Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle includes a cylinder tube through which a piston is slidably displaced to define upper and lower chambers, a reservoir tube surrounding the cylinder tube to define a reservoir chamber, a piston rod guide member mounted in a first end portion of the cylinder tube which guides a stroke of a piston rod to which the piston is attached, a valve assembly, provided in a second end portion of said cylinder tube, for restricting fluid flow among the upper chamber, the lower chamber, and the reservoir chamber to create damping force during bounding and rebounding strokes of the piston, a seal provided in an end portion of the reservoir tube for sealing between the piston rod and the reservoir tube, and a fluid passage communicating between the valve assembly and the reservoir chamber. The fluid passage directing leak fluid from the seal of the piston rod guide member to the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine, arranged to suppress engine noise and vibration while improving the frictional resistance and seizure resistance of a piston skirt. The piston skirt of the piston is formed at its outer peripheral surface with a pair of depressions. A projection having a spherical surface is formed at the bottom surface of each depression and protrudes radially and outwardly relative to the piston skirt. A heat-resistant pad is loosely fitted in each depression and has a cylindrical inner surface which is in slidable contact with the spherical surface of the projection, so that the pad makes its swinging movement in accordance with the oscillating rotational movement of the piston body around the axis of a piston pin during the reciprocating action of the piston.

Abstract: A bearing malfunction detecting device can detect abnormal abrasion of a bearing by which a shaft is rotatably held. The detecting device comprises an annular plate coaxially and securely disposed about the shaft to rotate therewith. A wire carrier is connected to a fixed support member at a position near the annular plate. The wire carrier has a recessed head portion which spacedly receives therein an peripheral portion of the annular plate. A detecting device is used for detecting breakage of the recessed head portion.

Abstract: A variable damping force shock absorber comprises a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping field. A valve is provided to control a first flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber during compression or rebound of the shock absorber. A bypass passageway is in fluid communication with the first and second portions of the working chamber. An angularly adjustable flow restrictor is provided for regulating a second flow of damping fluid through the bypass passageway. A pressure chamber is in fluid communication with the first (or the second portion) of the working chamber and the valve. The flow restrictor is operable to regulate also a third flow of damping fluid displaced out of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A valve actuating system comprises a rocker arm supported by a rocker shaft for contacting with a first or low speed profiled cam lobe and a valve stem, a lost motion mechanism, a free cam follower and a prop. The lost motion mechanism includes a stationary portion defining a pedestal fixed to the rocker arm and a moveable portion received by the stationary portion. The free cam follower includes a cam face adapted for contacting with a second or high speed profiled cam lobe. The prop is supported by the free cam follower for movement between a first position in which the prop supports the free cam follower on the moveable portion of the lost motion mechanism and a second position in which the prop supports the free cam follower on the pedestal of the lost motion mechanism. The free cam follower has a bore and the prop has a plunger part received in the bore and cooperating with the bore defining wall for unitary rotation of the prop with the free cam follower.

Abstract: A fluid coupling of a cooling fan is for an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle and comprises labyrinth grooves defined by circular projections formed on a drive disc and a driven member, respectively. Rotating energy transmission from the engine to the cooling fan is carried out through the labyrinth grooves at which rotating energy is transmitted through an operating fluid. A plurality of passages are radially formed on the driven member to smoothly change the transmission ratio of the rotating energy by supplying the operating fluid to the outside portion of the labyrinth grooves.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump of the rotary vane type comprises a first throttle bore and a second throttle bore disposed in parallel between a pressure chamber of the pump and a delivery passage, and a variable flow throttle valve is provided which is responsive to a difference between a vane back-up pressure and a pressure within the delivery passage to vary an opening degree of the first throttle bore.

Abstract: A strut for a vehicle suspension includes a strut mount insulator including a rod mount bracket, and a shock absorber including a rod mounted to said rod mount bracket. The rod has a longitudinal axis and a sensor mount surface radially extending with respect to the longitudinal axis. The strut further includes means for providing a positive motion connection between the rod mount bracket and the rod. The positive motion connection providing means includes a load sensor pre-loaded between said sensor mount surface of the rod and the rod mount bracket of the strut mount insulator. According to the present invention, the positive motion connection providing means includes a spacer disposed between the sensor mount surface and the rod mount bracket.

Abstract: A variable damping force shock absorber has a hollow cylinder, in which is disposed a thrusting piston for defining upper and lower fluid chambers. A fluid path is defined through the piston and a piston rod for establishing fluid communication between the upper and lower fluid chambers. A first flow restrictive orifice is provided in the fluid path which first flow restrictive orifice has variable flow restriction characteristics according to a first variation characteristic in relation to a piston stroke speed. A second flow restrictive orifice is also provided in the fluid path. The second flow restrictive orifice has a variable multitude flow restriction according to a second variation characteristic in relation to the piston stroke speed, which second variation characteristic is so determined as to establish, linear variation of damping force in relation to the piston stroke speed. A communication path is formed for establishing communication between the first and second flow restrictive orifices.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for a skid control hydraulic brake system comprises a casing having a master cylinder side port and a cover having a wheey cylinder side port. The wheel cylinder side port is positioned generally between an inflow solenoid valve and an outflow solenoid valve. The inflow and outflow solenoid valves define on their upper clearances, respectively. A three dimensionally curved pipe is embedded, by molding, in the cover to conduct fluid from the clearances to the wheel cylinder side port.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper with a rod guide made by pressing a circular plate is disclosed. This rod guide includes an inner tubular portion defining a bore supporting a piston rod, an outer tubular portion extending in the same direction as the inner tubular portion does, and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the outer tubular portion. A ring is connected between an inwardly turned axial end portion of an outer tube and the flange portion. An annular sealing element retainer is disposed in the ring. The ring provides a transmission path of a force, thus preventing the sealing element retainer from being subject to the force.

Abstract: A flow control valve unit for controlling flow rate of a pressurized working fluid flowing from a hydraulic pump to an actuator of a power steering device includes a spool chamber, a spool valve, an inlet port, a discharge port, a drain port and a notch. The spool chamber has a first chamber portion for receiving the fluid through the inlet port, and a second chamber portion which is communicated with the discharge port. The spool valve is movable from a first position in which the drain port is fully closed to a second position in which the drain port is partially opened. The second position defines first and second gaps respectively between a first land portion of the spool valve and an edge of the drain port and between the first land portion and an edge of the notch for allowing the fluid to flow from the first chamber portion to the drain port through two passages.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a spring disc to close one end of a fluid path defined through a piston for generating damping force in response to piston stroke in one of bounding and rebounding direction. A coil spring is also provided for providing additional spring force for flow restriction and thus increasing damping force to be generated in response to the piston stroke in one of the bounding and rebounding directions. The coil spring is so oriented to become active in response to a piston stroke in a magnitude greater than a predetermined value and greater than a piston stroke criteria which defines neutral range of the piston stroke.

Abstract: A rotor-type oil pump for supplying lubricating oil to an automotive internal combustion engine. The oil pump is comprised of inner and outer rotors which are rotatably disposed inside a pump casing. The inner rotor is formed with an external gear partly in mesh with an internal gear of the outer rotor. The inner rotor is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft forming part of an engine crankshaft and formed at its inner peripheral surface with at least three flat surface portions which are located at equal intervals in the peripheral direction. The at least three flat surface portions of the inner rotor are fittingly contactable respectively with at least three flat surface portions formed at the peripheral surface of the drive shaft, thereby preventing the inner rotor from shifting radially upon receiving a biasing force (due to a pressure differential) directing to an oil inlet chamber side.

Abstract: A rotary-vane pump has a pump outlet, a pressure chamber of the pump, a flow control valve, and a throttle disposed between the pump outlet and the flow control valve. According to the present invention, the throttle is formed by an insert which is disposed in a pressure passage between the pump outlet and the flow control valve. Specifically, the pressure passage is disposed between the pump outlet and the pressure chamber, and the insert is hollow cylindrical and has an axial bore having one axial end portion disposed on the pressure passage. The insert is disposed in the pressure passage at an angle approximately 90.degree. in relation to the inflow direction of pressure medium in the passage.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system comprises an electromagnetic normally open inflow valve fluidly disposed between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, and a hydraulically shiftable plunger valve fluidly disposed between the electromagnetic inflow valve and master cylinder. The plunger valve is responsive to hydraulic fluid forced out of the master cylinder for establishing a first state wherein flow of hydraulic fluid forced into the wheel cylinder is restricted or a second state wherein hydraulic fluid forced out of the master cylinder into the wheel cylinder is unrestricted.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a variable valve timing and/or valve lift system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus is easy to mount, install and adjust within a space available over a cylinder head of the engine. The apparatus comprises a rocker shaft, a first cam, a second cam, and a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft. The rocker arm includes a first cam follower arranged to engage the first cam and a second cam follower arranged to engage the second cam. The second cam follower is pivotally mounted on the rocker arm. A hydraulically operated locking bolt is movable from an unlocking position to a locking position. In the locking position, the locking bolt is received in bores formed in the rocker arm and in the second cam follower to establish a positive motion state wherein the rocker arm moves with said second cam follower as a unit.

Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. This system includes a sprocket assembly in driven connection with a crankshaft of the engine, a camshaft assembly disposing cams for opening and closing intake- and/or exhaust valves, and a ring gear assembly functioning as a piston slidably disposed between the sprocket assembly and the camshaft assembly for modifying a phase angle relation between the sprocket assembly and the camshaft assembly. The system further includes first and second pressure chambers for exerting fluid pressure on the ring gear assembly to be displaced over a range of first, second, and third positions which correspond to phase angle relations respectively suitable for low, intermediate, and high engine load levels.

Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine includes a hollow sprocket rotatably supported on a camshaft, and a rotary member housed within the sprocket and rigidly connected to the camshaft for rotation therewith. The rotary member has a pair of radially extending portions, on which a pair of gears are rotatably supported. The sprocket has an internal toothed circumference which is engageable with the gears to cause the gears to rotate in accordance with rotation of the sprocket for causing relative angular displacement of the rotary member to the sprocket. The valve timing control system further includes a pair of stopper pins for regulating relative angular displacement of the intermediate rotary member to the sprocket within a predetermined maximum range, and a clutch mechanism for restricting rotation of the gears.

Abstract: A lock-up torque converter for an automatic transmission includes a pump fixedly connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a converter cover connected to a converter output shaft during a lock-up condition. A shock absorbing member connects the pump and the converter cover to be elastic in the rotating direction of the converter output shaft. Accordingly, both fluctuations of the engine speed and of the output shaft speed are absorbed by the pump and the converter cover, respectively and therefore the torsional vibrations and the noises generated in the passenger compartment are largely suppressed.