Abstract: An output voltage from an O.sub.2 sensor is intermittently sampled and the sampled voltage is converted into a binary signal. The binary signal is applied to an electrical digital computer, and therein the following operations are carried out. First, the maximum and minimum values of the applied binary signal are detected, then the difference between the detected values is calculated. Thereafter, the calculated difference is compared with a predetermined value to generate a binary signal indicative of the comparison result. The air-fuel ratio feedback control responsive to the applied binary signal is executed when the binary comparison result signal indicates that the calculated difference is larger than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A direct coupled clutch is provided in parallel to a fluid type torque converter of an automatic transmission, and the supply of oil pressure to a hydraulic servo for the direct coupled clutch is controlled by an electromagnetic valve. When an accelerator pedal is returned with speed higher than a predetermined value, the direct coupled clutch is maintained in the disengaged condition only for a predetermined time so that impact caused by abrupt change in torque of an engine can be avoided.

Abstract: An overdrive device for motor vehicle transmissions includes a sun gear, planet pinions and a ring gear in meshing relationship. A one-way clutch having an inner race integrally secured to the sun gear is provided with the outer race of the one-way clutch being spline-coupled to a carrier which rotatably supports the planet pinions. A certain degree of slack or looseness is provided between the carrier and the outer race to permit some relative movement therebetween in the radial direction of the overdrive device.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioner device includes an air duct, a blower motor for producing an air stream to be supplied to an automotive passenger compartment through the air duct, a heat exchanger having a heater and a cooling device, and an electronic control device. The electronic control device includes various sensors, a microcomputer for executing computation processings of output signals from the various sensors in accordance with a predetermined program and producing a first and a second control signal, a drive circuit responsive to the first control signal for changing a temperature adjusting value of the heat exchanger and another drive circuit responsive to the second control signal for changing the cooling power of the cooling device, thereby to control the air temperature within the automotive passenger compartment at a desired value.

Abstract: Determination as to whether the condition of automatically stopping an engine is formed or not is made based on outputs from pluralities of sensors and switches for detecting the operating conditions of various portions of a vehicle. Even if the result of determination satisfies the conditions of automatic stop, automatic stop is not effected when the temperature of the engine cooling water exceeds predetermined temperature limits.

Abstract: An engine comprising a main intake passage having a throttle valve therein. A bypass passage is branched off from the main intake passage located upstream of the throttle valve and is connected to the main intake passage located downstream of the throttle valve. A flow control valve, actuated by a step motor, is arranged in the bypass passage. The step motor comprises a rotor and a stator having exciting coils. When the engine is operating in an idling state, the exciting coils are excited for rotating the step motor in a rotating direction wherein the engine speed approaches a desired idling speed. When the engine speed becomes equal to the desired engine speed and is higher than a predetermined speed, the exciting coil, which was finally excited immediately before the engine speed becomes equal to the desired idling speed, is intermittently excited in order to maintain the step motor stationary.

Abstract: A fuel tank construction of a motor vehicle, wherein a fuel tank disposed in a tunnel projecting upwardly from the surface of a floor panel, opening downwardly, disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and formed at the central portion in the widthwise direction of the floor panel is of such an arrangement that a pair of upper and lower tanks being of substantially triangular shapes are welded into a substantially square shape in cross section to form the fuel tank and seam portions formed by the welding are located at opposite corner portions and on one of diagonal lines of a space formed by the substantially square shape.

Abstract: In a system wherein the operating conditions of various portions of a vehicle are detected and an engine is automatically stopped and started in accordance with the operating conditions thus detected, a fuel supply system is cut to prevent the run-on of the engine in addition to the cut-off of current passage to an ignition system as in the prior art. There controls are effected when both any one or more of predetermined operating conditions and any one or more of conditions of precluding the automatic stop are present.

Abstract: A shell for a universal joint for flexibly coupling two rotary shafts. The shell is constructed using a manufacturing technique to produce a shell of light weight and excellent strength. The shell generally has a hollow cylindrical configuration and is secured at one end to a rotary shaft and formed to have a plurality of grooves extending parallel to its cylindrical axis. A second rotary shaft includes portions which engage the plurality of grooves for transmitting movement from one shaft to the other through the shell. The shell may be formed using a tubular work piece or a planar work piece, and may be provided in substantially complete form by use of a machine press prior to subjecting the material to an ironing process to make the grooves of accurate shape and dimension. The process is performed such that no machining is required to form the grooves and produce the shell.

Abstract: A fluid control valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid passing through a fluid passageway defined in a valve body and having an inlet end and an outlet end. A bellows formed of low tackiness material has fixed one end wall secured to the valve body and the other movable end wall connected to a valve stem. The valve stem is actuated by an actuator to move the other movable end wall of the bellows between a closed position in which the other movable end wall is brought into direct contact with a valve seat located in the fluid passageway and an open position in which the other movable end wall is brought out of engagement with the valve seat.

Abstract: A four link suspension system for a monocoque vehicle body, which comprises a pair of upper control arms and a pair of lower control arms adapted to swingably support a rigid axle housing encasing an axle shaft against the body. The body has a floor panel, and a pair of side members spaced from each other in a transverse direction of the body, are provided at both sides of the panel. A cross member is disposed between both side members with a distance from the floor panel and secured at its both ends to the side members. The upper control arms are disposed inside of the lower control arms, and each forward end of the upper control arms is pivoted to said cross member.

Abstract: A method of sensing a knocking taking place in an internal combustion engine through the sensing of pulsative component of the cooling water pressure or lubricating oil pressure. The sensing of the pulsative component is made by removing the static component from the composite pressure which is the sum of the pulsative component and the static component. An apparatus for sensing a knocking taking place in an internal combustion engine has a differential pressure sensing mechanism including a pressure sensing diaphragm and a pulsation absorption mechanism. The pressure sensing diaphragm receives at its one side the composite cooling water pressure or composite lubricating oil pressure which is the sum of the pulsative component and static component. The pulsation absorption mechanism absorbs the pulsative component from the composite pressure so as to transmit only the static component of the pressure to the other side of the pressure sensing diaphragm.

Abstract: A leanness sensor has a sensor element made of an oxygen-permeable solid electrolyte and having a cylindrical form or a form like a vessel closed at one end thereof. The sensor element is provided with metallic electrodes formed on the inner and outer surfaces thereof. An inner metallic member and an outer metallic member are mounted on the sensor element and electrically connected to the metallic electrodes. The sensor element is fixed to the inner side of the end portion of a cylindrical insulating tube.

Abstract: A power control system for a supercharged internal combustion engine. The system has a passage providing a communication between the compressor outlet of the supercharger and an exhaust by-pass valve actuator, the passage being communicated at its other end with the compressor inlet of the supercharger. A variable orifice valve is disposed at an intermediate portion of the passage opening to the exhaust by-pass valve actuator and the compressor inlet. Control means is provided to control the opening of the variable orifice valve in accordance with the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle or the opening of the throttle valve of the engine.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve lift device for internal combustion engines includes a lifter having therein an oil pressure chamber for introduction of oil and slidably disposed in a cylindrical bore of a housing with one end thereof engaged by a cam or a cam shaft, and a plunger slidably disposed in the lifter for opening and closing an intake or exhaust valve of which a valve lift is variable depending upon the rotational speed of the cam by discharging oil from the oil pressure chamber through a throttling port. A braking chamber is defined by a flange portion of the plunger and the cylindrical bore, and is communicated through a slit with a oil feed chamber adapted to allow oil to flow thereinto. A relief valve is provided for communicating with the braking chamber to control its oil pressure below a set value. A control device is provided for controlling the relief valve depending upon an output of a detector such that the set force of the valve corresponds with a desired value.

Abstract: An intake system of an internal combustion engine having at least two intake ports formed in the cylinder head. Each of the intake ports comprises an inlet port portion and a port terminating portion formed around the valve stem of the intake valve. Each of the inlet port portions has an opening which is open to the corresponding port terminating portion. The port terminating portions are interconnected to each other via a common connecting passage. The common connecting passage has opposed end openings, each being open to the corresponding port terminating portion at a position opposite to the opening of the corresponding inlet port portion with respect to the valve stem of the corresponding intake valve.

Abstract: The volumetric efficiency of an internal combustion engine is calculated from the detected flow rate of the intake air and from the detected rotational speed. The changing rate of the calculated volumetric efficiency is restricted to a limit rate. Then, the amount of fuel to be injected into the engine is calculated, depending upon the restricted volumetric efficiency.

Abstract: An ignition timing control device which optimizes ignition timing even at low atmospheric pressures. This ignition timing control device comprises a detecting means for detecting when an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device should be actuated or not. When the detecting means indicates the EGR device is not actuated, but the quantity of intake air and engine speed are within a range of values where the exhaust gas recirculating device would be actuated at low altitudes, such ignition time is made to be optimum by delaying the timing.

Abstract: An air by-pass system in an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger which comprises a compressor driven by an exhaust gas turbine for supercharging suction air fed to the engine through a throttle valve, wherein an air by-pass passage is provided for connecting an area upstream from the compressor and an area downstream from the throttle valve, and an air valve is provided in the by-pass passage for controlling the amount of the by-pass air.

Abstract: A seat position control mechanism with a neutral position return mechanism for a front seat of a vehicle such as two-door sedan or hard top sedan incorporates a memory plate disposed outside the locking teeth of the locking plate of the seat slide adjusting device, a rockable lever journaled with the maneuverable shaft rockably secured to the locking lever, and connecting means connected from the rockable lever to the back rest of the front seat, in addition to the ordinary seat slide adjusting device. The rockable lever is always urged by the rotating force of the torsion spring in the seat locking direction so that the maneuverable shaft can be locked or unlocked regardless of the rockable lever. Thus, the entire mechanism is low bulky, compact and light with simple construction, and the front seat can be smoothly slid without interference with the rockable lever and other members.