Abstract: A plurality of electrical devices are controlled by a single operation switch. A transfer switch selectively connects the operation switch with one of the electrical devices. When a push button switch is actuated, the connection of the transfer switch is controlled so as to connect the operation switch with another of the electrical devices for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, a control signal is calculated according to a signal output from a rotational angle sensor in accordance with intervals of a predetermined crank angle .theta..sub.o within a range from a reference position to a position which does not exceed a retard angle .theta. and the deviation from the retard angle .theta. does not exceed the crank angle .theta..sub.o. An angle deviation .theta..sub.s obtained as a remainder of a dividing operation is converted into a corresponding time period in accordance with a current average rotational speed of the engine. The time is counted in accordance with clock signals having a predetermined period. An internal combustion engine control signal is produced in accordance with this time counting operation. At least two instantaneous rotational speed data obtained for each angular signal from a rotational angle sensor are stored. The angle deviation .theta..sub.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine has a DC power source, first and second switching elements, a control signal generator for the switching elements, an ignition coil, and spark gaps. A first part of a primary coil of the ignition coil, a capacitor, the DC power source, and the first switching element form a closed circuit. A second part of the primary coil and the second switching element form another closed circuit. The signal generator generates ON signals for alternately turning on the first and second switching signals at predetermined timings based on an ignition command signal. The ignition performance of this ignition device for an internal combustion engine is improved.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a standard deviation of combustion variations generated for every firing stroke of at least one cylinder is calculated. The misfire limit of the engine is detected by determining whether or not the calculated standard deviation is greater than a reference value. When the calculated standard deviation is greater than the reference value, the controlled air-fuel ratio is decreased, while when the calculated standard deviation is not greater than the reference value, the controlled air-fuel ratio is increased, thereby attaining a lean burn system without a lean mixture sensor.

Abstract: A solenoid valve for opening and closing a fluid passage is disclosed. It includes a valve member supported rotatably within a case and having alternately different magnetic poles formed on the outer periphery of one end thereof and also having a fluid passage formed in the other end thereof; an electromagnetic drive means for creating alternately different and invertible magnetic poles in an opposed relation to the magnetic poles of the valve member to rotate the valve member by a predetermined angle; and plural fluid passages formed within the case and adapted to be brought into communication with each other through the fluid passage of the valve member upon rotation of the valve member at said predetermined angle.

Abstract: A signal converting apparatus for converting voltage into a pulse signal with a corresponding pulse-width comprises a switching circuit for selecting either one of an input voltage to be converted or a constant voltage depending upon a binary switching signal. The selected voltage is integrated with respect to time by an integrating circuit. When the output from the integrating circuit has reached an upper limit voltage or a lower limit voltage, the above-mentioned binary switching signal which is an output signal of this signal converting apparatus is inverted by a comparator/inverter circuit.

Abstract: A rotary driving apparatus suitable for use for a flow control valve provided with a rotor valve rotatably mounted in a housing. The rotor valve is connected to a permanent magnet member. The permanent magnet member is arranged adjacent to a pair of diametrically spaced ends of a core on which a coil is wound so that the ends are oppositely magnetized to provide a two pole electric motor, stopper means is provided for allowing limited rotary motion of the rotor between a first position and a second position. The permanent magnet member is so arranged with respect to the ends of the core that a torque is, during the de-energization of the coil, generated in order to engage the stopper means. Thus, the first or second position of the rotor valve is maintained without energization of the coil.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device for causing linear movement of a movable member. The device includes a fixed magnetic core around the entire length of which a coil is wound. The cross-sectional area of the central portion of the fixed magnetic core is greater than the cross-sectional area of the end portions of the fixed magnetic core so that the fixed magnetic core is not excessively heavy even if the stroke of the movable member is relatively large.

Abstract: In a fuel supply control apparatus for an internal-combustion engine, liquid fuel is vaporized and is supplied to a fuel gas passage leading to an intake air passage. The flow rate of the vaporized fuel flowing through the fuel gas passage is detected, and the flow rate of the fuel is calculated in accordance with the load of the engine. As a result, feedback control of the fuel to be supplied to the engine is carried out so that the detected flow rate of the vaporized fuel is close to the calculated flow rate of the fuel.

Abstract: A multi-gap spark ignition system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of spark gaps which are formed in series. The length of the spark gaps increases from the high voltage power source side towards the earth side. According to the present invention, necessary voltage to be applied to the spark ignition system can be decreased.

Abstract: A rotary drive apparatus including a frame having at least three holes; a yoke having a center portion and two side bar portions on opposite sides of the center portion, the center portion having a hole, coils mounted on the side bar portions of the yoke, a collar having a bore and being tightly mounted on the surface of the hole of the yoke, magnetic parameter changing elements being mounted on the surface of the bore of the collar, and a rotor having magnetic poles in the radial direction and being inserted into the bore of the collar with a predetermined clearance. In the apparatus, a first hole of the frame is parallel to a first direction of the apparatus and has a cross-section for tightly receiving the center portion of the yoke, and a second and third holes of the frame are in a second direction perpendicularly intersecting the first direction and being concentric with each other oppositely the first hole, the center portion of the yoke being fit into the first hole.

Abstract: In a method for measuring variations in the output of an internal combustion engine, at least one of signals respectively representing an engine speed, torque, and internal cylinder pressure of the internal combustion engine during the firing strokes of the engine is obtained. A periodical and pulsating change in the obtained signal is detected. A differential value at a portion of the change of the signal having a maximum gradient is then detected. Another method provides measuring variations in the output of the internal combustion engine by calculating the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the change of the obtained signal. Still another method provides measuring variations in the output of the internal combustion engine by correcting the obtained value in accordance with the engine speed. Still another method provides measuring variations in the output of the internal combustion engine by calculating the difference between consecutive changes.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injection system includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fuel or cooling water in the engine. When the detected temperature is higher than a given value, e.g., 50.degree. C., a pressure regulator for controlling the pressure of fuel supplied to a fuel injection valve is controlled so as to increase the fuel pressure irrespective of the intake pipe negative pressure and thereby increase the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine. In the case of an electronically controlled fuel injection control system, a predetermined correction quantity corresponding to the detected temperature from the temperature sensor is added to the basic fuel injection quantity calculated in accordance with given operating parameters of the engine, thereby increasing the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linear driving device comprising a stationary magnetic member, a first winding wound around the stationary magnetic member along the longitudinal direction thereof, and a movable permanent magnet for generating a magnetic flux which links some turns of the winding. A second winding is wound around at least one terminal of the stationary magnetic member so as to generate a magnetic flux opposing the magnetic flux generated by the first winding.

Abstract: A torque variation in an internal combustion engine due to the combustion variations is detected at each predetermined period. An average torque variation to be compared with the detected torque variation is predetermined experimentally based on the engine speed and the intake manifold pressure and is stored in a memory. The number of the detected torque variations which exceed the average torque variation multiplied by a predetermined constant is counted, and if the ratio of the counted number to the total number of the detected torque variations is larger than a predetermined reference value, then the presence of a torque variation is determined.

Abstract: In an air-fuel ratio control device, a torque detector for detecting torque variations which indicate combustion variations in an engine is mounted at the supporting portions of the internal combustion engine. A detecting signal from the torque detector is introduced into an electronic control unit which controls the amount of injecting fuel, namely the air-fuel ratio. The electronic control unit controls the air-fuel ratio toward the lean side by the signal from the torque detector so that the combustion variations (torque variations) in the engine does not become large.

Abstract: A torque detector for detecting a torque applied to a load from a driving shaft is disclosed. The torque detector comprises an elastic member which is interposed between a first shaft connected to the driving shaft and a second shaft connected to the load so as to be connected thereto, an angular phase difference detecting means for detecting an angular phase difference occurring between the first shaft and the second shaft when the torque is transmitted from the first shaft to the second shaft through the elastic member, and a data processing means for calculating the torque from the detected angular phase difference.

Abstract: A fuel quantity control apparatus of a supercharged diesel engine with safety measures comprises a fuel injection pump capable of increasing the fuel quantity according to the degree of supercharging, a detector for detecting the temperature in a combustion chamber or the temperature of the exhaust gas, a control circuit receiving an output of the detector, and a three-way valve driven by the control circuit to control the amount of the increase of the fuel quantity. Through the use of the apparatus when the detected temperature reaches a predetermined abnormal temperature, the amount of increase of the fuel quantity can be made zero or decreased and accidents such as melting or damage of the engine by abnormal rise of the temperature in the combustion chamber or of the temperature of the exhaust gas can be prevented.

Abstract: A torque detector, particularly a torque detector for detecting a torque applied to a torque transmission shaft which is connected to a load such as a wheel of an automobile, comprises a first shaft connected to a driving shaft, a second shaft connected to a torque transmission shaft, and a plurality of elastic members, each of which is interposed between the first shaft and the second shaft for transmitting the torque of the first shaft to the second shaft while receiving the compression force between the first shaft and the second shaft when the driving shaft is driven. The first shaft comprises a flange portion wherein a plurality of long grooves are formed so as to extend in the rotating direction thereof. The second shaft comprises a flange portion wherein a plurality of long holes are formed so as to extend in the rotating direction thereof and penetrate therethrough at such positions as to be substantially opposed to said long grooves.

Abstract: A rotary solenoid actuator for proportionally controlling the flow of fluid, such as air, in a pipe comprises a housing with a rotor rotatably mounted thereon. A stationary coreless coil for generating a magnetic field in response to a control current therethrough is mounted in the housing. A permanent magnet is affixed to a rotatably mounted shaft within the coil, and a return spring is attached to the rotating shaft. Due to low hysteresis in the coreless coil, there is a linear relationship between the control current and the fluid flow.