Abstract: A rubber composition that can improve in good balance the fuel economy, wet-grip performance, and abrasion resistance, and a pneumatic tire that uses this rubber composition are provided. This rubber composition contains a rubber component, and carbon black and/or silica, wherein based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, the rubber component contains 5 to 50% by mass of natural rubber, 0.3 to 10% by mass of an epoxidized natural rubber, and at least 5% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer that has a constituent unit based on a conjugated diene and a constituent unit represented by formula (I) below, at least one terminal of the polymer being modified, and wherein a total content of the carbon black and the silica is 3 to 100 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: The invention provides a rubber composition prepared by mixing, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component comprising at least 50% by mass of a diene-based rubber, from 20 to 150 parts by mass of a filler, and from 0.05 to 30 parts by mass of a compound A which has a specific guanidine structure and has a functional group reactive with the diene-based rubber. The rubber composition improves both a high elastic modulus and a low tan ?. The invention also provides a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a rubber composition prepared by mixing, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component comprising at least 50% by mass of a diene-based rubber, from 20 to 150 parts by mass of a filler, and from 0.05 to 30 parts by mass of a compound A which has a specific amidine structure and has a functional group reactive with the diene-based rubber. The rubber composition improves both a high elastic modulus and a low tan ?. The invention also provides a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.

Abstract: An electromagnetic opening/closing device A1 includes a detector 5 for detecting an opened or closed state of a contact unit 1; a malfunction determination unit 6 configured to determine presence or absence of malfunction based on the opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 detected through the detector 5 and an opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 corresponding to an exterior command; and an output unit 8 configured to supply an exterior with a determination result by the malfunction determination unit 6.

Abstract: To provide a technology of improving the corrosion resistance of a spark plug. A spark plug having a metal shell on the outer surface of which a nickel plated layer is formed as a protective surface film. The nickel plated layer is such that when the atomic concentrations of constituent elements are measured in a depth direction by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the concentration of carbon atoms is 1.0% to 10.0% at a depth at which the atomic concentration of Ni elements is 80%.

Abstract: A contact resistance value detected by a detection means (a resistance detection part) is compared with a predetermined threshold value. A determining means (an abnormality determining part) determines that there is a failure when the contact resistance value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and then an abnormality detection signal is outputted from an output means (an output part). Therefore, it is possible to detect a failure in a contact, such as oxidization generated on a surface of a contact or contact pressure reduction generated between contacts, based on the contact resistance value of a contact part.

Abstract: An electromagnetic opening/closing device comprises: a measurement part that measure a change associated with opening/closing of a contact (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed); a life determining part that determines a state of the contact, based on the change (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed) measured by the measurement part; and an output part that outputs the determined result by the life determining part to outside. Accordingly, differently from the conventional technique, an apparatus, equipped with the electromagnetic opening/closing device, has no need to count the number of times the contact has been opened or closed in order to manage the lifetime of the device, and it is possible to easily manage the lifetime compared with conventional devices.

Abstract: A malfunction determining unit 7 compares an absolute value of the difference between a first count and a second count stored in a storage unit 8 with a predetermined threshold. If the absolute value is less than a predetermined upper limit, the malfunction determining unit determines that a contact unit 1 has no malfunction. If the absolute value is the upper limit or more, the malfunction determining unit 7 determines that the contact unit 1 has malfunction, and supplies the determination result to a control unit 3. The control unit 3 allows an output unit 10 to output a malfunction detecting signal if receiving the determination result indicating the presence of malfunction from the malfunction determining unit 7.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, a ground electrode joined to a front end portion of the metal shell and a nickel layer formed on the ground electrode, wherein the ground electrode has a base material exposed region in which a base material of the ground electrode is exposed; and wherein the nickel layer includes an outer-lateral-side nickel layer located on an outer lateral surface of the ground electrode at a position adjacent to the base material exposed region and satisfies a condition of LA?25 ?m, where LA is a length from a first part of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer having a thickness equal to 80% of a maximum thickness of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer to a second part of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer having a thickness equal to 20% of the maximum thickness of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer in a longitudinal direction of the ground electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug superior in salt corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance is provided. The spark plug includes a metallic shell coated with a composite layer which includes a nickel plating layer and a chromate layer formed on the nickel plating layer. The spark plug is characterized in that the nickel plating layer has a thickness A which satisfies a relational expression 3 ?m?A?15 ?m and that the chromate layer has a thickness B which satisfies a relational expression 2 nm?B?45 nm.

Abstract: An adhesion of a nickel plating layer to a metal shell is improved, and an effect of improving a corrosion resistance by providing the nickel plating layer is sufficiently exerted. A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical metal shell 3 that extends in an axial CL1 direction, and a nickel plating layer 31 that is made of metal containing nickel as a main component and covers an outer surface of the metal shell. In a monochrome image of 256 gradations where black is 0 and white is 255, which is obtained by observing a cross-section perpendicular to an outer surface of the nickel plating layer by a transmission electron microscope with an acceleration voltage of 200 kV, an average value in 256 gradations of the monochrome image is 170 or larger and 230 or smaller.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, a ground electrode joined to a front end portion of the metal shell and a nickel layer formed on the ground electrode, wherein the ground electrode has a base material exposed region in which a base material of the ground electrode is exposed; and wherein the nickel layer includes an outer-lateral-side nickel layer located on an outer lateral surface of the ground electrode at a position adjacent to the base material exposed region and satisfies a condition of LA?25 ?m, where LA is a length from a first part of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer having a thickness equal to 80% of a maximum thickness of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer to a second part of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer having a thickness equal to 20% of the maximum thickness of the outer-lateral-side nickel layer in a longitudinal direction of the ground electrode.

Abstract: A malfunction determining unit 7 compares an absolute value of the difference between a first count and a second count stored in a storage unit 8 with a predetermined threshold. If the absolute value is less than a predetermined upper limit, the malfunction determining unit determines that a contact unit 1 has no malfunction. If the absolute value is the upper limit or more, the malfunction determining unit 7 determines that the contact unit 1 has malfunction, and supplies the determination result to a control unit 3. The control unit 3 allows an output unit 10 to output a malfunction detecting signal if receiving the determination result indicating the presence of malfunction from the malfunction determining unit 7.

Abstract: A contact resistance value detected by a detection means (a resistance detection part) is compared with a predetermined threshold value. A determining means (an abnormality determining part) determines that there is a failure when the contact resistance value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and then an abnormality detection signal is outputted from an output means (an output part). Therefore, it is possible to detect a failure in a contact, such as oxidization generated on a surface of a contact or contact pressure reduction generated between contacts, based on the contact resistance value of a contact part.

Abstract: An electromagnetic opening/closing device comprises: a measurement part that measure a change associated with opening/closing of a contact (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed); a life determining part that determines a state of the contact, based on the change (the number of times the contact has been opened or closed) measured by the measurement part; and an output part that outputs the determined result by the life determining part to outside. Accordingly, differently from the conventional technique, an apparatus, equipped with the electromagnetic opening/closing device, has no need to count the number of times the contact has been opened or closed in order to manage the lifetime of the device, and it is possible to easily manage the lifetime compared with conventional devices.

Abstract: An electromagnetic opening/closing device A1 includes a detector 5 for detecting an opened or closed state of a contact unit 1; a malfunction determination unit 6 configured to determine presence or absence of malfunction based on the opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 detected through the detector 5 and an opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 corresponding to an exterior command; and an output unit 8 configured to supply an exterior with a determination result by the malfunction determination unit 6.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell extending in an axial direction, wherein the metal shell includes: an externally threaded portion formed on a tip end side of an outer periphery of the metal shell; a seat portion formed on a rear end side of the externally threaded portion in the axial direction and protruding radially outward; and a nickel layer provided on an outer surface of the metal shell, wherein the nickel layer contains phosphorus, and a phosphorus concentration in a portion in which a nickel concentration is 50 at % in a thickness direction of the nickel layer itself is 6 at % or more and 20 at % or less.

Abstract: To provide a technology of improving the corrosion resistance of a spark plug. A spark plug having a metal shell on the outer surface of which a nickel plated layer is formed as a protective surface film. The nickel plated layer is such that when the atomic concentrations of constituent elements are measured in a depth direction by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the concentration of carbon atoms is 1.0% to 10.0% at a depth at which the atomic concentration of Ni elements is 80%.

Abstract: An adhesion of a nickel plating layer to a metal shell is improved, and an effect of improving a corrosion resistance by providing the nickel plating layer is sufficiently exerted. A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical metal shell 3 that extends in an axial CL1 direction, and a nickel plating layer 31 that is made of metal containing nickel as a main component and covers an outer surface of the metal shell. In a monochrome image of 256 gradations where black is 0 and white is 255, which is obtained by observing a cross-section perpendicular to an outer surface of the nickel plating layer by a transmission electron microscope with an acceleration voltage of 200 kV, an average value in 256 gradations of the monochrome image is 170 or larger and 230 or smaller.

Abstract: A spark plug superior in salt corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance is provided. The park plug includes a metallic shell coated with a composite layer which includes a nickel plating layer and a chromate layer formed on the nickel plating layer. The spark plug is characterized in that the nickel plating layer has a thickness A which satisfies a relational expression 3 ?m?A?15 ?m and that the chromate layer has a thickness B which satisfies a relational expression 2 nm?B?45 nm.