Abstract: An intake camshaft device 1 includes an intake camshaft, a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing for rotatably supporting both end parts of the intake camshaft, and a first sliding bearing and a second sliding bearing for rotatably supporting the intake camshaft between the first and second rolling bearings. The first rolling bearing is arranged in a same plane as a rotation plane of a sprocket for an intake cam. In other words, the first rolling bearing is positioned in a plane which is overlapped with a plurality of teeth of the sprocket for the intake cam, and perpendicular to a center axis. The first sliding bearing is disposed adjacent to the first rolling bearing backward in an axial direction.

Abstract: An ECU includes two drive circuits corresponding to the motor coils of two systems independent of each other, and a microcomputer that outputs control signals of two independent systems to the drive circuits. The microcomputer includes a first control signal output portion that outputs the control signal to the drive circuit of the first system by executing an electric current control so as to generate a motor torque that corresponds to the assist force. The microcomputer further includes a second control signal output portion that outputs the control signal to the drive circuit of the second system by executing a position control on the basis of a steering angle command value that is input from a superior ECU via an in-vehicle network so as to change the steering angle of the steering road wheels.

Abstract: The web winding apparatus is characterized in that the two web pressing members are formed such that upon swinging, the two web pressing members move towards an empty one of the two bobbins positioned at one side of the two web pressing members which has been backed away from the cutter and upon swinging, the one of the two web pressing members which has approached the cutter presses an end portion of the web which is to be cut by the cutter on the empty bobbin thereby to wind the end portion of the web on the empty bobbin.

Abstract: A motor control multilayer printed wiring board includes: a multilayer printed wiring board having a plurality of laminated conductor layers; an upper-row FET connected to the conductor layers and configured to control a motor; a lower-row FET connected to the conductor layers and arranged at a location at which the lower-row FET overlaps with the upper-row FET in a laminated direction in which the conductor layers are laminated, the lower-row FET being configured to control the motor; and a heat dissipation mechanism arranged on the multilayer printed wiring board and arranged at a location at which the heat dissipation mechanism overlaps with at least one of the upper-row FET and the lower-row FET in the laminated direction.

Abstract: A web winding apparatus comprises a cutter, a web pressing member and a roller which are movable together between two bobbins supported respectively by two rotational center members. The cutter cuts a web being transferred, the web pressing member presses an end portion of the web cut with the cutter on the bobbin being empty, and the roller transfers the web being transferred to come, toward the bobbins. The apparatus further comprises two peripheral covers independently turnable around the rotational center members and respectively covering parts of outer peripheral surfaces of the webs wound on the two bobbins. Each of the peripheral covers respectively having circumferential openings is turnable selectively to a first position to direct the circumferential opening toward the roller and a second position to partition the bobbin side covered thereby and the roller side.

Abstract: Each tooth of a worm wheel has a first tooth flank in which a helical surface portion is arranged on one side in a rotational axis direction of the worm wheel and a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction, and a second tooth flank in which a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the one side in the rotational axis direction and the helical surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: A processor unit in an electric power converter executes detection of an overheating predicted state that is a stage prior to overheating of the IGBTs, a short circuit predicted state that is a stage prior to a short circuit in the arms, and a voltage drop predicted state that is a stage prior to a drop in a control voltage to be supplied to a driver circuit. When none of these predicted states is detected, a determination that an abnormality is not caused in the power module based on a latch signal is made by the processor unit. When an overheating predicted state is detected, the processor unit lowers the duty ratio of a motor control signal. When a short circuit predicted state is detected, the processor unit prolongs the dead time in which the upper IGBTs and the lower IGBTs are both maintained in the off-state.

Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a clutch that is able to allow and interrupt transmission of driving force to a propeller shaft, and a traction control unit that controls at least one of the driving force generated by an engine and braking force applied to right and left front wheels to suppress a slip of the right and left front wheels. When the drive mode is switched from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode, if the relative rotational speed between a first rotary member and a second rotary member constituting a clutch is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an ECU outputs a control command signal for suppressing the slip of the right and left front wheels to the traction control unit.

Abstract: There are provided a power transmission chain which can reduce a noise level further by eliminating unfavorable combinations from a random arrangement of combinations of pitch lengths and pin shapes and a power transmission system using the same power transmission chain. With respect to pitch length, links include two types of a link L1 which has a small pitch length and a link L2 which has a large pitch length. With respect to pin shape, pins include two types a pin P1 of which a curvature of a rolling contact surface is large and a pin P2 of which the curvature of the rolling contact surface is small. The links are arranged so that a possibility is avoided that a combination of (L2, P2) and a combination of (L2, P1) come immediately after a combination of (L1, P2) in a chain traveling direction, and that a possibility is adopted that a combination of (L1, P2) or a combination of (L1, P1) comes immediately after the combination of (L1, P2).

Abstract: A prong type resin cage includes: an annular portion; and multiple cage bars. Each cage bar has a roller guide face formed in each opposed face thereof, the opposed face being opposed to an outer peripheral face of a corresponding one of rollers. The roller guide face is used for roller guide by the outer peripheral face at a rotational speed equal to or lower than a prescribed rotational speed. A cage outer face including an outer peripheral face of the annular portion and radially outer faces of the cage bars has outer ring guide faces of which diameter is increased radially outward by a centrifugal force to decrease a radial clearance between the outer ring guide faces and an inner peripheral face of the outer ring, so that outer ring guide by the inner peripheral face is carried out, at a rotational speed higher than the prescribed rotational speed.

Abstract: An ECU controls the operation of an EPS actuator in order to periodically apply instantaneous motor torque to a steering system when assist continuation control is executed using a sensor signal (residual sensor signal) that is output by a sensor element in which an abnormality has not been detected, regardless of the application of an assist force. The ECU also detects an abnormality in the residual sensor signal based on whether the application of instantaneous motor torque is reflected in the residual sensor signal, which is the basis of the assist continuation control.

Abstract: In a steering system that includes: an intermediate shaft on a steering wheel side; a pinion shaft on a steered wheel side; and a cross joint by which the intermediate shaft and the pinion shaft are rotatably connected to each other on a plane intersecting with each of the shafts, and that steers steered wheels by transmitting steering torque of a steering wheel from the intermediate shaft to the pinion shaft, a weakened portion is formed in a joint spider of the cross joint. The weakened portion can be identified in advance as a portion that breaks first. This makes it possible to realize a failure mode in which a vehicle is able to run by itself for a certain period of time after a failure.

Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a worm which is swingably connected to the rotation shaft of an electric motor through a joint. A first end portion and second end portion of the worm are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. A pair of elastic members elastically urge the worm to an axial neutral position. An annular leaf spring which is held by a housing urges the second end portion toward a worm wheel through the second bearing. A synthetic resin member having a sliding contact surface which is in contact with the leaf spring is integrally disposed on the second bearing.

Abstract: An oil pump includes a rotor, an outer peripheral member accommodating the rotor, a first plate, and a second plate. A discharge passage through which hydraulic fluid is discharged is connected to a discharge port of the first plate. A first pressure gradually-changing groove and a second pressure gradually-changing groove are formed such that a second flow passage area is larger than a first flow passage area, the first flow passage area being a flow passage area of the first pressure gradually-changing groove of the first plate, at a position at which the first pressure gradually-changing groove communicates with a transfer chamber passing through a sealed region, and the second flow passage area being a flow passage area of the second pressure gradually-changing groove of the second plate, at a position at which the second pressure gradually-changing groove communicates with the transfer chamber passing through the sealed region.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator and a rotor that are used in common between two systems. An ECU controls the motor torque by supplying drive electric power to the motor coils independently of each other. When the ECU determines that the vehicle is traveling on a uneven road, the ECU causes the electric motor to perform a braking operation by short-circuiting at least two phases of the electric motor of one of the two systems that is other than the system that is executing a torque control of controlling the assist torque according to the steering torque and the vehicle speed.

Abstract: An electric power steering system includes short-circuit determination means for determining whether a short-circuit between an energization failure phase and one of the two phases other than the energization failure phase has occurred while assist force is being generated using the two phases other than the energization failure phase as energization phases. When the short-circuit determination means determines that the short-circuit has occurred, generation of the assist force is stopped.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a controller that controls, based on an assist command value, driving of a motor used to apply assist torque to a steering mechanism. The controller calculates a first assist component based on a steering torque transmitted to the steering mechanism and calculates a steered angle command value based on the steering torque. The controller executes feedback control to cause a steered angle of steerable wheels to agree with the steered angle command value, thereby calculating a second assist component. The controller calculates the assist command value based on a value obtained by adding the assist components. The controller estimates a grip factor of the wheels on a road surface on which the wheels are traveling based on the steering torque, a first assist torque determined based on the first assist component, and a second assist torque determined based on the second assist component.

Abstract: A torque transmission chain and torque transmission device of which the strength of links is increased by devising lock points that regulate the maximum relative rotation angle between the links are provided. Lock points that contact with pins and interpieces to regulate the maximum relative rotation angles are provided at four portions, that is, a front surface of a link front pillar portion, a rear surface of a link rear pillar portion and a front surface and rear surface of a link intermediate pillar portion. Each of allowable maximum relative rotation angles regulated by the lock points of a link outline portion is set so as to be smaller than each of allowable maximum relative rotation angles regulated by the lock points of the link intermediate pillar portion.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device includes: a meshing member; an electromagnetic coil; an armature; a cylindrical cam member; and a locking portion. The cam member is provided with a plurality of locked portions to be locked by the locking portion at different axial positions, such that the plurality of locked portions is formed adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction; the cam member rotates only by a first predetermined angle due to an axial movement of the armature from a first position to a second position, and the cam member further rotates only by a second predetermined angle due to a movement of the armature from the second position to the first position; and when locking of the locking portion is shifted from one of the plurality of locked portions to another locked portion circumferentially adjacent thereto so that the locking portion locks the another locked portion at a different axial position, the second meshing portion is meshed with the first meshing portion.

Abstract: A closing cover integrally includes a cover main body, and a ventilation cap body. The ventilation cap body has a connecting portion that is integrally connected to the cover main body, and at least one ventilation passage hole that is disposed in the connecting portion to perpendicularly extend, and has a depth smaller than a plate thickness of the cover main body. A ventilation recessed portion is formed at a location that is positioned on an inner surface of the ventilation cap body of the closing cover. An inner wall surface defining the ventilation recessed portion is formed in such a shape that a deep side of the ventilation passage hole is opened to the inner wall surface defining the ventilation recessed portion to form a ventilation passage. A ventilation filter is installed on an inner opening portion of the ventilation recessed portion.