Abstract: A semiconductor type acceleration sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit board on which a semiconductor type detector chip section is mounted. The detector chip is formed with openings therethrough overlapping an opening formed in a rear-side base plate of the flexible printed circuit board such that the detector chip section is supported only by a bridge portion. In case of excess input in an acceleration direction, elastic deformation of the bridge portion and a bending portion of the flexible printed circuit board provide absorption of the excess input for protecting the detector chip section.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is provided in which a movement of a sprung mass velocity is monitored, when the magnitude of the sprung mass velocity is below a predetermined threshold value, a control unit outputs a control signal to a pulse motor to vary the position of an adjuster so that one of extension and compression stroke sides of a position member of a shock absorber, whose direction is the same as that of the sprung mass velocity provides a high damping coefficient, and when the magnitude of the sprung mass velocity is above the predetermined threshold value, a control constant for the damping coefficient is changed toward a high damping sensitivity range until the sprung mass velocity exceeding the predetermined threshold value is reduced below another predetermined threshold value, a magnitude of the other predetermined threshold value being lower than that of the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the damping coefficient of shock absorbers which are associated with the road wheels of the vehicle, produces control signals using one or more of a bouncing rate, a pitching rate and a rolling rate value which is filtered out of a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of acceleration sensors which are each located in proximity of a shock absorber. The control signal can be modified using the outputs of weight sensors which are used to derive the relative velocities of the road wheels with respect to the vehicle body.

Abstract: As a torque transmitting member, an annular resilient disc interconnects a crankshaft and an annular flywheel. The crankshaft has an axially extending cylindrical wall in opposed and spaced relationship to an inner peripheral wall of the annular flywheel. For reducing vibrations of annular resilient disc, an elastic annular body has an inner peripheral wall fixed to the crankshaft and an outer peripheral wall opposed to the inner peripheral wall of the flywheel. A heat insulating ring or heat insulating pieces are provided to reduce transmission heat from the flywheel to the elastic annular body. Alternatively, a heat insulating space or spaces may be provided.

Abstract: A check valve assembly has a seat plate formed with a first opening, a check plate with a valve section defining a second opening, and an orifice plate between the seat plate and the check plate. The orifice plate has a third opening covered by the valve section of the check plate and a fourth opening communicating the second opening in the check plate and with a cutout section connecting the third and fourth openings. The seat plate covers the fourth opening and the cutout section in the orifice plate.

Abstract: As a torque transmitting member, an annular resilient disc interconnects a crankshaft and an annular flywheel. The crankshaft has an axially extending cylindrical wall in opposed and spaced relationship to an inner peripheral wall of the annular flywheel. For reducing vibrations of annular resilient disc, an elastic annular body has an inner peripheral wall fixed to the crankshaft and an outer peripheral wall opposed to the inner peripheral wall of the flywheel. A heat insulating ring or heat insulating pieces are provided to reduce transmission heat from the flywheel to the elastic annular body. Alternatively, a heat insulating space or spaces may be provided.

Abstract: There is proposed an assembly for damping vibrations in a torque transmitting arrangement between an engine and an input part of a transmission. The assembly comprises a first flywheel connected to the engine, and a second flywheel connectable to the input part of the transmission. The first and second flywheels are rotatable relative to each other. At least one damper includes spring means operative to resiliently oppose rotation of the flywheels relative to each other. The assembly also comprises at least one lock-up mechanism including centrifugal force responsive means operative to prevent rotation of the flywheels relative to each other after the damper has become idle when rotation of the engine is lower than a predetermined speed value.

Abstract: A valve timing control system includes of a cylindrical sprocket driven through a timing chain by a crankshaft of the engine. An arm is fixed to one end section of the camshaft and located inside the sprocket in a manner to extend generally diametrically. First and second plungers are slidably disposed respectively in first and second cylindrical bores formed in the sprocket. A hydraulic pressure chamber is defined between the bottom portion of each plunger and the bottom wall of the cylindrical bore so as to be supplied with a hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pressure source. Each plunger is projectable toward the arm upon supply of the hydraulic pressure to the corresponding hydraulic pressure chamber thereby to cause the arm to rotate relative to the sprocket. Projections of the first and second plungers induce the rotational movements of the arm in opposite directions relative to the sprocket, respectively.

Abstract: An electromagnetic rotary actuator includes a rotor and a stator with two bearings. The rotor, including a plurality of permanent magnets, is arranged between an annular disk of non-permanent magnetic material including a plurality of coils on cores and another annular disk of magnetic material. The rotor includes a central hub arranged between the tow bearings. The actuator includes a resilient washer positioned between one of the bearings and the central hub for eliminating a thrust clearance between the central hub and the other bearing.

Abstract: In a piston, a circumferential groove for a piston ring, a knock pin being inserted in a bore set radially relative to the piston ring groove. A head end of the knock pin protrudes into a space defined by the piston ring groove for interposing between ends of a piston ring for preventing turning, or rotation, thereof. Means for preventing mechanical interference between the walls of the piston ring groove and the head end of the knock pin is provided.

Abstract: An intake- and/or exhaust-valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine comprises a timing belt pulley having a driven connection with an engine crankshaft, a camshaft journaled by a bearing member mounted on a cylinder head and receiving torque transmitted from the timing belt pulley, a ring gear mechanism for adjusting a relative phase angle between the timing belt pulley and the camshaft. The valve timing control system includes a first hydraulic circuit provided for drivingly controlling the ring gear mechanism via fluid pressure depending upon the operating state of the engine and a second hydraulic circuit provided for lubricating frictional surfaces between the bearing member and the camshaft. The first and second hydraulic circuits are separated from each other. The valve timing control system includes a directional control valve connected to the first hydraulic circuit for switching the direction of working fluid flowing through the first hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: An intake- and/or exhaust-valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine comprises a ring gear disposed between a rotating member having a driven connection with an engine crankshaft and a camshaft for changing a relative phase angle between the rotating member and the camshaft so as to control intake- and/or exhaust-valve timing of the engine depending on the operating state of the engine. The valve control system includes at least one pair of friction surfaces for creating friction torque between the rotating member and the camshaft so as to suppress a rapid change in relative rotational speed of the camshaft to the rotating member, and a spring for biasing one of the frictional surfaces to the other.

Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft driven by the engine and a camshaft adapted to drive at least one valve. The valve timing control apparatus comprises a rotary member drivingly connected to the crankshaft for rotation with rotation of the crankshaft, and a coupling mechanism for coupling the rotary member to the camshaft to transmit rotation of the rotary member to the camshaft. The rotary member has at least one rotary disc rotatably supported thereon, the rotary disc having a peripheral surface. A pair of friction members is provided on the opposite sides of the rotary member.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering rear wheels of a four-wheel steering vehicle is provided. This apparatus includes a first housing which has an operating rod displaceable along the longitudinal center line thereof for steering the rear wheels, a second housing which has a cam rotatably supported thereby for displacing the operating rod in a desired direction, a movable block engaging with the cam, and a stationary block mounted on the operating rod. The movable block moves along a guide rod provided in the second housing according to rotation of the cam. The stationary block transmits the movement of the movable block to the operating rod at a first angular position between the guide rod and the operating rod and blocks the transmission of the movement of the movable block at a second angular position different from the first position.

Abstract: A spring seat is disposed about a tube which forms part of a shock absorber and supported in a predetermined position thereabout. The tube is subject to press bulge formation so that a portion of the tube becomes force fitted against a portion of the spring seat. Dies can be used to induce the formation of one or more projections which prevent the spring seat from moving axially along the tube. The force fit prevents relative rotation.

Abstract: A main rocker arm which is pivotally mounted on a rocker shaft has one or more sub-rocker arms pivotally mounted thereon. The main rocker arm is arranged to synchronously open and close two poppet valves. Each of the sub-rocker arms can be selectively locked to the main one by way of hydraulically operated plunger arrangements. The main rocker arm is provided with a roller type cam follower which follows a low speed cam. The sub-rocker arms are provided with followers which engage high or very high speed cams. Lost motion springs which maintain the sub-rocker arms in contact with the cams are mounted on the main rocker arm.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement for a piston head of an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cooling channels built-in to the piston head. Cooling medium induction paths and draining paths are formed through the piston head for introducing and draining cooling medium into and from the cooling channels. A single cooling medium injection nozzle is disposed within the engine cylinder. The cooling medium injection nozzle is oriented to inject the cooling medium so that an axis of a jet flow of the cooling medium injected from the cooling medium injection nozzle is aligned with the axes of the cooling medium induction paths at different stroke positions of a piston during an engine revolution cycle.

Abstract: A valve timing control system includes a valve timing control mechanism constructed independently of the camshaft with avoiding direct engagement between a timing adjusting element and the camshaft. For enabling this, an inner cylinder is provided as an additional component. The inner cylinder is provided with an external gear teeth engaging with the internal gear teeth of a timing adjusting element. The inner cylinder is designed to be firmly secured to the camshaft by means of an axial fastening bolt. Such construction permits advance adjustment of phase relationship between the sprocket and the inner cylinder before fixing the inner cylinder on the camshaft.