Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a power steering fluid supply pump which is driven through a clutch. A sensor detects changes in vehicle speed and effects operation of the clutch to decrease the rate at which the pump is driven in response to an increase in vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, the clutch is disengaged and the pump is not driven. When the clutch is disengaged, the steerable vehicle wheels are turned without power assist.

Abstract: A power steering system including a power cylinder and a hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder through a control valve to produce a hydraulic assisting force. A control device is provided to drive the hydraulic pump only when one or both of the vehicle power clutch disconnecting member and the brake actuating member are actuated under a vehicle speed lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electrically driven oil pressured power steering apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises an oil pump driven by an electric motor for supplying a working oil to a power cylinder, a control valve for controlling the supply of the working oil and a manipulating apparatus and an electronically operated on-off means which, in common, control a power supply to the electric motor. In the apparatus, a state of power steering is shifted to a state of manual steering in accordance with a stop of the electric motor effected by the electronically operated on-off means.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes an electric motor which drives a power steering pump. a vehicle speed detector senses the speed of the vehicle. A steering wheel rotation detector senses whether or not the steering wheel is being rotated. At low vehicle speeds, a control assembly effects operation of the electric motor to drive the power steering pump at a relatively low standby angular velocity prior to initiation of a steering operation. Upon initiation and during of the steering operation at low vehicle speeds, the control assembly effects operation of the electric motor to drive the power steering pump at an angular velocity which varies as a function of vehicle speed. When the vehicle is traveling at a relatively high speed, the control assembly causes the electric motor to drive the pump at an angular velocity which is less than the standby angular velocity, that is, at a very low speed or at a standstill.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for igniting a lien air-fuel mixture includes a spark plug having a straight longitudinally extending main electrode and a side electrode disposed adjacent to and electrically insulated from the main electrode.An attraction plug is mounted in the cylinder head at a location offset to one side of and adjacent to the spark plug. The attraction plug includes a straight longitudinally extending central electrode and an insulator which at least partially encases the central electrode for electrically insulating the central electrode and for isolating the portion of the central electrode disposed in the combustion chamber from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. The central electrode has a longitudinal axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the main electrode of the spark plug. In addition, the central electrode has an end portion which is disposed adjacent to the main electrode of the spark plug.

Abstract: A ball joint mounting structure for mounting a ball joint in one of two structural members to be joined together by the ball joint is disclosed. The mounting structure comprises self-caulking engaging means provided by the hollow cylindrical housing of the ball joint and on the cylindrical portion of said one structural member. As the housing is being press fitted into the cylindrical portion, at least one of the ball joint and member plastically deforms to thereby firmly secure the ball joint to the one member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for effecting the ignition of a relatively lean air-fuel mixture includes a pair of electrode gaps at which strong electrostatic fields of relatively long duration are established to accumulate fuel particles in a portion of a combustion chamber adjacent to a spark gap. In one embodiment of the invention, one of the electrode gaps is enclosed so that the atmosphere in this gap is not affected by changes in the pressure and composition of the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. By maintaining the atmosphere in the electrode gap separate from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber, an electrostatic field of substantially constant strength can be maintained at the enclosed electrode gap after the establishment of a corona discharge at an electrode gap exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. In another embodiment of the invention, both of the electrode gaps are exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a rack and pinion type steering gear for an automobile comprising a housing; a pinion rotatably supported in said housing to receive turning effect from a steering wheel of the automobile; and a rack meshed with the pinion and slidably supported in the housing, the rack being connected to a tie rod which is in turn connected to the front wheels of the automobile. The pinion comprises first and second pinion portions rotatable separately from each other and having spiral gear teeth provided reversely to each other, respectively, the first pinion portion being connected to the steering wheel and the second pinion portion being meshed with the rack.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition apparatus includes a secondary spark plug having a center electrode to which a high voltage is applied. A cylindrical peripheral electrode surrounds the center electrode and has peripheral openings. Upon the formation of a corona discharge due to the high voltage applied to the center electrode, a strong ionic wind and convection of an air-fuel mixture are produced. The ionic wind causes fuel constituents to be gathered in the vicinity of the peripheral electrode thus preventing production of hydrocarbons due to cooling or quenching of the fuel on the combustion chamber wall. Initial ignition of the air-fuel mixture is by means of a main spark plug. The resultant flames are propagated to the corona discharge portion of the secondary spark plug. The corona discharge is then changed to secondary continuous spark discharge, to thereby positively fire the stratified air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: An improved engine for burning a lean air-fuel mixture includes a main combustion chamber into which the air-fuel mixture is introduced and an auxiliary combustion chamber wherein the air-fuel mixture is initially ignited. A spark plug in the auxiliary combustion chamber has central and side electrodes which define a spark gap. A corona discharge is established in an electrostatic field between the central electrode and a field electrode. The ions in the corona discharge collect on fuel particles in the air-fuel mixture so that these particles are electrically charged and deposited on the field electrode, the walls of the auxiliary combustion chamber, and the side electrode. The fuel particles which come toward the central electrode are electrostatically atomized by the corona discharge and accelerated away.

Abstract: A ball joint which comprises a metallic housing, a resilient bearing of polymer disposed in said housing, a ball stud having a metallic spherical member rotatably supported by said bearing, and at least one resilient metallic closure plate so secured as to close an open end of said housing for applying pre-load to said bearing, and the spherical member is at its annular surfaces opposed to the opposite open ends of the housing and a depression in the closure plate with a slight clearance or under a light contact pressure but being elastically in contact with the bearing between the annular surfaces.