Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching power supply apparatus equipped with an over-temperature protection circuit that operates appropriately even when a problem occurs in the control circuit. A switching conversion circuit 2 has a switching element 21 turned on and off according to a drive signal S5 supplied from a drive circuit 5, converts the voltage supplied via a input circuit 1 to switching output, and outputs that switching output. An output circuit 3 is supplied with the switching output, adjusts the supplied switching output to a prescribed output, and outputs that prescribed output. A control circuit 4 supplies a control signal S4 to the drive circuit 5. An over-temperature protection circuit 6 comprises a temperature detector 61 and a switch 62, and is connected to the control electrode of the switching element 21, and cuts off the drive signal S5 via the switch 62 when the temperature detector 61 detects an abnormal temperature in the switching power supply apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a torque sensor comprising: a shaft whose torque is to be detected; a magnetostrictive film formed on the shaft; and a coil for detecting a change of a magnetic property of the magnetostrictive film, wherein an intermediate film having a melting point lower than a melting point of the shaft and a melting point of magnetostrictive film is formed between the shaft and the magnetostrictive film, so that the torque sensor is superior in productivity and durability and can detect a torque in a rotational direction.

Abstract: A process for producing a glyceryl ether which contains a markedly small amount of organohalogen compounds and therefore can be used even for cosmetics and body detergents. The process comprises reacting an alcohol with an &agr;-epihalohydrin in the presence of an acid catalyst, subjecting the reaction mixture to ring closure to convert it into the corresponding glycidyl ether and then hydrolyzing the glycidyl ether, wherein: (a) the hydrolysis is effected at 140 to 230° C. in the presence of a salt formed from a strongly basic compound and a weakly acidic compound, or (b) the reaction mixture after the hydrolysis is heated at 100 to 230° C. in the presence of a salt formed from a strongly basic compound and a weakly acidic compound.

Abstract: A vehicular mountable fuel cell system constituted by combusting means 1 for combusting off gas from a fuel cell 4 supplied with reformed gas from a reformer 3 and a turbine compressor 2 for supplying air to the fuel cell 4 by compressing air at a compressor unit 22 by operating combustion energy of the combusting means 1 to a turbine unit 21 to thereby reduce power of a motor for driving to rotate the turbine compressor by recovering power by effectively using waste gas.

Abstract: A cholesteryl compound has formula (1), and a rewritable full-color thermosensitive recording material contains the above-mentioned cholesteryl compound of formula (1): YO—CO(CH2)n—A—(CH2)nCO—OY  (1) wherein A is a 1,5-hexadienylene group represented by the formula —C(R)═CHCH2CH2CH═C(R)-, in which R is a hydrogen atom or methyl group; Y is a cholesterol residue obtained by removing a hydroxyl group from cholesterol; and n is an integer of 5 to 7.

Abstract: A rotating boring tool (10) comprises a cylindrical shank (11) and a body (12), both of which are coaxial with each other, said body being provided at its tip end with cutting blades (13a, 13b) which are in point symmetry with respect to an axis of the shank. Provided on the body are two flutes (14a, 14b) continuous from the cutting blades. The both flutes are made to approach each other at the lower half lead portions (designated hereinbelow as f1 portions) of terminal end portions f0 of the flutes and positioned about 35 degrees or more offset from the position of point symmetry. Alternatively, the both flutes are merged at the f1 portions. Accordingly, thickened portions y0 are formed on the f1 portions to increase rigidity of the f1 portions. As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of fatigue failure at the f1 portions whereby a rotating boring tool of long service life which is hard to break is obtained and a product cost and a cost for tool replacement are considerably reduced.

Abstract: A method of determining the orientation of fibers on the surface of paper rather than measuring the orientation of fibers throughout the entire layer of paper is provided. In directing incident light Li from a projecting unit 6 to the surface 1a of the paper 1 to be measured at a given angle (.theta.i) of incidence and receiving by a receiving unit 7 the intensity of light reflected Lo by and off the surface 1a of the paper 1 at the same angle (.theta.o) of regular reflection as the angle (.theta.i) of incidence, the incident light Li containing at least the linearly polarized principal ray is allowed to be incident on the surface 1a of the paper 1, so that at least the linearly polarized principal ray can be received by the receiving unit 7 in the form of reflected light Lo, and the surface 1a of the paper 1 is inclined at an angle (.alpha.