Abstract: A building includes at least one structural member. The structural member includes a light-receiving surface that is formed by extrusion or casting of a metal and is irradiated with sunlight, a structural member main body in which a hollow portion extending from a first end portion toward a second end portion is formed, a pair of lid portions that are respectively disposed at the first end portion and the second end portion, and close the hollow portion, an inlet that is provided in any one of the pair of lid portions and through which a heating medium flows into the hollow portion, and an outlet that is provided in any one of the pair of lid portions and through which the heating medium flows out from the hollow portion.

Abstract: A heat collector includes a body including a hollow portion extending from a first end to a second end of the body and being a metal-extruded body having a light-receiving surface to receive sunlight, a pair of lids adjacent to the first end and the second end and covering the hollow portion, an inlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow a heating medium to enter the hollow portion, and an outlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow the heating medium to exit the hollow portion.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising the step of feeding bulky rubber, a thermoplastic resin and an additive to an extruder, and then melt kneading the bulky rubber, the thermoplastic resin and the additive in the extruder, wherein the feeding amount of the bulky rubber is controlled by a method comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A navigation control ECU (10) gives normal guidance to the driver of a vehicle based on the present location of the vehicle as determined from a D-GPS (12) and map data from a map database (14). A map database detailing device (32) obtains detailed data on the shape of a road from the detected valued of a yaw rate sensor (34), an acceleration sensor (36), and a vehicle speed sensor (30) and the data of the map database (14), and stores the detailed data in a detailed map database (28). A vehicle control ECU (20) evaluates the traveling stability of the vehicle at a curve and controls the deceleration, etc., of the vehicle by utilizing the detailed road shape data in the database (28). In this way, a vehicle navigation device can appropriately show the driver of the vehicle the route and control the traveling controller.

Abstract: A vehicle driving condition prediction device, a warning device using this prediction device, and a recording medium for storing data for prediction, wherein during use of the prediction function of an approach speed of the vehicle to a curve ahead, the acceleration at the present moment is maintained for a condition maintaining period of time, and thereafter the vehicle speed is slowed down at a fixed deceleration, and using such an assumed deceleration pattern a vehicle speed in future is predicted, by which a warning can be given taking the chances of driver's deceleration into consideration, and wherein by storing data on road cants in a data base, and using cant data, it is possible to predict the lateral acceleration more accurately.

Abstract: A vehicle driving condition prediction device, a warning device using this prediction device, and a recording medium for storing data for prediction, wherein during use of the prediction function of an approach speed of the vehicle to a curve ahead, the acceleration at the present moment is maintained for a condition maintaining period of time, and thereafter the vehicle speed is slowed down at a fixed deceleration, and using such an assumed deceleration pattern a vehicle speed in future is predicted, by which a warning can be given taking the chances of driver's deceleration into consideration.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus of the present invention comprises: a steering shaft on which a steering effort is exerted through a steering wheel; a steering angle detecting device for detecting an angle of rotation of the steering shaft; a turning device for turning a steered wheel, the turning device being mechanically separated from the steering shaft; a target control amount calculating device for calculating a target control amount as a target of turning control, based on a detection result of the steering angle detecting device; a turning control device for outputting a turning control signal according to the target control amount to the turning device and controlling drive of the turning device so that a turning amount of the steered wheel becomes the target control amount; and a correction device for correcting the turning control signal outputted, based on a running status of a vehicle.

Abstract: A spin suppress control device of a vehicle makes a first spin state estimation of the vehicle body and a second spin state estimation of the vehicle body in close time proximity to the first spin state estimation, and applies a braking force to one of the front left and right wheels at the outside of the turn such that a first braking force is applied according to the first spin state estimation and a second braking force is applied according to the second spin state estimation to be at least either stronger than the first braking force or with a greater advancement relative to an actual spin state of the vehicle than the first braking force.

Abstract: In a brake system of a vehicle adapted to be operated automatically, the brake system includes a forecasting mechanism for forecasting a need of automatic braking, and a pump to provide a source of a pressurized working fluid for the automatic braking is started when a need of an automatic braking is forecast. By such a need forecast starting of the pump, the brake system can automatically apply an effective braking to a vehicle wheel or wheels, with no accumulator for storing the pressurized working fluid. The pump need forecasting may depend upon an estimation of a turn behavior of the vehicle and/or a detection of an obstacle in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A spin suppress control device of a vehicle estimates a spin quantity of the vehicle to represent a liability of its spinning, and selectively and variably brakes each of the wheels according to the spin quantity so as to decelerate the vehicle within a range of generating no substantial yaw moment in the vehicle when the spin quantity exceeds a first threshold value therefor, and provides the vehicle with an anti-spin moment when the spin quantity exceeds a second threshold value therefor greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A turn behavior control system continually modifies its control performance by itself so as to adapt itself to varying external conditions such as curving and surface conditions of the road and the driving skill of the driver, according to study of the turn behavior of the vehicle controlled thereby under the influence of those external conditions, such that an anti-spin moment is generated according to a spin parameter estimating the spinning condition of the vehicle when the spin parameter exceeds a standard value which is reviewed by each unit period to be lowered as the frequency of operation of the control system during the unit period increases or to be raised as the time based integration of the spin value during the unit period increases, or the anti-spin moment is increased as the friction coefficient of the road surface lowers.

Abstract: This invention discloses an elevation bed apparatus which moves up and down while keeping its horizontal posture, in order to improve an effective use of an indoor space. The elevation bed of this invention includes an elevation device and a safety device, and the elevation device includes a winding mechanism and a wire driving system of a wire wound on the winding mechanism. A bed main body moves up and down along a guide rail when the wire is wound and rewound. When the elevation bed is of an electric type, the safety device checks the operation or cuts off the power source to stop the elevating motion of the bed main body.

Abstract: A discharge flow control rate valve for a multiple cylinder type reciprocating pump has a flow rate control valve associated with two cylinders of the pump. The flow control valve has a bypass passage connecting the suction side of the pump with a stepped cylinder chamber provided in the body member of the control valve. A needle valve fitted with a separate valving element is reciprocably disposed in the stepped cylinder chamber and operates to return a part of the fluid in the first cylinder or in the first and second cylinders to the suction side of the pump as a function of the intrusion distance of the valve into the cylinder chamber so as to modify the overall discharge flow rate of the pump.

Abstract: A two-speed timer in which both long and short timing periods can be set with only a moderate force imposed upon a time set shaft. The time set shaft is engageably coupled to a reduction gear train which is coupled to be rotated by an electric motor. A disc having a single engagement tooth portion at a predetermined position on the circumferential portion thereof is mounted on the time set shaft. A driven gear cooperating with the engagement structure has a change-over surface formed at an upper end thereof. A speed change gear is positioned on the same shaft upon which the driven gear is rotatably mounted and is urged into contact with the change-over surface. The speed change gear engages with a selected gear portion of the reduction gear train in dependence upon the rotational position of the driven gear so as to vary the rotational speed of the set shaft.

Abstract: A process for preparing preparations for oral administration which do not have a bitter taste which comprises either dissolving a bitter taste-masking substance at a high concentration in a solvent to be used for dissolving or suspending a bitter active ingredient and adding the active ingredient to the resulting solution followed by kneading, or kneading a solution or suspension in which a bitter active ingredient has been dissolved or suspended with the bitter taste-masking substance, adding silicic acid anhydride to the resulting kneaded substance to form a powder and granulating the powder using a solution of the bitter taste-masking substance in a fluidized bed granulator.