Abstract: An autotensioner which is designed to apply appropriate tension to a timing belt of an engine or a belt that drives auxiliary machinery, for example, an alternator, compressor, etc. The autotensioner has an annular space that is partitioned into two chambers by a first partition wall which is provided on a fixed member and a second partition wall which is provided on a pivoting member, the annular space being filled with a viscous fluid. The first partition wall is formed with a passage which provides communication between the two chambers, and a check valve is provided in the passage. The check valve closes the passage when the tension in the belt increases suddenly, to resist the pivotal movement of the tensioner in one rotational direction, thereby enabling the tensioner to follow slowly and effectively the movement of the belt in which the tension is suddenly increased.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing steering column apparatus has energy-absorbing members fixedly connected one end to the mounting plates of a column bracket and releasably connected at the other end to corresponding bolts. Each energy-absorbing member is provided with a first U-shaped folded portion in the middle, and an end of the energy-absorbing member is folded by 180.degree. in a direction opposite to the first folded portion to form a second folded portion with a radius of curvature substantially smaller than that of the first folded portion each energy-absorbing member is further provided, at an end closer to the first folded portion than to the second one, with an integral flat plate portion having opposite lateral parts folded toward the first folded portion to form a pair of folded edges which are joined to the surface of the corrresponding mounting plate, so that the first folded portion of the energy-absorbing member is supported between the mounting plate and the flat plate portion.

Abstract: A magnetic disc device. A seal member consisting of ring magnet and ring-shaped pole pieces is built in a shaft or housing to which disc is fixed. The inner end of the seal member is fixed to the shaft side, and the outer end forms, between the housing, a gap in which electroconductive magnetic fluid is kept. The contact areas of the electroconductive magnetic fluid with the pole pieces and the housing are made remarkedly large, so that not only grounding of the static electricity generated on the disc but also sealing of dust becomes effectual.

Abstract: A guide tube for a passive seat belt system is disclosed. The guide tube is adapted to be arranged along a vehicle body to guide a slider drive member. The guide tube is constructed of a first guide tube member for allowing the slider drive member to extent therethrough and a second guide tube member having higher flexural rigidity than at least the first guide tube member and adapted to be mounted on the vehicle body by means of at least one tube bracket. The first guide tube member is fitted within the second guide tube member.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus comprises a front wheel steering member for steering front wheels by being displaced according to a movement of a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels, a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling together the front wheel steering member and an input member of the rear wheel steering mechanism, and a play mechanism provided between an end of the coupling mechanism and the front wheel steering member or the input member or in an intermediate part of the coupling mechanism, the play mechanism effecting transmission of displacement only when a displacement in excess of a predetermined amount is produced in either direction from a position corresponding to a neutral position with respect to the steering angle of the front wheels.

Abstract: A buckle stalk suitable for use in a vehicle seat belt system is described. The stalk includes an anchor member to be fixed on a side of a vehicle body, a buckle permitting releasable securement of a webbing thereon, and a non-metallic stalk member connecting the buckle and the anchor member to each other. The buckle stalk member includes a connector, by which the buckle and the stalk member are connected to each other in such a way that the direction of opening of a tongue-receiving socket of the buckle extends at an angle with respect to the stalk member.

Abstract: A pattern formed on an object under check such as a mask, printed substrate, etc., is scanned by a CCD camera, and check pattern data for one scanning line obtained from the CCD camera is divided into a plurality of pixel groups and stored in shift register groups. The check pattern data is compared with a master pattern data representing the external shape of a master pattern to calculate an inclination of the check pattern (pattern to be checked) with respect to the master pattern. The order of reading addresses of the shift register groups is changed in accordance with the inclination so that the check pattern data matches the master pattern data. Thereafter, the check pattern data is compared with the master pattern data to detect a defect in the check pattern to thereby avoid erroneous judgment due to an angular deviation between the check pattern and the master pattern.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing device induced a housing having a sleeve and a thrust receiver and a shaft fit into the sleeve. Herringbone-shaped grooves for generating dynamic pressure comprising outer groove segments and inner group segments are disposed to at least one of the inner cylindrical surface of the sleeve and the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft at two axially spaced apart positions. The axial length of the outer groove segment is longer than that of the inner groove segment, and the difference of the axial length for the outer and the inner groove segments is greater in the lower herringbone-shaped grooves than in the upper herringbone-shaped grooves.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail longitudinally defining a first channel and a second channel, a slider movable along the second channel of the guide rail, a webbing fastened to the slider and movable between an occupant-restraining position and an occupant-releasing position, a drive member for driving the slider, said drive member being received in the first channel of the guide rail, and a spacer provided between the slider and the drive member to prevent the slider from directly contacting an inner wall portion of the second channel, said inner wall portion being on a side closer to the first channel.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a guide rail, a slider, a device for adjusting the restraining position of the slider, a trim covering a rear end portion of the guide rail and the adjusting device, and an openable/closable door formed in the trim at a position corresponding to the position of the adjusting device. The slider carries an occupant-restraining webbing, and is arranged movably along the guide rail between the occupant restraining position and an occupant releasing position. The restraining and releasing positions are on the side of the rear end portion of the guide rail and on the side of a front end portion of the guide rail, respectively. The rear end portion of the guide rail extends vertically along a center pillar of the vehicle. The adjusting device is provided on the side of the rear end portion of the guide rail for adjusting the restraining position of said slider.

Abstract: A sealed rolling bearing including inner and outer races and a pair of sealing plates in which fixing grooves each for fixedly receiving a fixing edge portion of a corresponding sealing plate are formed in the edge portions of the peripheral surface of one of the inner and outer races, and slide grooves each for slidably receiving a slidable seal edge portion of a corresponding one of the sealing plates are formed in the edge portions of the peripheral surface of the other race. Each slide groove has a U-shaped cross-section including a bottom surface and a pair of axially outward and inward inclined surfaces. Each sealing plate comprises a core and a flexible seal member integrally fixed to the core, and first, second and third lips which extend axially outwardly, axially inwardly and substantially radially, respectively are formed on the slidable seal edge portion of each sealing plate.

Abstract: A webbing retractor includes a base, a take-up spindle supported rotatably on the base, a ratchet wheel mounted on the take-up spindle, a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel, and a means supporting the pawl on the base. The supporting means includes a pawl pin having a large-diameter portion and small-diameter portion, a hole receiving the small-diameter portion of the pawl pin, a means for preventing the pawl pin from slipping off from the hole, and a bulged part pressed out in the direction of the thickness of the base. The bulged part has outer wall defining the hole and extending substantially in parallel to the base and a shoulder portion extending between the base and outer wall. The large-diameter portion of the pawl pin is arranged within the bulged part.

Abstract: A collision sensor adapted to sense acceleration applied thereto in the event of collision of a vehicle and actuate an occupant protective system. A rotary element has an outer peripheral surface thereof provided with a predetermined curvature characteristic. A biasing device generates a biasing force for biasing the rotary element to a predetermined reference position. An inertial mass is responsive to acceleration acting thereupon for causing the rotary element to rotate from the predetermined reference position against the biasing force. A switch is operable to generate an output signal when the rotary element has rotated by a predetermined angle from the predetermined reference position. The biasing force of the biasing means is modulated in accordance with the predetermined curvature characteristic of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary element as the rotary element rotates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a torque detecting apparatus provided with a conversion device, which is positioned on the axis of one of an input shaft and an output shaft extended on a same axis and mutually connected by a torsion bar and which serves to convert the relative rotational displacement between the input and output shafts into a linear displacement, a slidable member causing a sliding motion corresponding to the linear displacement obtained by the conversion by the conversion device, and detection device for generating an electrical signal by detecting the sliding motion of the slidable member. The conversion device comprises a lever shaft portion, a leg portion and link arrangement.The leg portion oscillates, when the lever shaft portion of conversion device is rotated by the link arrangement, to cause the sliding motion of a slidable member, engaging with the leg portion on the other shaft.

Abstract: A rolling bearing has races and a rolling element. At least one of the races and the rolling element is made of a carburized or carbonitrided alloy steel. The content of a fine carbide present in the surface layer of the one element of the rolling bearing is 20-50 vol %. The content of retained austenite in the surface layer is 10-25 vol %. The rolling bearing provides a long-life rolling bearing suitable for use in a transmission and engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a rotating shaft of a vehicle transmission with a roller bearing has a pair of seals which have an inner peripheral edge slanted toward and come very close to the end surface of the rollers of the roller bearing, whereby when the rotating shaft is tilted and inserted into the roller bearing, it is hard for the end of the rotating shaft to hit the seal on the opposite side from insertion.

Abstract: A guide rail has a main track surface on an upper surface and sub-track surfaces on both side surfaces. The guide rail is further formed with axially extending grooves in both of the side surfaces respectively below the sub-track surfaces. A slider having a substantially U-shaped cross section has roller type linear bearings which roll respectively on the main track surface and the sub-tract surfaces. The slider is provided with protruding portions at lower surfaces of both side walls of the slider which extend horizontally and inwardly into the grooves of the guide rail. The protruding portions are slidably in contact with inner surfaces of the grooves and prevent the slider from slipping out of the guide rail. Furthermore, seal members made from rubber are attached respectively to lower surfaces of the protruding portions so that inner edges of the seal member are slidably in contact with the inner surfaces of the groove.

Abstract: A yoke for universal joint is composed of a cylindrical coupling tube formed by pressing a metal plate and having a slit in a radial direction and serrate grooves on the internal periphery; a pair of flanges integrally formed at an end of the coupling tube and positioned on both sides of the slit; and a coupling arm formed by pressing a metal plate. One of the flanges has a screw hole, while the other flange has a hole, coaxial with the screw hole, for passing a bolt to be screwed into the screw hole. The coupling arm has a penetrating hole in the base portion, and mutually coaxial circular holes at its opposite ends. The yoke is assembled by fitting the other end of the coupling tube into the penetrating hole in the base portion, and connecting the other end of the coupling tube with the base portion of the coupling arm.

Abstract: A rotational speed detector which is incorporated in an antiskid brake system for an automobile to detect a rotational speed of a wheel. A rotational speed sensor assembly which is provided on either one of the outer and inner rings of a wheel is biased toward a sensor rotor that is provided on the other of the two rings in such a manner that the sensor assembly is slidable on the sensor rotor, thereby maintaining the distance between the rotational speed sensor assembly and the sensor rotor at a constant level.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the position of a shoulder anchor in a passive seat belt system for a vehicle includes a base plate for transmitting a load to the vehicle body and an anchor plate to which a webbing for restraining an occupant is connected. An adjusting-type connection is used between the base plate and the anchor plate so that the anchor plate is adjustable with respect to the base plate both vertically and angularly when the occupant is restrained by the webbing.