Abstract: A heater has a cylindrical metallic shell, a heater body partly disposed in a front end portion of the metallic shell, an electrode disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell and electrically connected to the heater body, and a terminal adapted to be capped with an electric connector. The terminal includes a terminal body for power supply to the heater body through the electrode and an engaging portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the terminal body so as to be engageable with the electric connector. The electrode and the terminal body are formed integrally with each other. Such a heater can maintain good electrical conduction from the terminal to the heater body with its simple structure throughout an extended period of time.

Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a rod-shaped heater body provided with an insulating ceramic substrate, a heating resistor embedded in a front end portion of the ceramic substrate and a pair of first and second electric conductors embedded in the ceramic substrate with front end portions thereof electrically connected to the heating resistor and rear end portions thereof exposed at a rear end surface of the heater body. The ceramic heater further includes first and second lead-out members having front surfaces joined to parts of the rear end surface of the heater body via metallic layers so as to cover the exposed rear end portions of the first and second electric conductors, respectively, and to be kept from covering an outer circumferential surface of the heater body.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 2 is arranged in a metallic cylinder member 3 by forming a convergent taper portion 2t at the leading end 2a of the ceramic heater 2 and by positioning the leading end 3a of the metallic cylinder member 3 on the leading end side of a taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. Solder is applied in the clearance between the inner circumference 3d of the metallic cylinder member 3 and the outer circumference 2b of the heater 2. An applied solder layer 10 is also formed on the leading end side of the taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. The thick solder layer 10 present on the leading end side prevents a cut or broken off portion of the ceramic heater from separating or sliding out.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 1 includes a rodlike heater body 2 configured such that a ceramic resistor 10 is embedded in a ceramic substrate 13. The ceramic resistor 10 includes a front end part 11a and two large-diameter rodlike portions Ld. The large-diameter rodlike portions Ld form passages for supplying electricity to the front end part 11a, extend rearward along a direction of an axis O of the heater body 2, and have an electricity-supply sectional area greater than that of the front end part 11a. The large-diameter rodlike portions Ld each have a connection end part connected to the front end part 11a. The connection end part is formed of a first electrically conductive ceramic and constitutes a first resistor portion 11. The remaining portion of each of the large-diameter rodlike portions Ld is formed of a second electrically conductive ceramic having an electrical resistivity lower than that of the first electrically conductive ceramic and constitutes a second resistor portion 12.

Abstract: A flexible printed wiring board constructed by using elemental pieces at a low cost. The elemental pieces 81a to 81c according to the present invention are provided respectively with supporting films 24a to 24c on one face and adhesive resin films 19a to 19c on the other face. The supporting films 24a to 24c have connecting openings on the bottom face of which the surface of metal wiring circuits are exposed as lands 23a to 23c. On the other hand, conductive bumps 16a to 16c, which are connected respectively to the metal wiring circuits 14a to 14c, project on the resin films 19a to 19c. To construct a flexible printed wiring board 83 by using plural elemental pieces 81a to 81c, the tips of the conductive bumps 16b and 16c are brought into contact respectively with the lands 23a and 23b on the bottom face of the openings and contact-bonded under heating. Thus, the elemental pieces 81a to 81c are adhered to each other owing to the adhesiveness of the resin film 19b and 19c.

Abstract: A radial ball bearing 14 of the three point contact type or four point contact type is used for the rolling bearing for a compressor pulley. The offset amount &dgr;, that is the axial distance between the center &agr; of the radial load applied to the follower pulley 4 from the endless belt 11, and the center &bgr; of the radial ball bearing 14 is 40% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. In addition, the radial clearance of the radial ball bearing 14 is 0.2% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. With this construction, the durability of the rolling bearing to support the follower pulley 4 is secured while made compact.

Abstract: A glow plug according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical metallic shell, an electrode rod disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell, a heater disposed in a front portion of the metallic shell,and an electric insulator provided between an inner surface of the metallic shell and a circumferential surface of the electrode rod to keep the electrode rod insulated from the metallic shell. The metallic shell has a portion caulked to the electrode rod at a location axially corresponding to the electric insulator so that the circumferential surface of the electrode rod becomes deformed to define therein a recessed portion. The caulked portion is engaged In the recessed portion with the caulked portion with the electric insulator interposed between the caulked portion and the recessed portion, thereby securing the electrode rod in the metallic shell.

Abstract: A glow plug comprises a ceramic heater having an insulating ceramic substrate, a heating resistor embedded in a front end portion of the ceramic substrate and a pair of first and second electric conductors embedded in the ceramic substrate and electrically connected at front end portions thereof to the heating resistor, a metallic sleeve circumferentially surrounding the ceramic heater with a front end portion of the ceramic heater protruded from the metallic sleeve, a metallic shell fitted onto the metallic sleeve, and a central electrode partly disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell. The first and second electric conductors have rear end portions exposed at a rear end surface of the ceramic heater and electrically connected to the metallic shell and the central electrode via first and second connecting members, respectively.

Abstract: A radial ball bearing 14 of the three point contact type or four point contact type is used for the rolling bearing for a compressor pulley. The offset amount &dgr;, that is the axial distance between the center &agr; of the radial load applied to the follower pulley 4 from the endless belt 11, and the center &bgr; of the radial ball bearing 14 is 40% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. In addition, the radial clearance of the radial ball bearing 14 is 0.2% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. With this construction, the durability of the rolling bearing to support the follower pulley 4 is secured while made compact.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 1 is configured such that a ceramic resistor 10 includes a first resistor portion 11, which is disposed at a front end portion of a heater body 2, and which is formed of a first electrically conductive ceramic, and a pair of second resistor portions 12, which are disposed on the rear side of the first resistor portion 11 so as to extend along the direction of the axis O of the heater body 2. The front end parts of the second resistor portions 12 are joined to corresponding end parts of the first resistor portion 11 as viewed along the direction of electricity supply. The second resistor portions are formed of a second electrically conductive ceramic having an electrical resistivity that is lower than that of the first electrically conductive ceramic. At least a portion of a joint interface 15 between the first resistor portion 11 and each of the second resistor portions 12 deviates from a transverse plane P that perpendicularly intersects the axis O of the heater body 2.

Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a rod-shaped heater body provided with an insulating ceramic substrate, a heating resistor embedded in a front end portion of the ceramic substrate and a pair of first and second electric conductors embedded in the ceramic substrate with front end portions thereof electrically connected to the heating resistor and rear end portions thereof exposed at a rear end surface of the heater body. The ceramic heater further includes first and second lead-out members having front surfaces joined to parts of the rear end surface of the heater body via metallic layers so as to cover the exposed rear end portions of the first and second electric conductors, respectively, and to be kept from covering an outer circumferential surface of the heater body.

Abstract: A glow plug comprises a ceramic heater having an insulating ceramic substrate, a heating resistor embedded in a front end portion of the ceramic substrate and a pair of first and second electric conductors embedded in the ceramic substrate and electrically connected at front end portions thereof to the heating resistor, a metallic sleeve circumferentially surrounding the ceramic heater with a front end portion of the ceramic heater protruded from the metallic sleeve, a metallic shell fitted onto the metallic sleeve, and a central electrode partly disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell. The first and second electric conductors have rear end portions exposed at a rear end surface of the ceramic heater and electrically connected to the metallic shell and the central electrode via first and second connecting members, respectively.

Abstract: A heater has a cylindrical metallic shell, a heater body partly disposed in a front end portion of the metallic shell, an electrode disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell and electrically connected to the heater body, and a terminal adapted to be capped with an electric connector. The terminal includes a terminal body for power supply to the heater body through the electrode and an engaging portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the terminal body so as to be engageable with the electric connector. The electrode and the terminal body are formed integrally with each other. Such a heater can maintain good electrical conduction from the terminal to the heater body with its simple structure throughout an extended period of time.

Abstract: A radial ball bearing 14 of the three point contact type or four point contact type is used for the rolling bearing for a compressor pulley. The offset amount &dgr;, that is the axial distance between the center &agr; of the radial load applied to the follower pulley 4 from the endless belt 11, and the center &bgr; of the radial ball bearing 14 is 40% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. In addition, the radial clearance of the radial ball bearing 14 is 0.2% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. With this construction, the durability of the rolling bearing to support the follower pulley 4 is secured while made compact.

Abstract: A joint structure which does not exhibit impaired joining strength induced by exposure to heat cycles and the occurrence of migration, in a ceramic heater for a glow plug or like device. A heating element 6 is embedded in a silicon nitride ceramic substrate 5. Lead wires 15 are joined to corresponding lead wire connection terminals 11, which are connected to the heating element 6 while electrical continuity is established therebetween, by use of a brazing metal 20 which contains a predominant amount of copper. The brazing metal 20 used for joining assumes the form of a brazing metal layer having a thickness of 30-400 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 1 includes a rodlike heater body 2 configured such that a ceramic resistor 10 is embedded in a ceramic substrate 13. The ceramic resistor 10 includes a front end part 11a and two large-diameter rodlike portions Ld. The large-diameter rodlike portions Ld form passages for supplying electricity to the front end part 11a, extend rearward along a direction of an axis O of the heater body 2, and have an electricity-supply sectional area greater than that of the front end part 11a. The large-diameter rodlike portions Ld each have a connection end part connected to the front end part 11a. The connection end part is formed of a first electrically conductive ceramic and constitutes a first resistor portion 11. The remaining portion of each of the large-diameter rodlike portions Ld is formed of a second electrically conductive ceramic having an electrical resistivity lower than that of the first electrically conductive ceramic and constitutes a second resistor portion 12.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 1 is configured such that a ceramic resistor 10 includes a first resistor portion 11, which is disposed at a front end portion of a heater body 2, and which is formed of a first electrically conductive ceramic, and a pair of second resistor portions 12, which are disposed on the rear side of the first resistor portion 11 so as to extend along the direction of the axis O of the heater body 2. The front end parts of the second resistor portions 12 are joined to corresponding end parts of the first resistor portion 11 as viewed along the direction of electricity supply. The second resistor portions are formed of a second electrically conductive ceramic having an electrical resistivity that is lower than that of the first electrically conductive ceramic. At least a portion of a joint interface 15 between the first resistor portion 11 and each of the second resistor portions 12 deviates from a transverse plane P that perpendicularly intersects the axis O of the heater body 2.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 2 is arranged in a metallic cylinder member 3 by forming a convergent taper portion 2t at the leading end 2a of the ceramic heater 2 and by positioning the leading end 3a of the metallic cylinder member 3 on the leading end side of a taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. Solder is applied in the clearance between the inner circumference 3d of the metallic cylinder member 3 and the outer circumference 2b of the heater 2. An applied solder layer 10 is also formed on the leading end side of the taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. The thick solder layer 10 present on the leading end side prevents a cut or broken off portion of the ceramic heater from separating or sliding out.

Abstract: A glow plug in which a ceramic heater is fixedly disposed in a metallic, cylindrical member such that a front end thereof projects from a front end of the cylindrical member, and the resultant cylindrical member is fixedly disposed in a plug body such that the front end of the cylindrical member projects from a front end of the body, and which readily provides a mounting structure such that, even when loosening arises at a joint between the body and the cylindrical member after the glow plug is mounted onto a cylinder head, the cylindrical member is prevented from dropping into the interior of an engine. A portion 23 of a cylindrical member 3 projecting from a front end 4 of a plug body 4 has outside diameter D2, which is defined as a smaller diameter than a portion of the metallic, cylindrical member which is fixedly disposed within the metallic, cylindrical plug body (a large-diameter portion 33 of the cylindrical member 3).

Abstract: In a glow plug controller, a glow plug 10 fixed to an engine 30 comprises a heater 4 and a ceramic substrate 2 having an exposed portion 2d which is exposed to the interior of a combustion chamber 32. A glow plug control apparatus 100 causes ECU 105 to control the energization of the heater 4 of the glow plug 10 to keep the surface temperature Ts of the exposed portion 2d to not lower than 500° C. Further, ionic current Ii is measured using the glow plug 10. Switches 102 and 103 switch from the energization of the glow plug to the detection of ionic current or vice versa in response to a command signal from ECU 105.