Abstract: It is intended to provide a screening system for a centrally acting drug transported across the blood-brain barrier, a drug acting on the blood-brain barrier itself, or a drug transferred into the brain without being expected to centrally act. Moreover, another object of the present invention is to achieve pathogenesis analysis study or the screening in a diseased state by applying various diseased environments to this screening system. The present invention provides an in-vitro model of blood-brain barrier obtained by using a three-dimensional culture apparatus comprising: a culture solution; a plate holding the culture solution; and a filter immersed in the culture solution and placed in no contact with the inside bottom of the plate, the filter having plural pores of 0.35 to 0.

Abstract: A control valve has a valve body for opening and closing a valve hole and a solenoid mechanism for urging the valve body by energizing a solenoid. The solenoid mechanism includes a yoke, a plunger housing, a fixed core and a plunger. The yoke accommodates the solenoid and forms a magnetic path. The plunger housing made of stainless steel connects with the yoke, and has a central axis. The fixed core connects with the yoke. The plunger is accommodated in the plunger housing and connects with the valve body. The plunger is attracted to the fixed core to move in the direction of the central axis by applying electromagnetic force from the solenoid. Black oxide treatment is performed to the yoke after the plunger housing is brazed to the yoke.

Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor installed in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner. The compressor has a control chamber and a control passage, which connects the control chamber to a pressure zone in which the pressure is different from the pressure of the control chamber. The control valve has a valve body, which is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the control passage. A pressure sensing member moves in accordance with the pressure difference between two pressure monitoring points located in the refrigerant circuit. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the displacement of the compressor is varied to counter changes of the pressure difference. The force applied by an actuator corresponds to a target value of the pressure difference. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the pressure difference seeks the target value. An urging member is accommodated in the valve chamber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic spring clutch may be utilized to engage a drive shaft 8 of a auxiliary machine for vehicle 2 and may include an input pulley 1 rotatably supported by a housing of the auxiliary machine for vehicle 2. An electromagnetic coil 5a may be disposed within the input pulley 1 and an armature 11 may be reversibly coupled to the input pulley 1 by the electromagnetic coil 5a. An output hub 7 may transmit torque applied to the input pulley 1 to the drive shaft 8. Preferably, the output hub 7 is prevented from moving in an axial direction relative to the drive shaft 8 and a clearance C is defined between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7. Preferably, the clearance C is prevented from increasing during operation. A coil spring 4 may couple the armature 11 to the output hub 7. The coil spring is preferably prevented from the intruding into the clearance C between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7.

Abstract: Fluid heating devices may be utilized, for example, to heat a vehicle coolant and may include a rotor body rotatably supported within a rotor housing. A plurality of blades may be disposed on a circumferential surface of the rotor body and a channel may be defined between each two adjacent blades. Each channel has a base portion, an inner circumferential end and an outer circumferential end. Preferably, the inner circumferential end is longer than the outer circumferential end as measured from the base portion. Further, the outer circumferential ends of the channels may define wall portions and the wall portions are preferably shorter than the inner circumferential ends as measured from the base portions of the channels. In view of this design, it is not necessary to provide shields toward the outer circumferential ends of the channels.

Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor. The compressor has a crank chamber and a supply passage. The control valve includes a valve housing. A valve chamber is defined in the valve housing. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the supply passage. A pressure sensing chamber is defined in the valve housing. A pressure sensing member separates the pressure sensing chamber into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. The pressure at a first pressure monitoring point is applied to the first pressure chamber. The pressure at a second pressure monitoring point located is applied to the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body in accordance with the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member is a bellows or a diaphragm, an actuator applies force to the pressure sensing member in accordance with external commands.

Abstract: A control valve has a valve body for opening and closing a valve hole and a solenoid mechanism for urging the valve body by energizing a solenoid. The solenoid mechanism includes a yoke, a plunger housing, a fixed core and a plunger. The yoke accommodates the solenoid and forms a magnetic path. The plunger housing made of stainless steel connects with the yoke, and has a central axis. The fixed core connects with the yoke. The plunger is accommodated in the plunger housing and connects with the valve body. The plunger is attracted to the fixed core to move in the direction of the central axis by applying electromagnetic force from the solenoid. Black oxide treatment is performed to the yoke after the plunger housing is brazed to the yoke.

Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor installed in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner. The compressor has a control chamber and a control passage, which connects the control chamber to a pressure zone in which the pressure is different from the pressure of the control chamber. The control valve has a valve body, which is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the control passage. A pressure sensing member moves in accordance with the pressure difference between two pressure monitoring points located in the refrigerant circuit. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the displacement of the compressor is varied to counter changes of the pressure difference. The force applied by an actuator corresponds to a target value of the pressure difference. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body such that the pressure difference seeks the target value. An urging member is accommodated in the valve chamber.

Abstract: A control valve is used for a variable displacement compressor. The compressor has a crank chamber and a supply passage. The control valve includes a valve housing. A valve chamber is defined in the valve housing. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber for adjusting the opening size of the supply passage. A pressure sensing chamber is defined in the valve housing. A pressure sensing member separates the pressure sensing chamber into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. The pressure at a first pressure monitoring point is applied to the first pressure chamber. The pressure at a second pressure monitoring point located is applied to the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member moves the valve body in accordance with the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. The pressure sensing member is a bellows or a diaphragm. an actuator applies force to the pressure sensing member in accordance with external commands.

Abstract: In a heat generator for a vehicle according to the present invention, an operation chamber defined in the heat generator is composed of a heat generation area (7) which receives therein a rotor, a storage area (8) which contains viscous fluid, and a boundary opening (9) of a relatively large surface area, which connects the two areas. The boundary opening is provided with a pair of transfer openings (35A, 35B) in a point-symmetric arrangement with respect to the rotation axis C of the rotor. Guide portions (41A, 41B), each corresponding to each of the openings, are provided in the storage area. With this structure, since at least one of the transfer openings and the guide portion corresponding thereto are located below the surface level L of the viscous fluid regardless of the attachment angle of the heat generator, the exchange and circulation of the viscous fluid can be carried out between the heat generation area and the storage area, in accordance with the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A heating pump 10 includes a rotor 20 having a plurality of blades 21. A dividing wall 15 radially extends within an interior portion of the heating pump 10. The dividing wall 15 has a width W. A distance L is defined along a circular arc between adjacent blades 21 in an intermediate position 21a along the radial direction of the blades 21. A ratio W/L is preferably about 0.07 to 0.36, more preferably about 0.11 to 0.30 and most preferably, about 0.20.

Abstract: Fluid heating devices may be utilized, for example, heat a vehicle coolant and may include a rotor body rotatably supported within a rotor housing. A plurality of blades may be disposed on a circumferential surface of the rotor body and a channel may be defined between each two adjacent blades. Each channel has a base portion, an inner circumferential end and an outer circumferential end. Preferably, the inner circumferential end is longer than the outer circumferential end as measured from the base portion. Further, the outer circumferential ends of the channels may define wall portions and the wall portions are preferably shorter than the inner circumferential ends as measured from the base portions of the channels. It is not necessary to provide shields toward the outer circumferential ends of the channels.

Abstract: Fluid heating devices preferably include a housing defining an actuation chamber and having a suction port and a discharge port. The housing may comprise a front housing and a rear housing. Preferably, at least one of the front housing and/or the rear housing is made of a resin, such as polyphenylene sulfide. A rotor may be rotatably disposed within the actuation chamber. The rotor preferably operates to pressurize fluid drawn from the suction port and to release pressurized fluid from the discharge port. A drive shaft is preferably connected to the rotor. One end portion of the drive shaft may be rotatably supported by the front housing member via a bearing. A throttle may communicate with the pressurized fluid released from the discharge port and apply a braking force to the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: An electromagnetic spring clutch may be utilized to engage a drive shaft 8 of a auxiliary machine for vehicle 2 and may include an input pulley 1 rotatably supported by a housing of the auxiliary machine for vehicle 2. An electromagnetic coil 5a may be disposed within the input pulley 1 and an armature 11 may be reversibly coupled to the input pulley 1 by the electromagnetic coil 5a. An output hub 7 may transmit torque applied to the input pulley 1 to the drive shaft 8. Preferably, the output hub 7 is prevented from moving in an axial direction relative to the drive shaft 8 and a clearance C is defined between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7. Preferably, the clearance C is prevented from increasing during operation. A coil spring 4 may couple the armature 11 to the output hub 7. The coil spring is preferably prevented from the intruding into the clearance C between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7.

Abstract: A heat generator comprises a partitioning wall 34 in opposed relation to a rotor in a heat generating area, in which the partitioning wall is formed with a supply groove 38 for introducing the viscous fluid to the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area from a storage area, and a recovery groove 39 for leading out the viscous fluid to the storage area from the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area. The shape, position and the mounting angle of the supply groove 38 and the recovery groove 39 are designed to set the outflow ratio &agr; to not more than 0.92. The outflow ratio &agr; is defined as the ratio (&agr;=Qout1/Qin) of the amount Qout1 of the viscous fluid flowing out from the heat generating area due to the forcible transfer function of the recovery groove 39 to the total amount Qin of the viscous fluid flowing from the storage area into the heat generating area.

Abstract: In a heat generator of the invention in which a drive shaft 8 is made of an iron-type metal, a rotor 9 includes a main rotor body 9a made of an aluminum-type metal for shearing a silicone oil SO and a bush 9b made of an iron-type metal inserted in the main rotor body 9a and secured to the drive shaft 8 while being positioned in contact with the inner race 7a of a bearing device 7. The main rotor body 9a has at least a gap &Dgr; relative to the inner race 7a of the bearing device 7, and is permitted to undergo thermal expansion.

Abstract: A vehicle heat generator, which can easily be installed in an engine room, includes a housing, and a heating chamber housed in the housing. The heating chamber contains viscous fluid. A heat transfer chamber is housed in the housing about the heating chamber. Circulating fluid flows through the heat transfer chamber. A rotor is rotatably supported in the heating chamber. The rotor shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. A flow passage of the circulating fluid is defined in the heat transfer chamber. The flow passage encompasses substantially the entire rotor. An ingoing passage connects the exterior of the housing to the flow passage. The circulating fluid flows through the ingoing passage from the exterior to the flow passage. An outgoing passage connects the flow passage to the exterior. The circulating fluid flows through the outgoing passage from the flow passage to the exterior. The ingoing passage and the outgoing passage extend substantially parallel to the rotor axis.