Abstract: An air/fuel ratio sensor is described, comprising an oxygen concentration electrochemical cell and an oxygen pump disposed in a face-to-face relationship with a gap being formed therebetween, the side of said electrochemical cell opposite the side facing said oxygen pump being in contact with the atmosphere, said gap forming a gas diffusion compartment that communicates with a gas to be analyzed by a gas diffusion limiting means, wherein the gap existing between said oxygen concentration electrochemical cell and said oxygen pump has a width of no more than 0.22 mm and no less than 0.01 mm.

Abstract: A vehicular a.c. generator comprising a stator coupled to a pair of brackets on either side, a rotor secured to a rotary shaft supported with both brackets via respective bearings, and a pair of fans fitted to the core portions on either side of the rotor, wherein each bracket has a plurality of suction ports at one end and a plurality of exhaust ports in the outer peripheral portion thereof, wherein the inner edge face of one bracket axially faces vanes of the fan with a small clearance therebetween and wherein the generator is ventilated and cooled by the fans as the rotor rotates, is characterized in that a gently-sloping annular depression is provided in the inner edge face of the one bracket facing the vanes of the fan, the depression being made in a clearance that axially grows larger from the axial center of the suction part toward both the external radial positions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an armature of a wave winding type for a D.C. motor wherein the number of commutator bars is reduced to half the number of slots in the armature coil. Each armature winding is formed by interconnecting two coils at a common front head portion and includes four straight portions accommodated in separate slots with connecting end portions being secured, respectively, to two commutator bars.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining (EDM) apparatus having one or more dielectric tanks, each having one or more compartments, connected to an EDMing tank by pipes, defining input and output dielectric paths and having selectively placed therein pumps and control valves. The tanks are used for containing dielectric during roughing and finishing operations. Filters are used in the paths for removal of particles suspended in the dielectric. A filter loop with input and output paths containing a bidirectional filter can be used to filter and store finishing powders from a finishing dielectric and to regenerate the finishing dielectric by backwashing the filter with clean dielectric to replace the powder in the dielectric. Various combinations of inputs, discharge and filter paths may be used with various designs of dielectric tanks, having one or more compartments, in order to meet particular operational requirements.

Abstract: A correlation detector for images including: a unit for converting pixel signals of two images into digital data; a unit for deriving either an absolute value of a difference between the two pixel signals or a product of the two pixel signals from a table in accordance with pixel signal values of the two images; a unit for converting the derived value into an analog value; and a unit for storing electric charges while converting the converted analog value into a current value which is proportional to the converted analog value. Since the correlation between the two images are calculated using a table and the addition is performed in terms of storing electric charges, the correlation detector can be down-sized with simple circuits and its operation speed is improved as well.

Abstract: An ignition coil device for an internal combustion engine includes an air gap between the two heat generating sources, the coil assembly and the power transistor unit, such that the coil assembly and the power transistor unit are thermally isolated from each other. Further, the primary winding bobbin has an inner projection inserted into the air gap of the core to maintain the gap. Furthermore, the primary winding bobbin and the secondary winding bobbin each has a first and a second bobbin attachment portion. First the high voltage tower attachment portion of the high voltage tower is engaged with the bobbin attachment portion on the secondary winding bobbin and the connector attachment portion of the connector is engaged with the bobbin attachment portion on the primary winding bobbin, to form respective integral sub-units.

Abstract: A machining method and apparatus for avoiding the double machining by a wire electrode of the same point on the desired contour of a workpiece, particularly the point where a predetermined entrance line intersects with the desired contour. The predetermined entrance line locus is automatically modified on the basis of the parameters of the workpiece and electrode such that at least a portion of the modified entrance line locus intersects the desired contour at an obtuse angle or a tangent, that portion of the modified locus being a curve or a straight line. The return locus from the desired contour to the entrance line also may be modified in addition or instead of the entrance line. The electrical parameters of the machining may further be monitored and modified in order to avoid intrusions of the desired contour.

Abstract: A curved surface designing method comprises the steps of a first step of inputting edge shape data of n-sides of a curved surface, a second step of obtaining a regular n-sided polygon in a parameter space on the basis of the given data of n sides, a third step of calculating distance parameters on the basis of the regular n-sided polygon obtained by the second step, a fourth step of calculating blending values on the basis of the distance parameters, a fifth step of mapping an inner point D of the regular n-sided polygon onto the respective sides so as to calculate boundary parameters, a sixth step of calculating at least one of three-dimensional coordinate points, and, if necessary, tangent vectors, on sides which are boundaries of the curved surface on the basis of the boundary parameters, and a seventh step of calculating arbitrary points on the curved surface on the basis of the distance parameters, the blending values, the three-dimensional coordinate points of the respective sides, and, if necessary, th

Abstract: An overcharge preventive device for an automotive battery charging circuit comprises an odorant sensor 6 for detecting the amount of gas generated from the battery 1 during charging (FIG. 3). A detector circuit 7 generates an overcharge detection signal when the amount of gas exceeds a predetermined level. In response thereto, the display or monitor lamp 8 displays the overcharged state, and the interruptor circuit 9 separates the alternator 5 from the battery 1. Alternatively, when the automobile has an audio device such as radio, a voltage detector 19 detects the voltage across the load 4 and outputs a signal when the voltage exceeds a predetermined level, an alarm signal generator 20 generating an audio signal in response to the output signal of the voltage detector 19, such that an alarm sound or voice is produced by a loudspeaker 17 via the amplifier 16 (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A wire-type electric discharge machining apparatus capable of attracting material from a workpiece to an integral electromagnet. An aperture is located proximate the electromagnet. When material is attracted by the electromagnet, the aperture will be obstructed. Attraction is confirmed by measuring the pressure in a chamber in communication with the aperture, such that a low pressure indicates obstruction, and thus attraction of the material to the electromagnet. If based on this measurement it appears that the material has not been attracted to the electromagnet, a further attempt is made at a different location of attraction.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes an operational condition detecting device for detecting the operational condition of an engine, an A/D converter for converting an analog output from the operational condition detecting device into a digital output, an abnormality detecting device for detecting an abnormality in the A/D converter, an arithmetic circuit for calculating a control quantity for the engine based on the digital output of the A/D converter and a driver for actuating selected devices included in the engine in accordance with the control quantity. According to one aspect of the invention, the control quantity for the engine is replaced by a control quantity calculated based on a previously determined fixed value based on whether an abnormal state in the A/D converter is detected.

Abstract: A cylinder identification apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes the following units. A reference signal generator that senses the rotation of an engine crankshaft and generates a reference signal indicating each time the crankshaft is at a prescribed rotational angle. An identification signal generator senses the rotation of the engine camshaft or other member coupled to and rotating at 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft and generates a cylinder identification signal having a different form for different cylinders of the engine. A control unit identifies each cylinder of the engine based on the form of the cylinder identification signal.

Abstract: An electric discharge machining method which is practiced with stable machining condition and with high machining efficiency. The condition which, in machining a workpiece, tends to place the gap between the electrode and workpiece in unstable state is detected, and the period of time for which the condition thus selected lasts is set so that the discharge energy of a pulse voltage applied across the electrode and the workpiece is reduced for the period of time thus set. Therefore, in the electric discharge machining method of the invention, the machining operation is maintained stable with high machining efficiency at all times.

Abstract: A method for synchronously interlocking feed axes of a lathe is disclosed. In particular, a numerical controller (NC) controls the operation of a lathe by sending position command signals to servo amplifiers. The lathe turns a long workpiece chucked by two opposed headstocks which are driven synchronously. The servo amplifiers send signals to corresponding directional servo motors for moving the headstocks in respective directions. The present invention overcomes the problems of mechanical and workpiece displacement developed as loads on the servo motors by compensating for the positions of the feed axes by means of position offset values determined from the displacement of the machine or workpiece. Specifically, the displacements are detected in accordance with a difference between the torque of the two feed axes to be controlled for synchronous interlocking.

Abstract: An ignition plug for an internal combustion engine includes an ionization current detector electrode 20 adapted to be coupled to an external ionization detector circuit. Preferably, the ionization current detector electrode extends through a lateral through-hole formed vertically through an expanded portion of the electrical insulator 3. The lower end of the ionization current detector electrode may extend into the combustion chamber by a predetermined length. Further, the lower end of the ionization current detector electrode exposed to the fuel/air mixture within the combustion chamber may form a cylindrical grid to increase the contact area with the combustion gas.

Abstract: An electromagnetic solenoid valve in which a projecting portion disposed on a coil bobbin is abutted against and engaged with a plate so that rotation of the coil bobbin is stopped. As a result of this simple construction, shortcircuiting between the terminal of the coil and the plate can be prevented.

Abstract: A sewing control system for controlling the speed of rotation of a sewing machine in which in a first embodiment, a rotation transfer ratio operation is inhibited during the time that slip occurs. According to a second embodiment, the rotation transfer operation is initiated only when the number of revolutions of the motor shaft is higher than a predetermined value. In a third embodiment, slip is prevented by not outputting a speed instruction which is not steeper than a predetermined gradient. In a fourth embodiment, when an abnormal condition is detected, the rotation transfer ratio is reduced in order to reduce the speed of the motor, thereby assuring the safety of an operator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch for a starter comprises a plunger made of elastic material such as rubber. The thickness of the flange portion is minimized and using a conventional core plate is deviated. The axial height of the rim of the front portion of the case into which is inserted the flange is decreased to produce the case by cold forging.

Abstract: An excitation current control device for an automotive electromagnetic clutch includes a first and a second transistor 8 and 13 and a current detector resistor 14, coupled in series with the electromagnetic clutch. The first transistor is PWM controlled to control the amount of excitation current through the electromagnetic clutch. The second transistor turns off the excitation current in response to the disconnection signal for the electromagnetic clutch. The current detector amplifier 6 includes, in addition to an operational amplifier 61 and an input and a feedback resistor 63 and 62, an offset resistor 64 for offsetting the base current of the second transistor and the current flowing through a reverse excitation resistor 12 and the detector resistor 14. Alternatively, the offset correction for base current is effected by a software calculation.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus for measuring a distance to an object of concern includes a clock pulse generator for generating a clock pulse signal at a predetermined frequency, a pulsed laser for emitting a light pulse to the object, a photodetection circuit for detecting an echo light pulse resulting from reflection of the light pulse at the object, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting an electric signal output from the photo-detection circuit to digital data under the timing of the clock pulse signal, and a memory for sequentially storing the digital data output from the analogue-to-digital converter on a time-serial basis, and a processing unit for processing the data stored in the memory to thereby arithmetically determine the distance to the object on the basis of a peak appearing in an echo wavefrom reconstituted from the data, a time lapse from the emission of the light pulse to the appearance of the peak, and the frequency of the clock signal.