Abstract: A hydrostatic continuously variable transmission comprising a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder, a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder and a hydraulic closed circuit between the pump and motor, wherein the pump cylinder and motor cylinder are connected integrally rotatably to form a transmission member, one of input and output sections of the transmission being formed on the outer periphery of one of the cylinders and the other of the sections being formed by a transmission shaft which relatively rotatably carries the cylinders. The hydraulic closed circuit includes groups of first and second distributor valves for controlling transfer of working oil between the pump and motor through oil passages and first and second valve driving means for driving these groups of valves are arranged such that one is inside and the other is outside of a cylinder block formed of the pump and motor cylinders. This allows a transmission to have a compact size and a high industrial utility.

Abstract: A reverse gear mechanism in a vehicle gear transmission having a first shaft, a second shaft, and gear trains associated with the first and second shafts for transmitting the torque from one of the first and second shafts to the other. The reverse gear mechanism includes a reverse drive gear supported on the first shaft, a reverse driven gear supported on the second shaft, and an idle gear assembly interposed in meshing relation between the reverse drive and driven gears. The idle gear assembly is composed of a third shaft, a first idle gear supported on the third shaft and meshing with the reverse drive gear, a second idle gear supported on the third gear and meshing with the reverse driven gear, and a clutch unit interposed between the first and second idle gears for limiting the torque transmitted between the first and second idle gears to a prescribed value. The components of the power transmission mechanism can be designed reasonably and advantageously.

Abstract: The transmission ratio of an automotive continuously variable transmission is controlled on the basis of the difference between a target rotational speed of the engine which is preset according to an indication of the driver's intention of acceleration or deceleration and a detected rotational speed of the engine. The gain of the rate of change of the transmission ratio is reduced as the detected rotational speed of the engine becomes higher, and the gain of the rate of change of the transmission ratio is increased as the detected rotational speed of the engine becomes lower. Alternatively, the gain of the rate of change of the transmission ratio is of a relatively small value when the detected rotational speed of the engine is equal to or higher than a preset speed, and the gain of the rate of change of the transmission ratio is of a relatively large value when the detected rotational speed of the engine is lower than said preset speed.

Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle comprising an acceleration sensor for sensing the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle wherein the acceleration sensor is a piezoelectric sensor; signal processing circuit coupled to the piezoelectric sensor for generating a first output when the vehicle deceleration is greater than a predetermined amount. A diagnostic pulse generator is coupled to the piezoelectric sensor for applying a diagnostic pulse to the piezoelectric sensor for distorting the piezoelectric sensor, thereby causing the piezoelectric sensor to generate an electrical output. The electrical output is applied to the signal processing circuit wherein the signal processing circuit produces a second output in response thereto.

Abstract: Energy absorbing structure provided under steering column cover between the fixing hardware for the column and a potentially colliding driver's knee.

Abstract: A pedal switch assembly for an automobile is provided with two switch mechanisms so that change-over signals indicative of command to change-over first and second control devices used in the automobile into their selected operational states are produced sequentially as a pedal for operating the automobile is depressed. The pedal switch assembly comprises an actuator operatively associated with the pedal, a first switch mechanism adapted to be operated by the actuator when the amount of pedal depressed exceeds a first set value thereby producing the change-over signal for the first control device, and a second switch mechanism adapted to be operated by the actuator when the amount of pedal depressed exceeds a second set value larger than the first set value thereby producing the change-over signal for the second control device. This enables the change-over control of the individual control devices to be performed at their respective proper timings in operative association with the depression of the pedal.

Abstract: The method of the present invention improves the damping property of the yaw motion of the vehicle by feeding back a detected yaw rate value in a dynamic sense for compensating the front wheel steer angle so as to increase the damping coefficient of the yaw motion of the vehicle. By controlling the front wheel steer angle by accounting for not only the proportional term of the steering wheel input angle but also the derivative term which is proportional to the steering wheel input angular speed, in the feed-forward control of the front wheel steer angle in relation with the steering operation by the driver, and by appropriately varying the control parameters of the yaw rate feed-back and the steering wheel input feed-forward, the yaw response of the vehicle can be made proportional to the steering wheel input, and the response delay in the yaw rate against the steering wheel input can be reduced to substantially zero.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot having a swingable arm, a wrist mechanism mounted on the arm, and a running mechanism for displacing the robot in a prescribed direction. The wrist mechanism is coupled to an attachment member by an actuator having a fluid cylinder substantially parallel to the arm. When a component to be attached to a workpiece is held by a jig mounted on the wrist mechanism, the fluid cylinder is actuated to lift the wrist mechanism in order to correct the jig for the distance it is lowered due to the weight of the component. The wrist mechanism includes a bracket mounted on the arm by a support shaft, the bracket and the support shaft having fluid passages for supplying fluid under pressure to a torque actuator disposed in the bracket. The running mechanism is disposed in a pit defined in a floor on which the robot apparatus is located.

Abstract: A device for retaining an attachment member having an engagement portion for engagement with an outer circumferential surface of a rod-like member, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a main part of the attachment member with some play; an elastic member for retaining the main part at its first position for keeping the rod-like member and the engagement portion from interfering with each other when the rod-like member is brought into a preliminary position for engagement with the engagement portion; and a pressure unit for bringing the attachment member to its second position for engaging the engagement portion with the rod-like member against a biasing force of the elastic member. When the attachment member is placed in the receptacle, it is held in its first position for not causing any interference between the engagement portion and the rod-like member by being supported by the elastic member. The rod-like member is then placed at a prescribed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic assembly system, without using an expensive sensor, to enable an assembling jig to be easily positioned with respect to a particular portion of a car body to which parts are to be assembled, in order to facilitate assembling of the parts while reducing production cost. The basic car-body positioning arrangement preferably includes a reference hole, used for positioning, and a seating piece, used for jacking-up the car body.

Abstract: A plurality of thermoplastic sheets are laminated into a laminated assembly, which is then pressed into a laminated assembly. First, the sheets to be laminated in one cycle are heated while the sheets are arranged in a juxtaposed relationship in the order in which they are to be laminated. The heated sheets are penetrated with needles to detachably hold the sheets while keeping the sheets in the juxtaposed relationship. A support member which supports the laminated assembly is moved below the sheets held and relatively to the sheets in a direction in which the sheets are arranged in the juxtaposed relationship, the sheets are released from the needles onto the support member to stack the sheets thereon into the laminated assembly while the support member is being moved relatively to the sheets. The support is then delivered into a shaping die assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle steering lock device mounted to an automotive vehicle, in which a rotor in a cylinder lock is rotated to a lock position by the operation relevant to the rotor, comprises switching means for detecting a specific pushing operation to the rotor, etc. and switching means for detecting the situation of a shift lever to a parking position or not, in which rotation of the rotor to the locking position is allowed or inhibited in accordance with signals from both of the switching means and which enable safe parking on a downward slope and can prevent erroneous steering lock operation during down hill running without engine driving.

Abstract: A steel composition for gears, consisting of: 0.10-0.30% by weight of C; less than 0.15% by weight of Si; no more than 1.5% by weight of Mn; no more than 0.015% by weight of P; no more than 0.005% by weight of S; 0.50-1.50% by weight of Cr; 0.005-0.06% by weight of Pb; and the balance being Fe and inevitably included impurities.

Abstract: Utility vehicles having four wheels, one or more seats, a steering column and a forward mounting power unit. The devices are shown to be either two of four wheel drive. Extending from behind the rear wheels to a position behind the steering column, a flat floor provides substantial storage area. When two seats are employed, the driver seat is displaced to one side of the vehicle and racks extend fore-and-aft in the same plane. The passenger's seat back may be lowered to further define that plane. The engine is mounted directly between the front wheels for compactness and protection.

Abstract: A steering control system wherein a light beam emitted from the moving vehicle and reflected by plural reflecting means disposed apart from and around the moving vehicle, is received by a beam receiver means mounted on the vehicle. A current position of the vehicle is detected based on the output of the beam receiver means. The steering angle of the vehicle is fixed at a predetermined value when the moving vehicle is at a switching point where a straight traveling course is to be changed into a turning course, and is released when it is detected that any one of azimuthes of the light-reflecting means viewed from the moving vehicle substantially coincides with a predetermined azimuthal angle, or has exceeded the predetermined azimuthal angle.