Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus wherein a disturbance acting on a tired wheel of a vehicle is estimated by a disturbance observer on the basis of the detected angular velocity of the wheel. In one form of the method, the wheel angular velocity is compensated for the disturbance, depending upon the amount of change of the wheel angular velocity caused by the disturbance. In another form of the method, the angular acceleration of the wheel as well as the disturbance is estimated by the observer, and the moment of inertia of the wheel is obtained according to a relationship between the estimated disturbance and angular acceleration of the wheel.

Abstract: A suspension of a vehicle includes a set of suspension arms each supporting a wheel, a subframe pivotably connected on its left and right sides with the respective suspension arms, the subframe having on its each side portions forward and rearward of a rotary axis of the wheel and six elastic mounts. The subframe is coupled on each side thereof with a car body through two of the elastic mounts disposed at lateral interval in one of the portion and one elastic mount disposed in the other of the portions.

Abstract: A changeover valve unit for a power-assisted steering system includes input and output shafts arranged for relative rotation on aligned axes, a spool valve element concentrically assembled with the input shaft to be axially shifted in response to relative rotation of the shafts, and a sleeve-like valve casing surrounding the spool valve element to cooperate with the spool valve element for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to a hydraulic cylinder associated with the steering system. A thrust plate is rotatably coupled at its inner periphery with the output shaft and secured at its outer periphery to the valve casing thereby to prevent rotation of the valve casing and to permit axial movement of the valve casing caused by displacement of the output shaft.

Abstract: A changeover valve unit for a power-assisted steering system includes input and output shafts arranged for relative rotation on aligned axes, a torsion bar interconnecting the shafts, a spool valve element surrounding the input shaft and arranged to be axially displaced in response to relative rotation of the shafts for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to a hydraulic cylinder associated with the steering system, and a displacement mechanism for the spool valve element. The valve unit further includes an annular retainer member engaged with one end of the spool valve element to form an oil chamber, a compression spring assembled within the oil chamber to bias the spool valve element toward the displacement mechanism, and an annular orifice formed around the input shaft by means of the retainer member to permit the flow of fluid between the oil chamber and the interior of the spool valve element.

Abstract: A power steering device comprising: an input and an output shafts connected to each other by a torsion bar in a manner to be relatively rotatable in the same direction; a valve spool concentrically disposed around said input shaft and axially movably provided; balls provided in first moving paths and engaged with said valve spool; and pins formed on said valve spool and engaged with second moving paths. Said first moving paths are given torsions at a certain angle with respect to said second moving paths. Said valve spool is axially moved in accordance with a relative rotation between said input and output shafts to change one oil channel over to the other.

Abstract: An attachment for a cup shaped ornamental hub cap comprises a resilient clip ring assembled with the hub cap. The clip ring comprises an annular dish spring part clamped to the open inner-end of the hub cap to be axially tiltable and a plurality of spring legs extending radially and inwardly from the inner peripheral edge of the dish spring part adapted to engage with an annular recess on a cylindrical flange of a wheel body, whereby in attaching the hub cap onto the cylindrical flange of the wheel body, the spring legs of the clip are resiliently engaged with the annular recess due to tilting movement of the dish spring part.