Patents Assigned to Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 4932234
    Abstract: A method of forming a tappet adjusting screw is disclosed herein. In this method, a wire material is cut to a predetermined length, the cut flaws at one end of the material are removed and simultaneously the end face of the other end of the material is provided with a linear groove. The end face of the first end of the material is processed to a convex spherical shape and this end of the material is reduced in diameter and a flange is formed about the convex spherical end face, this flange then being sheared off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigemitu Adachi
  • Patent number: 4916788
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ball joint serves to reduce the cost for producing the joint. In the method, while a ball portion of a ball stud of the ball joint is being placed in a mold, a socket is cast-molded in such a manner that the socket will form an integral structure surrounding the ball portion. Thereafter, force is applied to the outer wall of the socket by means of a plurality of mill rolls in such a manner that the force causes deformation of the socket so as to allow the ball portion of the ball stud to be slidably rotated relative to the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunobu Mitoya
  • Patent number: 4880329
    Abstract: A joint has a cylindrical socket which is opened at at least one end thereof, an inner joint portion having a ball-shaped portion and at least one shaft portion integral with the ball-shaped portion, a bearing portion fitted in the socket portion and having a recess which has a configuration complementary to the outer configuration of the inner joint portion, the recess rockably and slidably supports the ball portion of the inner joint portion, the bearing portion being supported at an and of the socket opposite to the open end of the socket by a flange portion which projects radially inward from the end of the socket opposite to the open end, a support member disposed within the opening of the open end of the socket at the on end side and capable of cooperating with the flange portion in supporting the bearing portion in the axial direction, and a boot portion disposed between the shaft portion of the inner joint portion and the socket so as to prevent foreign matter from coming into a gap between the slidin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 4856607
    Abstract: An automatic steering center setting apparatus provided in a power steering system for a vehicle comprises a static steering motion detecting circuit for detecting a static steering motion state in response to a steering angle position signal which is obtained through a steering angle sensor and then a steering angle detecting circuit and for outputting a static steering center instruction signal; a dynamic steering motion detecting circuit for detecting a dynamic steering motion state and for outputting a dynamic steering center instruction signal; and a steering center setting circuit for setting a steering center and starting the function of a steering angle responsive characteristic when a current steering angle position signal coincides with the static or dynamic steering center instruction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sueshige, Masayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4802544
    Abstract: There is an electric power steering apparatus comprising: an electronic control circuit to output a drive signal having a vehicle velocity response characteristic and steering response characteristic in accordance with the vehicle velocity, steering torque, and steering direction; and a motor for assisting a steering force which is made operative by the drive signal. The electronic control circuit has a braking control circuit to short-circuit between both terminals of the motor when the steering operation is stopped and the supply of the drive signal to the motor is stopped while the vehicle is running at a high speed. With this apparatus, when the steering operation is suddenly stopped when the vehicle is running at a high speed, the inertia rotation of the motor can be rapidly reduced. The yawing of the vehicle body due to the inertia rotation can be effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 4785901
    Abstract: A rack-pinion type electrically powered steering apparatus is provided with an electronic control circuit adapted to control a motor driving current which is applied to a motor for power assistance, in response to a steering load characteristic and/or a vehicle speed characteristic. The steering apparatus is also provided with a rack end proximity sensor adapted to detect a position adjacent the both ends of the rack during a steering operation, and a device for providing the motor driving current with an attenuation characteristic in response to the detected signal from said rack end proximity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 4768268
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a single-piece type valve sleeve, includes plastic-working a workpiece thereby to form in the workpiece a blind bore and a plurality of grooves in the surface of the bore and extending lengthwise of the bore, plastic-working a portion of the workpiece at the bottom of the bore so as to form a through hole in the workpiece, and plastic-working an inner portion of the workpiece adjacent the mouth of the bore thereby to close one end of the grooves. A single-piece type valve sleeve is produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Ishihara, Masahito Iwata
  • Patent number: 4768554
    Abstract: A control valve is disclosed herein. The control valve includes a valve sleeve and a rotor which is rotatably inserted into the valve sleeve. The valve sleeve have a plurality of fluid passages comprising a plurality of through passages which pass through the wall of the valve sleeve and a plurality of recessed grooves axially elongated on the inside surface of the valve sleeve. The rotor has a plurality of fluid passages opposing with said fluid passages of the valve sleeve. The fluid passages of the rotor cooperate with said fluid passages of the valve sleeve to open and close fluid flow. The valve sleeve has fluid flow noise suppress means formed by many continuous undulations along side edges of the recessed groove of the valve sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Takeuchi, Masaaki Kato, Keita Ozeki, Kideo Kominami
  • Patent number: 4759419
    Abstract: A power assist steering assembly for a vehicle comprises a power assist actuator, a pump for supplying pressurized fluid to the power assist actuator, and a steering control valve comprising a movable valve member for controlling flow of pressurized fluid to the power assist actuator. A conduit that communicates pressurized fluid from the pump to the steering control valve comprises a restriction orifice. A conduit device controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the restriction orifice in accordance with vehicle speed. A mechanism is provided to resist movement of the valve to increase flow of pressurized fluid to the power assist actuator with a force which increases as vehicle speed increases. The mechanism comprises a first fluid chamber, a spring located in the first fluid chamber for biasing the valve member to a neutral position thereof, and a second fluid chamber the pressure in which counteracts the action of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nagae, Yoshiaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 4709593
    Abstract: There is provided a steering mechanism for an automobile. The steering mechanism comprises a housing defining an opening, a column shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a pinion on the column shaft, a rack bar engaging the pinion, a first yoke slidable within the opening, a yoke stopper fitted in the opening, a second yoke disposed within the first yoke and having a ring at one end, a first spring interposed between the ring and yoke stopper, and a second spring interposed between the second yoke and yoke stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4694927
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicular speed responsive power steering device. The power steering device comprises a main pump unit adapted to supply oil under pressure through a control valve to an actuator to thereby assist steering force. The main pump unit comprises a vehicular speed responsive pump having the suction port connected to an oil passage extending between the discharge port of the main pump unit and the control valve and a reaction mechanism for controlling the operation of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Nagae
  • Patent number: 4658770
    Abstract: A supporting structure for rocker arms for engine valves includes an engine having a cylinder head, a valve provided on the cylinder head and adapted for either of intake and exhaust purposes, a valve-operating mechanism for operating the valve, the valve-operating mechanism including a rocker arm abutting on the top of the valve, to thereby operate the valve, and a pivotal structure for pivotably supporting one end of the rocker arm. The pivotal structure comprises a ball-like portion, a spherical concave portion shaped in a form substantially correspondent to the ball-like portion and engaged with the ball-like portion, and an elastic member disposed at an aperture end of the spherical concave portion and adapted to hold the ball-like portion in the spherical concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokai TRW and Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Okuyama, Susumu Toki, Keiji Tanabe
  • Patent number: 4644241
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a single phase electrical signal into a three phase electrical signal is disclosed. A converter includes a rectifier connectable to a single phase electrical power source. One output of the rectifier is connected through a smoothing ciruit to four switching transistors. The other output of the rectifier is connected to center taps of a first and a second load coil. The first phase load coil is connected across a first pair of the switching transistors and the second phase load coil is connected across a second pair of the switching transistors. Third and fourth phase load coils are connected to opposite sides of the first and second phase load coils. The first, second, and third phase load coils are delta connected and the first, second, and fourth phase load coils are delta connected. The first and second pairs of switching transistors are controlled by first and second pairs of phase shifting signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 4618809
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus for converting a single-phase A.C. power source to three-phase A.C. outputs is described wherein the single-phase power source is directly connected to a first phase load and is connected through a one-phase converter to a second phase load, and the single-phase power source and the one-phase converted single-phase power source are connected to a third phase load and a fourth phase load, the third and fourth phase loads being formed by dividing a single load, so that three-phase power outputs are provided for the first phase load, the second phase load, and the third plus fourth loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 4617883
    Abstract: The curved surface of the semi-spherical recess is defined such that a center of the curvature of the semi-spherical recess in a longitudinal section including a center line of the semi-spherical recess deviates from the center line, and a radius of curvature of the recess is greater than a radius of curvature of the spherical fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Okuyama, Susumu Toki, Masahito Ishihara
  • Patent number: 4573372
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a rack and pinion type steering gear for an automobile and a method for cutting rack teeth in the gear. The gear comprises a housing, a pinion rotatably supported within the housing and operatively connected to a steering wheel and a rack bar supported within the housing for slidable movement in the axial direction and rotation and provided with rack teeth in engagement with the pinion. The rack teeth are formed on the rack and along a varying pitch line so that the axial movement amount of the rack varies as the pinion rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Abe
  • Patent number: 4549628
    Abstract: A power steering device of an automotive vehicle, comprises an engine of the vehicle, a steering pump driven by the engine, an actuator, a control valve connected to both the steering pump and the actuator for controlling the amount and direction of power fluid supplied from the steering pump into the actuator in response to the steering operation of the steering wheel, a centrifugal clutch having an input shaft and an output shaft for receiving the power from the engine at the input shaft and transmitting the power to the steering pump from the output shaft when the vehicle speed is low or zero, and spring means for causing the centrifugal clutch to cut off the power transmission from the input shaft to the output shaft when the vehicle speed is so high that the centrifugal force of the centrifugal clutch is larger than the biasing force of the spring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Abe, Naoyuki Maeda, Shigemitsu Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 4521141
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a rack and pinion type steering gear for an automobile and a method for cutting rack teeth in the gear. The gear comprises a housing, a pinion rotatably supported within the housing and operatively connected to a steering wheel and a rack bar supported within the housing for slidable movement in the axial direction and rotation and provided with rack teeth in engagement with the pinion. The rack teeth are formed on the rack and along a varying pitch line so that the axial movement amount of the rack varies as the pinion rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Abe
  • Patent number: 4512367
    Abstract: A rotation detecting apparatus for a power steering system of a vehicle is described which comprises a control valve coupled to a steering shaft of a steering wheel of the vehicle for controlling a flow of power fluid supplied to a power cylinder for powering a steering operation, a rotator magnet secured on an input shaft of the control valve to rotate therewith as a body, a concentric-circle shaped stator coil adapted to face to the rotor magnet, and a casing functioning also as an iron core yoke mounted on a housing of the control valve for receiving the rotor magnet and the stator coil and supporting the stator coil, whereby, when the input shaft is rotated in response to the steering operation of the steering wheel, an electromotive force is produced so as to detect a displacement in rotation of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Abe, Naoyuki Maeda, Robert M. Lynas
  • Patent number: 4499964
    Abstract: An electric-oil pressure power steering system for a vehicle is described which comprises an oil pump driven by an electric motor for supplying power fluid to a power cylinder, a steering wheel connected to a control valve for controlling the supply of the power fluid, and an electronic switching device for controlling the supply of electric power to said motor in response to the change of a vehicle speed, said electronic switching device including a means for controlling continuously the supply of the electric power and a means for controlling discontinuously or variably the supply of the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Tokai TRW & Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Abe, Naoyuki Maeda