Abstract: To provide an affinity carrier with a low pressure loss and a large binding capacity even when the linear flow rate of a solution to be made to pass therethrough is high. Silica spheres, which satisfy the following conditions: (a) the average particle size is from 30 ?m to 40 ?m as measured by a laser light scattering method; (b) the ratio (D10/D90) of the particle size (D10) of smaller 10% cumulative volume to the particle size (D90) of 90% cumulative volume in a particle size distribution as measured by a Coulter counter method, is at most 1.50; and (c) the average pore size is from 85 nm to 115 nm and the pore volume is at least 1.5 mL/g, as measured by a mercury intrusion technique.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spline telescopic shaft, includes a sliding step of sliding in an axial direction an inner shaft manufacturing intermediate member and an outer shaft manufacturing intermediate member, in one of which a resin coating is disposed on splines. In the sliding step, a sliding load of the inner shaft manufacturing intermediate member and the outer shaft manufacturing intermediate member is detected, and sliding is ended at a timing when the detected sliding load reaches a threshold load which is determined based on an initial sliding load detected at a start of the sliding.

Abstract: In a titanium oxide compound according to the present invention, the titanium oxide compound is obtained by eluating potassium of potassium tetratitanate expressed by a general formula K2Ti4O9 and performing thermal processing, and, in an X-ray diffraction spectrum of the potassium tetratitanate obtained by using a Cu—K? ray source, between a peak intensity Ia of a (200) plane, a peak intensity Ic of a (004) plane and a peak intensity Ib of a (31-3) plane, a relationship of Ia>Ib>Ic is satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention provides magnesium alloy which has sufficiently high strength at room temperature and high temperature. Disclosed is a magnesium alloy comprising: aluminum (Al): 14.0 to 23.0% by mass, calcium (Ca): 11.0% by mass or less (not including 0% by mass), strontium (Sr): 12.0% by mass or less (not including 0% by mass), and zinc (Zn): 0.2 to 1.0% by mass.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element is configured to have two types of conductors with different Seebeck coefficients physically connected alternately with an electrode via one or more electrical resistance layers formed by electrical resistor having electrical resistance rate of 1×10?3 ?cm or more. This arrangement enables charges to be generated by the difference of temperature in both ends of the element and to be densely stored in the electrical resistance layers formed by electrical resistor. Moreover, it is thought that thermal energy equivalent to the difference of temperature is input into the electrical resistance layers and that electromotive force increases as a result of an increase of output voltage.

Abstract: A vehicle steering device (1) has a steering actuator (14) for steerable wheels (5) to be steered according to operation of a steering member (2), a transmission mechanism (18) including cables (22, 23), a connection mechanism (19) for allowing and interrupting mechanical connection between the steering member (2) and the wheels (5), and control unit (9). When the steering actuator (14) is normal, the control unit (9) causes the connection mechanism (19) to release mechanical connection between the steering member (2) and the wheels (5) and drives and controls the steering actuator (14) according to operation of the steering member (2). The control unit (9) includes a fail detecting section (29) for detecting, when the steering actuator (14) is normal, a fail of the transmission mechanism (18) based on a load on the steering actuator (14).

Abstract: A control section (10) of a vehicle steering system has a steer-by-wire mode, a power steering mode, and a transition mode. In the steer-by-wire mode, a steering actuator (19) is controlled for steering and a reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force. In the power steering mode, steering assistance control is performed with either of the steering actuator (19) and the reaction force actuator (11) caused to function as an assistance unit. In the transition mode, in a transition period from either of the steer-by-wire mode and the power steering mode to the other, the reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force.

Abstract: A noncrystalline composite alkali metal titanate composition which is chemically stable, outstanding in resistance to hygroscopicity and suited as base materials for friction materials. The said composition comprises at least 60 wt. % of an alkali metal titanate represented by the general formula M2O.nTiO2 wherein M is one or at least two alkali metal elements and n is a number of 1 to 4, and at least 10 wt. % of SiO2, M2O/SiO2 being equal to or less than 2.5. When desired, it is possible to incorporate into the composition an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Mg, Al, P, Ca and Zn, and/or an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb and Ba.

Abstract: There is provided a steering apparatus to ease an uncomfortable feeling given to an operator when a steering wheel is connected to a steering mechanism, on a fail. The apparatus includes a unit that varies an angular ratio of a steering angle of front wheels with respect to an operational angle of a steering wheel. The apparatus also includes a connection unit such as a electromagnetic clutch for connecting the steering wheel to the steering mechanism in order to fix the angular ratio, on a fail such as a failure of a steering motor. The apparatus also includes a rotational body which relatively rotates with respect to the steering wheel by an angular deviation upon this connection. Accordingly, since a real neutral position of the steering mechanism coincides with a neutral position recognized by a pattern on the rotational body being seen, it eases the uncomfortable feeling onto the operator.

Abstract: A steering shaft is composed of an upper shaft, a lower shaft, an input shaft, and an output shaft. The upper shaft, the lower shaft, and the input shaft can rotate together, and the input shaft and the output shaft are relatively rotatably coupled to each other via a torsion bar. The rotational position of a rotor coupled to the output shaft is calculated based on the detected rotational position of the lower shaft and a steering torque detected based on the amount of relative rotational displacement of the input shaft and the output shaft. Thus, it is not necessary to include a rotor rotational position detecting unit for detecting the rotational position of the rotor within the electric motor, which reduces the size of the electric motor.

Abstract: A forced convection heat transfer apparatus wherein a large quantity of heat can be efficiently transferred even when a temperature difference is small, by transmitting power to a magnet, which is rotatable along a circulation flow path of a magnetic fluid, and obtaining a magnetic fluid circulation speed in proportion to the rotating speed.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element is configured to have two types of conductors with different Seebeck coefficients physically connected alternately with an electrode via one or more electrical resistance layers formed by electrical resistor having electrical resistance rate of 1×10?3 ?em or more. This arrangement enables charges to be generated by the difference of temperature in both ends of the element and to be densely stored in the electrical resistance layers formed by electrical resistor. Moreover, it is thought that thermal energy equivalent to the difference of temperature is input into the electrical resistance layers and that electromotive force increases as a result of an increase of output voltage.

Abstract: A roller 58 is rotatably held by an end portion of an eccentric support roller shaft 50 so that the roller 58 contacts with an inner periphery circular side surface of a rotor 40. Accordingly, a rotational resistance while the rotor 40 is eccentrically rotated can be decreased in comparison with a configuration in which an internal gear formed in an inner periphery of a rotor and an external gear formed in an eccentric shaft interlock each other. Thus, the rotating shaft 52 can be efficiently driven to rotate when a pressure difference is small and energy for rotating the roller 58 is small.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode of steering road wheels by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus includes a clutch which is composed of a shaft that rotates together with the steering device, an internal gear ring which has a rotation center coinciding with that of the shaft and transmits its rotation to the steering mechanism, an external gear ring partially intermeshed with the internal gear ring, lock members which transmit/disconnect the rotation of the shaft to the external gear, and a lock operating member for displacing the lock members to lock/unlock positions.

Abstract: A noncrystalline composite alkali metal titanate composition which is chemically stable, outstanding in resistance to hygroscopicity and suited as base materials for friction materials. The said composition comprises at least 60 wt. % of an alkali metal titanate represented by the general formula M2O.nTiO2 wherein M is one or at least two alkali metal elements and n is a number of 1 to 4, and at least 10 wt. % of SiO2, M2O/SiO2 being equal to or less than 2.5. When desired, it is possible to incorporate into the composition an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Mg, Al, P, Ca and Zn, and/or an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb and Ba.

Abstract: A control section (10) of a vehicle steering system has a steer-by-wire mode, a power steering mode, and a transition mode. In the steer-by-wire mode, a steering actuator (19) is controlled for steering and a reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force. In the power steering mode, steering assistance control is performed with either of the steering actuator (19) and the reaction force actuator (11) caused to function as an assistance unit. In the transition mode, in a transition period from either of the steer-by-wire mode and the power steering mode to the other, the reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force.

Abstract: In an energy absorbing steering system including a steering shaft to which a steering member is coupled, and a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft, at least one of the steering shaft and the steering column includes an impact absorbing portion that contracts when a load equal to or higher than a predetermined value is applied, and the impact absorbing portion includes a first impact absorbing portion having a first impact absorption load, and a second impact absorbing portion having a second impact absorption load different from the first impact absorption load.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering apparatus (1) has a transmission-ratio variable mechanism (8) for changing, with the use of a transmission-ratio changing motor (18), the rotational transmission-ratio between a first steering shaft (5) connected to a steering member (2) and a second steering shaft (6) connected to a steering mechanism (12). The apparatus has a counter force compensating motor (23) for compensating steering counter force of the steering member (2) caused by operation of the transmission-ratio variable mechanism (8), a hydraulic steering assist mechanism (80), and a controller (24) for controlling the transmission-ratio changing motor (18) and the counter force compensating motor (23). The controller (24) has a function of causing the counter force compensating motor (23) to generate steering assist torque.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for vehicle comprises a steering shaft including a first portion connected to a steering member and a second portion connected to steerable wheels; a transmission ratio variable mechanism capable of varying a transmission ratio as a ratio of a steered angle of the steerable wheels to a steering angle of the steering member; and a reaction-force compensation motor for compensating a steering reaction force of the steering member caused by the operation of the transmission ratio variable mechanism. The transmission ratio variable mechanism includes a differential mechanism for differentially rotatably interconnecting the first and second portions; and a differential-mechanism motor for driving the differential mechanism. Both an axis of a rotary shaft of the differential-mechanism motor and an axis of a rotary shaft of the reaction-force compensation motor are aligned with an axis of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism as a transfer ratio varying mechanism includes primary and secondary sun gears, three primary planetary gears and three secondary planetary gears. The numbers of teeth of the primary sun gear, the primary planetary gears, the secondary planetary gears, and the secondary sun gear are set in such a manner as to satisfy a predetermined particular relationship. By this, three primary planetary gears are disposed at equal intervals in a rotational direction of the primary sun gear, and three secondary planetary gears 22 are disposed at equal intervals in a rotational direction of the secondary sun gear.