Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle has a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a front wheel steer angle sensor for detecting a steer angle of front wheels of the vehicle, a rear wheel steer angle driving device for varying the steer angle of each of the right and left rear wheels, and a rear wheel steer angle controller for controlling the rear wheel steer angle driving device. The controller is adapted to calculate a toe-in quantity of the rear wheels as an increasing function of the vehicle speed, calculate a steer angle of each of the right and left rear wheels by the use of the vehicle speed and the steer angle of the front wheels, and control the rear wheel steer angle driving device on the basis of results of these calculating operations such that the steer angle of each of the right and left rear wheels changes by a predetermined angle. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the response to the steering input for turning the vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension has two arms disposed laterally of a car body and spaced mutually in front and to the rear of each other in the direction of the length of the car body. A carrier is rotatably connected about a vertical axis to the respective outer ends of the arms to support a wheel. An apparatus for adjusting a toe angle of the wheel includes a toe adjuster connected to an inner end of one of the two arms and provided on the car body to displace the inner end in three dimensions. An actuator is provided for operating the toe adjuster.

Abstract: A hose coupling has a coupling body which is constituted by a hose joint portion connected to a hose, and an eye-joint portion connected to a fixed-side element. The coupling body is provided with a pin for fixing the coupling body. The pin has its distal end portion engaged with a hole provided in the fixed-side element and its proximal end portion connected to the coupling body. The distal and proximal end portions of the pin have their respective axes made to be offset in parallel to each other. The proximal end portion is connected to the coupling body in such a manner that the distal end portion is pivotal about the proximal end portion.

Abstract: A coupling interposed between a driving shaft and a driven shaft for transmitting torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft. The coupling comprises a tube which is non-circular in cross section, a solid body inserted in the tube to create a clearance having a certain width between the inner periphery of the tube and the outer periphery of the solid body and a plurality of impact absorbing members made of elastic material such as rubber and fixed to certain portions of the outer periphery of the solid body. The impact absorbing members are positioned so as to prevent contact of the inner periphery of the tube and the outer periphery of the solid body when torque transmitted from the driving shaft is under a predetermined level and permit contact of the inner periphery of the tube and the outer periphery of the solid body when the torque is at or over the predetermined level.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing air-pressure drop in an automobile tire which comprises an air chamber having an internal air pressure maintained substantially equal to that of a tire under normal conditions and a sensor displaceable in accordance with differences in pressure between the air chamber and the tire. The apparatus is mounted in the inner end of the air valve of the tire, and when the air pressure in the tire drops to a certain level below an initial air pressure setting, the sensor is displaced. Sensor displacement is detected and an appropriate signal is provided to the driver.

Abstract: A brake tube protector for use in vehicles to protect the brake tube, which is led or arranged axially along the external periphery of the rear axle housing, from being damaged by impact with or striking by other members or materials. The protector is made of an elongated rectangular steel plate by press-working in such a manner as to form a pair of parallel longitudinal ribs on both sides thereof and thereby to be of substantially Roman M letter configuration in its cross-sectional view, and is to efficiently protect the brake tube which is accommodated in a channel formed between the pair of ribs.