Abstract: In a four wheel steering system, the rear wheel turning mechanism is connected to the front wheel turning mechanism by way of a rear wheel turning angle ratio changing mechanism which is mechanically connected to both the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism and transmits the mechanical displacement input thereinto from the front wheel turning mechanism to the rear wheel turning mechanism to drive the same by an amount the ratio of which to the amount of mechanical displacement input into the rear wheel turning angle ratio changing mechanism gives a predetermined rear wheel turning angle ratio. The rear wheel turning angle ratio changing mechanism is controlled in such a way that, when the front wheels are turned from the neutral position in a middle vehicle speed range, makes the rear wheel turning angle ratio negative for a moment immediately after initiation of turning of the front wheels and thereafter turns the same positive.

Abstract: A rear steering control system for a motor vehicle includes an antiskid braking system which controls a braking force in a brake device in a respective wheel in accordance with a deceleration condition of the respective wheel so as to prevent wheel locking in a braking operation. The sytem includes a rear steering control system for establishing a ratio of steering amount of the rear wheels to that of the front wheels as a predetermined steering ratio characteristic. An input device inputs an operation condition of the antiskid braking system and an control condition of the brake device for the respective wheel conducted by the antiskid braking system to the rear steering control system. A device is provided in the system for amending the predetermined steering ratio characteristic in accordance with the control condition of the brake device for the respective wheel when the antiskid braking system is in operation.

Abstract: A front drive vehicle is provided with a four-wheel steering system and a traction control system. A control system for the vehicle detects whether a failure occurs in the traction control system, and causes the rear wheel turning mechanism to turn the rear wheels according to corrected rear wheel turning characteristics when it is determined that a failure occurs in the traction control system. The corrected rear wheel turning characteristics are shifted toward the reverse phase side with respect to the original rear wheel turning characteristics.

Abstract: An automatic speed control system has a device for detecting an actual speed of vehicle, a device for setting a target speed of the vehicle, and a device for controlling the actual speed so that it approaches the target speed by adjusting a throttle opening. The improved system includes a down-shift device for making a down-shift operation of a transmission so as to accomplish the target speed under a predetermined condition when the vehicle runs on an uphill rod, and uphill end judge device for holding that an end of the uphill road has been reached when the throttle opening is reduced beyond a predetermined value from a maximum value after the down-shift operation. An uphill end of a short length can be properly detected so that a desirable speed control can be accomplished.

Abstract: An automatic speed control system for a vehicle includes a throttle control for controlling a throttle valve opening based on a deviation between a target speed and an actual speed of the vehicle so as to accomplish the target speed. A down-shift device for making a down-shift operation in an automatic transmission, a steady judging device for judging a steady condition of the actual speed after the down-shift operation, and an up-shift device for making an up-shift operation in the automatic transmission, when a reduction of the throttle valve opening more than a predetermined value is detected, after the actual speed is judged to be in the steady condition, are provided. A proper speed control can be provided when the vehicle runs uphill, regardless of the length and/or gradient of the uphill path.

Abstract: A four-wheel-steered vehicle provided with a slip control mechanism which has a slip ratio sensor for detecting the slip ratio of the wheels and controls slip of wheels of the vehicle when the slip ratio of the wheels reaches a first preset value. The four-wheel steering mechanism turns the rear wheels according to first rear wheel turning characteristics in response to turning of the front wheels when the slip ratio of the wheels is smaller than a second preset value which is smaller than the first preset value and turns the rear wheels according to second rear wheel turning characteristics when the slip ratio reaches the second preset value.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, a C.sub.2-6 alkenyl group, a C.sub.2-6 alkynyl group or a R.sup.7 --CO-- group (wherein R.sup.7 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, a phenyl group, a C.sub.2-6 alkenyl group which may be substituted by a phenyl group, or a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group);R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-8 alkyl group, or a phenyl group;R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, and R.sup.4 is a hydroxyl group, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form a bond;each of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 is a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group; andY is a cyano group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, a C.sub.2-6 alkynyl group, a C.sub.1-6 alkylcarbonyl group, a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group, a di-C.sub.1-6 alkylaminocarbonyl group, an aryl group, a C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl group, a carboxyl group or a morpholinocarbonyl group.

Abstract: A constant speed control apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a setting section for setting a target vehicle speed, a first detection section for detecting a vehicle speed of a traveling vehicle, a shift-down signal output section for, when the detected vehicle speed is decreased from the target vehicle speed to fall outside a predetermined range in a constant speed travel state, outputting a signal to cause an automatic transmission to perform a shift-down operation, a second detection section for detecting that the detected vehicle speed is essentially recovered to the target vehicle speed after the shift-down signal is output, an estimation section for estimating a road surface inclination on the basis of an engine load and the detected vehicle speed, and a shift-up signal output section for, when the detection result by the second detection section and an estimation result of essentially not an uphill by the estimation section are established, outputting a shift-up signal to the automatic transmission.

Abstract: A roof panel connected to the vehicle body through at least a pair of left-hand and right-hand front pillars and a pair of left-hand and right-hand rear pillars is provided with a wide open roof aperture enclosed by a front header, a pair of left-hand and right-hand roof side rails and a rear header. To the pair of left-hand and right-hand rear pillars and the rear header is fixed a rear window glass panel. In order to close the roof aperture, there is provided a flexible top which is foldable in the longitudinal direction of the body. When the roof aperture is in a closed state, a forward end portion of the flexible top is in abutment with said front header, its left-hand and right-hand side end portions are abutted with the left-hand and right-hand roof side rails, and its rearward end portion is in abutment with the rear header.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for motor vehicle including a front wheel steering mechanism for steering front wheels in response to a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism in accordance with the movement of the front wheels, control unit having driving condition detecting means for detecting a vehicle driving condition and controlling the rear wheel steering mechanism, fail judging section for judging a failure of the control unit and producing a failure signal, and fail-safe control unit for controlling the rear wheel steering mechanism in a manner different from a control under a normal operation of the control unit when the control unit is in an unusual condition, and the fail judging section and/or the fail-safe control unit being provided with a plurality of actuating mechanism wherein each of the actuating mechanism can actuate the fail judging section and the fail-safe control unit independently to position the rear wheels at a neutral position.

Abstract: A power source failure detecting system for detecting failure in a power source for an electronic control system for a vehicle determines that a failure occurs in the power source and outputs a signal when the vehicle speed continues to be higher than a predetermined value (e.g., 40 Km/h) for a predetermined time interval (e.g., 10 seconds) and at the same time, the power source voltage is lower than a predetermined value (e.g., 9 v).

Abstract: A four-wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle consisting of a steering mechanism that includes a steering wheel. A front wheel turning mechanism is 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 is operatively connected to the steering mechanism to turn the rear wheels in response to operation of the steering wheel. A hydraulically operated power assist is connected with the rear wheels turning mechanism. A rear wheels steering ratio changing mechanism is provided for changing the ratio of the turning angle of the rear wheels with respect to the turning angle of the steering wheel. A return mechanism is provided for returning the rear wheels to a neutral position. A valve mechanism drains the oil applied from an oil pump to the power assist mechanism. An engine stop mechanism is provided for stopping the engine.

Abstract: A method of carrying out gravity mold casting, i.e., pouring of molten metal into a mold cavity under the force of gravity. This particular method features the application of a heating insulating coating or an equivalent coating on the surfaces of an area the cross-sectional area of which is larger than that of other sections of the cavity and where the metal flowing speed is slower than in other areas of the mold. The coating is effected before pouring metal into the cavity.