Abstract: A microcapsule contains a biodegradable polymer and risperidone and has a sustained release property. The biodegradable polymer contained in the microcapsule has a molecular weight corresponding to 85% or more of an initial molecular weight (Mw) of the biodegradable polymer. A method of producing the microcapsule is also disclosed. The method of producing a microcapsule has (A) a step of preparing a first phase by mixing a solution of a biodegradable polymer and a solution of risperidone which are prepared separately, (B) a step of, immediately after the preparation of the first phase, mixing the first phase with a second phase being an aqueous phase to prepare an emulsion, and (C) a step of subjecting the resulting emulsion to in-water drying.

Abstract: In a vehicle body component, a bent portion that is formed in a component main body made of a metal plate is formed of a thickened portion, in which a plate thickness of the metal plate as a material of the component main body is gradually increased. Just as described, since the bent portion, on which stress is likely to be concentrated when a load is applied to the component main body, is formed of the thickened portion, a plate thickness of a portion where the stress is not concentrated can be prevented from being increased more than necessary. This can contribute to improvement of mass efficiency.

Abstract: A microcapsule contains a biodegradable polymer and risperidone and has a sustained release property. The biodegradable polymer contained in the microcapsule has a molecular weight corresponding to 85% or more of an initial molecular weight (Mw) of the biodegradable polymer. A method of producing the microcapsule is also disclosed. The method of producing a microcapsule has (A) a step of preparing a first phase by mixing a solution of a biodegradable polymer and a solution of risperidone which are prepared separately, (B) a step of, immediately after the preparation of the first phase, mixing the first phase with a second phase being an aqueous phase to prepare an emulsion, and (C) a step of subjecting the resulting emulsion to in-water drying.

Abstract: In a suspension tower plate, in a plate body that is made of a sheet metal and is a part of an upper wall portion of a suspension tower, three suspension fixing portions are disposed. Three suspension fixing portions fix to an upper end part of a suspension. Further, in the plate body, a bend portion is disposed on an outer periphery side of the three suspension fixing portions. In the suspension fixing portion and the bend portion like this, strain is likely to be generated by an upward load that is input from the suspension. However, in the suspension tower plate, the suspension fixing portion and the bend portion thick portions are disposed. Thick portions are thicker than the plate body.

Abstract: A panel joint structure including: a first panel; a second panel that forms a space between itself and the first panel; a joint portion; a seal member that seals a gap between a distal end portion of the joint flange portion and the second panel; and a first panel bead portion that is formed in a region of the joint flange portion adjacent to the joint portion in the lengthwise direction of the first panel, that projects in a direction away from the second panel, that extends from a distal end to a base end of the joint flange portion, that forms with the second panel an air vent hole communicated with the space, and that slopes in a direction away from the second panel heading toward the base end side of the joint flange portion as seen from the lengthwise direction of the first panel.

Abstract: In a vehicle body component, a bent portion that is formed in a component main body made of a metal plate is formed of a thickened portion, in which a plate thickness of the metal plate as a material of the component main body is gradually increased. Just as described, since the bent portion, on which stress is likely to be concentrated when a load is applied to the component main body, is formed of the thickened portion, a plate thickness of a portion where the stress is not concentrated can be prevented from being increased more than necessary. This can contribute to improvement of mass efficiency.

Abstract: In a suspension tower plate, in a plate body that is made of a sheet metal and is a part of an upper wall portion of a suspension tower, three suspension fixing portions are disposed. Three suspension fixing portions fix to an upper end part of a suspension. Further, in the plate body, a bend portion is disposed on an outer periphery side of the three suspension fixing portions. In the suspension fixing portion and the bend portion like this, strain is likely to be generated by an upward load that is input from the suspension. However, in the suspension tower plate, the suspension fixing portion and the bend portion thick portions are disposed. Thick portions are thicker than the plate body.

Abstract: A panel joint structure including: a first panel; a second panel that forms a space between itself and the first panel; a joint portion; a seal member that seals a gap between a distal end portion of the joint flange portion and the second panel; and a first panel bead portion that is formed in a region of the joint flange portion adjacent to the joint portion in the lengthwise direction of the first panel, that projects in a direction away from the second panel, that extends from a distal end to a base end of the joint flange portion, that forms with the second panel an air vent hole communicated with the space, and that slopes in a direction away from the second panel heading toward the base end side of the joint flange portion as seen from the lengthwise direction of the first panel.

Abstract: An up-drawing continuous casting apparatus includes a holding furnace that holds molten metal, and a shape defining member that is set near a molten metal surface of a molten metal held in the holding furnace, and defines a section shape of a casting to be cast, as the molten metal passes through the shape defining member. The shape defining member is able to be switched between a joined state and a partitioned state. With such a structure, it becomes possible to form a casting having a branched structure.

Abstract: A bumper reinforcement structure capable of achieving a weight reduction while still securing required bending strength in a bumper reinforcement structure with closed cross-section structure configured by joining together an inside member and an outside member. A bumper reinforcement is formed with two closed cross-sections configured by joining together three top-to-bottom flanges of an inner panel to three top-to-bottom flanges of an outer panel. The flanges of the inner panel are disposed in the same front-rear direction position as that of the wall portions that configure the closed cross-sections.

Abstract: A vehicle end section structure capable of securing coupling rigidity at a coupling section between bumper reinforcement and a framework member where a hook attachment section is provided. The vehicle front section structure includes bumper reinforcement of B-shaped cross-section formed with a rearwards opening indented portion between a top and bottom pair of closed cross-sections, a crush box disposed at the rear of one length direction end portion of the bumper reinforcement, bolts and weld nuts for joining the bumper reinforcement at the top-bottom closed cross-sections to locations inside the closed cross-section of the crush box as viewed along the front-rear direction, and a pipe nut that is disposed in an indented portion facing an access hole to enable access to a hook member through the access hole and that is fixed to the crush box inside the closed cross-section of the crush box as viewed along the front-rear direction.

Abstract: A vehicle end section structure capable of securing coupling rigidity at a coupling section between bumper reinforcement and a framework member where a hook attachment section is provided. The vehicle front section structure includes bumper reinforcement of B-shaped cross-section formed with a rearwards opening indented portion between a top and bottom pair of closed cross-sections, a crush box disposed at the rear of one length direction end portion of the bumper reinforcement, bolts and weld nuts for joining the bumper reinforcement at the top-bottom closed cross-sections to locations inside the closed cross-section of the crush box as viewed along the front-rear direction, and a pipe nut that is disposed in an indented portion facing an access hole to enable access to a hook member through the access hole and that is fixed to the crush box inside the closed cross-section of the crush box as viewed along the front-rear direction.

Abstract: A bumper reinforcement structure capable of achieving a weight reduction while still securing required bending strength in a bumper reinforcement structure with closed cross-section structure configured by joining together an inside member and an outside member. A bumper reinforcement is formed with two closed cross-sections configured by joining together three top-to-bottom flanges of an inner panel to three top-to-bottom flanges of an outer panel. The flanges of the inner panel are disposed in the same front-rear direction position as that of the wall portions that configure the closed cross-sections.

Abstract: A side part structure of a vehicle body capable of reliably dispersing a collision load applied from the side of a vehicle is disclosed. A bulkhead arranged in a rocker has an outer bulkhead joined to an outer rocker and an inner bulkhead joined to an inner rocker. Facing walls of the outer bulkhead and the inner bulkhead are provided with proximity portions which are engageable with each other, which allow a collision load at a side collision to be reliably transmitted from the outer rocker to the inner rocker via the proximity portions formed on the mutually facing walls, thereby reliably dispersing the collision load from the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An impact beam that absorbs an impact of a vehicle collision is provided in a vehicle door, at a position between an inner panel and an outer panel. The impact beam has a wavy portion that undulates in the height direction of the vehicle door. The center axis of the wavy portion extends along the longitudinal direction of a vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided an underbody structure capable of exactly distributing and transmitting a front collision load to front and back skeleton portions of an underbody even in a case where the front collision load to be input from the front of a vehicle is concentrated on one side in a vehicle width direction. When a power unit 1 moves rearward due to an offset collision load of a right front face of a vehicle, a right connecting arm 7G of a sub-frame 7, an engine rear mount 7E, and right and left stoppers 7H and 7I receive an offset collision load from the power unit 1, thereby suppressing generation of an unintended rotative force in the power unit 1. The sub-frame 7 distributedly transmits an offset collision load to a rear portion 4A of a right front side member 4, and right and left tunnel reinforcements 5 and 5 mainly through four paths of a right beam 7D, a right load transmission beam 7J2, and right and left load transmission beams 7J3 and 7J4 of an intermediate portion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle end structure capable of more reliably receiving a load upon a collision in a vehicle body of the frame construction. The vehicle end structure of the present invention is one constructed near a front end (or rear end) of a framework of a vehicle and is characterized by comprising a pair of body frame members 1 extending in an anteroposterior direction of the vehicle body; a bumper reinforce 3 hung at ends of the pair of frame members 1; a pair of brackets 4 located on the center side of the vehicle with respect to the ends of the pair of frame members 1 and projecting outwardly and laterally from the respective frame members; a pair of outer pillar members 5 extending downward from the respective brackets 4; a cross member 6 hung between the pair of outer pillar members 5; and a pair of inner pillar members 7 joining an upper surface of the cross member 6 to the respective frame members 1.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure that may be installed in a front part or in a rear part of a vehicle, includes a flexural portion disposed in respective side members extending in an anteroposterior direction of the vehicle and having a vertical bending strength smaller than that of other portions of the members. The vehicle body structure also includes a pendent portion hung on a lower part of the side member on an outer end side with respect to the flexural portion and having an anteroposterior bending strength larger than a bending strength of the flexural portion. The vehicle body structure enables the side members to absorb an impact with a simple configuration even in the event of a collision between vehicles with different bumper heights.

Abstract: There is provided an underbody structure capable of exactly distributing and transmitting a front collision load to front and back skeleton portions of an underbody even in a case where the front collision load to be input from the front of a vehicle is concentrated on one side in a vehicle width direction. When a power unit 1 moves rearward due to an offset collision load of a right front face of a vehicle, a right connecting arm 7G of a sub-frame 7, an engine rear mount 7E, and right and left stoppers 7H and 7I receive an offset collision load from the power unit 1, thereby suppressing generation of an unintended rotative force in the power unit 1. The sub-frame 7 distributedly transmits an offset collision load to a rear portion 4A of a right front side member 4, and right and left tunnel reinforcements 5 and 5 mainly through four paths of a right beam 7D, a right load transmission beam 7J2, and right and left load transmission beams 7J3 and 7J4 of an intermediate portion.

Abstract: Provided is a side part structure of a vehicle body capable of reliably dispersing a collision load applied from the side of a vehicle. A bulkhead (5) arranged in a rocker (3) has an outer bulkhead (5A) joined to an outer rocker (3A) and an inner bulkhead (5B) joined to an inner rocker (3B). Facing walls (6A, 6B) of the outer bulkhead (5A) and the inner bulkhead (5B) are provided with proximity portions (7) which are engageable with each other. This allows a collision load at a side collision to be reliably transmitted from the outer rocker (3A) to the inner rocker (3B) via the proximity portions (7) formed on the mutually facing walls (6A, 6B), thereby reliably dispersing the collision load from the side of the vehicle.