Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus realizes the same function as that of a variable discharge pump by regulating a hydraulic device such as a control valve in a state always operated at a substantially constant number of revolutions with a high efficiency regardless of the type of a hydraulic pump driven by a driving source such as a heat engine or electric motor. This hydraulic apparatus drives a hydraulic pump with a driving source internally or additionally provided with a predetermined amount of inertia, so as to construct a fixed pressure hydraulic source, and further provides peripheral devices corresponding to a required load, so as to open/close a control valve according to a state of a load including an energy accumulating device, a hydraulic motor, or the like such that the load can be supplied with an operating fluid ranging from a low flow rate at a high pressure to a high flow rate at a low pressure.

Abstract: A device for rotating body windage loss reduction, capable of rotating a rotating body at a high peripheral speed in an environment at atmospheric pressure or close to atmospheric pressure while reducing fluid resistance loss at a low cost by making use of the conventional bearing technology, is implemented, thereby enhancing efficiency of an energy storage device such as, for example, a flywheel, and so forth. The device is provided with a rotating body held rotatably; and a covering rotating body installed on the outer side of the rotating body so as to enclose the same, held rotatably and coaxially with the rotating body. Further, optional plural numbers of the covering rotating bodies installed coaxially with the rotating body and covering the outer side of the device for rotating body windage loss reduction are provided on top of each other in sequence.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus realizes the same function as that of a variable discharge pump by regulating a hydraulic device such as a control valve in a state always operated at a substantially constant number of revolutions with a high efficiency regardless of the type of a hydraulic pump driven by a driving source such as a heat engine or electric motor. This hydraulic apparatus drives a hydraulic pump with a driving source internally or additionally provided with a predetermined amount of inertia, so as to construct a fixed pressure hydraulic source, and further provides peripheral devices corresponding to a required load, so as to open/close a control valve according to a state of a load including an energy accumulating device, a hydraulic motor, or the like such that the load can be supplied with an operating fluid ranging from a low flow rate at a high pressure to a high flow rate at a low pressure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of remarkably reducing the quantity of misalignment after an etching step is obtained. This method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises a first lithography step of transferring a mask pattern onto a first semiconductor substrate as a first resist pattern with positional reference to a first alignment mark, a first etching step of performing etching through the first resist pattern serving as a mask, a step of measuring the quantity of misalignment after the first etching step and a second lithography step of thereafter transferring the mask pattern onto a second semiconductor substrate as a second resist pattern while correcting the positional reference based on the first alignment mark on the basis of the quantity of misalignment after the first etching step.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of remarkably reducing the quantity of misalignment after an etching step is obtained. This method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises a first lithography step of transferring a mask pattern onto a first semiconductor substrate as a first resist pattern with positional reference to a first alignment mark, a first etching step of performing etching through the first resist pattern serving as a mask, a step of measuring the quantity of misalignment after the first etching step and a second lithography step of thereafter transferring the mask pattern onto a second semiconductor substrate as a second resist pattern while correcting the positional reference based on the first alignment mark on the basis of the quantity of misalignment after the first etching step.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate including a mask aligning trench. The method includes forming the mask aligning trench and an element partitioning trench. The element partitioning and mask aligning trenches are filled with insulation. The insulation in the element partitioning trench is masked and the insulation in the mask aligning trench is etched. As a result, a residue of the insulation in the mask aligning trench is below the upper edge of the mask aligning trench. The mask aligning trench is easily detected. Thus, positioning a patterning mask on the substrate can be performed accurately.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus comprises a front wheel steering member for steering front wheels by being displaced according to a movement of a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels, a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling together the front wheel steering member and an input member of the rear wheel steering mechanism, and a play mechanism provided between an end of the coupling mechanism and the front wheel steering member or the input member or in an intermediate part of the coupling mechanism, the play mechanism effecting transmission of displacement only when a displacement in excess of a predetermined amount is produced in either direction from a position corresponding to a neutral position with respect to the steering angle of the front wheels.

Abstract: Rotaton of a steering wheel is transmitted to a steering ratio changing mechanism which displaces an output displacement member according to the steering wheel turning angle to obtain a desired steering ratio. A displacment transmission member transmits the displacement of the output displacement member to a valve member of a hydraulic switching valve and a wheel turning rod is displaced under the force of a hydraulic power cylinder in response to displacement of the valve member.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus of a vehicle has a front-wheel steering mechanism for steering front wheels, a rear-wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels, a steering gear mechanism operatively connected to the front-wheel steering mechanism and effecting a steering operation, a steering angle extracting mechanism operatively connected to the steering mechanism and extracting the steering angle of the front wheels, the steering angle extracting mechanism comprising a restraining member movable axially along the axis of the front wheels in response to the steering operation, and a string member fixed to the restraining member and displaceable in the lengthwise direction thereof in response to the movement of the restraining member, and rear-wheel steering angle control mechanism operatively connected to the steering angle extracting mechanism for controlling the amount and the direction of steer to be transmitted to the rear wheels, the rear-wheel steering angle control mechanism comprising a rotata

Abstract: A vehicle four wheel steering system including a rear wheel steering mechanism with a power assist device. The rear wheel steering mechanism includes a steering rod extending transversely of the vehicle and having the opposite ends connected with tie rods which are in turn connected with knuckle arms of the rear wheels. The steering rod is provided with a power cylinder in which a piston is slidably disposed. The piston is provided on the steering rod and defines hydraulic chambers in the cylinder. A control valve is provided to control hydraulic oil supply to the power cylinder. The control valve has a casing which is connected with the steering rod through an interconnecting section and hydraulic oil passages are formed in the interconnecting section for passing hydraulic oil to and from the power cylinder.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system comprises a steering wheel; a steering shaft which is connected to the steering wheel to be rotated in response to operation of the steering wheel and is provided with a first pinion fixedly mounted thereon; a rack bar which is supported for sliding motion in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, is provided with a first rack gear in mesh with the first pinion and a second rack gear, and is connected to the right and left front wheels by way of tie rods, a rear wheel turning force taking-out mechanism which includes a second pinion in mesh with the second rack gear on the rack bar and a rod member connected to the second pinion, and which converts the sliding motion of the rack bar into rotation of the rod member; and a rear wheel turning mechanism which is arranged to turn the rear wheels in response to rotation of the rod member.

Abstract: In a four-wheel steering apparatus of a vehicle for steering also the rear wheels in conformity with the steering of the front wheels by a steering wheel, a control force for a rear wheel steering device is mechanically taken out from a front wheel steering device and is suitably controlled in the intermediate portion and is transmitted as a steering control force to the rear wheel steering device, whereby the front wheels and the rear wheels are steered in the same direction when the absolute value of the steering angle of the front wheels is less than a predetermined value, and the rear wheels are steered in the direction reverse to the front wheels when the absolute value is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: The rear wheels of a vehicle are turned in response to the turning of the front wheels upon operation of the steering wheel. A rack member is provided to be operatively connected with a movable member of the front wheel steering system which is moved right and left in response to operation of the steering wheel so that the rack member is moved together with the movable member. The rack member is in mesh with a pinion fixed to an end of an output shaft whose rotation is transmitted to the rear wheel steering system as steering force for moving it by way of a transmission shaft.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a vehicle has a rear wheel steering ratio changing means which changes the rear wheel steering ratio in accordance with rear wheel steering ratio characteristics predetermined according to the vehicle speed, and an inhibiting means which inhibits the rear wheel steering ratio changing means from changing the rear wheel steering ratio when the steering wheel is turned right or left from its neutral position.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a vehicle comprising a steering mechanism including a steering wheel, a front wheel turning mechanism operatively connected to the steering mechanism to turn the front wheels according to the turning angle of the steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism operatively connected to the steering mechanism to turn the rear wheels in response to operation of the steering wheel, and a rear wheel steering ratio changing mechanism for changing the ratio of the turning angle of the rear wheels to the turning angle of the steering wheel.