Abstract: A torque coupling system including an input shaft, a main cam affixed to the input shaft, a clutch housing that surrounds the input shaft and provides an inter space, a scoop plate affixed to the clutch housing, an external housing that encloses the clutch housing and provides an outer space, and a main clutch that is articulable between a disconnected drive mode and a all-wheel drive mode. In the disconnected drive mode the main clutch disengages the input shaft from the clutch housing and the main cam rotates with the input shaft to transfer lubricant from the inner space to the outer space while in the all-wheel drive mode the main clutch engages the input shaft with the clutch housing and the scoop plate rotates with the clutch housing to scoop the lubricant from the outer space to inner space through the catch tank.

Abstract: A steering system includes a rack shaft, a housing, an electric motor, a control device, and a speed reduction mechanism that applies a moving force in the axial direction to the rack shaft with the speed of rotation of the electric motor reduced. The housing has a rack shaft housing portion and a speed reduction mechanism housing portion. The electric motor has: a motor case fixed to the housing; a plurality of stator cores disposed annularly in the motor case; coil windings wound around the plurality of stator cores; and a rotor. The motor case is formed with a water introduction hole that introduces water that has entered the speed reduction mechanism housing portion into the motor case. The control device has a detector that detects entry of water into the motor case.

Abstract: A tactile sensor has an elastically deformable sheet, a coil that is provided in the sheet, a powdery or fibrous magnetic material that is provided in the sheet with the coil, and a detection portion that detects an inductance of the coil.

Abstract: A correction circuit receives a steering torque and an electric signal indicative of an operating state of a clutch. The correction circuit selectively uses a first correction value and a second correction value in accordance with the operating state of the clutch. The first correction value is set to correct deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point when an exciting coil of the clutch is not energized. The second correction value is set to correct deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point, caused by magnetic flux generated by energization of the exciting coil of the clutch. Adding the first correction value or the second correction value to the steering torque in accordance with the operating state of the clutch suitably corrects deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point in accordance with the operating state of the clutch.

Abstract: A left steering ECU includes switching control unit that switches control mode between a first control mode and a second control mode. The first control mode is mode in which the left steering ECU controls left steering motor so that the steered angle of a left steered wheel becomes equal to a left target steered angle received from a higher-level control device. The second control mode is a mode in which the left steering ECU controls the left steering motor by torque feedback control so that the steered angle of the left steered wheel becomes equal to an angle corresponding to a neutral position of the left steered wheel. The switching control unit normally sets the control mode to the first control mode. The switching control unit switches the control mode to the second control mode if abnormal communication occurs between the higher-level control device and the left steering ECU.

Abstract: An ability evaluation system includes an input device configured to input improvement proposal information including at least one of a problematic issue, a solution to the issue, and a method for implementing the solution to the issue, an improvement proposal storage device configured to store the improvement proposal information, an access device configured to allow at least another person different from a proponent to access the stored improvement proposal information, an access information storage device configured to store first access information on the other person when the other person accesses the improvement proposal information, and an improvement ability calculation device configured to calculate a proponent's improvement ability based on the first access information.

Abstract: An inverter device includes a radiator that includes a latent heat storage material transitioning between a solid phase region, a phase transition region, and a liquid phase region, in accordance with a temperature of the latent heat storage material, and that absorbs heat generated in switching elements, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the latent heat storage material, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes a determining unit that determines whether a condition is satisfied, the condition being that the temperature of the latent heat storage material is close to a melting point of the latent heat storage material, and that the temperature of the latent heat storage material is on a rising trend, and a supercooling suppressing unit that limits a motor current when the determining unit determines that the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steered shaft, a ball screw device, a motor, and a drive force transfer mechanism. The position of a housing relative to the steered shaft with a vehicle in straight travel state is defined as a steering neutral position of the steered shaft. A deflector passage is formed such that respective end portions thereof, which are connected to a rolling path, are in a semiperimeter range of the inner peripheral surface of a rolling element nut with the steered shaft at the steering neutral position. The range is formed to extend to a phase of 90° on both sides in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface from a crossing line that is the farther from a drive pulley, of crossing lines formed with a virtual plane including respective rotational axes of the driven pulley and the drive pulley intersecting the rolling element nut.

Abstract: A bearing housing in which a rolling bearing is built includes a cylindrical inner circumferential surface and an end face formed continuously with an axial end of the inner circumferential surface in an orientation perpendicular to a central axis of the inner circumferential surface. The inner circumferential surface has an annular groove that is radially outwardly recessed around an entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface. A snap ring is attached into the annular groove to reduce displacement of the rolling bearing. A recess recessed in an axial direction and extending in a radial direction is provided in the end face of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A driving-force distribution device is provided that can supply lubricant to an above-positioned pinion gear among a pair of pinion gears even when rotation of a differential case of a differential mechanism stops in a two-wheel-drive mode of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A driving-force distribution device mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a differential mechanism and a clutch mechanism. The differential mechanism includes a differential case, a pinion shaft, a pair of pinion gears, and a pair of side gears. In the pinion shaft, a flow passage is formed through which a lubricant is allowed to flow from the below-positioned pinion gear among the pair of pinion gears toward the above-positioned pinion gear in the two-wheel-drive mode in which the pair of pinion gears rotate in opposite directions with the differential case not rotating. The lubricant is supplied to the flow passage by rotation of the below-positioned pinion gear.

Abstract: A cage for a radial roller bearing includes an inner cage member made of a continuous annular steel material and having a plurality of through holes, in which a plurality of rollers is housed in a corresponding one of the through holes, and an outer cage member made from resin and having a plurality of retaining holes, in which the plurality of rollers is retained such that the rollers are rollable, provided in correspondence with the through holes. The outer cage member is fixed to an outer side of the inner cage member by an axial projection-recess fitting structure.

Abstract: An ability evaluation system includes an operation time acquisition device configured to acquire operation times of operators, a reference time storage device configured to store reference times of operations, and a production-related ability calculation device configured to calculate, for each of the operators, a production-related ability of each of the operators based on the acquired operation times and the reference time of a corresponding operation by causing a computer to execute first arithmetic processing set in advance. The production-related ability calculation device is configured to calculate the production-related ability based on an achievement value that is a ratio at which the acquired operation times of a plurality of operations achieve the reference time, and based on a stability value of the acquired operation times of the plurality of operations.

Abstract: A steering device includes a rolling-element bearing that rotationally supports a rotating member in a housing. The rolling-element bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, first rolling elements, and second rolling elements. The first rolling elements and second rolling elements are disposed in parallel in the axial direction between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring includes a first split race having a first inner peripheral track surface and a second split race having a second inner peripheral track surface. The steering device further includes a fixing structure configured to fix the rolling-element bearing to the outer periphery of the rotating member in a state where a load is applied to the first split race, the first rolling element, the outer ring, the second rolling element, and the second split race.

Abstract: An automatic steering deactivating controller includes a first controller and a second controller. At a time when a transition control start requirement is satisfied, the first controller saves an angle control target torque set by an angle controller. The angle control target torque is saved in the form of a transition control start angle control target torque. The second controller calculates a transition control target automatic steering torque in accordance with the transition control start angle control target torque and a road load torque estimated by a road load estimator. The second controller assigns weights to the transition control target automatic steering torque and a target assist torque using the absolute value of a value responsive to an angle difference so as to calculate a target motor torque. The second controller controls an electric motor in accordance with the target motor torque.

Abstract: A driving power transmission device includes a fluid pressure type clutch device that transmits driving power between two shaft members, and a pump that supplies a fluid to the clutch device. The pump includes a pump that makes a pressure of sucked fluid high; a first flow passage through which the fluid according to a pressure discharged from the pump is supplied to the clutch device during a driving of the pump; a second flow passage through which the fluid discharged from the pump is held during a stop of the pump and a pressing force is applied to the clutch device by the fluid to be held; and a switching valve that is switchable between a normal mode where a discharge port of the pump communicates with the first flow passage and a locking mode where the discharge port of the pump communicates with the second flow passage.

Abstract: Provided is a steering control apparatus configured to suppress the occurrence of abnormalities in components in respective systems at the same timing. A first assist torque calculation circuit calculates a first command value and a second command value based on a steering torque. A first current feedback control circuit calculates a control signal by using the first command value. A second current feedback control circuit calculates a control signal by using the second command value. When the steering torque is equal to or smaller than a steering torque threshold, the first assist torque calculation circuit executes calculation so that the first command value is larger than the second command value. After the steering torque exceeds the steering torque threshold, the first assist torque calculation circuit executes calculation so that the first command value is equal to the second command value.

Abstract: A steering control unit includes a microcomputer that performs sensorless control of driving of a motor by using an estimated electrical angle estimated by calculation. The microcomputer has a first estimation calculation state and a second estimation calculation state. In the first estimation calculation state, the microcomputer calculates the estimated electrical angle from a value obtained by accumulating a first additional angle calculated by a first additional angle calculation circuit on the basis of a voltage induced in the motor. In the second estimation calculation state, the microcomputer calculates the estimated electrical angle from a value obtained by accumulating a second additional angle calculated by a second additional angle calculation circuit that performs torque feedback control that causes steering torque to follow a target torque value. In a low steering velocity state, the microcomputer calculates the estimated electrical angle in the second estimation calculation state.

Abstract: A production method for a resin molding includes: preparing fiber-reinforced resin by continuously feeding a long roving containing a reinforcing fiber, with its length unchanged, into base resin that has been heated to be plasticized; forming a resin molding using the fiber-reinforced resin; and heating the formed resin molding in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a first circuit board and an electrical connection module disposed on a base of a body housing, a first connector group electrically connected to the electrical connection module, and a second connector group disposed on a wall of the body housing. The first connector group and the second connector group are arranged in a first direction along the wall. The base, the electrical connection module, and the first circuit board have respective positioning holes for positioning relative to each other. A positioning pin is insertable into openings of the second positioning hole and the first positioning hole, and another positioning pin is insertable into openings of the third positioning hole and the first positioning hole.

Abstract: Provided is a steering control unit for improving influence of fluctuations in an estimated electrical angle on steering feel. A steering control unit includes a microcomputer that performs sensorless control of the driving of a motor by using an estimated electrical angle estimated by calculation. The microcomputer calculates the estimated electrical angle from a value that is obtained by selectively accumulating a first additional angle or a second additional angle. The microcomputer adjusts a vibration component of fluctuations in the estimated electrical angle by varying the amount of change in the first additional angle and the second additional angle.