Abstract: A link mechanism capable of setting any desirable speed of opening/closing a lid during a series of the opening/closing operation and capable of exerting a strong driving force is provided. A lid (6) is attached to a lid bracket (31). The lid bracket (31) is pivotally connected to a driving lever (14) and a coupled-driving lever (15) with which the lid (6) is opened or closed. The driving lever (14) is provided with a cam having an elongated hole (34), into which a driving pin (36) provided to a sector gear (13) is fitted. The sector gear (12) is driven by a motor through a pinion (22). According to rotation of the sector gear (13), the driving pin (36) moves in the elongated hole (34) and drives the driving lever (14). Since the distance between the center of the sector gear (13) and the driving pin (36) is larger than the radius of the pinion (22), such mechanism exerts a strong driving force.

Abstract: A retractable roof system for a vehicle is provided with a roof locking apparatus (70) provided in a vehicle body and retaining a retractable roof in a storage space (7) which is different from a trunk space, and a link mechanism (10) provided in the vehicle body and capable of changing a position of a lid (6) covering the storage space (7) so as to open and close to an open position and a closed position. The roof locking apparatus (70) is structured such as to work with the link mechanism (10).

Abstract: A link mechanism capable of setting any desirable speed of opening/closing a lid during a series of the opening/closing operation and capable of exerting a strong driving force is provided. A lid 6 is attached to a lid bracket 31. The lid bracket 31 is pivotally connected to a driving lever 14 and a coupled-driving lever 15 with which the lid 6 is opened or closed. The driving lever 14 is provided with a cam having an elongated hole 34, into which a driving pin 36 provided to a sector gear 13 is fitted. The sector gear 12 is driven by a motor through a pinion 22. According to rotation of the sector gear 13, the driving pin 36 moves in the elongated hole 34 and drives the driving lever 14. Since the distance between the center of the sector gear 13 and the driving pin 36 is larger than the radius of the pinion 22, such mechanism exerts a strong driving force.

Abstract: A retractable roof system for a vehicle is provided with a roof locking apparatus (70) provided in a vehicle body and retaining a retractable roof in a storage space (7) which is different from a trunk space, and a link mechanism (10) provided in the vehicle body and capable of changing a position of a lid (6) covering the storage space (7) so as to open and close to an open position and a closed position. The roof locking apparatus (70) is structured such as to work with the link mechanism (10).

Abstract: A high-frequency discharge excited oxygen generator comprises: a hollow cathode 2 having a plasma channel 3 opened; an anode 4 insulated from the hollow cathode 2 and disposed on an exhaust side of this hollow cathode 2; and a high-frequency power supply 5 for supplying a high-frequency power between this anode 4 and the hollow cathode 2. The excited oxygen generator supplies the plasma channel 3 of the hollow cathode 2 with O2 gas or a mixed gas, in which O2 gas and another gas are mixed, and produces singlet excited oxygen. Further, the excited oxygen generator comprises an injector 10 for supplying NO gas toward the center of the plasma channel 3 disposed on the supply side of the plasma channel 3. The NO gas supplied to the central portion of the plasma channel 3 is not dissociated into nitrogen and oxygen and excites O2 gas to excited oxygen.

Abstract: An interior cooling inner plunger is caused to project from an outer plunger after casting. Alternatively, during casting, while it projects from the outer plunger, the inner plunger is inserted into a frustoconical gate. Subsequently, a pressure pin is moved downward from a movable mold side to a portion near a gate portion. When a melt solidifies, a casting sleeve and a casting plunger are moved downward, and a pressure pin is further moved downward to cut apart a biscuit from a mold product. An excellent product is produced and the cycle time is shortened by a good melt pushing operation.

Abstract: A heat generating agent for medical waste sterilization. The agent is at least one compound selected from calcium oxide, calcined dolomite, and magnesium oxide, and at least one compound selected from sulfamic acid, sodium bisulfate, and anhydrous phosphoric acid. The present invention also provides a method for sterilizing medical wastes. The method includes the steps of subjecting medical waste to exothermic reaction between water and a heat generating agent selected from calcium oxide and calcined dolomite or to exothermic reaction between iron powder and oxygen to generate reaction heat and/or alkalinity by the exothermic reaction. The present invention provides an aparatus to be used according to the method mentioned above.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle has an engine clutch for transmitting the output of an engine to a transmission, main drive wheels operatively connected to an output shaft of the transmission, auxiliary drive wheels, and a transfer clutch for transmitting the output of the transmission to the auxiliary drive wheels. A control system is provided with a detector for detecting a driving condition for reducing the torque capacity of the transfer clutch. The control system responds to a signal from the detector for gradually reducing the torque capacity of the transfer clutch.

Abstract: An infinitely variable belt-drive transmission is provide with a D/L-range as one of operating ranges. The system has a transmission ratio control valve comprising a spool which is moved in the downshift direction to downshift the transmission and in the upshift direction opposite to the downshift direction to upshift the transmission. An actuator is provided for moving the spool. When an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle is depressed at the D/L-range, the actuator operates to move the spool in the downshift direction and when the accelerator pedal is released at the D/L-range, the actuator operates to move the spool in the upshift direction.