Abstract: A tapered roller bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of tapered rollers provided between the inner ring and the outer ring, and an annular cage. The cage has a small-diameter annular portion on a first side in an axial direction, a large-diameter annular portion on a second side in an axial direction, and a plurality of cage bar portions. The cage has pockets that are spaces each formed between the large-diameter annular portion and the small-diameter annular portion and between the adjacent cage bar portions in a circumferential direction and in which the tapered rollers are held. The cage further has a roller retaining portion that inhibits the tapered rollers housed in the pockets from falling outward in a radial direction. A recessed portion is formed in the small-diameter annular portion to reduce rigidity of the small-diameter annular portion.

Abstract: A tapered roller bearing includes an outer ring having an outer-ring raceway surface that increases in diameter from a first side toward a second side in an axial direction, an inner ring having an inner-ring raceway surface and having a cone large face rib that is located on the second side of the inner ring in the axial direction, a plurality of tapered rollers, an annular cage, and a holding member provided on the second side of the outer ring in the axial direction to enable a lubricant inside the bearing to be held. The holding member has a cylindrical portion provided adjacently to the outer ring and a protruding portion protruding inward from the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. A slit is formed in the cylindrical portion to separate a radially inner portion, on which the protruding portion is provided, from a radially outer portion.

Abstract: A friction compensation control unit includes a contact state determination unit that determines the contact state of a speed reducer, a friction coefficient estimation unit that estimates a friction coefficient of a power column, and a frictional force estimation unit that estimates a frictional force generated in the power column. The contact state determination unit determines the contact state of the speed reducer based on a first assist torque command value, a detected steering torque, and an estimated load torque. The friction coefficient estimation unit estimates a friction coefficient of the power column based on an estimated motor angular velocity. The friction force estimation unit computes a second assist torque correction value based on the result of determination made by the contact state determination unit, the friction coefficient, the detected steering torque, the estimated load torque, and the estimated motor angular velocity.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a drive motor and an engaging/disengaging mechanism having a function to permit and cut off torque transmission between the drive motor and wheels. The vehicle control device further includes a smoothing capacitor that smoothes electric power applied from a secondary battery, a drive circuit for the drive motor, a drive circuit for the engaging/disengaging mechanism, and a microprocessor for controlling each drive circuit. If it is determined that a collision of a vehicle has occurred, the microprocessor disconnects each drive circuit from the secondary battery, and outputs a command to disengage the engaging/disengaging mechanism.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spline telescopic shaft, includes a sliding step of sliding in an axial direction an inner shaft manufacturing intermediate member and an outer shaft manufacturing intermediate member, in one of which a resin coating is disposed on splines. In the sliding step, a sliding load of the inner shaft manufacturing intermediate member and the outer shaft manufacturing intermediate member is detected, and sliding is ended at a timing when the detected sliding load reaches a threshold load which is determined based on an initial sliding load detected at a start of the sliding.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steering mechanism, a motor that is a source of an assist force, and a battery that supplies a voltage to the motor. The system includes a voltage sensor that detects a power supply voltage, a steering sensor that detects a steering angle, and a motor control signal generation circuit that calculates a q-axis voltage command value to allow the motor to generate the assist force and that generates a motor control signal based on the q-axis voltage command value. The system includes a steering-angular-velocity limiting circuit that calculates a compensation amount for compensation for the q-axis voltage command value and that derives the compensation amount by calculating a power supply compensation component based on the power supply voltage when the absolute value of the steering angle is equal to or larger than a predetermined steering angle close to a maximum steering angle.

Abstract: A torque detection apparatus includes a magnetic element that outputs a signal corresponding to a magnetic flux from a magnetic circuit including a magnetic yoke. The torque detection apparatus further includes a signal retrieval member electrically connected to the magnetic element, and a unit housing formed of resin and molded integrally with the magnetic element and the signal retrieval member so as to cover the magnetic element and the signal retrieval member. The unit housing includes a body portion provided with an internal space in which the magnetic yoke is housed, and a connector portion provided with an internal space in which an end of the signal retrieval member exposed from the resin is disposed. In the unit housing, a communication path is formed through which the internal space is in communication with the internal space.

Abstract: A rack shaft of the present invention includes: an effective rack tooth row formed by plastic deformation of a shaft member and having a plurality of rack teeth that mesh with a pinion; a ball screw portion having no rack tooth; an ineffective rack tooth that is formed between the effective rack tooth row and the ball screw portion and that does not mesh with the pinion; and a padding portion that extends from an end of the ball screw portion toward the ineffective rack tooth and that covers at least a part of the ineffective rack tooth.

Abstract: A ball screw device is provided for which quality can be easily evaluated. The ball screw device includes a threaded shaft with a groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a cylindrical nut whose screw-thread mates with the groove on the threaded shaft via a plurality of balls. The nut has a pair of mounting holes in each of which a deflector is installed and a communication groove that allows the mounting holes to communicate with each other and is open on the outer peripheral surface of the nut and through which the balls can roll. The width W of an opening of the communication groove is smaller than the diameter of the ball.

Abstract: A test system includes an actual machine including a test piece that is a mechanical element of a vehicle, the actual machine being installed in a first location; a control device that is installed in the first location, and controls the actual machine; a model installed in a second location away from the first location; and a data processor that is installed in the second location, and is connected to the actual machine or the control device via a communication line so that data communication is performed, the data processor acquiring data from the actual machine via the communication line so that an operation test is performed. The data processor calculates a target value for controlling the actual machine based on an output acquired by inputting the acquired data to the model, and the control device controls the actual machine based on the target value.

Abstract: In a steering system configured such that occurrence of a half lock is suppressed, when a body portion of a tooth member is pressed in a lock operation of locking the position of a steering column, the tooth member is extended to move a pair of second tooth row forming portions away from each other obliquely with respect to a lateral direction of an elongate tilt hole along the outer surface of a fastening side plate.

Abstract: A truing device is supported so as to be elastically movable in the Z-axis direction, which is parallel to a grinding wheel rotational axis, and elastically movable in the X-axis direction in which a grinding wheel cuts into the truing device, and includes a movement restriction device that controls prohibition and permission of elastic movement. The method includes: causing a surface of the grinding wheel to contact the truing device in the X-axis direction; and correcting a shape of the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel cuts into the truing device until the amount of elastic movement of the truing device in the X-axis direction reaches a first predetermined amount, by controlling the movement restriction device to prohibit elastic movement of the truing device, and thereafter causing the grinding wheel to further cut into the truing device in the X-axis direction by a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: A ball screw mechanism includes: a rack shaft, on the outer peripheral surface of which a spiral rack screw groove is formed; a cylindrical nut, on the inner peripheral surface of which a spiral nut groove that faces the rack screw groove is formed; and a plurality of balls disposed in a rolling passage that is a space surrounded by the rack screw groove and the nut groove. The nut is provided with: shift portions provided at both ends of the nut groove to shift the track of the nut groove in the axial direction of the rack shaft from the rack screw groove and to displace the nut groove to be deeper in the radial direction of the rack shaft as the track is shifted; a circulation passage that connects between the shift portions; and passage entrances that each connect between the shift portion and the circulation passage.

Abstract: An electric power steering system includes: an electric motor that generates assist torque; an auxiliary power supply device including a capacitor connected to a main power supply and discharging electric power to the electric motor; and a control device that controls the auxiliary power supply device. There is a plurality of modes of connection between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply device. The control device switches the mode of connection between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply device, depending on the situation.

Abstract: A column jacket includes an outer jacket and an inner jacket that are slidable relative to each other in the axial direction for telescopic adjustment. The inner jacket has an outer peripheral surface fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the outer jacket. A base end of an engaging member is fixed to the inner jacket. The inner peripheral surface of the outer jacket includes a guide groove, and a stopper provided at an end of the guide groove. The stopper restricts disconnection of the inner jacket from the outer jacket when being engaged with the engaging member. The engaging member is engaged with the guide groove, and the guide groove guides axial movement of the inner jacket via the engaging member. The guide groove has a bottom portion that faces a distal end of the engaging member.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft; a column jacket including an outer jacket including a slit and a pair of fastened portions, and an inner jacket; a bracket; a fastening mechanism; an engaged tooth formation member including at least one engaged tooth and fixed to the inner jacket; a support shaft including end portions supported by support holes of the fastened portions; an engaging tooth formation member including an engaging tooth that engages with the engaged tooth; and a biasing member configured to bias the support shaft in a biasing direction. One of the fastened portions or a member supported by the one fastened portion includes a positioning portion configured to position the support shaft in the biasing direction.

Abstract: A grinding wheel includes a plurality of abrasive grains and a binder holding the abrasive grains together. The binder contains an additive that has a higher extinction coefficient than the abrasive grains at a wavelength in a predetermined frequency band. The binder is processed with laser light of a wavelength in the predetermined frequency band.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an upper bracket that supports a column jacket. The upper bracket includes a first member including a first top plate and fixed to the vehicle body, and a second member fixed to the first member and supporting the column jacket. The second member includes: a second top plate fixed to the first top plate, a pair of side plates extending downward from the second top plate and placed on both side of the column jacket; and a pair of restricted portions extended laterally from the pair of side plates, respectively. The first member includes a pair of restricting portions extending downward from the first top plate, the pair of restricting portions each including a second fixed portion fixed to its corresponding restricted portion.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft; a column jacket including an outer jacket including a slit and a pair of fastened portions, and an inner jacket; a fastening mechanism; an engaged tooth formation member including at least one engaged tooth and fixed to the inner jacket; a support shaft including end portions supported by support holes of the fastened portions; a tubular reinforcing member fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the support shaft at a prescribed area between the pair of end portions; and an engaging tooth formation member including an engaging tooth that engages with the engaged tooth.

Abstract: A swinging joint device includes a driving shaft member; a first output portion that swings about a driving axis serving as an axis of the driving shaft member; an elastic body that generates an urging torque corresponding to a first swinging angle that is a swinging angle of the first output portion; an apparent rigidity variable portion that varies apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion; a first angle detection portion that detects the first swinging angle; and a control portion that controls the apparent rigidity variable portion according to the first swinging angle detected by the first angle detection portion to adjust the apparent rigidity of the elastic body seen from the first output portion.