Abstract: A friction generating mechanism of a damper apparatus includes a bushing in contact with an annular friction surface of a spline hub, and a cone spring arranged in a compressed state between a retaining plate and the bushing. A first load support surface of the bushing and a second load support surface of the retaining plate have step portions recessed so as to respectively receive an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge of the cone spring, when the taper of the cone spring is reversed. The radial positions of boundaries of the step portions are in a relationship of D1>D2, which inhibits the cone spring from being reversed even when an excessive load in the axial direction is input.

Abstract: A engine starting method is carried out to start an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first hub, a second hub, and a damper. The damper connects the first hub and the second hub in a power transmission path between the engine and a generator capable of power generation and powered travel. The engine starting method determines whether or not the engine needs to be started, begins to crank the engine via the generator when the engine needs to be started, performs a first ignition when torque fluctuation caused by torsion in the first hub and the second hub is in a range of being absorbable by the damper during the cranking, and suppresses engine torque generated by the first ignition below engine torque generated by second and subsequent ignitions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control method for an internal combustion engine (3) including a power generation motor (4) driven by a power of the internal combustion engine (3) and a damper (30) provided between the internal combustion engine (3) and the power generation motor (4) in a power transmission path, wherein a maximum value of a torque fluctuation generated in an event of a misfire occurring in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (3) is larger than a value at which a displacement of a main damper (30a) of the damper (30) is allowed to be suppressed to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on a first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4), and the control method includes limiting a torque (Te) of the internal combustion engine (3) within a range in which a displacement of the main damper (30a) is allowed to be controlled to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on the first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4).

Abstract: A engine starting method is carried out to start an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first hub, a second hub, and a damper. The damper connects the first hub and the second hub in a power transmission path between the engine and a generator capable of power generation and powered travel. The engine starting method determines whether or not the engine needs to be started, begins to crank the engine via the generator when the engine needs to be started, performs a first ignition when torque fluctuation caused by torsion in the first hub and the second hub is in a range of being absorbable by the damper during the cranking, and suppresses engine torque generated by the first ignition below engine torque generated by second and subsequent ignitions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control method for an internal combustion engine (3) including a power generation motor (4) driven by a power of the internal combustion engine (3) and a damper (30) provided between the internal combustion engine (3) and the power generation motor (4) in a power transmission path, wherein a maximum value of a torque fluctuation generated in an event of a misfire occurring in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (3) is larger than a value at which a displacement of a main damper (30a) of the damper (30) is allowed to be suppressed to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on a first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4), and the control method includes limiting a torque (Te) of the internal combustion engine (3) within a range in which a displacement of the main damper (30a) is allowed to be controlled to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on the first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4).

Abstract: A method to modify the geometry of a connecting rod of an internal combustion engine includes providing a connecting rod having a crankshaft bore at a first end, wherein the first end has a bearing cap and a bottom end portion of the connecting rod, mating the bearing cap with the bottom end portion of the connecting rod to form the crankshaft bore of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bottom end portion to reduce a width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bearing cap to reduce a portion of a width of the bearing cap, and reducing the width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod and the portion of the width of the bearing cap to a width smaller than a cylinder bore of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method to modify the geometry of a connecting rod of an internal combustion engine includes providing a connecting rod having a crankshaft bore at a first end, wherein the first end has a bearing cap and a bottom end portion of the connecting rod, mating the bearing cap with the bottom end portion of the connecting rod to form the crankshaft bore of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bottom end portion to reduce a width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bearing cap to reduce a portion of a width of the bearing cap, and reducing the width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod and the portion of the width of the bearing cap to a width smaller than a cylinder bore of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method to modify the geometry of a connecting rod of an internal combustion engine includes providing a connecting rod having a crankshaft bore at a first end, wherein the first end has a bearing cap and a bottom end portion of the connecting rod, mating the bearing cap with the bottom end portion of the connecting rod to form the crankshaft bore of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bottom end portion to reduce a width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod, machining a width upset portion of the bearing cap to reduce a portion of a width of the bearing cap, and reducing the width of the bottom end portion of the connecting rod and the portion of the width of the bearing cap to a width smaller than a cylinder bore of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A control apparatus for vending machine free from necessity of replacing the main control program when a new function is to be supplemented to the sub-control units in the control apparatus or when an additional sub-control unit is to be added thereto, thus reducing the costs and labor. The apparatus comprising a main control unit operated by a main control program stored in a main control memory having vacant space, sub-control units controlled by the main control unit, the main control program includes data specifically set for each sub-control unit.