Abstract: A power storage module includes: a plurality of power storage elements; a power storage case accommodating the plurality of power storage elements; and a gas generator disposed in the power storage case, the plurality of power storage elements each having an exhausting portion, the power storage case having an exhaust channel formed therein to pass an exhaust gas exhausted from the exhausting portion, the gas generator being disposed in the exhaust channel, the gas generator supplying a supply gas into the exhaust channel when the gas generator attains an internal temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: In a temperature adjusting structure for an electric power storage device as well as in a temperature adjusting method for an electric power storage device, a temperature adjusting air that exchanges heat with a case in which an electric power generation element is housed is guided in a longitudinal direction of a circulation path. Then, a vortex flow that swirls with the longitudinal direction being a rotational axis is generated in the air that flows through the circulation path, and the vortex flow is brought into contact with a lateral surface of the case.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of single cells, a battery chamber, an exhaust chamber, a partition wall, a smoke exhaust cover and a seal member. The exhaust chamber is provided adjacently to the battery chamber. Gas released from the single cells flows through the exhaust chamber. The exhaust chamber has one or more exhaust holes configured to release the gas to an outside. The partition wall isolates the exhaust chamber and the battery chamber from each other. The smoke exhaust cover is arranged so as to lace the partition wall. The exhaust chamber is surrounded by the partition wall, the smoke exhaust cover and the seal member. The smoke exhaust cover has a protective protrusion at a location between the seal member and the exhaust valves adjacent to the seal member. The protective protrusion is configured upright from the smoke exhaust cover toward the partition wall.

Abstract: An in-vehicle battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells, a battery cell holder, a protective case, a vent cover provided such that the battery cell holder is positioned between the protective case and the vent cover, the vent cover and the battery cell holder disposed such that a vent space in which gas discharged from an end face on a second-electrode side of the cylindrical battery cell flows is provided between the vent cover and the battery cell holder, at least one first-electrode bus bar, at least one second-electrode bus bar provided in the vent space, and a support member disposed partially in the vent space and the support member being configured to support the second-electrode bus bar from the vent cover side.

Abstract: In a temperature adjusting structure for an electric power storage device as well as in a temperature adjusting method for an electric power storage device, a temperature adjusting air that exchanges heat with a case in which an electric power generation element is housed is guided in a longitudinal direction of a circulation path. Then, a vortex flow that swirls with the longitudinal direction being a rotational axis is generated in the air that flows through the circulation path, and the vortex flow is brought into contact with a lateral surface of the case.

Abstract: A process for producing a high-purity erythritol crystal comprising a crystallization step of subjecting an erythritol-containing aqueous solution as a raw solution to crystallization, wherein an erythritol concentration of said erythritol-containing aqueous solution is adjusted to 30 to 60% by weight at the beginning of the crystallization step; said erythritol-containing aqueous solution is cooled at a cooling rate of not more than 20.degree. C./hour; a seed crystal of erythritol is added to said erythritol-containing aqueous solution in the course of the cooling, and the solution is cooled to not more than 20.degree. C. Such a process for producing a high-purity erythritol crystal of the present invention has a still higher purity and is further improved in crystal shape as compared to those produced by conventional processes.

Abstract: A method of producing erythritol is disclosed, in which a microorganism having an ability of producing erythritol is cultivated for generation in a medium containing preferably 5 ppm or more of calcium, and erythritol is collected from the culture, thus producing erythritol efficiently.

Abstract: In the method of producing erythritol by cultivating a yeast strain capable of producing erythritol from fermentable carbohydrate in a culture medium containing the carbohydrate as a main carbon source to recover erythritol from the culture, erythritol can be produced efficiently in high yield by using ammonium sulfate as a main nitrogen source in the culture medium.

Abstract: When information of an obstacle is not outputted from a radar device, a presumption device presumes at least a present value of a distance between a vehicle and the obstacle based on information in a memory part obtained until the time, and a contact-possibility judgment device judges a possibility of contact of the vehicle with the obstacle based on the information from the presumption device. A detection device is provided for detecting conditions at the time when the information of the obstacle is not outputted from the radar device, for example, a relation of relative position of the obstacle to the vehicle. Further, a restriction device is provided for restricting the presumption by the presumption device according to the relation of relative position. Thus, a possibility of contact of the vehicle with the obstacle running forward of the vehicle is appropriately judged and mis-operations of an alarm, an automatic braking and the like are prevented, while ensuring running safety.

Abstract: The vehicle is provided with a radar unit for detecting an obstacle existing ahead in the course of the running way along which the vehicle is running. When the radar unit detects a variation in its detectable region, such as a detectable distance or a detectable area range in left and right directions, from the detectable region to be detectable during ordinary running, a safety unit such as an alarm unit or an automatic brake unit is operated. A control logic for operating a collision-avoiding system for avoiding a collision with the obstacle existing ahead, such as an alarm unit or an automatic brake unit, is altered to a safe side on which safety in driving the vehicle is improved, when the detectable region is varied.

Abstract: A method to determine a horizontal error of a radar device mounted on a vehicle along with the mounting error or imbalance in the diameters of wheels based on an echo signal from a reflector provided on a road. A vehicle's traveling locus is stored in advance as a reference locus obtained from the distance L between the vehicle and reflector and the direction .theta..sub.R. A traveling locus when the vehicle is actually traveling in a straight line where the steering handle is kept in a neutral position is compared with the previously stored reference locus. A horizontal error is obtained from the traveling locus on the coordinate axis .theta..sub.R and the shift from the reference locus.

Abstract: An obstacle sensing apparatus for vehicles is provided in which detection of obstacles is performed efficiently by predicting the traveling path of the vehicle appropriately when detection of obstacles by a radar unit is limited to a region along the traveling path. The apparatus is provided with a radar unit for transmitting radar waves ahead of the vehicle and sensing obstacles present ahead of the vehicle, a steering angle sensor for sensing the steering angle of the vehicle, and a yaw rate sensor for sensing the yaw rate produced by the vehicle. First traveling-path predicting device predicts a traveling path of the vehicle based upon the steering angle, and second traveling-path predicting device predicts a traveling path of the vehicle based upon the yaw rate. One of these traveling paths is selected in dependence upon the operating state of the vehicle and detection of articles by the radar unit is carried out within a limited region along the traveling path selected.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device for a vehicle includes an area determining section for determining a detection area extended forward of a running vehicle and provided for detecting an obstacle, a split section for splitting the area into a plurality of small split zones, a detecting section for detecting an obstacle in each of the small split zones, inferring section for an inferring a path of the vehicle in the obstacle detection area, and a judging section for judging a rank of danger of an obstacle in the detection area. The obstacle can be properly detected so that the vehicle can take a responsive and appropriate action for avoiding the obstacle.

Abstract: A contact preventive system for vehicles using an automatic braking device and an automatic steering device together. Contact forecasting mechanism forecasts the contact of a vehicle with an obstacle. When the contact of the obstacle is forecasted, automatic braking control mechanism operates the automatic braking device. Environment detecting mechanism detects the change of environment such as a friction coefficient of a road. Automatic steering control mechanism operates the automatic steering device to alter the advance direction of the vehicle when a possibility of contact is caused by the change of environment during automatic braking. Thus, contact can be avoided.

Abstract: Nosiheptide is recovered from a cultivation mixture obtained by cultivating a Nosiheptide-producing strain of Streptomyces by adding a water-miscible organic solvent, removing mycelia, precipitating Nosiheptide by adding water, which may be acidified, and recovering the Nosiheptide.

Abstract: Nosiheptide, a valuable antibiotic used as an animal feed additive, is separated from a culture containing the same by extraction with a cyclic ether, preferably tetrahydrofuran.