Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle is provided which is designed to enrich an air-fuel mixture when an engine load is varied by use of an air conditioner installed in the vehicle for ensuring optimum emission control. The air-fuel ratio control system includes an air conditioner condition determining unit which determines drive torque of an air conditioner compressor as a parameter indicative of a variation in engine load and modifies an air-fuel ratio to the rich side according to an increase in drive torque of the air conditioner compressor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor wherein a cylinder is provided along the end plate of a stationary scroll member and a plurality of bypass holes which open in the end plate and can communicate with the space in the cylinder and a plurality of operating spaces formed between the spiral vanes of the stationary scroll member and a moving scroll member are successively opened by a plunger to communicate with the suction side, whereby the capacity may be changed smoothly. When reducing the capacity to close to 0 percent, another cylinder and plunger are used to bypass the discharge pressure to the suction side.

Abstract: A scroll compressor wherein a cylinder is provided along the end plate of a stationary scroll member and a plurality of bypass holes which open in the end plate and can communicate with the space in the cylinder and a plurality of operating spaces formed between the spiral vanes of the stationary scroll member and a moving scroll member are successively opened by a plunger to communicate with the suction side, whereby the capacity may be changed smoothly. When reducing the capacity to close to 0 percent, another cylinder and plunger are used to bypass the discharge pressure to the suction side.

Abstract: A rolling piston type compressor of a simplified design having a single rolling piston, capable of reducing a variation in torque. The compressor has a housing in which a rolling piston 42 is arranged so that an orbital movement of the rolling piston is obtained about the axis of a crankshaft 5, so that a first operating chamber 40 is formed between the rolling piston 42 and the housing. A cylindrical pillar 47 which is stationary is arranged in the rolling piston, so that a second operating chamber is formed between the rolling piston and the pillar. The medium compressed in the first operating chamber is introduced into the second operating chamber for obtaining two step compression.

Abstract: A vane compressor capable of obtaining a two stage compression. The compressor has a front and rear rotor 6a and 6b for defining, together with a cylinder bores 43 and 44, first and second operating chambers 39 and 40, respectively. A refrigerant from a first inlet opening 28 is sucked into the first operating chamber 39 by a rotation of the front rotor 6a for obtaining a first stage compression at the first chamber 39. The refrigerant is then introduced, via an intermediate pressure chamber 36, to the second operating chamber 40 for obtaining a second stage compression at the second chamber 40, which is discharged outwardly.

Abstract: A swash plate type variable capacity compressor having rotary valves 16 and 17 that rotate together on a rotating shaft 1. The rotary valves 16 and 17 are arranged on the shaft 1 in such a manner that, upon one complete rotation, the rotary valves 16 and 17 are connected, in sequential manner, for respective rotating angles, with circumferentially spaced piston chambers Sp and Sp' via respective intake passageways on the rotary valves 16 and 17. The arrangement of the intake passageway Pr and Pr' is such that the value of the rotating angle in a communication between the intake passageways Pr and Pr' and the piston chamber changes in accordance with the axial position of the rotary valves 16 and 17 on the shaft 1. Control of the rotating angle can vary the effective volume of the piston chambers Sp and Sp', thereby continuously varying the compressor capacity.

Abstract: A scroll type compressor having movable and fixed scrolls forming a working chamber with a movable scroll supporting arrangement to prevent tilting of the movable scroll into the fixed scroll thereby making it possible to extend the axial length of the scrolls. A main supporting plate is fixed on a housing between two other supporting plates which are spacedly fixed on the movable scroll, or vice versa. The other supporting plates press on the main supporting plate from both sides via ball bearings. When the movable scroll is about to tilt, the supporting plate arrangement prevents the movable scroll from tilting.

Abstract: A multiple-turn scroll compressor has a first scroll member and a second scroll member. Each of the scroll members has a scroll blade which is engaged with the other. A shaft has an eccentric portion which supports the first scroll member. A cylindrical guide is provided rotatably on a housing and has a guide groove at one end. A slider fixed on the first scroll member engages with the guide groove and slides on it. Driving forces are transmitted from the shaft to the first scroll member through the eccentric portion. The first scroll member is prevented from rotating on its own axis by the engagement of the cylindrical guide and slider but not from orbiting.

Abstract: A damping force detecting apparatus for detecting a damping force of a variable damping force type shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston slidably inserted thereinto. The damping force detecting apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element assembly for generating a charge corresponding to a pressure applied thereto and a pressurizing device for pressurizing the piezoelectric element assembly. The piezoelectric element assembly has a diameter smaller than a cylindrical piston rod fixedly secured to the piston and is housed therein. The pressurizing device is screwed into the piston rod so as to be in contact relation to the piezoelectric element assembly for pressurizing the piezoelectric element assembly in correspondance with a distortion of the piston rod generated in the sliding directions of the piston with respect to the cylinder due to expanding and contracting action of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus for a vehicle having a hydraulic mechanism for generating a force applied to a steering mechanism for reducing a force needed to operate a steering member (wheel). A device is provided for determining a condition wherein a yaw rate generated in the vehicle does not match a steering operation of the steering member. A hydraulic or electric torque motor is operated for generating a counter steering force applied to the steering mechanism, to cancel the yaw rate which does not match the operation of the steering member.

Abstract: A variable displacement swash-plate type compressor suitable for use as a refrigerant compressor of an automotive air conditioner has a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores each slidably receiving a double-headed piston, a shaft driven by an automotive engine, a swash plate tiltably mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith to reciprocatorily move the pistons, and a spool for moving the swash plate axially of the shaft and changing the angle of tilt of the swash plate. The swash plate and the shaft are connected in such a manner that, when the swash plate is axially moved while changing its tilting angle, the position of stroke end of each piston is changed only in a working chamber on one end of the piston, whereas no change in the position of the stroke end occurs in the other working chamber on the other end of the piston.

Abstract: A piston in a first cylinder is driven as a piezoelectric element group, which includes a plurality of laminar piezoelectric elements stacked in layers, extends or contracts. A second cylinder is formed so as to connect with a first fluid pressure chamber which is defined in the first cylinder by the piston. A piston-shaped valve member is disposed in the second cylinder. The valve member is urged toward the first fluid pressure chamber by a spring. The first fluid pressure chamber is supplied with a fluid whose pressure is set by means of a selector valve. When the selector valve is closed, the fluid pressure chamber is defined as an independent compartment. In this state, high voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element group to elongate it, thereby driving the piston. Thus, the valve member is actuated by the fluid pressure inside the first fluid pressure chamber, and a fluid passage is opened and closed by the valve member.

Abstract: A hydraulic device having a first shaft including a first rotor, and a second shaft including a second rotor, the first and second rotors being constructed by adjacently fitting the same shape rotor elements, respectively. The rotor elements have teeth on the outer periphery thereof at a constant interval, and each tooth has a tip portion fluid-tightly engaged with an inner wall of a housing of the device. The rotor elements are adjacently fitted to the shaft in such a manner that the rotor elements are displaced in the same rotational direction along the axial direction of the shaft. The teeth tip portions of the rotor elements adjacent to each other are overlapped so that spiral paths are defined on the outer surface of the rotor.

Abstract: Antiskid hydraulic braking system comprising a first shutoff valve operable to shutoff hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder to wheel cylinder as the brakes tend to lock the wheels of a vehicle. Wheel cylinders are connected to a reservoir through a second shutoff valve which relieves hydraulic pressure at the wheel cylinders until the tendency toward wheel lock disappears. The system further comprises an intermittently operable high speed hydraulic pump, such as a piezoelectric pump, which serves to pump the brake fluid in the reservoir to the wheel cylinders to restore hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinders. The piezoelectric pump comprises a pump plunger having a small diameter head defining a pumping chamber and a large diameter base defining a delivery or pressure chamber. The brake fluid under pressure in the delivery chamber acts upon the plunger base to hydraulically preload the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An adjustable damping force type shock absorber having a function to detect a damping force generated thereon and a function to adjust the damping force thereof.

Abstract: In a lubricant contamination measuring device, an optical path gap is provided between a light source window at a light source side and a light receiving window at a light receiving element side. A lubricant having an amount of contaminant to be measured in accordance with a light transmittance is present in the optical path gap and the length of the optical path gap is selected to be shorter than a predetermined length. At least one of the light source and light receiving windows has a convex shape, and the center of the convex window is in contact with a surface of the other window. Thus, the amount of contaminant in the lubricant can be measured up to a high contamination range.

Abstract: A compact, piezoelectrically operated pressure modulator for antiskid control of a hydraulic braking system. In its simplest form, the modulator comprises a body in which are formed a main hydraulic passage adapted to connect the master cylinder to a wheel cylinder, and a pressure relief passage for relieving the pressure in the wheel cylinder. The main passage is opened and closed by a normally open shutoff valve operated by a piezoelectric actuator, and the relief passage is controlled by a normally closed shutoff valve operated by an associated piezoelectric actuator. Adjusting mechanisms are provided to adjust the axial position of the piezoelectric elements of the actuators in such a manner that the valve clearance of the shutoff valves is adjusted to an optimal amount.

Abstract: A car spoiler having an aerodynamic surface for controlling the airflow around the automotive body is provided with a built-in liquid handling means which is used as a liquid reservoir, heat storage tank, or heat exchanger. The heat storage tank may be used to store the hot coolant of the cooling system of the engine during normal operation and to supply the hot coolant to the cooling system in order to quickly warm up the engine or to the hot-water car heater system in order to heat the passenger compartment during cold start of the engine. The built-in heat exchanger may be used to cool the engine coolant, engine lubricant, or transmission oil of the automatic transmission system.

Abstract: An air spoiler apparatus with solar cells includes an air spoiler wing mounted on an outer surface of a vehicle body, solar cells mounted on an upper surface of the air spoiler wing, a running detector for detecting a running state of a vehicle, and an elevation angle adjustment unit of the air spoiler wing. The air spoiler elevation angle adjustment unit adjusts an elevation angle of the air spoiler wing within select angular ranges to increase power generation efficiency of the solar cells during parking, stopping, low-speed or high speed running represented by the running state detected by the running detector. During high speed operation the angular range is restricted to an optimum range for aerodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: A multiple-turn scroll pump comprises a pumping unit on each lateral side of a base plate of an oscillatable scroll piston driven by an eccentric drive. Each pumping unit includes a spirally shaped groove in a scroll housing and a spirally shaped displacement blade forming part of the scroll piston. The groove in one of the pumping units extends from the peripheral part of the scroll housing through at least one turn of a spiral and terminates at the intermediate part of the housing. The groove in the other pumping unit also begins close to the peripheral part of the scroll housing but extends through a number of spiral turns greater than that of the groove in the first pumping unit. Passages are provided in the scroll piston to communicate grooves in both units in such a manner that the fluid drawn into the first pumping unit is compressed mainly in the second pumping unit and is discharged solely therefrom.