Abstract: A two-stroke-cycle engine is provided with a main exhaust port and a pair of auxiliary exhaust ports and includes a main exhaust valve unit slidably disposed to the main exhaust port for controlling an upper edge position of the main exhaust port and a pair of right and left auxiliary exhaust valve units disposed rotatably for opening and closing right and left auxiliary exhaust passages formed to right and left sides of a main exhaust passage formed to the engine. An exhaust controller of the engine is characterized in that a driving unit is connected to the main exhaust valve unit and the right and left auxiliary exhaust valve units are coupled with an end of the main exhaust valve unit on the main exhaust port side through a coupling pin so as to be operatively associated with the main exhaust valve unit, the right and left auxiliary exhaust valve units being disposed symmetrically with respect to the main exhaust valve unit.

Abstract: A fixing device incorporated in an image recording apparatus has a heater 24 for fixing an image formed on a sheet 11 by heating a toner 12 constituting the image, and a thin endless belt 21 for carrying the sheet 11. The endless belt 21 is rotated by a drive roller 22 and is given tension by a tension roller 23. A tapered member 26a is located at an end of the tension roller 23 and a guide member 30 contacts with a side tapered surface of the tapered member. When the endless belt 21 skews, the tension roller 23 moves along its axis by a reaction force and inclines in a direction parallel to a tension direction of the tension roller 23 to compensate for the skew.

Abstract: A piston member for an internal combustion engine of, for example, a motor bicycle is provided with bosses having inner end surfaces opposing to each other into which a piston pin is inserted. A connecting rod has small and large end portions and the small end portion is slidably coupled with the end surfaces when the connecting rod is inserted into the body of the piston member through a cutout portion formed at one end thereof to form a skirt portion. The sizes, dimensions, and structures of the end surfaces of the bosses, the cutout portion, and the associated elements are determined to be suitable for coating thin films of metallic particles on the end surfaces by flame coating means.

Abstract: This invention provides a highly concentrated aqueous softener composition which has improved viscosity characteristics and an excellent long-term storability. The softener composition comprises 7 to 50% by weight of cationic softening agent, 0.05 to 10% by weight of alkylene oxide adducted nonionic surfactant having at least one unsaturated bond in its molecule, 0.005 to 5% by weight of inorganic electrolyte, and the balance of water.