Abstract: A two piece type drive (propeller) shaft assembly comprises first and second shafts and a middle elastic member which resiliently connects the first and second shafts end to end so that power can be transmitted. At least one weight is fixed to each shaft at a predetermined unbalance position to shift a principal axis of inertia of the shaft to a desired orientation to suppress whirling motion of the shaft. In each shaft, the at least one weight is located at such a position that the distance of the unbalancing at least one weight from the connected end of the shaft is substantially equal to one third of length of the shaft.

Abstract: A self-balanced drive shaft assembly comprises a cylindrical shaft having an axially extending cylindrical bore formed therein; a small amount of liquid contained in the bore of the cylindrical shaft, the liquid being movable in the bore in response to movement of the shaft; and two joints operatively connected to axially opposed ends of the shaft respectively. At least one of the joints permits a pivotal movement of the shaft about a pivot point defined by the other joint.

Abstract: A suspension system for suspending a final drive unit installed on an automotive vehicle. The final drive unit including a drive shaft drivingly coupled to a cardan shaft, and output shaft drivingly coupled to road wheels for transmitting a drive from the cardan shaft to the road wheels. The drive shaft has an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle. The output shafts have an axis extending transversely of the vehicle. The final drive unit is subject to reaction torques causing the final drive unit to make a rolling angular displacement around the drive shaft axis and reaction torques causing the final drive unit to make a pitching angular displacement around the output shaft axis during vehicle driving. The suspension system includes elastic suspension elements for elastically flexibly suspending the final drive unit, with respect to the vehicle, at suspension points located at different positions to reduce the pitching angular displacement substantially to zero.

Abstract: In a lock-up torque converter, first and second input shells are rotatable and axially movable relative to each other. The second input shell is integrally provided with a pump impeller. A turbine runner is rotatable but axially fixed relative to an output shaft. A first clutch engages the turbine runner with a lock-up clutch plate during disengagement of the lock-up clutch plate from the first input shell and disengages the turbine runner from the lock-up clutch plate during engagement of the lock-up clutch plate with the first input shell. A second clutch engages the first and second input shells while allowing them to be axially movable relative to each other during disengagement of the lock-up clutch plate from the first input shell and disengages the first and second input shells during engagement of the lock-up clutch plate with the first input shell.

Abstract: A joining structure of an automotive vehicle power plant including a transmission and a torque converter. The housing of the transmission is integrally formed with a generally annular flange which is joined with a generally annular flange of the casing of the torque converter by fastening bolts so that the joining surfaces of the transmission housing and the torque converter casing are in tight contact with each other. Each fastening bolt is disposed through the bolt holes which are respectively formed in the flanges of the transmission housing and the torque converter casing. A plurality of depressions are formed at the joining surface of the transmission housing flange in such a manner that each bolt hole merges in the depression, so that projected and depressed parts are formed in the joining surface. The projected part is in contact with the joining surface of the torque converter casing flange.

Abstract: In a variable inertial mass flywheel having a main flywheel member coupled to an engine crankshaft and a subflywheel member rotatably arranged relative to the main flywheel member, an electrorheological fluid whose viscosity changes according to intensity of electric field at high response speed is enclosed between electrodes formed on the main flywheel member and the subflywheel member. At engine idling, a higher voltage is applied to the electrodes to increase the viscosity of the fluid, that is, to increase inertial mass of the flywheel so that engine torque ripple can effectively be absorbed. At engine acceleration, a lower (or zero) voltages is applied to the electrodes to decrease the viscosity of the fluid, that is to decrease inertial mass of the flywheel so that high engine torque response characteristics can stably be obtained.

Abstract: A front suspension of the strut type is modified according to the present invention such that an upper end part of a shock absorber, namely a piston rod, is engaged in an inner sleeve of a mount insulator for a limited axial movement relative to the inner sleeve. The shock absorber also includes a lower end part linked to a wheel support member. When the shock absorber sticks, the upper end part of the shock absorber displaces relative to the mount insulator and thus a spring operatively disposed between the wheel support member and the mount insulator works to dampen the axial load between the mount insulator and the wheel support member. Thus, when an engine idles, the vehicle vibration induced by a roll force from the engine does not resonate with the engine vibration.