Abstract: A fuel cell includes a pair of separators and a plurality of electrolyte electrode assemblies between the separators. The electrolyte electrode assemblies has a small circular disk shape. Eight electrolyte electrode assemblies are arranged along an inner circle and eight electrolyte electrode assemblies are arranged along an outer circle concentric with a circular hole. Each of the separators includes a plurality of plates stacked together. A fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to anodes of the electrolyte electrode assemblies, an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to cathodes of the electrolyte electrode assemblies are formed between the plates.

Abstract: At least part of the inner circumferential wall of the outer casing is provided with a concave surface opposing the rotor blade tips as seen in a longitudinal section. Typically, each of the rotor blades is provided with aerofoil section, and the compressor is designed as a transonic axial flow compressor. Thereby, a compressive wave is produced upstream of the shockwave so that the Mach number of the flow entering the shockwave can be reduced. As a result, the shockwave is made less severe, and the shockwave loss can be reduced. In particular, because the concave surface is provided in the casing wall as opposed to the case where the concave surface is provided in the negative pressure side of the rotor blade, the reduction in the performance owing to the change in the angle of the airflow entering the passage defined by the concave surface under a partial load condition can be avoided.

Abstract: An air bag is formed by sewing a first basic fabric opposed to an occupant and a second basic fabric on the opposite side, at a sewn portion along an outer peripheries of the fabrics. The air bag is folded in a longitudinally longer shape, and an oblong restricting member is wound around a central portion of the air bag to fix the air bag in a bundling manner, and then the air bag is vertically folded. In the process of expansion of the air bag, the air bag bundled by the restricting member is first expanded vertically and then expanded laterally after breakage of a breaking portion of the restricting member which cannot withstand a tension. Thus, by providing the restricting member, the shape and direction of the air bag can be controlled as desired in the process of deployment.

Abstract: A target value Vtgt for an output Vout of an O2 sensor 8 (an exhaust gas sensor) disposed downstream of a catalytic converter 4 is set variably depending on a temperature TO2 of an active element 10 of the O2 sensor 8 by a target value setting unit 18, and the air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas is controlled by an air-fuel ratio control unit 17 to converge the output Vout to the target value Vtgt. An exhaust gas temperature Tgd is estimated by an exhaust temperature observer 19, and the temperature TO2 of the active element 10 is sequentially estimated by an element temperature observer 20 using the estimated value of the exhaust gas temperature Tgd. A heater 13 of the O2 sensor 8 is controlled by a heater controller 22 to keep the temperature TO2 of the active element 10 at a predetermined target value R. The air-fuel ratio is thus controlled to maintain a desired exhaust gas purifying capability of the catalytic converter irrespective of the temperature of the active element of the exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle controller for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an engine is provided. In one embodiment, the controller comprises a first exhaust gas sensor provided downstream of the catalyst for detecting oxygen concentration of exhaust gas, a first decimation filter connected to the first exhaust gas sensor, and a control unit connected to the first decimation filter. The control unit determines a manipulated variable for manipulating the air-fuel ratio. The first decimation filter oversamples, low-pass filters and then downsamples the output of the first exhaust gas sensor. The first decimation filter can remove chemical noise from the output of the exhaust gas sensor. In another embodiment, a second decimation filter is connected to a second exhaust gas sensor provided upstream of the catalyst for detecting the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas. The second decimation filter overasmples, low-pass filters and then downsamples the output of the second exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: A fuel gas inlet, a fuel gas outlet, an oxygen-containing gas inlet, an oxygen-containing gas outlet, and other components, which are disposed at upper and lower portions at both ends in the lateral direction, are provided in a first fuel cell stack. A plurality of cooling medium inlets, a plurality of cooling medium outlets, and other components are provided at lower portions on the long side and at upper portions on the long side respectively. A cooling medium flows from the lower portions to the upper portions through cooling medium flow passages to cool the power generation surface smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: In a system for controlling opening of a throttle valve installed at an air intake system of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, a fully-closed value of the opening of a throttle valve is learning-controlled based on a detected opening of the throttle valve to update the learned fully-closed value, when operating state of the vehicle is under a prescribed operating state such as the operator rides the accelerator pedal; and the updating of the learned fully-closed value is inhibited in valve opening direction until the operating state of the vehicle moves outside the prescribed operating state and then again returns to the operating state. In addition, an amount for updating in the opening direction is set smaller than that in the closing direction. With this, it becomes possible to avoid engine speed destabilization and other various problems even if the learned value in effect during pedal riding is used for engine idling speed control.

Abstract: In a door opening/closing apparatus allowing a door opening to have as wide an area as possible, an improved structure is provided which can serve to obviate the need for including a reinforcement structure or an additional seal structure, so that the door opening/closing apparatus can be simplified in structure. An arm member 3 is coupled to a door of a vehicle, and a driving unit 2 is provided inside a vehicle body of the vehicle to move the arm member 3. The arm member 3 is arranged to be protrudable from inside of the vehicle body, through a space which the door D occupies when closed, pushing the door D open and pulling the door D shut. A seal member 8 is provided along an inner peripheral edge of a body panel PB defining a door opening S of the vehicle body, and a through opening 9 through which the arm member 3 is protrudable is formed in the seal member 3.

Abstract: An object detection system comprises a physical object recognition unit which recognizes physical objects outside the vehicle, and a physical object memory which stores information concerning the physical objects.

Abstract: A body structure of a fuel cell vehicle which is driven using power generated by a fuel cell. The body structure comprises a frame unit which supports a fuel tank for storing fuel for the fuel cell; a fuel cell box which accommodates the fuel cell, the fuel cell box being disposed in proximity of the frame unit at a floor of the vehicle, a fuel feed pipe which connects the fuel tank and the fuel cell, and a pillar which is disposed at a position, viewed from the side of the vehicle, covering at least a part of the fuel cell box and at least a part of the frame unit.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel system is provided. The evaporative fuel system includes a fuel tank and a conduit having a first end connected to the fuel tank and a second end. A vent structure is connected to the second end of the conduit. The vent structure includes a housing and an air passageway defined in the housing wherein at least a portion of the air passageway is a sinuous path. A first port is formed in the housing for connecting the air passageway to the conduit. A second port is formed in the housing for connecting the air passageway to atmosphere.

Abstract: A non-linear region controller 45 calculates a standard yaw rate from an actual steering angle &thgr;r of steerable wheels detected by a steering angle sensor 10, a deviation from the standard yaw rate, of a yaw rate &ggr;r detected by a yaw rate sensor 23, and a rate of change of the yaw rate deviation. Based upon calculated results, the non-linear region controller 45 determines whether tires of a traveling vehicle are in a non-linear region of tire characteristic, and if determining so, exercises a steering amount reduction control to reduce an actual steering angle &thgr;r of the steerable wheels. The determination of linearity of tire characteristic can be made with comparative ease utilizing a commonly available sensor, and the vehicle is controlled using the determination result.

Abstract: The disc brake for a motor vehicle contains a caliper bracket to be secured to a vehicle body on the outer side of a disc rotor with respect to the vehicle body, a caliper body supported by the caliper bracket to be slidable in the axial direction of the disc rotor and a pair of friction pads disposed to oppose each other through the disc rotor. The caliper bracket contains a bracket main body and a connecting arm which are disposed respectively on the outer side and on the inner side of the disc rotor with respect to the vehicle body, as well as, a pair of caliper supporting arms, which connect the bracket main body with the connecting arm at their disc turning-in side end portions and at their disc turning-out side end portions, respectively.

Abstract: A windshield packaging system that provides effective support for the windshield during substantial vertical drops, protects the windshield against side impacts, is simple in design, requires only modest skill to effectively assemble, protects windshields of different size with the same size carton, and minimizes inventory management problems. The windshield packaging system includes jaw components having a synergistic effect, horizontally-running flutes, and pressure-regulated clamps.

Abstract: Electric power steering apparatus includes a steering torque detection section for detecting steering torque acting on a steering system, a motor for imparting steering assist torque to the steering system; a voltage raising circuit including a switching element to be driven by a voltage-raise controlling PWM signal; and a motor driving controller for setting a target current to be supplied to the motor on the basis of at least the detected steering torque, setting a motor-current controlling duty factor signal on the basis of the target current, operating a switching circuit on the basis of the duty factor signal to control a motor drive current, and driving the motor with the controlled current. CPU of the motor driving controller generates the PWM signal for controlling the voltage raising circuit.

Abstract: When a shift position is shifted from an R range to a D range and when the shift position is shifted from the D range to the R range, an electrically-operated parking brake device is automatically cancelled. In this manner, the electrically-operated parking brake device is cancelled without waiting for the depression of an accelerator pedal with a driver's intention to start a vehicle taken into consideration. Therefore, it is possible not only to alleviate a burden on the driver in canceling the electrically-operated parking brake device, but also to prevent an abrupt starting of the vehicle due to the cancellation of the electrically-operated parking brake device while the accelerator pedal is being depressed to transmit a large driving force to driven wheels.

Abstract: A memory unit stores maps of predetermined determination threshold values for detection values detected by a hydrogen sensor according to an operating state of a fuel cell such as a difference in pressure between reaction gases at an anode and a cathode, supply pressure of the reaction gases, supply flow rate of the reaction gases and generated current of the fuel cell. A control unit obtains a predetermined determination threshold value from the memory unit based on the operating state of the fuel cell. Then, the detection value outputted from the hydrogen sensor and the determination threshold value obtained from the memory unit are compared, and in the event that the detection value is determined to exceed the determination threshold value, a predetermined protecting process is implemented for the fuel cell.

Abstract: A windshield packaging system that provides effective support for the windshield during substantial vertical drops, protects the windshield against side impacts, is simple in design, requires only modest skill to effectively assemble, protects windshields of different size with the same size carton, and minimizes inventory management problems. The windshield packaging system includes jaw components having a synergistic effect, horizontally-running flutes, and pressure-regulated clamps.

Abstract: An engine has a first camshaft having a power input portion at one end thereof and a second camshaft interlocked and connected with the first camshaft at one end portion thereof have axes which are parallel with each other and are rotatably supported on a cylinder head and in which a driven gear meshing with a drive gear provided at the other end portion of one of the first and second camshafts is provided on an auxiliary device drive shaft connecting to an auxiliary device mounted on an engine main body including the cylinder head, wherein an axis of the auxiliary device drive shaft is disposed between the first and second camshafts at a position closer to the cylinder head than a straight line connecting the axes of the two camshafts.

Abstract: For example, polysulfated phenylene sulfonic acid, aniline, and sodium chloride are mixed in water. During this process, the interactive absorption force between polysulfated phenylene sulfonic acid and aniline is decreased by sodium ion produced by the ionization of sodium chloride. In this state, aniline is easily polymerized to produce polyaniline, and polyaniline and polysulfated phenylene sulfonic acid are compatibilized with each other to produce a compatibilized polymer in a form of solid. The compatibilized polymer is separated from the solvent and then dissolved, then being formed to have a predetermined shape. Thus, a proton conductive solid polymer electrolyte is manufactured.

Abstract: In an armature coil for electric generators and motors including a plurality of identical coil blocks (11) each formed by a plurality of turns of an elongated conductor so as to correspond to different phases, each of the coil blocks includes two groups of axial sections (2, 6) which are diametrically opposed to each other and curved sections (1, 3, 5, 7) joining the two groups to each other at each axial end, the axial sections of one of the groups being disposed in an inner cylindrical layer while the axial sections of the other of the groups are disposed in an outer cylindrical layer which is coaxial with the inner cylindrical layer; and the coil blocks are combined with each other by circumferentially shifting one coil block from another in such a manner that the axial sections are arranged circumferentially along the inner and outer cylindrical layers one next to another.

Abstract: A windshield packaging system that provides effective support for the windshield during substantial vertical drops, protects the windshield against side impacts, is simple in design, requires only modest skill to effectively assemble, protects windshields of different size with the same size carton, and minimizes inventory management problems. The windshield packaging system includes jaw components having a synergistic effect, horizontally-running flutes, and pressure-regulated clamps.

Abstract: An idle control system applicable to a fuel cell vehicle 1 is provided for improving the fuel efficiency. When the fuel cell vehicle is determined to be in a predetermined idle mode, the idle control system stops a compressor to thereby stop power generation of a fuel cell. In contrast, when the state of charge of the capacitor 4 falls below a predetermined value while the fuel cell vehicle is in the idle mode, the idle control system drives the compressor 8 by means of the capacitor to drive the fuel cell in order to charge the capacitor.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector (1) uses a contact (4) having a unique shape which is described below. That is, the contact includes a stationary portion (4A) fixed to an insulator (2), a first portion (4B) having a first contact point (4B1) and being continuous with the stationary portion, a substantially U-shaped portion (4C) continuous with the first portion, a second portion (4D) having a second contact point (4D1) and being continuous with the substantially U-shaped portion, and a movable portion (4E) continuous with the second portion and engaging with an actuator (5) held by the insulator to be slidable along the insulator. The first and the second contact points confront each other with a gap (W) left therebetween. The actuator slides to displace the movable portion so that the first and the second contact points sandwich therebetween a connection counterpart (13B) that is inserted in the gap.

Abstract: In a gas-turbine engine control system, a temperature of the air supplied to mixers and a pressure of the fuel supplied to the mixers are detected and based on the detected fuel pressure, a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the mixers is determined based on at least the detected pressure of the fuel. Then, an adiabatic flame temperature in a combustion chamber is determined based on at least the determined flow rate of the fuel and it is determined whether a selected one of combustion modes including premixed combustion and diffusive combustion is to be switched to other based on the determined adiabatic flame temperature and the detected air temperature and the selected combustion mode is controlled to switch to the other in response to a result of determination. With this, it becomes possible to achieve switchover to the stabler combustion mode and realize better low emission performance by utilizing the premixed combustion range.

Abstract: An engine valve train has: a camshaft supported on a camshaft holder and driving inlet valves to open and close via inlet rocker arms; an electromagnetic actuator mechanism including an armature; a holding rod connected to the armature and pressing against a stem end of the inlet valve so as to hold the inlet valve in an open state; and, a hydraulic damper mechanism absorbing an impact which is generated by the inlet valve when the inlet valve is released from being held by the electromagnetic actuator mechanism so as to be restored to a closed state and is then seated, wherein the hydraulic damper mechanism is supported on the camshaft holder.

Abstract: A gas-turbine engine combustor having a plurality of venturi mixers, each connected to an air supply path that passes air compressed by a compressor and to a supply source of gaseous fuel, which mix the air and the gaseous fuel to produce an air-fuel mixture and supply the air-fuel mixture to a combustion chamber for generating premixed combustion or diffusive combustion such that produced combustion gas is supplied to a turbine through a turbine nozzle to rotates the turbine that outputs its rotation through an output shaft, while driving the compressor by the rotation.

Abstract: A material such as imidazole (nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound), which has at least one lone pair, is dispersed in a basic solid polymer such as polybenzimidazole. The mole number of imidazole per gram of polybenzimidazole is less than 0.0014 mol, preferably less than 0.0006 mol. The basic solid polymer is impregnated with an acidic inorganic liquid such as phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid to prepare a proton conductive solid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A hollow sill beam assembly for use on a vehicle body construction is provided. The sill beam assembly includes a first elongated side sill member and a second elongated side sill member mated to the first side sill member. A hollow area is defined between the first and second elongated side sill members. A transverse slot is defined in the second side sill member. A reinforcing member is received in the slot and fixedly secured to the first side sill member.

Abstract: A monomer to produce polybenzimidazole is dissolved in polyphosphoric acid. For example, polysulfated phenylene sulfonic acid (acidic group-possessing polymer) is further dissolved in this solution. In this procedure, the acidic group-possessing polymer and the monomer are adsorbed to one another in accordance with the acid-base interaction. When the monomer is polymerized, for example, by means of dehydration polymerization in this state, then polybenzimidazole is synthesized, and the polybenzimidazole and the acidic group-possessing polymer are compatibilized with each other to produce a compatibilized polymer. When the compatibilized polymer is deposited as a solid, and the solid is separated from polyphosphoric acid, then the compatibilized polymer is obtained. A proton conductive solid polymer electrolyte as a final product is manufactured by forming the compatibilized polymer to have a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A filter soil detecting device includes a chamber provided in communication with an air channel at an air inflow side or outflow side of a filter provided in a pneumatic device. The chamber has a lens and a diaphragm to move toward or away from the lens by pneumatic pressure. The diaphragm has a mark on the surface opposite to the lens. The diaphragm moves toward or away from the lens by pressure variation at the air inflow side or outflow side of the filter, so that the image of the mark seen from the outside of the lens is varied to allow the determination of degree of soiling of the filter.

Abstract: A gas-turbine engine combustor having a plurality of venturi mixers, each includes an air inlet connecting to an air supply path, a fuel inlet connecting to a supply source of gaseous fuel, and an air-fuel mixture generating passage connecting to the air inlet and the fuel inlet and merges with an air-fuel mixture generating section to produce the air-fuel mixture and a nozzle opened into the combustion chamber at an end of the air-fuel mixture generating passage.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle comprising an engine and a motor as power sources, the control device including: a battery device sending energy to and receiving energy from the motor, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery device; a control section which is adapted to execute a warming control operation for the battery device when the temperature of the battery device is low; and a determination section for determining whether a cylinder deactivation operation is permitted for the engine depending on the running state of the engine. The control section executes a vibration control operation for the engine by operating the motor so as to reduce vibration of the engine when it is determined by the determination section that the partial cylinder deactivation operation is permitted for the engine, and to perform the warming control operation for the battery device by executing a vibration control operation for the engine.

Abstract: A hydrogen purge control apparatus includes a fuel cell stack from which hydrogen is purged as necessary, a purged hydrogen dilution device which is disposed downstream of the fuel cell stack, and which has a chamber formed therein, a first inlet for purged hydrogen, a second inlet for air, and an outlet for diluted hydrogen, a regulator which is disposed between the fuel cell stack and the first inlet, and which is provided for regulating an amount of the purged hydrogen flowing into the purged hydrogen dilution device, and a control unit having a hydrogen concentration estimating section that is configured to estimate the hydrogen concentration at the outlet of the purged hydrogen dilution device based on an operating state of the fuel cell stack. The regulator is operated by the control unit depending on the hydrogen concentration estimated by the hydrogen concentration estimating section.

Abstract: A gas-turbine engine combustor having a plurality of venturi mixers, each includes an air inlet connecting to an air supply path, a fuel inlet connecting to a supply source of gaseous fuel, and an air-fuel mixture generating passage connecting to the air inlet and the fuel inlet and merges with an air-fuel mixture generating section to produce the air-fuel mixture and a first nozzle opened into the combustion chamber at an end of the air-fuel mixture generating passage.

Abstract: An angle detector 25 sets a q-axis command current to a first magnetic pole detecting current Iq_p1 and a second magnetic pole detecting current Iq_p2, and performs a magnetic pole detecting process to calculate a first magnetic pole reference value A1 and a second magnetic pole reference value A2 (t2-t3, t4-t5), and detect the orientation of the magnetic poles of a rotor 2 of a motor 1 based on the sign of the difference &Dgr;A (=A1−A2) between the first magnetic pole reference value A1 and the second magnetic pole reference value A2.

Abstract: Before a phosphoric acid fuel cell generates electric energy, a cathode is supplied with a hydrogen gas (fuel gas) and air (oxygen-containing gas) to cause a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. At this time, the hydrogen and the oxygen are caused to react with each other under a condition in which the concentration of phosphoric acid at the time the amount of water produced by the reaction (liquid water) for reducing the concentration of phosphoric acid and the amount of water evaporated from phosphoric acid are in equilibrium is equal to or greater than a reference phosphoric acid concentration which is capable of keeping the fuel cell at a desired performance level. The temperature of an electrolyte electrode assembly of the fuel cell is increased by the heat which is generated by the reaction.

Abstract: A motor driving method for a steering apparatus for applying an auxiliary steering force to a steering system with two motors. When the two motors are driven, a first one of the two motors is operated first. Thereafter, the other, second motor is driven, whereby smooth steering is effected.

Abstract: A shared vehicle distribution instruction apparatus instructs the movement of shared vehicles between ports appropriately.

Abstract: An angle detector 25 detects a rotor angle &thgr; of a DC brushless motor 1 using a current value Iu_s detected by a U-phase current sensor 23 and a current value Iw_s detected by a W-phase current sensor 24 when high-frequency voltages vu, vv, vw for detecting a rotor angle are applied by a high-frequency adding unit 21. The high-frequency adding unit 21 determines the high-frequency voltages vu, vv, vw so that the direction of rotation of the motor 1 and the direction of a revolving magnetic field generated by the high-frequency voltages vu, vv, vw will be opposite to each other. A three-phase/dq converter 26 converts the current values Iw_s, Iu_s into a detected d-axis current Id_s and a detected q-axis current Iq_s using the rotor angle &thgr; detected by the angle detector 25.

Abstract: A rotary position detector comprising a rotor rotatable in synchronism with a motor and a rotary position detecting portion for generating a voltage signal corresponding to an angular position detectable as a magnetic flux change with rotation of the rotor. The detecting portion is disposed with respect to the rotor within a range of an angle of 2 &pgr;/n, where &pgr; is the electrical phase angle (180°) and n is the number of pairs of poles of the motor. Further, a motor provided with the same rotary position detector has a motor drive control circuit assembled together with the detecting portion at the same place on the motor. The rotary position detector is easy to manufacture, small and light, easy to mount on a motor and easy to connect with a motor drive control printed circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel mileage meter capable of displaying a value approximate to a fuel mileage obtained from actual driving only is provided. The fuel mileage meter includes a fuel mileage display and a control unit. The control unit controls display of a fuel mileage on the fuel mileage display based on a distance traveled and an amount of fuel consumed after a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A lock plate and a movable plate are provided to fix a seat at an optional position, and an actuator is provided between the seat and the movable plate. The seat is moved to the rear of a vehicle body in an initial stage of impact by the actuator. Acceleration is generated in the seat through impact abutment of a collapsible tube in the actuator against a piston head in an intermediate stage of impact. In a final stage of the impact, the seat is made integral with the vehicle body. The deceleration of a vehicle body and a seat and the deceleration of an occupant can be made equal to each other at an earlier timing. The apparatus can be installed by making use of a space under the seat, whereby the necessity of securing a special vacant space for installation of the apparatus can be obviated.

Abstract: In the event that an abnormality is detected in a throttle valve driving apparatus, an upper limit value for a throttle valve opening is set according to a vehicle speed when a brake switch is not switched on. When the brake switch is on, the upper limit value is set at a predetermined idle opening. When the target opening which is calculated according to an accelerator pedal depression amount is larger than the upper limit value, the target opening is changed to the upper limit value.

Abstract: An arrangement of a cooling apparatus installed in a vehicle for cooling with an air refrigerant an electricity storing apparatus for storing electricity generated in the vehicle, comprises an inlet port, a discharge duct and a fan. The inlet port let in therefrom the air refrigerant to the electricity storing apparatus. The discharge duct is disposed below a floor surface of a trunk of the vehicle for causing the air refrigerant discharged from the electricity storing apparatus to flow there through. The fan is situated in the discharge duct for discharging the air refrigerant. The fan is disposed outwardly of an interior material provided on a side of the trunk of the vehicle. The arrangement of a cooling apparatus can prevent the operating noise of a fan from entering a passenger compartment and which can facilitate the installation of luggage in a trunk.

Abstract: A sliding material consisting of a carbon-fiber reinforced carbon composite material containing fine particles of a simple substance of any of Group IV to Group VI elements or a carbide, a nitride or an oxide thereof.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a vehicle slide door, including a cable installed between a vehicle body and a slide door and a cable guide for guiding the cable. The cable guide includes a plurality of link members interconnected into a linear configuration. The cable guide includes a first section and a second section. The first section is capable of being bent in a predetermined direction from a generally linear condition. The second section is capable of being bent in an opposite direction opposite to the predetermined direction from a generally linear condition.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorbent state determining apparatus is provided for compensating the ability of a hydrocarbon adsorbent to adsorb moisture for fluctuations due to a change in the flow velocity of exhaust gases to accurately determine the state of the hydrocarbon adsorbent, including a deterioration thereof, irrespective of the change in the flow rate of exhaust gases. The hydrocarbon adsorbent state determining apparatus determines the state of a hydrocarbon adsorbent disposed in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for adsorbing hydrocarbons and moisture within exhaust gases.

Abstract: A worm gear and an irreversible clutch mechanism adapted to permit the transmission of a driving force from an actuator toward rear wheels and to inhibit the transmission of the driving force in a reverse direction, are disposed at upstream and downstream locations in a power-transmitting path for transmitting the driving force from the actuator to the rear wheels, respectively. The driving force transmitted in the reverse direction from the rear wheels toward the actuator is blocked by both the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear. Therefore, the steering angle of the rear wheels can be reliably prevented from changing from a desired angle. Further, even when one of the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear is broken, the function of inhibiting the reverse transmission of the driving force can be maintained.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition for automatic transmission comprises a base oil having a pour point of −25° C. or lower and a kinematic viscosity of 2 to 7 mm2/s at 100° C., (A) a over-based calcium sulfonate having a total base number of 300 to 500 mg KOH/g, (B) a succinimide having boron atom and/or a succinimide having no boron atom, which are substituted with a hydrocarbon group (an alkyl groups or alkenyl groups having an average molecular weight of 1,000 to 3,500), and, and (C) a phosphorous acid ester-based compound, each in a specific amount. The composition has a great statical friction coefficient (&mgr;s), an excellent transmission torque capacity and a friction characteristic having a &mgr; ratio of 1 or smaller, exhibiting excellent resistance to transmission shock on clutching.