Abstract: A method of producing a light water reactor fuel assembly may include: setting conditions at least concerning an operation cycle period and burnup; setting an initial enrichment of enriched uranium; calculating excess reactivity of a light water reactor core where light water reactor fuel assemblies including the enriched uranium are burned until an end stage of a final operation cycle; determining whether a condition where excess reactivity at an end of a first operation cycle in the burnup calculation step is close to a predetermined positive value is true or not; and returning to the setting of the initial enrichment, when it is determined at the determining that the situation is not true, or deciding an enrichment of the enriched uranium when it is determined that the situation is true.

Abstract: An ultrasonic emission device is accommodated in a housing for generating an ultrasonic wave. The housing has an ultrasonic emission port for emitting the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic emission device outward therethrough. A louver is equipped to the ultrasonic emission port. The louver includes multiple louver boards, which are distant from each other. Two of the multiple louver boards adjacent to each other form a clearance therebetween. The clearance includes a horizontal clearance extending along a horizontal direction and an inclined clearance being an ascent inclination toward the ultrasonic emission device.

Abstract: A vehicle warning apparatus has a vehicular horn disposed in an overlapping arrangement with a supersonic speaker, such that the vehicular horn is positioned between the supersonic speaker and a heat exchanger. The vehicular horn blocks the supersonic speaker from heat produced by the heat exchanger, which prevents the temperature of the supersonic speaker from increasing. Accordingly, troubles such as frequency change of supersonic wave output from the speaker and/or decrease of speaker's product life, without deteriorating heat dissipation capacity of the heat exchanger, are prevented. Furthermore, collective arrangement of the supersonic speakers on a single board attached on the vehicular horn improves the install-ability of the vehicle warning apparatus in the vehicle, and improves the directional reach of the supersonic wave.

Abstract: A sound wave generator includes a speaker control circuit and a speaker. The speaker control circuit includes a signal generating unit that is configured to generate an electric signal having a humming frequency property. The humming frequency property includes a plurality of frequencies that have an overtone relationship with respect to A Hz and are pitched at the A Hz, the A Hz being a target generation frequency and corresponding to a low pitch frequency in an audible range. The speaker generates a sound wave from the electric signal by applying the electric signal to a vibration plate that produces the sound wave.

Abstract: A vehicle warning apparatus may include a supersonic speaker for outputting a supersonic wave that is equipped in a parametric speaker. The supersonic speaker includes a supersonic vibrator that generates a supersonic wave. A waterproof sheet and louver is arranged to cover a speaker opening in order to protect the supersonic vibrator from water and other foreign particles. Specifically, the waterproof sheet is arranged to cover the speaker opening at a distance L1 from the supersonic vibrator, where L1=L0×n/4±1/4. The louver is disposed on the other side of the waterproof sheet, such that the waterproof sheet is between the louver and the supersonic vibrator. The distance between the louver and the waterproof sheet is L2, where L2=L0×n/4±1/4. For both L1 and L2, L0 is the wavelength of the supersonic wave, and n is an odd number.

Abstract: A process for producing a particle-reinforced titanium alloy includes the steps of: heating a titanium alloy in which ceramic particles having a thermodynamically stable property are dispersed in a temperature range of not less than &bgr;-transus temperature; and cooling the titanium alloy to pass through the &bgr;-transus temperature at a cooling rate of 0.1-30° C./second. The process can further include, before the heating step, the step of compressing the titanium alloy in a two phase temperature range of &agr;+&bgr; thereof or in a temperature range of not less than &bgr;-transus temperature.

Abstract: A steering wheel in which a ceiling portion of a pad of an air bag module has adjacent peripheral edges extending along the individual spoke portions of a steering wheel body to be positioned close to a cover layer of the individual spoke portions. Each of the adjacent peripheral portions has a push rib. A bag holder has extensions capable of abutting against the individual push ribs. Movable contacts of the individual switch bodies are individually supported by the extensions under the push ribs. Stationary contacts of the individual switch bodies are individually supported by a stationary plate which is supported in abutment by the individual spoke portion cores in the vicinity of the individual stationary contacts. The steering wheel enables the operation of a horn switch with a reduced operational load when the peripheral edge of the pad of the air bag module is depressed and retains a clear feel of arrival at the bottom. This improves the operational feel of the horn switch.

Abstract: An air bag device includes an air bag, an inflator, a pad, a bag holder, and a retaining plate. The pad has a top wall covering the bag while the bag is in a folded position, and a substantially cylindrical side wall extending from the top wall near its outer edge along an axial direction with respect to a steering wheel column. The side wall has a plurality of pawl holes. The bag holder holds the air bag and is situated radially inward with respect to the side wall of the pad. The bag holder has a plurality of outwardly protruding pawls, each pawl being received by one of the mounting holes of the pad. The side wall of the pad has a first portion not adjacent to the retaining plate and a second portion adjacent to the retaining plate. The pawls protruding through the holes in the first portion of the pad side wall have a protruding length larger than that of the pawls protruding through the holes in its second portion, so as to enhance the ease of assembling the pad to the bag holder.