Abstract: A conveying carrier is arranged to be self-propelled and move along a conveying passage having a pit formed therebelow. A track covers the top side of the pit flush with the road surface of the conveying passage. A plurality of wheels are attached to the conveying carrier with at least the front wheels being casters. A steering frame is pivotally supported on the conveying carrier and is turnable about a vertical steering axis line. A driving wheel and motor are attached to the steering frame, with the driving wheel being positioned to contact the track at a location substantially directly below the vertical steering axis line. A guide member is guided by a guide rail laid in the pit and connected to the steering frame through a slit in the widthwise center of the track. The pit is a substantially U-shaped track frame buried in the widthwise central portion.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic motor coupled to an output shaft and having a motor swash plate and a motor cylinder supporting an annular array of slidable motor plungers held in slidable contact with the motor swash plate, a distribution member integral with the motor cylinder, a hydraulic pump coupled to an input shaft in sliding contact with the distribution member and having a pump swash plate movable with the motor cylinder and a pump cylinder supporting an annular array of slidable pump plungers held in slidable contact with the pump swash plate, a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, the pump cylinder being coaxially surrounded by the motor cylinder with a hydraulically hermetic chamber defined therebetween, and a replenishing pump operatively coupled to the input shaft and connected to the closed hydraulic circuit through a replenishing oil passage.

Abstract: A direct-injection diesel engine comprising a cylinder block having a cylinder in which a piston is slidably received, a cylinder head connected to an upper surface of the cylinder block, a fuel injector nozzle mounted on the cylinder head to directly inject fuel into a combustion chamber defined between the piston and the cylinder head, and first and second independent intake ports provided in the cylinder head for introducing intake gas into the combustion chamber. An intake controller is mounted in the second intake port for bringing the second intake port into a controlled intake gas flow state in a region of low speed operation of the engine and into a normal state in a region of high speed operation of the engine. Each of the first and second intake ports are formed helically in the same direction to produce swirls in the same direction in intake gases introduced respectively through the intake ports into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated continuously variable automotive transmission includes a transmission ratio controlling member and a hydraulic actuator operatively coupled to the transmission ratio controlling member for continuously operating the transmission ratio controlling member to increase or reduce the transmission ratio of the continuously variable automotive transmission. A control valve is provided for applying a controlling hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator dependent on the difference between a first control force commensurate with an indication of the automobile driver's intention of acceleration or deceleration and a second force commensurate with the engine rotational speed, in order to change the direction in which the hydraulic actuator is operated.

Abstract: A power lawnmower having a body, a motor mounted to the body with a vertical drive shaft, a cover over the motor defining a power source chamber and a cutter blade below the body. Located on the drive shaft below the motor is a fan enclosed within a cylinder having openings therethrough. An opening in the cover admits air in to the motor chamber through an air filter. Two rows of ribs extending downwardly from the cover provide a filter cavity for receipt of the air filter in this opening. A second filter is positioned atop the motor and compressed between the motor and the cover. This air filter is retained by positioning ribs extending downwardly from the cover to the motor. An attachment mechanism mounting the blade to the drive shaft incorporates an attachment plate to which the blade is attached, a socket receiving the end of the drive shaft and two collars. A first collar is located within the socket and abuts against the end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: In order to reduce noise attendant with conventional equipment, an electric generator for a vehicle is attached to the vehicle engine by a stay arrangement that places the point of connection between the generator stator and the engine significantly radially outwardly from the stator. The stay apparatus, further, cooperatively mounts a lid plate for sealing the coupling chamber which houses the elastic coupling connected to the generator rotor shaft. A gap provided between the facing surfaces of the lid plate and the coupling chamber is filled by an elastic seal for improving the noise-damping efficiency of the apparatus. The elastic coupler of the generator and drive shafts has alternating radial fins whose interspaces are filled with resilient material.

Abstract: A method of producing a prepolymer of aromatic polythiazole from an aromatic diaminodithiol compound salt and a dicarboxylic acid derivative, comprising the step of polymerizing the aromatic diaminodithiol compound salt and the dicarboxylic acid derivative in the presence of a phosphoric acid compound at a temperature of 70.degree.-140.degree. C.

Abstract: Valve operating apparatus is disclosed in which intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine are operated by rocker arms driven by cams having different cam profiles and hydraulically operated coupling mechanisms for selectively connecting or disconnecting adjacent rocker arms to vary the operation of the valves under different engine operating conditions. Sensing means in the form of a piston displacement detecting device is included in the apparatus to monitor its operating condition.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus for a motor vehicle with steerable front and rear road wheels keeps electric power supplied to an electric motor for turning the rear road wheels, at a desired value even when the voltage of a vehicle-mounted battery for energizing the motor fluctuates. The steering control apparatus includes a battery mounted on the motor vehicle, an electric motor energizable by electric power supplied from the battery for applying power output to at least a steering mechanism for turning the rear road wheels, detecting means for detecting the voltage of the battery, and a motor control unit for controlling operation of the electric motor.

Abstract: A valve operating device for operating an intake or exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine includes a cam having a cam profile including a valve lifting portion for applying a force to open the engine valve and a base circle portion for allowing the valve to be closed, the cam profile having a valve opening point and a valve closing point between the valve lifting portion and the base circle portion, a cam follower slidably engaging the cam, and a hydraulic lash adjuster combined with the cam follower for eliminating any gap between the means and the engine valve. The base circle portion has a gradient cam surface or a combination of different gradient cam surfaces for canceling out valve-lifting radial displacement of the base circle portion.

Abstract: A controller for an automatic transmission hydraulic clutch includes a hydraulic clutch engaged by hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic pressure control valve for regulating the hydraulic pressure, and a detector for detecting a condition immediately before engagement of the hydraulic clutch based upon a change in the hydraulic pressure. A timing controller adjusts timing to change a control force in the hydraulic pressure control valve in response to detection of a condition immediately before engagement of the clutch.

Abstract: An independent wheel suspension system includes a pair of upper lateral link members and a pair of lateral link members for supporting a wheel carrier to the vehicle body. By providing a difference in elevation between the outer ends of the link members for the upper and/or the lower pair of lateral link members, an anti-dive property can be obtained. Further, by providing an appropriate inclination to the rear lower lateral link member, the tendency to form a toggle between the knuckle arm of the wheel carrier and the tie rod is reduced. Also, by making the front lateral link member more upwardly inclined than the rear lateral link member for each of the pairs, an anti-dive effect can be produced without changing the caster angle and other property of the suspension system during cornering maneuvers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a turntable-using testing apparatus suitable for use in carrying out performance test of, for example, an internal combustion engine. The apparatus has testing units radially arranged on a turntable, each testing unit having a computer, table-side connectors connected to individual computers, a transfer device provided outside the turntable for delivering an object to be tested onto and withdrawing same from one of the testing units, and ground-side connectors connectable to and disconnectable from the table-side connectors and connected to the host computer. The apparatus enables prompt transmission/reception of test data and the like, facilitates correction of troubles and/or failures, and permits mass signal transmission and reception.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced piston ring for an internal combustion engine comprised of composite body of reinforcing fiber which is long carbon fibers oriented in a peripheral direction of the piston ring and having a fiber volume fraction in a range of 5% to 60% in a matrix of an aluminum alloy. In alternate embodiments the composite body is provided with a layer of aluminum alloy, or a hard layer for wear resistance, or a combination of an aluminum alloy layer and a hard layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling gear shifting in an automatic transmission on a motor vehicle has maximum speed range cut-off switch which can manually be turned on and off selectively, the arrangement being such that the setting of a maximum speed range in each of the shift ranges is prohibited by turning on the maximum speed range cut-off switch.When the maximum-speed range cut-off switch is turned off, speed range shifting is automatically performed dependent on the traveling states of the motor vehicle in one of the shift ranges which is selected by the shift lever shifted to a corresponding shift position. When the maximum speed range cut-off switch is turned on, the setting of the maximum speed range is prohibited in each of the shift ranges. In each shift range, speed range shifting is carried out automatically between the lowest-speed range and a speed range which is one range lower than the maximum speed range dependent on the traveling states of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: As automated loading/unloading system is shown, which uses a lift truck 10 for loading and unloading cargos and adpated to travel between a container 90 and a coneyor 50, a rotatably disposed turntable 60 for rotation about a vertical axis, the turntable being rotated when the lift truck 10 is on top thereof so as to turn the lift truck to face the container 90 or conveyor 50. A transport passage 80 installed between the turntable 60 and container 90 to permit the lift truck 10 to reach the container 90. An external power unit 100 is employed for controlling the lift truck and the turntable 60. Guide rails 70 and 81 are provided to extend along the turntable 60 and the transport passage 80 along one edge. The lift truck 10 is designed so as to urge its body to one side in its movement so that the movement of the lift truck is guided by the rails 70 and 81 and the inside wall of the container on the same side of the rails.

Abstract: A governor device for an engine which is simple in construction and easy to adjust, and achieves precise and reliable control of engine speed without contacting the rotating portion of the engine. The governor device consists of a non-magnetic and electrically conductive disk which is rotated in synchronism with the engine; a swing member pivotally mounted for effecting a free-swing action thereof; a magnet mounted on said swing member and providing a magnetic field onto said disk for inducing an electromagnetic force to effect said swing action of the swing member in responsive to the rotation of said disk; a spring member for suppressing said swing action of said swing member in one direction; and a drive mechanism for operating a throttle valve of the engine in opening or closing direction in responsive to the swing action of said swing member.

Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank, a fuel filler pipe connected to the fuel tank, a shutter assembly disposed in the fuel filler pipe, the shutter assembly being openable by a refueling nozzle to be inserted into the fuel filler pipe, a guide disposed in the fuel filler pipe for guiding the inserted refueling nozzle toward the shutter assembly, an engagement member disposed in the fuel filler pipe and angularly movable through a constant angle by being engaged by the refueling nozzle inserted in the fuel filler pipe and guided to the shutter assembly, and a fuel vapor venting mechanism including an on-off valve responsive to the angular movement of the engagement member for providing fluid communication between the fuel tank and an associated mechanism such as a canister. The engagement member is positioned between the guide and the shutter assembly.

Abstract: An engine controller is linked to and controls simultaneously both an exhaust control valve and an on-off valves or changeover valves or a reflector in the exhaust pipe to improve engine performance. The controller positions the exhaust control valve and on-off valves or changeover valves, or reflector based upon detected engine speed and throttle position.

Abstract: In a system for removing press-formed parts formed in a pressing machine, a loading transfer device is disposed between an ejection position to which a plurality of press-formed parts are simultaneously ejected in parallel from the pressing machine and a loading position established to load the press-formed parts onto each of a plurality of carrier pallets which are on standby in parallel to individually correspond to the plurality of press-formed parts. The loading transfer device comprises a plurality of transfer pallets connected to one another with variable spacings therebetween and reciprocally movable in parallel between the ejection position and the loading position so that the plurality of press-formed parts may be placed onto the individual transfer pallets, and a spacing-varying drive device for varying the spacing between the transfer pallets. During transferring of the press-formed parts by the loading transfer device, the spacing between the press-formed parts is varied.