Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism of the present invention comprises first and second sliding members slidable relative to each other at sliding surfaces thereof and a lubricant being applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. The first and second members are made of a diamond-like carbon material and an iron-based material, respectively, and the lubricant comprises a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.

Abstract: An exchange-spring magnet is prepared using a magnet alloy containing Ta and C in addition to Nd, Fe and B. This exchange-spring magnet uses the magnet alloy prepared by a liquid quenching method or a mechanical alloying method. Further, by subjecting the magnetic alloy having a part set in an amorphous state to heat treatment, an exchange-spring magnet exhibits good properties regarding magnetic flux density and coercive force.

Abstract: A valve seat (2) is formed by build-up cladding by irradiating a laser beam on a copper alloy powder (4) provided in the rim of a port (3) formed in an engine cylinder head (1). The copper alloy powder (4) consists of copper (Cu), 6-9 wt % nickel (Ni), 1-5 wt % silicon (Si), and 1-5 wt % of one of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb) and vanadium (V). Due to this composition, the valve seat (2) has few microcracks and excellent abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A traction drive rotary assembly including a plurality of rolling elements having traction contact surfaces associating with each other to transmit power between the rolling elements. At least one of the traction contact surfaces has a surface microstructure including grooves and protrusions alternately arranged. The surface microstructure is represented by an unfiltered primary profile curve including recesses and projections corresponding to the grooves and the protrusions. Each projection includes a portion located higher than a center line of the unfiltered primary profile curve and having a shape selected from a generally trapezoidal shape with rounded corners, a generally crowning shape, a generally elliptic arc shape, a generally sinusoidal shape and a generally triangular shape with a rounded apex. A ratio &lgr;/AMP of a wavelength &lgr; of the unfiltered primary profile curve to a half depth AMP of the recess is in a range of 50-400.

Abstract: A low friction sliding element for reciprocating engine parts, including a sliding contact surface that is in sliding contact with a counterpart during relative sliding motion of the sliding element and the counterpart. The sliding contact surface has microscopic recesses and plateaus interrupted by the recesses. The recesses have depths regularly varying in a sliding direction of the sliding element.

Abstract: A model selector selects a simulation model on the basis of a selection condition set by a setting device to read out the simulation model from a model data base. A simulation calculator calculates the simulation by using this read out simulation model on the basis of the initial state and the simulation condition set by the setting device.

Abstract: A sliding structure for a reciprocating internal combustion engine, including sliding elements relatively slidable via lubricating oil therebetween, the sliding elements including sliding surfaces opposed to each other and lubricated with a laminar flow of the lubricating oil. The sliding surfaces each have base surfaces and microscopic dimples or grooves which are so constructed as to prevent reduction of flow resistance to the lubricating oil passing through a clearance between the sliding surfaces and assure a lubricating oil film thickness required for reducing friction loss between the sliding elements.

Abstract: In a method of providing commodity information to a commodity information requester via a network, a selection of commodity is received from the requester via the network, a item or item which are associated with a commodity selected by the requester is selected from items of personal information that have been collected in advance, requester specific commodity information is generated based on commodity information on the selected commodity and the selected item or items of the personal information, and the requester specific commodity information is provided to the requester.

Abstract: A valve seat (2) is formed by build-up cladding by irradiating a laser beam on a copper alloy powder (4) provided in the rim of a port (3) formed in an engine cylinder head (1). The copper alloy powder (4) consists of copper (Cu), 6-9 wt % nickel (Ni), 1-5 wt % silicon (si), and 1-5 wt % of one of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb) and vanadium (V). Due to this composition, the valve seat (2) has few microcracks and excellent abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A high temperature abrasion resistant copper alloy suitable for the material of an engine parts such as valve seats and valve guides. The copper alloy comprises aluminum in an amount ranging from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight; at least one selected from vanadium, niobium and tantalum in the group Va of the periodic table of elements, in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight; and balance including copper and impurities. The copper alloy has a texture in which at least one kind of intermetallic compounds is dispersed, each intermetallic compound kind containing aluminum, at least one selected from elements of the group Va of the periodic table, and silicon.

Abstract: A laminate material comprising a metal substrate and a laser overlaid layer of a high temperature abrasion resistant copper alloy suitable for the material of engine parts such as valve seats and valve guides, wherein the copper alloy consists essentially of aluminum in an amount ranging from 1.0 to 15.0% by weight; at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium and tantalum in the group VB of the periodic table of elements, in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight; and balance containing copper and impurities. The copper alloy has a structure in which at least one of intermetallic compounds is dispersed, each intermetallic compound contains at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper and at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements of the group VB of the periodic table. This copper alloy exhibits also high oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance at high temperatures.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of units 2 has the learning section 9 which updates the parameters PRM and performs learning. The learning means 9 modifies the parameters PRM based on the error signal OS' propagated from one unit to another. To build a system consisting of such units 2, the user uses the GUI or some other method to select the units 2 as well as the signal paths for connecting the units via the user interface, displays the system configuration status, and adjusts the functions of units 2. Therefore, an easy-to-build data processing system and a system-build system and method used to build such a system can be provided.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant copper alloy suitable for the material of an overlaid layer formed at the valve seat of an engine cylinder head formed of aluminum alloy. The copper alloy consists essentially of nickel in an amount ranging from 10 to 30% by weight; silicon in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 5.0% by weight; at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium and vanadium, in an amount ranging from 2.0 to 15.0% by weight; and balance being copper and impurities.

Abstract: A function for compensating an error between a teacher signal and an output signal with a weight value is defined. A multilayered neural network is changed so that the function becomes minimum. Thus, the multilayered neural network can be adaptively controlled.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a control amount of a control target by changing an operating amount which is supplied to the control target, comprises an adjusting section for calculating an adjustment signal in accordance with the control amount measured by the control target and a target control amount, an operating section for transmitting an operating amount to the control target in accordance with the adjustment signal calculated by the adjusting section, an observation data storing section for storing observation data having control amounts and operating amounts observed previously, and a learning section for learning internal parameters for the adjusting section in accordance with response time taken for the control target from input of the operating amount from the operating section to the control target to appearance of an influence of the operating amount on the control amount and observation data stored in the observation data storing section.

Abstract: A main rocker arm is supported for swinging motion to operate one of the intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine. A high-speed rocker arm is supported on the main rocker arm for swinging motion according to rotation of a high-speed cam rotating in synchronism with engine rotation. The high-speed rocker arm has a slip surface for engagement with the high-speed cam. The high-speed rocker arm is drivingly connected to the main rocker arm for swinging motion in unison with the main rocker arm when the engine is operating at a high speed. The driving connection is released to permit swinging motion of the main rocker arm according to rotation of a low-speed cam independently of the swinging motion of the high-speed rocker arm when the engine is operating at a low speed. The slip surface of the high-speed rocker arm is made of an alloy tool steel having carbide deposited and dispersed to provide a hardness of HRC55 or more to the slip surface.

Abstract: A control method of controlling a controlled system according to the invention comprises the first step of inputting a current and future target controlled variable to a first neural network model which performs learning using a past target controlled variable for the controlled system as an input signal and a past manipulated variable as a teacher signal, thereby obtaining a current virtual manipulated variable, the second step of causing a second neural network model, which have learnt to predict a behavior of the controlled system, to receive the virtual manipulated variable obtained in the first step and a controlled variable obtained from the controlled system at a current time, thereby obtaining a predicted controlled variable, the third step of obtaining an error of the predicted controlled variable obtained in the second step with respect to the target controlled variable, the fourth step of obtaining a correction amount for the virtual manipulated variable in accordance with a back propagation calcul

Abstract: A high temperature abrasion resistant copper alloy suitable for the material of engine parts such as valve seats and valve guides. The copper alloy comprising aluminum in an amount ranging from 1.0 to 15.0% by weight; at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium and tantalum in the group Va of the periodic table of elements, in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight; and balance containing copper and impurities. The copper alloy has a structure in which at least one of intermetallic compounds is dispersed. each intermetallic compound contains at least one metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper and at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements of the group Va of the periodic table. This copper alloy exhibits also high oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance at high temperatures.

Abstract: This invention relates to a predictive control method and apparatus for controlling a nonlinearly controlled object, such as a manipulator. The method and apparatus can control an object having unknown dynamic characteristics and can compensate for disturbances. A multi-layered neural network is provided as an identification model for the object to the controlled. A controlled variable signal received from the object and a manipulated variable signal for controlling the object are fed into the neural network to predict a future value of the controlled variable signal using forward calculation. The predicted future value is compared with a desired control variable value to produce an error value. The error value is input to the neural network to compute a correction value for the manipulated variable signal using back-propagation. The correction value is used to modify the manipulated variable signal value to thereby control the object.

Abstract: Sintered iron alloy composition and method of manufacturing the same, the sintered alloy composition comprising: about 1.5 to about 2.5% carbon by weight; about 0.5 to about 0.9% manganese by weight; about 0.1 to about 0.2% sulfur by weight; about 1.9 to about 2.5% chromium by weight; about 0.15 to about 0.3% molybdenum by weight; about 2 to about 6% copper by weight; not more than about 0.3% by weight of a metal element material comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of tungsten and vanadium; an effective content of a first solid lubricant material comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of magnesium metasilicate minerals and magnesium orthosilicate minerals; and balance iron. This alloy composition is preferably used for making machine parts, such as slide members of valve operating systems for internal combustion engines.