Abstract: Segment coils arranged as aligned in slot portions of an annular core each include a straight portion and a pair of coil end portions, and have a tip end of the coil end portion of the pair of coil end portions as a tip end portion for joint including a joint surface for joint to another segment coil. The tip end portion for joint has the joint surface in parallel to a radial direction of the annular core when viewed in an axial direction of the annular core.

Abstract: Each of segment coils arranged as aligned in a slot of a stator core includes a coil central portion accommodated in the slot and two coil end portions protruding outward. The coil end portion of the two coil end portions includes a pair of coil pieces formed by inclining a coil at different angles toward the coil central portion with a vertex lying therebetween. Any one of the pair of coil pieces includes in a region in the vicinity of the vertex, a recessed step portion formed from two sides in non-parallel to and at an angle with respect to an end surface of the stator core.

Abstract: A segment coil capable of achieving effective prevention of magnetic flux leakage or eddy current and enhancing efficiency of a motor is provided. Segment coils in stator of a rotating electric machine including an annular core and rectangular wire coils in a plurality of layers, which are attached on an innermost circumferential side in a direction of radius of a slot formed in an inner circumferential portion of the annular core and are opposed to a rotor, are each constituted of a plurality of divided wires as divided in a circumferential direction of the annular core. The plurality of divided wires are integrally joined in coil end portions extending from the slot.

Abstract: Each of segment coils arranged as aligned in a slot of a stator core includes a coil central portion accommodated in the slot and two coil end portions protruding outward. The coil end portion of the two coil end portions includes a pair of coil pieces formed by inclining a coil at different angles toward the coil central portion with a vertex lying therebetween. Any one of the pair of coil pieces includes in a region in the vicinity of the vertex, a recessed step portion formed from two sides in non-parallel to and at an angle with respect to an end surface of the stator core.

Abstract: Segment coils arranged as aligned in slot portions of an annular core each include a straight portion and a pair of coil end portions, and have a tip end of the coil end portion of the pair of coil end portions as a tip end portion for joint including a joint surface for joint to another segment coil. The tip end portion for joint has the joint surface in parallel to a radial direction of the annular core when viewed in an axial direction of the annular core.

Abstract: A molten salt battery device includes: a plurality of molten salt battery units; and an auxiliary battery (an electric power source) capable of operating at room temperature. Each molten salt battery unit includes a heater. At the time of startup, the auxiliary battery supplies electric power to the heater of one molten salt battery unit so that the one molten salt battery unit is heated by the heater and thereby allowed to operate. The one molten salt battery unit allowed to operate supplies electric power to the heaters of the other molten salt battery units so that the other molten salt battery units are heated by the heaters and thereby allowed to operate. The molten salt battery is easily heated without the necessity of a large amount of energy and hence the molten salt battery device starts up in a short time.

Abstract: A floating type disk brake has an inner pad and an outer pad for pressing against axially opposing surfaces of the brake disk by the actuation of a piston. The ratio of an outer circumferential region to the inner circumferential region of the outer pad is greater than a ratio of the same for the inner pad. In addition to or alternatively, the ratio of the length of the outer circumferential edge to the inner circumferential edge of the outer pad is greater than a ratio of the same for the inner pad. In addition to or alternatively, an angle of intersection of the radial lines extending along the rotation-in-side edge and the rotation-out-side edge of the outer pad is greater than an angle of intersection of the same for the inner pad.

Abstract: A disk brake includes a disk rotor and a pair of pads. The pads are pressed against the disc rotor by a pressing device, so that a braking force is applied to the brake rotor. A shim is attached to each pad and opposes to the pressing device, so that a space is defined between the shim and each pad in order to retain a grease. Storage regions are defined within the shim in communication with the space in order to store and retain the grease. The storage regions are configured to retain the grease by utilizing the surface tension of the grease at least when the temperature of the grease is within a range of 20 to 200° C.

Abstract: In order to effectively damp the vibration of the drum of a drum brake, which is a main cause of brake squeals, a vibration detector and a vibrator are provided and operated separately from each other. The vibration damping control is carried out directly mechanically, or in a non-contact manner to improve durability of the device. A piezoelectric element, magnetic sensor or acceleration sensor is used to detect the vibration of the drum. The detected vibration is converted to an electric signal. After adjusting its phase and amplitude, the electric signal is converted to vibration force and outputted through a piezoelectric element or magnetic actuator as the vibrator to suppress brake squeals.

Abstract: A vibration damping mechanism for use in a disc brake which can effectively suppress squeaks of the disc brake during braking. Vibrations of the rotor are detected by a piezoelectric element pressed against the back of an inner pad. The detection signal is inputted in a control circuit. The control circuit applies a control signal to another piezoelectric element which produces oscillations having a frequency that can reduce the detection signal to zero. The oscillations produced by the piezoelectric element are transmitted to the rotor to cancel the vibrations of the rotor. With this arrangement, signal components other than the rotor vibrations are scarcely contained in the detection signal, so that it is possible to produce oscillations that can cancel vibrations of the rotor with high accuracy. As a result, the rotor vibrations and thus squeaks of the disc brake are effectively suppressed.