Abstract: A gear-shift control apparatus comprises: a shift-hold-level-calculation unit for calculating, in accordance with operation of a driver, a shift hold level that varies between 0% representing a complete automatic transmission state and 100% representing a complete manual transmission state; and a gear-shift processing unit for performing gear-shift control processing for an automatic transmission in accordance with the shift hold level calculated by the shift-hold-level-calculation unit.

Abstract: In a parking assist apparatus that assists with moving, by automatic steering, a vehicle from an arbitrary stopping position to a target parking position set by the driver, a setting portion (i.e., a parking assist ECU) sets both a path from the stopping position to the target parking position and a steering operation necessary to bring the vehicle along that path. When this path cannot be set with the steering angle in the stopping position set as the initial steering angle, and when the path can be set with another steering angle as the initial steering angle, an instruction portion (i.e., a monitor or a speaker) instructs the driver to turn the steering wheel to this other steering angle.

Abstract: A vehicle running condition judgment device for accurately detecting a change in a road surface condition and a vehicle's limit running condition. With substitution of respective tire characteristics and a detected state quantity into a vehicle motion model, vehicle slip angles are estimated for respective assumed road surface conditions. Based on the current state quantity and the last estimated vehicle slip angle, currently estimated vehicle slip angles for the respective assumed road surface conditions are compensated. A differential operation section calculates an estimation value of a vehicle slip angular velocity for each of the assumed road surface conditions based on the compensated vehicle slip angles for the respective assumed road surface conditions. Meanwhile, an operation section calculates a detection value of a vehicle slip angular velocity based on the detected state quantity.

Abstract: An antilock brake system (ABS) control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle, having a slope identifier for determining the drive status of the vehicle along a slope before an ABS control is started, and a controller that changes the usual ABS control to a control in which the ABS control is restricted on condition that the state of the drive along the slope has been decided, whereby the braking distance of the vehicle during the drive along the slope can be shortened.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusing small articles of nonferrous metal comprises an molten metal chamber, for forming and containing molten metal, having burners for fusing a raw material such as ingot etc., and a fusing chamber disposed adjacent to the molten metal chamber for fusing small particles of the nonferrous metal. The molten metal discharged from the molten metal chamber is circulated through a swirl generation chamber and a suction passage and is introduced into a pump and discharged into to the molten metal chamber. The small particles of nonferrous metal are introduced into the upper side of a swirl generation chamber, in which a swirl stream is generated, mixed with the molten metal while dispersed in the molten metal and delivered to the molten metal chamber.

Abstract: A rotary actuator is disclosed which changes the angular position of the rotary valve which is used to determine the attenuation presented by a shock absorber. The rotary actuator is disposed within a cylindrical piston rod of the shock absorber, and comprises a power transmission mechanism for driving the rotary valve for rotation between a first and a second position within a given range, a d.c. motor for driving the mechanism, a first stop mechanism for selectively stopping the rotation of the motor at a third position which is situated centrally within the given range, and a solenoid assembly for making the first stop mechanism operative. These components are disposed within the cylindrical piston rod in the sequence named from below to above. The power transmission mechanism includes a second stop mechanism which prevents the rotary valve from rotating outside a first and a second location which determine the given range.

Abstract: A link connecting structure includes a first and a second link member, a pin disposed between the two link members and having a tapered portion which engages with a complementary tapered hole in the second link member, and a resilient member for always urging the first link member in the direction of the second link member.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the height of a cushion pad in the front part of the seat cushion of a seat, for example, for a vehicle, which has a hard plate disposed laterally of the seat cushion under the cushion pad, and a rotating mechanism connected to a shaft disposed under the cushion pad for rockably moving the front edge of the hard plate elevationally up and down between a position in the vicinity of the seat cushion frame and an upper position remote from the seat cushion frame. With this connection, the device can simultaneously adjust the height and the hardness of the cushion pad in response to the occupant's individual favorite value.

Abstract: Construction of a door frame in a motor vehicle including a first channel for holding a door weather strip and a second channel contiguous to the first channel on the outboard side for holding a door glass run. The first and the second channels are formed by a continuously bending plate member. A bottom portion of the first channel is a double-ply structure having a rear surface directed toward a compartment and an outer end section. The second channel is formed by a pair of bent extensions extended in two directions, thereby separating each other from the outer end section of the bottom portion. The pair of bent extensions are arc-welded at respective bending corner portions positioned along the outer end section of the bottom portion of the first channel, to integrally connect the pair of bent extensions. The door glass run is mounted along the pair of bent extensions substantially covering and concealing the bending corner portions.

Abstract: A heat-rest mounted at the upper edge of a seat back of a seat for a vehicle. The head-rest has stays in upright positions extending between upper and lower ends on upstanding brackets provided on both sides on the upper edge of the seat back frame, and a locking unit for locking the head-rest at desired height. Thus, the mounting strength of the head-rest can be reinforced while providing a good appearance without exposing the stays.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electric zig zag sewing machine comprising a plurality of stacked pattern cams mounted on a rotation axis, each of the cams bearing different information of corresponding pattern of stitches, a cam follower mounted on a rod for movement in the direction parallel to said axis, a plurality of select switches for selecting any one of the pattern cams and electric control circuit arrangement for moving the cam follower to a position corresponding to any one of the cams selected by one of the select switches.

Abstract: A resilient seal cap is coupled over an upper opening of a reservoir casing to define an interior air space with the upper surface of brake fluid in the casing. The seal cap is formed integral with a first annular lip co-operating with the inner wall of the casing to provide an inlet check valve permitting the flow of air into the interior air space and with a second annular lip co-operating with a valve plate secured to the center of the casing to provide an outlet check valve permitting the flow of air out from the interior air space to the exterior.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disc brake for a vehicle comprising a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of friction pads disposed to face, respectively, both working surfaces of a brake disk to be rotated integrally with a wheel axis of the vehicle, a loosely fitted annular caliper plate disposed around the hydraulic mechanism and the friction pads and a pair of torque receiving arms arranged between the pads along the direction parallel to the wheel axis. A bridge member is spanned between free ends of the arms. An anti-rattle spring is disposed between the bridging member and the caliper plate.