Abstract: A thermal link assembly provides thermal connection between a first thermally conductive part to which it is secured, and a second thermally conductive part which is generally disk-shaped and has a peripheral cylindrical surface. The thermal link assembly includes an annular ring made of thermally conductive material, generally in a shape of a revolution with respect to an axis, including an annular base portion to be secured to the first part and a series of contact tongues arranged along the base portion. Each contact tongue has a stem and a head. The stem has i) a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the axis of the annular ring, ii) a first longitudinal end connected to the base portion, and iii) a second longitudinal end connected to the head. The head has a contact surface to be in contact with the peripheral cylindrical surface of the second part.

Abstract: A sun-visor provided in a vehicle includes a sun-visor body, a shaft, and low strength region. The sun-visor body is used for blocking off the outside light. One end of the shaft is inserted into the sun-visor body and another end of the shaft is rotatably supported at the roof of the vehicle through a base. The low strength region of the shaft permits the sun-visor to be readily deformed by a side air bag deployed into the vehicle cabin, thereby achieving a certain inflation of the air bag irrespective of the position of the sun-visor.

Abstract: A Gas Trap (GT) barrel compensator used for reducing recoil and compensation for muzzle flip, experienced when firing a firearm has an improved compensating effect (downward force) achieved through a GT chamber provided adjacent to and communicating with the firearm barrel. One aspect of compensation is achieved by the release of exhaust gasses into the bottom of the chamber. A second aspect of compensation employs exhaust pressure build up in the GT chamber of gasses from the barrel, and venting of same outwardly of the firearm through ports in the GT chamber. A third aspect of compensation involves discharge of gasses from the barrel upwardly through barrel ports and the chamber ports. All three aspects of compensation can be “tuned” for a specific caliber, and style of gun by varying the size and number of the ports on the barrel and/or GT chamber, while the length of the barrel beyond the compensator has to allow the exhaust gasses to release all the pressure.

Abstract: An electric vehicle in which driving force of a motor driven by batteries is transmitted through a reduction device and a differential to front wheels. The motor and the reduction device are disposed at portions of a vehicle body rearwardly of the differential and hence, a portion of the vehicle body in front of the differential is enlarged and can effectively function as a crushable zone upon a frontal collision of a vehicle. Moreover, the motor and the reduction device which are heavy components are disposed near a central portion of the vehicle body, leading to a mid-ship layout. This conrtibutes to an enhancement in motional property of the vehicle.

Abstract: A torque detecting device includes a pair of fixed portions are provided on a rotating shaft to have a predetermined distance in an axially longitudinal direction, a permanent strain portion which changes a magnetostrictive characteristic corresponding to an applied torque is provided between the fixed portions, and a multilayered solenoid winding coil for electrically detecting a magnetostrictive effect produced in the permanent strain portion is provided around the permanent strain portion. The permanent strain portion is a portion in the rotating shaft to which a permanent strain is applied by twisting the fixed portions.

Abstract: A method of estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter used as a model of the shape of the auditory filter, comprises the steps of determining the threshold masking level Nx based on a tone S which adds the given value x to the threshold of hearing T of a subject in a frequency f, generating a tone S′ which deducts the given value a from the tone S, generating a masker M of a center frequency f of a notch, notch width g and level Nx, transmitting to the subject an inspection sound which superposes the masker M on the tone S′ by selsctively varying the notch width g, determining the notch width g at which the subject can perceive the tone S′ to be the minimum notch width gx−a of the subject, calculating the coefficient p from the minimum notch width gx−a and the given value a, and estimating the shape of the auditory filter from the coefficient p and the given value x corresponding to the coefficient r.

Abstract: The invention is a lens. The light transmitting portion of the lens comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands arranged parallel to each other in a side-by-side manner, forming a planar layer. The fiber optic strands are also inclined at an angle to a surface of the lens. This defeats any reflection from the interior of the lens face or surface when so needed. In operation, when the light source is illuminated, the lens is then lit, displaying the color of the light source or of the color of the strands.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for efficiently manufacturing microspheres having a uniform particle diameter. The apparatus comprises: case 1 having a lower body 1a and an upper body 1b. A seal ring 3, a first plate 4 which is comprised of a transparent plate such as a glass plate or a plastic plate, an annular spacer 5, an intermediate plate 6 which is comprised of a silicon substrate or the like, an annular spacer 7, a second plate 8 and a seal ring 9 are inserted in this order into a concave portion 2 formed in the lower body 1a. The upper body 1b is superposed thereon. Further, the upper body 1b is attached to the lower body 1a with bolts or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a liquid container allows a user to easily pivot the container and pour liquid outwardly therefrom. The apparatus includes a base, a cradle pivotally supported on the base, and a stop member to limit return movement of the cradle on the base. The base includes two upstanding side braces interconnected by a web. The cradle includes a floor suspended and spaced upwardly away from the base web, and further includes two spaced apart cradle side portions extending upwardly from opposite side edges of the cradle floor. The cradle may also include a bridge interconnecting the tops of the side portions thereof, and where used, the bridge may include a bow formed integrally therein to receive a neck of a liquid container. The support apparatus may be adapted to receive a standard gallon jug, or alternatively, may be adapted to receive a two-liter beverage bottle.

Abstract: A deflection-resistant arrowhead includes a support body with a fixed spear-point blade attached to the tip thereof, and a plurality of pivotally attached, mechanically expandable blades. The expandable blades include integrally formed spurs at end portions thereof, which are provided to extend outwardly from the front of the support body, adjacent the base of the fixed blade, when the expandable blades are closed. The support body has slots formed in the sides thereof, to receive the pivotally attached expandable blades. The support body is also slotted at the front central portion thereof to receive the base portion of the fixed blade. The expandable blades normally remain in a closed configuration thereof, by means of an elastic retaining ring located behind the spurs. Upon contact with a target, the outstanding spurs force the expandable blades to open, simultaneously moving the retaining ring rearwardly on the support body.

Abstract: An air bag device includes a control valve capable of opening and closing a vent hole provided in a retainer, and a sufficient opening degree of the control valve can be ensured by use of a small-sized and inexpensive actuator. For this purpose, the control valve for opening and closing the vent hole defined in the retainer supporting an inflator and an air bag in the air bag device is opened and closed by plural valve members each operated by a piezoelectric element serving as an actuator. The plurality of divided valve members of the control valve are used and hence, even if the size of the piezoelectric element for operating each of the valve members is reduced to provide a reduction in cost, a sufficient opening degree of the entire control valve is ensured.

Abstract: An elastic wave control element includes a piezoelectric material which is inserted into a propagation path for an elastic wave or installed in an oscillator to allow the elastic wave in a selected frequency to be damped, reflected, or transmitted. The piezoelectric material is provided with a pair of electrodes between which a negative capacitance circuit is connected to allow a loss factor of the negative capacitance circuit in a selected frequency or frequency band to be matched with a dielectric loss factor of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A driving force distribution device which controls the engagement forces of electromagnetic clutches and which govern the torque distribution between the driving wheels of a vehicle by calculating a target magnetic flux density and converting the same into a target excitation current. Since the relationship between the target magnetic flux density and the target excitation current changes according to a decrease in the air gaps accompanying wear of the frictional engagement members of the electromagnetic clutches, a relationship between the magnetic flux density and the excitation current is determined by applying current to the electromagnetic clutches when torque distribution control is not being carried out such as when the system is started, and the target excitation current is calculated from the target magnetic flux density based on the determined relationship.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to produce emulsions containing a material that are insoluble or that have low solubility with respect to water and oil in a high concentration, so as to obtain emulsions which can be preserved for a long period of time. More specifically, ethanol, to which polyglycerol oleic acid ester (PG) is added, and vegetable oil, are stirred with a homogenizer or an emulsification method such as a membrane emulsification or a microchannel emulsification, thereby obtaining E/O type emulsions or E/O/W type emulsions wherein ethanol drops in which polyphenol is dissolved in a high concentration are dispersed into vegetable oil.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for activating a lipase by adding a solution of lipase in an aqueous buffer at a pH near neutrality to an organic phase, e.g., tetradecane. Under these conditions lipase is activated as a function of an organic-and-water boundary surface between the organic and water phases. The lipase that is activated in this manner remains active even after lyophilization to remove the water and the organic phase. This activated lipase efficiently catalyzes a fat reforming reaction in non-aqueous and nano-aqueous conditions.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight outboard engine (1) mounted to a boat stern by a mounting device having a tilt shaft comprises: an engine (2) including a flywheel (56) positioned at a lower end portion of a vertically extending crankshaft, and an oil pan positioned below the flywheel (56). An upper wall of a flywheel chamber (59) accommodating the flywheel 56 is made up of a bottom wall of a crank chamber made of a crankcase (30), etc., and a bottom wall (30a) of the crankcase (30) forming a front portion of the engine body (3) has a return oil path 71 formed forward of an inner circumferential wall surface (60e) of a circumferential wall (60) of the flywheel chamber (59) and having inflow openings (71a, 71b) through which lubricant oil flows from the crank chamber. Such outboard engine prevents output loss by preventing or minimizing lubricant oil staying in the crank chamber while the engine is driven in a tilt-up condition.

Abstract: A stator of a rotating electrical machine has improved heat dissipation of a stator and end portions of a stator winding thereof which are protected from damage due to stress concentration, by inserting a silicone rubber sheet between a stator core having no slots and the stator winding which is accommodated thereinside. The silicone rubber sheet comprises a rubber type material having flexibility so as to be deformable under pressure, which is reinforced by a glass cloth or a polyester mesh cloth. Moreover, this is preferably an insulating and heat dissipating sheet which contains a filler having good thermal conductivity. More preferably, a silicone rubber sheet which contains boron nitride is used. Furthermore, a protective sheet of a resin material is further inserted between the stator core and end portions of the stator winding over the silicone rubber sheet.

Abstract: An air bag module of a passenger side air bag apparatus is sized and shaped to pass through a glove box opening portion of an instrument panel. An opening in an upper portion of a casing of the module faces the inner surface of an air bag lid, which is molded in one piece with a top wall part of the instrument panel. A lower portion of the module casing is fixed detachably to a steering hanger beam via a lower locking mechanism capable of being manipulated via the glove box opening portion. The upper portion of the module casing is fixed detachably to the top wall part of the instrument panel via an upper locking mechanism. Both the upper and lower locking mechanisms are capable of being manipulated via the glove box opening portion for easy installation and removal of the air bag module, but reliably support the module, even when the air bag is inflated and deployed.

Abstract: A multi-channel radar apparatuses optimizes the number of channels used for detecting a body in terms of position detection precision and processing time reduction. The multi-channel apparatus detects the position of the body that produces reflecting waves by calculating, for example, the center of gravity using only the received signals of monostatic channels (B1, B3, and B5) when the level of the received signals is high and using the received signals of the monostatic channels (B1, B3, and B5), as well as the received signals of bistatic channels (B2 and B4) when the level of the received signals is low.

Abstract: A reinforced archery arrow shaft includes a tubular core, with an attached fabric sleeve covering the core. The core may include carbon therein. The sleeve is formed from a fabric material, which is wrapped around and affixed to the core. Preferably, the sleeve fabric carries a decorative design or pattern on the exterior surface thereof. In a method of making an arrow, a piece of fabric is placed covering a hollow tubular core, and is affixed thereto. Then, a resin or protective composition, associated with the fabric material, is cured to adhere the fabric to the core. The resin may be impregnated into the fabric prior to its placement on the core, or alternatively, may be applied to the fabric by conventional methods such as spraying, dipping, brushing, or powder coating. The shaft may be treated to make the exterior surface smooth after curing. Optionally, accessories may be attached to the arrow shaft to form an arrow.