A snowmobile comprises a plurality of ground engaging members, a frame supported by the ground engaging members, and a powertrain assembly supported by the frame. The snowmobile further comprises a rear suspension assembly supported by the frame which includes a plurality of slide rails, at least one linear force element operably coupled to the slide rails, and at least one rear idler wheel operably coupled to the slide rails with a rear shaft. The rear shaft is operably coupled to the slide rails with a single fastener received into one end of the rear shaft.

A directional control system for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation. The vehicle has at least one steerable wheel for use in ground operation, the wheel being connected to a steering mechanism, wings having moveable control surfaces, and a tail having a moveable control surface. The system has a first shaft having a first control input at one end, wherein the first shaft is linked to the steering mechanism and a second shaft that extends through the first shaft and is independently rotatable and slidable with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft has a second control input at one end, a first linkage configured to transmit a rotational movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surfaces on the wings, and a second linkage configured to transmit an axial movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surface on the tail.

A directional control system for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation. The vehicle has at least one steerable wheel for use in ground operation, the wheel being connected to a steering mechanism, wings having moveable control surfaces, and a tail having a moveable control surface. The system has a first shaft having a first control input at one end, wherein the first shaft is linked to the steering mechanism and a second shaft that extends through the first shaft and is independently rotatable and slidable with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft has a second control input at one end, a first linkage configured to transmit a rotational movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surfaces on the wings, and a second linkage configured to transmit an axial movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surface on the tail.

A steering system for a motor vehicle, having a steering column, an electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, a sensor which is assigned to the steering column and is configured to sense a torque and a rotational angle of the steering column, and a regulator, wherein the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus comprises a motor having an angular position encoder which is configured to sense the motor rotational angle of the motor, wherein the regulator is configured to determine a torque of the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, and wherein the regulator is also configured to determine a disturbance variable, which gives rise to an undesired steering sensation, in the steering system by means of a Kalman filter.

A steering system for a motor vehicle, having a steering column, an electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, a sensor which is assigned to the steering column and is configured to sense a torque and a rotational angle of the steering column, and a regulator, wherein the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus comprises a motor having an angular position encoder which is configured to sense the motor rotational angle of the motor, wherein the regulator is configured to determine a torque of the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, and wherein the regulator is also configured to determine a disturbance variable, which gives rise to an undesired steering sensation, in the steering system by means of a Kalman filter.

A column housing for a vehicle steering system is made of synthetic resin and coupled outside a column tube of a steering column for the vehicle system, the column housing including: a slit which is formed to be elongated in a predetermined direction so that the column housing is deformed inward when the column housing is pressed on and fixed to the column tube positioned inside the column housing; and a first reinforcing portion which is formed so as to protrude outward at a predetermined portion from an end position of an end portion of the slit to the periphery of the slit where the slit is not formed, and has a shape having an increased thickness relative to other portions of the column housing.

A column housing for a vehicle steering system is made of synthetic resin and coupled outside a column tube of a steering column for the vehicle system, the column housing including: a slit which is formed to be elongated in a predetermined direction so that the column housing is deformed inward when the column housing is pressed on and fixed to the column tube positioned inside the column housing; and a first reinforcing portion which is formed so as to protrude outward at a predetermined portion from an end position of an end portion of the slit to the periphery of the slit where the slit is not formed, and has a shape having an increased thickness relative to other portions of the column housing.

A bracket includes a first plate that faces a steering column, a second plate that faces a column cover covering the steering column, and a third plate that connects the first plate and the second plate, and a fourth plate that intersects with the first plate and the third plate.

A vehicle front portion structure includes: an instrument panel reinforcement that extends in a vehicle width direction and supports a steering column; a cowl that is disposed at the vehicle forward side of the instrument panel reinforcement and is provided with a recessed portion that is open toward a vehicle upward side and extends along the vehicle width direction; a coupling member that couples the instrument panel reinforcement and the cowl to each other in a vehicle forward and rearward direction, at a predetermined position in the vehicle width direction; and a bracket that is disposed at the cowl at a front side in the vehicle forward and rearward direction, and on an extension line, of the coupling member, that closes off an open side of the recessed portion in the vehicle forward and rearward direction, and has a ridgeline that extends in the vehicle forward and rearward direction.

A vehicle front portion structure includes: an instrument panel reinforcement that extends in a vehicle width direction and supports a steering column; a cowl that is disposed at the vehicle forward side of the instrument panel reinforcement and is provided with a recessed portion that is open toward a vehicle upward side and extends along the vehicle width direction; a coupling member that couples the instrument panel reinforcement and the cowl to each other in a vehicle forward and rearward direction, at a predetermined position in the vehicle width direction; and a bracket that is disposed at the cowl at a front side in the vehicle forward and rearward direction, and on an extension line, of the coupling member, that closes off an open side of the recessed portion in the vehicle forward and rearward direction, and has a ridgeline that extends in the vehicle forward and rearward direction.