Abstract: A fluid -filled elastic bushing wherein an elastic body elastically connecting a center shaft member and an outer cylindrical member is provided a displacement restrictor including a stop portion extending from one of the center shaft and outer cylindrical members toward the other member, to restrict an amount of radial displacement of these two members. The stop portion includes an abutting part opposed to the other member with a first radial spacing therebetween, and a shoulder surface adjacent to the abutting part. The displacement restrictor further includes a buffer layer disposed in close contact with the shoulder surface and made of an elastic material whose stiffness is lower than a material of the abutting part. The buffer layer is opposed to the above-indicated other member with a second radial spacing therebetween smaller than the first radial spacing.

Abstract: A water pump includes a shaft to which an impeller has been attached, and a water pump housing in which the shaft is freely rotatably supported by a plain bearing. An annular mandrel having a lip seal fixedly secured to its distal end is inserted into an annular groove provided in the pump housing, thereby limiting the axial movement of the shaft.

Abstract: A composite intake manifold includes a first outer member, an inner member fitted within the first outer member, and a second outer member fixed to the first outer member. An intake port of the manifold includes a curved portion. The curved portion is defined by the inner member and at least one of the first outer member and the second outer member. The curved portion of the intake port is divided at a seam parallel to an axis of the curved portion of the intake port so that the respective members can be molded without using a molding core.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate volume control for route aural guidance. When supplying a guidance voice to a loudspeaker 34a, a voice control section 30 disconnects the loudspeaker 34a from audio and outputs the guidance voice through the loudspeaker. A volume control screen is displayed on a display section 28 where the user adjusts the volume by touching the screen. When the voice control section 30 switches a signal to the loudspeaker 34a, a mute circuit 40a is operated to mute the voice output before the voice is output through the loudspeaker 34a. When the user terminates volume adjustment, the voice control section 30 outputs a voice for volume confirmation or check at the adjusted volume through the loudspeaker 34a. The user can check the adjusted volume at this time.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for orally issuing route guidance, capable of changing a point at which the route guidance is issued depending on the moving situation of a vehicle. The moving situation is at least one of a number of lanes in a road being traveled, a width of a crossroad intersecting the road being traveled and a speed of the vehicle. The moving situation is detected by a moving situation detector section and based on the detected moving situation, the route guidance issuing point is changed to the optimum point for the moving situation at that time by a guidance issuing point changer of a route guide controller.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a backrest hinged to a seat squab frame by means of a pair of reclining mechanisms to be tilted forwardly or backwardly with respect to the seat squab frame, the reclining mechanisms each including a ratchet member secured to each side of the lower end portion of the backrest frame to be locked to a support member secured to each side of the rear end portion of the seat squab frame, which vehicle seat includes a single strut member rotatably connected at its upper end to an upper end of the backrest at one side thereof to be moved forwardly or backwardly, and a resilient member mounted on the upper end of the backrest frame for biasing the strut member forwardly, wherein the ratchet member located at the same side as the one side of the backrest is formed with a semi-circular elongated hole of which the radius center is located at a rotation fulcrum of the strut member, and wherein the lower end of the strut member is slidably engaged with the semi-circular elongated hole and is normally