Abstract: A starting assistance device for a vehicle has an electric motor and a dog clutch which is switched on at the time of starting of the vehicle to thereby transmit a torque to idler wheels. A sensor is provided to detect the switching on and switching off of the dog clutch. In case the switching off of the dog clutch is not detected when the rotational speeds of the idler wheels have exceeded a predetermined value after the starting of the vehicle, the electric motor is driven in such a direction of rotation so as to cancel the torque which operates on the dog clutch due to the frictional force in the electric motor.

Abstract: An aluminum-based composite member having an increased strength of bond between an aluminum-based body and a cast iron material portion which is incorporated into the aluminum-based body by casting is provided by an improved process. The following steps are employed in the process: a step of removing an oxide film on the surface of the cast iron material portion and activating such surface; a step of forming a protecting plated-layer having a thickness a in a range of 0.8 .mu.m.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5 .mu.

Abstract: In combination a holder for an object and a console for a vehicle comprises a first groove formed on a planar surface of the console for receiving an object such as a writing instrument therein, a second groove formed in the console adjacent to the first groove, and a clip removably secured in the second groove and extending over the first groove for retaining the object in the first groove. The clip is preferably composed of a flexible, resilient material such as rubber, the second groove is elongate, and the clip is slidable along the second groove. Further, the second groove is preferably defined in the console at an incline relative to a surface of the console such that the upper portion of the clip projects a varying amount above the console as the clip is slid along the second groove such that different sized objects may be held thereby.

Abstract: An improvement is made to a torque splitting device employing hydraulic clutches so as to avoid any discontinuity in the control even when the properties of the actuating oil such as the pressure and temperature thereof deviate from standard values. For instance, when the oil temperature is low, the target value of the oil pressure for each of the clutches is modified to a lower value. Thus, it becomes possible to make less pronounced any delay in the response of the torque splitting device which may arise due to the sluggishness of the oil as it flows out of the clutch cylinder. The oil pump is typically actuated by a member rotating at a speed proportional to the vehicle speed, and the pressure output of the pump may be inadequate in a low speed range. In such a case, the target value is again reduced so as to reduce any abrupt change in the property of the torque splitting device when the vehicle is accelerated from a low speed.

Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle includes a lamp housing having an opening portion; a discharge lamp removably contained in the lamp housing; and a lighting circuit unit, mounted in such a manner so as to cover the opening portion from a rear surface side of the lamp housing, for lighting the discharge lamp. A plug is separated from a cord connector when the lighting circuit unit is removed from the lamp housing. Thus, when the work of removing the lighting circuit unit is completed, the plug is necessarily separated from the cord connector, to thereby cut off the power supply to the lighting circuit unit.

Abstract: An air bag device for a motorcycle deploys to cushion an impact to a rider of the motorcycle during a collision. The air bag device is mounted to a body frame of the motorcycle in front of the rider. Bag anchoring members provide a connection between the air bag and the body frame. During deployment of the air bag, the bag anchoring members deploy from grooves in the motorcycle's fuel tank, and extend together with the air bag to hold the air bag securely to the frame body.

Abstract: An anti-rattle guide assembly and method for supporting an armrest or other structure which is slidable between extended and retracted positions. The method of preventing rattling of a sliding mechanism include the steps of disposing a moveable rail member on a frame, placing the sliding mechanism in contact with the moveable rail member, and applying a force to the moveable rail member to bias the moveable rail member toward the sliding mechanism so as to maintain contact between the moveable rail member and the sliding mechanism. The guide assembly may be disposed between two such moveable guide rails or between a moveable guide rail and a fixed guide rail.

Abstract: In a motor with permanent magnets and a motor system, the value .alpha. produced by dividing, by the induced voltage constant ke, the product of the inductance Lm of the motor itself or the inductance Ls of the motor system in the d-q coordinate system is selected to meet a predetermined condition. The range of rotational speeds in which the motor can be operated while maintaining a predetermined output under field weakening control can be widened. If a condition is established to determine a ratio by which the rated rotational speed under normal operating conditions is multiplied into a rotational speed under field weakening control, then conditions for a motor or a motor system that can be used can be determined.

Abstract: An oil sump 44 and a second oil supply passage 45, which are to lead lubrication oil from a first oil supply passage 43 to where lubrication is needed, i.e., to gears and a clutch, are formed in a sun gear 21, which has a sufficient strength as a torque transmission member. In comparison with another case where an oil sump and an oil supply passage are provided in a relatively thin member such as a sleeve 3, the unfavorable effect of stress concentration around the oiling aperture and of deterioration of strength from the reduced thickness can be greatly minimized. In addition, the fabrication of the oil sump and the oil supply passage is much easier and cost-effective than if they were to be provided in a thinner member.

Abstract: A protection circuit prevents, from a short load, excessive current flow through a field effect transistor that delivers current to a daytime running light on a vehicle. The present invention uses commonly available devices, such as resistors and transistors, and a low number of such devices for low cost. Furthermore, the present invention includes a latching circuit for maintaining the switching transistor to be turned off once the current level through the switching transistor reaches an excessive level to prevent the daytime running light from flashing on and off. A voltage, which develops across a resistor that is coupled to the field effect transistor, is an indication of the current level through the field effect transistor. This voltage turns on a first transistor which couples the gate of the field effect transistor to a ground node when the current level through the field effect transistor is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A shift lever assembly of a vehicle comprises: a base member; a shift lever supported by the base member so as to be pivotable around a shifting axis and a selection axis, the shifting axis and the selection axis being at a right angle to each other; an extension extending from the shift lever and connected to a first cable for transmitting a movement of the shift lever around the shifting axis to transmission means, wherein the connection between the first cable and the extension of the shift lever lies on the selection axis. In this shift lever assembly, the selection movements of the shift lever do not cause the bending of the cable connected to the extension of the shift lever for transmitting the shifting movements of the shift lever, and do not apply undesired stress upon the cable.

Abstract: A radar apparatus installed on a vehicle includes a transmission section, a reception section and a processing section. The transmission section includes at least a transmission antenna, and emits a transmission wave toward a detection area in front of the vehicle. The transmission wave is reflected by a reflector to produce a reflection wave, and the detection area includes a plurality of sub-areas. The reception section includes at least a reception antenna, and receives and detects the reflection wave. The processing section detects a reflector indication data indicative of a reflector attribute based on the detecting result by the reception section, and then determines whether there is the reflector in the detection area, based on the reflector indication data. Also, the processing section manages the reflector indication data over a management area which is wider than the detection area.

Abstract: Upshifting is performed in a short time without giving rise to shocks. For that purpose, at the time of upshifting, a hydraulic pressure (QUPOFF) of a hydraulic engaging element on disengaging side is controlled such that the input and output speed ratio ("Gratio") of a transmission is decreased to, and held at, a predetermined slipping region (YG(N)S) that is lower than an engaging region (YG(N)L)-YG(N)H) to be set based on a gear ratio which is established by the engagement of the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side. The hydraulic pressure (QUPON) of a hydraulic engaging element on engaging side is gradually increased. When "Gratio" once falls below YG(N)L and then increases up again to YGCONOK, QUPOFF is lowered to a predetermined low pressure (QUPOFFB) at a lapse of a predetermined time (YTMUP8). Once "Gratio">YGCONOK, QUPON is increased to a predetermined high pressure QUPONB at a lapse of a second predetermined time YTMUP3.

Abstract: A heated state-deciding apparatus and a thermocouple provided for a transport robot for detecting the temperature of a billet being transported by the transport robot, and a deciding member for deciding whether or not the billet is heated to be in a predetermined solid phase state on the basis of the detected temperature. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently and accurately decide whether or not the solidus rate of the metal billet is good or bad, and it is possible to improve the productivity.

Abstract: An operation lever unit includes an operation handle attached to an operating rod of an engine-powered portable working machine. The operation handle is equipped with a throttle lever for regulating the power of an engine, a lock lever for holding the throttle lever in a desired position, and a secondary throttle adjustment lever for achieving a fine adjustment of the position of the throttle lever. To hold the throttle lever in the desired position, the throttle lever is forced against a portion of the operation handle by the action of a thrust cam mechanism disposed between the throttle lever and the lock lever. For achieving the fine adjustment of the throttle lever position, the secondary throttle adjustment lever is forced by a thumb of the operator to forcibly turn the throttle lever against a frictional force acting between the throttle lever and the handle portion.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control catalyst having an excellent NOx converting capability includes a modified alumina which has a .theta.-phase and an .alpha.-phase and has an .alpha.-conversion rate R in a range of 0.5 %.ltoreq.R.ltoreq.95 %, and a catalytic metal carried in the modified alumina, e.g., platinum (Pt). In addition, a catalyst including a catalyst material which is the above-described catalyst including the modified alumina and the catalytic metal, and an aluminosilicate or cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), also has an excellent NOx converting capability.

Abstract: To provide a pump drive structure capable of making a vehicular width more compact. A drive side pulley of a V-belt transmission is mounted on a right end of a crank shaft provided on an engine. A balancer drive gear is provided on the crank shaft opposite to the drive side pulley in the axial direction. The balancer drive gear is meshed with a balancer driven gear on a balancer shaft disposed in parallel to and directly under the crank shaft. Further, a pump drive gear provided at an axial end of the balancer shaft is meshed with driven gears of pump shafts of the water pump and the oil pump distributed on the front and rear sides of the balancer shaft. Thus, the water and oil pumps are simultaneously driven by the balancer shaft.

Abstract: A four-cycle engine for an outboard motor includes an upwardly extending breather chamber which communicates with a projecting portion provided at a lower part of a crankcase and with an induction system via a PCV passage for returning a blow-by gas to intake manifolds. With this arrangement, it becomes possible to remove oil components from the blow-by gas within the PCV passage and hence to return the substantially oil-free blow-by gas to the intake manifolds.

Abstract: A mobile FM-multiplex-broadcast receiving device for receiving digital information (e.g., traffic information and general information) transmitted by FM-multiplex-broadcasts, which is capable of quickly obtaining a sufficient amount of necessary information by reliably selecting an optimally receivable FM-broadcasting station. This is realized by providing the receiving device with device for determining a correct reception ratio of digital information by calculating an amount of correctly received data to a total amount for each of FM-broadcasting stations and a driver for allowing a driver to select one of stations receivable with correct reception ratios greater than a certain preset value.