Abstract: The torque of a clutch disposed in parallel with a hydrodynamic power transmitting device provided between an engine and a transmission is gradually reduced upon disengaging the clutch when the torque of the engine is higher than a predetermined level. As a result, the instantaneous great drop in the output torque of the transmission at the time of the disengagement of the clutch is prevented to thereby improve the acceleration response of a vehicle.

Abstract: A particulate oxidizer system for a diesel engine comprises a diesel particulate oxidizer (DPO) in the exhaust line to collect and burn particulates in the exhaust. The DPO comprises ceramic foam with a catalyst. When the quantity of particulates in the DPO reaches a predetermined value, high temperature gas containing oxygen is fed to the DPO to burn off (regenerate) the collected particulates. This is achieved by retard control of the injection timing under control of an engine control unit (ECU). A regeneration timing detection means detects the regeneration timing in the DPO. When the quantity of particulates in the DPO falls below a predetermined value, the ECU provides a signal to increase the idling revolution of the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus has suspension units each with a height control fluid spring chamber, fluid supply valves for supplying a fluid from a fluid source to the spring chambers through corresponding supply control valve means, and fluid exhaust valve means for exhausting the fluid from the fluid spring chambers through exhaust control valve means. The supply control valve means are opened only for a predetermined period of time to increase the height by a predetermined distance upon the operation of a high height selection switch, thereby increasing the height to the maximum height.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operating conditions of an internal combustion engine based upon sensed operating parameters of the engine expressed in the form of pulse signals, wherein the frequency of the pulses is representative of the sensed parameter. The pulse intervals of the sensed operating parameter signals are measured to the fractional level before being stored and employed by a CPU to calculate data applied to control predetermined operating conditions of the engine, such as the fuel flow rate and the ignition timing. The inventive method and apparatus attain greater operating stability for steady-state operations and excellent response under transient conditions of the engine.

Abstract: When an automobile or other vehicle travels over a bump with a suspension in its switchable suspension system kept in a "soft" state, the car body pitches violently. This pitching is reduced by turning the suspension into a "hard" state by increasing the damping capacity of its shock absorber and the spring constant of its air-spring chambers in accordance with a signal supplied from a car-height sensor detecting the compressed or stretched condition of the suspension. The change of the spring constant is executed with the following construction: an auxiliary air-spring chamber resting above a main air-spring chamber surrounding a piston rod, and an air passage within the piston rod for intercommunicating the main and auxiliary air-spring chambers are provided in the system, and the connection and disconnection between the two chambers through the air passage are controlled by the piston rod and a control rod extending in the piston rod.

Abstract: A vehicle height control system capable, even if the height of the front side of the vehicle body is raised during the preceding vehicle height control operation by the agency of starting acceleration and the inertia of the body, and thereby the preceding vehicle height control operation for the front side is completed and the height of the front side is lowered thereafter due to the transition of the running mode of the vehicle from an accelerating mode to a constant-speed running mode, of advancing the timing of initiation of the succeeding vehicle height control operation to adjust the height of the front side to a standard height.

Abstract: A suction air volume detecting means to be provided in a suction system in an engine, in particular an automotive engine to electrically detect the air volume to be sucked into the engine is mounted within a suction air expansion chamber of the suction system provided to reduce the pulsation of the suctioned air for the purpose that the electrical circuit elements of the suction air volume detecting means, in particular, transistors, etc. are protected from being heated by heat radiated from the engine and from being caused to misoperate by external electrical waves.