Abstract: In a control system for an actuator applicable to a servo system in which a low resolution sensor and/or an operation detection signal having noise components is used as a feedback signal, a low-pass filter is disposed in a feedback loop of the servo system whose cut-off frequency is varied according to an operating condition of the actuator, e.g., an operation speed of the actuator.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an induction motor which basically achieve reductions in a steady state loss and in a transient loss of the induction motor such as a stepwise input of a torque instruction value T.sub.e *. Basically, a steady-state loss minimization magnetic flux calculating section calculates a secondary (rotor) magnetic flux .phi..sub.r * which minimizes the steady-state loss of the induction motor in response to a torque instruction value. A target magnetic flux .phi..sub.r and a differentiation of the target magnetic flux d.phi..sub.r /dt are thereafter calculated using a low pass filter transfer function such as .phi..sub.r =.phi..sub.r * 1/(1+.tau..sub..phi..S)(, wherein .tau..sub..phi. denotes a time constant, and S denotes a Laplace operator). A target torque T.sub.m is calculates using a predetermined transfer function in response to the torque instruction value such as T.sub.m =T.sub.e *.1/(1+.tau..sub.T.S)(, wherein .tau..sub.T is a time constant for the target torque).

Abstract: In a device for judging of misfire of an internal combustion engine from a variation of crankshaft rotational speed during combustion stroke of each cylinders, a measurement period for measurement of crankshaft rotational speed at a cylinder is set by counting a predetermined number of first signals indicative of a predetermined rotational angle of a crankshaft firstly on the basis of a second signal indicative of a reference position of a camshaft and secondly and onward on the basis of the first signals used for setting the previous measurement section.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device comprises a failure diagnostic circuit for diagnosing failure of a discharge lamp and a lighting circuit. The failure diagnostic circuit diagnoses failure of the discharge lamp and an external wiring from the lighting circuit to the discharge lamp, and diagnoses the lighting circuit if failure of the discharge lamp and the external wiring fails to be found.

Abstract: An exhaust system of a transverse V-type or horizontal opposed type engine having front and rear cylinder banks includes: front and rear exhaust pipes which are respectively provided for the front and rear cylinder banks; front and rear catalytic converters which are respectively connected to the front and rear exhaust pipes; a joint exhaust pipe which is connected to the front and rear catalytic converters for collecting exhaust gas from the front and rear catalytic converters; and a combined exhaust pipe which is connected to the joint exhaust pipe. The combined exhaust pipe has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rear catalytic converter such that exhaust gas flow in the rear catalytic converter is in the substantially opposite direction to exhaust gas flow in the combined exhaust pipe. Each of the front and rear catalytic converters has an elliptical section.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle including a vehicle body and a torsion beam which supports the vehicle body thereon and left and right axles at opposite ends thereof. A lateral link extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle body and has one end portion pivotally connected to the torsion beam and the other end portion connected to the torsion beam. A control link is pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to the lateral link and at the other end portion thereof to the torsion beam. Centers of the respective pivotal connections of the lateral link to the vehicle body and the torsion beam and centers of the respective pivotal connections of the control link to the lateral link and the torsion beam, are disposed in the common vertical plane with respect to the vehicle body.

Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided with at least one friction element and a piston. The engagement of the friction element is proceeded in a manner that operating pressure is applied to an apply chamber to stroke the piston. The disengagement of the friction element is proceeded in a manner that operating pressure is applied to a cancel chamber to stroke the piston. The cancel chamber is disposed opposite to the apply chamber with respect to the piston and formed such that an outer diameter of a pressure receiving surface of said cancel chamber is generally the same as that of said apply chamber. Therefore, piston pushing force due to centrifugal force in the apply chamber is balanced with a piston reversely pushing force due to the centrifugal force in the cancel chamber. This prevents the friction element from being dragged during friction element disengaged condition.

Abstract: A pulley device includes a moveable conical pulley component which is moveable to a stationary conical pulley component by a servo motor. The servo motor includes a cylinder fixedly held with respect to a shaft portion of the stationary conical pulley component, and a piston fixed to the moveable conical pulley component and slidably engaging the cylinder. The servo motor also includes an auxiliary cylinder reduced in diameter than the cylinder and fixed with respect to the shaft portion, and an auxiliary piston fixed to the moveable conical pulley component. The auxiliary piston is received in the auxiliary cylinder.

Abstract: A CVT control system comprises a controller. The controller determines the desired engine speed as a first function of operator power demand and vehicle speed during a predetermined period involving a momenet when a control element moves off from one of the maximum and minimum reduction ratio command positions, and determines the desired engine speed as a second function of the operator power demand and the vehicle speed during the subsequent period to the predetermined period.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking system (ABS) pressure modulator is provided. The modulator includes a frame with a bore fluidly exposed to master cylinder and wheel cylinder connections and a check valve for preventing fluid communication from the master cylinder connection to the wheel cylinder connection vi the bore. A piston is slidably mounted within the bore and has a predetermined extreme position at which a stem of the piston opens the check valve. A power device is actuated by an ABS controller. A cam, moved by the power device, has a cam surface. The position of the piston is determined by the cam. A cam follower roller is connected with the piston to in contact with the cam surface. A one-way brake prevents rotation of the roller when the cam moves in one rotational direction to allow the piston to move away from the predetermined extreme position, but allowing the roller to roll over the cam surface when the cam moves in the opposite direction to move the piston toward the predetermined extreme position.

Abstract: A lid structure for an air bag system capable of preventing passengers on a vehicle from injuring themselves by inflating an air bag when the vehicle crashes. The lid structure includes a main opening and a sub opening through which the air bag can inflate outside of an instrumental panel. A main lid is provided for closing the main opening and a sub lid is provided for closing the sub opening. The sub lid is formed from a weakened part of the instrumental panel and is easily broken by the inflating force of the air bag. To avoid removal of the sub lid from the panel a deformable attachment is secured to the sub lid and the instrument panel.

Abstract: A vehicle drivetrain control system reduces the torque of a clutch to a desired level determined as a function of the engine speed during a predetermined period of time initiated by depression of a foot brake. The function is representative of torque versus engine speed characteristic of the drivetrain during coasting operation.

Abstract: A power transmission unit for an electric vehicle has a planetary-gear type speed reducer disposed between and connected to an electric motor and a driving wheel. The speed reducer has two planetary gear sets in which common pinions are engaged with a fixed first ring gear and a second ring gear acting as an output portion. The common pinions are supported to a common carrier acting as an input portion. The number of teeth of the second ring gear is set to be the same as the sum of a number of teeth of the first ring gear and a number of the common pinions, and the common pinions are located at equal distances. Therefore, the power transmission unit has a proper reduction gear ratio and a high-torque transmission characteristic which are required for an electric vehicle while the speed reducer is formed small in size.

Abstract: A main rocker arm driven by a first cam, and a sub-rocker arm driven by a second cam larger than the first cam, are supported adjacent to each other. A sliding member which moves together with the sub-rocker arm, and a contact piece which comes into contact with the sliding member according to the slide position of the sliding member, are provided on the main rocker arm. The sliding member moves between a position where it is in contact with the contact piece and a position where it is not in contact with the contact piece according to the engine running conditions. The sliding member and contact member are constructed of iron or an iron alloy, while the main rocker arm is constructed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The construction of the cam change-over mechanism is therefore rendered lightweight, and machining of the main rocker arm is rendered facile.

Abstract: An axle beam type rear suspension of an automotive vehicle having a pair of trailing arms located respectively at the right and left sides of a vehicle body. Each trailing arm is mounted through a bushing on a support shaft bridging inboard and outboard side brackets which are spaced from each other and fixed to a rear side member. The outboard side bracket extends downward over the lower end of a side sill fixedly secured to the rear side member. A parking brake cable is disposed between the trailing arm and the outboard side bracket and located at a position higher than the lower end of the outboard side bracket, thereby preventing the parking brake cable from interfering with an attachment of a vehicle lifting device when the vehicle is raised to make vehicle maintenance or repair.

Abstract: An active control system is provided with an actuator which controls a noise and/or vibration state of an automotive vehicle, a detector which detects the noise and/or vibration state of the vehicle, and a control unit which receives an output signal of the noise and/or vibration state detector and outputs a signal to control the actuator, the control unit having a neural net which compares a control predicted value based on the output signal with a control target value so that a correction for connection weights in the neural net is carried out on the basis of the comparison result.

Abstract: A method for producing fine particles of barium ferrite, which comprises reacting an aqueous solution comprising an iron compound, a barium compound and an alkaline substance, wherein the molar ratio of hydroxyl groups of the alkaline substance to the total of anions of the iron compound and the barium compound in the aqueous solution is from 1 to 4, and the reaction is carried out at a temperature of at least 250.degree. C. under a pressure of at least 200 kg/cm.sup.2 using a flow type reactor.

Abstract: A pressure control actuator suitable for an automotive brake control system comprises a pressure-regulation cylinder slidably enclosing a piston and cooperative with the piston for defining therein a variable-volume pressure chamber which is fluidly connected to a wheel cylinder, a shut-off valve through which the variable-volume chamber is connected to a master cylinder, a motor-driven thrust generator drivingly connected to the piston for producing a thrust, and a heavily pre-loaded return spring for biasing the piston in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the piston is pushed by the master-cylinder pressure shut-up in the chamber, when the piston is displaced apart from its neutral position in the second direction so that the volume of the chamber is enlarged. A pre-load of the spring is set to balance with a force acting on the piston by a maximum master-cylinder pressure introduced into the chamber.

Abstract: A disc road wheel on which a tire is fitted. The disc road wheel has a disc formed with an outer peripheral annular flange section which is press-fitted to the inner peripheral section of a rim. The flange section is formed at its outer peripheral surface with a plurality of gas leak grooves which are aligned along a peripheral direction of the disc. Each gas leak groove is in communication with ambient air even upon press-fitting of the disc and the rim, so that gas between the disc and the rim can be discharged through the gas leak grooves during welding.

Abstract: A shift lock system for an automatic transmission is arranged to make it unfeasible to cancel the shift lock without a tool. The shift lock system includes a cancel lever for moving a shift lock member such as a rotary bush from a lock position for locking a shift lever in the park position to an unlock position against the force of a return spring, a cancel rod for operating the cancel lever, and a plug member which is normally fastened with the cancel rod to a support member by a screw fastener so that the cancel rod is immovable. The plug member can be loosened by a tool such as a screw driver. When loosened, the plug member allows a canceling operation by allowing the cancel rod to be moved.