Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which ink depletion detection accuracy will not be deteriorated even if an air bubble is created in an ink supplying path. The mage forming apparatus is provided with (a) an ink storage section for storing ink therein, (b) an ink supplying path for supplying, to a print head, the ink stored in the ink storage section, and (c) an electrode for detecting whether the ink is present or absent in the ink supplying path, an amount of the ink supplied into the ink supplying path being 1.0 cc or less per minute.

Abstract: An elevator control panel device, including an elevator control panel disposed in a doorjamb forming an entrance to the elevator in a building, a panel door rotatably pivoted via a hinge at a hinge side of the panel door and providing access to the control panel, an automatic closing mechanism configured to force the panel door in the closing direction so as automatically to close the panel door when the panel door is open, and at least one lock provided for locking the panel door at an opposite side of the panel door opposite to the hinge side of the panel door, a first member mounted on the panel door, and a second member mounted on the doorjamb, the first member being configured to engage the second member in a locked state automatically upon closing of the panel door.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radius of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radiuses of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radiuses of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle wheel suspension which includes a strut mounted at the upper end thereof on a vehicle body for supporting a wheel, a lower seat fixed to the strut, an upper seat mounted on the vehicle body, and a helical compression spring mounted between the lower seat and the upper seat, with the strut enclosed in the spring. The spring has a coil axis substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. The lower seat is tilted at a first predetermined angle in such a direction that the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the vehicle body is shortened when the spring is mounted between the upper seat and the lower seat, and/or the upper seat is tilted at a second predetermined angle in such a direction that the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the vehicle body is shortened when the spring is mounted between the upper seat and the lower seat.

Abstract: A plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed at certain intervals, in-tube operating fluid (such as coolant) passes therethrough, and a plurality of small-gage wires are used as a heating fin. One small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1a and 1c in a spiral manner, and another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1c in the spiral manner, and still another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1d in the spiral manner. Thereby, while higher heat transfer coefficient can be achieved, and a heating surface area is ensured, clogging can be avoided even when moisture in air condenses on a surface of a heat exchanger. As a result, it is possible to realize a high-performance and compact heat exchanger used for air conditioning.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for an air conditioner comprises a plurality of heat-transfer tubes arranged in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, and heat-transfer fins formed by helically winding a plurality of fine wires around the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. Preferably, the heat-transfer tubes are divided into groups of two adjacent heat-transfer tubes (1a, 1b), (1b, 1c), (1c, 1d), . . . , and at least one fine wire fin is wound helically around the two adjacent heat-transfer tubes of each group so that the fine wire fin does not cross other portions of the fine wire fin as viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axes of the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. When fabricating the heat exchanger, at least either the outer circumferences of the heat-transfer tubes or the outer circumferences of the fine wires are coated with a metal film formed by plating, and then the heat-transfer tubes and the fine wires are interlaced to form a heat exchanging structure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for an air conditioner includes a plurality of heat-transfer tubes arranged in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, and heat-transfer fins formed by helically winding a plurality of fine wires around the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. Preferably, the heat-transfer tubes are divided into groups of two adjacent heat-transfer tubes (1a, 1b), (1b, 1c), (1c, 1d), . . . , and at least one fine wire fin is wound helically around the two adjacent heat-transfer tubes of each group so that the fine wire fin does not cross other portions of the fine wire fin as viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axes of the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. When fabricating the heat exchanger, at least either the outer circumferences of the heat-transfer tubes or the outer circumferences of the fine wires are coated with a metal film formed by plating, and then the heat-transfer tubes and the fine wires are interlaced to form a heat exchanging structure.

Abstract: A plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed at certain intervals, in-tube operating fluid (such as coolant) passes therethrough, and a plurality of small-gage wires are used as a heating fin. One small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1a and 1c in a spiral manner, and another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1c in the spiral manner, and still another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1d in the spiral manner. Thereby, while higher heat transfer coefficient can be achieved, and a heating surface area is ensured, clogging can be avoided even when moisture in air condenses on a surface of a heat exchanger. As a result, it is possible to realize a high-performance and compact heat exchanger used for air conditioning.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for an air conditioner comprises a plurality of heat-transfer tubes arranged in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, and heat-transfer fins formed by helically winding a plurality of fine wires around the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. Preferably, the heat-transfer tubes are divided into groups of two adjacent heat-transfer tubes (1a, 1b), (1b, 1c), (1c, 1d), . . . , and at least one fine wire fin is wound helically around the two adjacent heat-transfer tubes of each group so that the fine wire fin does not cross other portions of the fine wire fin as viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axes of the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. When fabricating the heat exchanger, at least either the outer circumferences of the heat-transfer tubes or the outer circumferences of the fine wires are coated with a metal film formed by plating, and then the heat-transfer tubes and the fine wires are interlaced to form a heat exchanging structure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger mounted in an air condition is constructed such that at least one row of heat conduction pipe groups are arranged across an air passage. Each heat conduction pipe group is constructed such that a plurality of heat conduction pipes 22 are arranged in parallel with each other and a fine wire 23 made of a metallic material having excellent heat conductivity is spirally wound around each adjacent heat conduction pipe 22. Thus, the performance of the heat exchanger can be improved without the air conditioner being designed with larger dimensions.In addition, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat conduction pipes 39 arranged in the form of at least one row with a constant distance between adjacent pipes, and a plurality of twisted wires 40.

Abstract: A heat exchanger mounted in an air conditioner is constructed such that at least one row of heat conduction pipe groups are arranged across an air passage. Each heat conduction pipe group is constructed such that a plurality of heat conduction pipes 22 are arranged in parallel with each other and a fine wire 23 made of a metallic material having excellent heat conductivity is spirally wound around each adjacent heat conduction pipe 22. Thus, performances of the heat exchanger can be improved without a possibility that the air conditioner is designed with larger dimensions. In addition, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat conduction pipes 39 arranged in the form of at least one row with a constant distance between adjacent ones and a plurality of twisted wires 40.

Abstract: A heat exchanger mounted on an air condition is constructed such that at least one row of heat conduction pipe groups are arranged across an air passage. Each heat conduction pipe groups is constructed such that a plurality of heat conduction pipes 22 are arranged in parallel with each other and a fine wire 23 made of a metallic material having excellent heat conductivity is spirally wound around each adjacent heat conduction pipes 22. Thus, performances of the heat exchanger can be improved without a possibility that the air conditioner is designed with larger dimensions. In addition, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat conduction pipes 39 arranged in the form of at least one row with a constant distance between adjacent ones and a plurality of twisted wires 40.