Abstract: A hydraulically operated power transmission apparatus transmits the output power from a power source at a selected speed ratio. The power transmission apparatus includes a casing having an opening in one end thereof, a base plate attached to the end of the casing in covering relation to the opening, the casing and the base plate jointly serving as a transmission case defining a closed space therein, a hydraulic pump having a pump drive shaft adapted to be operatively coupled to the power source, the hydraulic pump being disposed in the closed space, a hydraulic motor having a motor output shaft and drivable by a hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor being disposed in the closed space, a pair of output shafts extending through the casing and the base plate, respectively, and disposed coaxially with each other, a differential mechanism disposed in the closed space and operable by the motor output shaft, the differential mechanism being coupled to the output shafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing an impaired person from operating a vehicle. The method includes a means for evaluating the level of the necessary skills for the safe operation of motorized vehicles, including automobiles, watercraft, aircraft and machinery. Once this level is determined on an individual basis, before operation of the motorized vehicle can be effected, each individual must match or surpass the safety level for enabling the ignition of the device. If the individual is impaired such as by drugs or alcohol use, the evidence is retained and the ignition disabled to prevent operation of the motorized vehicle. The apparatus includes an electronic module necessary to activate a test routine or program which also records the time, identity of the user, the number of times passed or failed and any attempts to tamper with our circumvent the system.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor has a plurality of field-effect transistors disposed on a semiconductor substrate at spaced intervals. The field-effect transistors have respective drains electrically connected parallel to each other, respective sources electrically connected parallel to each other, and gates electrically connected parallel to each other. While a gate bias voltage is being applied to each of the field-effect transistors, a stress applied to the semiconductor substrate is detected based on a change in a combined output of the field-effect transistors. A single comb-shaped field-effect transistor may be employed instead of the plurality of field effect transistors.

Abstract: A front and rear wheel steering system for a motor vehicle with steerable front and rear road wheels includes a front wheel steering mechanism for steering the front road wheels in response to a steering action effected by a steering wheel of the motor vehicle, a neutral positioning mechanism for normally urging the rear road wheels under a resilient force to a steering neutral position, a rear wheel steering mechanism having an electric motor for steering the rear road wheels out of the steering neutral position, and a controller for controlling an electric current supplied to the electric motor depending on the steering action of the steering wheel. The controller reduces the electric current supplied to the electric motor and subsequently holds the reduced electric current while the motor vehicle is at rest and no steering action is effected by the steering wheel.

Abstract: A riding-type lawn mower has a cutter housing with a rear discharge slot defined in a rear wall thereof. The cutter housing accommodates a pair of cutter blades laterally spaced from each other and rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane. The cutter blades are arranged such that the cutter blade on the righthand side as viewed in a forward direction of the lawn mower body is rotatable clockwise as viewed in plan and the cutter blade on the lefthand side as viewed in the forward direction of the lawn mower body is rotatable counterclockwise as viewed in plan. The cutter housing has an upper wall that has a pair of laterally spaced portions raised upwardly and defining respective discharge passages in the cutter housing that lead to the rear discharge slot. Rotative power from a lawn mower engine is transmitted to the cutter blades by a belt-and-pulley mechanism disposed on a low flat portion defined between the raised portions of upper wall.

Abstract: A windshield device for an automobile is in the form of a glass sheet having an S-shaped vertical cross section. The windshield device comprises an automobile body having a window frame, and a windshield fixed to the window frame. The windshield has vertical cross sections having profile lines represented by curves, except at opposite sides of the windshield. Each of the curves has a minimal point in an orthogonal coordinate system having a horizontal axis represented by a straight line connecting upper and lower ends of the windshield in the vertical cross section thereof. The minimal point is positioned in a visual area in which a portion of the automobile body is seen through the windshield from a driver's eye point in the automobile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to teeth cleaning apparatus comprising a handle unit having a casing with a motor disposed therein, and at least one disposable floss applicator unit adapted to be selectively, drivably connected to the handle unit. The floss applicator unit includes a casing with a floss applicator tip, a floss tube rotatably disposed within the applicator casing and a quantity of floss provided thereon. The motor has a rotatable output shaft which projects outwardly of the handle casing and is adapted to be securely, coaxially received within one end of the floss tube when the floss applicator unit is connected to the handle unit such that the floss tube will rotate together with the output shaft when the motor is actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning air contaminated by paint sprays through the use of a water wash system. The paint separation compartment comprises a collection plate for directing water droplets into a main water tank, the droplets having paint therein. The apparatus also having mist arrestor and charcoal filters. The contaminated air enters at a lower end of the apparatus and cleansed or purified air is exhausted from the upper end of the apparatus.

Abstract: A PWM motor drive control circuit for an electric power steering system, comprising: a bridge circuit having four arms each defined by a transistor; a main control unit for producing a continual direction control signal and a torque control signal of a variable duty ratio to activate the electric motor in a desired direction at a desired torque according to a steering command signal supplied thereto; a sub control unit for producing a second direction control signal according to the steering command signal; and a gate drive control circuit for transmitting the first direction control signal and the torque control signal to the transistors only when the first direction control signal produced by the primary control unit coincides with the second direction control signal produced by the sub control unit.

Abstract: A front and rear wheel steering system for a vehicle which transmits a steering input from a front wheel steering gear box to a rear wheel steering gear box via a coupling shaft as a rotation thereof around its longitudinal line and varies a steering gear ratio of rear wheels to front wheels according to the speed of the vehicle. A steering rod for steering the rear wheels with its longitudinal movement is provided with a crank portion which is engaged with a swing shaft pivotally attached to the coupling shaft via a pivot shaft perpendicular thereto so as to perform a gyrating motion around an extension line of the coupling shaft and thereby move the steering rod along its longitudinal direction to achieve a steering action of the rear wheels.

Abstract: A composition for enhancing the performance of animals, such as horses or dogs, is composed of adrenal and pituitary raw tissue concentrates, vitamin C, bioflavonoid complex, pantothenic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacinamide, magnesium, vitamin B12, folic acid and organic iodine. The composition is adapted to be orally administered to an animal, is composed of all natural substances, and the relative proportions of the components are approximately:at least 40 parts adrenal raw tissue concentrate toat least 2 parts pituitary raw tissue concentrate to30-60 parts vitamin C to20-30 parts magnesium to10-20 parts of each of pantothenic acid, methionine and choline to8-15 parts of each of niacinamide and bioflavonoid complex to1-5 parts of each of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 to0.1-1 parts organic iodine to0.05-0.5 parts folic acid.

Abstract: A pit defining a machining cavity is positioned downstream of a loading conveyor. A workpiece such as a foam block to be machined into a lost foam pattern for use in full-mold casting is fixedly mounted on an invertable workpiece mount base that is positioned above the machining cavity. The machining cavity houses a cutting unit for cutting, from below, the foam block supported on the workpiece mount base. Chips produced when the foam block is cut by the cutting unit are discharged by a chip discharger disposed beneath the machining cavity. The machining cavity can be substantially closed by the workpiece mount base or the foam block mounted thereon. There may be employed upstream and downstream machining stations each having the machining cavity, the workpiece mount base, and the cutting unit. The workpiece mount base in the upstream machining station is vertically movable, and the upstream and downstream machining stations are interconnected by transfer units.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body structure has a pair of side frames each comprising a core layer having opposite surfaces and a pair of outer skin layers covering the opposite surfaces, a motor vehicle component, and joints disposed between the side frames and the motor vehicle component, for joining the motor vehicle component to the side frames through surface-to-surface contact therebetween.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a motor vehicle steers motor vehicle rear wheels based on a steering angle ratio between front and rear wheels based on a vehicle speed, and a front wheel steering angle. The steering angle ratio is of a negative value or a relatively small positive value when the vehicle speed is in a medium speed range or a high speed range and the front wheel steering angle is in a relatively small range. The motor vehicle is controlled to turn well when the front wheel steering angle is in the relative small range while the motor vehicle is running in the medium and high speed ranges.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor includes a field-effect transistor for detecting a physical quantity such as pressure, strain, acceleration or the like. The field-effect transistor is disposed on an elastically deformable portion of a cantilevered semiconductor substrate. A detected signal generator generates a signal representing a change in a drain current of the field-effect transistor in response to a stress which is applied to the field-effect transistor due to elastic deformation of the semiconductor substrate. The field-effect transistor may be supplied with a fixed gate bias voltage and an integrator may generate a signal representing an integral of the drain current for temperature compensation. Alternatively, an integrator may generate a signal representing an integral of the drain current, and a gate bias voltage may be applied to the field-effect transistor so that the signal generated by the integrator will be of a predetermined value for automatic temperature compensation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fallable type pole supporting device comprising a wire extending in a longitudinal direction of a pole extended to a mounting side end of a pole member. A resilient member is disposed between an extreme end of the wire and a mounting side end of the pole member. The pole member and the longitudinal direction of the wire are maintained in a straight line by a resilient force in an axial direction of the resilient member. A lower mounting end of the pole member is tiltably maintained and the pole member is made engageable with a base body through said wire.

Abstract: A pressing die comprises a shaping panel form being pressed against a blank to be pressed into a product, an attachment panel adapted to be mounted on a press machine frame, first ribs extending from optimum positions on the shaping panel, second ribs extending from optimum positions on the attachment panel and offset from the first ribs, and intermediate ribs optimally joining the first and second ribs to each other.

Abstract: A pressure and fatigue reducing seat provided as part of a full chair, or alternatively as part of a portable seat apparatus, and adapted to support a user's body so as to eliminate undesirable pressure to parts of the user's body including the spine. The seat portion cooperates with a back support portion to normally and comfortably maintain an erect sitting posture. The seat portion includes a pair of spaced-apart members for supporting the user's buttocks, and an elongated member for supporting the back of the user's thighs. The back support portion includes a pair of lower support members which contact the user's back at spaced-apart points in the posterior pelvic area, and may also include a pair of upper support members which contact the user's back at spaced apart points in the thoracic area. The portable seat apparatus may be placed on any existing chair or seat, and may be conveniently transported and stored.

Abstract: A joint structure joins an outboard engine assembly to a boat hull. The outboard engine assembly has an engine, a case, a propeller rotatably supported on the case and drivable by the engine. The joint structure includes an attachment adapted to be coupled to the boat hull, the case having an inner surface defining an inner housing region, and elastic mount mechanism accommodated in the inner housing region for elastically supporting the case to the attachment. The elastic mount mechanism comprises a support member coupled to the attachment, and an elastic member disposed on the support member, the elastic member being elastically deformable from partial abutment to full abutment against a portion of the inner surface of the case in response to an increase in compressive forces which are applied between the case and the attachment when the engine is in operation.