Abstract: A compact pressure differential/pressure detector is a process detection apparatus for measuring a pressure, a level, a pressure differential of a process fluid. The detector is constructed of a pressure sensing block having sensors for sensing a pressure and a pressure differential, a signal processing block for processing signals from the pressure sensing block, and a terminal board block for receiving power supply from outside and transmitting signals to outside. These blocks are arranged along the same axis. Furthermore, an indicator indicating a process state is also arranged along the same axis and received in a covering case. The case is firmly attached to the pressure sensing block. The process detection apparatus permits a compact design and offers an excellent maintainability.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting physical amount in which a gauge resistance value is made not to change even when a wiring material presents a yield phenomenon by wiring a wiring material Such as aluminum presenting a yield phenomenon by thermal stress in a stress insensitive direction of a piezogauge.

Abstract: A differential pressure transmitter detects a differential pressure condition of a fluid by means of a semiconductor sensor. First and second seal diaphragms are provided in a member which constitutes the differential pressure transmitter, to form first and second pressure receiving chambers. An overload protection diaphragm and first and second damper chambers are provided at positions close to the first and second pressure receiving chambers. Also, there are provided a passage for connecting the first pressure receiving chamber and the first damper chamber, a passage for connecting the second pressure receiving chamber and the second damper chamber, and passages for connecting the first and second damper chambers respectively with the semiconductor sensor. Even when a change is caused in the temperature of a processed fluid to be detected, the differential pressure transmitter quickly detects the temperature change, so that a differential pressure of the processed fluid can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: A differential pressure transmitter having a differential pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a static pressure sensor all provided on the semiconductor substrate of a single semiconductor chip. A reference resistor is provided in a part of the chip. Resistances of the differential pressure sensor and the reference resistor are compared periodically in order to determine the condition including service life of the differential pressure sensor.

Abstract: A steering system for an automotive vehicle, arranged to effectively absorb an impact energy at a secondary collision in a head-on collision. The steering system comprises a steering column including an upper shaft and a lower shaft. The lower shaft is axially movably connected to the upper shaft and includes a first section connected to the upper shaft, and a second section. An upper bracket is connected to the steering column. An energy absorbing member is provided in a manner that the upper bracket is connected through the energy absorbing member to a vehicle body to be generally horizontally movable relative to the vehicle body. A first universal joint is disposed between the first and second sections of the lower shaft. A bearing bracket is rotatably supported to the vehicle body and rotatably supports the second section of the lower shaft. A second universal joint is disposed between a lower end section of the second section of the lower shaft and an upper end section of an intermediate shaft.

Abstract: A multi-function differential pressure sensor includes a semiconductor chip, a stationary base having a joining portion joined to a thick wall portion of the semiconductor chip, and a housing joined to the stationary base. The semiconductor chip is provided with a differential pressure detection unit, a static pressure detection unit, and a temperature detection unit. The joining portion of the stationary base is not thicker than the semiconductor chip. The stationary base has one or more thin wall portions located, in a plan view, within a circular pressure sensitive diaphragm of the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A measuring and controlling system is provided which has a control function as well as a measurement function to perform the measurement and control of fluid amounts such as the flow rate, pressure, liquid level, weight and so on by itself in the same field. A pressure receiving unit is directly mounted on a pipe or a container, in which a fluid under measurement exists, in order to detect the temperature, differential pressure and static pressure of the fluid under measurement independently of each other. Means for storing the characteristic of fluids under measurement is provided such that the mass flow rate, weight and liquid level can be calculated.

Abstract: A failure detection system for an air-to-fuel ratio control system includes a exhaust gas monitor positioned upstream of a catalytic converter for monitoring an emission content of exhaust gas based on which an air-to-fuel ratio is feedback controlled so as to be maintained at a desired ratio. The system has another exhaust gas monitor positioned downstream of the catalytic converter for monitoring an emission content of exhaust gas passed through the catalytic converter. Functional failures of the exhaust gas monitor of the air-to-fuel ratio control system is judged to be present on the basis of detected emission contents only when a predetermined threshold amount of intake air is detected.

Abstract: A differential pressure sensor is disclosed, and in particular, there is disclosed a multiple function type differential pressure sensor capable of reducing a zero-point-change and a span change of means for detecting a differential pressure when applying a static pressure and being readily manufactured at high accuracy. The multiple function type differential pressure sensor is constructed by a semiconductor chip 1 for detecting a differential pressure, a fixing base 2 which has a joining part 21 joined to a thick part of the semiconductor chip 1 and which has a thickness less than or equal to that of the semiconductor chip 1, and also which has at least one thin part 22 in an outer periphery other than the joining part 21, and a housing 4 joined to the fixing base.

Abstract: A failure detection system for an air-to-fuel ratio control system includes a exhaust gas monitor positioned upstream of a catalytic converter for monitoring an emission content of exhaust gas based on which an air-to-fuel ratio is feedback controlled so as to be maintained at a desired ratio. The system has another exhaust gas monitor positioned downstream of the catalytic converter for monitoring an emission content of exhaust gas passed through the catalytic converter. Functional failures of the exhaust gas monitor of the air-to-fuel ratio control system is judged to be present on the basis of detected emission contents only when a predetermined threshold amount of intake air is detected.

Abstract: A structure of a universal joint is disclosed in which an end surface of a spider is coated with a solid lubricant and a projection having an arc cross section formed on a center of a bearing cup into which the spider is fitted is brought into point contact with the solid lubricant coated end surface of the spider. When the spider is axially rotated, the friction generated on the bearing cup can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: A shift-lock device has a locking member associated with a projection member to engage with the locking member for establishing locking engagement. One of the locking member and the projection member is rigidly connected to a selector of an automatic power transmission and the other is rigidly secured to a stationary member in the vehicular body. The locking member is normally and resiliently biased toward locking direction for establishing locking engagement with the projection member. The locking member is associated with a lock release actuator which is electrically operable and active for a predetermined period only when a predetermined safety condition is established.

Abstract: A first of two members which are joined in a manner to undergo synchronous rotation is formed with a aperture which has a flower-like shape and which has a periphery which is essentially free of sharply angled portions. A hollow projection formed on one end of a shaft is forced into the aperture and then punched to assume the shape of the aperture and to caulk the two members together.

Abstract: A column-shift type, shift lever arrangement for operating an automatic power transmission includes a shift locking mechanism which prevents a vehicle's driver from changing the position of a transmission shift lever. The shift locking mechanism engages an annular groove formed in a compression rod at a location neighboring one end thereof so as to mechanically lock the movement of the shift lever arrangement, until the vehicular driver depresses a brake pedal once, after engine starting is performed when the shift lever arrangement is positioned in a parking-range position.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a steering column having an upper steering column tube and a lower steering column tube which are telescopically connected at their lower and upper portions respectively, a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body and an energy absorption bracket fixed to the stationary bracket. The energy absorption bracket fixedly receives the upper steering column tube which extends therethrough. The energy absorption bracket gets plastically deformed in response to an impact load exceeding a predetermined value to allow the upper steering column tube to displace downward with respect to the lower steering column tube. The impact load is applied to the energy absorption bracket through the upper steering column tube in the direction along the axis of the steering column. The applied impact load is absorbed through the plastic deformation of the energy absorption bracket.

Abstract: In a differential pressure transmitter having pressure receiving diaphragms forming recesses, a center diaphragm therebetween so as to define two chambers filled with pressure transmission medium, first communication passages respectively connecting the two chambers to the recesses and second communication passages respectively connecting the two chambers to pressure measuring chambers. The diameters of the first communication passages are less than predetermined values determined by the viscosity and volume modulus of the pressure passages, and the volume of the pressure-measuring chamber. The frequency of characteristic vibration and gain of the pressure-measuring chamber and the second communication passage in one side is respectively and substantially equal to that in the other side. A drastic transient pressure transmitted to sensors in the pressure-receiving recesses is absorbed by the communication passages and is not transmitted to the sensor in the form of a differential pressure.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure converting device including a fixing table joined to a silicon diaphragm consists of 2 structures superposed on each other, in which the longitudinal elastic modulus of the first fixing table is significantly different from the longitudinal elastic modulus of the semiconductor diaphragm. The first fixing table is highly insulating and the linear expansion coefficient thereof is approximately equal to the linear expansion coefficient of the semiconductor diaphragm. The second fixing table is made of a material having a longitudinal elastic modulus and a linear expansion coefficient approximately equal to those of the semiconductor diaphragm.

Abstract: A pair of stoppers are formed in side wall sections of an upper clamp for preventing a tilt bracket from rotating about a tilt adjusting bolt relative to the upper clamp in secondary collision. The tilt bracket has an inclined upstanding wall section secured to a column jacket and a pair of side walls formed with cuts for encouraging shearing thereof. The tilt bracket further has rounded corners or rounded wall sections for encouraging the side wall sections to bend and flow toward the inclined upstanding wall section in collision. A pair of rollers may be fitted in the rounded wall sections of the tilt bracket.

Abstract: An attachment structure of a steering column comprises a bracket fixed to a steering jacket for receiving a steering shaft and attaching the steering jacket to a chassis, the bracket being attached to the chassis through metallic contact faces; and a capsule disposed in an attaching portion of the bracket attached to the chassis and having metallic and resin sliders which overlap each other through the bracket and attaches the bracket to the chassis such that the bracket is detachable from the metallic and resin sliders through metallic and resin contact faces.

Abstract: A powered tilt steering arrangement for a vehicle using a motor which rotates unidirectionally. The powered tilt steering arrangement basically comprises: a steering column having an upper shaft and a steering wheel assembly; a tilt bracket pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket fixed to a vehicle body and on which the steering wheel assembly is mounted; a drive source such as the motor; an actuator in response to a rotational force of the motor for actuating the tilt bracket to pivot through a predetermined angular width with respect to the mounting bracket in a reciprocatory motion; and a lock mechanism for locking the steering assembly when the actuator is stopped so that the steering wheel assembly is placed and held at a desired optimum driving position within the predetermined angular width.