Abstract: The invention includes a first arm which opens and closes a valve, a second arm which is driven by a cam, a third arm which drives the first arm upon receiving a displacement of the second arm, and a variable mechanism which varies a supporting point of the second arm. The second arm includes a driving surface. The third arm includes an axis member in which a driven surface coming into surface contact with the driving surface is formed. The displacement of the second arm is transferred to the third arm with slippage occurring between the driven surface and the driving surface.

Abstract: A consciousness judging apparatus, which detects a vehicle driving state and judges consciousness of a driver, comprising a monotonousness detection section to obtain monotonousness, a camera which captures an image of a road surface in the vehicle running direction, a meander quantity detection section which detects the meander quantity based on the road surface image taken by the camera, a correction section which corrects and increases the monotonousness when the meander quantity detected this time by the meander quantity detection section is larger than the meander quantity detected last time by the meander quantity detection section by the value greater than a predetermined value ?, and a fuzzy inference section which infers a driver's consciousness based on the monotonousness corrected by the correction section and meander quantity.

Abstract: A variable valve mechanism has a switching mechanism for transmitting cam displacement to a first rocker arm from a second rocker arm. A camshaft is disposed obliquely above a rocker shaft. A first abutting portion and a second abutting portion are disposed in a dead space between an upper side of the rocker shaft and a side of the camshaft. The first abutting portion rotationally displaces in a rotational direction of rocker arms together with the first rocker arm. The second abutting portion rotationally displaces together with the second locker arm. The second abutting portion abuts on the first abutting portion from a rotating direction of rocker arms. In the switching mechanism thus configured, displacement of the second rocker arm is transmitted to the first rocker arm with reduced stress burden.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle traveling state determining apparatus including a camera which picks up an image of a road surface in a direction in which a vehicle is traveling, and zigzag state detecting section for determining a zigzag amount on the basis of the road surface image picked up using the camera, wherein the zigzag state detecting section is comprised of speed vector calculating section for calculating a speed vector of the road surface image by comparing a last road surface image picked up using the camera with a current road surface image picked up using the camera, and determining section for determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling in a zigzag line on the basis of the speed vector of the road surface image calculated by the speed vector detecting section.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for learning a stability factor of a vehicle by which the stability factor of the vehicle can be calculated in response to a state of the vehicle. To this end, a state of the vehicle during traveling is detected, and it is decided based on the detection information whether or not the current traveling state of the vehicle is a stable turning state. If it is decided that the current traveling state of the vehicle is a stable turning state, then the stability factor of the vehicle is calculated in accordance with a predetermined arithmetic operation expression based on a vehicle speed, a steering angle and a yaw rate detected during traveling, and the calculated value is determined as a learned value of the stability factor of the vehicle thereby to determine the stability factor in the current state of the vehicle.

Abstract: In order to arrange a heater effectively in a case containing ultrasonic sensors to melt frozen snow attached to the case assuredly to ensure the performance of the ultrasonic sensors, an ultrasonic sensor unit comprises ultrasonic sensors (9, 10), a case (11, 12) for containing the ultrasonic sensors, and a sheet component (20) arranged on an inner side of a bottom (12c) of the case to cover the bottom, and having a heater (22) buried in or mounted on it.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a NOx catalyst selectively reducing NOx from exhaust gases, a reducing agent supply providing the reducing agent to an exhaust system and positioned upstream of the NOx catalyst, NOx sensors detecting an amount of NOx in exhaust gases emitted by an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection system injecting fuel to the internal combustion engine in a main injection mode or a pilot-and-main injection mode, and a control unit activating the fuel injection system in the pilot-and-main injection mode when a NOx purifying efficiency determined on the basis of data of emitted NOx is equal to or below a preset purifying efficiency.

Abstract: The valve drive apparatus of the invention comprises an exhaust valve drive mechanism capable of changing an open/close timing of an exhaust valve, and a control device which controls the exhaust valve drive apparatus so as to release the exhaust valve during an intake stroke, independently of an exhaust stroke, in an EGR mode. Preferably, the exhaust valve drive mechanism comprises a first exhaust cam which defines the exhaust valve releasing timing and the amount of valve lift in the exhaust stroke, and a second exhaust cam which defines the exhaust valve releasing timing and the amount of valve lift during the intake stroke. In an normal mode, the displacement of the first exhaust cam is transmitted to the exhaust valve, and in the EGR mode, the displacement of the second exhaust cam is transmitted to the exhaust valve, in addition to the displacement of the first exhaust cam.

Abstract: A gearshift operation device for a tiltable cab over type truck comprises a shift lever placed at an instrument panel, and a select cable and a shift cable which connect an operation lever unit for the shift lever and a manual transmission. After coming out of a cab, the cables curve to pass close by a hinge pivot which supports the cab, and extend toward the manual transmission.

Abstract: A breather apparatus includes a first oil separation chamber disposed in a case and extending substantially in a vertical direction. The case constitutes a part of a vertical wall of an internal combustion engine, and blowby gas flows inside the case. A second oil separation chamber is superposed upon the first oil separation chamber. An opening formed in the lower part of the first oil separation chamber is communicated with the inside of the case. An upper part of the second oil separation chamber is communicated with the first oil separation chamber via a through hole. The blowby gas which has flown into the second oil separation chamber is supplied into an intake system via an outflow port formed in the lower part of the second oil separation chamber. In the separation chambers, oil in the blowby gas is separated by mutually different flow characteristics.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system includes a first electronic control unit for transmitting a difference between actual and target vehicle speeds and control constants that vary depending on the vehicle speed difference when it determines fulfillment of vehicle speed control conditions, and a second electronic control unit for performing the vehicle speed control based on the vehicle speed difference and control constants received through a communication line. Change of the control constants for adjustment of a vehicle speed control function of the system can be easily carried out by changing the control constants stored in the first electronic control unit.

Abstract: An optical axis adjusting system for a vehicle head lamp detects the inclination of the front part of a vehicle with respect to a road surface and controls an optical axis adjusting system by an ECU according to the detected inclination to adjust the optical axis of the head lamp. Therefore, the optical axis adjusting system is capable of finding the accurate inclination of the entire vehicle and properly adjusting the optical axis.

Abstract: A suspension includes: wheel supporting members for supporting wheels, a leaf spring having both end portions each arranged on an upper side of the respective wheel supporting member; a pivot supporting the leaf spring, and receiving pieces interposed between the wheel supporting members and the both end portions of the leaf spring respectively. Each of the wheel supporting members includes a recess portion on which one of the receiving pieces is mounted. Each of the receiving pieces includes an engaging portion for engaging with one of the both end portions of the leaf spring. Each of the receiving pieces includes an elastic member and a first metal plate joined on the elastic member. The elastic member can deform to follow a displacement of a relative position between the leaf spring and one of the wheel supporting members.

Abstract: A pressure-elevating type fuel injecting system selectively injects via injectors fuel stored in a common rail or fuel whose pressure is elevated by a pressure elevating mechanism into a combustion chamber, and comprises a crank angle sensor producing crank pulse signals in accordance with operating states of an engine, a pulse interval calculating unit calculating pulse intervals between respective crank pulse signals, and a determination unit determining the malfunction of the pressure elevating mechanism when a variation of the pulse interval is above a determination threshold.

Abstract: A failure detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes failure detecting means (S22-S30) for detecting abnormality of fresh air quantity detecting means (air flow sensor) based on the result of comparison between a fresh air quantity detected by the fresh air quantity detecting means (air flow sensor) and a reference value for the fresh air quantity set by fresh air quantity reference value setting means (S20), and an EGR device (EGR passage, EGR valve, target opening setting means, EGR valve control means). The fresh air quantity reference value setting means sets the reference value (S16) in accordance with not only the operating state (engine speed Ne, fuel injection quantity Qf, etc.) of the engine but also a target EGR valve opening set by target opening setting means (S12, S14).

Abstract: A suspension includes wheel supporting members for supporting wheels; a first leaf spring having both end portions each disposed on an upper side of one of the wheel supporting members; a second leaf spring extending along the first leaf spring; a pivot for supporting the second leaf spring on a vehicle body; a spacer provided between the first and second leaf springs; sliders fixed on the second leaf spring but being in slidable contact with the first leaf spring; and receiving pieces interposed between the both end portions and the wheel supporting members. Each of the receiving pieces includes an engaging portion for engaging with one of the both end portions. Each of the receiving pieces includes an elastic member capable of deforming to follow a relative displacement between the first leaf spring and the wheel supporting member in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: A light axis adjusting apparatus for a vehicle headlamp has an inclination sensor which receives at least two ultrasonic signals transmitted toward a road surface in a vehicle width direction, and detects the inclined state of a vehicle relative to the road surface based on a receiving time difference between the respective ultrasonic signals. Processings are performed such that the inclination angle &Dgr;&agr; of the vehicle is detected based on the results of detection of the inclination sensor; an actuator is driven based on the inclination angle &Dgr;&agr; to correct the inclination angle of the headlamp; and the abnormality of the inclination sensor is detected based on the state of reception of the ultrasonic signals. Thus, the inclined state of the vehicle is detected constantly with high accuracy, and the light axis of the headlamp can be adjusted appropriately.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus has a particulate filter, an oxidation catalyst, a front oxidation catalyst, a bypass path, and a passage switching device, in an exhaust gas path. The front oxidation catalyst is disposed further upstream than the oxidation catalyst. The bypass path bypasses the upstream side and the downstream side of the front oxidation catalyst. The passage switching device switches the flow of exhaust gas to the front oxidation catalyst side or the bypass path side. When the filter is forcibly recovered, the temperature of the exhaust gas is raised, and is made to pass through the front oxidation catalyst. After the oxidation catalyst is activated, the flow of the exhaust gas is switched by the passage switching device, and the exhaust gas is made to pass through the bypass path.

Abstract: A damping resin composition is provided which includes bifunctional diacrylate or bifunctional dimethacrylate (A) expressed by the formula (1) below, and an unsaturated polyester resin (B+C) containing an unsaturated polyester (B) and a cross-linking monomer (C), and/or an epoxy acrylate resin (B′+C) containing an epoxy acrylate (B′) and a cross-linking monomer (C), wherein the bifunctional diacrylate or bifunctional dimethacrylate (A) is contained in an amount of 15 to 85% by weight, and the unsaturated polyester resin (B+C) or the epoxy acrylate resin (B′+C) or a mixture (B″+C) thereof that contains the unsaturated polyester resin (B+C) in an amount of 5 to 95% by weight and the epoxy acrylate resin (B′+C) in an amount of 95 to 5% by weight is contained in an amount of 85 to 15% by weight, the bifunctional diacrylate or bifunctional dimethacrylate (A) being expressed by: CH2=CR2CO−(R1O)n−OCOCR2=CH2  (1) wh

Abstract: A pressure-elevating type fuel injecting system pressurizes high pressure fuel from a pressure accumulating chamber using a pressure-elevating mechanism and injects the pressure-elevated fuel into combustion chambers by injectors. The pressure-elevating type fuel injecting system comprises a target fuel injection quantity setting unit which sets a target fuel injection quantity, a time difference setting unit which sets a time difference between a timing for opening an injector electromagnetic valve and a timing for operating an pressure-elevating mechanism electromagnetic valve, an initial fuel injection quantity calculating unit calculating an initial fuel injection quantity on the basis of a time-dependent variation of fuel pressure and the time difference, and a final injection period setting unit which calculates an operation period of the injector electromagnetic valve, on the basis of a final fuel injection quantity and the time-dependent variation of the pressure of the pressure-elevated fuel.