Abstract: An EPS includes a first rack and pinion mechanism that converts rotation of a pinion shaft due to a steering operation, to reciprocating motion of a rack shaft; and a steering force assist device that applies a motor torque of a motor as an assist force by using a second rack and pinion mechanism; and an ECU that controls an operation of the steering force assist device. Rack teeth of the rack shaft constituting the first rack and pinion mechanism are formed so that a steering gear ratio is changed depending on a steering angle. The ECU computes a motor neutral point by subtracting a conversion value from a motor angle detection value. The conversion value is computed based on a steering angle detection value by referring to a conversion map that is set taking into account the steering gear ratio corresponding to the steering angle.

Abstract: There is provided an electric power steering system that makes it possible to reduce an uncomfortable feeling given to a driver even when a detected steering torque value is held. The controller computes a detected steering torque value based on the detection signal, and provides compensation based on a compensation value to a basic current command value to compute a current command value. The controller executes feedback control for causing a current value of the motor to follow the current command value. The controller executes normal control in which the detected steering torque value is periodically updated and backup control in which periodic updating of the detected steering torque value and holding of the detected steering torque value are alternately executed. The controller switches compensation value between a compensation value used during execution of the normal control and a compensation value used during execution of the backup control.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: an electric motor; a multi-disc clutch including outer clutch plates and inner clutch plates that are disposed coaxially with each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other and that are frictionally engaged with each other by being pressed in an axial direction; an input rotary member that rotates together with the outer clutch plates; an output rotary member that rotates together with the inner clutch plates; a cam mechanism that generates cam thrust force for pressing the multi-disc clutch in the axial direction upon reception of torque generated by the electric motor; a strain sensor that detects reaction force against the cam thrust force; and a spring member that is disposed between the cam mechanism and the strain sensor and that buffers an impact transmitted from the cam mechanism to the strain sensor.

Abstract: A rotary ring of a hub unit has an annular first end face on one side in the axial direction, and an outer ring of a joint has an annular second end face on the other side in the axial direction. Outer splines are formed in a radially outer-side region of the first end face and outer splines are formed in a radially outer-side region of the second end face. The outer splines of the first end face and the outer splines of the second end face mesh with each other. Inner splines are formed in a radially inner-side region of the first end face and inner splines are formed in a radially inner-side region of the second end face. The inner splines of the first end face and the inner splines of the second end face mesh with each other.

Abstract: The yoke device comprises a rotary pad (10), the inner periphery (11) of which is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery (12) and is applied against the back of the rack, which is thus pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion. The rotary pad (10) is rotationally biased and positioned by a backlash compensation mechanism (17) with spring means. This mechanism comprises a rotating movable stop (21), including gearings (24, 25) having staggered teeth that engage with the notches (26, 27) of a push member (19). The staggered gear teeth comprise, on one sector, a pilot gearing (24) having planar teeth (28) provided with a protrusion (29) and, in another sector, at least one gearing (25) having planar teeth (30) with no protrusion.

Abstract: A ring valve gate mold device includes: a stationary mold and a movable mold that are disposed so as to be allowed to be joined together and separated from each other; an annular cavity used to form an annular product, the cavity being formed in a mating face that is an upper face of the movable mold; a supply passage through which molten resin is supplied via a circular gate connected to the entire circumference of the annular cavity; and a valve body that opens and closes the circular gate of the supply passage. The valve body is a tubular sleeve body that moves in the axial direction of the ring valve gate mold device to open and close the circular gate. The sleeve body is disposed at a position radially outward of the supply passage connected to the gate.

Abstract: Plural spline shafts are arranged around columnar plasma, and plural spline shafts are coaxially aligned in a direction that the columnar plasma extends within a vacuum chamber. The plural coaxially aligned spline shafts are positioned so that axial gap is formed between the respective male spline sections. The axial gap of the plural male spline sections is positioned at a center of the columnar plasma in the direction that the columnar plasma extends.

Abstract: A conveyance system is provided which conveys an object to a machining apparatus using a conveying apparatus and which further enables power saving. A controller calculates a first conveyance completion estimated time when conveyance from a first mounting position to machining apparatuses at a reference speed is complete. If a request to load a next object into the machining apparatus is issued by the machining apparatus, the controller decides a first moving speed of a conveying apparatus to be a reference speed when the machining apparatus is not performing a machining operation at the first conveyance completion estimated time and to be a low speed lower than the reference speed when the machining apparatus is performing the machining operation at the first conveyance completion estimated time.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing an electricity storage material are provided which can avoid defective coating of the electricity storage material. An apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage material includes: a dissolving device that dissolves a thickener in a solvent; a viscosity adjusting device that adjusts viscosity of a solution produced by the dissolving device; a first filtering device that filters the solution having the viscosity adjusted by the viscosity adjusting device; and a kneading device that kneads the solution filtered by the first filtering device and an active material. Since the apparatus can remove almost all microgels of the thickener by the first filtering device, defective coating can be prevented in the coating of the electricity storage material, and satisfactory electrodes can be manufactured.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a constant velocity joint boot includes a molding mold that injection-molds a molded body using an inner mold and outer molds. The inner mold has a configuration in which split molds are disposed radially along an outer circumferential surface of a core shaft extending vertically. The manufacturing apparatus has rod-like support members including distal end portions and step surfaces. The distal end portions are inserted into concave portions formed in extension portions of the split molds so that the split molds are supported. The step surfaces abut against the outer circumferential surfaces of the extension portions in the state where the split molds are supported by the distal end portions.

Abstract: In a method for drying a separator for a non-aqueous electric storage device including an organic material that thermally shrinks at a thermal shrinkage start temperature of 100° C. or lower, a solvent impregnation and a drying are executed in this order; the solvent impregnation includes bringing the separator into contact with a solvent that has affinity for water and that causes the azeotropic phenomenon at a temperature lower than the boiling point of water so as to lower an azeotropic temperature of a mixture of moisture in the separator and the solvent below a temperature at which the separator starts thermal shrinkage, and the drying includes drying the separator brought into contact with the solvent at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the separator starts thermal shrinkage and higher than the azeotropic point.

Abstract: A solenoid valve device includes: a solenoid valve that includes a solenoid that is supplied with driving current to generate magnetic flux, and a valve element that is moved by the magnetic flux generated from the solenoid; and a control device that controls the solenoid valve. The control device includes an alternating current component in the driving current and supplies the driving current including the alternating current component to the solenoid, and detects an impedance of the solenoid.

Abstract: A grinding abnormality monitoring method and device for grinding a plurality of works of the same type are proposed which can improve the accuracy of judgment whether an abnormality is generated or not by properly setting a threshold value. According to the method or the device, by setting at least one of upper and lower limit values of a trial grinding load detected at the trial grinding of at least one of the works, an occurrence of grinding abnormality is judged when an actual grinding load detected at the actual grinding of work exceeds at least one of the upper and lower limit values thereof which varies depending on the time elapsed from the start of the actual grinding or a position of work relative to a grinding wheel.

Abstract: A clutch plate in an annular shape, the clutch plate includes: a plurality of lubricating grooves on one end face and the other end face of the clutch plate in an axial direction; and a plurality of windows passing through the clutch plate in the axial direction. The lubricating grooves are formed with plastic deformation, in a same phase on both the end faces, and extended up to outer peripheral edges and inner peripheral edges of both the end faces. A plurality of intersection points where the lubricating grooves intersect with each other are positioned in other areas than at least one of the outer peripheral edges, radially outer edges of the windows, radially inner edges of the windows, and the inner peripheral edges, of both the end faces.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a meshing member that switches two rotating members between a coupled state and an uncoupled state; a piston member with a plurality of locked portions formed along a circumferential direction; an armature that moves the piston member forward and backward between a first position where the armature presses the piston member in an axial direction and a second position where the armature does not press the piston member; a biasing member that biases the piston member in the opposite direction from the pressing direction of the armature; and a locking member that locks the locked portions. The piston member has a mechanism that mitigates a possible shock when the locking member comes into abutting contact with an abutting contact surface of a first locked portion.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes: a switch member that switches a first rotary member and a second rotary member between a coupled state and a decoupled state; a second friction member that generates a frictional force between the rotary members; a piston member that has first to sixth engaged portions formed in the shape of a staircase and that presses the switch member and the second friction member in an axial direction; a biasing mechanism that presses the switch member and the second friction member toward the piston member; and an engaging member that engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The engaging member rotates the piston member by sliding on a plurality of tilted surfaces of the plurality of engaged portions, and the piston member is always pressed toward the engaging member by a biasing force of the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle differential apparatus is provided with: a differential case rotatable around a rotation axis in which a first shaft insertion hole is formed along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a pair of side gears, a pinion gear meshing with the paired side gears in which a second shaft insertion hole is formed in an axial center portion of the pinion gear, and a pinion shaft including an insertion end portion inserted in the first shaft insertion hole of the differential case and a pinion gear support portion inserted in the second shaft insertion hole of the pinion gear to rotatably support the pinion gear. The pinion gear is supported so as to be movable in the rotation axis direction by a meshing reaction force generated from a meshing engagement with the pair of side gears.

Abstract: There is provided an electric power steering system that is able to generate a more appropriate current command value. Limits of an assist controlled variable, formed of multiple upper limits and multiple lower limits are individually set for multiple signals used to compute the assist controlled variable. The values obtained by adding the limits together are set as final limits of the assist controlled variable, that is, an upper limit and a lower limit. Thus, even if the assist controlled variable exhibiting an abnormal value is computed for some reason, the abnormal value of the assist controlled variable is limited to an appropriate value corresponding to each signal value by the final limits. By supplying the appropriate assist controlled variable to a motor control signal generating unit as a final current command value, an appropriate assist force is applied to a steering system.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch unit includes: a friction mechanism including a first friction member and a second friction member; a lock sleeve connected to an input shaft member so as to be non-rotatable relative to the input shaft member, and movable in an axial direction of the electromagnetic clutch unit between a first position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with only the input shaft member and a second position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with both an output shaft member and the input shaft member; and a pressing member that constitutes a magnetic path extending over the pressing member and the second friction member, and that presses the lock sleeve with the electromagnetic force to move the lock sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An assembly jig for pins includes a jig body in which pin insertion recesses, into which respective pairs of pins and interpieces are inserted, are aligned at predetermined intervals, and urging devices that urge lower end portions of both the pins and the interpieces, which are fitted in the pin insertion recesses, in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pins and the interpieces. In the jig body, urging device installation recesses are formed so as to be contiguous with the consecutive pin insertion recesses. Each urging device is arranged in the corresponding urging device installation recess, and includes a helical compression spring of which the urging direction is the radially outward direction, and a pressing member urged by the helical compression spring. The pressing member has a first pressing face that contacts the pin, and a second pressing face that contacts the interpiece.