Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass ply extending between bead portions and turned up around a bead core in each bead portion from the inside to the outside of the tire to form a pair of turned up portions and a main portion therebetween, and a bead reinforcing layer made of steel cords and disposed axially outside the turned up portion in each bead portion, wherein each of the steel cords is made of steel filaments gathered together to have a shape index in a range of from 0.35 to 0.70, the shape index is the total of squared filament diameter of all the steel filaments which total is divided by the product of L1 and L2, wherein, in a cross section at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the cord, L1 is the dimension of largest measure which occurs in one direction, and L2 is the dimension measured perpendicularly to this direction.

Abstract: A heavy duty tire is provided in the tread portion with a circumferentially extending main groove on each side of the tire equator, a circumferentially extending narrow groove on each side of each main groove, lug grooves extending from the tread edges to the axially inner narrow grooves, and slits extending between the inner narrow grooves so as to form a rib-like portion between the two inner narrow grooves, first blocks between the inner narrow groove and main groove, second blocks between the main groove and axially outer narrow groove, and third blocks between the outer narrow groove and tread edge; the main grooves are disposed at a distance of 15 to 25% of the tread width from the tire equator; the main groove depth is 10 to 12% of the tread width; the narrow groove depth is less than the main groove depth; and the slit depth is 0.2 to 0.3 time the main groove depth.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and a method of making the same are disclosed, wherein the tire is made by vulcanizing a green tire in a split mold. The mold has circumferentially extending split lines at a position corresponding to the tire buttress region. The inner surface of the mold is provided with protrusions immediately radially outside the split lines and ribs immediately radially inside the split lines, so that the vulcanized tire is provided with depressions and grooves corresponding to the protrusions and ribs, respectively. Therefore, the raw tire rubber does not get between the split faces of the mold, and the occurrence of burrs along the mold-split lines can be completely prevented.

Abstract: A displacement magnifying device for magnifying the displacement of a piezoelectric element according to an applied voltage, is applied to a vibration absorber and an actuator. The device includes a member for supporting the element, a first elastic sealing member forming part of a sealed chamber containing a non-compressible fluid which moves together with the other end of the element, a second elastic sealing member also forming part of the chamber, and a displacement transmitting member connected to the second sealing member. Preferably, the first sealing member is a diaphragm and the second sealing member is a bellows. By setting the volume change of the chamber per unit displacement of the first sealing member to be larger than the volume change of the chamber per unit displacement of the second sealing member, the displacement of the piezoelectric element is magnified and transmitted to the displacement transmitting member.

Abstract: A vehicle door mirror assembly has a stationary base unit, a door mirror unit mounted on the base unit so that the mirror unit is swingable about a vertical swing axis, an ultrasonic motor for supplying power to swing the mirror unit, a fixed gear fixed to the base unit, and a speed reducing gear set. The ultrasonic motor and the gear reducing gear set are both mounted on the mirror unit. The speed reducing gear set has a driving gear driven by the motor, an intermediate gear engaged with, and driven by, the driving gear, and a driven gear which is connected with the intermediate gear by a joint shaft and which is engaged with the fixed gear. When the motor drives the driving gear, the driven gear is driven by the driving gear at a reduced speed, and moves around the fixed gear to swing the mirror unit about the axis of the fixed gear. This door mirror assembly is advantageous in compactness, durability and efficiency.

Abstract: A system for controlling a fluid pressure such a brake fluid pressure of a vehicle includes a pressure control cylinder having a control piston for varying a pressure of a confined fluid, and a motor for producing a mechanical force for actuating the control piston. To reduce the load of the motor, a hydraulic assist circuit is interposed between the motor and the control piston. The hydraulic assist circuit creates a hydraulic assist pressure by receiving the force of the motor, and converting the assist pressure into a linear motion of the control piston. The mechanical force of the motor is converted to hydraulic assist pressure through a pressurizing piston. The hydraulic assist pressure created by the pressurizing piston is exerted against a working piston. The working piston is connected to the control piston.

Abstract: A system for controlling a fluid pressure includes a pressure modulating cylinder unit having a piston and a cylinder housing defining first and second fluid chambers separated by the piston, a cutoff valve unit for isolating the first and second chambers from a pressure source and from each other, and a motor unit for pushing and pulling the piston to vary the fluid pressure in the first chamber. When the system is used for controlling a brake fluid pressure of a vehicle, the first chamber is connected with a wheel cylinder, and the valve unit is arranged to isolate the wheel cylinder and the first and second chambers from a master cylinder.

Abstract: A can end is seamed to a cylindrical can filled with contents. The can is fed along a substantially elliptical path including straight and arcuate paths. While the can is being fed along the straight path, the can end is seamed to the can by a linear seaming device. At the same time, the can end is rotated by a can end holder which has a pinion gear held in mesh with a rack which extends fully along the elliptical path. The rack is composed of separate rack members which are relatively movable to adjust the tension of an endless chain that moves can ends and cans along the elliptical path.

Abstract: A sunvisor body is selectively movable from a stored position wherein it is concealingly received in an enclosure formed between the vehicle roof and a headliner. Upon reaching a fully projected position, a drive rail arrangement including a crank mechanism induces the visor body to pivot to a predetermined shading position.

Abstract: An apparatus for seaming a can end to a filled cylindrical can includes can feed device for supporting the bottom of the can rotatably about its own axis and feeding the can linearly along a travel path at a predetermined speed. A can end holder member is provided for detachably holding the can end directly above the can feed device and holding the can end rotatably about its own axis. A can end feed member is provided for moving the can end holder member to feed the can end in synchronism with the can which is fed by the can feed device. A lifting/lowering member is provided for lowering the can end holder member to hold the can end held by the can end holder member against an open end of the can. A seaming device is provided and extends linearly along the travel path for pressing an end hook of the can end against a flange of the can while the can end against which the can end is held is being fed by the can feed device.