In a host controller included in a vehicle control apparatus, a generator-torque-command generating unit monitors an abnormal operation of the engine on the basis of an engine power generation command and a detection signal of a rotating speed detector, switches, when the abnormal operation of the engine is detected, a generator torque command to the lowest value of a torque command value for abnormal time set in advance as the generator torque command, thereafter, gradually increases the generator torque command, and, after recording, as a torque limit value, the magnitude of the generator torque command (a torque command value for abnormal time 3) at the time when the abnormal operation of the engine is detected again, switches the generator torque command to a torque command value for abnormal time (a torque command value for abnormal time 2) having a value smaller than the torque limit value.

Provided are a steering control device and the like, including the steps of: calculating a steering assist torque to be applied to an actuator for applying the steering assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle in order to improve return characteristics of the steering system; determining a steering state of a driver; correcting the steering assist torque depending on a result of the steering state determination; and controlling the actuator depending on the corrected steering assist torque, in which the step of determining a steering state of a driver includes determining the steering state of the driver based on a combination of at least two of the following: a manually-operating steering state determination; an abrupt steering wheel return determination; a high-acceleration steering wheel return determination; a manual return steering determination; and an additional-steering determination.

In a driver device, a controller substrate has a center part on which a rotation angle sensor is attached and an outer periphery portion which is fixed onto a heat sink. The heat sink has a cylinder part extending in an axial direction of the rotation shaft to contact the outer periphery portion of the controller substrate. The cylinder part of the heat sink is continuously formed along an entire periphery and has the same height at all portions. Such configuration provides an even deformation distribution of the cylinder part due to a temperature change, thereby reducing unevenness of heat stress distribution along a substrate plane and decreasing stress applied to the sensor, which facilitates a reduction of a detection error of the sensor.

A tilt steering apparatus includes a steering column having a tube member housing a steering shaft and rotatably installed on a body frame for tilt about a steering column tilt axis. Between a steering gearbox and the steering shaft, the apparatus includes a first universal joint secured to the steering shaft, an intermediate shaft and a second universal joint. The first universal joint includes a swing center defining a steering shaft tilt axis. Bearings rotatably support the steering shaft within the steering column tube and elastic members engage with the bearings to flex for axial movement of the steering shaft in the steering column tube. This relative movement accommodates an offset between the steering shaft and steering column tilt axes, thereby avoiding an increase in thrust load between the shaft and column during tilt for improved steerability.

A tilt steering apparatus includes a steering column having a tube member housing a steering shaft and rotatably installed on a body frame for tilt about a steering column tilt axis. Between a steering gearbox and the steering shaft, the apparatus includes a first universal joint secured to the steering shaft, an intermediate shaft and a second universal joint. The first universal joint includes a swing center defining a steering shaft tilt axis. Bearings rotatably support the steering shaft within the steering column tube and elastic members engage with the bearings to flex for axial movement of the steering shaft in the steering column tube. This relative movement accommodates an offset between the steering shaft and steering column tilt axes, thereby avoiding an increase in thrust load between the shaft and column during tilt for improved steerability.

A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a map information storage unit that stores map information; a vehicle position information obtaining unit that obtains position information indicating a position of the vehicle; a traveling road information obtaining unit that obtains traveling road information relating to a traveling road of the vehicle on the basis of the map information and the position information of the vehicle; a target traveling route setting unit that sets a target traveling route of the vehicle on the basis of the traveling road information of the vehicle; a vehicle traveling route estimating unit that estimates an traveling route of the vehicle on the basis of motion information relating to the vehicle; and a controller that performs control so as to reduce a deviation between the target traveling route of the vehicle and the estimated traveling route of the vehicle on the basis of the deviation.

A transmission for a vehicle, particularly a skid-steered vehicle, that employs motive power from a prime mover delivered through an input shaft to drive left and right drive shafts at a nominal speed and input power from an electric motor to vary the speed of the left and right drive shafts according to steering commands from a steering control structure. The speed of the left and right drive shafts is directly related to a speed of the input shaft and the nominal speed of the left or right drive shaft is varied upwardly or downwardly by a ratio of the speed of the steering shaft via a speed varying structure. The speed of the left and right drive shafts is simultaneously varied in opposite directions (i.e. upwardly and downwardly) relative to the nominal speed by an equal number of rotations.

A control device (50) for an electric power steering device (10) is configured to: store a basic target return speed (Vrb), which increases in magnitude as the magnitude of a steering angle (θ) increases; calculate, when a steering wheel (14) is being returned to a neutral position, the basic target return speed (Vrb) based on an actual steering angle (Step 10); calculate a transitional target return speed (Vtrt), which gradually increases in magnitude and gradually approaches the basic target return speed as the magnitude of the actual steering wheel decreases; and control, when the magnitude of a difference between the basic target return speed and the transitional target return speed is more than a reference value, a steering assist torque so that a return speed reaches the transitional target return speed (Step 20 to Step 160).

A power conversion device may include a first inverter to which one end of each phase winding of a motor is coupled, a second inverter to which the other end of each phase winding is coupled, and a switch circuit having at least one of a first switch element that switches between connection and disconnection of the first inverter to and from a ground, a first protection circuit being coupled in parallel to the first switch element, and a second switch element that switches between connection and disconnection of the second inverter to and from the ground, a second protection circuit being coupled in parallel to the second switch element.

To provide a controller for a rotary machine which can simplify a configuration required for checking the shutoff function of the switching device, and an electric power steering apparatus therewith. A controller for a rotary machine performs a high potential side forcible shutoff which forcibly shuts off a high potential side switching device of a diagnosis object phase in a drive state where the winding current of the diagnosis object phase becomes positive, or a low potential side forcible shutoff which forcibly shuts off a low potential side switching device of the diagnosis object phase in a drive state where the winding current of the diagnosis object phase becomes negative; and determines failure of the device shutoff unit based on a detection value of current or voltage when performing the high potential side forcible shutoff or the low potential side forcible shutoff.