Abstract: A microcomputer compares a low voltage LV and a middle voltage MV to a predetermined voltage Vth set at a value in the vicinity of the grounded voltage (0 V) on the basis of detected phase voltages Vu, Vv and Vw, and thus, detects a break in a power supply line.

Abstract: A bearing device includes: an outer ring having an outer ring raceway groove on its inner circumferential surface; an inner ring having an inner ring raceway groove on its outer circumferential surface; balls arranged between the outer and inner ring raceway grooves; a retainer retaining the balls; and a liquid lubricant supply device supplying oil content of grease to the space between the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring and the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring. The liquid lubricant supply device includes a liquid lubricant passage providing fluid communication between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface; and a vibrating device contacting the grease to vibrate the grease to supply a liquid lubricant to the space between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface via the liquid lubricant passage.

Abstract: An outer ring of a bearing device for a vehicle has a cylindrical main body extending from an inner vehicle side to an axially opposite side. The main body has a raceway at an inner peripheral surface. A flange is provided at an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring toward the ring's vehicle inner side end. A cylindrical fitting tolerance part also is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, at a position closer to the vehicle inner side end than the flange. The axial length of the cylindrical fitting tolerance part may be designed to be any of various lengths. The bearing device is manufactured by turning the cylindrical main body while holding the flange, such as for embodiments in which the cylindrical fitting tolerance part has a short length unsuitable for holding.

Abstract: A thrust roller bearing including: a pair of races each of which has an annular plate; a cage interposed between the pair of races, formed by a single annular plate including a bent portion bent in an intermediate region in a radial direction of the cage such that a plurality of projecting portions to project in a thickness direction of the cage are formed on a first side and a second side of the cage, and a plurality of pockets stamped out in the thickness direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the cage; and a plurality of rollers received respectively in the pockets. At least two projecting portions are formed on each of the first side and the second side of the cage; and a plurality of race-contacting projection portions are arranged on a surface of at least one of the two projecting portions on at least one of the first side and the second side of the cage at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the cage.

Abstract: A spline shaft that can suppress occurrence of stick slip by measures other than just simply making the surface roughness smaller. The spline shaft includes a first shaft with an outer-peripheral spline formed, and a second shaft with an inner-peripheral spline, which engages with the outer-peripheral spline peripherally and that is made slidable axially, formed. And, at least either one of the outer-peripheral spline and the inner-peripheral spline includes a substrate whose surface is formed to a predetermined surface roughness, and an amorphous carbon-system hard thin film, which coats and forms the surface of substrate.

Abstract: If the ambient temperature of a pressure volute measured by a temperature sensor exceeds 0° C., a compressor is instantly started at normal operation. If the temperature of the pressure volute measured by the temperature sensor is 0° C. or lower, vibration along the axial direction is given to the rotary shaft by way of an axial magnetic bearing. If the vibration amplitude of the thus given vibration exceeds a predetermined value, the compressor is started at normal operation after idle operation. On the other hand, if the vibration amplitude is lower than a predetermined value, the heater is actuated to heat the pressure volute only for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the ambient temperature is detected again, and if the ambient temperature exceeds 0° C., the compressor is started.

Abstract: A propeller shaft includes a first shaft having a yoke at one end, a second shaft slidably connected to the other end of the first shaft, and a surface treated member which is arranged at a connecting portion, at which the first shaft and the second shaft are connected to each other, and to which surface treatment for improving slidability of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is applied. The surface treated member is formed by a substrate which is separate from the first shaft and the second shaft and to which the surface treatment has been applied. The surface treated member is arranged at the connecting portion, at which the first shaft and the second shaft are connected to each other, after the surface treatment is applied.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a hollow rack shaft, and a hollow rack shaft, a tubular member (23) having a planar flat portion (22) that is formed in part of a tubular body portion (21) is sandwiched and held between a cope (25) and a drag (26) that has a tooth-shaped portion (29) substantially symmetrical with rack teeth (7) so that a surface (22a) of the flat portion (22) is in contact with the tooth-shaped portion (29). A back die (14) having a plurality of protrusions (15) is arranged so that the protrusions (15) face groove portions (29a) of the tooth-shaped portion (29) across the flat portion (22), and the back die (14) is pressed against the flat portion (22) to form the rack teeth (7) to thereby manufacture the rack shaft.

Abstract: A first computing section stores a plurality of types of variable transmission ratio characteristics prescribed in correspondence with different modes in the form of maps. With reference to one of the maps corresponding to a selected one of the modes, the first computing section computes a first command angle by which the variable transmission ratio characteristics prescribed by the map are brought about. In this manner, variable gear ratio control is carried out. After a subsequent mode has been selected, the first computing section does not switch the maps which are referred to in the variable gear ratio control if the steering wheel turning angle ?s is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value ?.

Abstract: A motor control device for controlling a d-axis current and a q-axis current on dq coordinates to control a motor, includes a q-axis current command value setting unit which sets a q-axis current command value, an upper limit/lower limit setting unit which sets an upper limit and a lower limit of the q-axis current, a comparing unit which compares the q-axis current command value set by the q-axis current command value setting unit and the upper limit and the lower limit set by the upper limit/lower limit setting unit, a q-axis current command value limiting unit which puts a limit on the q-axis current command value in accordance with a comparison result by the comparing unit, and a d-axis current command value setting unit which sets a d-axis current command value on the basis of the q-axis current command value limited by the q-axis current command value limiting unit.

Abstract: A torque distributing apparatus 8 comprises a differential gear unit 14, a planetary gear set 31 arranged between first and second output shafts 12L and 12R, a motor 32 driving the planetary gear set 31, and a speed change gear set 51 compensating a speed change ratio of the planetary gear set 31. The planetary gear set 31 and the speed change gear set 51 are arranged coaxially outward of the first output shaft 12L. The motor 32 is arranged coaxially outward of the planetary gear set 31 and the speed change gear set 51.

Abstract: An electric pump includes: a second housing and a first housing separated from each other in an axial direction; a stator portion that accommodates an annular coil portion; an outer rotor portion that is rotated based on a magnetic field generated by the coil portion, at a position on the inner side of the housings; and an inner rotor that is rotatably supported by a support shaft portion having an axis that is offset from that of the outer rotor portion, and that has an outer peripheral surface that is engaged with an inner peripheral surface of the outer rotor portion. The second housing is fitted onto the support shaft portion, to which the first housing has been fixed, from one side of the support shaft portion in the axial direction. As a result, the outer rotor portion and the stator portion are clamped between the first housing and the second housing from both sides in the axial direction.

Abstract: There is provided a clutch release bearing in which a water resistance is enhanced. At that a side axially opposite from one side where an outer ring rib of a clutch release bearing is formed, there is provided a first seal member externally fitted to an outer ring to be fixed thereto. A seal lip disposed in sliding contact with an outside-diameter surface of an inner ring is formed at a radially-inward distal end of the first seal member. An annular guide is provided at a bearing-outward side of the first seal member, and an axial lip which extends toward the outside of the bearing and extends to be disposed radially outwardly of the guide is formed at a bearing-outward side face of the first seal member. The axial lip is disposed in non-contact, close relation to the guide to form a labyrinth. A radially outwardly-open groove is formed in a joint portion of the axial lip joined to the first seal member.

Abstract: A current command value computation section 22 is provided with a q-axis current command value correction section 31 and an expected voltage utilization factor computation section 32. The expected voltage utilization factor computation section 32 estimates an expected voltage utilization factor f based on a rotational angular velocity ? of a motor 12, a q-axis current command value Iq*, and a power voltage Vb (the maximum voltage Vmax). The expected voltage utilization factor f is the ratio of required output voltage to the maximum voltage Vmax applicable to a drive circuit 18. Based on the expected voltage utilization factor f, the q-axis current command value correction section 31 corrects the q-axis current command value Iq* such that the corrected expected voltage utilization factor f does not exceed a predetermined value that corresponds to the voltage saturation limit.

Abstract: A tapered roller bearing includes: an oil guide member that opens and closes an annular opening between an outer peripheral surface of a large rib of an inner ring and an outer ring and is mounted on the large rib; and a discharge port that discharges, along the outer peripheral surface of the large rib, lubricating oil and is formed through an inner peripheral portion of the oil guide member. The oil guide member includes a closing portion for closing the annular opening. When a fluid pressure of the lubricating oil which flows through pockets of a cage toward an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring is below a predetermined values, the closing portion closes the annular opening and guides the lubricating oil toward the discharge port. When the fluid pressure exceeds the predetermined value, the closing portion opens the annular opening.

Abstract: There is provided a torque detecting device including: magnetic flux concentrating rings which locate on a magnetic circuit forming member provided in a rotating body to which a torque is exerted, the rings concentrating a magnetic flux generated by the member; a detecting part which detects the torque to the rotating body based on a density of the magnetic flux concentrated by the rings; and a holding ring which holds the magnetic flux concentrating rings and the detecting part and includes an attachment portion attaching to a stationary substance, on a circumference of the holding ring. Both end faces of the holding ring in an axial direction of the holding ring are substantially parallel. The attachment portion includes a fitting groove into which a sealing ring, which seals a gap between the attachment portion and the stationary substance, fits.

Abstract: An electric power steering system (1) includes a tubular sensor housing (34) which accommodates a torque sensor (20), a gear housing (32) which accommodates a speed reduction mechanism (24), and an upper bearing (40) and a lower bearing (41) which rotatably support a steering shaft (3) on opposite sides of the speed reduction mechanism (24). The gear housing (32) includes a tubular lower housing (37) supporting the lower bearing (41), and an upper housing (36). The upper housing (36) includes an inner tube (67), an outer tube (68), and an annular connection wall (69) connecting the inner tube (67) and the outer tube (68). The outer tube (68) is press-fitted in the lower housing (37). The inner tube (67) is press-fitted to an inner periphery (72) of a lower portion (71) of the sensor housing (34), whereby the inner tube (67) has a reduced diameter. As a result, an outer ring (44) of the upper bearing (40) is tightly fitted and supported in the inner tube (67).

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus includes an actuator that generates a steering force, and a first speed reduction mechanism connected to the actuator. To the first speed reduction mechanism, a second speed reduction mechanism is connected. To the second speed reduction mechanism, a steering mechanism is connected. A sub-assembly including the actuator and the first speed reduction mechanism is configured.

Abstract: A safety PLC includes an I/O module to which a safety device for detecting a predetermined condition at any time is connected, a CPU module that executes a safety program for managing the I/O module, and a communication unit that interconnects the I/O module and the CPU module with each other. The CPU module includes: a PIN code memory that stores a PIN code for authenticating that the safety program satisfies a predetermined standard; a PIN code input unit that allows a user to designate the PIN code; a program auto-creating unit that automatically creates the safety program; and a program authentication unit that puts the safety program into an executable condition when the PIN code designated by the user coincides with the PIN code stored in the PIN code memory.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode of steering road wheels by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus includes a clutch which is composed of a shaft that rotates together with the steering device, an internal gear ring which has a rotation center coinciding with that of the shaft and transmits its rotation to the steering mechanism, an external gear ring partially intermeshed with the internal gear ring, lock members which transmit/disconnect the rotation of the shaft to the external gear, and a lock operating member for displacing the lock members to lock/unlock positions.