Abstract: A vehicle steering column support structure efficiently supports a steering column. A steering support bracket that supports a steering column is fixed to instrument panel reinforcement disposed along the vehicle width direction between left and right front pillars. A floor brace spans between a side portion of a first support member of the steering support bracket and a side wall portion of a floor tunnel portion. A steering brace spans between a side portion of the first support member and a lower portion of the front pillar. Up-down vibration of the steering column can accordingly be supported by axial force of the floor brace and the steering brace.

Abstract: A method that heat-expandable microspheres includes the use of a shell of thermoplastic resin and a non-fluorine blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The method includes, a step of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing a peroxydicarbonate in an aqueous dispersing medium to polymerize the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture. The resultant heat-expandable microsphres have a shell which is less apt to become thinner than its theoretical value, contain minimum amount of resin particle inside their shell, and have excellent heat-expanding performance.

Abstract: An engine generator movable on left and right wheels. The wheels are provided on a rear section of a bottom cover via an axle. A cylinder of an engine is disposed so as to incline upwards towards the direction of the axle. Inclining the cylinder lowers the center of gravity of the engine and disposes the axle positioned below the cylinder at a high position, thereby reducing the height of the engine generator. The orientation of the engine generator during travel is stabilized.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, have a maximum expanding ratio not lower than 50 times, and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having a repeated-compression durability not lower than 75 percent. The method of producing the heat-expandable microspheres includes the steps of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersing medium containing a specific water-soluble compound and polymerizing the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nest box (1) for bumblebees that provides sufficient ventilation inside the nest box (1). The provided nest box (1) with a bumblebees hive (2) inside resolves the problems of insufficient ventilation, by being mounted with a ventilation panel (14), comprising ventilation holes (13) in size(s) that enable ventilation but at the same time bumblebees from passing through.

Abstract: Engine cooling structure directs cooling air, introduced into a case by operation of a fan, to a cylinder block of an engine and then discharges the cooling air out of the case through an outlet port along meandering flow passages. Case cooling structure directs cooling along the inner surface of the case. Further cooling flow passage directs the air to vertically-oriented heat radiating fins so that the cooling air flows upward along the fins and then is discharged through the outlet port. Metal cooling-fan cover is supported by the lower cover via mounting members, and a resin-made cover guide is fastened to the engine together with supporting portions and interposed between the fan cover and the engine.

Abstract: When a second detector determines that a character image has a halftone (YES in #1) and a third detector (48) determines that a font size of the character image is equal to or greater than a threshold value ? and equal to or smaller than a threshold value ? (YES in step #4), a fourth detector determines whether a presently focused pixel constitutes a particular portion of a character (step #5). When the fourth detector determines that the pixel data of the presently focused pixel constitutes the particular portion of the character (YES in step #5), the image processing section sets the pixel data to be subjected to a second screen processing which is performed at a higher gradation level (step #6).

Abstract: Oxide film formed on a spring-retaining flange by heat treatment gets unlikely to peel off, thereby improving wear resistance of a contact surface of the spring-retaining flange with a valve spring. The oxide film 15 of the part of the spring-retaining flange 3 with the valve spring 7 is at least partially removed to make thickness of the oxide film to 0.00 to 0.02 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: In heat-expandable microspheres as a starting material for hollow fine particles, which have excellent performances required for giving not only a durability in steady running region but also a durability in high-speed running region to a tire-rim assembly, and each consisting of an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin obtained by polymerizing a monomer component in the presence of a polymerization initiator, and a foaming agent encapsulated in the outer shell and having a boiling point not higher than a softening point of the thermoplastic resin, the polymerization initiator comprises a peroxydicarbonate as an essential component, and the foaming agent comprises a fluorine-containing compound having an ether structure and a carbon number of 2-10 and containing no chlorine atom and bromine atom.

Abstract: Heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition comprising (A) at least one epoxy resin comprising (a) a naphthalene ring-containing epoxy resin having at least one substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring in a molecule and having an epoxy equivalent of 175 to 210, (B) a phenolic resin having at least one substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring in a molecule, and (C) an inorganic filler, the substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring of the epoxy resin (a) being contained in an amount of 45 to 60% by weight in the total amount of the epoxy resin (A) is best suited for semiconductor encapsulation because it has good flow, a low coefficient of linear expansion, a high Tg, minimal moisture absorption, and crack resistance upon lead-free soldering.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes: a fuel injection unit; an ignition unit; a crank angle detection unit; a fuel pump; a booster unit; an ignition discharge unit; and a control unit that controls the fuel injection unit, the ignition unit, and the fuel pump, that ascertains ignition timings based on crank signals output from the crank angle detection unit, and that performs a startup control sequence that is made up of fuel injection processing, voltage boosting processing, ignition processing, and fuel supply processing.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition comprising: (A) an epoxy resin having at least three epoxy groups per molecule and an epoxy equivalent of 170 or lower; (B) an epoxy resin having a phenolic nucleus and two epoxy groups in such an amount that a weight ratio of the epoxy resin (B) to the epoxy resin (A) ranges from 35/65 to 65/35; (C) a phenolic curing agent in such an amount that a molar ratio of phenolic hydroxyl groups to the whole epoxy groups in the composition ranges from 0.5 to 1.5; and (D) an inorganic filler in an amount of from 86 to 92 wt %, based on a total weight of the composition. The composition provides encapsulated semiconductor devices much less warped than those encapsulated with a conventional composition.

Abstract: In heat-expandable microspheres as a starting material for hollow fine particles, which have excellent performances required for giving not only a durability in steady running region but also a durability in high-speed running region to a tire-rim assembly, and each consisting of an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin obtained by polymerizing a monomer component in the presence of a polymerization initiator, and a foaming agent encapsulated in the outer shell and having a boiling point not higher than a softening point of the thermoplastic resin, the polymerization initiator comprises a peroxydicarbonate as an essential component, and the foaming agent comprises a fluorine-containing compound having an ether structure and a carbon number of 2-10 and containing no chlorine atom and bromine atom.

Abstract: A thermosetting epoxy resin composition characterized by containing as a resin ingredient a product of pulverization of a solid matter obtained by reacting a triazine derivative/epoxy resin with an acid anhydride in such a proportion that the amount of the epoxy groups is 0.6-2.0 equivalents to the acid anhydride groups.

Abstract: Engine cooling structure directs cooling air, introduced into a case by operation of a fan, to a cylinder block of an engine and then discharges the cooling air out of the case through an outlet port along meandering flow passages. Case cooling structure directs cooling along the inner surface of the case. Further cooling flow passage directs the air to vertically-oriented heat radiating fins so that the cooling air flows upward along the fins and then is discharged through the outlet port. Metal cooling-fan cover is supported by the lower cover via mounting members, and a resin-made cover guide is fastened to the engine together with supporting portions and interposed between the fan cover and the engine.

Abstract: An engine generator movable on left and right wheels. The wheels are provided on a rear section of a bottom cover via an axle. A cylinder of an engine is disposed so as to incline upwards towards the direction of the axle. Inclining the cylinder lowers the center of gravity of the engine and disposes the axle positioned below the cylinder at a high position, thereby reducing the height of the engine generator. The orientation of the engine generator during travel is stabilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: A method that heat-expandable microspheres includes the use of a shell of thermoplastic resin and a non-fluorine blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The method includes a step of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing a peroxydicarbonate in an aqueous dispersing medium to polymerize the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture. The resultant heat-expandable microspheres have a shell which is less apt to become thinner than its theoretical value, contain minimum amount of resin particle inside their shell, and have excellent heat-expanding performance.