Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method for processing a coating film comprising the steps of forming a silica group coating film having a low dielectric constant on a substrate, conducting an etching process to the silica group coating film through a resist pattern, processing the silica group coating film with plasma induced from inactive gas such as helium gas or the like. In processing according to this method, the silica group coating film is not damaged when an ashing process is conducted to the resist pattern as a subsequent process, and the low dielectric constant of the coating film can be maintained.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a slotless stator, involves assembling jointly define two divided cores which a stator core into a cylindrical shape, so as to contain therebetween a cylindrically shaped stator winding, wherein the stator winding an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the stator core in the uncompressed condition. By so doing, the stator winding is assembled inside the stator core in a radially inward compressed condition. At this time, since the stator winding functions as a spring pressing the inside of the stator core so as to expand in the normal direction (the radial outward direction), winding is mechanically secured by the resilient spring force at that time to the inner periphery of the stator core. Hence there is no longer the need for a special fixation mechanism or adhesive when assembling the stator core winding and stator core together.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus for a vehicle capable of absorbing impact applied from outside. The wiper apparatus has a rocking wiper arm and a wiper blade attached to a tip end of the wiper arm for wiping a windshield, a pivot fixed to a base end of the wiper arm, and a pivot holder attached to a car-body panel, pivotally supporting the pivot and movable toward inside of a car-body by a load applied from outside of the vehicle substantially in an axial direction of the pivot. Alternatively, a load absorbing member may be provided outside of a section of the wiper arm where the pivot is fixed.

Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle that consists of a motor control signal calculation device for calculating a motor control signal for driving a motor to generate a steering assist torque, which is based on at least a steering torque detected by a steering torque sensor, a motor control signal correction calculation device for calculating a corrected motor control signal from an amount of motor control signal correction calculated by an external control device and the motor control signal, a driving device for driving a motor based on the corrected motor control signal calculated by the motor control signal correction calculation device; and a motor control signal correction amount reducing device for reducing the amount of motor control signal correction according to vehicle speed.

Abstract: A mineral composite consists essentially of a naturally occurring glacial deposit comprising not more than 20 weight percent Si, 10-20 weight percent Ca, 2-10 weight percent Mg, 2-10 weight percent Fe, 1-10 weight percent K, 1-5 weight percent Al, 0-3.0 weight percent Na, 0-5.0 weight percent Ti, 0-1.0 weight percent Mn, 0-0.5 weight percent P, 0-0.01 weight percent Ba, and 0-0.005 Cr; and wherein the mineral composite is in powdered form with a mean particle size of 2-20&mgr; and with a surface area of least of 0.8-1.5 m2/cm3 of the composite. Other additives may be added to the mineral composite to make it even more effective for treating soil. Methods of making and using the mineral composite are also described.

Abstract: An outboard engine comprises: a power unit including a body structure, an engine (10) disposed in an upper portion of the body structure, a propeller shaft (25) supported for rotation on a lower portion of the body structure so as to be driven by the engine (10), and a cowling (5) detachably attached to the body structure so as to cover the engine (10) from above and to defining a part of an engine room (6). A tilt bracket (35) connected to the body structure of the power unit is connected pivotally to a stern bracket (36) clamped to a boat by a tilt shaft (37). The cowling (5) is provided integrally with a tilt handle (80) to be gripped by hand when tilting the power unit, and an air inlet structure (70) through which air is introduced into the engine room (6).

Abstract: A rotating electrical machine includes, a cooling circuit 4 is provided for introducing oil to inside a housing, for cooling an inner periphery and outer periphery of a slotless stator in that order. Moreover, there is also provided a cover plate for preventing back flow of the oil introduced to inside the housings, to an outer peripheral side of the slotless stator 1. As a result, oil which has just been introduced to the housing, and has not yet been supplied for cooling the heat source, is promptly circulated to the inner peripheral side of the stator which requires much more cooling, so that the temperature rise of the overall rotating electrical machine is effectively suppressed. Moreover, a part of the oil introduced to inside the housing is used for lubricating bearings supporting a rotor.

Abstract: A safety restraint anchoring device for use in a vehicle includes an anchor plate having an opening defined therethrough, the plate being adapted to have multiple portions thereof fixed to a support panel in a vehicle body, and a rigid rod member connected to the anchor plate. The rod member has a loop shaped portion extending through the opening and projecting away from said plate, and the loop shaped portion is adapted to securely receive a child restraint seat attachment tether. The rod member also has ends welded to a surface of the anchor plate and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through the opening in the plate. The anchor plate is adapted to be welded or otherwise fixed to a lower surface of the support panel and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through an opening defined in the support panel and projects away from the support panel when the anchor plate is fixed to the support panel.

Abstract: An outboard motor, which is improved for higher output energy, lower fuel consumption, and also simplified in layout of oil paths and facilitating maintenance of hydraulic control valves, includes an engine with a crank shaft, an engine body mounted to a mount case, and a valve driving mechanism for opening and closing intake valves and exhaust valves. The valve driving mechanism includes a valve operating characteristics variable mechanism of an hydraulic type, which changes operating characteristics of the intake and/or exhaust valves in accordance with the revolution speed of the engine. A hydraulic oil path for supplying the valve operating characteristics variable mechanism with hydraulic oil branches from a lubricant oil path for supplying bearing portions of a crank shaft and the valve driving mechanism with lubricant oil.

Abstract: In an arrangement for mounting a tubular member, such as a part of a dynamic damper or a dust boot, made of elastomeric material onto a shaft member, an annular projection is formed integrally on the inner circumferential surface of the tubular sleeve member, and an endless band made of relatively rigid material such as steel is either insert molded in or fitted on the tubular sleeve member so as to surround the annular projection. The outer diameter of the shaft member is smaller than the inner diameter of the endless band, but is greater than the inner diameter of the annular projection. Therefore, the elastomeric tubular member can be firmly fitted onto a shaft easily and economically. Because the endless band can be made of a seamless solid ring or a welded ring, it is more reliable in use than conventional steel band fasteners. Since the endless band is uniform over its entire circumferential length, it is free from any rotational imbalance.

Abstract: An outboard engine comprises an engine having a crankshaft (36) extending vertically, a flywheel 56 provided on the crankshaft (36) below the engine body, an oil pump (58), and a flywheel chamber (59) defined by a pump body (65) of the oil pump (58) united to coupling walls 61, 62 of the engine body to accommodate the flywheel 56; and a mount case (4) having a support wall 64 for uniting the engine body. The engine body is united with its coupling walls (61, 62) to the support wall (64) via an outer circumferential wall (63) of the pump body (65) such that the coupling walls (61, 62), outer circumferential wall (63) and support wall (64) overlap in the direction of a rotation axis of the crankshaft (36). Such outboard engine permits a connecting portion between the engine body and the mount case, which are united together via the oil pump body, to be decreased in size and weight.

Abstract: A folded-up air bag is accommodated in a module cover of a steering wheel, and a peripheral edge of an opening in the air bag is fixed to a retainer supporting an inflator. The folded-up air bag is covered from a rear side of a vehicle to a front side of the vehicle by a deployment-limiting sheet disposed along an inner surface of the module cover and fixed at one end thereof to the retainer. The deployment-limiting sheet is longer than a length of an inner periphery of the module cover in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Thus, it is possible to inhibit the air bag from being expanded rearwards of the vehicle body at an initial stage of deployment by the deployment-limiting sheet, thereby avoiding the early interference with an occupant.

Abstract: A shingle mounting system includes a plurality of securing strips for detachably securing shingles to a roof surface. Each securing strip includes a base portion, a folding edge, and plural projecting members attached to the base. Each shingle has a line of perforations formed through an upper edge thereof. Shingles are attached to the securing strip by placing the projecting members through the holes in the shingles, and folding the folding edge of the securing strip over the base portion. A roofing kit according to the invention includes shingles, securing strips, and at least two adjustable spacer tools. Each of the tools includes two channeled pieces that are slidably nested one inside another, and which may be locked in relative position via a locknut assembly. The tool operates to measure spaced placement of the next securing strip, eliminating the need to hand measure spacing of each succeeding shingle row.

Abstract: A tracking type photovoltaic power generator includes a clock for clocking a time and a sun direction sensor for outputting a signal indicative of a sun direction, a controller which calculates a first time when the sun the sun arrives at a culmination azimuth on the basis of the time clocked by the clock, detects a culmination azimuth on the basis of a difference between a second time when the culmination azimuth is detected and the first time. Accordingly, the generator automatically corrects the error of the time clocked by the clock.

Abstract: A tip-down indicator apparatus, for signaling a strike on a fishing rig, includes a casing for housing a battery, and a normally open circuit disposed within the casing for placement in electrical communication with the battery. When supplied with a battery, the normally open circuit is completable by proximity to a magnetic field. The indicator apparatus further includes an electrically powered signal generator attached to the casing and connected to the normally open circuit for signaling a completed circuit. The signal generator may be a light or a buzzer. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the indicator apparatus further includes a magnet support member connectable in pivotal relation to the casing, a magnet attached to the magnet support member, and means for drawing the magnet and the casing into proximity in response to a fish biting a hook or lure. This first embodiment may include a fishing rig including a base and a rod-reel assembly which is pivotally attachable to the base.

Abstract: A flow cell for obtaining information on particles suspended in sample fluid, wherein an irradiation region M is defined in the flow cell for functioning as a particle detection portion to be irradiated with a laser beam La, and a wall portion of the flow cell is so adapted and arranged that the laser beam La becomes incident upon an outer wall surface of the flow cell 1 at a predetermined angle &thgr;1 (&thgr;1≠0°) and exits from an inner wall surface 5b of the flow cell 1 into the sample fluid 6 at a refraction angle 0°. Further the wall portion 5 of the flow cell 1 is so arranged that the laser beam La becomes incident upon a boundary surface between the sample fluid and the opposite inner wall surface of the flow cell 1 at a predetermined incident angle &agr; (&agr;≠0°) after being incident upon the sample fluid and passing through the irradiation region M.

Abstract: A slit nozzle is positioned above an end of a glass substrate placed in an inner cup, and, while a coating solution is being ejected with reduced surface tension from the slit nozzle toward the glass substrate, the slit nozzle is translated parallel to the surface of the glass substrate to roughly coat the coating solution on substantially the entire surface of the glass substrate. Thereafter, the upper opening of the inner cup and the upper opening of an outer cup around the inner cup are closed by respective lids, and then the inner cup is rotated to rotate the glass substrate for thereby spreading the coated solution uniformly over the surface of the glass substrate under centrifugal forces.

Abstract: A process for determining the lateral overturning of a vehicle, comprises the steps of: establishing a threshold value line on a two-dimensional map made using a rolling angle and a rolling angular speed of the vehicle as parameters; plotting a hysteresis line for an actual rolling angle and an actual rolling angular speed on the two-dimensional map; and determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle is overturning laterally or sideways when the hysteresis line traverses the threshold value line from a side nearer to an origin of the map to a side farther from the origin. The threshold value line is changed depending on at least one of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral speed of the vehicle, a direction of change in steering angle of the vehicle, and a rolling angular acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A disposable and reusable spacer rack apparatus, for cooperating with a pallet to suppport a stack of thin sheets of printable stock thereon. A spacer rack apparatus includes a body member, having an upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface. The body member has a series of parallel spaced apart grooves formed in an upper portion thereof, defining a plurality of parallel spaced apart divider slats between the grooves. The body member is of a first height at the divider slats, and is of a second, reduced height in the area of the grooves. The grooves are provided for receiving support rods during a printing stock changeover process. Preferably, the spacer rack apparatus is integrally formed as a single unit, out of relatively inexpensive materials, such as cardboard, fiberboard, recycled plastic, or open-celled plastic foam. A method of using the spacer rack apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A tool handle connection system and apparatus includes an elongate metal tube, and a connection member. The connection member has one attachment end thereof fitted in an end of the metal tube, and an opposite, threaded end axially projecting from the metal tube and connection member assembly. The metal tube is crimped around the attachment end of the connection member, and the threaded end of the connection member includes self-tapping screw threads and a rotation preventing member is connected to a tip portion to the threaded end after it is inserted through a broom head or the like to prevent the handle from rotating relative to the broom head once it is attached thereto. The connection member includes at least one flat region engaged by a crimped portion of the end of the elongate metal tube. The connection member preferably includes a means for reinforcing axial retention of the metal tube and a stopper means for limiting insertion of the attachment end into the metal tube.