Abstract: Smooth, effective dumping is achieved by automating. A switching point, at which a carrying mode is switched to a dumping mode during automatic driving in a dozing operation, is set beforehand. A dumping attitude of the blade is also preset for a desired traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point to a dumping point. The actual traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point is detected, based on which the blade is controlled so as to take the preset attitude.

Abstract: An independent two pump system comprising an implement hydraulic pump and a steering hydraulic pump is described. The system has an inexpensive structure and the capability of preventing a construction machine from engine stalling without impairing fuel economy. When the implement hydraulic pump is actuated with the output of an engine to operate an implement attached to the construction machine, while actuating the steering hydraulic pump with the output of the engine to turn a vehicle body of the machine, the load exerted on the implement is detected and if the detected load is determined to exceed a preset value, the displacement of the steering hydraulic pump is reduced to thereby reduce the load associated with turning of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A portable object prepared by casting a substantially transparent, water insoluble, chemically setting plastic into a shaped mold. While in the liquid state, items of the following types are embedded: mummified tissue from a deceased or living biological subject, an epitaph, memorabilia, and a label describing the biological content and purpose of the tissue. The four types of embedded items enclosed together in a single object accord with the definition of a tomb. Mummified tissue protected from water, air, illumination, and bacterial action preserve the genome of the subject and provide a potential for resurrection of a biological subject by anticipating future innovation in genetic engineering and somatic cell cloning. Portable tombs may be prepared ante mortem as well as post mortem. Multiple equivalent tombs may be made for one individual. Multiple individuals may be entombed in a single portable object.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and associated method of detecting pattern unevenness in the surface of an object. The apparatus includes a light source for irradiating surfaces of an object and a line sensor camera for detecting unevenness in the surfaces. The method comprises the steps of irradiating a light onto a surface having a pattern formed on the surface thereof, and observing the scattered light from the pattern edge portions, thereby inspecting pattern unevenness by way of the line sensor camera.

Abstract: A dozing system that enables automatic control for all kinds of soil properties and less frequently requires manual control intervention. The system is designed such that the blade is lifted or lowered at a start of excavation in dozing operation in an automatic drive mode such that the actual cutting angle .theta. of a blade detected by an actual cutting angle detector becomes coincident with a target cutting angle (maximum cutting angle) .theta..sub.0 preset by a target cutting angle setting device.

Abstract: A tractive force control apparatus and method for preventing a torque converter from being stalled while a working machine is operated during excavation and earth carrying work using a construction machine. In this apparatus, an engine rotational speed sensor (2), a torque converter output shaft rotational speed sensor (4) and a lift combination solenoid valve (12) are connected to a control apparatus. A pilot pressure control valve (11) for a blade lift is connected to a first lift operating valve (13), and also to a second lift operating valve (14) via the lift combination solenoid valve (12). First and second hydraulic pumps (20, 21) and lift cylinders (15, 15) are connected respectively via the first and second lift operating valves (13, 14). A traction output is computed in the control apparatus (16), and, when the traction output is lower than a target level, the lift combination solenoid valve (12) is turned off to reduce a flow rate of oil to the lift cylinders (15, 15).

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display is disclosed, comprising:a first substrate having a transparent electrode;a second substrate having a specular, light-reflecting electrode provided so that its electrode surface faces an electrode surface of the first substrate;a liquid crystal layer having dichroic dye and sandwiched by the first substrate and the second substrate; anda light-diffusing layer provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, andthe light-diffusing layer comprising liquid crystalline polymer having directors of random orientation which varies spatially continuously.

Abstract: During dozing operation, the amount of earth (i.e., load factor) accumulated on the front face of a blade is automatically detected independently of the operator's perception and, based on the detection, the dozing operation is automatically shifted from digging to carrying. The load factor is calculated by obtaining a horizontal reaction force and a vertical reaction force exerted on the blade during digging and by calculating the ratio of the vertical reaction force to the horizontal reaction force. When the load factor reaches a specified value, the blade is automatically controlled to incline backward to hold the earth.

Abstract: A fishing boat has a direction sensor disposed at a midship of the boat for detecting as a vessel direction a direction of a bow of the boat, an outboard motor attached to the bow for controlling the vessel direction, and a control unit responsive to a detected vessel direction to control the outboard motor so that the bow is oriented at a preset vessel direction.

Abstract: In a light control element whose reflection factor or transmission factor varies in response to an external stimulus such as voltage by having layer structure in which the refractive index varies periodically, design is made such that the difference in refractive index between adjacent layers in a reflected state becomes sufficiently great and the half-amplitude level of reflection spectrum becomes sufficiently high. A light control layer is interposed between supporting plates, and the light control layer is obtained by alternately laminating a nonsensitive layer and a sensitive layer in the Z-axis direction.In the nonsensitive layer, the oriented direction of the liquid crystal is fixed in the X-axis direction, while in the sensitive layer, the liquid crystal is oriented in the X-axis direction. On the supporting plate, a pair of electrodes and facing to each other in the Y-direction are so formed as to extend in a striped shape in the X-axis direction respectively.

Abstract: A dozing system for use in a bulldozer, which is capable of performing an automatic dozing operation, according to working conditions and soil properties in the field. In this system, data on the relationships of the actual traveling distance of the bulldozer with actual tractive force exerted on the blade, with the position of the cutting edge of the blade relative to the ground, with the ratio of the amount of excavated soil loaded on the front surface of the blade to the loading capacity of the front surface of the blade, and with the pitch angle of the blade are stored, and based on the stored data, the blade is controlled so as to assume the desired position.

Abstract: In a light control element whose reflection factor or transmission factor varies in response to an external stimulus such as voltage by having layer structure in which the refractive index varies periodically, design is made such that the difference in refractive index between adjacent layers in a reflected state becomes sufficiently great and the halfamplitude level of reflection spectrum becomes sufficiently high. A light control layer is interposed between supporting plates, and the light control layer is obtained by alternately laminating a nonsensitive layer and a sensitive layer in the Z-axis direction. In the nonsensitive layer, the oriented direction of the liquid crystal is fixed in the X-axis direction, while in the sensitive layer, the liquid crystal is oriented in the X-axis direction. On the supporting plate, a pair of electrodes and facing to each other in the Y-direction are so formed as to extend in a striped shape in the X-axis direction respectively.

Abstract: A bulldozer blade (10) is automatically reset to a predetermined excavating pitch while the bulldozer (20) is traveling backwardly after it has completed an operation of excavating, carrying, or dumping earth. The bulldozer blade (10) can be set to an excavating pitch, a carrying pitch, or a dumping pitch when excavating, carrying, or dumping earth while the bulldozer is traveling forwardly, the bulldozer blade being attached to the leading ends of frame members (15A, 15B) which are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle body (20a) in such a manner that the bulldozer blade can swing longitudinally.

Abstract: The invention concerns an intra-line fishing rod. In an embodiment, loose fishline guide members (8, 8', 8") are provided in such a manner that they are projected into the interior of a large diameter rod pipe (2) and can be held there. The loose fishline guide members (8, 8', 8") are also structured such that, when a small diameter rod pipe (3) jointed to the leading end of the large diameter rod pipe (2) is stored into the interior of the large diameter rod pipe (2), the loose fishline guide members can be moved backwardly from their respective provision positions.

Abstract: A ground leveling control system for a bulldozer, comprising: (a) a cutting edge position detector for detecting a position of a cutting edge of a blade with respect to the ground; and (b) a blade controller for controlling the blade to be lifted or lowered such that the cutting edge position of the blade detected by the cutting edge position detector is kept coincident with a preset target cutting edge position.

Abstract: A dozing system for use in a bulldozer, having the capability of estimating a loading ratio (the ratio of soil loaded on the blade to the loading capacity of the blade) with high accuracy so that a mode shift from digging to carrying can be stably performed. Data pieces each representing the digging distance of the bulldozer and the associated loading ratio are obtained from n previous dozing operations and stored. The average of the stored data pieces obtained from n operations is calculated and according to the average, data representative of a digging distance and its associated loading ratio obtained from the present dozing operation is compensated.

Abstract: A small and light TV camera extender switching apparatus which is capable of switching two extenders having different magnifications. A first extender and a second extender are supported by the same support shaft so as to be rotatable independently of each other. The first extender and the second extender are rotated by operating the first operating lever and the second operating lever, respectively, via gear trains, so that either extender is moved from the resting position outside of an imaging optical path to a working position in the imaging optical path. A stopper mechanism which is capable of adjusting a retaining position is disposed on the lens frame or in the case so as to adjust the retaining positions of each extender at the resting position and the working position.