Abstract: A laser welding apparatus is provides that includes: a support member including a heat generation portion which has a size that is limited to correspond to a size of a welding area of a plurality of plastic components and is made from a material that absorbs a laser beam and generates heat, and which generates heat of a temperature that is equal to or greater than a melting temperature of the plastic components; a laser beam irradiation unit for converging a laser beam to be transmitted through the plurality of plastic components, and irradiating the laser beam toward the heat generation portion through the plurality of plastic components; and a welding controller for causing a laser beam to be irradiated at the heat generation portion using the laser beam irradiation unit to thereby cause the heat generation portion to generate heat, and welding abutting faces of a welding area of the plurality of plastic components with heat that is generated.

Abstract: A fluid power generation device is configured to provide electric power generation using fluid action, and comprises multiple power generation mechanisms. Each power generation mechanism comprises: a casing that allows a fluid to pass through its internal space; and a power generation unit arranged within the casing, and configured to perform electric power generation using the fluid action. The casing is configured to generate vortexes in the vicinity of its fluid outlet. The multiple casings are arranged with spaces as intervals between them. Each casing generates vortexes in the vicinity of its fluid outlet. Furthermore, such an arrangement provides an interaction effect between the vortexes generated in the vicinity of the fluid outlets of the multipole casings arranged with the spaces as intervals between them. This provides a synergistic effect for accelerating the inner flow based on the interaction between the power generation mechanisms.

Abstract: A fluid power generation device is configured to provide electric power generation using fluid action, and comprises multiple power generation mechanisms. Each power generation mechanism comprises: a casing that allows a fluid to pass through its internal space; and a power generation unit arranged within the casing, and configured to perform electric power generation using the fluid action. The casing is configured to generate vortexes in the vicinity of its fluid outlet. The multiple casings are arranged with spaces as intervals between them. Each casing generates vortexes in the vicinity of its fluid outlet. Furthermore, such an arrangement provides an interaction effect between the vortexes generated in the vicinity of the fluid outlets of the multipole casings arranged with the spaces as intervals between them. This provides a synergistic effect for accelerating the inner flow based on the interaction between the power generation mechanisms.

Abstract: To provide a balloon catheter and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the balloon catheter, whereby the degree of welding can be appropriately adjusted and the balloon catheter can be formed so as to have a desired surface profile suitable for various uses including medical use. With a shaft 14 inserted through a catheter tube 30a inserted into an end portion 28b of a balloon and also with a pressure tube 32a fitted around a welding section where the end portion 28b of the balloon 28 is lapped over the catheter tube 30a, the shaft 14 is heated by emitting laser light from a laser radiation unit 8 to the welding section while the shaft 14 is rotated by a chuck, to weld the welding section.

Abstract: There is provided a technology making it possible to improve operability and reliability of a detection sensor.

Abstract: A fluid machine, a wind turbine, and a method for increasing velocity of an internal flow is provided. A basic shape of the casing has a cycloid curve having a convex portion at a throat section between the front and rear edges. The throat section and a vortex generating face disposed downstream of the throat section to generate the negative pressure region are formed on an inner circumferential face of the casing. A first outflow gradient is formed on an outer circumferential face of the casing and at the rear edge. A second outflow gradient is formed on a boundary of a throat-side adjacent face adjacent to the vortex generating portion to separate the internal flow. The negative pressure region of high vorticity is generated behind the vortex generating face by virtue of the non-streamline shaped casing to increase the velocity of the internal flow.

Abstract: A fluid machine includes a non-streamline casing capable of forming a stable vortex street on a downstream side by internal and external flows, and an impeller disposed inside the casing. The casing has a vortex generator configured to form the vortex street on the downstream side. The vortex generator is provided with a phase control structure which regulates a phase of a vortex formation that fluctuates along a circumferential direction in a plane including a rear face of the casing and which clarifies a cell structure to be formed along the circumferential direction of the casing to fix, on a surface of the casing, respective positions of cells into a plurality of segmented regions arranged in the circumferential direction. The velocity of the internal flow is increased by the phase control structure.

Abstract: To provide a balloon catheter and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the balloon catheter, whereby the degree of welding can be appropriately adjusted and the balloon catheter can be formed so as to have a desired surface profile suitable for various uses including medical use. With a shaft 14 inserted through a catheter tube 30a inserted into an end portion 28b of a balloon and also with a pressure tube 32a fitted around a welding section where the end portion 28b of the balloon 28 is lapped over the catheter tube 30a, the shaft 14 is heated by emitting laser light from a laser radiation unit 8 to the welding section while the shaft 14 is rotated by a chuck, to weld the welding section.

Abstract: A fluid machine, a wind turbine, and a method for increasing velocity of an internal flow is provided. A basic shape of the casing has a cycloid curve having a convex portion at a throat section between the front and rear edges. The throat section and a vortex generating face disposed downstream of the throat section to generate the negative pressure region are formed on an inner circumferential face of the casing. A first outflow gradient is formed on an outer circumferential face of the casing and at the rear edge. A second outflow gradient is formed on a boundary of a throat-side adjacent face adjacent to the vortex generating portion to separate the internal flow. The negative pressure region of high vorticity is generated behind the vortex generating face by virtue of the non-streamline shaped casing to increase the velocity of the internal flow.

Abstract: An elastic projection elastically projecting outward is provided on the lower side and the lateral side of a hard base. The elastic projection functions as a fixing member when a cover member for a push button switch is fitted into a housing of the product. Inside an elastic projection is formed a space. When the elastic projection is pressed from the outside, the space enables the elastic projection which is elastically deformed inward, to proceed into the space. As a result, the elastic projection projecting from an outer peripheral line of the hard base can be elastically deformed so as to retract inwardly in the hard base.

Abstract: A fluid machine includes a non-streamline casing capable of forming a stable vortex street on a downstream side by internal and external flows, and an impeller disposed inside the casing. The casing has a vortex generator configured to form the vortex street on the downstream side. The vortex generator is provided with a phase control structure which regulates a phase of a vortex formation that fluctuates along a circumferential direction in a plane including a rear face of the casing and which clarifies a cell structure to be formed along the circumferential direction of the casing to fix, on a surface of the casing, respective positions of cells into a plurality of segmented regions arranged in the circumferential direction. The velocity of the internal flow is increased by the phase control structure.

Abstract: A key frame capable of being easily fitted into a product and that can be prevented from deforming in the fitting. Elastic projections (41p) elastically projecting outward are provided at the lower side and both lateral sides of a hard base (41). The elastic projections (41p) function as fixing members when a cover member for a push button switch is fitted into a housing of the product. Inside an elastic projection (41p) is provided a space (S). When the elastic projection (41p) is pressed from the outside, the space (S) enables the inwardly deformed elastic projection (41p) to enter into the space (S). As a result, the elastic projections (41p) projecting from an outer peripheral line of the hard base (41) can be elastically deformed so as to retract inside the hard base (41).

Abstract: A cover member for a push-button switch is disclosed, the cover member including a hard base and a keypad, wherein the hard base is made of a hard resin with a through hole for a key top, wherein the keypad is made of a silicone rubber film, and a front surface of the keypad is in contact with an entire back surface of the hard base, thereby preventing the entire back surface of the hard base from being contact with any member other than the keypad, and wherein the keypad is exposed through the through hole, and a back surface of the keypad corresponding to the through hole is provided with a press projection for pressing a contact point.

Abstract: Influence of an impact on a hard base or deformation of the hard base is alleviated on a circuit board. A push-button switch cover member has a hard base 1 and a keypad 2, the hard base 1 is made of a hard resin with a through hole 4 for a key top, and the keypad 2 is made of a silicone rubber film. The keypad 2 thinly covers the entire back surface of the hard base 1 and is exposed through an internal periphery of the through hole 4 of the hard base 1 to the front surface side of the hard base 1. The back side of the keypad 2 located in an inside region of the through hole 4 is provided with a press projection 6a for press of a contact part.

Abstract: Wind power generator including a wind turbine rotating in a cylindrical wind tunnel body and capable of generating high output power by accelerating a wind flow. The wind tunnel body expands toward a wind flow direction and the wind turbine is arranged adjacent to a wind inlet of the wind tunnel body. An angle of inclination of a side wall portion of the wind tunnel body against an axis of the wind tunnel body is in a range from 5 to 25 degrees. The inlet of the wind tunnel body has a curved surface smoothly expanding toward an outside of the wind tunnel body. A collar-shaped brim is formed on an outside of an opening edge of a wind outlet of the wind tunnel body. Wind flowing into the wind tunnel body sharply accelerates immediately after passing through the inlet and rotates the wind turbine.

Abstract: A wind power generator provided with a wind turbine rotating in a wind tunnel body, capable of generating high output power by efficiently accelerating a wind flow. The wind power generator comprises a cylindrical wind tunnel body (1) expanding toward a flowing direction of wind and a wind turbine (3) for generating electricity disposed at a position adjacent to an inlet (2a) for wind of the wind tunnel body (1), wherein an angle of inclination &phgr; of a side wall portion of the wind tunnel body (1) against an axis of the wind tunnel body (1) is in a range from 5 to 25 degrees, the inlet (2a) of the wind tunnel body (1) has a curved surface (5) smoothly expanding toward an outside of the wind tunnel body (1), and a collar-shaped brim having a width B is formed on an outside of an opening edge of an outlet (2b) for wind of the wind tunnel body (1).