Abstract: A ceramic heater with a specified ratio of electric resistance for the heat generating portion and the lead portion of a heat generating resistor is provided. The ceramic heater has a ceramic substrate comprising alumina as a main ingredient and a heat generating resistor composed only of tungsten, or a heat generating resistor comprising at least one of 3 to 30% by weight of alumina and 10 to 40% by weight of rhenium, and at least one of tungsten and molybdenum. Particularly, the ratio of the electric resistance can be controlled and the adhesion of ceramic substrates for sandwiching the heat generating resistor can be improved, for example, by means of disposing slits to the lead portion and/or changing ingredients constituting the lead portion. The ceramic heater is capable of reaching a predetermined temperature in a short time, has high adhesion between the heat generating resistor and ceramic substrates and excellent durability and can be used in an oxygen sensor.

Abstract: An intermediate shaft apparatus of a steering shaft assembly includes: an input shaft; a coupling shaft fixed to the input shaft in a circumferential direction and arranged to be slidable relative to the input shaft in an axial direction only during application of an impact thereto; an output shaft fixed to the coupling shaft in the circumferential direction and arranged to be slidable in the axial direction; and a buffer joint fitted at an axial end portion of the output shaft and formed by coupling an output-side yoke member and a cup member via an elastic member, wherein the output shaft and the cup member are provided with a penetrating portion through which the coupling shaft is capable of penetrating in the axial direction.

Abstract: An alumina-based sintered material for ceramic heater having a resistance heater embedded in its ceramic material. With the total amount of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, MgO and CaO being 100 wt %, the sintered material contains 91 to 97 wt % of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 1 to 8 wt % of SiO.sub.2, 0.2 to 1.2 wt % of MgO and 0.2 to 1.2 wt % of CaO, the total amount of MgO and CaO being 0.4 to 1.8 wt %, whereas, for the total amount of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO and CaO of 100 wt %, 0.1 to 15 wt % of (a) at least one of rare earth elements and groups IVa excluding Ti, Va and VIa of the Periodic Table are contained in the sintered material. In place of (a), 0.2 wt % or less of other elements (Na, K, Fe, Ti etc.) may also be contained in an amount not more than 0.2 wt %, calculated in terms of oxides.

Abstract: The hydraulic power steering system comprises a rotary valve unit actuated according to a twisting angle provided in a torsion bar connected between an input shaft and a pinion, and a conversion mechanism which can change the condition of the rotary valve unit for a given twisting angle of the torsion bar. A variable ratio lever mechanism may be used for this purpose. Thus, a torsion bar having a suitable rigidity can be used without causing any insufficiency in the assisting torque because the responsiveness of the steering system can be freely varied by changing the setting of the conversion mechanism. For instance, it is possible to provide a sufficient assist torque at low speed and a controlled responsiveness at high speed.

Abstract: A power steering system is disclosed which automatically corrects unexpected variations in the path of a vehicle without requiring a driver to make corrections. A rotary valve in the power steering system includes an inner sleeve connected to a steering wheel, an outer sleeve connected to a pinion shaft meshed with a rack bar, and a torsion bar coupled to the inner sleeve and the pinion shaft. The rotary valve switches oil passages communicating with a power cylinder by means of relative rotation between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to thereby assist in steering. The outer sleeve and the pinion shaft are connected to each other for slight relative rotation through an elastomer or resilient connecting member. If an unexpected variation in path is produced in the vehicle, the outer sleeve is rotated by the operation of a torque motor which causes the operation of the rotary valve, thereby moving the power cylinder whereby a steering force is produced for correcting the variation in path.

Abstract: In the joining structure of the solid electrolytic element, terminals connected to the heating element and the electrodes are attached through metallic oxide layers onto the solid electrolytic layer. The thermal conductivity coefficient of the metallic oxide layers is larger than that of the solid electrolytic layer. The thermal expansion coefficient of the metallic oxide layers is the same as or smaller than that of the solid electrolytic layer. Consequently, when the lead wires are soldered to the terminals, heat is quickly conducted to the terminals, enhancing the fluidity and the solderability of the soldering material. Since excess heating is not required for soldering, the solid electrolytic layer is prevented from deteriorating due to heat. Since a low-melting solder is not used, the joining structure has high heat resistance. Moreover, during soldering, the metallic oxide layers do not detach from the solid electrolytic layer due to heat.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor comprising a hollow cylindrical member closed at one end but open at the other to admit a reference gas. There is at least one radial through-hole in the hollow cylindrical member. An oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte later has at least one pair of electrodes on its opposite sides. The electrolyte layer is wrapped around the hollow cylindrical member with the electrode on its inner side facing the through hole. In other embodiments, an oxygen sensor is provided which is very insensitive to the direction of flow of the gas to be analyzed. The electrodes of the sensor are spaced at substantially equal intervals on the circumference of a cylindrical solid electrolyte layer in registry with through-holes formed in a hollow tubular member surrounded by the electrolyte layer. A heating unit may be formed on either the inner or outer surface of the solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: In a vehicle which is provided with a power steering device having an oil passage or an oil chamber whose pressure increases to a high level as a steering angle becomes large; and a damper device consisting of a cylinder filled therein with a working oil and a piston fitted slidably in the cylinder to divide the interior thereof into upper and lower oil chambers, the damper device being adapted to damp the relative movements of a chassis and a wheel support member, the damper device is characterized in that it is provided with a variable throttle mechanism interposed between the upper and lower oil chambers and operable to increase its degree of restriction in proportion to the rise of pressure in the oil passage or oil chamber of the power steering device. This simply constructed device is obtained at a low cost and enables the damping force to vary continuously without use of sensors and processor.

Abstract: An improved power steering device which has a pinion shaft connected with a steering wheel, a rack rod which is connected with steerable wheels and whose rack is in mesh with the pinion of the pinion shaft in the gear box, a power cylinder for hydraulically actuating the rack rod, and a changeover valve for selectively connecting the first and second hydraulic chambers of the power cylinder with the hydraulic pressure source and the oil reservoir. The pinion shaft is rotatably supported in the oscillating cage which is rotatably mounted on the gear box in a manner such that the axis of the oscillating cage is offset a certain distance from the axis of the pinion shaft, whereby the oscillating cage rotates about its axis when the steering torque is applied to the pinion shaft. The oscillating cage is connected with the changeover valve so that the latter is actuated by the rotary movement of the oscillating cage.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for vehicle equipped with a power steering system, the steering mechanism including a resilient element, such as a torsion bar, which is interposed in a path of torque transmission between a steering wheel and a power steering unit which provides an increased steering reactive force in proportion to vehicle speed. The steering mechanism includes a damper arrangement disposed between two relatively rotatable members which are operably associated with each other through the resilient element. The damper arrangement attenuates torsional vibrations of a first one of the relatively rotatable members disposed on the side of the steering wheel, such vibrations being caused by the interposed resilient element and the moment of inertia of the steering wheel.

Abstract: An improved power steering device which has a pinion shaft connected with a steering wheel, a rack rod which is connected with steerable wheels and whose rack is in mesh with the pinion of the pinion shaft in the gear box, a power cylinder for hydraulically actuating the rack rod, and a changeover valve for selectively connecting the first and second hydraulic chambers of the power cylinder with the hydraulic pressure source and the oil reservoir. The pinion shaft is rotatably supported in the oscillating cage which is rotatably mounted on the gear box in a manner such that the axis of the oscillating cage is offset a certain distance from the axis of the pinion shaft, whereby the oscillating cage rotates about its axis when the steering torque is applied to the pinion shaft. The oscillating cage is connected with the changeover valve so that the latter is actuated by the rotary movement of the oscillating cage.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus including a reaction control valve operable to be opened by a force proportional to a speed of a vehicle, and to be closed under a pressure in a reaction chamber. The pressure of a source of hydraulic pressure or a pressure proportional to the pressure of the hydraulic pressure source is applied so as to open the reaction control valve even when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. Thus, a steering reactive force, which would otherwise be limited at the predetermined speed of the vehicle, is controlled so as to be proportional at a proper ratio to a resistance from a road as it increases, thereby assuring more accurate steering of a vehicle.

Abstract: A device including a torsion bar rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame transversely thereof and a pair of rock arms extending integrally from the opposite ends of the torsion bar at right angles thereto and connected with a right and a left wheel, respectively. An abutment arm is fixed to the torsion bar at the middle thereof and engageable with a stop pad provided on the vehicle frame, when either or both of the wheels are moved down, to restrain further downward movement thereof. Thus, the spring rate of air springs associated with the respective wheels is in effect increased as the loads thereon are reduced, particularly in a lower load region.

Abstract: A wheel suspension apparatus in which respective knuckles of a pair of left and right wheels are supported on a frame of the vehicle body through respective radius rods extending forwardly and respective shock absorbers extending upwardly, the knuckles being pivotably connected to respective swingable lower arms extending inwardly and interconnected at their inner ends to form a transversely extending integral rigid shaft which is supported on the vehicle body frame through a Panhard rod.