Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle speed so as to prevent gear shift shock in a power train associated with a vehicular engine and automatic transmission are disclosed in which an air charging efficiency for engine cylinders is reduced during the gear shifting transient period, e.g., when shifting from first gear range to a higher second gear range. Therefore, when engine output is reduced by means of retardation of ignition timing at the time of gear shifting, no misfire occurs due to prevention of internal pressure increase in any engine cylinder. Thus, shift shock can be prevented with the smooth reduction of engine output and air charging efficiency is smoothly recovered after completion of the gear shift transient period.

Abstract: A gas-turbine power plant includes a recuperator and a combustor which are arranged in a parallel relation with respect to the direction of flow of exhaust gas through the recuperator. The recuperator and the cumbustor are enclosed in a chamber so that a space of the chamber surrounding the recuperator and the combustor serves as a passage for introducing intake air from a compressor to the recuperator.

Abstract: An image processing section receives data from cameras mounted on the vehicle and produces an image or images from which a first set of so called "local" data is derived and compiled. A sensor section senses the rotational characteristics of two vehicle wheels and the conditions prevailing on either side of the vehicle and complies a second set of so called "global" data. The local and global data are compared and data is only accepted in the event that the differences between the two sets of data fall within predetermined limits and data which falls outside of the ranges deemed erroneous and rejected.

Abstract: A schedule which is logged in terms of engine speed and which is divided into a number of engine operational zones, is used to determine the amount of axial displacement should be induced in a cam shaft on which a specially shaped cam is mounted. The cam has a first section which configured to simultaneously induce a change in valve lift and the valve closure timing, and a second section which maintains the valve closure timing at essentially a fixed value and induces a further increase in valve lift.

Abstract: In order to prevent inadvertent shift to reverse, a shift and select mechanism for a vehicular manual transmission is equipped with a reverse select inhibit system which includes a vehicle speed sensor, a switch circuit for producing a reverse inhibit signal when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined low speed, and an actuator assembly for receiving the reverse inhibit signal and inhibiting a select member from moving to a select position for reverse when the vehicle speed is above the predetermined low speed.

Abstract: A throttle control system for an internal combustion engine includes a first lever which is pivotable around a longitudinal axis of a throttle shaft depending upon movement of an accelerator pedal, and a second lever which extends radially from the throttle shaft and is fixed thereto. The system further includes a transmitting mechanism which mechanically transmits pivotal motion of the first lever to the second lever so that the angular position of a throttle valve fixed to the throttle shaft varies in response to depression of the accelerator pedal. The transmitting mechanism optionally changes the ratio of the pivotal angle of the first lever from that of the second lever, so as to change the relationship between the depression rate of the accelerator pedal and the opening angle of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A process of production of alumina includes method for controlling specific surface area of alumina. Control of specific surface area is performed by controlling porous structure of alumina. In the process, aluminum alkoxide is subject hydrolysis for forming alumina sol. During hydrolysis process, polyether is used as organic solvent in order to control the porous structure of produced alumina.

Abstract: A composite paint film formed on a steel sheet of an automotive vehicle body. The composite paint film comprises an electrodeposition paint film (I) coated on the steel sheet, and an intermediate coat paint film (II) coated on the first paint film. The electrodeposition paint film is formed of an epoxy-based cationic electrodeposition paint composition and has a minimum melt viscosity not less than 0.2 during hardening. The epoxy-based cationic electrodeposition paint composition includes an amine-added epoxy resin (1) of the type which may be hardened with a blocked isocyanate, a colloidal silica-containing gelled particulate (2), and an alkyltin ester compound of a liquid aliphatic carboxylic acid. The above-mentioned colloidal silica-containing gelled particulate is formed by dispersing a mixture of an acrylic copolymer having a hydrolizable alkoxysilane group and a cationic group and a cationic acidic colloidal silica in water to carry out a cross-linking reaction in particles of the colloidal silica.

Abstract: An exhaust system for internal combustion engines includes at least two exhaust passages, each passage communicated with at least one branch exhaust passage of an exhaust manifold communicating exhaust ports of a multiple-cylinder engine, and a confluent exhaust passage disposed downstream of said at least two exhaust passages, said confluent exhaust passage including a confluent point for converging downstream ends of said at least two exhaust passages. The exhaust system also includes a communication passage substantially parallel with the at least two exhaust passages and a valve disposed in the communication passage, for allowing a portion of exhaust gas flow to bypass said confluent point only when the engine is within a predetermined high engine revolution range.

Abstract: A planetary gear type multistage transmission is shown which comprises a first planetary gearset, a second planetary gearset, an input shaft and an output shaft. A pinion carrier of the second planetary gearset is united with a pinion carrier of the first planetary gearset. The input shaft is united with the pinion carrier of the second planetary gearset. The output shaft is united with an internal gear of the first planetary gearset. A first clutch is employed for selectively engaging the sun gear of the first planetary gearset with the pinion carrier of the same. A second clutch is employed for selectively engaging the sun gear of the first planetary gearset with the pinion carrier of the second planetary gearset. A th ird clutch is used for selectively engaging the pinion carrier of the second planetary gearset with the internal gear of the same. A first brake is employed for selectively braking the sun gear of the first planetary gearset.

Abstract: In order to keep the latched condition of a door lock proper even when the associated door is considerably deformed due to a vehicle collision or the like, the outside lever extending from the door lock proper is provided with a pointed portion which is directed toward an outer panel of the door. Upon deformation of the outer panel, the pointed portion is forced to stick into the deformed outer panel establishing a locked engagement therebetween and thus preventing the door lock proper from taking the unlatched condition.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a crankcase ventilation system is shown. The engine comprises a cylinder block and an oil pan which are assembled to define a crankcase. A crankshaft is rotatably held in the crankcase and including a counterweight. The cylinder block is formed with a fresh air inlet passage through which the interior of the crankcase and the outside of the engine are communicated. The fresh air inlet passage has a fresh air inlet opening which is exposed to the interior of the crankcase at a position close to the counterweight so that under rotation of the crankshaft, the opening is periodically covered and opened by the counterweight. A blow-by gas passage is provided through which the interior of the crankcase and the outside of the engine are communicated. The opening of the fresh air inlet passage is covered by the counterweight when the passage in the crankcase becomes relatively high, and opened by the same when the pressure in the crankcase becomes relatively low.

Abstract: An air bag system for an automotive vehicle includes gas generator means for generating a pressurized gas for expanding an air bag for restricting movement of a passenger and thus for preventing the passenger from colliding onto the vehicular interior facility and/or a windshield. The gas generator means comprises a low pressure gas generator and a high pressure gas generator having mutually different gas generation capacity. Upon collision, the low pressure gas generator is triggered to fire at earlier timing than that of the high pressure gas generator for reducing impact exerted on the passenger at the initial stage of air bag actuation.

Abstract: A piston crown is formed with a cavity including a first flame deflecting member which is located amid three flame dispersion zones and which splits burning gases ejected from a transfer port into a first dispersion zone, while the piston is proximate its TDC position, into two flows. The arrangement additionally induces the two flows to assume two essentially symmetrical swirling patterns in second and third dispersion zones. After the piston has descended by a predetermined amount, the burning gases are supplied directly into the second and third zones.

Abstract: A method for automatically tightening a tapped member such as a nut is disclosed. A socket of an open end air wrench mounted on a nut tightening robot is coupled with the tapped member. The robot rotates the socket in a first direction, i.e., a tightening direction, to a first relatively small torque, and subsequently rotates the socket in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a predetermined position, i.e., a central receptive position after the socket being disengaged from the tapped member. A rotary encoder is provided to generate pulses in response to the rotation of the socket in the second rotational direction. An angle of rotation of this rotation of the socket in the second direction is detected by counting the number of pulses generated by the encoder. In response to the detected angle of rotation a torque wrench is coupled with the tapped member and the robot rotates the torque wrench in the tightening direction to a second relatively great torque.

Abstract: A system and method for recognizing a stagnation state for a vehicle are disclosed in which a running characteristic pattern of the vehicle is derived on the basis of running parameters such as the vehicle speed, acceleration of the vehicle, and deceleration of the vehicle, and whether the running characteristic pattern substantially coincides with a running characteristic pattern peculiar to a state in which the vehicle runs in the stagnation state.

Abstract: An ERF (electrorheopectic fluid) filled engine mount has a main working chamber and first and second auxiliary chambers. An orifice passage structure provides fluid communication between the main and first auxiliary chambers. A first set of electrode plates are disposed in the orifice passage structure in a manner which permits the viscosity of the ERF to be selectively controlled. The first auxiliary chamber exhibits a relatively small expansive spring characteristic. A transfer port provides fluid communication between the main working chamber and the second auxiliary chamber. The second auxiliary chamber exhibits a relatively large expansive spring characteristic and functions to attenuate relatively high frequency vibration. An on/off type valve device is disposed in the transfer port.

Abstract: A unified control device for engine and automatic transmission of an automotive vehicles serves to alleviate a racing select shock which occurs upon engagement of a driving clutch in the transmission when selecting a running range of the transmission to start the vehicle with an accelerator pedal depressed. The control device achieves a reduction control during changeover of the transmission into a running range from a racing state, to reduce at least one parameter representing the output power to be transmitted from the engine to driving wheels via the transmission, such as engine speed, engine output and/or transfer torque capacity of the clutch, etc. The reduction control is stopped as soon as the completion of engagement of the driving clutch has been detected, to allow the vehicle to be started without engine stalling.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed for an automatic transmission equipped vehicle are disclosed in which a shift gear position range of the transmission in which the same gear ratio is charged is extended wider than a normal region determined on the basis of an opening angle of an engine throttle valve and vehicle speed during a control of the opening angle of the throttle valve to maintain the vehicle speed at a set vehicle speed so that a shift down and/or shift up which would normally occur at the same condition is not carried out.

Abstract: A system and a method for detecting an engine revolution speed, identifying engine cylinders, and controlling an engine operation according to the detected engine revolution speed and identified engine cylinders in which a crank angle sensor includes a rotor plate which rotates in synchronization with a rotation of an engine crankshaft, a plurality of first slits whose number corresponds to the number of cylinders and which are mutually arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotor plate, and second slit, both first and second slits being aligned on the same circumferential direction, the sensor outputting a pulse train signal including a first signal corresponding to a first crank angle position before a top dead center in a compression stroke and a second signal corresponding to a second crank angle position after the top dead center in the compression stroke of a first engine cylinder and a microcomputer executes a fuel injection quantity and/or ignition timing control on the