Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a high-quality soldering method, by reducing, to a vacuum, the pressure in a vacuum room (2) in which a workpiece (10) having solid solder placed thereon consisting solely of tin or including tin and one or more components selected from silver, lead, copper, bismuth, indium and zinc is disposed. A free-radical gas is generated to remove an oxide film on the solder, and, after that, the generation of the free-radical gas is stopped, and the temperature of the solder is raised to a temperature above the melting point of the solder to melt the solder in the non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention provides a back rest for a seat back which will not exert too much burden on the thoracic vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae, resulting in the likelihood of accumulation of fatigue or pain in the lower back after a long hour driving being reduced being reduced. The back rest has a front side having a slight concave extending from the intermediate portion to the upper portion thereof and a convex extending from said intermediate portion to the lower portion, thus forming a configuration following an S line of the human spinal column while having a reverse side provided with reinforcement ribs together with a plurality of slits generally formed in said back rest.

Abstract: A lock mechanism comprises a latch claw installed on a fixed rail of a back and forth slide mechanism, and a lock release knob disposed between the latch claw and an operating lever for a lock release operation supported by a movable rail. An end portion of the operating lever is inserted into an inside of the back and forth slide mechanism from a through hole formed in the movable rail. The lock release knob is operated by the operating lever and an engagement between a striker disposed on a vehicle floor and the latch claw is released.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle has a webbing which takes a passenger restraining position or a passenger releasing position. Impact detecting means is provided to detect impact applied to the vehicle. Door state change detecting means is provided to detect change in closing and opening states of a vehicle door. When the change is detected, signal output regulating means selectively outputs closing and opening signals for a predetermined time. Additionally, the signal output regulating means is adapted to prohibit the closing and opening signals from being output when the impact signal is output from the impact detecting means. Webbing driving means is provided to move the webbing to the passenger restraining and releasing positions respectively in response to the closing and opening signals output from the signal output regulating means. The system allows vehicle escape in an emergency, if the door is opened.

Abstract: Inference is carried out through intermediate hypotheses representing physical states of a blast furnace using HG (Heuristic Grade) in order to comprehensively diagnose the state of the furnace to ascertain optimum actions. Specific parameters are monitored to immediately recognize a transition of conditions inside the furnace to additionally execute the inference. Various types of actions such as defensive actions and offensive actions are covered in this inference. A burden distribution estimation model considering collapse of a coke bed is used for calculating distribution inside the furnace to aid in deciding on an optimum action when an action to alter distribution in the furnace is required as the result of the inference. Creation and alteration of a knowledge base for the inference are carried out without interrupting the inference.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a passive seat belt arrangement mounted in a vehicle which has a roof side rail and a center pillar which are connected with each other to form a smoothly curved inner edge at a jointed portion therebetween. The arrangement comprises a guide rail attached to the roof side rail and the center piller to extend along the same thereby to form a curved portion thereof at the jointed portion. A carrier carrying one end of a webbing is slidably guided by the guide rail. The carrier has a substantially linear edge portion which faces toward the smoothly curved inner edge portion of the jointed portion when assuming a position of the guide rail on the roof side rail. When the carrier is at the curved portion of the guide rail, an angle defined between the linear edge of the carrier and any tangent line which touches the smoothly curved inner edge is not less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A section of a shock absorbing member, which is located in the vicinity of a hard projection, has higher stiffness than another section of the same which is located in the distance from the hard projection, so that when the occupant's knee portion is forced to move toward the hard projection and collides with the shock absorbing member upon vehicle collision, the knee portion under movement is forced to turn in a lateral direction, that is toward the low stiffness or safety section of the member, losing its kinetic energy.