Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a rack-and-pinion mechanism and a ball screw mechanism. The ball screw mechanism comprises a shaft formed a screw groove and a nut formed a screw groove. A ball-roll path is created spirally by the screw grooves of the shaft and the nut being opposite each other. A plural number of balls are contained into the ball-roll path. A ball-return path is connecting both ends of the ball-roll path so that the balls go through. A circulation path consists of the ball-roll path and the ball-return path, in which the balls move endlessly. A plural number of separators is arranged between the balls respectively in order to prevent balls from contacting each other. A number of the balls is fewer from one ball to three balls than a maximum number of the balls which can be contained into the circulation path.

Abstract: A boot fitting structure is fitted onto an axial component to protect it from a dirty environment including outside dust. The boot has a pair of annular grooves and an annular lip between the pair of annular grooves on an inner surface of the boot. The annular lip does not project from an inner surface toward a centerline of the boot. An annular protuberance is provided between the boot and a clamp, through which clamping force from the clamp is concentrated on the annular lip, so that the annular lip is elastically deformed and pushed toward outside of the axial component. Therefore, the axial component can be inserted into the boot without interference between the annular lip and the axial component. Furthermore, the annular lip is free from damage by interference between the annular lip and the axial component.

Abstract: A pressure sensor 11 is provided with a connecter housing 30 having a pressure sensing element 20 arranged on an end surface thereof, a sensor housing 40 constructed to have the connecter housing 30 inserted thereinto, a pressure chamber 452 defined between the end surface of the connecter housing 30 and the sensor housing 40, and a compensation circuit 21 for performing the processing and operation of a measured signal of the pressure sensing element 20 to output the measured signal.

Abstract: A vehicle motion control apparatus is provided for performing a vehicle stability control on the basis of a parameter indicative of lateral margin for a tire on a road. The apparatus includes a steering control device for controlling a relationship between a steering angle and a tire angle to be varied, and a decelerating control device for controlling a vehicle speed to be decreased. The parameter indicative of lateral margin for the tire is monitored, and the steering control device and the decelerating control device are controlled on the basis of the monitored parameter.

Abstract: An offset value setting processing, in which whether or not all wheel velocities of front wheels and rear wheels are 0 km/h is determined and whether or not a pressing amount of an accelerator pedal is 0% is determined. If it is determined that the vehicle velocity is 0 km/h and that the pressing amount of the accelerator pedal is 0%, a current detection signal voltage at that time is set to an offset voltage. Thus, the offset voltage value is reset and set again if such a condition is established. Consequently, the offset voltage value including the amount of an error due to a temperature drift is set up, thereby preventing drop in control accuracy due to that error.

Abstract: A transformer section transforms a primary voltage and outputs secondary voltage. A control section inputs a first signal indicating a state of electricity supply of a primary power source through an in-vehicle network. The transformer section outputs a second signal indicating a state of electricity supply of the transformer section. When the input of the first signal is disrupted, the control section limits the driving electricity supplied to the steering motor based on at least one of a value of the secondary voltage and the electricity supply state of the transformer section indicated by the second signal. Accordingly, driving electricity is stably supplied with the steering motor with a simple configuration even if the input of the first signal is disrupted due to a failure in the in-vehicle network.

Abstract: An electronic control unit calculates a target yaw rate in accordance with a vehicle speed and a steering angle and calculates the yaw rate difference on the basis of the target yaw rate and an actual yaw rate. The electronic control unit estimates the grip factor of a front wheel to road surface and sets a distribution ratio for distribution of a vehicle-control target value among actuators of a steering system, a brake system, and a drive system in accordance with the estimated grip factor. The electronic control unit controls the actuators of the three systems in accordance with control instruction values distributed on the basis of the vehicle-control target value and the distribution ratio.

Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus, at least one of a speed reduction gear ratio of the speed reduction gear mechanism and the number of pole pairs of a motor resolver is set in such a manner that a calculated value, which is obtained by multiplying the speed reduction gear ratio of the speed reduction gear mechanism with the number of pole pairs of the motor resolver, represents a non-integer having a numerical value of the decimal place. This electric power steering apparatus includes an absolute rotational position specifying device configured to specify an absolute rotational position of the steering wheel from among plural possible absolute rotational positions that are obtained based on the steering angle and the motor electrical angle. This electric power steering apparatus is hence capable of controlling an electric motor based on the absolute rotational position of the steering wheel.

Abstract: In vehicle roll sensing of the present invention, a self-aligning torque (SAT) estimator estimates a composite value of SATs generated on tire contact patch of right and left wheels. A slip angle computer detects a vehicle speed and a steering angle and computes a slip angle of the wheel from the measured vehicle speed and steering angle. An SAT model value computer estimates an SAT model value as a composite value of SATs of the right and left wheels when no load shifts between the right and left wheels on the basis of the slip angle. A load shift ratio estimator estimates a load shift state of the right and left wheels on the basis of the composite value of the SATs of the wheels and the SAT model value. A vehicle rollover estimator estimates a rollover of the vehicle on the basis of the estimated load-shift state.

Abstract: A drive power transmission control device is provided with an electromagnetic drive power transmission device and an ECU for controlling the application of electric current to an electromagnetic coil of the drive power transmission device. The ECU is bodily provided on a casing of the electromagnetic type drive power transmission device through at least one support member 50. The electronic control device is fixedly supported on an outer wall of the casing with a space between the electronic control device and the casing, such that cooling air can flow between the outer wall of the casing and the electronic control device.

Abstract: A steering angle ?t detected by the torque sensor is read at S900. Then, an electrical angle ?m corresponding to a motor rotational angle is read at S902. At S908 through S922, motor rotational numbers are calculated based on ?t, ?m and the rotational number of a handle, and a correct rotational number of the handle is calculated from the motor rotational number which is the nearest to an integer of all of the calculated motor rotational numbers. Thereafter, an absolute steering angle which is not influenced by various errors is calculated based on the calculated rotational number of the handle and the steering angle ?t detected by the torque sensor.

Abstract: A sliding guide apparatus guides a movable member for a base. A pair of guide surfaces are formed on the base. A pair of sliding surfaces are formed on the movable member as so to be opposed to the pair of guide surfaces, respectively. Lubricating oil is supplied between the guide surface and the sliding surface. The sliding surface is configured so that one half portion of the sliding surface which is close to the center of gravity of the movable member is asymmetric with the other half portion of the sliding surface which is far from the center of gravity of the movable member. Since a load of the movable member that acts disproportionately on the sliding surface is balanced with dynamic pressure of the lubricating oil that occurs between the guide surface and the sliding surface, it is prevented that the movable member is slanted.

Abstract: A differential limiting device includes a planetary gear mechanism, in which a planetary carrier rotatably distributes the rotational power of a front housing to a ring gear and a sun gear through planetary gears and hence, to a first inner shaft and a second inner shaft which are rotatable respectively with the ring gear and the sun gear. A pilot clutch, when in friction engagement, brings about relative rotation between a cam ring and the second inner shaft to axially move the second inner shaft by the action of a cam mechanism provided therebetween. The axial movement of the second inner shaft causes the first inner shaft to be axially moved, whereby a main clutch arranged between the front housing and the first inner shaft is brought into friction engagement. When in friction engagement, the main clutch limits the relative rotation between the ring gear and the planetary carrier.

Abstract: The electrically-powered steering apparatus obtains a steering torque and a steering angle within an allowable input range of those inputted into a first resolver and a second resolver based on a real zero point ? and further, a steering torque and a steering angle out of the allowable input range of those inputted to the first resolver and the second resolver based on (+) virtual zero point ? and (?) virtual zero point ?, which are set to a different value from the real zero point ?. Consequently, of the steering torques and steering angles inputted to the first resolver and the second resolver, the steering torque and steering angle out of the allowable input range impossible to obtain by the real zero point ? can be obtained based on the (+) virtual zero point ? and the (?) virtual zero point ?.

Abstract: A sliding guide apparatus guides a movable member for a base. A pair of guide surfaces are formed on the base. A pair of sliding surfaces are formed on the movable member as so to be opposed to the pair of guide surfaces, respectively. Lubricating oil is supplied between the guide surface and the sliding surface. The sliding surface is configured so that one half portion of the sliding surface which is close to the center of gravity of the movable member is asymmetric with the other half portion of the sliding surface which is far from the center of gravity of the movable member. Since a load of the movable member that acts disproportionately on the sliding surface is balanced with dynamic pressure of the lubricating oil that occurs between the guide surface and the sliding surface, it is prevented that the movable member is slanted.

Abstract: A first sin phase voltage representing the rotational angle of a resolver is derived from the sum of a rotational angle voltage involving a temperature component and a bias voltage. The rotational angle voltage and the bias voltage are calculated by calculating the values of the maximum peak point (?=90 degrees) and the maximum bottom point (?=270 degrees) of the rotor and then by subtracting them or adding them, respectively. Subsequently, a transformer efficiency K(T) and a phase difference ?(T) which involve temperature components therein are calculated from the rotational angle voltage, while an impedance R(T) of a common earth wire and another phase difference ?(T) which involve temperature components are calculated from the bias voltage. The rotational angle can be calculated by putting these parameters into equations for calculating the first sin phase voltage. As a consequence, it becomes possible to detect the rotational angle of the rotor accurately without suffering the influence of temperature.

Abstract: A machine tool includes X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis moving units for producing relative movements between a tool and a workpiece; a C-axis drive unit for rotating the workpiece about a C-axis parallel to the Z-axis; and a B-axis turning unit for turning the tool about a B-axis parallel to the Y-axis. The tool is disposed in such a manner that a machining point of the tool coincides with the B-axis. The moving units, the drive unit, and the turning unit are controlled in such a manner that a work point of the workpiece coincides with the machining point of the tool. The bed is formed through casting and has a hollow structure and a hole as cast; and a cover is provided to cover the hole as cast in order to close the interior of the bed.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus transmits a driving force of an electric motor to a steering mechanism for steering assist. The apparatus includes a torque sensor which detects a steering wheel torque; a basic assist characteristic determining section which determines a basic assist characteristic defining a basic characteristic of a motor driving target value for the steering torque; a motor driving target value determining section which determines the motor driving target value for the steering torque in accordance with a modified assist characteristic prepared by shifting the basic assist characteristic along a steering torque coordinate axis; a shift amount determining section which determines the amount of the shift from the basic assist characteristic to the modified assist characteristic on the basis of the steering torque; and a motor driving section which drives the electric motor on the basis of the motor driving target value.

Abstract: A stop valve for a gas tank is provided which achieves favorable sealing performance by inhibiting rotation of a sealing member attached to a valve element. A passage is formed inside a valve body, and a valve seat is provided in the passage. The valve element which is engaged and disengaged from the valve seat is slidably inserted to a sliding hole bored in the valve body. The annular sealing member is arranged in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve element and the inner peripheral surface of the sliding hole. A screw hole connecting to the sliding hole and coaxial thereto is provided in the valve body. A rotating operation member having a male screw is rotatably screwed into the screw hole from the outside of the valve body. One end of the rotating operation member is made to abut the valve body.

Abstract: The contact angle of the ball 15 with each first guide track 21 of an inner joint member 12 is made to become smaller gradually from an opening portion side toward a bottom portion side, and the curvature radius for the first guide track 21 is made to become larger gradually from the opening portion side toward the bottom portion side. If the contact angle only were made to become smaller gradually from the opening portion side toward the bottom portion side, the contact angle would become too small thereby to cause chattering in rotation to be generated. If the curvature radius only were made to become larger gradually from the opening portion side toward the bottom portion side, a contact ellipse M2 defined by the ball 15 and the first guide track 21 would become tool small, which would cause the ball 15 to make dents on the surface of the first guide track 21.