Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger for implementing heat exchange between coolant which has cooled an engine and air directed to a vehicle interior to heat the vehicle interior. A viscous heater has a rotor and a heating chamber containing viscous fluid. The rotor rotates when being subjected to rotational power of the engine. The viscous fluid is subjected to a shear force and is heated when the rotor is subjected to the rotational power. The viscous heater heats the coolant fed to the heat exchanger as the viscous fluid in the heating chamber is heated. A clutch is operative for selectively permitting and inhibiting transmission of the rotational power from the engine to the rotor. A belt transmission device connects the engine and the clutch. A physical quantity detecting device is operative for detecting a physical quantity related to a rotational speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A viscous fluid heat generator includes: a shear chamber in which viscous fluid is contained and heat is generated by shearing the viscous fluid with a rotor rotating therein; and a space receiving viscous fluid drained from the shear chamber. The heat generator is rotated always as far as an engine rotates because it is driven by the engine without a clutch. The viscous fluid in the shear chamber is drained into the receiving space disposed underneath the shear chamber when the rotor halts or the heat generator is not in operation. The drained viscous fluid is pushed up again into the shear chamber when the rotor is re-started or the heat generator becomes in operation again. The heat generator is re-started easily with a very small starting torque because there is almost no viscous fluid left in the shear chamber and accordingly power to shear the viscous fluid with the rotor is not required.

Abstract: In a heating apparatus according to the present invention, when a temperature of cooling water in a cooling water circuit is equal to a set cooling water temperature or less, a viscous clutch is turned on to operate a viscous heater disposed in the cooling water circuit, for maintaining the temperature of the cooling water in the cooling water circuit at a predetermined value. A shaft of the viscous heater is rotated by a water-cooled engine through a belt transmitting mechanism and the viscous clutch. The set cooling water temperature is increased in accordance with an increase of a target air temperature calculated based on a set temperature, an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature, and a sunlight amount to optimize a used condition of the viscous heater.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator which includes a housing assembly defining a heat generating chamber and a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber via a partition wall disposed therebetween. A rotor element is mounted to be rotated by a drive shaft for rotation within the heat generating chamber. A viscous fluid is held in a gap defined between the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element, for heat generation under shearing stress applied by the rotation of the rotor element. A heat exchanging fluid circulates through the heat receiving chamber to receive heat transferred through the partition wall from the heat generating chamber. A plurality of grooves, protuberances or expression are formed on at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber to increase the total heat transfer surface area in the inner wall surfaces, and thus enhance a heat transfer efficiency through the partition wall.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a front housing and a rear housing secured to each other. The front housing has a space in which a first partitioning plate and a second partitioning plate located immovably fitted. A heating chamber that is defined between the first plate and the second plate accommodates viscous fluid. A rotor is rotatably supported in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. A heat exchange chamber is defined by the first and the second partitioning plates and disposed adjacent to the heating chamber. The heat exchanging chamber allows circulating fluid to flow therethrough so that the circulating fluid is heated by the heat transmitted to the heat exchanging chamber from the heating chamber.

Abstract: A viscous heater for heating cooling water for cooling a water cooled engine is provided in a cooling water circuit between the engine and a front heater core. Even if a viscous switch is turned on by a viscous ECU to heat a passenger compartment using the viscous heater, a viscous clutch is not immediately turned on when the engine is idling. That is, after a delay control time elapses after increasing an idling rotational speed of the engine to a target rotational speed, the viscous heater is turned on. The target rotational speed which is higher than a normal idling rotational speed is set in such a manner that the higher the cooling water temperature is, the lower the target rotational speed becomes. Thus, even if a large load is applied to the engine by operating the viscous heater when the engine is idling, it can improve fuel economy and prevent an engine stall.

Abstract: A backup structure for a pipe for feeding a molten substance of high temperature has a pipe and a thermal insulation material surrounding the pipe wherein the pipe is provided with a plurality of projections on its outer periphery at predetermined intervals, and each of the productions is held at its both sides by the thermal insulation material.

Abstract: A heat recovery unit in which cooling water absorbs heat generated in a water-cooled alternator and a viscous heater in which cooling water absorbs heat generated in a viscous fluid within a heat-generating chamber have a common cooling water passage. Further, a rotor of the alternator and a rotor of a viscous heater are disposed on a shaft to have a common driving shaft and a common V-belt. Therefore, cooling water pipes of a cooling water circuit are simply connected, a large space is not necessary for winding the V-belt of a belt transmitting mechanism, and the number of parts of a heating apparatus can be decreased. Further, because heat generated in the viscous fluid of the viscous heater and heat generated with an operation of the alternator are used as a supplementary heating source, a sufficient heating capacity can be provided for a passenger compartment even in a vehicle in which heat generated in the engine is small.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an oil storage chamber for temporarily accumulating a high-viscosity oil is formed below a heat-generating chamber for accumulating high-viscosity oil which generates heat when a shearing force is applied thereto. When an electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic clutch is set off, i.e., a rotation of a rotor of a viscous heater is stopped, the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber moves into the oil storage chamber by own weight thereof, and a liquid level of the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber is greatly reduced. In this way, when the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch is turned on to start the rotor of the viscous heater, a torque applied to the rotor is greatly reduced, with the result that a stress applied to the rotor is reduced.

Abstract: A variable load current supply unit supplies a current to be consumed by a constant voltage output unit to a power source terminal thereof, and supplies a current to be consumed by a load circuit thereto through a reference voltage output terminal. The constant voltage output unit maintains a potential of the power source terminal thereof, i.e., a potential of the reference voltage output terminal, at a fixed potential. A base potential control unit negatively feeds back changes in the potential on the reference voltage output terminal to a base of an emitter follower transistor in the variable load current supply unit. In this way, when the current consumed by the load current is reduced and the potential on the reference voltage output terminal thereby slightly increases the current supplied by the variable load current supply unit decreases.

Abstract: A resistor circuit includes a pair of linear conductive films and a resistive film. The resistive film is formed on an area between the conductive films and electrically connected to the conductive films. A pair of terminals are electrically connected to portions of the conductive films respectively. A current source is electrically connected between the terminals to deliver an electrical current thereto. A pair of voltage output terminals are electrically connected to portions of the conductive films respectively. At least one of the voltage output terminals is disposed at a portion of the conductive films other than a portion at which the terminals are formed. An output voltage from the voltage output terminals is exactly proportional to a current flowing between them independent of changes in an ambient temperature. The circuit may be implemented in an integrated circuit environment using, e.g., multiple thin film resistors.

Abstract: A resistor circuit which includes a pair of linear conductive films and a resistive film. The resistive film is formed on an area between the conductive films and electrically connected to the conductive films. A pair of terminals are electrically connected to portions of the conductive films respectively. A current source is electrically connected between the terminals to flow an electric current between the terminals. A pair of voltage output terminals are electrically connected to portions of the conductive films respectively. At least one of the voltage output terminals is disposed at a position other than a position in which the terminals are formed. An output voltage output from the voltage output terminals is exactly proportional to a current flowing between them without an influence of change of an ambient temperature.

Abstract: An ozone generator has a construction in which: an outer and an inner sleeves made of fused quartz or ordinary glass are mounted inside a casing of the generator, which sleeves are substantially concentrically arranged to form an air gap therebetween, while conducting films are formed on the outer periphery of the outer sleeve and the inner periphery of the inner sleeve to provide opposite discharge electrodes an inner one of which is grounded and an outer one of which is connected to high voltage side of an electric source, to which air gap a raw gas is fed while electrical discharge is conducted between these electrodes to produce ozonized gas from the raw gas.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing polishing cloths of the class to be used with abrasive powders on a lapping machine is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of impregnating a nonwoven fabric sheet with a solution of polyurethane elastomer, wet-coagulating the impregnated sheet, and heating the resulting microporous composite sheet at a temperature higher than the softening point of the polyurethane elastomer under an essentially uncompressed condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag-like container, and a spherical container in which a latent heat accumulating material is enclosed, and a heat accumulating apparatus employing such containers. A heat accumulating mat material (A) is of a flat bag-like container divided into a plurality of sections, where a latent heat accumulating substance is enclosed. A spherical container (1A) has a heat transfer area enlarging portion of a recess (102), a groove (103). A solar heat accumulating greenhouse 2A has a radiator heat exchanging portion (2B, 2D), a heat accumulating tank 2C and a forced circulation liquid system.

Abstract: In a chuck comprising a holding cylinder having a tapered outer circumferential surface and an objective tool or an adapter for holding such a tool inserted therein, and a clamping cylinder rotatably mounted at a predetermined distance from the outer circumferential surface of the holding cylinder, a number of needle rollers being arranged in a plurality of stages along the entire circumference of a gap between the two cylinders to extend along a direction at a predetermined inclined angle .alpha. with respect to the common axis of the cylinders, and the needle rollers rotating and revolving upon rotation of the clamping cylinder, thereby contracting and recoverying the holding cylinder, slits are formed in the holding cylinder to allow elasticity of the holding cylinder and to improve oil throwing performance and clamping force of the holding cylinder. The slits will not interfere with smooth rotation of the needle rollers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag-like container, and a spherical container in which a latent heat accumulating meterial is enclosed, and a heat accumulating apparatus employing such containers. A heat accumulating mat material (A) is of a flat bag-like container divided into a plurality of sections, where a latent heat accumulating substance is enclosed. A spherical container (1A) has a heat transfer area enlarging portion of a recess (102), a groove (103). A solar heat accumulating greenhouse 2A has a radiator heat exchanging portion (2B, 2D), a heat accumulating tank 2C and a forced circulation liquid system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latent heat accumulating greenhouse utilizing solar heat. The object of the invention is to provide a greenhouse which is simple in construction, of high efficiency for heat absorbing and capable of much absorbing and accumulating of heat. A heat accumulating chamber (B) partitioned by transparent sheets (1) is provided between the attic and a floor surface facing north in the greenhouse (A). A blower fan (2) is disposed to confront an opening (1a) provided at the lower portion in said heat accumulating chamber (B). Also, in the heat accumulating chamber (B), a heat accumulating unit (3) having a large number of light transmitting windows (32) and enclosing a phase transformation heat accumulating material (33) such as CaCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.10H.sub.2 O therein is detachably suspended in a position close to windowpanes at the north side.

Abstract: An automotive rear safety checking apparatus which comprises a plurality of obstacle detectors mounted on the rear part of the automobile for radiating ultrasonic wave on the watching areas smaller in width than the width of the automobile respectively and detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from an obstacle. The ultrasonic wave is radiated from the obstacle detectors in time division. Pulse signals in the number associated with the distance between the obstacle detector and the obstacle are generated in response to the detection of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the obstacle, so that the relative positions of the automobile and the obstacle, are indicated two-dimensionally in accordance with the pulse signal.

Abstract: A method of utilizing sewage sludge compost for mushroom growing and re-utilizing the used compost as livestock feed. During the use of compost for mushroom growing, lignin, cellulose, etc. of slight decomposability contained in the compost are decomposed and aroma suitable for livestock feed is imparted to the compost by the mushroom, thereby making the compost most suitable for livestock feed.