Abstract: A cover structure (50) in an outboard engine (1) having an engine (2) with an engine block (8), a vertical crankshaft (7) and a vertical camshaft (15) having upper end portions projecting upward from the engine block, a timing belt (17) extended between upper ends of the crankshaft and the camshaft, and a flywheel (12a) disposed on the upper end portion of the crankshaft (7). The ventilation cover structure (50) comprises a first cover (60) disposed above the engine block (8) so as to cover at least the flywheel (12a) and opening downward, and a second cover disposed above the engine block (8) so as to cover a space extending over a portion of the engine block (8) including the camshaft (15) and opening downward. The first and the second covers (60, 80) are joined together so that spaces covered with the first and the second covers (60, 80) are united in a single space.

Abstract: A liquid chemical treatment apparatus includes a coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid such as resist onto the surface of a substantially planar substrate such as a glass substrate. The coating apparatus includes a nozzle with an elongate injection outlet such as a slit with a width substantially the same as that of the substrate, and a liquid circulating passage connected to the nozzle for supplying the coating liquid to the nozzle. Mechanisms are provided with the circulating passage and the nozzle to remove air from the liquid, and to maintain the circulating liquid at a substantially constant temperature and a substantially constant flow rate.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped sensor body includes a first protective layer formed of a resist paste layer, an antenna film formed of a PET film, a first conductive layer formed of a silver layer, a second conductive layer formed of a carbon layer, a second protective layer formed of a resist paste layer and a hot-melt film, which are laminated one on another in sequence. When the hot-melt film of the sensor body is brought into abutment against a front surface of a wadding previously adhered to a pad of a seat back and is then heat-pressed, the sensor body is fixed firmly and reliably to the wadding by an adhesive force generated by the melted hot-melt film once it again cools and solidified. Thus, the sensor of an occupant detecting system for detecting the physical constitution and the attitude of an occupant sitting on a seat can be fixed easily and reliably to the seat back.

Abstract: A radar system mounted on a vehicle includes a radar apparatus, a radome provided for the radar apparatus, a front wiper, a wiper operation detector detecting an operation of the front wiper, a temperature detector detecting temperature outside of the vehicle, and a processing unit. The processing unit estimates whether sensitivity degradation of the radar apparatus is caused, based on the detecting result of the wiper operation detector and the detecting result of the temperature detector.

Abstract: A radar apparatus mounted on a vehicle includes a detecting section and a fault determining section. The detecting section includes a radar unit and detects a detection object using radar wave radiated from a radar unit toward the detection object and reflected radar wave from the detection target to the radar unit. The fault determining section determines whether any fault has occurred in the radar unit, based on the detecting result of the detection object and a movement distance of the vehicle, and generates a fault detection signal, when it is determined that any fault has occurred in the radar unit.

Abstract: A structure for a front portion of a vehicle having a ladder type frame installed on left and right side frames arranged longitudinally of a vehicle at a position a predetermined distance rearward from front tips of impact absorption beams at front ends of the side frames and forward of a dash panel in such a manner as to extend between the left and right side frames. The ladder type frame is disposed rearward of the impact absorption beams and forwardly of the dash panel so that auxiliary machines of the vehicle, such as a battery an air conditioning compressor, and the like, are mounted thereon. A crushable zone is provided in front of front side frames. In the above construction, the length of the zone for accommodating the auxiliary machines of the vehicle is markedly shorter than that provided by the prior art, and therefore it is possible to sufficiently reduce the length of the nose of the vehicle.

Abstract: A processional travel control apparatus allows processional travel with a leading vehicle driven by a driver and at least one succeeding vehicle automatically following the leading vehicle, while maintaining distances and directions between the vehicles by means of radar devices. The leading vehicle and the succeeding vehicles constitute a group. Each of the vehicles comprises a vehicle group identifying device for distinguishing the vehicle group from another vehicle group, the vehicle group identifying device preventing radio interference between the groups during processional travel.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a main battery mounted on a vehicle body and a sub-battery detachably connected to the vehicle body. The electric vehicle travels with the electric power of the main battery in the case where the traveling distance is not long. In the case where the traveling distance is long, a trailer with the sub-battery is coupled to the rear of the electric vehicle, so that both the electric powers of the two batteries are used to drive an electric motor to allow the electric vehicle to travel. At the time of driving of the motor, the electric power of the sub-battery is preferentially used. When the sub-battery becomes completely discharged, the trailer is disconnected from the electric vehicle. In this case, with the vehicle body weight reduced, the traveling of the electric vehicle with the electric power of the main battery can be continued, and therefore the total traveling distance is further increased.

Abstract: A method to efficiently and continuously produce microspheres of natural oils and fats having a high melting point, the average particle diameter of which is in dozens of &mgr;m and is uniform, comprising the steps of heating oils and fats having a high melting point to a temperature greater than the melting point thereof to liquify same holding the oils and fats in a liquid state, forming a dispersed phase of the liquid oils and fats, pressurizing the dispersed phase and forming emulsions by dispersing the dispersed phase into a continuous phase via a plurality of microchannels, and isolating microspheres of the oils and fats having a high melting point by removing the continuous phase from the emulsions.

Abstract: An improved spacing and positioning tool is provided for facilitating spacing and positioning of parallel spaced apart construction materials. The tool allows for the installation of aligned parallel spaced apart materials in either of a first or second preferred orientation thereof. Preferably, the tool is used in a set of two, which are placed proximate opposed ends of the materials being spaced, to ensure correct spacing and positioning of the workpiece materials along the length thereof. The tool includes a spacer body with a plurality of evenly spaced apart rectangular cutouts formed in a front edge thereof. The sides of the rectangular cutouts are substantially transverse to a plane defined by the front edge of the spacer body. The back edge of the spacer body has a plurality of evenly spaced apart substantially V-shaped cutouts formed therein.

Abstract: Sanitary ware which strongly resists adhesion of dirt and which may be easily cleaned with a weak flow of water, over a long period of time, comprises a first coloring glaze layer formed on the surface of a ceramic body, a second transparent glaze layer formed on the first glaze layer, and an engobe layer formed between said body surface and said first glaze layer.

Abstract: A thin walled rubber latex material is disclosed suitable for forming gloves, and the like. A thin walled material is formed using sulfur-free, oxygen-donating curing agents such as butyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides and peroxyesters so that the material is not chemically reactive with other substances that may be contacted by the material during subsequent use of same. The material is also formed using non-amine antioxidants so that it is substantially free of nitrosamines, and the material is also provided with a heat resistant and water resistant coating which blocks transfer of latex proteins from the material to persons who contact the materials over prolonged periods of time.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system for vehicles for common use, includes: a reservation unit for reserving a rentals of the vehicles for common use with corresponding delivery times therefor; and an activating unit for activating an air conditioner of each of the vehicles so reserved when the corresponding delivery time therefor approaches so that a comfortable condition is produced in the passenger compartment of the vehicle when it is rented out a user who has reserved it.

Abstract: A co-operative control system for a vehicle including a force distribution device for distributing the driving force or braking force between the right and left wheels or between the front and rear wheels, includes a first control means for controlling the operation of the force distribution device, an electric power steering device, having a motor for applying a steering assist torque to a vehicle steering system, and a second control means for calculating a motor control signal for driving the motor. The motor control signal is based on at least the steering torque detected by a steering torque detecting means.

Abstract: In the lighting control apparatus, according to the present invention, for an automatic following travel system in which a leading vehicle is operated by an operator, and at least one following vehicle automatically follows the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle comprises a light operating device for turning on or off lights of the leading vehicle, and a transmitter for transmitting information indicating the operation of the light operating device, and the following vehicle comprises a receiver for receiving the information from the transmitter, and a light operating device for producing an operation signal for turning on or off a light of the following vehicle, based on the information received by the receiver.

Abstract: A processional travel control apparatus allows processional travel with a group of vehicles including a leading vehicle and a following vehicle automatically following the leading vehicle. An object vehicle includes a device for sending a request to separate from or join the processional travel, to the leading vehicle. The leading vehicle includes a device for permitting or rejecting the request from the object vehicle. When the leading vehicle permits the request, the object vehicle is switched by a mode switching device between automatic driving, in which the following vehicle automatically follows the leading vehicle, ans manual driving by a driver.

Abstract: A vehicular radar apparatus comprising a radar beam transmission device and a reception device, and a processing unit for detecting the position of a target object from transmission signals and reception signals. The processing unit has a preceding vehicle judgment circuit for judging if a vehicle travelling in front of a subject vehicle in the same direction is the same vehicle as previously detected or not, and a signal strength comparing device for comparing the signal strength of a current reception signal reflected from the preceding vehicle, with a signal strength of a reception signal reflected from the preceding vehicle a predetermined comparison reference time prior, to thereby calculate a change amount in signal strength.

Abstract: In a four wheel steering vehicle, the rear wheels are steered so as to reduce a magnitude of the vehicle body side slip angular speed. Thus, whenever there is a rise in the vehicle body side slip angle which is directed outward with respect to the turning circle of the vehicle at an early stage of turning operation, the rear wheels are steered in opposite sense to the front wheel steering angle. Therefore, the vehicle body side slip angle is at least partly canceled, and this in turn increases the yaw moment and produces a sharp heading response. As the vehicle continues the turning operation, the rear wheels are steered in the same phase as the front wheels, thereby offsetting the tendency of the vehicle to go into a spin. When the vehicle is turning at a steady rate without incurring any change in the vehicle body side slip angle, the rear wheels are not steered, and the vehicle essentially behaves as if it were a front wheel steering vehicle.

Abstract: A splicing assembly, for facilitating splice connections of electric wires, includes a housing made of nonconductive material, and a terminal assembly attached to an inner surface of the housing. The housing includes a base, and a cover placeable in covering relation over the base. The housing cover is removably attachable to the base. The housing base and cover define a protected space therebetween, and also define an inlet and an outlet therebetween for respectively receiving wires in opposite ends thereof for connection of the wires within the protected space. The housing base may include one or more mounting blocks, for supporting metallic conductors thereon. The mounting blocks, where used, are generally non-conductors. The terminal assembly includes at least two metallic conductors attached to the base, which may be provided as generally flattened metal bars. The terminal assembly also includes adjustably tightenable clamps for clamping wires against the metallic conductors.

Abstract: A vehicle environment monitoring system for an automotive vehicle is capable of accurately detecting the movement of an object existing in an environment of the vehicle, and determining the possibility of collision between the object and the vehicle, thereby appropriately warning the driver. A relative position of the object to the automotive vehicle is detected from the image obtained by a camera mounted on the vehicle to obtain position data. Positions of the object in a real space are calculated based on a plurality of time series items of the position data detected on the object, and a movement vector of the object is calculated based on the positions in the real space. It is determined based on the movement vector whether or not the object has a high possibility of collision against the automotive vehicle.