Abstract: A torque sensor is comprised of a torque detection coil for detecting a torque generated between an input shaft and an output shaft by detecting a change of a relative rotational position between a cover member fixed to the input shaft and a covered member fixed to the output shaft as a change of impedance of a torque detection coil. The cover member is located between the covered member and the torque detection coil and has an outer cylinder portion which extends from an outer periphery of the cover member along a circumferential surface of the covered member.

Abstract: A coupling for coupling first and second shafts is described. The coupling comprises an annular unit including a plurality of annular metal plates which are put on one another, a first group of bolt bores formed through the annular unit, a second group of bolt bores formed through the annular unit, a first group of bolts and nuts which are incorporated with the first group of bolt bores to fix the annular metal plates, a second group of bolts and nuts which are incorporated with the second group of bolt bores to fix the annular metal plates, a first yoke which connects the first shaft to the first group of bolts and nuts, and a second yoke which connects the second shaft to the second group of bolts and nuts. A stopper structure is further provided by which every mutually contacting portions of the annular metal plates are suppressed from making a relative displacement therebetween.

Abstract: A VVA apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a intake valve, and an alteration mechanism which variably controlling lift characteristics of the intake valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions, wherein the valve lift characteristics include a ramp period which is shorter in the range of medium lift amount than in the range of small lift amount and the range of large lift amount.

Abstract: Before starting an air-fuel ratio feedback control utilizing an air-fuel ratio sensor, activation of a wide-range air-fuel ratio sensor in an internal combustion engine is diagnosed by calculating heat transferred to and from the air-fuel ratio sensor, the output value of the wide-range air-fuel ratio sensor varies in response to oxygen concentration in exhaust which varies according to the air-fuel ratio of an intake air-fuel mixture of the internal combustion engine. The activation time from the starting of the engine until the air-fuel ratio sensor is activated is estimate based on the calculated result of the heat transfer. Alternatively, activation of the sensor is diagnosed under the condition that an output voltage of the oxygen concentration detecting unit of the sensor is fixed to a value either equal to or above a rich-side set voltage or equal to or under a lean-side set voltage, before starting the air-fuel ratio feedback control.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes a friction member arranged inwardly with respect to a seal member and mounted to one of a cylinder and a piston rod. The friction member slidably contacts another of the cylinder and the piston rod to produce friction greater than that produced at the seal member.

Abstract: A joint structure for a power transmitting member comprising a fiber rein forced plastic tube, a joint comprising a joint portion for joining to an end portion of the tube, and a sealing portion formed on an end of the tube side of the joint portion, wherein the joint portion and the sealing portion are disposed in an interior of the tube, a liquid packing compound for sealing between the tube and the joint, wherein the liquid packing compound fills at least an area between the sealing portion and the tube, wherein the sealing portion has a tapered surface, whose diameter increases toward the end of the tube. Thereby, when the joint portion is joined to the end of the tube, a clearance between the tube and the joint portion is entirely filled with the liquid packing compound.

Abstract: When a vehicle control unit is to be exchanged, out of learning data stored in a control memory of the control unit to be exchanged, the learning data correlating to vehicle parts to be exchanged at the same time are corrected to initial values, and the learning data after correction processing are written to a control memory of a new control unit.

Abstract: An oil pump includes suction and discharge chambers formed in a sidewall of a housing, and a maximum-volume-side partition area formed with the sidewall of the housing on a trajectory of pump houses and at a position where each pump house has a maximum volume, wherein the maximum-volume-side partition area creates a section where any pump house spreads over neither of the suction and discharge chambers. A plurality of channels is arranged in the discharge chamber at an end thereof, each channel having a predetermined length and extending to the maximum-volume-side partition area.

Abstract: In anti-skid control system and method for an automotive vehicle, when a calculated wheel deceleration of any one of road wheels of the vehicle has reached to a predetermined deceleration set on the basis of a pseudo vehicle body deceleration calculated from detected road wheel velocities, an electronic control unit (ECU) suspends a pressure increase control such as to increase a brake liquid pressure of the road wheel corresponding one of wheel cylinders and executes such a pressure hold control as to hold the brake liquid pressure thereof.

Abstract: In a drive circuit for an electric motor, there is provided a circuit board, at least one semiconductor device mounted to the circuit board and a spacer. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip, a chip package incorporating therein the semiconductor chip and comprising a mounting member for mounting on the circuit board, and terminals for connections of the semiconductor chip to the circuit board. The spacer is interposed between the circuit board and the mounting member of the chip package so as to provide a space between the circuit board and the chip package.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air/fuel ratio detection apparatus. This apparatus includes (a) a heater portion having an elongate cylindrical shape and heating by applying electricity thereto from outside; (b) a solid electrolyte layer surrounding the heater portion and being activated by heat to conduct oxygen ions therethrough; (c) first and second electrodes in contact with the solid electrolyte layer and being away from each other such that pumping voltage is applied by the first and second electrodes to the solid electrolyte layer; (d) a reference electrode for outputting an air/fuel ratio detection signal, the reference electrode being formed on the solid electrolyte layer and being away from the first and second electrodes; and (e) a diffusion layer made of a porous material and surrounding periphery of the solid electrolyte layer to cover the first and second electrodes and the reference electrode.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump unit for vehicle brake control system comprising a pump housing, a cylinder received in a receiving hole formed in the pump housing. The cylinder has a bottom portion and is provided at the bottom portion with an outlet valve. A plunger received in the cylinder with a slidable contact, the plunger is driven by a cam and defining a pump chamber in cooperation with the cylinder. An inlet valve provided on the plunger, an inlet passage formed in the pump housing. An opening of the inlet passage is provided in the receiving hole. An outlet passage formed in the pump housing, an opening of the outlet passage is provided in the receiving hole. A plug member for closing an opening of the receiving hole, the plug member is fixed to the bottom portion of the cylinder, and an orifice passage formed on an orifice plate, the orifice plate is arranged between the bottom portion and the plug member.

Abstract: Between a control unit such as a control unit for an automatic transmission and a mounting bracket, there is provided an interconnection integrated insulating sheet including a plurality of buried interconnection patterns for connecting the control unit with associated components, such as oil sensors and connectors for solenoid valves, mounted on the bracket. The control unit is mounted on the insulating sheet and enclosed by a protective cover mounted on the insulating sheet. The insulating sheet is overlapped on the mounting bracket and the mounting bracket is fixed to a control valve of an automatic transmission together with the insulating sheet.

Abstract: In a fuel-injection system with a pressure regulator disposed in the middle of a fuel supply line and located upstream of a fuel injector for regulating the pressure of fuel flowing through the fuel supply line and for returning surplus fuel via the pressure regulator into a fuel tank, a reflux pipe arrangement is located downstream of the fuel injector and connected at one end to the downstream end of the fuel supply line and connected at the other end to the fuel tank. A reflux control device is disposed in the middle of the reflux pipe arrangement for controlling a flow rate of the fuel flowing through the reflux pipe arrangement. The reflux control device is comprised of a reflux control valve or a fluid-flow restriction orifice member.

Abstract: A valve timing control system includes a driving plate coupled to a crankshaft, a lever shaft coupled to a camshaft, a VTC housing, and an electromagnetic coil mounted to the VTC housing for producing a magnetic field to control a mounting angle formed between the driving plate and the lever shaft. The electromagnetic coil has rotation restricted and axial displacement allowed by the VTC housing, and is engaged with the lever shaft to enable rotation with respect thereto and axial displacement together therewith.

Abstract: A traction distribution device includes a hydraulic motor arranged in a differential-gear mechanism for providing relative torque between one of the wheel shafts and a differential casing in accordance with the direction of a hydraulic pressure supplied thereto. A pressure regulating valve is arranged to control the hydraulic pressure supplied to the motor, whereas a selector valve is arranged to switch the direction of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the motor.

Abstract: A valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine has: a drive force conveyer; a cam shaft; a housing rotating integrally with one of the drive force conveyer and the cam shaft; a vane rotor housed in the housing, the vane rotor rotating integrally with the other of the drive force conveyer and the cam shaft; an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber housed in the housing, and turning the vane rotor with an oil pressure; an oil pressure supply-drain measure; a lock gear; and an unlock gear. A large diameter section of a lock pin and an inner periphery of a pin hole define a first clearance while a small diameter section of the lock pin and the inner periphery of the pin hole define a second clearance, such that the first clearance is larger than the second clearance.

Abstract: A valve timing control system includes a driving plate, a lever provided to a camshaft, a radial slot formed in the driving plate, an intermediate rotator arranged rotatable with respect to the driving plate and the camshaft and having a spiral slot, and a link having a base end pivotally coupled to the lever and a front end arranged swingably and including a ball engaged with the spiral slot and a block member engaged with the radial slot. The ball has a center of engagement located on a swinging axis of the front end of the link, producing no moment.

Abstract: In a throttle valve device for driving a throttle valve to open/close by an electric motor, wherein a circuit case for accommodating a motor drive circuit is integrally formed to a throttle body, said throttle body is further equipped with a cooling water passage for cooling said motor drive circuit with the engine cooling water.

Abstract: In a brake control apparatus for a vehicle, a left and right road friction coefficient estimating section calculates each of left and right estimated road surface friction coefficients from a relation between a pressure decrease control time in one cycle and a maximum wheel acceleration during the pressure decrease time. A split friction discriminating section discriminates a split friction road surface condition from a non-split condition in accordance with a difference between the left and right estimated road surface friction coefficients. A control modifying section modifies a brake fluid pressure control for a wheel cylinder to differentiate brake control characteristics for left and right wheels from each other in the case of the split friction road surface condition.