Abstract: An exhaust gas measuring instrument has a mini-dilution tunnel (22) in which a part of exhaust in the exhaust pipe (15) of an engine is introduced through sampling tube (30) and diluted with air. The exhaust gas is diluted in the mini-dilution tunnel (22), a high response differential pressure type extracted gas flow meter (31 and 40) measures the exhaust gas flow rate (Qs) in the sampling tube (30). A high response differential pressure type bypassed gas flow meter (29 and 39) measures the exhaust gas flow rate (Qb) in the exhaust pipe (15). The flow rate split ratio R=Qb/Qs is obtained by dividing the exhaust gas flow rate (Qb) by the exhaust gas flow rate (Qs). A calibration coefficient (k) of the flow rate split ratio is obtained and the calibrated flow rate split ratio (k.R) is calculated by multiplying the flow rate split ration by the calibration coefficient.

Abstract: An electromagnetic reflector which is effective for electromagnetic waves in a range from 50 to 100 GHz, radiated from an on-board radar device, is integrally incorporated with an optical reflector for effectively receiving the electromagnetic waves by the reflector and, as reflected thereby, by the radar device even though the relative angle for receiving reflected radar waves becomes larger due to a shift of lanes by the preceding vehicle or due to a curve in the road.

Abstract: An overhead console which can be used to accommodate small objects and also to accommodate a remote controller of a garage opener. The overhead console has a latch mechanism for engaging a free end of the cover with the console body to prevent the free end of the cover from falling off when the cover is closed while allowing upward displacement of the cover by a given stroke from the engagement position, as well as a projection arranged in position on an inner surface of the cover. A switch of the remote controller detachable attached to a ceiling of an accommodation chamber can be operated by pushing the cover upward.

Abstract: A multi-color small amount painting system of the present invention stores small unit amounts of paint having a variety of paint colors and may selectively feed desired color paint to a painter of a painting robot or the like. The painting system stores the paint having a large number of paint colors in a stock unit in the form of paint cartridges. The paint cartridge of the paint color selected is picked up from the stock unit and carried by a carrier and is loaded on the painting robot or an automatic painting device. Subsequently, the paint within the paint cartridge loaded is fed to the painter of the painting robot or the automatic painting device by a paint feeding mechanism. In addition, the system ensure an advantage that the painting system is high in efficiency of painting work including the exchange of colors and is small in size as a whole.

Abstract: If an ignition switch of a vehicle is ON and the vehicle speed is not zero (i.e., the vehicle is travelling), the lighting of a work lamp is prohibited even if the work lamp operating switch has been set to ON. This ensures that a work lamp does not remain lit by mistake while the vehicle is travelling, and that battery consumption by unnecessary lighting of a work lamp is minimized.

Abstract: In a roof structure for a vehicle, a side outer member and a roof member are combined at their side portions to provide a groove extending over at least midway of a boundary between the side outer and roof members. Each of the side outer and roof members comprises has exposed and unexposed surface portions: each of the unexposed surface portions has an inward bend and a lower margin. The side outer and roof members are overlapped at their exposed surface portions to provide an overlap such that a corner defined by the exposed and unexposed surface portions of the roof member is substantially aligned with a corner defined by the exposed and unexposed surface portions of the side outer member. The unexposed surface portions of the side outer and roof members are diagonal toward a center of a roof in a widthwise direction of the roof as they are away from the corners. At least one of the inward bends and lower margins of the side outer and roof members has a lug for overlap to provide a partial overlap.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery which, in accordance with the state of a battery, can make a polyphase alternating current rotating machine in a hybrid car assist the driving gear (the internal combustion engine) or charge the battery. The current and voltage during discharge and charging of a battery mounted on a vehicle are measured, and on the basis of this measured current and voltage information, a program control circuit controls the discharge current when an auxiliary driving force is given to the driving gear. This control is performed via an inverter which performs AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC conversion between the battery and the polyphase alternating current rotating machine coupled to the driving gear of the vehicle. Because the charging and discharging currents are limited in accordance with the state of charging of the battery, it is possible to avoid charging and discharging uniformly irrespective of the amount of charging of the battery.

Abstract: The state of charging and discharging of a secondary cell circuit varies with battery deterioration and with the margin for charging and discharging. The state of charging and discharging is detected accurately without coming into contact with any unit cells, and maintenance and inspection can be performed efficiently. Charging and discharging characteristics of the battery are held in a memory, and charging current and discharging current are controlled by comparing measured voltage and current values with the charging and discharging characteristics held in the memory. Furthermore, battery information relating to each unit cell is transmitted by radio signals and the substance of this information is displayed at the driver's seat.

Abstract: Provision of abutments on exposed and/or unexposed portions of roof and side outer members at a boundary portion causes the members not to be vertically overlapped to each other at the boundary portion. Therefore, the roof member can be placed on the side outer member from right above with no trouble since the unexposed surface portion of the roof member does not interfere with the exposed and unexposed surface portions of the underlying side outer member.

Abstract: An intersection warning system provided in a vehicle includes a distance detecting unit detecting a distance between a position at which the vehicle runs toward an intersection and a boundary position (a stop line) set for vehicles to stop before the intersection, a running state detecting unit detecting a running state of the vehicle, a determination unit determining whether the detected running state of the vehicle is appropriate by estimating a running state of the vehicle at the boundary position based on the distance detected by the distance detecting unit and the detected running state of the vehicle, and a warning unit issuing a warning to a driver of the vehicle based on a result obtained by the determination unit.

Abstract: Charging and discharging of a battery are controlled while observing the state of the battery, thereby improving its efficiency and increasing battery service life. A program control circuit acquires vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor and the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine from a rotation sensor. The program control circuit controls an inverter which performs AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC conversion between a motor-generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and a battery mounted on the vehicle. At the same time, the program control circuit acquires the charging and discharging current (i) of the battery, which is detected by a current sensor, and calculates the time integral I of the charging and discharging current (i). The circuit controls the charging current to the battery during regenerative braking, and the discharge current when the vehicle is being driven, in accordance with a function of the time integral I.

Abstract: An intersection warning system provided in a vehicle includes a receiving unit that receives watching information, about states of bodies in a watching area including an intersection, from a road watching apparatus, a vehicle position detecting unit that detects a position of the vehicle, a dead angle area calculation unit that calculates a dead area for the vehicle based on the position detected by the vehicle position detecting unit and the watching information received by the receiving unit, a first determination unit that determines whether there is another vehicle in the dead angle area calculated by the dead angle area calculation unit, a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of the vehicle, a second determination unit that, when the first determination unit determines that there is another vehicle in the dead angle, determines, based on the running state of the vehicle detected by the running state detecting unit and the watching information about the another vehicle in the dead ang

Abstract: A device for suppressing brake noise wherein a rod is provided upright on the inside of the rim to which the brake lining is fitted, and a weight is fitted to this rod by way of an elastic body. By fitting a weight to the brake shoe by way of an intermediary elastic body, the weight will vibrate when it is subject to the vibration of the brake shoe. At low frequencies the vibration of the weight will be in phase with the vibration of the brake shoe, but as the vibration frequency of the brake shoe increases, the vibration of the weight will shift out of phase with the vibration of the brake shoe. In the vicinity of and above a certain frequency, this phase difference will become nearly 180 degrees. By matching this frequency to the brake noise frequency, the vibration of the brake shoe can be suppressed by the vibration of the weight.

Abstract: An overfender, which is formed on a rear door of a vehicle adjacent to a rocker molding, extends at its lower end downward along a rear end of the rocker molding to cover the rear end of the rocker molding.

Abstract: Brake noise (the unpleasant "squeal" noise) emitted when a motor vehicle brakes is effectively reduced. In a disk brake which applies a braking force by gripping a disk rotor from both sides by means of two brake pads, a weight is fitted by way of an elastic body to an oscillating member of the disk brake (e.g., brake pad, piston or caliper).By fitting a weight to an oscillating member by way of an intermediary elastic body, the weight is subject to the vibration of the brake pad and will vibrate. At low frequencies the vibration of the weight is in same phase with the vibration of the brake pad, but as the vibration frequency of the brake pad increases, the vibration of the weight shifts out of phase with the vibration of the brake pad. In the vicinity of a certain frequency and at frequencies above this, this phase difference becomes nearly 180 degrees. By matching this frequency to the brake noise frequency, the vibration of the brake pad can be suppressed by the vibration of the weight.

Abstract: An automobile comprises a carrier lock device associated with the spare tire carrier, a striker associated with a back door and engaged by the carrier lock device, and a carrier lock reinforcement supporting the striker firmly and fixed to the back door. The carrier lock reinforcement is secured to the inner panel part constituting the lower side part of the back door, and the carrier striker fixed to the reinforcement is passed through the outer panel of the back door and projects backwardly.

Abstract: A retaining plate is disposed along and spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the surface of a noise source in an automotive vehicle component so as not to be displaced away from the surface of the noise source. A sheet-like elastic member is compressedly interposed between the noise source and the retaining plate. As a result, the effect of reducing the noise due to vibration is attained without substantially increasing the weight of the automotive vehicle components and without adversely affecting the sealability and other performances required to the components.

Abstract: A braking and auxiliary driving unit for an internal combustion engine which produces braking and auxiliary motive power by converting electrical energy in both directions between a polyphase AC circuit of a squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine linked to the rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine and the DC circuit of an electricity storage means, the electricity storage means comprises an electrostatic capacitive circuit. A low-voltage storage battery is provided in addition to this electrostatic capacitive circuit, and this can be coupled to the electrostatic capacitive circuit by a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: A braking and auxiliary driving unit for an internal combustion engine which produces braking and auxiliary motive power by converting electrical energy in both directions between a polyphase AC circuit of a squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine linked to the rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine and the DC circuit of an electricity storage means, the electricity storage means comprises an electrostatic capacitive circuit. A low-voltage storage battery is provided in addition to this electrostatic capacitive circuit, and this can be coupled to the electrostatic capacitive circuit by a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter.