Abstract: A fluid pump has a rotary pressure generator means rotatingly driven by a power unit, such as an automotive engine, and variable of output pressure depending upon rotation speed of the power unit. The pressurized fluid output from the pressure generator means is supplied to a high pressure chamber which is connected to an external hydraulic device, such as an automotive steering device, via a high pressure path and a supply line. The supply line is connected to a high pressure path via a pressure regulating path. The pressure regulating path is so designed as to provide flow resistance which increases according to increasing of the fluid pressure supplied to the supply line from the high pressure path. This makes pressure variation gradient at the supply line smaller than that in the high pressure path.

Abstract: A power-assist device for an automotive steering system employs an easy-to-assemble hydraulic pressure control valve to compensate for differential forces on opposite sides of an actuating piston in an unbalanced hydraulic cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into first and second working chambers which are each connected to a hydraulic pump and a return reservoir via first and second spool valves, respectively. The spool valves are actuated axially by a torsion bar connected to the stub shaft of the steering column, so that they reciprocate axially within bores through the valve body as the steering wheel is turned back and forth. Lands on the spool valves oppose slightly larger lands the bores to define orifices which control the rates of hydraulic supply and drain to and from the working chambers of the cylinder.

Abstract: A variable-delivery vane-type rotary compressor including receiving means for defining a space for rotatably receiving a disc-shaped rotary closure member, which is associated with one of the end openings of a by-pass passage, within the end wall of a compression chamber. The receiving means may also be provided on the peripheral wall of the compression chamber. The bearing means is provided between the rotary closure member and the end wall of the compression chamber.

Abstract: In a pressure-diecast light-alloy piston for internal combustion engines, which piston comprises shaped fibrous bodies which are partly embedded in at least one of the piston head, ring zone, piston pin bosses and skirt of the piston, which bodies comprise short ceramic fibers, lying in a common plane and in said plane having a random orientation, the improvement wherein the piston (1) is made of a high-temperature magnesium alloy, the piston skirt at least on its sliding surfaces has a chemically applied or electrodeposited metallic sliding layer (3) which has a thickness of about 10 to 30 .mu.m and a hardness of about 740 to 850 HV.sub.0.01, and the inside surface of the piston is coated with a thin plastic paint layer (2) or an anodized magnesium oxide layer.

Abstract: A variable-delivery vane-type rotary compressor including receiving means for defining a space for rotatably receiving a disc-shaped rotary closure member, which is associated with one of the end openings of a by-pass passage, within the end wall of a compression chamber. The receiving means may also be provided on the peripheral wall of the compression chamber. The bearing means is provided between the rotary closure member and the end wall of the compression chamber.

Abstract: A variable-delivery vane-type rotary compressor includes passage means for defining a by-pass passage establishing communication between an aspirator chamber and a compression chamber, the by-pass passage having end openings exposed to the aspirator chamber and the compression chamber; and control means for mechanically controlling the amount of fluid by-passed from the compression chamber to the aspirator chamber through the passage means in accordance with pressure in the aspirator chamber and a discharge chamber.

Abstract: An automotive suspension system employs a pressure sensor means designed for monitoring fluid pressure in a fluid chamber of shock absorber to be compressed during piston bounding stroke. Variable suspension characteristics to vary suspension mode between HARD mode and SOFT mode so that suspension mode is normally set in SOFT mode and switched into HARD mode when the peak value of variation rate of the output of the sensor means is detected. The suspension system is provided a deadband for maintaining the suspension mode unchanged even when the peak of variation rate is detected.

Abstract: The pressure prevailing in a variable volume chamber which controls the compression ratio developed by a piston, is used control the movement of a valve which regulates the supply and draining of the chamber. During high load the high pressure is used to drain the chamber while under light load the lower pressure permits the chamber to be supplied with hydraulic fluid in a manner which tends to fill the same during induction phases and the like when the pressure in the cylinder is low.

Abstract: A variable-delivery vane-type rotary compressor includes means for controlling discharge by-passed from an actuating chamber and an inhalator chamber by changing area of opening provided between a front plate and a cam ring. The means can control discharge by rotation of a disc having at least one by-pass opening. The disc can rotate in accordance with signals produced from at least one sensor.

Abstract: To induce high compression engine operation hydraulic fluid is fed into a variable volume chamber defined between an outer piston and an inner one which is reciprocatively disposed therein via a supply passage which includes a one-way valve. When low compression engine operation is required the pressure supplied to a valve chamber in which a spool valve is disposed is increased to the point whereat the spool valve moves to a position wherein the supply passage is closed and a drain and transfer passages are opened. The drain passage leads directly to the cylinder bore so as to enable the hydraulic fluid in the variable volume chamber to be vented unrestrictedly. The transfer passage permits a small amount of hydraulic fluid to flow through the variable volume chamber to the drain passage in a manner which cools the same and prevents degradation of the hydraulic fluid retained in the one-way valve and the like.

Abstract: In order to ensure a reliable body earth and insulate a capacitance type position sensor from external noise, an electrically conductive tube is insulatingly mounted within an electrically conductive housing. The capacitance developed between the tube and a piston rod which is reciprocally arranged therein is measured while the rod and the conductive body are electrically connected. By soundly grounding the rod a secure ground for the housing is established.

Abstract: A clutch disc consists of a generally annular drive body connectable to an engine side and rotatably movably connected to a generally annular driven body connected to a vehicle drive line. The drive body is formed with a plurality of radially inwardly extending drive side arms. The driven body is formed with a plurality of radially outwardly extending driven side arms. A fluid chamber to be filled with a hydraulic fluid is formed between each drive side arm and each driven side arm. An orifice is formed between the inner periphery of the drive body and the radially outer-most portion of each driven side arm to provide a flow resistance to the fluid flowing between the adjacent fluid chambers, thereby effectively damping torque fluctuation transmitted from the engine side.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering gear structure for a vehicle including a rack housed within a cylinder and driven by means of a pinion shaft, comprises an annular piston received with suitable axial clearance in an annular groove defined by three surfaces, namely the end face of one end of the rack, a seating surface of a head of a bolt screwed into a boss projecting from the end of the rack, and the outer periphery of the boss itself. An elastic annular seal member is interposed between the inner periphery of the piston and the outer periphery of the boss.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering gear structure for a vehicle including a rack housed within a cylinder driven by means of a pinion shaft, comprising: a bolt having a threaded portion screwed in a threaded hole formed in one end face of the rack and a shoulder linked integrally with the threaded portion and smaller in diameter than the rack but greater in diameter than the threaded portion; and a piston housed within a groove formed by the shoulder of the bolt, the seating surface of the bolt head, and the end face of the rack, with clearances with respect to the groove in the axial and radial directions.

Abstract: A variable-damping-force shock absorber such that the damping force determined through an orifice selected by an orifice adjuster according to the driver's preference can further automatically be increased during extension for improvement in road-holding ability and decreased during compression for improvement in riding comfort. The shock absorber according to the present invention comprises an annular member formed with an orifice and a disk valve disposed on top of the annular member. During extension, the disk valve is closed for allowing fluid to by-pass through an orifice of the annular member; during compression, the disk valve is opened for additionally allowing fluid to by-pass through the annular member. Further, since the various elements for adjusting the damping force are completely housed within the piston rod, it is possible to increase the stroke of the piston rod.

Abstract: A fuel filter is disposed in a fuel supply line connecting a fuel tank to a fuel injection pump of a diesel engine, and provided with a fuel passage through which a warmed overflown fuel from the fuel injection pump is supplied to the upstream side of a filter element of the fuel filter. A check valve is disposed in the fuel passage of the fuel filter and adapted to be openable to allow the warmed fuel to flow through the fuel passage. Additionally, a bimetal element is disposed to be operatively connectable with the check valve to cause the check valve to open in response to the temperature of the fuel within the fuel filter.

Abstract: In manufacturing a DC motor body (1) including a motor magnet (2), conventionally, a magnetized magnet (2) is fitted to one by one to the cylindrical molding core (11) and a motor body is injection-molded within a cavity formed between a motor body forming mold (10) and a cylindrical molding core (11) to which the magnet is attached. Therefore, the magnet should previously be molded and stocked before molding the motor body, thus not being applicable to mass-production processes. To overcome the above problems, the motor magnet (2) and the motor body (1) are molded in sequence in accordance with two separate molding steps by the use of the same molding core. This method can eliminate troublesome magnetic fitting work, the need of magnet stock and enhance the dimensional precision of motor magnet, thus being applicable to mass-production process while increasing the energy transduction efficiency of the DC motor.

Abstract: In a vane pump, the cam ring must be fixed to an annular recessed portion of the housing in such a way that there exists no eccentricity between the cam ring and the rotor. To eliminate an eccentricity, a pair of semicircular grooves are formed on the inner circumference of the annular recessed portion diametrically opposed to the center thereof; a pair of semicircular grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the cam ring also diametrically opposed to the center thereof so as to provide two locating pin holes in cooperation with the two housing grooves, respectively; a pair of locating pins are pressure fitted, respectively, to the locating pin holes. Further, it is possible forcibly correct an eccentricity by selecting a locating pin having a diameter appropriately larger than that of the pin hole. The two locating pin holes are arranged in the direction of belt tension to eliminate the eccentricity due to belt tension.

Abstract: A variable-damping-force shock absorber in which the motor for rotating the orifice adjuster is housed within the cylinder and the orifice-adjuster position sensor for outputting binary coded sensor signals is incorporated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce noise generated from the motor while improving the lifetime of the motor because mud or rain water will not adhere onto the motor and to improve the precision and the response speed in rotating the orifice adjuster because the adjuster can be feedback controlled in digital fashion. Further, since the driven shaft of the motor or the reduction gear is loosely coupled with the orifice adjuster in the axial direction thereof, it is possible to reduce the torque or the size of the motor, because fluid pressure is not directly applied to the driven shaft via the orifice adjuster.

Abstract: An improved control system for electrically adjustable shock absorbers features a fault detector, a system-stop unit, and optional indicators and voltage-supply stabilization systems. The fault detector times the interval between an adjustment command from the operator and completion of the requested shock absorber adjustment, which is itself controlled by a feed-back system. If the adjustment is not completed within a predetermined period of time, the fault detector shuts down the control system via the system-stop unit and may illuminate the optional indicators. A stabilized power supply allows reliable use of the control system in hostile environments such as vehicles, and power-supply current limiting unit prevents electrical overloads in case of short-circuits or the like while facilitating detection of such electrical faults by the fault detector.