Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell stack having a stacked body formed by stacking fuel cell units together and a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body therebetween; electrical heaters disposed near the ends of the stacked body or the end plates, respectively; a water purging device for purging water which is generated during a power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is held in the fuel cell units; and a control unit which controls the power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is operatively connected to the electrical heaters and the water purging device. The control unit is adapted to operate the electrical heaters and the water purging device when the power generation operation is stopped.

Abstract: A method and catalysts for producing a hydrogen-rich syngas are disclosed. According to the method a CO-containing gas contacts a water gas shift (WGS) catalyst, in the presence of water, preferably at a temperature of less than about 450° C. to produce a hydrogen-rich syngas. Also disclosed is a water gas shift catalyst formulated from: a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof, b) at least one of Fe and Rh, their oxides and mixtures thereof, and c) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Re, Co, Ni, Pd, Ge, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The WGS catalyst may be supported on a carrier, such as any one member or a combination of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, yttria and iron oxide. Fuel processors containing such water gas shift catalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and catalysts and fuel processing apparatus for producing a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas are disclosed. According to the method, a CO-containing gas, such as a syngas, contacts a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift (“WGS”) catalyst, in the presence of water and preferably at a temperature of less than about 450° C., to produce a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas. Also disclosed is a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift catalyst formulated from: a) Ru, its oxides or mixtures thereof, b) Co, Mo, their oxides or mixtures thereof, and c) at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ti, Zr, Cr, Fe, La, Ce, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The WGS catalyst may be supported on a carrier, such as any one member or a combination of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, yttria and iron oxide. Fuel processors containing such water gas shift catalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while moving in a towed state by a traction vehicle. A grating-like portion scoops up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved and a reticulate portion that is formed behind the grating-like portion to hold waste. As the beach cleaner is moved, waste present in front of the beach cleaner is scooped up onto the grating-like portion and is held with the reticulate portion formed behind the grating-like portion. Sand that is scooped up together with the waste is allowed to drop through the gaps in the grating-like portion.

Abstract: An exhaust heat exchanger with catalyst to be used in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is provided. A catalyst chamber is disposed within a water chamber which a cooling water flows through. An exhaust gas having passed through the catalyst chamber in contact with a catalyst makes an indirect heat exchange with the cooling water before it is discharged outside. The water chamber is formed surrounded by an inner trunk and an outer trunk, and the catalyst chamber is formed by a cylindrical body disposed coaxially with the inner and outer trunks and housing the catalyst. A spiral passage for the exhaust gas is formed between the inner trunk and the cylindrical body. A plurality of heat transmitting pipes are arranged within the water chamber surrounding the inner trunk circumferentially at regular intervals. The exhaust gas having passed through the catalyst flows within the spiral passage and the heat transmitting pipes in turn to make a heat exchange with the cooling water.

Abstract: The occupant protective apparatus includes one or more seats 1 respectively supported on a car body so as to be movable along the direction of a force acting on the car body in the case of a car collision and each including a seat belt 3 for restricting an occupant 2 seated on the seat 1, a fluid container 14, the capacity of which can be reduced as the car body is deformed in the car collision, and a force generating unit 5 for applying a force to the seat 1 in the back-and-forth direction of the car body in response to generation of the pressure of fluid filled in the fluid container, such pressure generation occurring when the capacity of the fluid container is reduced.

Abstract: A photosensor signal processing apparatus is used in combination with an image sensor comprised of a matrix of pixels or photosensors capable of producing an output as a linear function and a logarithmic function of incident illumination. The apparatus includes a correction data storage device which stores therein a set of data about the respective photosensors for the correction of individual outputs of the photosensors, and a correcting device for correcting the respective output values of the photosensors on the basis of the correction data. Thus, even when the individual outputs of the photosensors generate have different characteristics, the output characteristic variation between the photosensors are corrected such that the output characteristics of all the photosensors agree with a reference output characteristic. A fixed pattern noise resulting from the pixel-to-pixel output characteristic variation can be suppressed.

Abstract: A detected projection is integrally provided on one side of a rotor produced by pressing a plate material. A portion of a rotor is allowed to bulge from one side of the rotor by pressing. At least one end of the projection in a circumferential direction of the rotor is comprised of a shear end face steeply rising from the side of the rotor by a shearing effect during pressing. The shear end face is formed as a sensing end face for an electromagnetic pick-up. The detected projection generates a rotation detecting pulse in an electromagnetic pick-up disposed in proximity to the rotor. The accuracy in size of the projection is enhanced and moreover, when the projection is detected by the electromagnetic pick-up, a pulse wave form is generated clearly and sharply, thereby enhancing the sensing accuracy.

Abstract: A wire-and-pulley drive link mechanism such as a robot hand, comprising a base, a linkage connected to said base by a first joint and having a first link and a second link connected by a second joint like fingers. The base carries motors for individual links. A wire-and-pulley drive system is provided such that said linkage moves relative to said base and said first link moves relative to said second link moves when driven by said motors. The wire is made of amorphous material and a coil is wound on each of the wires to detect stress or tensile force by sensing a change of magnetic permeability generated when the wire is subject to external force. A control system having a joint servo is provided and determines a manipulated variable to be supplied to the motor based on at least the detected stress and a servo gain.

Abstract: Either the front wheels or the rear wheels of a front wheel- and rear wheel-drive vehicle are driven by an engine and the other thereof are driven by an electric motor. A detecting device detects a coefficient of friction on a road surface during running of the vehicle. Control circuit controls to operate the electric motor when the vehicle is subsequently started in a condition in which the coefficient of friction on the road surface is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The detecting device for detecting the coefficient of friction on the road surface is made up of a section for detecting the driving force of wheels to be driven by the engine, a section for detecting a slip ratio of the wheels, and a section for obtaining the coefficient of friction on the road surface based on a correlation between the driving force and the slip ratio.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged in the exhaust system, and an ECU which controls an amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine in a feedback manner based on an output from the air-fuel ratio sensor by using an adaptive controller of a recurrence formula type, such that the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine becomes equal to a desired air-fuel ratio. Deterioration of a response characteristic of the air-fuel ratio sensor is detected based on at least one adaptive parameter used in the feedback control of the amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine.

Abstract: A method of producing a prepolymer of aromatic polythiazole from an aromatic diaminodithiol compound or a salt thereof and a dicarboxylic acid derivative, the prepolymer having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an aromatic group having at least one benzene nucleus, and R.sub.2 is a residual group of the dicarboxylic acid derivative, comprising the step of polymerizing the aromatic diaminodithiol compound or a salt thereof and the dicarboxylic acid derivative by an interfacial polymerization method.

Abstract: A sun-roof apparatus for a vehicle which comprises a sun-roof frame forming a gutter having at least two side portions and at least one raised rear portion at a higher height than the side portions, and interposed between the side portions. The gutter is provided under a roof outer plate having an opening opened and closed by a sun-roof panel. The gutter extends along at least three peripheral edges of the opening. An interior plate is arranged under the raised rear portion of the gutter. The interior plate is raised higher than the two side portions of the gutter and capable of moving between a closed position opposed to the opening and unopened position moved backward to a rear of the opening. A drain conduit is connected to each of the two side portions of the gutter. A connecting passage is arranged under the interior plate, wherein ends of the two side portions of the gutter which are close to one of the raised side portions are connected by a recessed groove.

Abstract: In a valve actuating device of four-cycle internal combustion engine, a valve actuating cam shaft for driving an opening and closing valve via a rocker arm is carried on a cam holder block, an adjusting bolt is held on the cam holder block so as to be adjustable relative to its position to the latter and the rocker arm is supported on a pivot portion integral with the adjusting bolt for rocking motion. Valve clearance between the rocker arm and the opening and closing valve is adjusted by displacing the position of adjusting bolt relative to the cam holder block.

Abstract: An electric power steering system (200) for vehicles including a driving control circuit (76, 100, 108) for feeding, in consideration of an output signal (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) from a steering torque detection mechanism (77) for detecting steering torque (Ts) acting on an input shaft (4), a drive signal (Va) to an electric motor (33) for producing auxiliary torque to be supplied to an output shaft (7). In the steering system, the auxiliary torque to be developed at the electric motor (33) is reduced, under the condition that a steering angle (Th) of the steering wheel has exceeded a predetermined angle (Th.sub.1).

Abstract: In a crankshaft structure of two-cycle internal combustion engine, a crank web is provided with a reduced diameter portion at one end thereof coming in the proximity of a bearing which rotatably carries a crank journal and a sealing member is disposed on the outer periphery of the reduced diameter portion. This arrangement advantageously reduces the axial length of the crankshaft while keeping a desired length of the supporting part of the crank web fitted with the crank journal.