Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a heater for heating an oxygen sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow passage of an internal combustion engine disposed in an automotive vehicle includes a detection circuit, a decision circuit and a power supply control circuit. The monitor circuit detects a driving condition parameter of the automotive vehicle. The decision circuit determines, from a driving condition represented by the driving condition parameter detected by the detecting circuit, whether or not a power supply control to the heater should be executed. The power supply control circuit supplies, during a predetermined period of time, the heater with an amount of power which is smaller than that to be supplied thereto in a normal driving condition when it is determined that the power supply control to the heater should be executed by the decision circuit so that a resistance value of said heater is controlled to a target resistance value.

Abstract: The present invention quickly and accurately predicts a cast defect during continuous casting, by a sequential temperature-change pattern, and takes and appropriate action in conformity with a position and kind of defect of the cast defect, thereby preventing the cast defect from generating on the casting withdrawn from the mold.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder head formed with a wedge shaped cylinder head recess which has on its one side closer to a spark plug a steeply inclined roof surface of about 38.degree. to 40.degree. inclination and on its other side a gently inclined roof surface of about 5.degree. to 20.degree. inclination formed with an intake valve opening, and a piston formed with a piston recess which generally mates with the cylinder head recess and which has on its one side closer to the spark plug an inclined side surface of about 45.degree. inclination. The planar surface portion of the piston crown and the planar surface portion of the cylinder head on opposite sides of the recessed portions mutually define a relatively large squish area on the side of the gently inclined roof surface and a relatively small squish area on the side of the steeply inclined roof surface. A helical port is connected to the intake valve opening so as to generate a swirl flow of air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In a fluid control valve unit for a crossed piping brake system, a pair of inertia-controlled valves are provided to independently control respective braking fluids supplied to the right and left rear-wheel brake cylinders at a rate of pressure increase lower than the rate of pressure increase in a tandem master cylinder. The control valve unit is further provided therein with a movable stepped spool which is moved to forcibly close one of the inertia-controlled valves when braking fluid cannot be supplied to one of the rear-wheel brake cylinders and a stepped piston which is moved to forcibly close the other inertia-controlled valve when braking fluid cannot be supplied to the other rear-wheel brake cylinder.