Abstract: A pulse wave measuring device checks whether amplitude of a pulse signal satisfies a gain changing condition and, when the gain changing condition is satisfied, changes a gain. The pulse wave measuring device includes an amplitude storing unit and a mode progressing unit. The amplitude storing unit stores plural gain changing conditions, to which a series of order are assigned, respectively. A mode progressing unit 15 changes the gain changing condition to the next-ordered gain changing condition upon determination that the mode progress condition is satisfied. The gain changing condition is satisfied in case that Y1 or more number of pieces of X1 amplitudes are larger than an upper limit value U1 or smaller than a lower limit value L1. X1 is increased as the order of the set gain changing condition is higher.

Abstract: A casting nozzle suited to manufacture a casting material of pure magnesium or magnesium alloy is provided. A nozzle is utilized to manufacture a casting material by supplying molten metal to a portion between rolls which become a casting die, and arranged so that a pouring port is located between a pair of rolls opposed to other. This nozzle includes a main body formed of oxide material such as alumina, and a coating layer which is provided on the inner surface of the main body which comes into contact the molten metal, and formed of material that does not include oxygen substantially. Since the main body does not come into direct contact with the molten metal due to the coating layer, it is possible to prevent oxygen included in the main body from reacting with the molten metal.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring device checks whether amplitude of a pulse signal satisfies a gain changing condition and, when the gain changing condition is satisfied, changes a gain. The pulse wave measuring device includes an amplitude storing unit and a mode progressing unit. The amplitude storing unit stores plural gain changing conditions, to which a series of order are assigned, respectively. A mode progressing unit 15 changes the gain changing condition to the next-ordered gain changing condition upon determination that the mode progress condition is satisfied. The gain changing condition is satisfied in case that Y1 or more number of pieces of X1 amplitudes are larger than an upper limit value U1 or smaller than a lower limit value L1. X1 is increased as the order of the set gain changing condition is higher.

Abstract: A first purge passage is connected to an intake-air passage at a downstream side of a throttle valve. A second purge passage is connected to the intake-air passage at an upstream side of a supercharging device. A first and a second check valve are respectively provided in the first and second purge passages. A control unit determines to which operating condition (from a first to a third operating condition) engine operation corresponds, based on downstream-side and upstream-side pressure of the throttle valve. A change of in-tank pressure of a fuel tank is detected in a condition that an air-communication valve is closed but a purge control valve is opened. The control unit diagnoses which of the valves is not normally operated and whether such valve is fixed to a valve opened or a valve closed position, based on the change of in-tank pressure for each of engine operating conditions.

Abstract: An operation of a change valve is changeable between a valve closing state, in which the change valve is closed to close connection between a pump passage and a canister passage and to open connection between an atmosphere passage and the canister passage, and a valve opening state, in which the change valve is opened to open the connection between the pump passage and the canister passage and to close the connection between the atmosphere passage and the canister passage. An ECU determines that the change valve is abnormal when a value, which is obtained by subtracting a second reference pressure measured in an (n?1)th execution of a fuel vapor leakage sensing process from a first reference pressure measured in an nth execution of the fuel vapor leakage sensing process, is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A fuel vapor leak detecting device includes a pump, a housing having a pump passage connected to the pump, a switching valve, a pressure detector, and a control device detecting a shutoff pressure that corresponds to an interior pressure of the pump passage detected by the pressure detector when the pump is actuated while the switching valve is closed. The control device controls the switching valve to be opened at least once and to be closed at least once when the shutoff pressure is out of a specified range. The control device detects a fuel vapor leak when the shutoff pressure is in the specified range.

Abstract: A casting nozzle suited to manufacture a casting material of pure magnesium or magnesium alloy is provided. A nozzle is utilized to manufacture a casting material by supplying molten metal to a portion between rolls which become a casting die, and arranged so that a pouring port is located between a pair of rolls opposed to other. This nozzle includes a main body formed of oxide material such as alumina, and a coating layer which is provided on the inner surface of the main body which comes into contact the molten metal, and formed of material that does not include oxygen substantially. Since the main body does not come into direct contact with the molten metal due to the coating layer, it is possible to prevent oxygen included in the main body from reacting with the molten metal.

Abstract: A respiratory function testing apparatus capable of testing a respiratory function of a subject more accurately. In the apparatus, a respiratory state detection unit acquires a first signal representative of different inspiratory volumes corresponding to a plurality of breaths of the subject and a second signal representative of intrapleural pressures corresponding to the respective different inspiratory volumes, and detects a plurality of respiratory states corresponding to the different inspiratory volumes and their corresponding intrapleural pressures. A respiratory state determination unit captures a state of the respiratory function of the subject on the basis of the plurality of respiratory states corresponding to the different inspiratory volumes and their corresponding-respective intrapleural pressures.

Abstract: A casting nozzle suited to manufacture a casting material of pure magnesium or magnesium alloy is provided. A nozzle 1 is utilized to manufacture a casting material 100 by supplying molten metal to a portion between rolls 10 which become a casting die, and arranged so that a pouring port 4 is located between a pair of rolls 10 opposed to other. This nozzle 1 includes a main body 1a formed of oxide material such as alumina, and a coating layer 3 which is provided on the inner surface of the main body 1a which comes into contact the molten metal, and formed of material that does not include oxygen substantially. Since the main body 1a does not come into direct contact with the molten metal due to the coating layer 3, it is possible to prevent oxygen included in the main body 1a from reacting with the molten metal.

Abstract: A first determiner determines whether a pressure in a fuel tank is within a predetermined range when an ignition switch of an engine is on. A second determiner determines whether a valve allows or prohibits a communication between the fuel tank and a switch valve, when the first determiner determines that the pressure in the fuel tank is within the predetermined range. A control unit controls a pressure controlling portion based on a determination result of the first determiner and a determination result of the second determiner. A leak determiner determines whether the fuel tank has a leak of evaporated fuel based on a signal output from a first detector detecting a pressure in a detection passage and a signal output from a second detector detecting a pressure in the fuel tank.

Abstract: An ECU determines whether condensed water is present at a rotor and vanes based on an electric current, which flows in an electric motor that drives the rotor. When the condensed water is determined to be present, the ECU drives the motor for a predetermined time period. When the condensed water is determined to be absent, the ECU stores a pressure, which is sensed through a pressure sensor, as a first pressure. The ECU is adapted to sense an abnormality in a pump characteristic based on a value of the first pressure.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a rotor rotatably arranged in the pump chamber; and a motor to rotate the rotor. An imaginary plane is defined to bisect the pump chamber in an axis direction. The housing has a first inlet port and a second inlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane, and the housing has a first outlet port and a second outlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane.

Abstract: A vane pump has an upper casing, a lower casing, a rotor and a motor. First to fourth points are defined on an outer peripheral end of a lower flat surface of the lower casing. The first point is farthest from an intersection between an axis of a shaft of the motor and the lower flat surface. A suction passage passing through the third point and a discharge passage passing through the second point are formed between the upper casing and the lower casing. The fourth point is defined in a range from the third point to the first point. The lower flat surface is provided to incline with respect to the axis of the shaft of the motor such that the fourth point is farthest from a motor case of the motor among points on the outer peripheral end.

Abstract: A fuel vapor leak detecting device includes a pump, a housing having a pump passage connected to the pump, a switching valve, a pressure detector, and a control device detecting a shutoff pressure that corresponds to an interior pressure of the pump passage detected by the pressure detector when the pump is actuated while the switching valve is closed. The control device controls the switching valve to be opened at least once and to be closed at least once when the shutoff pressure is out of a specified range. The control device detects a fuel vapor leak when the shutoff pressure is in the specified range.

Abstract: An upper casing receives a rotor, which is rotated by a drive force of a motor. The upper casing includes a pump chamber, which receives the rotor, a planar surface portion, which is formed around an opening of the pump chamber, and a through hole. A lower casing includes a planar surface portion, which is formed around the opening of the pump chamber, and a through hole. The lower casing closes the opening of the pump chamber to form the pump chamber in cooperation with the upper casing. A resilient sheet is placed between the lower casing and a mount portion of the motor and includes a through hole. A screw is received through the through holes of the upper casing, the lower casing and the resilient sheet to securely connect the upper casing, the lower casing and the resilient sheet to the mount portion. A lower casing side surface of the resilient sheet includes a plurality of primary protrusions.

Abstract: A first determiner determines whether a pressure in a fuel tank is within a predetermined range when an ignition switch of an engine is on. A second determiner determines whether a valve allows or prohibits a communication between the fuel tank and a switch valve, when the first determiner determines that the pressure in the fuel tank is within the predetermined range. A control unit controls a pressure controlling portion based on a determination result of the first determiner and a determination result of the second determiner. A leak determiner determines whether the fuel tank has a leak of evaporated fuel based on a signal output from a first detector detecting a pressure in a detection passage and a signal output from a second detector detecting a pressure in the fuel tank.

Abstract: First and second valve members are received in a valve receiving chamber, which is connected to an inlet passage and an outlet passage. First and second valve seats are annular and are formed at a connection of the valve receiving chamber to the outlet passage. The second valve member is lifted away from the second valve seat synchronously with lift movement of the first valve member upon energization of an electromagnetic drive arrangement when a force, which is determined based on an applied pressure force applied to the second valve member by a differential pressure between a pressure of the inlet passage and a pressure of the outlet passage and urging forces of the first and second urging members, is smaller than an electromagnetic attractive force.

Abstract: A canister attachment portion includes a canister passage communicating with an inside of a canister. An air passage has a first end connected to communicate with the canister passage and a second end connected with atmosphere. A pumping device increases and decreases an inside pressure of the canister, and one end of the pumping device is connected to communicate with the canister passage and the other end of the pumping device is connected to the air passage. A switching valve switches the canister passage to communicate with the air passage or the pumping device. A throttle is provided in the bypass passage. A housing defines the air passage and a bypass passage, and accommodates the pumping device, the switching valve and the throttle. The filter is provided in the air passage and is accommodated in the housing.

Abstract: An ECU determines whether condensed water is present at a rotor and vanes based on an electric current, which flows in an electric motor that drives the rotor. When the condensed water is determined to be present, the ECU drives the motor for a predetermined time period. When the condensed water is determined to be absent, the ECU stores a pressure, which is sensed through a pressure sensor, as a first pressure. The ECU is adapted to sense an abnormality in a pump characteristic based on a value of the first pressure.

Abstract: A vane pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a rotor rotatably arranged in the pump chamber; and a motor to rotate the rotor. An imaginary plane is defined to bisect the pump chamber in an axis direction. The housing has a first inlet port and a second inlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane, and the housing has a first outlet port and a second outlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane.