Abstract: A steering control apparatus of the present invention comprises a steering state detector for detecting a steering state of a steering system; a return determining device for detecting a change of the steering state on the steering system by detecting the steering state and thereafter detecting the change of the steering state thus detected, based on the steering state detected by the steering state detector; and a torque imparting device for imparting a torque for returning the steering system to the neutral position, to the steering system when the return determining device detects the change of the steering state. The steering control apparatus of the present invention is able to improve the accuracy of a return decision of the steering system and to suitably impart a return assist torque for returning the steering system to the neutral position.

Abstract: The deposit conveyance mechanism is capable of effectively conveying deposits. The mechanism comprises: a conveying tube 10 having a suction port 12, a vertical tube part 13, a horizontal tube part 14 horizontally extending sideward, the horizontal tube part 14 being held in the water so as to locate below a hydraulic gradient line and vertically moved so as to move the suction port 12 close to and away from the bottom face of the water storing place, by an elevating unit 38, in a prescribed cycle; a cup-shaped member 60 provided to the suction port 12 of the conveying tube 10, the cup-shaped member having a lower part in which the suction port 12 is capable of moving upward and downward; a steam supplying section 73 supplying steam into the cup-shaped member 60; and a compressed gas supplying section 74 supplying a compressed gas into the cup-shaped member 60.

Abstract: A novel control device for a vehicle power steering apparatus or system is improved for providing preferable steering convergnecy even under the execution of VSC, while ensuring the steering smoothness under normal running conditions. In the control device, the target value of total modification torque to be added to steering torque through an power steering apparatus, is calculated based upon steering assist torque, calculated based upon at least steering torque; steering converging torque, based upon a steering velocity; and behavioral deterioration-suppressing torque for suppressing unwanted steering motions which would cause further deterioration of a vehicle behavior under oversteered or understeered conditions.

Abstract: A steering control device of a vehicle, equipped with power steering system, provides information of a turning limit during an initial phase of understeer condition for a driver, with a temporal reduction of torque for rotating a steering wheel by increasing steering assist torque. If the understeer condition is advanced after the information is generated, steering torque is increased in the direction of turning the vehicle by decreasing the steering assist torque, discouraging the driver from rotating the steering wheel in the turning direction. As an angular speed of rotating the steering wheel increases, steering torque is modulated to be higher, in order to limit the increase of steering angle of steered wheels due to the rotation of the steering wheel as small as possible. At a low vehicle speed, the modification of steering assist torque may not be executed.

Abstract: A deposit discharge system comprises: a discharge tube having a suction port opened so as to face a water bottom face of a water storing place on which deposits are deposited, a straight tube part extending upward from the suction port, and a discharge port communicating with the straight tube part and opened on the downstream side of the water storing place for draining the deposits together with water stream; a crane device suspending a whole main tube part of the discharge tube positioned in the water storing place in a state of being submerged and having a vertical moving mechanism vertically moving the suction port; and an air valve provided in the discharge tube for controlling introduction and exhaust of air from the discharge tube by opening and closing operation, wherein the discharge tube is installed so as to pass, when the deposits are discharged, through a dam banking in the water storing place routing a position lower than a water level of the water storing place.

Abstract: A new and novel device for controlling a steering characteristic of a vehicle such as automobile so as to enhance an effect of suppressing a change in a behavior of the vehicle body due to a difference between driving and braking forces on the left and right wheels is characterized in that the device makes an amount of controlling the steering characteristic smaller as an index indicating an amount of a shift of vertical loads between the left and right wheels is increased. The steering characteristic is modified through controlling steering assist torque or a steering angle of the steered wheels. The steering assist by the steering control device is fully effective when the vehicle is running on a straight road having surfaces of different frictional coefficients while less effective on a curved road having a uniform frictional surface, preventing undesirable and unexpected modification of the steering characteristic during turning of the vehicle.

Abstract: A deposit discharge system comprises: a discharge tube having a suction port opened so as to face a water bottom face of a water storing place on which deposits are deposited, a straight tube part extending upward from the suction port, and a discharge port communicating with the straight tube part and opened on the downstream side of the water storing place for draining the deposits together with water stream; a crane device suspending a whole main tube part of the discharge tube positioned in the water storing place in a state of being submerged and having a vertical moving mechanism vertically moving the suction port; and an air valve provided in the discharge tube for controlling introduction and exhaust of air from the discharge tube by opening and closing operation, wherein the discharge tube is installed so as to pass, when the deposits are discharged, through a dam banking in the water storing place routing a position lower than a water level of the water storing place.

Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus performs braking force limiting control for limiting, if the vehicle is in a predetermined driving state, braking forces applied to rear wheels of the vehicle in comparison with the braking forces applied to the front wheels. If it is judged during the braking force limiting control that the amount of braking operation by the driver has increased, the apparatus increases the braking forces applied to the rear wheels.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for determining a state of braking operation of a vehicle. Wheel speed sensors are provided for detecting wheel speeds of a front wheel and a rear wheel. A wheel speed difference is calculated between the wheel speed of the front wheel and the wheel speed of the rear wheel detected by the wheel speed sensors. A braking operation detection device is provided for detecting an operation of a brake pedal. Based upon the calculated wheel speed difference and the operation of the brake pedal detected by the braking operation detection device, it is determined whether the brake pedal was rapidly depressed. In accordance with this result, and in response to the wheel speeds detected by the wheel speed sensors, the braking force applied to the front wheel can be adjusted in a predetermined relationship with the braking force applied to the rear wheel.

Abstract: To provide a plasma CVD apparatus for forming a silicon nitride film and a fluorine-containing silicon oxide film in one and the same chamber, in which a NH3 gas pipeline for introducing NH3 gas as a part of raw material gases of the silicon nitride film and a SiF4 gas pipeline for introducing SiF4 gas as a part of the raw material gases of the fluorine-containing silicon oxide film are separately connected to an upper electrode also functioning as a shower head.

Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus performs braking force limiting control for limiting, if the vehicle is in a predetermined driving state, braking forces applied to rear wheels of the vehicle in comparison with the braking forces applied to the front wheels. If it is judged during the braking force limiting control that the amount of braking operation by the driver has increased, the apparatus increases the braking forces applied to the rear wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle speed detecting apparatus wherein the speeds of vehicle wheels are detected by wheel speed detecting devices, and the vehicle running speed is estimated by a vehicle speed estimating device, on the basis of the detected wheel speeds, and according to a predetermined estimation rule. The vehicle speed estimating device includes a noise detector for detecting a noise included in any one of the detected wheel speeds, and a rule changing device for changing the estimation rule depending upon whether the noise is included in the detected wheel speed or speeds.

Abstract: A dual-circuit hydraulic anti-lock braking system for an automotive vehicle having a first and a second group of wheels, including (a) a dual-circuit hydraulic braking device including a first and a second brake circuit which are independent of each other, (b) a wheel rotating condition detecting device; (c) a vehicle running condition detecting device; (d) a regulating device for regulating each of a first and second braking pressures transmitted by the first and second brake circuits, respectively, by decreasing or increasing the braking pressure for a duration of time, when the detected rotating condition of at least one wheel of each of the first and second wheel groups is brought into a predetermined relationship with the detected running condition of the vehicle so as to apply the regulated pressure to a brake cylinder associated with the wheel whose detected rotating condition is brought into the predetermined relationship with the detected running condition of the vehicle.