Abstract: A downsized differential assembly having a simple structure, which can be mounted easily on automobiles. The differential assembly comprises a set of first to third gears arranged coaxially while being allowed to rotate relatively to one another. A first eccentric gear meshes with the first gear, a second eccentric gear meshes with the second gear, and a third eccentric gear meshes with the third gear, while being supported by an eccentric member in such a manner as to rotate around an eccentric axis which is offset from a rotational axis. Gear ratios between the first to third gears and the first to third eccentric gears are set to different values so that rotational speeds of the first gear and the second gear are reduced slower than that of the eccentric member.

Abstract: A steering wheel heater includes: a base material that is wound around a steering wheel; a heater wire that generates heat by an electric current flowing through the heater wire; and a sewing thread that is used to sew the heater wire to one surface of the base material. A plurality of through holes that have a diameter smaller than a sewing pitch of stitches of the sewing thread used to sew the heater wire are formed in the base material.

Abstract: A drive force control system to increase a yaw rate greater than the yaw rate achieved by rotating a steering wheel to a maximum angle. A target yaw rate is calculated based on a steering angle of the steering wheel. A first predetermined torque and a second predetermined torque are calculated based on a difference between the target yaw rate and an actual yaw rate. When the steering angle of the steering wheel exceeds a first predetermined angle, a first correction torque to correct the first predetermined torque and a second correction torque to correct the second predetermined torque are calculated n accordance with the steering torque.

Abstract: A downsized complex planetary gear unit achieving a large speed reducing ratio. A first, second, and third gear arranged coaxially while rotating relatively. A first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear are formed integrally. The planetary gears are supported by a carrier in a rotatable manner. The first planetary gear is meshed with the first gear, the second planetary gear is meshed with the second gear, the third planetary gear is meshed with the second gear, and the fourth planetary gear is meshed with the third gear. A gear ratio between the first planetary gear and the first gear is different from a gear ratio between the second planetary gear and the second gear, and a gear ratio between the third planetary gear and the second gear is different from a gear ratio between the fourth planetary gear and the third gear.

Abstract: A vehicle drive system configured to achieve a required driving force of braking force without changing an orientation of a vehicle in the event of slippage of a wheel. The vehicle drive system comprises: a torque generating device; a differential mechanism that allows a relative rotation between a right wheel and a left wheel; a differential restricting device that restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel; and a steering mechanism that controls a turning angle of pairs of the wheels. A first controller controls the relative rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel to be smaller than a predetermined value and second controller further controls a turning angle of the wheels controlled by the steering mechanism.

Abstract: A downsized torque vectoring device that is easily to be mounted on an automobile. The torque vectoring device comprises: a differential mechanism that allows a first driveshaft and second driveshaft to rotate at different speeds; an actuator that applies a control torque to the differential mechanism to rotate the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft at different speeds; and a reversing mechanism that allows the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft to rotate in opposite directions. A gear ratio of a first gear train and a gear ratio of the second gear train are different from each other.

Abstract: A pedal device for a vehicle includes a first link that is pivotally supported at one end and receives a pedaling force of a driver, a return spring that biases the first link toward a standard position, a second link supported so as to be pivotable in a direction opposite to that of the first link, and a third link transmitting force and displacement between the first and second links. The return spring has a first and second ends connected to the first and second links, respectively, A moment in which a tensile force of the return spring pivots the first link toward the standard position is greater than a moment in which the tensile force of the return spring pivots the first link away from the standard position via the first end.

Abstract: A downsized torque vectoring device in which a passive rotation of an actuator is prevented. The torque vectoring device comprises: a differential mechanism that allows a differential rotation between a first rotary shaft and second rotary shaft; an actuator that applies torque to the differential mechanism to rotate the rotary shafts at different speeds; and a reversing mechanism that allows the rotary shafts to rotate in opposite directions. The reversing mechanism comprises a first control gear set and the second rotary shaft arranged coaxially around the rotary shafts, and gear ratios of the first control gear set and the second control gear set are set to different values. A speed increasing gear set and a speed reducing gear set are arranged between a prime mover and an output shaft of the actuator, and ring gears of the speed increasing gear set and the speed reducing gear set are connected to each other.

Abstract: A pedal device includes a first link, a second link, and a return spring that biases the first link toward a standard position at which a pivot angle of the first link is zero. A ratio of a pivot angle of the second link to the pivot angle of the first link is maximum when the pivot angle of the first link is a reference angle. A target acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle is calculated so that in the range in which the pivot angle of the first link is smaller than the reference angle, a target deceleration of the vehicle increases as the pivot angle of the first link is smaller, and in the range in which the pivot angle of the first link is larger than the reference angle, a target acceleration of the vehicle increases as the pivot angle of the first link increases.

Abstract: A three-row wheel vehicle having front, center and rear wheels has laterally spaced leading arms each pivotably connected to a vehicle body, laterally spaced swing arms each connected to the front end of the leading arm swingably in the front and rear direction and rotatably supporting the front wheel at the lower end, and laterally spaced connecting links each attached at one end to the swing arm pivotably around an axis and attached at the other end to the vehicle body pivotably around another axis; heights of the axes are different when the vehicle is on a horizontal flat traveling road; and each connecting link is arranged to apply a reaction force including an upward component to the swing arm when a rearward force acts from the front wheel to the one end via the swing arm.

Abstract: A three-row wheel vehicle having front, center and rear wheels has laterally spaced front pivot links each pivotably connected at a middle to a vehicle body, laterally spaced swing arms each swingably connected to a front end of the front pivot link and rotatably supports the front wheel at a lower end, laterally spaced rear pivot links each pivotably connected to the vehicle body at a middle and rotatably supports the rear wheel at a rear end, laterally spaced force transmission mechanisms each configured to convert a rearward force transmitted from the front wheel to the swing arm into an upward force and transmit the upward force to the front pivot link on a front side of the middle, and laterally spaced connecting links each pivotably attached to a rear end of the front pivot link and a front end of the rear pivot link.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus executes a wheel speed change control to control speeds of first road wheels and a second road wheel to a lower limit wheel speed or more when braking forces are applied to the first and second road wheels, and at least one of the speeds of the first and second road wheels becomes lower than the lower limit wheel speed. A vehicle speed change control executes a first increase-decrease control which alternately executes a first increase control to increase braking forces applied to the first road wheels together and a first decrease control to decrease the braking forces applied to the first road wheels together and (ii) a second increase-decrease control which increases and decreases the braking force applied to the second road wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus executes a yaw moment control to control a yaw rate of a vehicle to a target yaw rate by adjusting braking or driving forces applied to wheels of the vehicle and a speed difference control to control front and rear wheel speed differences within predetermined ranges by adjusting the braking or driving forces. The vehicle control apparatus executes the yaw moment control to the front wheels when the front wheel speed difference is within the predetermined range and executes the speed difference control to the front wheels when the front wheel speed difference is not within the predetermined range. The vehicle control apparatus executes the yaw moment control to the rear wheels when the rear wheel speed difference is within the predetermined range and executes the speed difference control to the rear wheels when the rear wheel speed difference is not within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle configured to eliminate slippage of a wheel without changing a driving torque or a braking torque abruptly. The driving force control system comprises a drive unit and a controller. The drive unit includes a differential mechanism connected to a right wheel and a left wheel to distribute torque of a torque generating device, and a differential restricting device that restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel. The controller restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel less than a predetermined value by the differential mechanism. If a slip ratio of one of the wheels smaller than that of the other wheels is greater than an acceptable value, the controller executes a slip-eliminating control.

Abstract: A pedal device for a vehicle includes a first link that is pivotally supported at one end and receives a pedaling force of a driver, a return spring that biases the first link toward a standard position, a second link supported so as to be pivotable in a direction opposite to that of the first link, and a third link transmitting force and displacement between the first and second links. The return spring has a first and second ends connected to the first and second links, respectively, A moment in which a tensile force of the return spring pivots the first link toward the standard position is greater than a moment in which the tensile force of the return spring pivots the first link away from the standard position via the first end.

Abstract: A brake unit that is downsized without reducing brake torque applied to wheels. The brake unit comprises: a first brake device that applies brake torque to a first rotary shaft; a first speed reducing device that transmits the brake torque to a first drive shaft connected the right wheel; a second brake device that applies brake torque to the second rotary shaft; and a second speed reducing device that transmits the brake torque to the second drive shaft connected to the right wheel. A rotational center axis of the first rotary shaft extends parallel to that of the first driveshaft, and a rotational center axis of the second rotary shaft extends parallel to that of a second driveshaft.

Abstract: A speed reducing unit having a simple structure that can establish a large speed reduction ratio. The speed reducing unit comprises a geared transmission mechanism and a fixed member. An input member, an output member, and the geared transmission mechanism are supported by the fixed member. The geared transmission mechanism comprises: a first ring gear fixed to the fixed member; a second ring gear rotated integrally with the output member; a first pinion meshing with the first ring gear; a second pinion meshing with the second ring gear; and a carrier supporting the first pinion and the second pinion that is rotated integrally with the input member. A gear ratio between the first ring gear and the first pinion and a gear ratio between the second ring gear and the second pinion are set to different values.

Abstract: An action force detecting unit for a rotary member that detects a force acting on a rotary member such as a rotary shaft and a wheel easily and accurately. The action force detecting unit comprises: a first rotor rotated integrally with a tire; a second rotor rotated relatively to the first rotor; a case fixed to a vehicle body while rotatably supporting the first rotor and the second rotor; a first thrust bearing supporting the first rotor; a second thrust bearing supporting the second rotor; a load translating mechanism transmitting a torque between the first rotor and the second rotor while translating the torque partially into a thrust force; a detector fixed to the case to detect a flexure relating to the thrust force applied to the second thrust bearing; a calculator calculating the force acting on the tire based on the flexure detected by the detector; and a transmitter transmitting a signal in accordance with a torque calculated by the calculator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic brake device presses a pressing plate against a brake rotor along an axis via a friction material by the electromagnetic force of an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic brake device includes a support member that is disposed on the opposite side of the pressing plate to the brake rotor and that is supported by a housing so as to be displaceable along the axis and non-rotatable around the axis, and a shaft member that transmits a force in the direction along the axis between the pressing plate and the support member. An electromagnetic coil and an armature of the electromagnetic actuator are spaced apart from the pressing plate between the pressing plate and the support member, the electromagnetic coil is supported by the housing, and the armature is supported by the support member.

Abstract: A downsized torque vectoring device that is easily to be mounted on an automobile. The torque vectoring device comprises: a differential mechanism that allows a first driveshaft and second driveshaft to rotate at different speeds; an actuator that applies a control torque to the differential mechanism to rotate the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft at different speeds; and a reversing mechanism that allows the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft to rotate in opposite directions. A gear ratio of a first gear train and a gear ratio of the second gear train are different from each other.