Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system in which an electricity generated by solar cells and a remaining battery level can be checked at once, thus enabling the photovoltaic power generation system to be efficiently operated. The photovoltaic power generation system is provided to charge a battery of a vehicle and is equipped with solar cells for feeding an electromotive force to the battery. The photovoltaic power generation system includes LEDs to make the remaining battery level and the electricity generated by the solar cells visible. Without taking the trouble to prepare a measuring instrument or to push a button of an indicator, a user of the vehicle can immediately check the remaining battery level and the electricity generated by the solar cells by visually checking the display of the LEDs, thus enabling the photovoltaic power generation system to be efficiently operated.

Abstract: A process for producing an aliphatic polyester through ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic ester, wherein a partial polymer in a molten state is continuously introduced into a twin-screw stirring device to continuously obtain a partial polymer in a solid pulverized state, the partial polymer is subjected to solid-phase polymerization, and the resultant polymer is melt-kneaded together with a thermal stabilizer to be formed into pellets. As a result, an aliphatic polyester of a high molecular weight and with little discoloration is produced efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for purifying a hydroxycarboxylic acid, comprising: a crystallization step of subjecting a hydroxycarboxylic acid aqueous solution to crystallization for purification, a separation step of separating a hydroxycarboxylic acid crystal from a mother liquid, and a washing step of washing the hydroxycarboxylic acid crystal for further purification with a washing liquid, wherein the washing liquid is a hydroxycarboxylic acid aqueous solution. The purified or refined hydroxycarboxylic acid obtained through the above process is suitably used as a starting material for production of a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid. The above process is suitably included in a process for producing a cyclic ester and a process for producing a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A method of purifying a cyclic ester, comprising: mixing a co-distillated liquid comprising a cyclic ester produced by heating depolymerization of a hydroxycarboxylic acid oligomer in the presence of a depolymerization solvent and the depolymerization solvent with an organic solvent for washing which is mutually soluble with the depolymerization solvent and has a lower boiling point than the cyclic ester; subjecting the resultant mixture liquid to liquid-liquid separation into an organic solvent phase containing the depolymerization solvent and a cyclic ester phase containing the organic solvent; and then evaporating the organic solvent from the cyclic ester phase containing the organic solvent to recover the cyclic ester containing a reduced amount of the depolymerization solvent.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor having a rotating shaft on which at least one magnetostrictive film is formed, and has such a structure that the rotating shaft has small diameter portions and large diameter portions positioned on both end sides of the small diameter portions, and a length in an axial direction of the small diameter portion is determined in relation to a coil width of an induction heating coil to be used at a high frequency heating step and one magnetostrictive film is formed in the small diameter portion.

Abstract: A process for producing an aliphatic polyester by subjecting a cyclic ester to ring-opening polymerization, which comprises adding water to a cyclic ester purified to the extent that a water content is at most 60 ppm to control an overall proton concentration in the cyclic ester, thereby controlling at least one physical property among melt viscosity, molecular weight and yellowness index of the resulting aliphatic polyester.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor having low nonuniformity of sensitivity characteristics. The residual austenite content in the rotating shaft of the torque sensor is measured first. A magnetic film is subsequently subjected to a heat treatment under heat treatment conditions that are different for each of the measured residual austenite contents, and magnetic anisotropy is imparted.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a rotating shaft that is rotated by an applied torque, magnetostrictive films formed around the entire circumferential periphery of a surface of the rotating shaft in at least one location, sensor coils for sensing a change in impedance of the magnetostrictive films, and a torque calculation unit for calculating the torque applied to the rotating shaft on the basis of a signal relating to the change in impedance outputted from the sensor coils. In this magnetostrictive torque sensor, a width of the magnetostrictive films in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and a width of the sensor coils in the axial direction of the rotating shaft are set so as to fulfill the relationship 1<(W1/W2)<1.35.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor comprising a first magnetostrictive film, a second magnetostrictive film, and a third magnetostrictive film formed over the entire circumferential periphery of a surface of a rotating shaft. A first sensor coil, a second sensor coil, and a third sensor coil for sensing changes in impedance are provided for the first, second, and third magnetostrictive films, respectively. Signals according to the changes in impedance outputted from the first through third sensor coils are inputted to a torque calculating unit. The torque calculating unit calculates the torque applied to the rotating shaft on the basis of the output signal from the first sensor coil and the output signal from the second sensor coil. Furthermore, the output signals from the first through third sensor coils are compared, and failures in the first magnetostrictive film or the second magnetostrictive film are detected by a failure detector.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: An electrical device mounting structure on a motorcycle which includes a resilient support member having a spring-flexural resilience and supporting an electrical device unit. The resilient support member has a first portion secured to a vehicle body or a member connected to the vehicle body. The resilient support member also has a second portion provided separate from the first portion and closer to the electrical device. The second portion is supported on the vehicle body or the member connected to the vehicle body via an elastic member having an attenuating property.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for purifying a hydroxycarboxylic acid, comprising: a crystallization step of subjecting a hydroxycarboxylic acid aqueous solution to crystallization for purification, a separation step of separating a hydroxycarboxylic acid crystal from a mother liquid, and a washing step of washing the hydroxycarboxylic acid crystal for further purification with a washing liquid, wherein the washing liquid is a hydroxycarboxylic acid aqueous solution. The purified or refined hydroxycarboxylic acid obtained through the above process is suitably used as a starting material for production of a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid. The above process is suitably included in a process for producing a cyclic ester and a process for producing a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: The magnetostrictive torque sensor is a magnetostrictive torque sensor 10 having a rotating shaft 11 on which at least one magnetostrictive film 14A or 14B is formed, and has such a structure that the rotating shaft 11 has small diameter portions 11e and 11f and large diameter portions 11b, 11c and 11d positioned on both end sides of the small diameter portions, and a length in an axial direction of the small diameter portion is determined in relation to a coil width of an induction heating coil RC to be used at a high frequency heating step and one magnetostrictive film is formed in the small diameter portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor having low nonuniformity of sensitivity characteristics. The residual austenite content in the rotating shaft of the torque sensor is measured first. A magnetic film is subsequently subjected to a heat treatment under heat treatment conditions that are different for each of the measured residual austenite contents, and magnetic anisotropy is imparted.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a rotating shaft that is rotated by an applied torque, magnetostrictive films formed around the entire circumferential periphery of a surface of the rotating shaft in at least one location, sensor coils for sensing a change in impedance of the magnetostrictive films, and a torque calculation unit for calculating the torque applied to the rotating shaft on the basis of a signal relating to the change in impedance outputted from the sensor coils. In this magnetostrictive torque sensor, a width of the magnetostrictive films in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and a width of the sensor coils in the axial direction of the rotating shaft are set so as to fulfill the relationship 1<(W1/W2)<1.35.