Abstract: In a power supply device of the invention, when the state of charge SOC1 of a low-voltage battery is lower than a discharging reference value Shi1 below a full charge level and when the state of charge SOC2 of a high-voltage battery is not lower than a discharging reference value Slow2 at a system-off time, the low-voltage battery is charged close to its full charge level with the electric power supplied from the high-voltage battery. The lead acid battery used for the low-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously low state of charge SOC. The lithium secondary battery used for the high-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously high state of charge SOC. The charge of the low-voltage battery in combination with the discharge of the high-voltage battery enables both the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery to have respective favorable states of charge with little potentials for deterioration.

Abstract: A work vehicle with a speed change device, comprises, a plurality of wheels including at least one driven wheel; an engine for driving the driven wheel; a speed change device provided between the driven wheel and the engine; and automatic shifting mechanism. The automatic shifting mechanism is capable of operating the speed change device to a lower speed position within an automatic shifting range having a predetermined range and is capable of operating the speed change device up to a speed position which the speed change device was in before an operation to the lower speed position was effected, in response to load on the engine. The entirety of the automatic shifting range is changeable to a low speed side and to a high speed side, or the automatic shifting range can be widened to include more speed positions and narrowed to include less speed positions.

Abstract: In the battery device of the invention, the voltage equalization process activates the voltage equalization circuits (B1) through (B3) to respectively equalize the voltages of the plural cells included in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in the state of serial connection of the battery modules (C1) through (C3). After completion of the voltage equalization in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3), the voltage equalization process connects the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in parallel and equalizes the voltages of the respective battery modules (C1) through (C3). This arrangement effectively reduces the power loss by the voltage equalization and thus enhances the total energy efficiency of the whole battery device.

Abstract: A work vehicle, in accordance with the present invention, having a speed change arrangement comprising: front wheels and rear wheels; an engine supported by the front wheels and rear wheels; power train extending between the engine and at least the rear wheels, the power train transmitting power at least to the rear wheels; a speed change device provided to the power train; an accelerator operating member for controlling the accelerator for the engine; rotational speed sensor that detects an actual rotational speed of the engine; a controller signally connected to the rotational speed sensor, the controller shifting the speed change device to a higher speed position if a difference between a set rotational speed of the engine set by the accelerator operating member and the actual engine rotational speed is less than a first set value, and the controller shifting the speed change device to a lower speed position if the difference between the set rotational speed of the engine set by the accelerator operating m

Abstract: A work vehicle with a speed change device, comprises, a plurality of wheels including at least one driven wheel; an engine for driving the driven wheel; a speed change device provided between the driven wheel and the engine; and automatic shifting mechanism. The automatic shifting mechanism is capable of operating the speed change device to a lower speed position within an automatic shifting range having a predetermined range and is capable of operating the speed change device up to a speed position which the speed change device was in before an operation to the lower speed position was effected, in response to load on the engine. The entirety of the automatic shifting range is changeable to a low speed side and to a high speed side or the automatic shifting range can be widened to include more speed positions and narrowed to include less speed positions.

Abstract: A work vehicle, in accordance with the present invention, having a speed change arrangement comprising: front wheels and rear wheels; an engine supported by the front wheels and rear wheels; power train extending between the engine and at least the rear wheels, the power train transmitting power at least to the rear wheels; a speed change device provided to the power train; an accelerator operating member for controlling the accelerator for the engine; rotational speed sensor that detects an actual rotational speed of the engine; a controller signally connected to the rotational speed sensor, the controller shifting the speed change device to a higher speed position if a difference between a set rotational speed of the engine set by the accelerator operating member and the actual engine rotational speed is less than a first set value, and the controller shifting the speed change device to a lower speed position if the difference between the set rotational speed of the engine set by the accelerator operating m

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit for supplying electric power to a load using a high voltage battery, the circuit supplying a dark current when the load is not being operated. A high voltage load and a low voltage load are attached to a battery and electric power is supplied to the low voltage load through a main DC-DC converter and a sub DC-DC converter. When an ignition switch is OFF, only the sub converter supplies the dark current to the low voltage load and the main DC-DC converter is turned OFF. When the ignition switch is ON, the main DC-DC converter supplies required electric power. Since a low-capacity sub DC-DC converter supplies the dark current, the battery discharge can be prevented.

Abstract: In a power supply system in which a load is connected to a battery, the battery is efficiently charged without degrading the characteristics of the load. When a load that deteriorates in characteristics if a voltage exceeding the rated voltage of the load is applied thereto is connected to the battery (during an on-state of the load), the battery is charged with the rated voltage even if there is a need to charge the battery with a charging voltage higher than the rated voltage. Alternatively, the battery may be charged for a predetermined time at a voltage above the rated voltage and then at or below the rated voltage, or the voltage seen by the load may be converted to a voltage at or below the rated voltage while the battery is being charged at a voltage above the rated voltage. When the load is off, the battery is charged with a voltage higher than the rated voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a solid polymer film with a catalyst sufficiently deposited thereon preheats a solid polymer film and then hot presses this solid polymer film together with a catalyst carrier film. Hot pressing the solid polymer film while it is soft from preheating increases the bond strength between the solid polymer film and the catalyst such that separation of the catalyst from the solid polymer film during film separation can be prevented. Moreover, keeping the catalyst carrier film cool prior to hot pressing and making the temperature on the catalyst carrier film side slightly lower that than on the solid polymer film side during hot pressing inhibits an increase in binding strength between the film and the catalyst, and thereby improves separation of the film.