Abstract: A golf club shaft has an angular layer composed of prepregs in which a reinforcing fiber inclines to the axis of the golf club shaft; a plurality of straight layers composed of prepregs in which the reinforcing fiber is disposed substantially parallel with the axis of the golf club shaft. The reinforcing fiber of the prepreg at an inner side of the straight layer has an intermediate elasticity and a high strength. The tensile break strain of the prepreg at an outer side of the straight-layer is set higher than that of the prepreg at the inner side of the straight layer.

Abstract: A golf club shaft formed by winding prepregs of an angular layer and those of a straight layer around a mandrel (10) having a steeply tapered part (10B) formed at a tip side thereof and a gently tapered part (10C) formed, at a butt side thereof, continuously with the steeply tapered part (10B). Prepregs (17, 18) of the angular layer are disposed at the tip side of the mandrel (10). Butt-side ends (17a, 18a) of the prepregs (17, 18) of the angular reinforcing layer at the tip side of the mandrel (10) are disposed at the butt side of the mandrel (10) with respect to a boundary position (P2) disposed at a boundary between the steeply tapered part (10B) and the gently tapered part (10C). A distance from the butt-side ends (17a, 18a) of the prepregs (17, 18) of the angular reinforcing layer at the tip side of the mandrel (10) to the boundary position (P2) is not less than 5% nor more than 30% of a whole length of the shaft.

Abstract: To lighten the weight of an electromagnetic actuator and a valve-open-close mechanism by forming the stems from a lighter material than conventional. A pair of electromagnets formed of stators and coils are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween. An armature is disposed in the gap so as to be reciprocable between one electromagnet and the other electromagnet by the electromagnets. A first stem for transmitting the movement of the armature from one electromagnet toward the other electromagnet to a valve of the internal combustion engine is inserted in a guide hole formed in the stator of one electromagnet. The first stem is formed of a lighter material than the armature to lighten the weight of the electromagnetic actuator and a valve-open-close mechanism of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: To lighten the weight of an electromagnetic actuator and a valve-open-close mechanism by forming the stems from a lighter material than conventional. A pair of electromagnets formed of stators and coils are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween. An armature is disposed in the gap so as to be reciprocable between one electromagnet and the other electromagnet by the electromagnets. A first stem for transmitting the movement of the armature from one electromagnet toward the other electromagnet to a valve of the internal combustion engine is inserted in a guide hole formed in the stator of one electromagnet. The first stem is formed of a lighter material than the armature to lighten the weight of the electromagnetic actuator and a valve-open-close mechanism of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A golf club shaft having a structure of a plurality of fiber reinforced prepregs layered one upon another. A grip-side reinforcing layer 6 (6A, 6B) and a head-side reinforcing layer 5 (5A, 5B, and 5C) are provided. In each of the grip-side reinforcing layer and the head-side reinforcing layer, a length of at least one of the prepregs is different from that of the other prepregs in an axial direction thereof, and the number of layers of the prepregs disposed at both ends of the golf club shaft is set larger than that of layers thereof disposed at a middle part of the golf club shaft.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for an automotive internal combustion engine is provided which has a stator, the weight of which is reduced. The electromagnetic actuator has a pair of electromagnets each made up of a stator and a coil, an armature disposed between the pair of electromagnets so as to be reciprocable therebetween, and a first stem provided on one side of the armature for transmitting the movement of the armature to external. The stator is formed by powder molding.

Abstract: It is proposed to lessen the weight and improve the mechanical strength of a retainer of a valve open-close mechanism driven by an electromagnetic actuator used in an automotive internal combustion engine. The electromagnetic actuator is mounted in a housing mounted on an internal combustion engine body. A first stem has its tip abutting the valve, which is provided with a retainer and carries a first coil spring. A second stem is provided on the other side of an armature. The second stem has a retainer. Between this retainer and the housing, a second coil spring is mounted. At least one of these parts is made of a metal smaller in specific weight than iron or its alloy. Each retainer has a boss and an arcuate corner portion having a radius of curvature R of 1.0 mm or over between a spring abutting surface and the boss to relieve stress concentration.

Abstract: A valve-open-close mechanism is proposed which has parts designed to reduce friction during sliding. The electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of electromagnets each having a stator and a coil opposed to each other with a gap therebetween, an armature disposed in the gap, and a first stem for transmitting to external the movement of said armature. A retainer and a first return spring are provided on the valve. A second stem is provided at other side of the armature and another retainer and a second return spring are provided for the second stem. A coating film is formed on at least one of the surface or end face of the stem portion of the valve, end faces of the first return spring or second return spring, spring bearing end faces of the retainers, surface or end face of the second stem, and the surface of the armature.

Abstract: A valve of the present invention has housing and a piston member. The piston member is housed in the housing so that it moves between first and positions. The housing includes a piston chamber for guiding the piston member between first and second positions while keeping a sealing engagement with the piston chamber. First and second chambers are positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the piston member so that volumes of first and second chambers are changed depending upon a movement of the piston member. First and second ports are connected when the piston member takes the first position but disconnected when the piston member takes the second position. Third port is connected with the first and second chambers but disconnected from the first and second ports when the piston member takes the first position but connected with the second port when the piston member takes the second position. A partition is defined between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for an automotive internal combustion engine is provided which has a stator, the weight of which is reduced. The electromagnetic actuator has a pair of electromagnets each made up of a stator and a coil, an armature disposed between the pair of electromagnets so as to be reciprocable therebetween, and a first stem provided on one side of the armature for transmitting the movement of the armature to external. The stator is formed by powder molding.

Abstract: It is proposed to lessen the weight and improve the mechanical strength of a retainer of a valve open-close mechanism driven by an electromagnetic actuator used in an automotive internal combustion engine. The electromagnetic actuator is mounted in a housing mounted on an internal combustion engine body. A first stem has its tip abutting the valve, which is provided with a retainer and carries a first coil spring. A second stem is provided on the other side of an armature. The second stem has a retainer. Between this retainer and the housing, a second coil spring is mounted. At least one of these parts is made of a metal smaller in specific weight than iron or its alloy. Each retainer has a boss and an arcuate corner portion having a radius of curvature R of 1.0 mm or over between a spring abutting surface and the boss to relieve stress concentration.

Abstract: In controlling the fluid pressure applied to a load using a proportional fluid pressure control valve or a flow control valve, responsiveness of control is improved in a pressure region where the consumption of fluid is larger than in other regions. In this method, if there is a pressure region where the consumption of fluid is greater than in other regions, overshoot control is carried out to increase fluid pressure in such a pressure region by adding a predetermined pressure to a target pressure for a predetermined time, or undershoot control is carried out to reduce fluid pressure in such a pressure region by subtracting a predetermined pressure from a target pressure for a predetermined time. It is thus possible to increase and reduce fluid pressure quickly to a target pressure even in a pressure region where the consumption of fluid is large.

Abstract: A valve-open-close mechanism is proposed which has parts designed to reduce friction during sliding. The electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of electromagnets each having a stator and a coil opposed to each other with a gap therebetween, an armature disposed in the gap, and a first stem for transmitting to external the movement of said armature. A retainer and a first return spring are provided on the valve. A second stem is provided at other side of the armature and another retainer and a second return spring are provided for the second stem. A coating film is formed on at least one of the surface or end face of the stem portion of the valve, end faces of the first return spring or second return spring, spring bearing end faces of the retainers, surface or end face of the second stem, and the surface of the armature.

Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve of the type in which a spool is driven by an electromagnet to control the load pressure to a value corresponding to the electromagnet energizing current is provided to simplify and reduce the cost of such valve. The number of springs has been reduced to one by biasing the spool with a spring through an actuating element of the electromagnet. Also, by providing a reaction force piston near a low-pressure pressure chamber, the need to form a hole in the actuator at a functionally important portion has been eliminated. Furthermore, arrangement is such that the load pressure acts on the spool in the same direction with the force of the electromagnet to supplement it. Further, the actuating element is formed integrally with the spool to eliminate any sliding portions from the actuating element, and a gap is formed between the actuation element and the member surrounding the actuating element to reduce the sliding resistance thereof.

Abstract: This method minimizes the change in the range of pressure increase and reduction with change in the viscosity of brake fluid due to change in the temperature of brake fluid and a delay in pressure increase and reduction due to change in the brake fluid viscosity. A pressure sensor having a zero-point temperature drift function and a pressure sensor having no such drift function are provided to estimate the brake fluid temperature based on the difference in output between the two pressure sensors. Fluid pressure is controlled according to a control mode corresponding to the fluid viscosity based on the estimated fluid temperature. Specifically, the time during which electromagnetic valves are open is changed, or in the arrangement in which an electromagnetic proportional pressure control valve is used, the current supplied to its electromagnet is changed based on the estimated brake fluid temperature.

Abstract: In vibrating a spool of a spool-valve type electromagnetic proportional pressure control valve by applying a dither current so that no static friction acts on the spool, the dither effect tends to weaken in a region where the current is small and in a region where the current is so large as to cause magnetic saturation. An alternating dither current is superimposed on the current supplied to an electromagnet to vibrate the spool with an amplitude small enough not to affect the liquid pressure, and in a control region where the ratio of the solenoid force Fsol to the current I is small, the dither current is controlled so that its amplitude is larger or its frequency is lower than in other regions.

Abstract: A flow control valve having a pressure compensation function. This valve is free of fluid leakage and needs no pressure sensor.

Abstract: A substrate having a superconducting thin film of compound oxide thereon. An intermediate layer consists of at least one layer of copper-containing oxide is interposed between the substrate and the superconducting thin film.

Abstract: A movement distance detector which is simple in structure, low-cost and highly accurate. The detector includes a magnet movable along a path, a magnetic body arranged along the path, and a magnetically sensitive element attached to one end of the magnetic body. When the magnet is moved along the path, a magnetic circuit is formed by the oppositely arranged magnet and magnetic body. The number of magnetic fluxes focused by the magnetic body changes with the movement distance of the magnet. The magnetically sensitive element detects the change in number of magnetic fluxes, that is, the movement distance. The magnetic body may be a rod, a truncated pyramid or a cylinder.