Abstract: This invention relates to an air-fuel ratio control system for an engine which can continuously detect the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine using an air-fuel ratio sensor within a wide range including the theoretical air-fuel ratio, and can then, based on the sensor output, perform feedback correction of the air-fuel ratio to the theoretical air-fuel ratio or to another air-fuel ratio. The deterioration of the air-fuel ratio sensor is judged based on the difference between the feedback correction coefficient when feedback control is performed to the theoretical air-fuel ratio, and the feedback correction coefficient when it is performed to another air-fuel ratio. Deterioration of the sensor is thereby detected completely separate from scatter or deterioration of performance of the fuel injector or other components.

Abstract: A blow molded container made of a polypropylene resin obtained by injection stretch blow molding of a polypropylene resin in which the polypropylene resin is a propylene polymer composition containing from 0.0001 to 10% by weight of 3-methylbutene-1 polymer, as well as medical instruments comprising the blow molded container made of the polypropylene resin.

Abstract: An engine wherein a target air-fuel ratio is changed over according to the running conditions is provided with a device for computing a target throttle opening area based on the accelerator operation and a selected air-fuel ratio. It also includes a device for correcting the throttle opening such that the throttle opening area is equal to a target throttle opening area, a device for computing a fuel amount to be provided to the engine based on the target air-fuel ratio, intake air volume and engine speed, and a device for regulating the fuel supply to the computed amount. In this way, the throttle valve opening is corrected when the air-fuel ratio is changed, fluctuations in the torque generated by the engine are smoothed out, and torque shock due to the air-fuel ratio change-over is thereby prevented.

Abstract: To reliably diagnose catalyst degradation in an air fuel ratio control system without being subjected to the influence of engine operating conditions, a front O.sub.2 sensor output VFO and a rear O.sub.2 sensor output VRO are detected on both the upstream and downstream sides of catalytic converter; air fuel ratio feedback correction coefficients .alpha. are determined on the basis of basic feedback control constants P.sub.R,L or i.sub.R,L and correction values PHOS according to rich and lean air fuel ratio conditions; periods T and amplitudes .alpha..sub.R -.alpha..sub.L of the air fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient .alpha.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an air/fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which an integration constant used for a calculation of an integration portion included in a feedback correction coefficient (.alpha.) of the air/fuel mixture ratio after a relationship between an actual air/fuel mixture raito and target (stoichiometric) air/fuel mixture ratio has been inverted is set and varied according to an engine driving condition, so that the integration constant meets requirements of a stability during an engine steady driving condition and a favorable responsive characteristic during an engine transient condition. In a preferred embodiement, a fuzzy control is applicable to the calculation of the integration constant.

Abstract: The throttle valve position is sensed and the effective cross sectional area of the induction passage determined via table look up. The value thus derived is divided by the engine speed. A basic air induction quantity is then determined via table look up and subsequently modified using a correction coefficient to allow for the effect of engine speed on the amount of air inducted into each cylinder. The effect of injector position (viz., MPI/SPI) is taken into consideration and values suited for both generated in given embodiments. In the event that the maximum induction vacuum is limited by a BCD valve or the like, an embodiment anticipates the change in induction characteristics based on the engine speed.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system detects transition of air/fuel ratio changing between rich and lean for checking if updating condition is satisfied. Updating value is derived based on a feedback correction value which is derived for adjusting air/fuel ratio toward a stoichiometric value. With the updating value thus derived, one of a plurality of learnt correction value which are set with respect to various engine driving range.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of air-fuel mixture to be inducted into an automotive engine in order to accomplish feedback control of the air-fuel ratio into a stoichiometric level of feedforward control of the air-fuel ratio into a lean level. The air-fuel ratio control system is comprised of a control unit which is electrically connected to an oxygen sensor for detecting the air-fuel ratio and to a variety of sensors for detecting engine operating condition. The control unit is adapted to calculate an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient in accordance with the detected air-fuel ratio. The feedback control of the air-fuel ratio is accomplished in accordance with the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient. The control unit is further adapted to form a plurality of learning areas defined respectively by engine operating conditions. Learning is made in each learning area. At least a part of each learning area is under the feedback control.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel injection quantity for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which upon start of the engine acceleration, a quantity corresponding to an air quantity sucked into an engine cylinder (for example, a pressure in an intake air passage downstream of a throttle valve) is detected, an indicated mean effective pressure (P.sub.i) is detected, gains and phases of both detected values are matched with each other, respectively, so that an expected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived from the detected value of the air quantity corresponding quantity, a deviation between the expected value and detected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived, a correction quantity for a basic injection quantity at the time of an acceleration of a vehicle through the engine is derived on the basis of the deviation, and a fuel injection quantity outputted from a fuel injection valve is determined on the basis of the corrected fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: The throttle valve position of an engine is sensed and the effective cross sectional area of the induction passage is determined via table look-up. The table is recorded in terms of three parameters. The value thus derived is divided by the engine speed of alternatively a product of the engine speed and the engine displacement. A basic air induction quantity is then determined via table look-up and is subsequently modified using a correction coefficient to allow for the effect of engine speed on the same. The effect of injector position (viz., multi-point injection/single point injection) and/or the provision of a swirl control valve can be additionally taken into consideration via the use of suitable algorithms or additional two and three parameter system tables. If an idle control by-pass passage is provided, the effect of the opening degree is considered when determining the effective cross-section of the induction passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sensor element which utilizes a change in the electric resistance of a porously fired TiO.sub.2 layer. To improve the speed of response of the gas sensor element, and also to strengthen the adhesion of the fired TiO.sub.2 layer to a ceramic substrate, at least one kind of metal oxide which hardly undergoes solid phase reaction with TiO.sub.2 and serves as a sintering suppressing agent, such as Er.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or In.sub.2 O.sub.3, is added to TiO.sub.2 in advance of firing. The speed of response is further enhanced by the addition of at least one kind of noble metal such as Pt and/or Rh to TiO.sub.2 together with the sintering suppressing oxide(s).

Abstract: A system for collecting mineral resources on the ocean floor, having an automotive collector for collecting mineral resources, a collection vessel which is connected to the automotive collector so that the collected mineral resources are fed to the collection vessel, and an endless bucket lift device having a number of buckets. The endless bucket lift is lowered from a ship and circulates between the ship and the collection vessel. The circulation of the buckets carries the mineral deposits, collected at the collection vessel, to the ship. The ship has an expansion apparatus having at least a pair of end-rollers on which an endless belt carrying a number of buckets are wound. The distance between the end rollers is adjustable so that the lowering distance of the collection vessel and the automotive collector can be adjusted according to the depth of the seabed.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio monitoring system in an IC engine, using an oxygen sensor of the concentration cell type which has a laminate comprising an inner electrode layer, a microscopically porous layer of oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte and an outer electrode layer exposable to exhaust gas and which exhibits a sharp change in output voltage level in response to a change in the air/fuel ratio in the engine across a stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: A temperature control system is disclosed wherein a heater of a gas sensor and a plurality of reference resistors cooperate to form a bridge circuit. The temperature control system comprises a comparator means for monitoring a balancing voltage of the bridge circuit and generating a control signal indicative of the balancing voltage and an electric power amplifier means responsive to the control signal for varying a voltage applied to the bridge circuit in such a manner to reduce the balancing voltage. The gas sensor has mounted therein at least one of the plurality of reference resistors, which reference resistor having a resistance resulting from multiplying the resistance of the heater with a constant.

Abstract: A device for detecting concentrations of oxygen in gases by using an oxygen sensor element having a substrate provided with a heater and a concentration cell part in the form of a laminate including a solid electrolyte layer supported on the substrate. The device has a power supply circuit to apply a controlled voltage to the heater to keep it at a constant temperature by controlling its resistance to a constant value, and a current supply circuit which forces a controlled DC current to flow through the solid electrolyte layer in the sensor element to thereby maintain a reference oxygen partial pressure in the sensor element.

Abstract: At least a portion of an oxygen sensor element support to which portion an oxygen sensor element directly contacts is constructed of an heat insulating material having very low thermal conductivity, so that the heat release from the oxygen sensor element is minimized.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio detection system for an IC engine, using an oxygen sensor element of the concentration cell type which has a laminate of a measurement electrode layer exposed to the exhaust gas, a porous layer of oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte and a reference electrode layer and requires the supply of a small DC current thereto to produce a reference oxygen partial pressure at the reference electrode by a balance between migration of oxygen ions to the reference electrode and diffusion of oxygen molecules therefrom.

Abstract: An improved evaporative emission control device of an internal combustion engine having a variable venturi type carburetor which is effective to reduce unburnt components in the exhaust gas over the entire range of engine operation. Fuel vaporized in a fuel tank, a float chamber or the like and stored in a canister containing activated charcoal is supplied to an intake passage of the carburetor through a supply port which opens into the intake passage at a location between a throttle valve and a venturi valve which is disposed in the intake passage to vary the opening area of the venturi. A valve is disposed in a line connecting the supply port and the canister to control fuel vapor passing through the line. The valve is controlled to open and close in response to the operations of a clutch and/or a transmission device interposed in a power transmission system for conducting power from the engine to driving wheels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device useful for detection of air/fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture subjected to combustion in a combustor by sensing oxygen in the exhaust gas, using a solid electrolyte concentration cell type oxygen-sensitive element which requires supply of a DC current to flow through its solid electrolyte layer between reference and measurement electrode layers to establish a reference oxygen partial pressure at the interface between the reference electrode and the solid electrolyte. The device comprises a control circuit to vary the intensity of the current for the oxygen-sensitive element in dependence on the magnitude of output voltage of the oxygen-sensitive element at least when a predetermined one of said output voltage and a reference voltage is higher than the other in order to compensate variations of the magnitude of the reference oxygen partial pressure caused mainly by variations of the temperature.

Abstract: A device comprising an oxygen-sensitive element to be disposed in a combustion gas exhausted from a combustor to detect deviation of actual air/fuel ratio from a stoichiometric ratio. The element is a combination of two oxygen concentration cells each having a solid electrolyte layer, a measurement electrode layer formed on one side of the electrolyte layer, a reference electrode layer formed on the opposite side and covered with a shield layer. Either measurement electrode layers or reference electrode layers of the two cells are connected to each other, and a constant DC voltage is applied to the element to force a current to flow through solid electrolyte layers of both cells to cause migration of oxygen ions therethrough, from the measurement electrode to the reference electrode in one cell and reversely in the other.