Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic power generating apparatus that heats an emitter by a combustion gas produced by fuel and air, and converts light radiated from the emitter into electric power by using photoelectric conversion elements. An air pipe is disposed in an internal hollow portion of the emitter, and a combustion gas supplier for supplying the combustion gas toward the emitter is disposed outside the emitter. The photoelectric conversion elements that receive radiated light are disposed further outside of the emitter. Therefore, residual heat of the combustion gas that has heated the emitter is utilized to heat the air needed for the combustion of fuel, and light radiated from the heated emitter is received by the photoelectric conversion elements. Thus, electric power generating efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonlinear optical thin film of a silica glass system with sufficient nonlinear optical characteristics, in which a glass substrate 12 is disposed within a vacuum deposition chamber 10 and an electron beam is applied to a SiO2—GeO2-system glass placed on a hearth liner 14 to form a SiO2—GeO2-system thin film on the surface of the substrate 12. In an application of this method, ions of argon, for example, are emitted from an ion source to produce dipoles in the deposited SiO2—GeO2-system thin film. By applying an electric field to the SiO2—GeO2-system thin film thus formed, the dipoles are oriented to let the thin film exhibit nonlinear optical characteristics.

Abstract: In the control system of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle wherein power delivered from an engine is transmitted to a gear shift mechanism through a damper and then transmitted from the gear shift mechanism to driving wheels through a starting clutch, when an engine speed detected by engine speed sensor (in FIG. 1) is not higher than a predetermined value in the engine starting operation, an engageable element (in FIG. 1) constituting the gear shift mechanism is released, and when the engine speed is higher than the predetermined value, the engageable element is brought into engagement, thereby to alter the resonance point of a rotary system including the damper and to prevent the damper from resonating, so that a vibration of large amplitude does not occur in the engine starting operation.

Abstract: A wet type frictional engagement device includes a hydraulic fluid feed device for feeding hydraulic fluid between a pair of friction plates which are frictionally engaged with each other by a pushing element. By feeding hydraulic fluid between the pair of friction plates the distance between those plates are changed and thereby the transmission of power is controlled.

Abstract: A clutch device separates a non-changing component and a changing component of power generated by a driving source, and transmits the non-changing component and the changing component of power so separated to separate driven bodies, respectively. Power generated by a driving source is preferably subjected to form conversion by a power form converter and is then separated into a non-changing component and a changing component by a power separator. The non-changing component of power so separated is transmitted to a first driven body by a non-changing component transmitter while the changing component of power so separated is transmitted to a second driven body by a changing component transmitter. A fluid pump can be used as the power form transmitter, and an outlet flow rate regulating valve of the fluid pump can be used as the power separator. Control of the second driven body can be made easily by smoothing the changing component of power separated by using a smoother.

Abstract: A braking force control system for a motor vehicle furnished with a starting clutch, controlling braking force in accordance with driving force (as shown in FIG. 1). When the driver has released a brake pedal from the ON state thereof, the braking force is held until the driving force afforded to the motor vehicle through the starting clutch has been changed-over from a smaller value to a greater value. Thus, the motor vehicle is prevented from moving back when to start on a slope.

Abstract: A fluid coupling with a lock-up clutch which is capable of an improved torque transmission is provided. The fluid coupling with a lock-up clutch according to the present invention comprises, a front cover connected to an input shaft, an impeller shell connected to the front cover, a hub connected to an output shaft, a turbine shell connected to the hub at radially inner end, a driven plate assembly disposed near the outer surface of the turbine shell, a drive disc assembly disposed between the front cover and the driven plate assembly. The driven plate assembly has a driven plate which is rotatable in company with the hub, an annular friction surface disposed on the surface of front cover side of the driven plate. The drive disc assembly has a spring locator connected to the front cover, damper springs located in the spring locator, a front drive disc disposed on the front cover side of the spring locator, and a rear drive disc disposed on the driven plate assembly side of the spring locator.

Abstract: A fluid clutch system wherein a piston is hydraulically moved so as to come into frictional engagement with a surface opposing to the piston, comprising assistant pressure force generation device (26a and 40 in FIG. 2) for generating a pressure force which assists the frictional engagement force of the piston, whereby the transmission torque capacity of the fluid clutch system is enlarged without spoiling the on-vehicle mounting quality thereof.

Abstract: A torque converter with a lock-up mechanism used in an automobile capable for reliable shifting from an unlocked state to a locked-up state even in a coasting running. An oil passage is disposed for introducing hydraulic operating fluid used for engaging the lock-up clutch with the front cover to a first oil chamber defined between the stator and the turbine. A by-pass oil passage is branched from the oil passage for communicating the first oil passage and a second oil chamber defined between the stator and the pump, so that the hydraulic operating fluid used for engaging the lock-up clutch with the front cover is introduced to the second oil chamber having a lower oil pressure when the turbine pumps the circulating hydraulic operating fluid during coasting running of the automobile.

Abstract: A one-way clutch mechanism suited to shorten its axial dimension and to prevent the production of a shock noise, in which a side clutch member (20 in FIG. 3) is interposed between a stator side member (18) disposed unitarily with a stator and a stationary-shaft side member (22) disposed unitarily with a stationary shaft, and in which the surfaces of the stator side member (18) and the side clutch member (20) confronting each other are respectively formed with oblique planes (18a, 20a), wherein only when the stator has received a turning force of specified direction from a fluid stream, the stator side member (18) and the side clutch member (20) are brought away from each other into the operational connection of the stator side member (18) and the stationary-shaft side member (22) by the cooperation of the oblique planes (18a, 20a).

Abstract: A frictional engagement device for engaging a pair of members relatively rotating around a common axis is improved to obtain a smooth action. A first frictional engaging element is fitted unrotatably and axially movably to one of the relatively rotating member. A second frictional engaging element is unrotatably and axially movably fitted to the other of the relatively rotating member and disposed engageable to the first frictional engaging element. A first cam member which is axially movably fitted to one of the relatively rotating member and disposed apart from the second frictional engaging element has a slanted cam surface. A second cam member which is disposed adjacent to the first cam member on a side of the second frictional engaging element has a slanted cam surface parallelly opposing the cam surface of the first cam member. A piston means which is fitted to the second cam member has a surface engageable with the second frictional engagement element.

Abstract: The one-way clutch mechanism of a torque converter which has a short axial dimension, and which neither produces a shock noise (an abnormal sound) nor suffers a power loss in the idle mode thereof. An outer race (30 in FIG. 1 ) is united with a stator (18), and supports the stator (18) so as to be axially movable and rotatable with respect to a stationary shaft (16). The outer race (30) includes a first side face (32) which is formed with first teeth. An inner race (40) is united with the stationary shaft (16), and includes a second side face (42) opposite to the first side face (32). The second side face (42) is formed with second teeth which can prohibit the rotation of the outer race (30) in one direction, by meshing with the first teeth. The stator (18) and the outer race (30) receive the axial component force of a fluid stream which changes depending upon a speed ratio.

Abstract: In a fluid transmission device which includes a pump, a turbine (6 in FIG. 2), and a direct coupling clutch (10) having a damper function; the turbine (6) being a member which is located downstream of the damper function and which does not contribute to torque transmission under the operating state of the direct coupling clutch (10) is resiliently supported by an inner damper spring (46) being an elastic body, so that the turbine (6) is utilized as a damper weight which affects the dynamic balance of the damper function. Thus, the direct-connectible region of the direct coupling clutch of the fluid transmission device is expanded toward the lower vehicle speed range of a motor vehicle so as to enhance the fuel consumption of the motor vehicle, without worsening the oscillation characteristics of the device.

Abstract: A twin-clutch-type transmission which can suitably change a power transmitting route, corresponding to the gear shifting conditions, without requiring complex a control, includes a first clutch mechanism, a second clutch mechanism, a first gear mechanism connected to the first output member of the first clutch mechanism, a second gear mechanism connected to the second output member of the second clutch mechanism, a control device, and an interlocking member.The first clutch mechanism includes an input member, a first output member, a first pressure plate and a first thrust means which engages the first output member to the input member through the first pressure plate. The second clutch mechanism includes an input member, a second output member, a second pressure plate and a second thrust means which engages the second output member to the input member through the second pressure plate.

Abstract: A clutch device with a cam mechanism is provided, which is free from drag loss when the phase is switched from a state wherein the cam mechanism is operative to a state wherein it is inoperative. A cam groove 1c and a recess 1d are formed on the inner surface 1a of a piston, and a cam groove 3c and a projection 3d to be inserted into the recess 1d are formed on the inner surface 3a of a pressure plate 3. Between the cam grooves 1c and the 3c is interposed a cam roller 2 loosely retained by a roller cage 4. When the hydraulic pressure is applied to the back surface 1b of the piston 1 while a C.sub.3 clutch disk 5 rotates faster than the piston 1, the cam mechanism is operative to carry out the engagement operation. On the contrary, when the application of the hydraulic pressure is interrupted while the C.sub.3 clutch disk 5 rotates slower than the piston 1, the engagement is released. Meanwhile, the riding of the cam roller 2 over the cam elements is avoidable by the recess 1d and the projection 3d.

Abstract: A flywheel (FW) includes a front cover as a first mass member (102), an inner plate as a second mass member (104), and a coiled spring as a damper member (106) which is interposed between the first and second mass members. A clutch or a clutch body (108) is disposed so as to be connectible with and disconnectible from the inner plate (104) by hydraulic pressures (P0, P1). The front cover (102) and the inner plate (104) are united through a friction plate as coupling means (110) by the hydraulic pressures (P0, P1) for connecting and disconnecting the clutch (108). Thus, the first and second mass members (102, 104) can be united by the simple construction of low cost. Furthermore the uniting operation, inclusive of its synchronization with the control of the clutch body (108), can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: This clutch device has a first cam mechanism and a second cam mechanism disposed on a relatively rotatable a pair of members. When the first cam mechanism is pushed by a piston to one of the pair of members rotating in a direction, the first cam mechanism generates a thrust force corresponding to an input torque and thereby the relatively rotating members are engaged. When the second cam mechanism is pushed by a piston to one of the pair of members rotating in a reverse direction, the second cam mechanism generates a thrust force corresponding to the pushing force of the piston, and thereby the relatively rotating members are engaged. A return spring giving a biasing force to separate the second cam member from the one of relatively rotating member is designed not to reduce the thrust force generated by the first cam member during the action of the first cam mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid coupling with a lock-up clutch which is capable of an improved torque transmission is provided. The fluid coupling with a lock-up clutch according to the present invention comprises, a front cover connected to an input shaft, an impeller shell connected to the front cover, a hub connected to an output shaft, a turbine shell connected to the hub at radially inner end, a driven plate assembly disposed near the outer surface of the turbine shell, a drive disc assembly disposed between the front cover and the driven plate assembly. The driven plate assembly has a driven plate which is rotatable in company with the hub, an annular friction surface disposed on the surface of front cover side of the driven plate. The drive disc assembly has a spring locator connected to the front cover, damper springs located in the spring locator, a front drive disc disposed on the front cover side of the spring locator, and a rear drive disc disposed on the driven plate assembly side of the spring locator.

Abstract: A clutch device, having a cam mechanism between a piston member and clutch discs, which has a high torque transmitting capacity, small dimensions and no engagement shock is provided. The clutch device comprises a pair of members which are spaced on a common axis and relatively rotate around a common axis, a variable length coupling member which is disposed on the common axis between the relatively rotating members and is composed of a pair of cam members, and a piston member which selectively pushes the variable length coupling member toward one of the relatively rotating members to cause a frictional engagement between one end of the variable length coupling member and one of the relatively rotating members.

Abstract: A clutch device which can perform the plural functions required in an automatic transmission is provided. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of clutch devices required to obtain the desired gear ratios and shift operations. The clutch device, according to the present invention, comprises a pair of members spaced on a common axis and relatively rotating around the common axis, a variable length coupling member disposed on the common axis between the relatively rotating members and having a pair of cam members, and a piston member selectively pushing the variable length coupling member toward one of the relatively rotating members. The piston member causes frictional engagement between one end of the variable length coupling member and one of the relatively rotating members so that the cam members relatively rotate and cooperatingly generate a cam force, in an axial direction, which elongates the variable length coupling member and couples the relatively rotating members.