Abstract: An intake manifold is provided that comprises a plurality of intake ducts, a surge tank, a vacuum chamber, and a negative pressure check valve. The negative pressure check valve enables negative pressure induced in the surge tank to flow into the vacuum chamber. Each upstream end of the intake ducts protrudes into the inside of the surge tank. Further, a pressure inlet formed inside the surge tank, to lead the negative pressure induced inside the surge tank to the negative pressure check valve, is positioned on a side closer to an engine than the respective upstream ends of the intake ducts.

Abstract: A controller supplies a predetermined constant current as a drive current to an electromagnetic actuator in response to detection of a non-normal state including an abnormal signal system and an abnormal engine start state, and a force that keeps an intake valve of an engine is appropriately controlled with this drive current. As a result, engine start characteristics are improved and an engine operation is maintained even when the signal system is abnormal.

Abstract: A coupling unit provides a coupling between a valve element of an opening-closing valve and a moving element of an electromagnetic actuator so as to enable mutual movement of the two elements relative to each other within a predetermined restricted range. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an opening-closing valve driving apparatus that can reduce power consumption of the electromagnetic actuator and is excellent in responsivity.

Abstract: The present device is a fuel supply device to pressurize and supply fuel F which is stored in a fuel tank 10, which comprises a fuel supply pipe 11 which forms a supply passage for the fuel F, a fuel filter 12 to filter the fuel F disposed at the midway of the fuel pipe 11 and below the fuel tank 10, a fuel pump 13 to pressure-feed the fuel F disposed at the downstream side than the fuel filter 12, and a venting pipe 15 to connect the downstream side of the fuel filter 12 and an upper air-space A of the fuel tank 10. The object is to provide the fuel supply device and the fuel filter utilized for the fuel supply device which can ensure the discharging amount of the fuel pump by satisfactory removing of vapor which is generated in the fuel sucked to the fuel pump.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is disclosed a hydrogen sensor comprising a substrate, a rare earth metal film formed on the substrate, and a protective film formed on the rare earth metal film, wherein the protective film comprises a ceramic material and hydrogen-permeable metal particles dispersed in the ceramic material.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is disclosed a hydrogen-permeable membrane which comprises a ceramic material composed of a nitride of aluminum (Al) and/or silicon (Si), an oxide of aluminum (Al) and/or silicon (Si), or a silicide of a rare earth element, and particles of at least one kind of hydrogen-permeable metal selected from palladium (Pd), niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), tantalum (Ta) and an alloy thereof, dispersed in the ceramic material, wherein a proportion of the hydrogen-permeable metal particles in the hydrogen-permeable membrane is 30 to 70% by mass and a thickness of the membrane is 5 to 1,000 nm.

Abstract: A liquid diluting device, with a small and simple structure, is capable of reliably sealing and simply changing dilution concentration. Diluent passages are formed in a first body, and a connecting passage for introducing special liquid connects to these diluent passages. A cylindrical dial covering an opening section of the connecting passage is rotatably provided on an outer section of the first body, a plurality of jets passing through from the inside to the outside are formed in conjunction with this cylindrical dial, and the diameters of the plurality of jets are different. A liquid supply passage is set at a position opposite the connecting passage, so that the cylindrical dial is sandwiched between the liquid supply passage and the connecting passage, and the connecting passage and the liquid supply passage are connected by a jet having a diameter matching the dilution factor to introduce special liquid from the liquid supply passage to one of the diluent passages.

Abstract: A liquid dilution device is provided to prevent choking at a jet for adjusting the flow amount of a special liquid. In the liquid dilution device in which the special liquid from a liquid supply passage 33 of a liquid intake device 29, is introduced to a diluent passage 12 formed in a main body 10 through a jet 22, an air intake opening 37 and a plug 38 to open and close the air intake opening 37 are provided at the liquid intake device 29 to connect the liquid supply passage 33 and atmospheric air. At the state that air from the air intake opening can be introduced to the diluent passage 12 through the jet 22 with the plug 38 opened, high velocity air passes through the jet 22 due to negative pressure generated at the diluent passage 12, by making water pass through the diluent passage 12. Due to the high velocity air, the special liquid stuck to the jet 22 is removed and the jet 22 is cleaned.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus and fuel injection method are provided for injecting a suitable fuel with a quick response in accordance with variations in required fuel injection amounts, while improving the energy efficiency, and enabling support for an electromagnetic fuel injection apparatus. The control apparatus controls the electromagnetic fuel injection apparatus that pressurizes fuel to be injected, and has a driving circuit for driving a solenoid for fuel injection, a driving signal generating circuit for generating a solenoid driving signal based on an injection cycle signal for specifying a fuel injection period and a PWM cycle signal to provide to the driving circuit, and a control circuit for generating the PWM cycle signal with a duty ratio corresponding to a required fuel injection amount, and providing the PWM cycle signal and the injection cycle signal to the driving signal generating circuit.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a drive unit for a direct-acting valve for internal combustion engines by which a quiet internal combustion engine can be obtained with noise suppressed. This system comprises an inlet valve 8 arranged slidably near an inlet port 4 of an internal combustion engine 12 for driving the inlet port to open and close, an electromagnetic actuator 1 that drives the inlet valve to open and close, and a current control unit 11 that controls a driving current supplied to the electromagnetic actuator. The current control unit continuously supplies the driving current, having a controlled variable value, to the electromagnetic actuator based on the operation condition of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A multiple throttle apparatus has a plurality of throttle valves respectively disposed at each air intake passage corresponding to each cylinder of an engine, a plurality of throttle shafts to support the plurality of throttle valves for each group, and a plurality of drive elements to respectively drive the throttle shafts. With this structure, open-close control of one group of the throttle valves and of the other group of throttle valves can be performed separately. Therefore, the combustion condition, namely the power, can adequately be controlled in accordance with the driving conditions, and fine control, even to perform ISC, is possible. In this manner, it becomes possible to obtain electronic control and fine control to a multiple throttle apparatus of an engine mounted on a motorcycle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel supply system includes a fuel discharge apparatus having a vapor removal system. The fuel discharge apparatus includes an apparatus body, a fuel chamber defined in the body, a fuel inlet connected to a fuel tank, a fuel supply path partially defined by the fuel inlet and connecting the fuel chamber to the fuel tank, a fuel discharge outlet, a fuel return outlet for return of excess fuel to the fuel tank, and a reflux path connecting the fuel supply path to the fuel return outlet. A vapor blocking member is provided in the fuel supply path at a bifurcation point at which the reflux path branches from the fuel supply path. The reflux path is arranged such that vapor blocked by the vapor blocking member rises from the bifurcation point and through the reflux path to the fuel return outlet due to self-buoyancy of the vapor.

Abstract: A water pump includes an engage mechanism 25 which is disposed between a pump body 21 and the end portion of a pump shaft 23 opposite to the side where an impeller 22 is attached, while engaging the pump shaft to the pump body against the urging force of the urging member which urges a mechanical seal 24. The engage mechanism includes an annular member 26 which is rotatably fitted to the pump shaft 23 while contacting the pump body 21, and a cylindrical engage pin 27 which pierces the pump shaft 23 in the diameter direction while sandwiching the annular member 26 with the pump body 21.

Abstract: The magnetic position sensor comprises a permanent magnet piece, a first stator and a second stator arranged, opposite to each other, on an outer circular arc surface of the permanent magnet piece. A Hall element is arranged between the first stator and the second stator. An armature arranged is on an inner circular arc surface of the permanent magnet piece. Only the permanent magnet piece is formed in the rotor so as to integrally rotate, thereby detecting a rotation angle of the rotor.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injection device includes a plunger pump constituted by a cylinder, a plunger is slidably mounted within the cylinder to form a pressure chamber, and a solenoid coil for driving the plunger. At a lower section of a body that encases the plunger pump, an intake section is coupled to the pressure chamber to cause intake of fuel into the pressure chamber upon operation of the plunger. At an upper section of the body, a return section is arranged to return surplus fuel to a fuel tank. A circulation passage branches off from the intake section and is provided between the cylinder and the solenoid coil for guiding a portion of the fuel toward the return section. With this arrangement, penetration of vapor into the fuel injection device is suppressed, and an inexpensive and highly durable electronically controlled fuel injection device is provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator that detects the position or speed of a drive unit, a valve drive unit and a position or speed sensor that employs the electromagnetic actuator are provided. In the electromagnetic actuator, a magnetic flux generator generates and distributes the magnetic flux. When the magnetic flux changes because of movement of a movable unit, a magnetic path is formed in a magnetic path component that is provided along the direction of movement of the movable unit. The magnetic path passes through a magnetic component. The magnetic flux distributed to the magnetic component is then detected.

Abstract: A structure for connecting a rotating shaft to a rotary sensor, includes a first stator having two magnet-facing sides disposed on an arc and spaced apart, a second stator having one magnet-facing side and disposed between the two magnet-facing sides, a hall element disposed between the first and second stators, a moving magnet having different polarities and disposed along the outside arc of the three magnet-facing sides, and a rotor having the moving magnet. The rotating shaft is loosely fitted in a fitting hole 116b of the rotor. The rotating shaft is supported in the fitting hole by a pin, and a clearance-maintaining member maintains the distances between the moving magnet and the first and second stators constant. The rotary sensor can detect angles accurately even if misalignment occurs between the center of the rotor and the center of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A non-contact position sensor including a first stator having two magnet facing sides, a second stator having one magnet facing side aligned with the two magnet facing sides along a locus, a hall element between the first and second stators, and two magnets located next to each other along the locus opposite the three magnet facing sides so as to move freely along the locus. When configured as a rotary sensor, an arbitrary angle of usage can be set. When configured as a linear sensor, a magnet can be made thick without increasing leakage of magnetic flux.

Abstract: Intake air pressure of an internal combustion engine is detected at a plurality of timings during a full stroke, a threshold pressure is set between the minimum and maximum values of detected intake air pressures, detected intake air pressures lower than the threshold pressure are averaged, and an intake air volume is measured using the average intake air pressure as a parameter. A method for measuring the intake air volume in an internal combustion engine is thereby provided in which the relation between a detected intake air pressure and an intake air volume is linear regardless of crank timing when the intake air volume is estimated based on the intake air pressure.

Abstract: An intake pressure detecting device for detecting the intake pressure in an intake pipe as information for controlling the operational state of an engine includes an intake pressure detecting sensor for detecting the absolute pressure of the intake air. It further includes a reference voltage power supply for supplying a prescribed reference voltage Vref and a differential amplifier for amplifying the differential between the output voltage Vin from the intake pressure detecting sensor and the reference voltage Vref of the reference voltage power supply. Further, an A/D converter is included for converting the analogue signal output by the differential amplifier to a digital signal. Thereby, the intake pressure can be detected to a high degree of accuracy in a two-cycle engine, for example, which has a relatively low intake negative pressure, while achieving cost reductions.