Abstract: A less heavy and small-sized assisted wheelchair that does not require so much manual labor of an assistant's handle operation. The wheelchair D comprises a frame assembly 1, casters 2 and 3, driving wheels 4 and 5, handrims 6 and 7, and a battery portion 11. In the inside of the casing 14 which covers the hub shaft 13 of the driving wheel 4, there are disposed a driving force detector 40 for detecting the human driving force applied to the handrim 6, a motor 21 for auxiliarily driving the driving wheel 4, and a controller 20 for controlling the motor 21 based on the result of the detection by the driving force detector 40. Also, on the upper rear portion of the frame assembly 1, there is disposed a driving force detector 50 for detecting the human driving force applied to the handles 8 and 9 by the assistant. The controller 20 controls and drives the motor 21 in accordance with the amount of human driving force of the assistant detected by the driving force detector 50.

Abstract: An electroformed tool that has a uniform air-releasing hole system with high strength and a simple and convenient method to manufacture it has been created. The method includes conducting electroforming by mixing a non-leveling agent with an electrolytic solution and forming an electroformed layer which has a continuous air-releasing hole structure.

Abstract: A mold assembly for molding thermoplastic material into a solid thin shell includes a metal mold with an outer surface exposed to a heat source and an inner surface on which thermoplastic material is cast and fused to form a thin layer thermoplastic shell. A plurality of elongated generally planar fins are connected to the outer surface at predetermined spaced areas for transferring heat from the heat source to predetermined spaced areas of the inner surface. The fins are metal sheets, preferably copper, each having a discontinuous flange at one end secured to the outer surface at spaced points along the discontinuous flange. The discontinuous flange is formed by slitting or cutting one end to form spaced projections and then bending adjacent projections in opposite directions generally transversely from the elongated metal sheet. The projections arc secured to the outer surface by TIG welding.

Abstract: A support mechanism for supporting thereon a set of upper and lower forming dies to be opened and closed in a forming process. The support mechanism includes a base structure of mounting thereon the lower forming die, a pair of opposed upright side plates fixedly mounted on the base structure in parallel to one another, a pair of guide tracks provided on the respective inside faces of the side plates, a pair of actuators mounted on the base structure at a position adjacent the respective side plates, a movable support frame arranged between the side plates and located above the lower forming die on the base structure for supporting the upper forming die thereon, the support frame having a pair of support shafts secured to its opposite sides and slidably engaged with the guide tracks, and a pair of link mechanisms arranged to support thereon the support shafts of the support frame and to transmit the motion of the actuators to the support shafts to move the support frame along the guide tracks.

Abstract: A method of joining a metal member to a resin member comprising electroforming a roughened surface on a metal member, thereby producing a countless number of minute pores on the surface of the metal member. The cross section of each pore is generally in a shape of a dovetail.

Abstract: A method of firmly joining a metal member developed by electroforming to a resin member. A metal member having a roughened, sponge-like surface is formed by electroforming on an electroform matrix. Then, a resin such as epoxy is applied thereto to develop a first resin layer having a smooth surface. Further, another resin layer is formed on the first resin layer. The resin member is interlocked with the roughened, sponge-like surface for firm joining of the resin member to the metal member.