Abstract: A glow plug which includes an intermediate shaft (3) inserted into a shaft hole (43) of a metal shell (4) and having a connecting end part (36) of a rear end part (32) protruding from a rear end surface (48). An insulating member (6) is arranged between the intermediate shaft (3) and the shaft hole (43) of the metal shell (4). The insulting member (6) has a tapered part (63) which abuts a tapered part (47) provided in the metal shell (4). The insulating member (6) is pressed into position by a connecting terminal (5) fixed to the connecting end part (36) to assuredly hold the intermediate shaft (3) in a rear end part (45) of the metal shell (4) and to thereby prevent a deflection or bend of the intermediate shaft (3). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the glow plug.

Abstract: A contact member (7) which has a cylindrical hole and whose outer circumferential surface has a contour swelling radially outward as viewed from a direction orthogonal to its axial direction is disposed between the wall surface of an axial bore (43) and a center shaft (3) at the rear end of a glow plug (1). The disposed contact member (7) is in contact with the wall surface of the axial bore (43) and the center shaft (3). A tubular insulation member (6) is disposed on the rear side of the contact member (7). The tan ? of dynamic viscoelasticity of the contact member (7) within a temperature range of 50° C. to 150° C. is 0.1 or greater.

Abstract: A glow plug (1) including a heater (2), a metallic shell (4) assuming the form of a tube having an axial bore, a center shaft (3) and a contact member (7). The contact member (7) is configured such that a contour (70) of a cross section (75) includes a second contour segment (71) in the form of a straight line, a first contour segment (72) in the form of a curve swelling radially, and third contour segments (73) in the form of curves connecting the second contour segment (71) and the first contour segment (72).

Abstract: A glow plug which includes an intermediate shaft (3) inserted into a shaft hole (43) of a metal shell (4) and having a connecting end part (36) of a rear end part (32) protruding from a rear end surface (48). An insulating member (6) is arranged between the intermediate shaft (3) and the shaft hole (43) of the metal shell (4). The insulting member (6) has a tapered part (63) which abuts a tapered part (47) provided in the metal shell (4). The insulating member (6) is pressed into position by a connecting terminal (5) fixed to the connecting end part (36) to assuredly hold the intermediate shaft (3) in a rear end part (45) of the metal shell (4) and to thereby prevent a deflection or bend of the intermediate shaft (3). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the glow plug.

Abstract: In a fuel vapor release suppression system for a fuel tank, a main tank and a sub tank communicate with each other, and the sub tank and a canister communicate with each other. When the main tank has a higher temperature, fuel vapor of the main tank is supplied to the sub tank where the fuel vapor is liquefied. When the main tank has a lower temperature, fuel vapor of the sub tank is supplied to the main tank. At this time, low concentration fuel vapor is supplied from the canister to the main tank, thereby accelerating generation of fuel vapor corresponding to sub tank fuel vapor pressure, so that the sub tank fuel vapor pressure decreases. Therefore, liquefaction is accelerated in the sub tank when the main tank temperature increases. Thus, fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank is effectively liquified irrespective of ambient air temperature.

Abstract: A system for processing fuel vapor includes a fuel tank having a pressure gauge, a gas separation membrane module having a gas separation membrane for separating fuel vapor into condensed fuel vapor and fuel lean vapor, a fuel-vapor dissolution device for introducing condensed fuel vapor discharged into the fuel tank and dissolving this condensed fuel vapor in fuel, a canister having an adsorption part adsorbing fuel vapor in fuel lean vapor and a desorption device desorbing fuel vapor from the adsorption part, and an ECU programmed to, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank detected by the pressure gauge is at least a predetermined value, drive the pump to actuate the system so as to process fuel vapor.

Abstract: A fuel tank includes a component, a reservoir unit having a fuel pump, a tank body formed with an opening through which the reservoir unit and the component are inserted, a flange operable to close the opening, and an extensible connecting unit which connects a lower face of the flange and the reservoir unit. The extensible connecting unit includes a first sliding member which is slidable with respect to the reservoir unit in a vertical direction, and a second sliding member which is slidable with respect to the first sliding member, and is attached to the lower face of the flange.

Abstract: In a fuel vapor release suppression system for a fuel tank, a main tank and a sub tank communicate with each other, and the sub tank and a canister communicate with each other. When the main tank has a higher temperature, fuel vapor of the main tank is supplied to the sub tank where the fuel vapor is liquefied. When the main tank has a lower temperature, fuel vapor of the sub tank is supplied to the main tank. At this time, low concentration fuel vapor is supplied from the canister to the main tank, thereby accelerating generation of fuel vapor corresponding to sub tank fuel vapor pressure, so that the sub tank fuel vapor pressure decreases. Therefore, liquefaction is accelerated in the sub tank when the main tank temperature increases. Thus, fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank is effectively liquified irrespective of ambient air temperature.

Abstract: A misfire state discrimination system of an internal combustion engine, which determines the occurrence of misfire under engine operating conditions that make misfire determination possible and counts the number of misfires to compare with a reference value. The misfire state of the engine is discriminated based on the result of comparison. In the system, when the engine operation moves from the conditions that makes the misfire determination possible, the count is saved and is counted up from the count when the engine operation returns to the condition. The saved count is also retained when the engine is stopped. Similarly, the number of combustion during which the determination of misfire occurrence is made is counted and the count is saved. This arrangement enables a rapid and accurate discrimination of the misfire state of the engine.

Abstract: A misfire state discrimination system of an internal combustion engine, which determines the occurrence of misfire under engine operating conditions that make misfire determination possible and counts the number of misfires to compare with a reference value. The misfire state of the engine is discriminated based on the result of comparison. In the system, when the engine operation moves from the conditions that makes the misfire determination possible, the count is saved and is counted up from the count when the engine operation returns to the condition. The saved count is also retained when the engine is stopped. Similarly, the number of combustion during which the determination of misfire occurrence is made is counted and the counted is saved. This arrangement enables a rapid and accurate discrimination of the misfire state of the engine.

Abstract: A catalyst deterioration-determining system for an internal combustion engine has a catalyst arranged in the exhaust system, for purifying exhaust gases emitted from the engine, an oxygen concentration sensor arranged in the exhaust system at a location downstream of the catalyst, for detecting the concentration of oxygen present in the exhaust gases, and an ECU which controls the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine in a feedback manner in response to the output from the oxygen concentration sensor. Determination of deterioration of the catalyst is carried out based on the output from the oxygen concentration sensor during execution of air-fuel ratio feedback control.