Abstract: Disclosed is a system for monitoring automatic door apparatuses installed at different sites by centrally administering maintenance service contents and contents regarding actual repair to compile a database and by rendering personnel in sales agents or maintenance service agents accessible to the database. The system has a multitude of automatic door apparatus each having a communications function, and an administration center communicatively connected with the respective automatic door apparatuses via a communication medium. Each of the automatic door apparatuses sends, to the administration center, operating information of its own with apparatus identification information attached thereto. The administration center is operative to classify the operating information of each door apparatus into a number of categories based on the apparatus identification information for storage, and to output the operating information in response to a calling.

Abstract: A door system has a compartment formed with a first gateway and a second gateway opposed to the first gateway, and a barrier apparatus housed in the compartment. The barrier apparatus includes a swivel panel which swings back and forth between a first position where one surface of the swivel panel faces the first gateway, and a second position where the opposite surface of the swivel panel faces the first gateway. The barrier apparatus further includes a pair of door panels provided at the opposite ends of the swivel panel to move with the swivel panel. The door panels synchronously open the gateways when the swivel panel is at the first position and at the second position. Air sealing is provided between the compartment and the door panels.

Abstract: A pulsation dampening apparatus and a clutch master cylinder used for a hydraulic clutch operation system which has a hydraulic circuit. The apparatus has a housing which has a dampening chamber in the hydraulic circuit and a dampening assembly accommodated in the housing. The dampening assembly includes a working unit which dampens pulsations generated in the dampening chamber in the hydraulic circuit, an elastic retainer preloaded between the housing and the working unit to fasten the working unit into the housing by exerting a reaction force onto the working unit, and a force conversion mechanism which increases the reaction force of the elastic retainer in accordance with an urging force transmitted from the working unit to the elastic retainer.

Abstract: A master cylinder includes a cylinder main body forming a piston mount space and a piston mounted in the cylinder main body. An auxiliary supplying/discharging passage communicating sideways with the piston mount space is provided at a longitudinally middle portion of the cylinder main body. The inner circumferential surface of the cylinder main body and the outer circumferential surface of the piston are shaped such that a communication path communicating a pressure chamber near a supplying/discharging opening and the auxiliary supplying/discharging passage is formed at the outer side of a seal ring mounted on the piston with the piston moved back to a rearmost position most distanced from the supplying/discharging opening. The position of the piston and the pressure in the pressure chamber can be stabilized when the piston is located at a rearmost position from the supplying/discharging opening.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder has an opening at one end, and a push rod passes through the opening so that a coupling at one end of the push rod is in the cylinder. A piston is reciprocally movably in the cylinder, and a spring urges the piston into contact with the coupling. The opening includes a through groove configured to pass the coupling when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod are normal and to prevent the coupling from coming out when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod align. An insertion groove in the side surface of the cylinder is continuous with the through groove and is adapted for passing a rod portion in the inserting state.

Abstract: An electric-powered vehicle includes electric-powered drivers for driving wheels, a controller for controlling the electric-powered drivers to generate an assisting driving force in accordance with a vehicle operating force by an operator, and a brake-operation unit for applying braking forces on the wheels. The vehicle also includes a brake-operation detector for detecting a brake operation performed by the brake-operation unit. When the brake-operation detector detects the brake operation, the controller controls the drivers to reduce the assisting driving force. This structure solves a problem caused by simultaneous generation of the braking forces and the assisting driving force.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder has an opening at one end, and a push rod passes through the opening so that a coupling at one end of the push rod is in the cylinder. A piston is reciprocally movably in the cylinder, and a spring urges the piston into contact with the coupling. The opening includes a through groove configured to pass the coupling when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod are normal and to prevent the coupling from coming out when the longitudinal axes of the cylinder and the push rod align. An insertion groove in the side surface of the cylinder is continuous with the through groove and is adapted for passing a rod portion in the inserting state.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit comprises a first and a second merging line capable of supplying pressure oil from a third pump for a third circuit to directional control valves in a first and a second circuit, respectively, and a merging valve for selectively communicating or cutting off the first and the second merging line with or from the third pump. The merging valve has a first shift position at which the third pump is connected to the second merging line, and a second shift position at which the third pump is connected to the first and the second merging line. The merging valve is shifted continuously between the shift positions. The hydraulic circuit can efficiently distribute pressure oil supplied from the third pump to the first and/or second circuit as well, and can prevent lowering of the operability of each of actuators connected to the first or second circuit.

Abstract: A pulsation dampening apparatus and a clutch master cylinder used for a hydraulic clutch operation system which has a hydraulic circuit. The apparatus has a housing which has a dampening chamber in the hydraulic circuit and a dampening assembly accommodated in the housing. The dampening assembly includes a working unit which dampens pulsations generated in the dampening chamber in the hydraulic circuit, an elastic retainer preloaded between the housing and the working unit to fasten the working unit into the housing by exerting a reaction force onto the working unit, and a force conversion mechanism which increases the reaction force of the elastic retainer in accordance with an urging force transmitted from the working unit to the elastic retainer.

Abstract: A master cylinder includes a cylinder main body forming a piston mount space and a piston mounted in the cylinder main body. An auxiliary supplying/discharging passage communicating sideways with the piston mount space is provided at a longitudinally middle portion of the cylinder main body. The inner circumferential surface of the cylinder main body and the outer circumferential surface of the piston are shaped such that a communication path communicating a pressure chamber near a supplying/discharging opening and the auxiliary supplying/discharging passage is formed at the outer side of a seal ring mounted on the piston with the piston moved back to a rearmost position most distanced from the supplying/discharging opening. The position of the piston and the pressure in the pressure chamber can be stabilized when the piston is located at a rearmost position from the supplying/discharging opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for monitoring automatic door apparatuses installed at different sites by centrally administering maintenance service contents and contents regarding actual repair to compile a database and by rendering personnel in sales agents or maintenance service agents accessible to the database. The system has a multitude of automatic door apparatus each having a communications function, and an administration center communicatively connected with the respective automatic door apparatuses via a communication medium. Each of the automatic door apparatuses sends, to the administration center, operating information of its own with apparatus identification information attached thereto. The administration center is operative to classify the operating information of each door apparatus into a number of categories based on the apparatus identification information for storage, and to output the operating information in response to a calling.

Abstract: An electric-powered vehicle includes electric-powered drivers for driving wheels, a controller for controlling the electric-powered drivers to generate an assisting driving force in accordance with a vehicle operating force by an operator, and a brake-operation unit for applying braking forces on the wheels. The vehicle also includes a brake-operation detector for detecting a brake operation performed by the brake-operation unit. When the brake-operation detector detects the brake operation, the controller controls the drivers to reduce the assisting driving force. This structure solves a problem caused by simultaneous generation of the braking forces and the assisting driving force.

Abstract: A door system has a compartment formed with a first gateway and a second gateway opposed to the first gateway, and a barrier apparatus housed in the compartment. The barrier apparatus includes a swivel panel which swings back and forth within an angular displacement of 180° or less, the swivel panel selectively swinging in such a direction that one surface of the swivel panel faces the first gateway when the swivel panel swings in one direction, whereas the opposite surface of the swivel panel faces the first gateway when the swivel panel swings in the opposite direction, a pair of door panels provided at the opposite ends of the swivel panel, the door panels operatively opening and closing the first gateway and the second gateway respectively at the same timing while keeping contact with the compartment, and a driving mechanism which operatively swings the swivel panel back and forth.

Abstract: A clutch-actuating device includes a master cylinder actuated by depression of a clutch pedal, an operating cylinder actuated by fluid pressure fed from the master cylinder through a conduit which is connected to the master cylinder or the operating cylinder via a coupling member, and a restriction mechanism for restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid returning from the operating cylinder to the master cylinder, the restriction mechanism being incorporated in the coupling member. The operating cylinder (or master cylinder) of this clutch-actuating device can be commonly used regardless of whether a torque shock protection valve should be incorporated.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit comprises a first and a second merging line capable of supplying pressure oil from a third pump for a third circuit to directional control valves in a first and a second circuit, respectively, and a merging valve for selectively communicating or cutting off the first and the second merging line with or from the third pump. The merging valve has a first shift position at which the third pump is connected to the second merging line, and a second shift position at which the third pump is connected to the first and the second merging line. The merging valve is shifted continuously between the shift positions. The hydraulic circuit can efficiently distribute pressure oil supplied from the third pump to the first and/or second circuit as well, and can prevent lowering of the operability of each of actuators connected to the first or second circuit.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle which improves the operability of an electric wheelchair on slopes is provided. The control apparatus includes a control unit which, when it determines that a rotational direction corresponding to a direction of an operation force is opposite to a rotational direction in which a driving wheel is actually rotated, sets an operation mode of the motor for driving the wheel to an electrical braking mode. Thus, the electric wheelchair is decelerated and the load on the operator is reduced. The control unit may control the motor such that the motor does not generate an electrical braking force until the driving wheel is rotated by a predetermined amount. In such a case, even when the driving wheel temporarily rotates in the reverse direction while it climbs up an upward slope, an unnecessary electrical braking force is not generated.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle which improves the operability of an electric wheelchair on slopes is provided. The control apparatus includes a control unit which, when it determines that a rotational direction corresponding to a direction of an operation force is opposite to a rotational direction in which a driving wheel is actually rotated, sets an operation mode of the motor for driving the wheel to an electrical braking mode. Thus, the electric wheelchair is decelerated and the load on the operator is reduced. The control unit may control the motor such that the motor does not generate an electrical braking force until the driving wheel is rotated by a predetermined amount. In such a case, even when the driving wheel temporarily rotates in the reverse direction while it climbs up an upward slope, an unnecessary electrical braking force is not generated.

Abstract: A fluid pressure control device having a 3-position solenoid valve which is controlled to switch between a supply position, an overlapping position, and an exhaust position, using a drive command value corresponding to a pressure command signal. It also has a drive command setting unit which computes a drive command value for driving the 3-position solenoid valve into a predetermined position, in order to make the pressure command signal and a feedback signal of the output pressure of the 3-position solenoid valve coincide and a compensating value setting unit which computes a compensating value to be added to or subtracted from the above-mentioned drive command value, in accordance with the pressure differential between the above-mentioned pressure command signal and feedback signal, and the proportion of change in the feedback signal.

Abstract: A pressure control valve equipped with a solenoid valve, in which a main valve body is provided with an air-supply chamber connected to a pressurized air source, a control pressure chamber into which pilot pressure is input, an output chamber connected to an air-pressure apparatus, and an air-supply valve which establishes contact between and isolates such air-supply chamber and such output chamber. Such pressure control valve further includes a pressure-adjusting piston which is urged one way by a pressure-adjusting spring and is urged the other way by such pilot pressure of such control pressure chamber, and a hollow exhaust valve rod is provided integrally with such pressure-adjusting piston to open or close such air-supply valve in accordance with such pilot pressure; and in which such solenoid valve supplying such pilot pressure to such control pressure chamber is attached to such main valve body.

Abstract: A brake monitoring device for railroad cars is provided with a first comparison device which compares the electrical brake power equivalent signal with a first standard value, judges whether or not electrical brake power is generated and closes the locomotive brake deficit check circuit with an interlock device when such electrical brake power equivalent signal is smaller than such first standard value and which opens the locomotive brake deficit check circuit when it is larger. Such brake monitoring device also includes a second comparison device which compares the electrical brake power equivalent signal with a second standard value which judges whether or not electrical brake power is supplied to the brake power of the trailer car. Such device closes the trailer car brake deficit check circuit with such interlock device when the electrical brake power equivalent signal is smaller than the second standard value and opens the trailer car brake deficit check circuit when it is larger.