Abstract: A spring is provided having a high durability in actual use and sagging resistance of the same level as or higher than conventional ones through improvement of the corrosion fatigue resistance. The spring uses as a material a steel including C: 0.35-0.55%, Si: 1.60-3.00%, Mn: 0.20-1.50%, S: 0.010% or less, Ni: 0.40-3.00%, Cr: 0.10-1.50%, N: 0.010-0.025%, V: 0.05-0.50% and Fe balance. The steel is heat treated to have a hardness of 50.5-55.0 HCC and shot-peened at a moderate temperature to render a residual stress of −600 MPa or more at a depth of 0.2 mm below the surface. The temperature at which the spring is shot-peened is preferably 100-300° C., and the hardness of shot particles for the shot-peening is preferably 450-600 Hv.

Abstract: In a push pull type control cable, a conduit has a tubular liner made of a plastic material. A wire is provided by winding a diameter-reduced side wire around a core wire, and arranged to be axially movably placed within the liner. A zinc plating is coated on an outer surface of the side wire, a thickness of the plating ranging from 5.0 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. The core wire is made of a steel, and a diameter of the core wire ranges from 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm. The side wire forms a row of steel lines which are single wound around the core wire at a predetermined lead angle (13 degrees to 25 degrees), a diameter of each of the steel lines ranging from 0.25 mm to 0.60 mm.

Abstract: In a foldable device for an automobile recline seat, a back rest reclining member is provided to lock the back rest and to release the back rest to rotate forward under the function of the back rest urging member. A seat lock-up cable is connected at one end to the seat locking member and the other end to an actuator member. A back rest lock-up cable is connected at one end to the back rest reclining member and the other end to the actuator member, the actuator member including an actuator lever and an auxiliary lever. A timing mechanism is provided to sequentially actuate the actuator lever and the auxiliary lever so as to pull the back rest lock-up cable and the seat lock-up cable in turn, releasing the back rest reclining member and the seat locking member respectively to rotate the back rest forward by the back rest reclining member and rotating the seat forward around the front arm of the frame by an action of the urging member.

Abstract: In a conduit for a control cable, it is possible to ensure a good rigidity of a stranded portion 3A having a plurality of strand line elements 3 which are wound to an outer surface of the liner 2 without increasing a diameter (8.0 mm or less) of a conduit 1. In order to secure a greater polar moment of inertia of area, a combinatorial relationship between the number (N) of the strand line elements 3 and a diameter (.phi.) of the strand line element 3 is selected from the following group A, B and C. Where A:=.phi.=1.1.about.1.2 mm and N=13, B: .phi.=1.2.about.1.35 mm and N=12, C: .phi.=0.95.about.1.1 mm and N=14.

Abstract: In an anti-vibration resin structure for outer cable end, a casing cap (10) is provided in which an end of an outer cable (3) of a control cable (2) is placed to teleoperate a device. An anti-vibration cushion (20) is molded around the casing cap (10) to absorb vibration from the outer cable (3). A shield cushion (30) is molded around the anti-vibration cushion (20) so as to fasten it to a partition of a motor vehicle. A polyamide material is used to the shield cushion (30), a crystallization degree of the polyamide material falls in the range of 16.about.25%. This retains the predetermined characteristics with the anti-vibration cushion (20), and thus insuring the anti-vibration cushion (20) with a stable vibration absorption property.

Abstract: In a cable joint structure, a first casing has a first rail member. A first end portion has a lug portion directed opposite to the first rail, and connected to one end of a first cable so that the first end portion moves along the first rail member. A second casing has a second rail member. A second end portion has a recess portion into which the lug portion interfits, and connected to one end of a second cable so that the second end portion moves along the second rail member. A rotation lock member has a groove provided on the first casing and a protrusion provided on the second casing to interfit the protrusion into the groove so as to unite the first casing and the second casing. An engagement member has an elastic engagement tip provided on the first casing and an engagement opening provided on the second casing to interfit the engagement tip into the engagement opening so as to detachably unite the first casing and the second casing.

Abstract: In a cable joint structure, a first casing has a first rail member. A first end portion has a lug portion directed opposite to the first rail, and connected to one end of a first cable so that the first end portion moves along the first rail member. A second casing has a second rail member. A second end portion has a recess portion into which the lug portion interfits from a direction opposite to the second rail member, and connected to one end of a second cable so that the second end portion moves along the second rail member. A lock member is provided to unite the first casing to the second casing with the first rail member located to face the second rail member.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a valve spring, a coiled valve spring made of an oil-tempered wire is applied with nitriding treatment and is supported to be rotated about its center axis. During a shot peening process of the coiled valve spring, cut wires of Hv 650 to 850 in hardness and 1.0 to 0.6 mm in diameter are shot to the coiled valve spring at a first step, in a roller-type shot machine and cut wires of Hv 650 to 850 in hardness and 0.4 to 0.2 mm in diameter are shot to the coiled valve spring at a second step in a tumbling shot machine, the time for the second step being longer than the time for the first step.

Abstract: In a gear shift lock device for an automatic transmission, a lock cover (13) is provided to prevent the rotational movement of a select plate (10) while a shift lock is working. The lock cover (13) is provided to prevent the rotational movement of the select plate (10) by placing it between the select plate (10) and the slide plate (5a). With this structure, when the downward force of a detent pin (5) is transmitted to the select plate (10) at the time of pushing a button (3) of a shift knob, no prying force occurs on the lock cover (13) to prevent any malfunctions.

Abstract: In a foldable device for an automobile recline seat, a back rest reclining member is provided to lock the back rest and to release the back rest to rotate forward under the function of the back rest urging member. A seat lock-up cable is connected at one end to the seat locking member and the other end to an actuator member. A back rest lock-up cable is connected at one end to the back rest reclining member and the other end to the actuator member, the actuator member including an actuator lever and an auxiliary lever. A timing mechanism is provided to sequentially actuate the actuator lever and the auxiliary lever so as to pull the back rest lock-up cable and the seat lock-up cable in turn, releasing the back rest reclining member and the seat locking member respectively to rotate the back rest forward by the back rest reclining member and rotating the seat forward around the front arm of the frame by an action of the urging member.

Abstract: The present invention provides, at low cost, a valve spring steel having a tensile strength as high as 210 to 240 kgf/mm.sup.2 after oil tempering. The high strength spring steel comprises, based on weight, 0.65 to 0.85% of C, 1.90 to 2.40% of Si, 0.50 to 1.00% of Mn, 0.70 to 1.30% of Cr, 0.10 to 0.30% of Mo, 0.20 to 0.50% of V, 0.01 to 0.04% of Nb and the balance Fe and unavoidable impurities and is subjected to heating at temperature of 1,050 to 1,250.degree. C. and then to rolling so that carbides in the steel have a size of up to 0.15 .mu.m in terms of equivalent circle. A valve spring having a tensile strength as high as 210 to 240 kgf/mm.sup.2 after oil tempering and stabilized quality can be produced while the material cost is greatly reduced by decreasing costly alloying components as much as possible.

Abstract: In a wire type teleoperational system, a push-pull cable has a push-pull inner cable which is at one end connected to an operative portion, and the other end connected to a coupler. The push-pull cable further has a push-pull outer cable which encases the push-pull inner cable so that one end of the push-pull outer cable is connected to a guide member which movably supports the coupler. A pull cable has a pull inner cable which is at one end connected to a first operative portion, and at the other end connected to the coupler, and the pull cable further has a pull outer cable which encases the pull inner cable so that one end of the pull outer cable is connected to a displacement member which is movably connected to the guide member.

Abstract: In a fingerprint scanning device for use in identification, a fingerprint image input device is provided to photoelectronically input a specified fingerprint of an entrant. A monochrome image data of the ridge pattern of the entrant fingerprint is stored as fingerprint image data. A feature extraction device has a calculator which treats the ridge pattern image with one-dimensional group-delay spectrum transform in X- and Y-directions. The feature extraction device has the characteristic of isolating and emphasizing peaks of the individual frequency spectra in the form of differential with respect to a phase component frequency in Fourier transform analysis, and determining group-delay spectra in X- and Y-direction respectively as fingerprint feature portions.

Abstract: A spring steel having a good durability and a good sag-resistance consisting essentially of by weight 0.35-0.55% carbon, 1.80-3.00% silicon, 0.50-1.50% manganese, 0.50-3.00% nickel, 0.10-1.50% chromium, 0.01-0.05% aluminum and 0.010-0.025% nitrogen, the remainder being iron and inevitable impurities.The spring steel has been completed for the purpose of obtaining a spring steel having a high toughness in a high hardness of not less than HRC 55 and having a good sag-resistance, in particular examining the contents of nickel, chromium and nitrogen in addition to the carbon content.

Abstract: Stabilizer device for motor vehicles including a torsion bar, an actuator having a piston and two cylinder chambers on both sides of piston, a first and a second fluid passages for connecting said two cylinder chambers, respectively, a solenoid changeover valve provided in first fluid passage. A actuator has two openings for communicating with each end of first fluid passage within an area on which piston may not slidably contact. A plate member and a centering spring are provided within each of cylinder chambers in such a manner that each of plate members is to come in contact with a bottom surface of cylinder slightly by virtue of resilience of centering spring when piston is positioned in a neutral position. An opening is provided in each of bottom surface of cylinder chambers within an area on which plate member is to come in contact therewith. Each of openings is communicated with second fluid passage and a check valve may be mounted in each of openings.

Abstract: An automatic locking and releasing arrangement for vehicular seat belt including a guide rail provided with first and second guide passages, a driving cable adapted to slide through the first guide passage, a connector and a cam both fixed to the cable at a predetermined spacing from each other, a slider adapted to slide through the second guide passage and engage the connector and the cam, a seat belt attached to the slider through a buckle, and an anchor device for retaining the slider in a locking seat belt position. A ring-like slide member is fixed to the cable portion positioned between the connector and the cam, the ring-like slide member comprising plurality of slide portions having a sectional shape a little smaller than that of the first guide passage and arranged through a flexible portion formed between adjacent slide portions. The cable is slid through the first guide passage of the guide rail by the slide portions of the ring-like slide member.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking a shift lever associated with an automobile automatic transmission in the parking range is provided. A locking member prevents any movement of the shift lever from the parking range to another range except when the brake pedal is stepped down. A pivotal movement of the brake pedal is transmitted to the locking member through a cam rotatably mounted on the brake pedal, a cam follower, and a cable.

Abstract: A control cable connecting device for connecting the cable of a control cable to an operated device. The control cable connecting device comprises a guide sleeve, an operating member slidably fitted in the guide sleeve, supporting lugs fixed to the outer surface of the guide sleeve with a predetermined space therebetween, a guide block fixedly connected to the extremity of the outer casing of a control cable, a driving member slidably fitted in the guide block and fixed to the free end of the cable of the control cable, and a clip for fastening the guide block to the supporting lugs. The driving member can be connected operatively to the operating member simply by placing the guide block containing the driving member in the space between the supporting lugs, and simply by fastening the guide block to the supporting lugs with the clip. Thus, the control cable connecting device requires a small space for installation and is capable of being assembled easily.

Abstract: An automatic locking and releasing arrangement for vehicular seat belt including a guide rail provided with first and second guide passages, a driving cable adapted to slide through the first guide passage, a connector and a cam both fixed to the cable at a predetermined spacing from each other, a slider adapted to slide through the second guide passage and engage the connector and the cam, a seat belt attached to the slider through a buckle, and an anchor device for retaining the slider in a locking seat belt position. A ring-like slide member is fixed to the cable portion positioned between the connector and the cam, the ring-like slide member comprising plurality of slide portions having a sectional shape a little smaller than that of the first guide passage and arranged through a flexible portion formed between adjacent slide portions. The cable is slid through the first guide passage of the guide rail by the slide portions of the ring-like slide member.

Abstract: A spring steel having a good sag-resistance comprises by weight 0.5-0.8% carbon, 0.5-1.4% silicon, 0.5-1.5% manganese and a member or members selected from a group consisting of 0.05-0.5% vanadium, 0.05-0.5% niobium and 0.05-0.5% molybdenum, the remainder being iron together with impurities. The steel may further contain a member or members selected from a group consisting 0.0005-0.01% boron, 0.2-2.0% nickel and not greater than 0.3% rare-earth elements and/or a member or members selected from a group consisting of 0.02-0.1% titanium and 0.02-0.1% zirconium.