Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Sapporo Breweries Limited

Sapporo Holdings Limited

Takeo Ishihara

Tsutomu Hayashi

Tetsu Hamaguchi

Goroei Wakatsuki

Hitoshi Yamamoto

Seishi Miura

Masumi Hamane

Sadashi Yamamoto

Yuji Kishizawa

Hidehiko Inoue

Tsuyoshi Iiga

Yoshitaka Kitamura

Takushi Matsutoh

A drive system for an engine-driven light vehicle which transmits the engine rotation to a wheel of the vehicle through a friction roller during normal engine operation, and transmits the wheel rotation to the engine through the friction roller to start the engine. The friction roller has its drive shaft disposed parallel with the crankshaft of the engine, between which shafts is interposed a power transmission means, e.g. a gear train meshing with each other. At least one gear of the gear train is rotatably fitted on the crankshaft, with which engages a one-way clutch for transmitting the drive shaft rotation to the crankshaft with a ratio of speed change preset for the start of the engine. A planetary gear is coupled to the gear train for transmitting the crankshaft rotation to the drive shaft through the gear train with a large reduction ratio. Preferably, the planetary gear includes a centrifugal clutch provided on the crankshaft and adapted to allow transmission of the crankshaft rotation to the drive shaft when the crankshaft rotational speed exceeds a predetermined value.

Drive system for engine-driven light vehicles

A power unit particularly adapted to a three-wheel vehicle which employs a single cylinder, two-stroke engine driving a centrifugal clutch, a gear train and a drive shaft to one wheel. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted in a portion of the engine housing and is also rotatably mounted within a coaxial bore through one end of the crankshaft. A spaced rear wheel on the other side of the engine is freewheeling. To accommodate the asymmetric power to one rear wheel, the drive shaft, the crankshaft and the engine cylinder are canted from alignment with the centerline of the vehicle to provide the appropriate toe-in.

Power unit for a vehicle

A motorcycle having a power unit of unitary structure pivotally mounted to the motorcycle. The power unit includes an engine, a variable ratio V-belt drive transmission, a centrifugal clutch and a rear axle assembly. The centrifugal clutch is located above a line extending between the output shaft of the engine and the rear axle. The driven pulley of the variable ratio V-belt drive includes a sealed lubricated portion containing a splined joint accommodating the relative axial displacement between the pulley halves. A gear train connects the output of the clutch, which is associated with the driven pulley, to the rear axle.

Power transmission system for motorcycles

An improved engine supporting structure for a motorcycle wherein a power unit is constructed integrally of an engine, a crankcase and a transmission case and is subjected to pivotal motions with respect to the frame together with a rear wheel. The engine is so arranged that its main axis of inertia is substanially horizontal, and the engine constituting a part of the power unit is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link which in turn has its upper end pivotally connected to the frame. The link is so arranged that its upper and lower pivots are substantially in a vertical line, and the rear portion of the power unit supporting the rear wheel is connected to the frame through a shock absorber. In this manner, the transmission of engine vibrations to the frame is restricted, the following characteristics of the rear wheel in the longitudinal direction are improved, and the riding quality is improved.

Engine supporting structure for motorcycle

An automatic transmission including a drive shaft directly connected to a drive source, an output shaft, and a planetary gear mechanism provided between the drive shaft and output shaft and serving to effect automatic speed change in power transmission. The planetary gear mechanism is mounted on the drive shaft with its sun gear fitted thereon. Thus, the length dimension of the drive shaft can be reduced to provide a very compact system. Further, a plurality of clutches are arranged in a radial plane between the drive shaft and the output shaft, thus permitting a further reduction in the size of the system.

Automatic transmission

A safety arrangement in a kickstart apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which the starting of the engine is limited to the condition that the transmission only be in neutral. A drive gear mounted on the crank shaft of the engine is connected to the input side of the transmission and a starting gear operated by a kick pedal is connected to the driving gear through a clutch having a movable half portion and a stationary half portion. A claw is engageable with the movable half portion to arrest the same and a detector detects the position of a shift drum which shifts the transmission in order to selectively engage the claw with the movable half portion of the clutch when the transmission is in any position other than neutral.

Safety arrangement in kickstart apparatus for an internal combustion

A speed changing position regulating device for a motorcycle, having a speed changing operating means (60) for a transmission gear for changing over speed changing positions by the operation of a shift pedal (30) operatively connected with the speed changing operating means (60). A link mechanism (40, 50, 80, 110) is operated through connecting means (165, 170) by the rise and fall of a stand (160) so that, when the stand rises, the shift position of the speed changing operating means may be changed over to a neutral position by the link mechanism operated by the connecting means and the speed changing operating means may be held in the neutral position.

Growing community of inventors

Asaka, Japan

Takeo Ishihara