Abstract: A spot welding method includes a heating step of energizing an electrode in pressure contact with an Al alloy member to heat and melt a join part by resistance heating and a cooling step of cooling the join part after the heating step in a state in which the electrode is in pressure contact with the Al alloy member. The alloy is a wrought alloy of Mg: 0.2 to 1.2 mass %, Si: 0.4 to 1.5%, and Cu: 1.1% or less or a casting alloy of Si: 7 to 11% and Mg: 0.1 to 0.4% with respect to 100% as a whole. The cooling step includes a first cooling process performed with a reduced amount of input energy to the join part as compared with the heating step and a second cooling process performed after the first cooling process at a higher cooling rate than that in the first cooling process.

Abstract: A charge control apparatus of a train set having a plurality of trains, wherein the train has a generator, a battery and a motor supplied with power from the generator and the battery, power, generated by one of the generator and the motor, is able to charge to the battery, and a plurality of trains, driven by an operation of the motor, are connected and each battery is mutually independent, comprises an acquiring unit configured to acquiring charge information indicating charge condition of the battery from each train; and a charge amount control unit configured to control a charge amount of each battery using the charge information of the train.

Abstract: A charge control apparatus of a train set having a plurality of trains, wherein the train has a generator, a battery and a motor supplied with power from the generator and the battery, power, generated by one of the generator and the motor, is able to charge to the battery, and a plurality of trains, driven by an operation of the motor, are connected and each battery is mutually independent, comprises an acquiring unit configured to acquiring charge information indicating charge condition of the battery from each train; and a charge amount control unit configured to control a charge amount of each battery using the charge information of the train.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an electric-vehicle driving apparatus which consumes regenerative energy by a brake resistor and can decrease harmonic components generated by a brake-chopper switching circuit. Plural brake-chopper switching circuits are provided in parallel for each inverter. Harmonic components generated by the brake-chopper switching circuits are decreased by changing phases or frequencies of triangular carrier waves of the switching circuits, relatively to each other.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an electric-vehicle driving apparatus which consumes regenerative energy by a brake resistor and can decrease harmonic components generated by a brake-chopper switching circuit. Plural brake-chopper switching circuits are provided in parallel for each inverter. Harmonic components generated by the brake-chopper switching circuits are decreased by changing phases or frequencies of triangular carrier waves of the switching circuits, relatively to each other.

Abstract: An antenna unit having an antenna casing secured to a signal transmitting and receiving circuit. An antenna cover is slidably coupled to the antenna casing. An antenna element is provided inside the antenna cover. A coiled spring portion connects the antenna element to the signal transmitting and receiving circuit. The antenna element and the coiled spring portion are provided as one integral coil of wire. A clip is secured to the antenna cover and is engaged with a border between the antenna element and the coiled spring portion so as to keep the antenna element stationary relative to the antenna cover, thereby keeping the electrical characteristics of the antenna element constant, even when the antenna cover is slid relative to the antenna casing. The antenna element remains connected to the signal transmitting and receiving circuit at all times.

Abstract: An indole of the formula ##STR1## can be prepared by subjecting an aniline of the formula: ##STR2## and a glycol or an oxide of the formula: ##STR3## to vapor phase reaction at 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of a solid acid catalyst having dehydrating and dehydrogenating activities.(In the above-mentioned formulae, R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, R.sup.2 stands for alkyl or alkoxy, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and stands for hydrogen or alkyl, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same or different and stand for hydrogen or alkyl, and n is an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: Preparation of anisaldehyde by the oxidation of p-methoxytoluene in the vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst consisting of vanadium oxide, phosphorus oxide and potassium sulfate or a catalyst consisting of vanadium oxide, phosphorus oxide, potassium sulfate and copper oxide. The catalyst has excellent selectivity and, as a result, anisaldehyde is obtained in high yields. Further, the catalyst containing copper oxide has excellent durability.