Abstract: An anti-vibration device is secured to a vibration source and a vibration transmission portion to inhibit transmission of vibration, and includes a first elastically deformed portion, a second elastically deformed portion and a third elastically deformed portion. The first elastically deformed portion is a plate having a thickness in a first thickness direction and vibrates in the first thickness direction to configure a path for the vibration to be transmitted from the vibration source to the vibration transmission portion. The second elastically deformed portion is a plate having a thickness in a second thickness direction intersecting the first thickness direction and vibrates in the second thickness direction to configure the path. The third elastically deformed portion is a plate having a thickness in a third thickness direction intersecting the first thickness direction and the second thickness direction and vibrates in the third thickness direction to configure the path.

Abstract: Primary plate springs overlap a first plate spring segment of a coupling plate spring in a first direction and respectively have a frictional contact portion which generates sliding friction relative to the first plate spring segment in response to vibrations, Secondary plate springs overlap a second plate spring segment of the coupling plate spring in a second direction and respectively have a frictional contact portion which generates sliding friction relative to the second plate spring segment in response to the vibrations while the second direction is different from the first direction. Tertiary plate springs overlap a third plate spring segment of the coupling plate spring in a third direction and respectively have a frictional contact portion which generates sliding friction relative to the third plate spring segment in response to the vibrations while the third direction is different from the first and second directions.

Abstract: An energy conversion device includes a first acoustic wave generator, a second acoustic wave generator, and an output unit which are provided in a pipe member. The first acoustic wave generator has a thermal energy generator configured to generate thermal energy from electric energy, and converts the thermal energy generated by the thermal energy generator into acoustic energy to generate acoustic wave in working gas by a self-excited thermo acoustic vibration. The second acoustic wave generator converts thermal energy supplied from a heat supply source into acoustic energy and generates acoustic wave in working gas by a self-excited thermo acoustic vibration. The output unit converts the acoustic energy of the acoustic waves from the first acoustic wave generator and the second acoustic wave generator into cold energy to output.

Abstract: An energy conversion device includes a first acoustic wave generator, a second acoustic wave generator, and an output unit which are provided in a pipe member. The first acoustic wave generator has a thermal energy generator configured to generate thermal energy from electric energy, and converts the thermal energy generated by the thermal energy generator into acoustic energy to generate acoustic wave in working gas by a self-excited thermo acoustic vibration. The second acoustic wave generator converts thermal energy supplied from a heat supply source into acoustic energy and generates acoustic wave in working gas by a self-excited thermo acoustic vibration. The output unit converts the acoustic energy of the acoustic waves from the first acoustic wave generator and the second acoustic wave generator into cold energy to output.

Abstract: When a control unit starts to supply power to an electromagnetic coil in a first direction, a magnetic force generated by a non-attracting magnetic circuit becomes larger than a magnetic attraction force generated by an attracting magnetic circuit. As a result, a movable member is guided by a guide portion of a yoke and moves to a second position from a first position. When the control unit starts to supply power to an electromagnetic coil in a second direction, the magnetic attraction force generated by the attracting magnetic circuit becomes larger than the magnetic force generated by the non-attracting magnetic circuit. As a result, the movable member is guided by the guide portion and moves to the first position from the second position. Accordingly, the movable member can reliably perform a moving operation when turning ON/OFF.

Abstract: A clutch includes: a rotor that has a steel material as a base material and is rotated upon receiving a rotational drive force from a drive source; and an armature that has a steel material as a base material and receives the rotational drive force from the rotor when the armature is attracted to the rotor by a magnetic force. The armature has a contact surface side region that includes a contact surface, which contacts a counterpart when the armature is attracted to the rotor. The contact surface side region has a plurality of pores opened at the contact surface and forms a nitride compound of an element of the base material through nitridization of a part of the base material while the contact surface side region is harder than an unreacted portion of the base material that is not reacted at the nitridization.

Abstract: A ring insertion groove is formed between adjacent two of circular plates, which are made of a magnetic material and are arranged concentric with each other, and a ring, which is made of a non-magnetic material and has a larger deformation resistance in comparison to the magnetic material of the plates, is press fitted into the ring insertion groove. Thereafter, a peripheral part around an opening of the ring insertion groove is plastically flowed, so that a compression stress is left in the ring.

Abstract: When a clutch relay connects between a control device and a vehicle electric power source in response to outputting of a clutch OFF signal from an electronic control device to the clutch relay, a timer circuit starts a control operation for energizing coil portions. When a predetermined time period elapses, the timer circuit terminates energization of the coil portions. When the clutch relay connects between the control device and the vehicle electric power source in response to outputting of a clutch ON signal from the electronic control device to the relay, the timer circuit starts a control operation for energizing the coil portions. When a predetermined time period elapses, the timer circuit terminates energization of the coil portions.

Abstract: A recess, which has a bottom, is formed in at least one of a contact surface of a rotor and a contact surface of an armature. A solid material, which is made of thermoset resin that contains powder of metal oxide or metal dispersed in the thermoset resin, is formed in an inside of the recess.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch is provided with: a rotor which has a friction plate; a stator which has an electromagnetic coil; and an armature which is attracted to the friction plate by electromagnetic attraction force generated by the conduction of electricity to the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil includes electromagnetic coils. The electromagnetic clutch is also provided with a circuit switching section which is configured in such a manner that, when a switch-on command is outputted, the circuit switching section allows an electric current to flow in parallel into the electromagnetic coils, and then, after the armature is attracted to the friction plate, the circuit switching section switches a circuit for conducting electricity to the electromagnetic coil, from a parallel circuit to a series circuit so that an electric current flows in series into the electromagnetic coils.

Abstract: When a clutch relay connects between a control device and a vehicle electric power source in response to outputting of a clutch OFF signal from an electronic control device to the clutch relay, a timer circuit starts a control operation for energizing coil portions. When a predetermined time period elapses, the timer circuit terminates energization of the coil portions. When the clutch relay connects between the control device and the vehicle electric power source in response to outputting of a clutch ON signal from the electronic control device to the relay, the timer circuit starts a control operation for energizing the coil portions. When a predetermined time period elapses, the timer circuit terminates energization of the coil portions.

Abstract: A ring insertion groove is formed between adjacent two of circular plates, which are made of a magnetic material and are arranged concentric with each other, and a ring, which is made of a non-magnetic material and has a larger deformation resistance in comparison to the magnetic material of the plates, is press fitted into the ring insertion groove. Thereafter, a peripheral part around an opening of the ring insertion groove is plastically flowed, so that a compression stress is left in the ring.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch provided with an armature in which two or more non-magnetic sections of differing radii are provided and which is installed on a rotary shaft, a rotor in which three or more non-magnetic section of differing radii that do not overlap with the non-magnetic sections are provided on a friction plate that faces the armature, and which rotates with respect to the rotation shaft by external force, a stator equipped with an electromagnetic coil for fixing the armature to the rotor by applying magnetic flux, which is generated by passage of an electric current, on the friction plate, and a control device for the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: In a clutch mechanism, non-magnetic portions of an armature and non-magnetic portions of a pulley are offset from one another in a radial direction of a rotating shaft. For this reason, in an attracting magnetic circuit, magnetic flux passes between an outer cylindrical portion and an inner cylindrical portion so as to avoid the non-magnetic portions of the armature and the non-magnetic portions of the pulley. Accordingly, magnetic flux passes through a boundary between the armature and the pulley six times. The number of poles of the attracting magnetic circuit is increased. The physical size of a permanent magnet can be reduced. For this reason, the physical size of the clutch mechanism is reduced. As a result, the power consumption of an electromagnetic coil can be reduced by increasing the cross-sectional areas of coil portions. The physical size of the clutch mechanism is reduced and the power consumed is reduced.

Abstract: A recess, which has a bottom, is formed in at least one of a contact surface of a rotor and a contact surface of an armature. A solid material, which is made of thermoset resin that contains powder of metal oxide or metal dispersed in the thermoset resin, is formed in an inside of the recess.

Abstract: When a control unit starts to supply power to an electromagnetic coil in a first direction, a magnetic force generated by a non-attracting magnetic circuit becomes larger than a magnetic attraction force generated by an attracting magnetic circuit. As a result, a movable member is guided by a guide portion of a yoke and moves to a second position from a first position. When the control unit starts to supply power to an electromagnetic coil in a second direction, the magnetic attraction force generated by the attracting magnetic circuit becomes larger than the magnetic force generated by the non-attracting magnetic circuit. As a result, the movable member is guided by the guide portion and moves to the first position from the second position. Accordingly, the movable member can reliably perform a moving operation when turning ON/OFF.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch is provided with: a rotor which has a friction plate; a stator which has an electromagnetic coil; and an armature which is attracted to the friction plate by electromagnetic attraction force generated by the conduction of electricity to the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil includes electromagnetic coils. The electromagnetic clutch is also provided with a circuit switching section which is configured in such a manner that, when a switch-on command is outputted, the circuit switching section allows an electric current to flow in parallel into the electromagnetic coils, and then, after the armature is attracted to the friction plate, the circuit switching section switches a circuit for conducting electricity to the electromagnetic coil, from a parallel circuit to a series circuit so that an electric current flows in series into the electromagnetic coils.

Abstract: A reduced-size magnetic coupling device includes a first magnet group having a plurality of first magnets arranged on an interaction surface at equal intervals in the direction of the circumference about the rotation axis; a second magnet group having a plurality of second magnets arranged on an interaction surface at equal intervals in the direction of the circumference about the rotation axis and in positions in the vicinity of the rotation axis; and a third magnet group having a plurality of third magnets that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis and in positions outward with respect to the second magnets. The third magnets have an area approximately equal to that of the second magnets. Each third magnet has a magnetic pole different from that of the second magnet that is positioned between the third magnet and the rotation axis.

Abstract: When a pulley and an armature are coupled with each other, first and second permanent magnets place the movable member at a location where a magnetic resistance of an attracting magnetic circuit, which generates an attracting magnetic force to couple between the pulley and the armature, is reduced. In contrast, when the pulley and the armature are decoupled from each other, the movable member is placed at a location where the magnetic resistance of the attracting magnetic circuit is increased, and a magnetic resistance of a non-attracting magnetic circuit is reduced. Thereby, a coupled state or a decoupled state of the pulley and the armature can be maintained without an erroneous operation.

Abstract: An armature is magnetically attracted to and is coupled with a rotor against an urging force of a resilient member by a magnetic attractive force of the rotor when a permanent magnet is placed into a first position. When the armature is coupled with the rotor, a rotational drive force of an internal combustion engine transmitted to the rotor is transmitted to a refrigerant compressor connected to the armature to rotate the refrigerant compressor. The armature is urged away from and is decoupled from the rotor by the urging force of the resilient member when the permanent magnet is placed into a second position.