Abstract: A linear-movement potentiometer having an operating rod 25 projecting at both ends from a substantially hermetic casing and connectable at one end 26 to a drive member, and first and second bearings 33, 34 disposed between the casing and the operating rod for supporting the operating rod for a linear sliding motion relative to the casing. A sealing arrangement is provided between the casing and both ends of the operating rod. A sliding variable resistor assembly 38 including a resistor and a contact relatively slidable with each other is disposed within the casing, and one of the resistor and the contact is operatively connected to the operating rod for establishing a relative sliding movement between the resistor and the contact. A cover 54 may be sealingly secured to the casing for covering the end of the operating rod, and the operating rod may have an air passage 28 axially extending therethrough.

Abstract: An electrically powered drive apparatus comprises a first clutch plate secured to an output shaft and a second clutch plate mounted to a gear which is rotatably and slidably provided on the output shaft. The second clutch plate comprises a resilient transmission member and a magnetically-attracted contact member. The resilient transmission member is secured at a first portion to the gear and is adapted to resiliently deflect. The contact member is secured to a second portion of the resilient transmission member. The resilient transmission member has teeth into which pins extend in meshing engagement. When a clutch coil is energized, the contact member is attracted by the first clutch plate to thereby cause the pins to engage the teeth, thereby transmitting rotational force from the drive source to the gear. When the clutch coil is de-energized, the contact member is released to return to its home position with the aid of the resiliency of the resilient transmission member.

Abstract: A motor-driven apparatus for controlling a throttle valve includes first and second clutch plates 11,13 mounted on an output shaft 5 opposite each other, with the second clutch plate rigidly secured to the output shaft. The first clutch plate is urged by a spring 12 toward an output gear 10 rotatably mounted on the output shaft. When the second clutch plate is magnetized, the first clutch plate is attracted to it for engagement causing the second clutch plate to rotate with the first clutch plate and the output gear, thus transmitting the torque of a motor 18 to the output shaft. An axial gap between the second clutch plate and a yoke 15 ensures rotation of the second clutch plate even when foreign substances such as iron particles are trapped in the gap because the foreign substances will easily be displaced out of the gap by centrifugal force during rotation.

Abstract: A steering torque detector includes input and output shafts, a torsion bar connected between the input and the output shafts, a printed circuit board attached to the input shaft or output shaft and resistor layers and electrode as a potentiometer, having a mounting ring made of electric insulator and fitted around both the input and output shafts, and a slider attached to the mounting ring and elastically kept in contact with the resistor layers at the slider. The potentiometer includes main and auxiliary circuits each having the resistor layer and the electrode, the resistor layers of both circuits being located at a distance from each other in the radial direction of the detector and extending along mutually concentric circles through the same range of central angle of the detector. The slider includes a main slider kept in contact with the resistor layer of the main circuit at one end thereof, and an auxiliary slider kept in contact with the resistor layer of the auxiliary circuit at one end thereof.

Abstract: A steering torque detecting apparatus for use in an electrically-operated power steering system of a vehicle. Flexural load which is applied between a pair of input and output shafts during a steering operation is absorbed by the contact between a printed board and the end of a boss portion of a mounting ring for mounting a slider, thereby preventing displacement of the position of contact of the slider with a potentiometer element. The mounting ring is provided with an elastically deformable cylindrical collar portion which surrounds the slider and the printed board is movably disposed inside the cylindrical collar portion to thereby prevent intrusion of foreign matter into the area of contact between the slider and the printed board. A bush for supporting the printed board is rigidly secured to either the input or output shaft through engagement between a positioning groove and a fixing pin and engagement of a bent end portion of the bush with a groove provided in the shaft.