Abstract: This is a connecting device (7) to be interposed between left and right wheels (5L, 5R) of a vehicle. It enables to perform a starting assistance control, a cornering control to improve the cornering performance by positively generating a difference rotation between left and right wheels, and a differential limiting control for restricting the difference rotation between the left and right wheels. There are provided: a differential gear (8) having a first rotational element (8a), and second and third rotational elements (8b, 8c) so arranged that, when one of them rotates in normal direction relative to the first rotational element (8a), the other thereof rotates in the reverse direction; and a driving source (9) connected to the first rotational element (8a). One of the second and third rotational elements, e.g.

Abstract: Measurement is made of a time of lapse from the time at which the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic engaging element on engaging side to be engaged at the time of speed changing has increased to a predetermined pressure. Even if an input and output speed ratio of the transmission does not fall within a predetermined range, i.e., a range between YG(N+1)L and YG(N+1)H, which serves as a basis for judging whether the speed changing has been completed or not, a processing of speed change completion is performed when the above-described value TMSTB-TM has reached a predetermined value YTMUP4, to boost the ON pressure to the line pressure.

Abstract: In an electrically corrosion-proofing process in which the polarity of a metal member having a coating film is set at negative, the duration of setting the polarity of the metal member immersed in an aqueous solution of NaCl at negative is made discontinuous, and a positive-set duration in which the polarity of the metal member is set at positive, is interposed between a proceeding negative-set duration and a succeeding negative-set duration. The switching-over of the polarity is carried out by a polarity switch-over relay between the metal member and a DC power source. In the negative-set duration, the treatment for corrosion-proofing of the metal member is carried out, but the peeling-off of the coating film from a starting point provided by a damaged portion is produced. In the positive-set duration, an electrolytic product is produced in an exposed portion of the metal member, and the peeling-off of the coating film in the next negative-set duration is prevented by the electrolytic product.

Abstract: A frictional engaging clutch for an automatic vehicle transmission which discriminates judder which has occurred on the vehicle and controls to decrease the same. A clutch slip ratio is calculated, the calculated ratio is then converted into an ac waveform which is filtered by filters similar to a judder filter and a disturbance filter to extract frequency components of an appropriate range, and the number of times (NTEX) at which the filtered waveform peaks exceeds threshold values (appropriately set) is counted, and based on the counts, the judder is discriminated or determined. The configuration is simple and makes it possible to discriminate judder in an automatic vehicle transmission.

Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus and a navigation program are provided for guiding a vehicle to a destination along a guide route. An off-route detection unit detects an off-route condition when the vehicle is displaced from the guide route and a guide route searching unit searches or determines, when the off-route detection unit detects an off-route condition, a route from a present position of the vehicle to the destination or return point on the guide route. The guide route determining or searching unit includes a weight factor determining unit for determining a weighting value to modify or scale a road parameter used in determining the guide route, a modifying unit for modifying the parameter based on the weighting value, and a calculating unit for calculating a route from the present position of the vehicle to the destination or the return point on the guide route, as a function of the modified parameter. A display is provided for displaying the guide route to the operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus of processing an abnormal status in an automated parts shelf system, in which information of the occurrence of the abnormal status and the location, the content, and the cause of such an abnormal status, as well as an appropriate countermeasure for processing the abnormal status, are displayed on a touch-panel monitor. An abnormal status is displayed on a fundamental screen, which is, upon a pressing action thereon, converted to an abnormal status screen M2, on which necessary items of instruction are displayed. An item therein is selected and entered for processing the abnormal status.

Abstract: A traction control system for a vehicle, which, during normal driving of the vehicle, if a driven wheel speed becomes less than a deceleration-control starting reference value which is set lower than a vehicle speed, a feed-back control of an opening degree of a throttle valve is started so as to converge the driven wheel speed into a target driven wheel speed. If a downshifting is conducted, the feed-back control of the throttle valve opening degree is feed-back controlled by using, in place of the driven wheel speed, a pseudo driven wheel speed calculated based on the number of revolutions of an engine and a gear position. With this arrangement, it is possible to open the throttle valve at an earlier stage to increase a driven wheel torque, and to avoid a deceleration slip at the time of downshifting at a high speed.

Abstract: A vehicle body frame structure is comprised of plurality of loop-shaped members each formed by a hollow pieces extruded from a light alloy. Each loop-shaped member is polygonal in cross section. The vehicle body frame structure is partly formed by a plurality of such loop-shaped members joined sidewise together. Each loop-shaped member is comprised of at least two hollow extruded pieces joined together by a core coupling or a split muff coupling. Part of each loop-shaped member is stepped so that it can be joined with a companion loop-shaped member by mating the stepped portions of the two loop-shaped members one over the other.

Abstract: An output torque control system for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle is operable during gear shifting of an automatic transmission of the engine, for changing the output torque of the engine so as to reduce a shock caused by the gear shifting. The timing of termination of the changing of the engine output torque is determined, based on a rate of change in the traveling speed of the vehicle. The changing of the engine output torque terminated at the determined timing of termination.

Abstract: A bush cutting machine comprises a clutch case attached to a front part of an engine, an operation rod extending forwardly from the clutch case and having a brake lever, a cutting blade provided at a distal end of the operation rod, and a transmission shaft passing through the operation rod for transmitting drive power to the cutting blade. A brake drum is housed in the clutch case for braking the rotation of the cutting blade. A brake arm is swingably attached to a front wall of the clutch case closely to the brake drum. The brake arm carries at one end thereof a brake shoe for press contacting an outer peripheral surface of the brake drum. A brake wire is mounted between the brake lever and brake arm. The brake wire is disposed to extend along either external surface of the operation rod.

Abstract: A lock-up control device controls an engaging force of a lock-up clutch, which shares engine output with a torque converter to transmit it toward an input shaft of a transmission of a car. First, target driving force is produced based on accelerator pedal opening and car velocity. Then, required torque is produced based on a gear ratio and the target driving force. Target engine speed is produced based on the required torque, wherein the target engine speed is set to avoid occurrence of abnormal sounds and abnormal vibrations. Thus, the lock-up clutch is controlled in such a way that real engine speed does not become less than the target engine speed in case of a gear change corresponding to a shift-up operation, for example. Basically, the lock-up clutch is controlled to have engaging force, which is made as maximal as possible to improve fuel efficiency. In other words, the lock-up clutch is controlled to be as tightly as possible.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for a multi-cylinder engine is provided. An air-fuel ratio sensor is arranged in an exhaust system of the engine for detecting an air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine and for generating an output indicative of the air-fuel ratio of the mixture. An adaptive controller determines an amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine with a first predetermined repetition period in a manner such that the output from the air-fuel ratio sensor becomes equal to a desired value. An adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism adjusts adaptive parameters used by the adaptive controller. In the adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism, the adaptive parameters are calculated with a second predetermined repetition period longer than the first predetermined repetition period, and output data indicative of results of the calculation is generated.

Abstract: A breather device for an engine comprises a gas-liquid separation chamber communicating with the crankcase chamber through the one-way valve, a breather passage opening the gas-liquid separation chamber into an air cleaner, first and second oil suction holes arranged below and above an inner end of the breather passage opening to the gas-liquid separation chamber, and an oil passage communicating the first and second oil suction holes to an oil reservoir chamber having a pressure lower than that of the gas-liquid separation chamber. This construction enables the oil separated from the blow-by gas and liquefied in the gas-liquid separation chamber to be returned quickly to the oil reservoir chamber through the first or second oil suction holes, irrespective of whether the engine is in an normal upright position or an inverted position.

Abstract: In an exhaust secondary air supply system including an electric air pump and a flow rate control valve disposed in an air supply passage connected to an exhaust passage of an engine, the electric air pump is first driven after the start of the engine, and the flow rate control valve is then opened after a lapse of a predetermined time. At a time after starting the driving of the electric air pump, the abnormality of the electric air pump is detected by comparing a deviation between the current before and after driving of the electric air pump with a predetermined reference value. After opening of the flow rate control valve, the abnormality of the flow rate control valve is detected by comparing the deviation between the current before and after the opening of the flow rate control valve with a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: To provide a tire which allows the motor vehicle to continue operation even when both a tire body thereof and a tube mounted therein are damaged. A tire houses therein a tube which is compartmented into an inner circumferential air chamber filled with air and an outer circumferential sealant chamber filled with a sealant. The tire has lateral beads held and hermetically sealed against lateral steps of a rim. Even when the tube is pierced, the sealant repairs the pierced hole, preventing air from leaking out. Even if air leaks from the tube into the tire body, because the pierced hole in the tire body is repaired by the sealant and the beads, of the tire body are sealed against the rim, the air is prevented from leaking out of the tire body.

Abstract: A system for controlling locomotion of a legged mobile robot walking in a working space. The system is provided with optical detects which are disposed in a line array at the both sides of a foot member of the robot. On the other hand, a landmark is provided in the working space. The landmark comprises of a line or an arc which divides the space into two regions with different attributes, i.e. different in brightness. The optical detectors generate different signals depending on the brightness. With the generated signals, a relative position of the robot to the landmark is detected. Moreover, when the landmark is an arc, its center is located in line with a work for the robot. a relative direction of the robot to the landmark or the work is detected. Based on the detection, locomotion of the robot is controlled in such a manner that the robot can stably ascend/descent stairs or spiral staircases.

Abstract: An automated vehicle for performing automated driving control while successively detecting magnetic fluxes caused by magnetic nails embedded in a cruising lane at predetermined intervals comprises a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic fluxes caused by the magnetic nails, and sensor moving means for vertically moving the magnetic sensor in response to a change in a road clearance of the vehicle so as to keep a constant clearance between the magnetic sensor and each of the magnetic nails.This automated vehicle drives itself on a road in which magnetic nails are embedded, while detecting the magnetism (magnetic flux) of the magnetic nails.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged in the exhaust system of the engine, for detecting the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gases from the engine. An ECU calculates an adaptive control amount, based on an output from the air-fuel ratio sensor, by using an adaptive controller having an adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism, such that the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine is converged to a desired air-fuel ratio, and controls the air-fuel ratio of the mixture in a feedback manner, according to the adaptive control amount. When a particular engine operating condition in which the adaptive controller can become unstable in operation is detected, the adaptive parameters are initialized according to the adaptive control amount.

Abstract: An electric working machine having an electric motor and batteries for providing power to the motor is provided. Power for charging the batteries is provided to the working machine through a connector. A key member is provided which comprises a key body having one end for insertion into and removal from a switch, and an operation portion which is integrally or removably provided at the other end of the key body extending sideways from the key body. The connector is positioned to the side of the switch at a location where it is covered by the operating portion of the key member at a turned position of the key member when the switch is in a first state, such that the connection of the connector with an external power source is made impossible.