Abstract: A damper device that suppresses arc discharge between electrodes generated by bubbles in an electro-rheological fluid, includes an inner tube housed in an outer tube forming an outer shell of a damper device. An electrode tube is arranged between the outer tube and the inner tube. An electro-rheological fluid is sealed in the outer tube. The inner tube and the electrode tube constitute a cathode and an anode, respectively, and apply a voltage to the electro-rheological fluid located between the inner tube and the electrode tube. An insulating layer is provided on a surface of the electrode tube on a side facing the inner tube or on a surface of the inner tube on a side facing the electrode tube. When a maximum voltage applied to the electro-rheological fluid is Vmax (V), a thickness t (m) of the insulating layer is set to satisfy Formula (1).

Abstract: A fracturing method, to cause a crack in bedrock, includes installing a depressurizing device in a well in the bedrock, and depressurizing the inside of the well with the installed depressurizing device. The installing step includes installing, in the well, a connecting pipe, which is connected to the depressurizing device, and a packer, which is attached to the connecting pipe, and the depressurizing step includes shutting off a gap between the well and the connecting pipe, with the packer, and depressurizing a region in the well below the packer, with the depressurizing device.

Abstract: A fracturing method, to cause a crack in bedrock, includes installing a depressurizing device in a well in the bedrock, and depressurizing the inside of the well with the installed depressurizing device. The installing step includes installing, in the well, a connecting pipe, which is connected to the depressurizing device, and a packer, which is attached to the connecting pipe, and the depressurizing step includes shutting off a gap between the well and the connecting pipe, with the packer, and depressurizing a region in the well below the packer, with the depressurizing device.

Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.

Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.

Abstract: In an EGR valve, a valve element is moved with respect to a valve seat to adjust a passage section width of a measuring section, thereby regulating an EGR gas flow rate in a passage. The valve seat includes a valve hole, a first end face facing to a downstream side of the passage and a second end face facing to an upstream side of the passage. The inner circumferential surface of the valve hole has a concave curved shape with an inner diameter gradually increasing toward the second end face. The valve element is placed inside the valve hole to be movable in between a fully closed position and a fully open position. While the valve element is placed in the fully open position, passage section widths of parts of the measuring section in an EGR gas flow direction are approximate to each other.

Abstract: In an EGR valve, an actuator includes a coil, a rotor body to be driven to rotate when the coil is energized with electric current, and a converting mechanism to convert rotational movement of the rotor body into stroke movement of the rod to bring a valve into or out of contact with a seat. The rod includes a stopper that will contact with a protrusion of the rotor body when the valve is placed in a full closed state. An end face of the stopper and an end face of the protrusion are slanted with respect to a stroke direction of stroke movement of the rod.

Abstract: In an EGR valve, a valve element is moved with respect to a valve seat to adjust a passage section width of a measuring section, thereby regulating an EGR gas flow rate in a passage. The valve seat includes a valve hole, a first end face facing to a downstream side of the passage and a second end face facing to an upstream side of the passage. The inner circumferential surface of the valve hole has a concave curved shape with an inner diameter gradually increasing toward the second end face. The valve element is placed inside the valve hole to be movable in between a fully closed position and a fully open position. While the valve element is placed in the fully open position, passage section widths of parts of the measuring section in an EGR gas flow direction are approximate to each other.

Abstract: An electromagnetic PCV valve includes a valve seat, a valve element, a step motor for moving the valve element, and a housing that houses the valve seat, the valve element, and the step motor. When the valve element is moved by the step motor, a size (an opening degree) of a blow-by gas passage defined between the valve seat and the valve element is changed. The step motor is configured to selectively receive energization for moving the valve element and energization for holding the valve element in a fixed position. A heating apparatus of the PCV valve 1 includes a cover member and an output shaft that conducts heat generated in the step motor by energization to the valve element and the valve seat, and an electronic control unit (ECU) for conducting energization of the step motor to hold the valve element in the fixed position.

Abstract: A blowby gas returning device is arranged to allow blowby gas leaking from a combustion chamber of an engine to flow in an intake passage through a returning passage and return to the combustion chamber, and arranged to regulate a flow rate of the blowby gas by a PCV valve provided in the returning passage. This blowby gas returning device comprises an outside-air passage for mixing outside air into the blowby gas before being introduced into the PCV valve; and an open-close valve for opening and closing the outside-air passage. An electronic control unit controls the open-close valve to open when the operating state detected by sensors is an idle state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for more easily producing a functional composite material internally containing a piezoelectric fiber. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a functional composite material, wherein a hollow fiber is arranged in a groove of a first metal substrate having a groove, and then a second metal substrate and the first metal substrate are pressed together.

Abstract: A resin main body (3) defining a bore (7) through which intake air flows, and a valve body (60) having a shaft part (20) rotatably supported by the main body (3) and a valve part (4) for opening and closing the bore (7) of the main body (3) are provided. The main body (3) is molded with the valve body (60) inserted together with a pair of bearing sleeves (24). At the time of molding the main body (3), the bearing sleeves (24) are biased in a direction opposite to the flow of the intake air with the valve body (60) being positioned in place.

Abstract: There provided an actuator employing laminated composite materials which exhibit both large deformation and high power output. In order to achieve the invention, the actuator comprises a pair of substrates having different coefficients of thermal expansion and an insulating layer disposed between said pair of substrates; and an elastic layer disposed between said plurality of laminated composite materials.

Abstract: The present invention includes an air introduction device capable of introducing air into a crankcase of the engine during a supercharging operation of a supercharger, so that blow-by gas within the crankcase can be scavenged into the intake air passage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic PCV valve includes a valve seat, a valve element, a step motor for moving the valve element, and a housing that houses the valve seat, the valve element, and the step motor. When the valve element is moved by the step motor, a size (an opening degree) of a blow-by gas passage defined between the valve seat and the valve element is changed. The step motor is configured to selectively receive energization for moving the valve element and energization for holding the valve element in a fixed position. A heating apparatus of the PCV valve 1 includes a cover member and an output shaft that conducts heat generated in the step motor by energization to the valve element and the valve seat, and an electronic control unit (ECU) for conducting energization of the step motor to hold the valve element in the fixed position.

Abstract: The object is to provide a functional composite material which is adaptable to environmental changes. The present invention provides a method for producing a functional composite material comprising a step wherein an insert layer is formed on a first metal substrate having a groove; a step wherein a piezoelectric fiber having a metal core is placed on the first metal substrate; and a step wherein a second metal substrate and the first metal substrate are hot-pressed. The present invention can provide a functional composite material which is adaptable to environmental changes.

Abstract: A throttle body includes a resin body (3) defining a bore (7) through which intake air flows, and a valve body (60) having a shaft part (20) rotatably supported by the body (3) via a pair of bearing members (24) and a resin valve part (4) for opening and closing the bore (7). End faces (67) of the valve part (4) slidably contacting with end faces (69) of the bearing members (24). The end faces (67) and (69) of at least one of the valve part (4) and the bearing members (24) slidably contacting with each other are formed to have a radius (69r) equal to or larger than a radius (68r) of paths of rotation (68) of radially outer ends (67a) of the end faces (67) of the valve part (4).

Abstract: A blow-by gas returning apparatus is arranged to allow blow-by gas leaking from a combustion chamber of an engine into a crank chamber to flow in an intake passage through a returning passage, and to regulate a flow rate of the blow-by gas by a PCV valve placed in the returning passage. A supercharger is placed in the intake passage. The PCV valve is adapted to change a position of the valve element by electromagnetic force to change a passage opening area. A check valve is placed integral with the PCV valve in the returning passage between the valve element of the PCV valve and the intake passage. The check valve is arranged to inhibit back-flow of the gas from the intake passage.

Abstract: A throttle control apparatus has a torsional coil spring that is associated with the throttle body and the rotator to bias throttle valve to a predetermined intermediate angle between a full open angle and a full close angle. An actuator rotates the rotator against a biasing force of the torsional coil spring. The torsional coil spring has a first and a second loading portions that apply biasing forces to the rotator to bias the throttle valve from the full open angle or from the full close angle toward the intermediate angle. The rotator is provided with a spring force receiving portion that receives both the biasing forces applied by the first and second loading portions so that the first and second loading portions sandwich the spring force receiving portion therebetween.

Abstract: A PCV valve comprises: a valve seat; a valve element provided movable relative to the valve seat; a step motor for moving the valve element; and a housing which houses the valve seat, the valve element, and the step motor. The PCV valve is arranged to operate the step motor by energization to move the valve element with respect to the valve seat so that an area of a blowby gas passage formed between the valve seat and the valve element is changed. An output shaft of the step motor is a member having a higher thermal conductivity than the housing. The step motor, the valve element, and the valve seat are enclosed in a cylindrical case. The step motor and the valve seat are placed in contact with the case.