070794 - Electric power steering system: The CPU calculates axial force matching external force that acts on a rack bar by combining steering torque MT that acts on a steering shaft with assist torque AT generated by an electric motor. The CUP then determines whether a vehicle is running straight based on a steering angle θ,...

20060070795 - Steering wheel for motor vehicles: A steering wheel for motor vehicles is disclosed. The aim of the steering wheel is to supply information from a driver guidance system or a driver assistance system to a driver in such a way that said information is easily received and that the driver can also input information for...