Rohm Co., Ltd.

Eaton Corporation

Masayoshi Yamaguchi

Takaya Nagahata

Yoshinori Matsumoto

Hiroshi Fukumoto

Shigeo Ota

Tokihiko Kishimoto

Yoshinobu Kishimoto

Masato Sakai

Toshiyuki Shirasaki

Mineo Nishikawa

Yoshihiro Ishizaki

Hisato Matsumoto

Ichiro Nagasaka

Hisao Nagata

Tsuyoshi Sasaki

A compact and inexpensive fluid pressure operated torque amplifier and a power steering system incorporating such torque amplifier to eliminate the need for a separate return fluid conduit. The power steering system (10) includes a fluid pressure operated torque amplifier (12), a reduction gear unit (16) disposed within a cavity (53) of a transmission casing (14), and a steering linkage (20) for wheels. The torque amplifier includes a control valve assembly (24) disposed in a housing (22), a torque amplifier unit (32), a high torque drive shaft (58) and an output shaft (54). The output shaft of the torque amplifier serves as an input member of the reduction gear unit. The torque amplifier also includes a pressurized fluid inlet (78) provided in the housing and a return fluid outlet (61) provided in the output shaft (54), both the inlet and outlet being in communication with the cavity of the transmission casing.

Fluid pressure operated torque amplifier and a vehicular power steering

A method and a printer are provided for printing on a thermosensitive paper by using a thermal head which has a plurality of heating dots arranged along a line extending in a primary scanning direction. The heating dots are selectively actuated according to sets of printing data for heat generation to form printing dots on the paper. The paper is fed pitch by pitch in a secondary scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the primary scanning direction. Each of the heating dots has a heating length in the primary scanning direction and an effective heating width in the secondary scanning direction, the effective heating width being smaller than the heating length.

Printing method using divisional dots and a printer therefor

A printing head comprises an elongate head substrate provided with a line of printing dots along a first longitudinal edge of the substrate, and an array of drive IC's provided on the head substrate along a second longitudinal edge of the substrate. The substrate is further provided with a plurality of connection terminals adjacent to the second longitudinal edge. The drive IC array is rendered shorter than the printing dot line to provide two excess portions at both ends of the head substrate, and the connection terminals are locally arranged within the respective excess end portions without overlapping the drive IC array longitudinally of the head substrate.

Printing head and printer incorporating the same

A hydrostatic power steering system is provided of the type including a steering control unit (3) operated by an input such as a steering wheel (1) to control flow from a source (8) to a steering cylinder (7). The source is operated in response to an electrical signal from a controller (82), controlled by a sensed pressure at a pressure detection port (64). The pressure at the port (64) is communicated from the main fluid path of the steering control unit (3), downstream of the fluid meter (18) when the spool (21) and sleeve (22) are relatively displaced. In systems in which the system reservoir (R) is at an elevated ('regulated tank') pressure, the pressure detection circuit is drained through a variable orifice (70) to a drain port (66), which is in communication with a sump (S) maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure. As a result, the steering system responds at a lower steering pressure, and the initial steering is smoother.

Hydraulic power steering system with input detection capability

A hydraulic steering system is provided including a hydraulic steering unit (3) provided with a housing (6) having an inlet port (7), an outlet port (8), and a pair of control ports L and R. A measuring part (fluid meter) (19) includes an internally-toothed gear member (21) disposed in the housing, and an externally-toothed gear (22) disposed within the gear (21) to be in engagement therewith and have orbital and rotational movement therein. A changeover valve (9) controls the flow of fluid to and from the ports and through the measuring port. An input shaft (13) actuates the changeover valve (9), and an output shaft (24) is actuated by the torque out of the measuring part (19). A steering wheel (1) is connected by means of a steering column (2) to the input shaft (13) of the steering unit (3). A front wheel steering wheel is connected to the measuring part (19) by means of the output shaft (24), while the pair of control fluid ports L and R are connected to a rear wheel steering cylinder (58), through a changeover valve (57).

Steering control unit for multiple steerable axles

A thermal printing head comprises a support member, a head circuit board supported on the support member, a connector board overlapped on the head circuit board, and a presser member for pressing the connector board against the head circuit board. The support member is flexible with a modulus of elasticity lying within a range of 1.times.10.sup.4 -5.times.10.sup.5 kg/mm.sup.2. The head circuit board carries a comb-like terminal portion arranged in a limited central portion which is substantially smaller in length than the head circuit board. The connector board also carries a comb-like terminal portion corresponding to the terminal portion of the head circuit board, and the length of the connector board is substantially smaller than that of the head circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Masayoshi Yamaguchi