Abstract: A stepless speed changing apparatus is disclosed that has movable bodies to move in the radial direction of an input shaft, wherein stepless speed reduction is achieved with a simple configuration by converting the movement of the movable bodies into the movement of a speed change ring, and is capable of setting an appropriate mode of changing output, rotational speed and providing such a characteristic that the output rotational speed changes in the reverse manner to the change of the input rotational speed.

Abstract: A drive train of a steering apparatus for rear wheels of a vehicle transmits a driving force of a rotary motor to a steering shaft of rear wheels that is shiftable in the axial direction. The drive train comprises a reduction mechanism driven by the motor and a converting mechanism driven by the reduction mechanism for converting rotational motion of the motor to a linear motion for steering the rear wheels. The reduction mechanism includes a worm driven by the motor and a worm wheel driven by the worm. The converting mechanism comprises a trapezoidally-threaded screw mechanism including a trapezoidally-threaded female screw member and trapezoidally-threaded male screw member. One of the trapezoidally-threaded male and female screw members is driven by the worm wheel, and the other fixed to the steering shaft of rear wheels. A transmission efficiency of an input from the steering shaft of rear wheels to the trapezoidally-threaded screw mechanism is set to be zero.

Abstract: The hydraulic control valve 30 of a hydraulic actuator 20 for generating steering assist force comprises a first valve member 31 and a second valve member 32, both of which are rotatable relative to each other in response to steering resistance. Throttling portions are formed of spaces between axially extending edges defined by slots of the first valve member and axially extending edges defined by slots of the second valve member. The first hydraulic oil outlet slot 51b is located between a right turn slot 50a and a left turn slot 50b. The second hydraulic oil outlet slot 51c is located between communication slots 50c. Hydraulic oil feed slots 51a are located between a right turn slot 50a and a communication slot 50c and between a left turn slot 50b and a communication slot 50c. A closing angle of at least one type of second group throttling portions A', B', C' and D' is set larger than a closing angle of each of a first group throttling portions A, B, C and D.

Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus, a signal processing circuit for a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque and a control circuit for controlling the driving of a steering assisting electric motor on the basis of the result of the signal processing by the signal processing circuit are formed on the same common circuit board. The common circuit board is mounted inside a housing accommodating the torque sensor, a housing accommodating a steering shaft, or a housing accommodating a steering gear.

Abstract: A speed reduction device for steering devices comprises a first rotary shaft supported by a housing and rotatable by an external force, a second rotary shaft axially movably fitted to the first rotary shaft and nonrotatable relative thereto, a movable member attached to the housing axially movably but nonrotatably and fitted to the second rotary shaft axially movably and rotatably relative thereto, a first ball screw connecting the second rotary shaft to the housing, and a second ball screw connecting the movable member to the second rotary shaft.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering device comprising an input shaft which rotates about an axis oriented from front to rear in response to a steering angle of front wheels, a screw shaft which is united with the input shaft and has an axis eccentrically arranged with the axis of the input shaft, a nut which is meshed with the screw shaft, a rack formed on the nut, and a pinion meshed with the rack and connected to the nut. The pinion is supported in a manner that it is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and movable in the rightward and leftward transverse direction. The pinion is meshed with a rear wheel steering rack. The rotation of the input shaft causes the screw shaft to rotate and whirl. In response to the rotation and the whirling motion of the screw shaft, the rear wheel steering rack moves in the rightward and leftward transverse direction. The rear wheels are steered by the transverse movement of the rear wheel steering rack.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus comprising a front wheel steering device having a front-wheel steering bar movable for steering front wheels, and a rear-wheel steering device having a rear-wheel steering bar mechanically separated from the front-wheel steering device and movable for steering rear wheels. The latter device has a rear-wheel steering bar drive assembly for moving the rear-wheel steering bar, and a rear-wheel steering control system for controlling the drive assembly in accordance with the steering amount of the front wheels to thereby control the amount of movement of the rear-wheel steering bar and control the steering amount of the rear wheels. The rear-wheel steering device comprises a maximum steering amount regulating assembly having a variably regulating member capable of mechanically restricting the maximum amount of movement of the rear-wheel steering bar and adjusting the maximum amount of movement.

Abstract: The hydraulic power steering apparatus of the present invention has plungers being installed movably at part of a casing of a hydraulic control valve and a reaction chamber being formed at one side of the plungers, and varies hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a hydraulic pressure reacting portion for generating restriction force corresponding to supplied hydraulic pressure according to vehicle speed and quantity of relative movement between a valve body and a casing of hydraulic control valve, thereby the supplied hydraulic pressure being increased as the vehicle speed becomes higher and steering angle becomes larger.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the steering power of a power steering system of a vehicle wherein there are employed two variable throttles and a fixed throttle between the variable throttles connected to a pump discharge, each variable throttle having an opening controlled in accordance with the vehicle speed or a steering angle and regulated oil pressure between the fixed throttles and one of the variable throttles is led to a hydraulic reaction chamber when the vehicle is running at low or middle speed and regulated oil pressure between the two variable throttles is led to the hydraulic reaction chamber when the vehicle is running at a high speed.

Abstract: This invention concerns a shock absorbing material placed between two objects for buffering the shocks, and a method of applying the same.Heretofore, a previously formed shock absorbing material is bonded by way of an adhesive or the like to an object to be buffered. However, there has been a disadvantage that no desired bonding strength can be obtained or the adhesive is degraded. It is intended in this invention to render the shock absorbing material fusible under heating, by which the shock absorbing material is fused due to the melting of the shock absorbing material itself with an object to be buffered using no adhesive thereby increasing the bonding area and improving the bonding strength as compared with the conventional case.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rack and pinion mechanism used in a steering device of a vehicle, in which when a pinion is engaged with rack teeth at an axially middle part of a rack bar, the rack bar is supported by supporting surfaces of a support yoke in the form of surface contact. When the pinion is engaged with the rack teeth at a part other than the axially middle part of the rack bar, on the contrary, the rack bar is supported by a rotary bearing mounted on the support yoke. Therefore, when a vehicle runs rectilinearly, the sliding resistance of the rack bar becomes large and the handle is stabilized, while when the vehicle turns, the sliding resistance becomes small and handling is made light because the rack bar is supported by a bearing.

Abstract: In a rotation control valve of a power steering system, there are arranged in a valve housing a spool section on an input shaft and a valve body secured to an output shaft. According to the invention, a seal housing is arranged between the valve body and the valve housing, and O-rings are provided between the seal housing and the valve housing and a clearance of about 0.005-0.02 mm exists between the seal housing and the valve body, which results in a floating support of the valve body within the valve housing.