Abstract: A positioning pin and a bolt hole positioned near this pin are provided at a plate-shaped rear-portion attachment face portion of a suspension cross member. A positioning hole having the positioning pin inserted thereinto and a bolt hole positioned near this positioning hole are provided at a tunnel frame on the side of a vehicle. The rear-portion attachment face portion and the tunnel frame are fastened by a bolt inserting into the bolt holes together with a nut. Accordingly, the support rigidity of the suspension cross member during the normal vehicle traveling can be secured and the smooth retreat of the power unit to restrain the collision load from having bad influence on passengers in the vehicle frontal collision can be achieved.

Abstract: A pillar reinforcement of a center pillar comprises an upper part and a lower part with a boundary line of these parts being positioned below the middle level of the pillar reinforcement. The upper and lower parts respectively include side wall portions which extend along a vehicle side face and pairs of vertical wall portions which extend inwardly from front and rear end portions of the side wall portions. The pair of vertical wall portions of the lower part is slant relative to the vehicle width direction so that the distance between the vertical wall portions becomes wider toward the inward direction, and a slant angle of the pair of vertical wall portions of the lower part is greater than that of the vertical portions of the upper part.

Abstract: A pillar trim on the vehicle-interior side of a pillar includes a pillar trim body located below an airbag and connected at its upper end part to the lower end of a top sealing member. A plurality of guide platforms are raised from the upper end part of the pillar trim body at spaced intervals in the vehicle front-to-rear direction to guide the inflation of the airbag towards the vehicle interior. The basal ends of each adjacent guide platforms are joined by a connecting part between the adjacent guide platforms. A groove for receiving the lower end of the top sealing member is formed between the vehicle-interior sides of the guide platforms and the pillar trim body. A through hole is vertically formed at least between the connecting part and the pillar trim body to open into the groove.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine and system including the engine is provided. The method may include closing an exhaust valve of a combustion chamber of said engine during a cylinder cycle prior to opening an intake valve of said combustion chamber. The method may include, when a desired engine torque is a predetermined torque or greater, supplying a first pilot fuel into said combustion chamber after said exhaust valve closing and supplying a first main fuel into said combustion chamber after the combustion of said first preliminary fuel during the cylinder cycle. The method may include, when a desired engine torque is less than said predetermined torque, supplying a second pilot fuel into said combustion chamber after said exhaust valve closing during the cylinder cycle and supplying a second main fuel into said combustion chamber after the supplying of said second pilot fuel into said combustion chamber.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus is disclosed which can improve the locking response speed of a lockup clutch when an engine is driven by the output side, without largely changing the structure of the lockup clutch or the like. In the lockup clutch of this transmission apparatus, fixing portions (21a) for a support member (24) of a damper spring (23) are fixed to a plurality of portions on a predetermined circumference of a piston (21) which are inside a friction member (22). Projections (21b) extending in the radial direction are formed, at those positions of the lockup piston (21) which are inside the friction member (22) and sandwiched by the fixing portions (21a) for the support member (24) of the damper spring (23), to project toward a front cover.

Abstract: A center-matched double hinged door assembly for a vehicle having a continuous side aperture at each of opposite side of a vehicle body comprises a front door hinged at a rear end to the vehicle body, a rear door hinged at a front end to the vehicle body, and a door lock/unlock mechanism operative to prevent the rear door from opening prior to the front door while the front door remains closed, to allow the rear door to open while the front door remains open and to allow the rear door to close irrespective of whether the front door remains open or closed.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering control system comprising a rear wheel steering mechanism, drive motor connected with said rear wheel steering mechanism for actuating the same, target setting means for setting a target steering angle of the rear wheels in accordance with a predetermined factor, motor control unit for controlling said drive motor so as to accomplish the target steering angle of the rear wheels, lock device for preventing the rear wheel steering mechanism from any steering movement when the target steering angle is substantially constant, release device for releasing the lock device to allow the steering movement of the rear wheel steering mechanism even when the target steering angle of the rear wheels is substantially constant under a predetermined condition, the control system is responsive in controlling the steering of the vehicle.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus executes feedback control on the basis of throttle valve position data in order to electronically drive a throttle valve in accordance with an operation of an accelerator pedal. The throttle valve is connected to a motor through a wire. The control apparatus calculates a signal for the feedback control so as to suppress resonance of the throttle valve caused by connection through the wire.

Abstract: A body structure for a two-door type automobile including a roof rail extending along each side of a roof panel, a side sill extending along each side of a floor panel, a center pillar having an upper end connected with the roof rail and extending substantially downwardly therefrom, a rear fender panel having a substantially vertically extending front edge portion which is bent transversely inwardly of the body structure to form a stepped configuration complementary to a rear edge configuration of a side door adapted to be mounted on said body structure, an inner panel having a front edge secured to the front edge portion of the rear fender panel and a rear edge also secured to the rear fender panel to form a lower pillar of closed cross-section, the lower pillar being connected at an upper end with the center pillar and at a lower end with the side sill.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a sheet metal product including an opening surrounded at least partially by a drawn area, the process comprising steps of providing a pair of drawing dies, one having a drawing punch and the other having a drawing cavity adapted for cooperation with the drawing punch, putting a blank of sheet metal between the drawing dies, advancing one of the dies toward the other so that the blank is drawn by the punch and the cavity. The process includes a step of forming a slit in the blank by tearing the blank at an area which corresponds to the opening and which is adjacent to an area where the blank is stretched during the drawing step.