Abstract: A variable damping-force damper includes a cylinder tube filled with magnetic particles (MRF), a piston that is slidably disposed within the cylinder tube, a piston rod connected with the piston and is disposed so as to protrude out of one end of the cylinder tube and a rod guide that closes one end of the cylinder tube and slidably supports the piston rod. The cylinder tube has a Ni plating film whose Vickers hardness is 800 VHN or more on its inner peripheral surface and the piston slides relative to the Ni plating film. The rod guide has a structure having a predetermined base material portion and a fluorine resin contained Ni plating film that is treated by heat and is provided on the surface of the base material portion. The piston rod slides relative to the fluorine resin contained Ni plating film.

Abstract: A variable damping-force damper includes a cylinder tube filled with magnetic particles (MRF), a piston that is slidably disposed within the cylinder tube, a piston rod connected with the piston and is disposed so as to protrude out of one end of the cylinder tube and a rod guide that closes one end of the cylinder tube and slidably supports the piston rod. The cylinder tube has a Ni plating film whose Vickers hardness is 800 VHN or more on its inner peripheral surface and the piston slides relative to the Ni plating film. The rod guide has a structure having a predetermined base material portion and a fluorine resin contained Ni plating film that is treated by heat and is provided on the surface of the base material portion. The piston rod slides relative to the fluorine resin contained Ni plating film.

Abstract: A vehicular rear suspension system includes an upper arm, a lower arm, and a control arm, each of which is connected to a knuckle. A straight line passing through a ball joint and a rubber bushing joint intersects the road surface at an intersection point that is positioned behind a ground contact point of the rear wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The ball joint connects the upper arm to the knuckle, and the rubber bushing joint connects the lower arm to the knuckle. Longitudinal elastic coefficients of the three arms are set in a predetermined relationship. Therefore, the intersection point at which an elastic kingpin intersects the road surface is positioned without fail behind a point of action of a lateral force when turning in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body to achieve a lateral force toe-in and enhanced steering stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: An upper portion of a damper connected at its lower end to a lower arm of a suspension is accommodated within a side frame having a closed section. An upper spring seat, which is a mounting portion for the damper, is fixed to a lower surface of the side frame by a bolt. Thus, the support rigidity of the damper is enhanced, whereby the responsiveness of the damper to a load input from the lower arm is improved. Moreover, since the upper portion of the damper is accommodated within the side frame, an internal space in the side frame can be utilized for disposition of the damper. In addition, it is unnecessary to arrange the side frame and the damper side-by-side in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, and hence it is easy to ensure a space for disposition of the suspension.

Abstract: A vehicular rear suspension system includes an upper arm, a lower arm, and a control arm, each of which is connected to a knuckle. A straight line passing through a ball joint and a rubber bushing joint intersects the road surface at an intersection point that is positioned behind a ground contact point of the rear wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The ball joint connects the upper arm to the knuckle, and the rubber bushing joint connects the lower arm to the knuckle. Longitudinal elastic coefficients of the three arms are set in a predetermined relationship. Therefore, the intersection point at which an elastic kingpin intersects the road surface is positioned without fail behind a point of action of a lateral force when turning in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body to achieve a lateral force toe-in and enhanced steering stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: An upper portion of a damper connected at its lower end to a lower arm of a suspension is accommodated within a side frame having a closed section. An upper spring seat, which is a mounting portion for the damper, is fixed to a lower surface of the side frame by a bolt. Thus, the support rigidity of the damper is enhanced, whereby the responsiveness of the damper to a load input from the lower arm is improved. Moreover, since the upper portion of the damper is accommodated within the side frame, an internal space in the side frame can be utilized for disposition of the damper. In addition, it is unnecessary to arrange the side frame and the damper side-by-side in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, and hence it is easy to ensure a space for disposition of the suspension.

Abstract: A misfire detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a start determinator, a rotation counter, a misfire detector, a misfire calculator, a setting means, an abnormality determinator, and a warning means. The start determinator determines a starting condition of the internal combustion engine. The rotation counter counts a total number of rotations of the internal combustion engine. The misfire detector detects a misfire of the internal combustion engine. The misfire calculator calculates a rate of misfire using data from the misfire detector, and the rate of misfire is the number of misfires per a predetermined total number of rotations. The setting means sets a basic rate of misfire in response to the start condition of the internal combustion engine. The abnormality determinator determines an abnormal condition of the internal combustion engine when the rate of misfire calculated by the misfire calculator is greater than the basic rate of misfire set by the setting means.

Abstract: In a diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine, an electronic control unit recognizes occurrence of a misfire in the engine based on fluctuations of the rotational speed of a crankshaft detected by a rotation speed sensor. Based on the detected incidences of misfire, the electronic control unit performs diagnostics. The electronic control unit turns on a warning light when, after the first diagnosis of the presence of an abnormality, a second diagnosis of the presence of an abnormality is made without the return of the engine to the normal state being recognized after a restart of the engine.

Abstract: A rotational fluctuation amount between consecutively ignited cylinders is sequentially calculated. When the rotational fluctuation amount exceeds a first predetermined value and an emergence interval of the rotational fluctuation assumes a predetermined value, or when the rotational fluctuation amount exceeds a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the rotational fluctuation is judged to result from misfire. A cylinder subjected to the rotational fluctuation is then specified. By comparing rotational fluctuation amounts in the specified cylinder, and the two cylinders firing immediately after the specified cylinder, a determination is made as to whether it is only the specified cylinder which has misfired, the specified cylinder and the cylinder immediately following the specified cylinder have consecutively misfired, or the specified cylinder and a cylinder other than the immediately following cylinder have intermittently misfired.

Abstract: A device for accurately detecting misfiring repetitively occurring in the opposing cylinders every 360.degree. CA. An angular velocity detecting means detects the angular velocity of rotation of the crankshaft for each cylinder at the time of combustion. A first rotational change calculation means calculates a first amount of change in the rotation by finding a deviation of angular velocity between the two cylinders of consecutive combustion strokes. A second rotational change calculation means calculates a second amount of change in the rotation by finding a deviation of angular velocity between the two cylinders 360.degree. CA before the moment at which the first rotational change calculation means has detected the angular velocity to calculate the first amount of change in the rotation.

Abstract: The basic fuel injection time duration or the basic injector opening time is computed on the basis of an intake pressure and an engine speed. A start temperature correction value is selected on the basis of the engine temperature at the time of or immediately after the start up of the engine and attenuated in accordance with the time elapsed after the start up of the engine, such that, the lower the engine temperature is at the time of start up, the greater the start temperature correction value is. The rate of fuel injection rate is controlled by correcting the basic fuel injection time on the basis of the start temperature correction value and a condition of the engine.

Abstract: The amount of engine acceleration is detected as the amount of change in the absolute pressure in the intake passage, and an asynchronous fuel injection is conducted regardless of the crank position as the amount of acceleration exceeds a predetermined reference value. In ordinary state of engine operation, the synchronous fuel injection is conducted in synchronism with the crank rotation such that the air-fuel ratio of the mixture coincides with the stoichiometric one, upon sensing the air-fuel ratio from the content of oxygen remaining in the exhaust gas. The mixture is made richer or leaner than the stoichiometric one in accordance with the state of operation of the engine. The judging level for the judgement as to whether the asynchronous fuel injection is necessary or not is increased or decreased in accordance with the air-fuel ratio so that the asynchronous fuel injection is conducted taking into account also the air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: Novel anthranilic acid derivatives of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom, an alkoxyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms or a nitro group, n is an integer of 1-2, Y is an alkoxyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, m is an integer of 2-3, Z is --COCH.dbd.CH-- or --CO--, R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which derivatives and salts possess a strong antiallergic action and are thus useful as therapeutically active agents for diseases caused by allergies, such as asthma, hay fever, urticaria and atopic dermatitis; an antiallergic composition comprising the same; and a method of alleviating diseases caused by allergies using the same.