Abstract: An electric bicycle 1 comprises a motor powered driving assembly 2 including a flat type DC motor a speed reduction mechanism, a control circuit, a pedal load sensor, and a pedal rotation speed sensor which are integrally assembled together, the motor powered driving assembly being disposed adjacent a lower median portion of a body frame. Through this arrangement it is possible to provide an electric bicycle which affords ease of control and good riding comfort and has relatively low center of gravity.

Abstract: A vortex flowmeter for calculating the flow rate of a measuring fluid flowing through a flow path using ultrasonic signals subjected to changes in the propagation time due to Karman vortices, comprising a reference signal generating device for outputting a plurality of reference signals of different phases; a signal analyzing device for outputting an input status signal by determining the relationship between the phases of the ultrasonic signals and each reference signal; a plurality of phase detectors for outputting phase signals by detecting the phase difference between the ultrasonic signals and the reference signals; and a channel selector for selecting the optimum phase signal using the input status signal and for outputting the optimum phase signal as a selection signal, wherein the flow rate signals are computed and outputted using the selected phase signal. The vortices are thus stably detected even when a phase change due to the vortices in the vortex flowmeter is large.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of V-type internal combustion engines having an induction system which provides variable length sections for serving each combustion chamber, with each section being tuned to provide optimum charging efficiency for a different engine running speed. In addition, a flow-controlling valve is provided in the induction passages adjacent the combustion chamber and is movable between a nonrestricting flow position and a position wherein the flow is redirected to generate turbulence in the combustion chamber. The induction system is designed so as to provide a compact assembly and yet permit efficient induction and combustion under a wide range of engine speed and load conditions.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of three valve per cylinder engines which permit effective running under all engine running conditions by controlling the flow to some of the intake ports and by redirecting the flow, in some instances to other intake ports. A wide variety of control valves and fuel injector arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the direct current motor having Ns pieces of stator teeth and Nr pieces of magnetic poles, each of the plural magnetic poles is disposed shifted with the predetermined shift angles .DELTA..theta.i around a rotor from the angular reference position defined by even angles around the axis of the rotor, respectively, and the shift angles .DELTA..theta.i are defined by the below-mentioned expression concerning the least common multiple Nc between the Ns and the Nr;-180/Nc.ltoreq.shift angle.DELTA..theta.i.ltoreq.+180/Nc,wherein, signs "-" and "+" in the expression show a shift direction from the angular reference position in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inorganic bonding type rapidly solidified magnet, which is formed by energizing and sintering, after an instantaneous mutual attractive force has been applied intermittently in accordance with the electromagnetic force upon a thin piece shaped rapidly solidified magnet powder in a mold. A thin piece shaped inorganic glass having a thermal expansion ratio 9.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. or less is used as the inorganic coupling agent. The magnet of the present invention having a ring shape, is effective to improve reliability as a rotor magnet in consideration of size, safety, mechanical strength, etc. of the present magnet formed in a ring shape. The electric resistance of the magnet is 10.sup.-3 through 10.sup.-1 .OMEGA.cm and is desirable as a rotor magnet of a PWM driving brushless electric motor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a permanent magnet which comprises applying one directional pressure and an electric current to an aggregate through a pair of electrodes to cause the aggregate to undergo a plastic deformation thereby to expand an axially projected surface area. The aggregate used is of a type containing alloy flakes interlocked with each other. The alloy flakes are those made of at least one rare earth metal and a ferrous component by the use of a melt quenching process.

Abstract: A resin bonded magnet which comprises a resinous binder and melt quenched magnetically isotropic ferromagnetic alloy particles having a coercive force of 8 to 12 KOe of the formula: Fe.sub.100-x-y-z Co.sub.x R.sub.y B.sub.z wherein R is at least one of Nd and Pr, x is an atomic % of not less than 15 and not more than 30, y is an atomic % of not less 10 and not more than 13 and z is an atomic % of not less than 5 and not more than 8; the ferromagnetic alloy particles uniformly dispersed in the binder.

Abstract: A process for producing a rare earth element-iron-boron anisotropic magnet that may generate a strong static magnetic field in vacant spaces of a magnetic circuit mounted in a motor is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of placing a billet produced of rapid solidification powder of a rare earth element-iron-boron alloy into a mold cavity, applying a primary pressure to said billet, while allowing a primary current to pass through said billet, applying to said billet a secondary pressure which is increased up to at least five times as much as the primary pressure, and applying a secondary current greater than the primary current through said billet, wherein the billet is finally subjected to plastic deformation at the temperature between the crystalline temperature and 750.degree. C.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing yokes (3, FIG. 1) to be used in a permanent magnet type stepping motor (10, FIG. 2), a surface-treated dead soft steel sheet such as nickel-plated steel sheet or aluminized steel sheet containing carbon in 0.01 wt. % or less is press-worked to form yoke (3) having plural pole teeth (3a, FIG. 1) on its inner periphery, and then the yoke is annealed in an inactive gas atmosphere in a temperature range of 750.degree.-820.degree. C. to remove residual stress, and permeability of the yoke is improved.

Abstract: A process for producing a rare earth-iron-boron magnet, which includes the steps of: (1) charging a melt spun powder of a rare earth-iron-boron magnet into at least one cavity, which is confined by a pair of electrodes inserted into a hole of an electrically non-conductive ceramic die; (2) subjecting the melt spun powder to a non-equilibrium plasma treatment, under a reduced atmosphere of 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-3 Torr, while applying a uniaxial pressure of 200 to 500 kgf/cm.sup.2 to the melt spun powder in the direction connecting the electrodes interposed between a pair of thermally insulating members, thereby fusing the melt spun powder; and (3) heating the fused melt spun powder to a temperature higher than or equal to its crystallization temperature by transferring a Joule's heat generated in the thermally insulating members by passing a current through the members to the melt spun powder thereby causing the plastic deformation of the melt spun powder to form a rare earth-iron-boron magnet.

Abstract: A process for producing resin bonded magnet structures is disclosed which includes the steps of: (a) adding a solid epoxy resin of at least one epoxy oligomer and a microcapsule which contains at least one liquid epoxy resin to a melt spun powder of a rare earth element-iron alloy to form a granulated intermediate material, wherein the epoxy oligomer has alcoholic hydroxyl groups in the molecular chain thereof and the solid epoxy resin has a softening temperature (Durran's melting point) of 65.degree. C. to 85.degree. C.; (b) mixing the granulated intermediate material with a powdered curing agent and a lubricant to form a compound; (c) forming a green body of a resin bonded magnet by compressing the compound, and then integrating the green body directly with a supporting member; and (d) curing the solid and liquid epoxy resins in the green body by application of heat to form a rigid structure of the resin bonded magnet integrated with the supporting member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing permanent magnets from a plurality of thin flakes of a rare earth-Fe-B alloy metal, comprising the steps ofsubjecting the thin flakes to a discharge electric field, the thin flakes being comprised of an R-Fe-B alloy metal; and R-Fe-B-M alloy metal; an R-Fe(Co)-B alloy metal comprising 11 to 18 atom % R, 4 to 11 atom % B, 30 atom % Co, the balance being Fe; and/or an R-Fe(Co)-M-B alloy metal,generating Joule heat on the contacting interfaces of the thin flakes by applying pressure to the gathered body of thin flakes and by supplying a current thereto, andbonding the gathered body integrally by making the thin flakes deform plastically in a warm state.R is one or more rare earth elements and M is one or more members selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ga, P and C. The thin flakes are in a nonequilibrium state such that the R.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B phases and amorphous phases are coexistent.

Abstract: A method for making a resin-bonded magnet of flaky pieces of a ferromagnetic alloy and a resin composition which comprises providing composite granules obtained from a mixture of magnetically isotropic pieces of an Fe-B-R alloy, in which R is Nd and/or Pr, in the form of fine pieces and a resin composition comprised of at least one film-forming polymer having a functional group reactive with isocyanate groups and a blocked isocyanate. The granules are compression molded to obtain a green compact and subsequently thermally treated to allow reaction between the at least one film-forming polymer and the isocyanate by dissociation of the blocking groups by heating, thereby obtaining a resin-bonded magnet.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing yokes (3, FIG. 1) to be used in a permanent magnet type stepping motor (10, FIG. 2), a surface-treated dead soft steel sheet such as nickel-plated steel sheet or aluminized steel sheet containing carbon in 0.01 wt. % or less is press-worked to form yoke (3) having plural pole teeth (3a, FIG. 1) on its inner periphery, and then the yoke is annealed in an inactive gas atmosphere in a temperature range of 750.degree.-820.degree. C. to remove residual stress, and permeability of the yoke is improved.

Abstract: A process for producing a cheap carrier tape of a two layer structure having a superior heat resistance, difficultly susceptible of effect of impurities and having a superior flexibility is provided, which process comprising the following steps: coating a polyimide varnish onto a continuous, electrically-conductive metal foil and baking it; punching the resulting tape of a two layer structure of the metal foil and the polyimide film to form sprocket holes; cutting and removing the polyimide film to form a device hole; coating a resist onto the metal foil surface; light-exposing the resulting resist by the medium of a mask for separating a circuit pattern and a circuit from the sprocket parts; developing the resulting resist and etching the metal foil by the medium of a mask of the resist; removing the resist; and plating the metal foil.

Abstract: A method for producing a resin-bonded magnet, which includes steps of mixing a magnet element and microcapsules each of which contains at least one component of a thermally polymerizable resin composition as a binder component, mechanically breaking at least a part of the microcapsules during formation of a green compact comprising said resin composition and said magnet element to discharge the components of said resin composition from the capsules, and curing said resin to produce the resin-bonded magnet.

Abstract: A resin-bonded magnet comprising particles of a melt-quenched ferromagnetic material of the formula, Fe-B-R, in which R represents Nd and/or Pr, and a binder resin dispersing the particles throughout the resin and fixing the particles. The binder resin comprises an oligomer having at least an alcoholic hydroxyl group and a block isocyanate with an active hydrogen-bearing compound. The resin-bonded magnet is preferably used in the from of a cylinder, ring or column having a defined outer diameter and a defined density when applied to permanent magnet motors.

Abstract: A silicon-containing step ladder polymer comprising a unit represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## a unit represented by the following general formula (II): ##STR2## and a unit represented by the following general formula (III): ##STR3## where R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbon or fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon group, R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a trialkyl siloxy group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 which may be identical or different with each other represent individually hydrocarbon or fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon groups, the molar ratio of the unit (I) to the unit (II) is between 5:1-100:1 and the molar ratio of the unit (III) to the total amount of the unit (I)+unit (II) is between 1:5-1:100, as well as a process for producing such polymer.

Abstract: A shaft drilling rig with which a shaft is drilled into the earth with a turning force and thrust of drilling imparted to at least the drill bit of a drill string, down to a predetermined depth, and then a new drill string component is added to the drill string, for further drilling.The subject of the present invention lies in enabling the work of adding a new drill string component to the drill string safely and in a reduced time.To solve the above problem, the shaft drilling rig according to the present invention comprises a means of receiving an additional drill string component at least at the bottom end thereof, means of supporting said receiving means so as to be stably movable between a position where a drill string component is to be added and a parking position, and a means of holding the additional drill string component.