Abstract: A traction control system for an automotive vehicle is provided which controls engine power and braking force to recover traction of wheels when wheel slippage occurs during acceleration. The traction control system has four traction control modes and four control switching modes for switching between the traction control modes smoothly without any mechanical shock. In each of the control switching modes, one of the engine power control and the braking force control is restricted gradually according to its control capacity which is, for example, determined based on a period of time left until the control is prohibited. If the control capacity is decreased undesirably, the control is modified so as to increase the control capacity.

Abstract: A torque detector, for detecting a torque applied to a torque transmission shaft which is connected to a load such as a wheel of an automobile, comprises a first rotating member which is integrally connected to a driving shaft of an engine, a second rotating member which is integrally connected to a load so as to be opposed to the first rotating member, a plurality of elastic members for connecting the opposed surfaces of the first and second rotating members, an angular phase difference detecting circuit for detecting the angular phase difference between the first and second rotating members, a no load condition detecting circuit for detecting a no load condition of the engine, and a data processor for calculating torque from the angular phase difference between the first and second rotating members under the load condition and under the no load condition. An accurate value of applied torque is detected by subtracting the angular phase difference under the no load condition from the load condition.

Abstract: A vane-type rotary pump and a vane-type rotary compressor are integrated into a single unit and are driven by a common shaft. The compressor assembly is positioned at the rear of the pump assembly to minimize the number of mechanical seals required to seal the pump assembly along the shaft. The combined pump and compressor unit is provided with a regulating mechanism for reducing the compressor output during moderate or off modes of the refrigerant circuit.