Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first flow passage for an engine coolant; a second flow passage for an engine oil; a third flow passage for a transmission oil; and plural plates that partition the first, the second and the third flow passage. The first flow passage is configured to allow the engine coolant to be heat-exchanged with both the engine oil and the transmission oil via the plates. The second flow passage is arranged in the same layer with the third flow passage. The first flow passage is arranged in a different layer from the layer of the second and the third flow passage. The third flow passage is disposed on an upstream side and second flow passage is disposed on a downstream side in a flow direction of the engine coolant in the first flow passage.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a rotary electric machine, an electric power storage device, an electric power generation device, a switch, and an ECU. The switch is a switch operated by a user when the user requires recovery control to be executed or stopped. The recovery control is control for increasing the electric power storage amount of the electric power storage device by using the electric power generation device. The ECU is configured to select any one of a plurality of control modes that include a charge sustaining mode and a charge depleting mode, and control the hybrid vehicle in accordance with the selected control mode. The ECU is configured to select the charge depleting mode when the recovery control is requested to be stopped by using the switch during the execution of the recovery control.

Abstract: The brake controller includes a friction brake device, a regeneration brake device, a required braking force calculating portion, a vehicle motion control portion which distributes the required braking force to the non-regeneration braking side right/left wheels that is either one of the right/left front wheels and right/left rear wheels, a maximum braking force calculating portion which calculates the maximum braking force at each wheel and a braking force control portion-which calculates the regeneration braking force generated at the regeneration braking side right/left wheels within a range where the regeneration braking force to be generated at the regeneration braking side right/left wheels does not exceed a smaller value of the maximum braking forces of the regeneration braking side right/left wheels, based on the required braking force and the distribution of the braking force to the non-regeneration braking side right/left wheels.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack and fuel cell modules that constitute such a fuel cell stack are provided, wherein adhesion of foreign materials to an electrolyte membrane of each fuel cell can be effectively prevented, and highly efficient maintenance is possible by replacing a fuel cell with degraded performance out of the fuel cell stack. A plurality of fuel cells 10 each having a membrane electrode assembly 1, gas-permeable layers 2,3,5,6 on the anode and cathode sides, sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly 1 therebetween, and a separator 7 on at least one of the anode and cathode sides are stacked. A gasket 8 is integrally molded with peripheral edges of the membrane electrode assembly 1 and the gas-permeable layers 2,3,5,6 of each of the stacked cells, whereby a single fuel cell module 100 is formed. Stacking and compressing such modules 100, . . . can form a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor module which includes a semiconductor device; a wiring member that is connected to the semiconductor device; a cooling plate that includes a first surface on a side of the semiconductor device and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface and has a fastening portion at an end thereof in a first direction; and a molded portion that is formed by molding a resin on the semiconductor device, the wiring member and the cooling plate, wherein the fastening portion is exposed out of the molded portion, and a terminal portion of the wiring member is exposed out of the molded portion such that the terminal portion of the wiring member extends in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A side part structure of a vehicle body capable of reliably dispersing a collision load applied from the side of a vehicle is disclosed. A bulkhead arranged in a rocker has an outer bulkhead joined to an outer rocker and an inner bulkhead joined to an inner rocker. Facing walls of the outer bulkhead and the inner bulkhead are provided with proximity portions which are engageable with each other, which allow a collision load at a side collision to be reliably transmitted from the outer rocker to the inner rocker via the proximity portions formed on the mutually facing walls, thereby reliably dispersing the collision load from the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A compound oxide manufacturing method includes: dispersing micelles, in each of which an aqueous phase is formed, in an oil phase; producing primary particles of a precursor of compound oxide in the aqueous phases in the micelles; synthesizing secondary particles by causing the primary particles to aggregate; and causing the secondary particles to aggregate by breaking the dispersion state of the micelles, or by causing the micelles to coalesce. In particular, polarization is produced in each of the micelles with the use of a cation having an ionic radius larger than that of a metal ion at least when the secondary particles are synthesized in the micelles.

Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle has a load detecting device arranged between a floor-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a floor of the vehicle and a seat-side fixing member adapted to be fixed to a seat for the vehicle and for measuring a load of an occupant seated on the seat. The load detecting device includes: a strain member; a connecting member vertically fixed to an intermediate portion of the strain member; strain gauges attached to a surface of the strain member; an upper bracket having a first and second fixed portions both fixed to the other surface of the strain member. The upper bracket further has an attachment portion connecting the first and second fixed portions and extending in a lateral direction of the seat; and an amplifier unit attached to a surface of the attachment portion of the upper bracket corresponding to the strain member so as to be coplanar with the strain member.

Abstract: A housing has an intake passage extending substantially in a vertical direction of a vehicle. A valve is configured to open and close the intake passage. A shaft supports the valve. A bearing supports the shaft. A hose is connected with an upper side of the housing in the vertical direction and configured to lead intake air into the intake passage. A communication passage configured to communicate an inside of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle with the hose. The communication passage has an opening in the vicinity of a point directly above the bearing. The hose has a wall surface defining a condensate passage, which connects the opening with a target location from which condensate is to be dropped.

Abstract: The combined battery of the present invention includes two end plates and a plurality of general cells stacked adjacent each other and bound by two end plates. The general cells are provided with a battery container made of resin, and bound by two end plates with a binding force equal to or lower than a threshold value determined based on the number and the compressibility of the cells and the stiffness of the battery container, in such a manner that no more than a predetermined amount of irreversible deformation will be caused in the battery container.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve that directly injects a fuel into a combustion chamber from a rim of a cylinder toward a center line of the cylinder in a slanting direction toward a lower portion of the combustion chamber, an ignition plug that is arranged at substantially a center of the cylinder, and injection openings from which a spray that forms a shape that widens toward an end from a portion near a center of the combustion chamber toward a side wall of the combustion chamber on a cross-section perpendicular to a direction of injection is injected are included.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser machining apparatus in a simple structure which can properly carry out laser machining by irradiating a laser beam easily at a predetermined energy density to a machining-target site in a predetermined range, and in addition, which can be downsized and can be kept with easy maintenance and has enhanced durability. The apparatus includes: a semiconductor stack 1 comprising a plurality of semiconductor laser elements; and a controller for controlling emission of the laser beam emitted from each of the semiconductor laser elements. The semiconductor stack 1 is divided into a plurality of blocks B11, B12, B13, B14 in correspondence with the machining-target site of a work piece. The controller controls the irradiation of the laser beam from each of the blocks B11, B12, B13, B14 to be changeable in terms of time.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric plates, and inner electrode layers composed of an electrode material. The piezoelectric plates and the inner electrode layers are laminated alternately. The electrode material includes a metallic component, and an electrically conductive oxide. When the electrically conductive oxide, in which the oxygen ions works as carriers, is added to the electrode material, oxygen is supplied into the operating piezoelectric plates from the inner electrode layers. As a result, the piezoelectric plates are inhibited from degrading.

Abstract: A vacuum booster apparatus used for a brake apparatus positively decreases a degree of opening of a throttle valve when it is required while an unnecessary decrease in the degree of opening of the throttle valve is positively prevented. A first pressure chamber of a vacuum booster is connected to an intake pipe of the engine on a downstream side of a throttle valve. A second pressure chamber of the vacuum booster is selectively connectable to one of the first pressure chamber and atmosphere. The vacuum booster boosts an operating force applied to a brake operating member based on a pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. A throttle-opening-degree control device controls a negative pressure in the first pressure chamber by controlling the degree of opening of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus has a pump that supplies operating fluid for performing speed shift control of a power transfer apparatus, and a driving motor that drives the pump. If it is determined that the power transfer apparatus is in a neutral state (N range), it is then determined whether the vehicle is running. If the vehicle is running, it is determined whether the operation speed of the driving motor has reached a speed that allows the pump to produce a predetermined fluid pressure. If that speed has not been reached, the motor operation speed is controlled to the speed that allows the pump to produce the predetermined fluid pressure. The vehicle drive apparatus secures a pressure and a flow of fluid when the power transfer apparatus is operated to the neutral state during the running of the vehicle.

Abstract: When starting a fuel cell, valves are operated such that a heat exchange medium flows from a circulation pump through a heating-time bypass duct to a heater and the fuel cell, and the heat exchange medium is heated by the heater. Consequently, the fuel cell can be heated up efficiently and rapidly. When a heating device is driven during operation of the fuel cell, the valves are operated such that the heat exchange medium flows from the circulation pump to the fuel cell, the heater and the heat exchanger in this order. If the amount of heat required for the heating device cannot obtained from the heat generated by the fuel cell, the heater heats the heat exchange medium so as to remedy a deficiency in heat. As a result, the heating device can be made to function adequately. That is, the fuel cell is heated up rapidly when it is started.

Abstract: A control system for a resilient support mechanism such as a suspension mechanism of a wheeled vehicle including a damper disposed between an unsprung mass member and a sprung mass member of the vehicle, wherein a damping coefficient of the damper is divided into a linear portion and a nonlinear portion, and wherein the nonlinear portion of the damping coefficient is defined as a control input u and applied with a frequency weight Wu(s), while a vertical velocity of the sprung mass member, a relative velocity of the sprung mass member to the unsprung mass member and a vertical acceleration of the sprung mass member are defined as an evaluation output zp and applied with a frequency weight Ws(s).

Abstract: An idle intake control device provided with a backflow preventing means for preventing a backflow near an idle intake regulating valve and producing only a forward flow in order to prevent idle intake air containing combustion products from flowing back and being adhered to an idle intake regulating valve in an idle intake passageway for bypassing an intake regulating valve provided in an intake passageway of the engine.

Abstract: A speed change control system for an automatic transmission for making a speed change of the automatic transmission by applying/releasing frictional engagement elements and for controlling a line pressure, to be fed to the frictional engagement elements, to a pressure according to a throttle opening. The speed change control system detects a downshift of the automatic transmission with the throttle opening being increased, to control the line pressure to a level lower than that according to the throttle opening, if the downshift is detected. As a result, the torque transmission capacities of the frictional engagement elements, even if they are of the hydraulic type in which they are applied at the downshift, can be preventing from increasing during the speed change, thereby to improve the shift shock at the downshift.