Abstract: A torque distribution control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a torque distribution device for distributing the drive power transmitted from an engine to either of the front wheels or the rear wheels as prime drive wheels, to other wheels as sub-drive wheels determines a pre-torque in a feed forward sense based on the vehicle speed, the throttle opening degree and the gear shift step of a transmission. A compensation torque is determined in a feedback sense based on the vehicle speed and the rotational speed difference between the drive wheels and the sub-drive wheels. A torque transmission clutch is controlled based on a command torque which is obtained by the addition of the pre-torque and the compensation torque, so that the command torque is distributed to the sub-drive wheels.

Abstract: In a flow control apparatus, a fluid pressure is introduced from downstream of a metering orifice to a rear room of a spool while a relief valve in the spool is assembled in advance. A front section of a relief valve sub-assembly is press fitted to a hole provided on the spool and is opening to rear room of the spool so that a receiving room of a valve body in a relief valve casing communicates to a bypass path. A communicating path provided in a rod communicates to the rear room of the spool through outside of the relief valve sub-assembly. The relief valve casing is received in a receiving hole provided in the spool and a cylindrical room between the relief valve casing and the receiving room is used as a part of a communicating path.

Abstract: The invention provides a compact and highly reliable motor vehicle steering device that does not require a spiral flat cable. The motor vehicle steering device includes variable gear ratio system that modifies the transmission ratio of the rotary motions between first steering shaft and second steering shaft. Variable gear ratio system comprises Strain Wave Gearing Speed Reducer that modifies the transmission ratio between first steering shaft and second steering shaft in response to the rotating speed of motor shaft. Motor shaft and second steering shaft forms a substantially concentric dual structure, drive motor is affixed, and output shaft is connected to motor shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a road condition estimation apparatus for estimating a road condition for use in a vehicle having steering control unit for actuating a device mechanically independent of a manually operated steering member to steer each wheel.

Abstract: In a truing method and apparatus, an analyzing method is employed to calculate a truing shape from which a grinding surface having been trued with a grinding wheel being rotated at a low rotational speed during a truing operation is deformed to a desired shape due to centrifugal expansion depending on a rotational speed difference when the grinding wheel is rotated at a high rotational speed during a grinding operation. Then, with the grinding wheel being rotated at the low rotational speed, the grinding surface is trued with a truing roll to the calculated truing shape. As a result, the grinding surface of the grinding wheel being rotated at the low rotational speed is trued with the truing roll taking into consideration the centrifugal expansion of the grinding surface which takes place when the grinding wheel is rotatated at the high rotational speed during the grinding operation subsequent to the truing operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic bearing that supports a rotating shaft comprises a bearing metal. On a surface of the bearing metal, a hydrostatic pocket and a land portion are formed. The land portion is defined by the hydrostatic pocket and generates hydrodynamic pressure in response to a rotation of the rotating shaft. The hydraulic bearing further comprises a pressure fluid supplying source and an oil-supplying hole. The oil-supplying hole is opened in the hydrostatic pocket and provides pressure fluid from the pressure fluid supplying source to the hydrostatic pocket. On the land portion, a drain hole that drains the fluid is formed. On the way of a drain passage, a check valve is disposed. Since the drain hole does not separate the land portion, deterioration of bearing rigidity is restrained. Further, since the fluid is drained through the drain hole, thermal expansion of the bearing metal due to heat generation of the fluid is restrained.

Abstract: A drive system control method and a drive power transmission control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle are provided for enabling the vehicle to operate selectively in an ordinary mode and an anti-vibration mode. In the ordinary mode, the connection force of a coupling device which is provided between front and rear wheel torque transmission axles is kept relatively high, and the front and rear wheel torque transmission axles are brought to connect prime drive wheels with secondary drive wheels, so that four-wheel drive traveling of the vehicle can be realized. The operation mode of the vehicle is switched from the ordinary mode to the anti-vibration mode where the secondary drive wheels slip when the vehicle begins to start in the ordinary mode. In the anti-vibration mode, the connection force of the coupling device is relatively weakened to substantially separate the front and rear wheel torque transmission axles from each other.

Abstract: A TIG welding torch 70 is set more adjacent to a first bus bar 30 than a second bus bar 40 to generate an arc. Consequently, the second bus bar 40 serving as a low melting point member is prevented from being over heated, occurrence of blow holes is suppressed, and inadequate melting of the first bus bar 30 serving as a high melting point member is improved, resulting in enhancement of welding strength. The method is applicable to electrical equipment, especially to a motor, provided to a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention supplies coolant to a grinding wheel surface and reliably guides the coolant to a grinding point on the grinding wheel surface, thereby significantly reducing the amount of coolant to be used. In a grinding method and device for supplying coolant while grinding a workpiece W with a rotating grinding wheel 1, a fluid nozzle 2 is disposed upstream from a grinding point 11 on the circumferential surface 10 of the grinding wheel 1. The fluid nozzle 2 blows a jet of fluid across an air layer 12, which is a layer of flowing air dragged along the circumferential surface 10 of the grinding wheel 1, from one lateral side of the air layer 12 to the other lateral side thereof. A grinding fluid nozzle 3 supplies coolant to a region between the grinding point 11 and a cutoff position 13 at which the fluid jet from the fluid nozzle 2 has deflected the air flow from the air layer 12. The coolant supplied from the grinding fluid nozzle 3 contacts the grinding point 11 on the grinding surface 10.

Abstract: A variable gear ratio hydraulic power steering device 1 is provided with a variable ratio transmission mechanism 7 having a drive motor 70; a flow volume control valve 41 for controlling the discharge flow volume of an oil pump 10 which circulates operating fluid; and a steering angle sensor 310 for measuring a handle steering angle input to a steering handle 31. A valve controlling controller 50 is constructed to take thereinto a measured ACT angle which is the rotational angle of the drive motor 70 and to calculate a target ACT angle for the drive motor 70 based on the handle steering angle. Further, the valve controlling controller 50 controls the flow volume control valve 41 to make the discharge flow volume equal to or greater than a predetermined flow volume when the magnitude of a difference ACT angle which is the difference between the target ACT angle and the measured ACT angle is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus has a motor controlled so as to generate steering assist power according to the steering torque required to operate a steering wheel. As a result of correction of the output of the motor in accordance with a value correlating with the rotation angular velocity correspondence value of the steering wheel, in the frequency response characteristic represented by the steering frequency of the steering wheel and the amplitude ratio of the steering torque relative to the steering angle of the steering wheel, the amplitude ratio is set within a setting range, at least within the steering frequency range when a person operates the steering wheel.

Abstract: An electrically driven steering apparatus is capable of continuing to detect a steering angle even if a rotation angle sensor is in trouble. The steering angle is acquired using three rotation angle sensors (first resolver 35, second resolver 37, motor resolver 44). Thus, even if any resolver is in trouble, the steering angle can be detected continuously and by maintaining the functions of ABS, VSC and the like, the safety in traveling can be intensified.

Abstract: A first ECU 30 detects a steering torque applied to a steering system, estimates a self-aligning torque generated in a front wheel on the basis of the steering torque, and estimates a side force for the front wheel on the basis of lateral acceleration and a yaw rate. The first ECU 30 estimates a grip factor ? for the front wheel on the basis of a change of the self-aligning torque to the side force. The first ECU 30 judges whether the grip factor is below a second OS (oversteer) start threshold value. A second ECU 40 controls the transfer ratio according to the vehicle state when the grip factor is less than the second OS start threshold value.

Abstract: A pulley comprises a disk and an insert. The insert is fitted into the center of the disk integrally. Linear expansion coefficient of the disk is larger than the same of the insert. A concavity is formed on a periphery surface of the insert so that both side surfaces of the concavity are slanted outwardly, i.e. a distance between the side surfaces become large in proportion to being far from the centerline of the insert. When a slanting angle is defined as an angle between the side surface and a line which is perpendicular to the centerline of the insert on a plane including the centerline of the insert, the slanting angle is set from ten degrees to forty-five degrees, preferably from fifteen degrees to forty-five degrees. The disk is made of synthetic resin such as phenol resin, and the insert is made of metal such as iron.

Abstract: In accordance with a vehicle motion control apparatus, a steering angle (?h) of a steering wheel is determined on the basis of a rotation angle (?pm) of an assist motor (24m) detected by a rotation angle sensor (24s) and a rotation angle (?vm) of a gear ratio variable motor (32m) detected by a rotation angle sensor (32s), and a VGRS control process (40a) of a gear ratio variable mechanism is executed on the basis of the determined steering angle (?h). Accordingly, since the steering angle (?h) of the steering wheel is determined on the basis of the rotation angle (?vm) used for the VGRS control process (40a) of the gear ratio variable mechanism and the rotation angle (?pm) used for an EPS control process (30a) of an EPS actuator, it is possible to obtain the steering angle (?h) of the steering wheel without a steering angle sensor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of the parts of a vehicle motion control apparatus.

Abstract: A friction clutch has a plurality of iron inner clutch plates and a plurality of iron outer clutch plates. Both the clutch plates have sliding surfaces which are friction-engaged each other. A thin carbon film in a diamond form, which functions as a solid lubricant, is formed on each of the sliding surfaces of the outer clutch plates by a known method such as the Chemical Vapor Deposition method. A known nitride treatment or quenching and tempering treatment is applied to the sliding surfaces of the inner clutch plates. A coupling device has a pilot clutch mechanism with the friction clutch and an electromagnetic actuator. As a result, the friction clutch is resistant to wear and the coupling device is excellent in durability.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control apparatus, which includes a steering factor detection unit for detecting at least one of steering factors including a steering torque and steering effort applied to a steering system, an aligning torque estimation unit for estimating an aligning torque produced on at least a wheel of the vehicle on the basis of the steering factor, a vehicle state variable detection unit for detecting a state variable of the vehicle, a wheel factor estimation unit for estimating at least one of wheel factors including a side force and slip angle applied to the wheel on the basis of the vehicle state variable, and a grip factor estimation unit for estimating a grip factor of at least a tire of the wheel, in accordance with the estimated alignment torque and the estimated wheel factor.

Abstract: A cylindrical grinder includes a workpiece support section adapted to support a generally cylindrical workpiece and rotate the workpiece about a rotational axis, and a wheel head adapted to support and rotate a grinding wheel. The wheel head is moved relative to the workpiece support section, along a first direction parallel to a rotational axis of the workpiece and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in order to grind an outer surface of the workpiece. The wheel head is turnable relative to the workpiece so that a rotational axis of the grinding wheel can be tilted within a plane substantially passing through the rotational axis of the grinding wheel and the rotational axis of the workpiece, within a range extending across a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece. Further, link-type parallel link mechanisms for moving the grinding wheel are disclosed.

Abstract: In a steering apparatus, in accordance with a grip limit control process (30b?), it is determined whether or not a grip degree ? estimated by a grip degree estimation arithmetically operating process (30a) is less than a predetermined grip degree (??), and in the case that it is determined that an estimated grip degree (?) is less than the predetermined grip degree (??), the process applies such a feeling that a steering operation by a steering wheel suddenly becomes light to a driver, by suddenly increasing an assist quantity by a motor (M), thereby notifying the driver of the matter that the grip degree of a steered wheel is close to a limit. Therefore, it is possible to transmit to the driver a probability that a side slip is generated by further turning the steering wheel 21 in the same direction as the current direction, thereby calling the driver's attention for steering.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive device for lineally reciprocatilvely moving an operating member like a spool of a spool valve is reduced in the manufacturing cost without being degraded in its operational performance. In the electromagnetic drive device, a stator body is excited by an electromagnetic coil to axially move a plunger guided in an inner bore of the stator body, against the resilient force of a spring. The stator body is constituted by arranging a plurality of core portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material, a plurality of yoke portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic portion annular plate elements made of a non-magnetic material and placed between the core portion annular plate elements and the yoke portion annular plate elements and by piling up and bodily joining these annular plate elements in axial alignment with one another.