Abstract: To be able to control minute flow in a heat exchanger flow control valve without requiring a minute opening portion, an opening surface area of a hot-water inlet pipe into which hot water flows from an engine is restricted by a first restricting portion of a control passage provided in a needle valve of a flow control valve, and along with this, an opening surface area of a hot-water outlet pipe connected to an inlet side of a heat exchanger for heater use is restricted by a second restricting portion of a control passage formed in the needle valve, and a middle portion of these two control passages is constantly connected to a bypass circuit by a third restricting portion.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when an air-conditioning clutch of a compressor is set on, even if an improvement of a heating capacity by a viscous heater is required, a viscous clutch is turned off not to transmit a rotational driving force of an engine to a rotor of the viscous heater, and further the rotational driving force of the engine is transmitted to the compressor. In this way, a torque applied to the engine E and the V-belt can be reduced, so that a fuel consumption ratio of the engine lowers and a fuel economical performance improves. Further, because an operation of the compressor is intermitted, it is possible to remove a fog of a front windshield, so that a safety of the vehicle travelling can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Abstract: When a driver performs a steering operation with a small steering angle when a vehicle is stopped, a viscous clutch of a viscous heater is turned on after setting an idling rotational speed of an engine to a high value to prevent an engine stall. Further, when a driver performs the steering operation with a large steering angle when the vehicle is stopped, the viscous clutch is not turned on so that the viscous heater is not operated, thereby greatly reducing a driving load applied to the engine and a V-belt thereof.

Abstract: A viscous heater for heating cooling water for cooling a water cooled engine is disposed in a cooling water circuit, and a front heater core is disposed in the cooling water circuit at a downstream side of the viscous heater with reference to a flow direction of the cooling water. Only when a heating operation is the maximum heating operation or the maximum heating operation is desired, a viscous clutch is turned on to transmit a driving force of the engine to the viscous heater. When the maximum heating operation is not desired, the viscous clutch is turned off so that the driving force of the engine is not transmitted to the viscous heater. Therefore, a load of the engine is reduced, and the cost for running the vehicle can be lowered.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a seat of a vehicle includes a seat air-blowing unit disposed in a lower portion of the seat, and a seat duct for blowing air from an air conditioning unit to the seat air-blowing unit. The air conditioning unit includes a case for forming therein a cool air passage and a warm air passage, and a switching door for opening and closing the cool air passage and the warm air passage. When a stationary state is set from a cool-down state during cooling mode, the switching door closes the cool air passage to fully open the warm air passage. Thus, inside air is introduced into the warm air passage from a foot air outlet of the air conditioning unit, is supplied to the seat air-blowing unit through the seat duct, and is blown from a seat surface of the seat toward a passenger seated on the seat. As a result, in the air conditioning apparatus, cool air and inside air can be readily switched with a simple structure.

Abstract: A spare tire cover covering a spare tire supported on a bracket fixed on a rear gate or the like of a vehicle includes a first sheet portion having an opening into which the bracket is inserted and for covering one side surface of the spare tire, a second sheet portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the spare tire, and a third sheet portion for covering another side surface of the spare tire. The opening is biased in a shrinking direction by means of elastic bands accommodated at a fringe and can be opened at three slits extending in a radial direction. The spare tire cover is positioned in a rotational direction by contacting a straight portion formed on an upper fringe of the opening with a straight spare tire cover supporting portion horizontally formed on an upper surface of the bracket. Thus, a tilt of a logotype or the like printed on the spare tire cover can be prevented.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when a vehicle speed is less than a set value (e.g., 40 km/h) and a throttle opening degree is more than a set value, it is determined that the vehicle is accelerating, and a viscous clutch is turned off. Therefore, a shearing operation of high-viscosity fluid by a rotor of a viscous heater is not performed. In this way, a driving load applied to an engine is reduced, so that an accelerating state suitable for an intention of a driver can be obtained. Further, when the vehicle speed is more than a set value (e.g., 40 km/h) and an engine rotational speed is more than a set value (e.g., 3500 r.p.m.), the viscous clutch is turned off, and a driving load applied to the engine and a V-belt is reduced.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger for implementing heat exchange between coolant which has cooled an engine and air directed to a vehicle interior to heat the vehicle interior. A viscous heater has a rotor and a heating chamber containing viscous fluid. The rotor rotates when being subjected to rotational power of the engine. The viscous fluid is subjected to a shear force and is heated when the rotor is subjected to the rotational power. The viscous heater heats the coolant fed to the heat exchanger as the viscous fluid in the heating chamber is heated. A clutch is operative for selectively permitting and inhibiting transmission of the rotational power from the engine to the rotor. A belt transmission device connects the engine and the clutch. A physical quantity detecting device is operative for detecting a physical quantity related to a rotational speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A viscous fluid heat generator includes: a shear chamber in which viscous fluid is contained and heat is generated by shearing the viscous fluid with a rotor rotating therein; and a space receiving viscous fluid drained from the shear chamber. The heat generator is rotated always as far as an engine rotates because it is driven by the engine without a clutch. The viscous fluid in the shear chamber is drained into the receiving space disposed underneath the shear chamber when the rotor halts or the heat generator is not in operation. The drained viscous fluid is pushed up again into the shear chamber when the rotor is re-started or the heat generator becomes in operation again. The heat generator is re-started easily with a very small starting torque because there is almost no viscous fluid left in the shear chamber and accordingly power to shear the viscous fluid with the rotor is not required.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a cooling water circuit having a water-cooled internal combustion engine for a vehicle, a pump for pumping cooling water, and a heat-accumulating tank for thermally insulating and storing the cooling water having flowed out of the engine, at least one of an inflow cooling water passage for introducing the cooling water having flowed out of the engine into the heat-accumulating tank and an outflow cooling water passage for introducing the cooling water having flowed out of the heat-accumulating tank into the engine is closed while the engine is stopped. In this way, the convection between the cooling water in the heat-accumulating tank and the cooling water in the other portions than the heat-accumulating tank can be prevented, and the heat insulating capacity of the heat-accumulating tank can be improved.

Abstract: In a heating apparatus according to the present invention, when a temperature of cooling water in a cooling water circuit is equal to a set cooling water temperature or less, a viscous clutch is turned on to operate a viscous heater disposed in the cooling water circuit, for maintaining the temperature of the cooling water in the cooling water circuit at a predetermined value. A shaft of the viscous heater is rotated by a water-cooled engine through a belt transmitting mechanism and the viscous clutch. The set cooling water temperature is increased in accordance with an increase of a target air temperature calculated based on a set temperature, an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature, and a sunlight amount to optimize a used condition of the viscous heater.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a front housing and a rear housing secured to each other. The front housing has a space in which a first partitioning plate and a second partitioning plate located immovably fitted. A heating chamber that is defined between the first plate and the second plate accommodates viscous fluid. A rotor is rotatably supported in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. A heat exchange chamber is defined by the first and the second partitioning plates and disposed adjacent to the heating chamber. The heat exchanging chamber allows circulating fluid to flow therethrough so that the circulating fluid is heated by the heat transmitted to the heat exchanging chamber from the heating chamber.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator which includes a housing assembly defining a heat generating chamber and a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber via a partition wall disposed therebetween. A rotor element is mounted to be rotated by a drive shaft for rotation within the heat generating chamber. A viscous fluid is held in a gap defined between the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element, for heat generation under shearing stress applied by the rotation of the rotor element. A heat exchanging fluid circulates through the heat receiving chamber to receive heat transferred through the partition wall from the heat generating chamber. A plurality of grooves, protuberances or expression are formed on at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber to increase the total heat transfer surface area in the inner wall surfaces, and thus enhance a heat transfer efficiency through the partition wall.

Abstract: A viscous heater for heating cooling water for cooling a water cooled engine is provided in a cooling water circuit between the engine and a front heater core. Even if a viscous switch is turned on by a viscous ECU to heat a passenger compartment using the viscous heater, a viscous clutch is not immediately turned on when the engine is idling. That is, after a delay control time elapses after increasing an idling rotational speed of the engine to a target rotational speed, the viscous heater is turned on. The target rotational speed which is higher than a normal idling rotational speed is set in such a manner that the higher the cooling water temperature is, the lower the target rotational speed becomes. Thus, even if a large load is applied to the engine by operating the viscous heater when the engine is idling, it can improve fuel economy and prevent an engine stall.

Abstract: The improved method for treating waste gases by exposure to electron beams which comprises adding ammonia to a waste gas containing sulfur oxide (SO.sub.x) and/or nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) and thereafter exposing the gas to an electron beam so as to remove the sulfur oxides and/or nitrogen oxides therefrom is characterized by first mixing ammonia gas uniformly with air, then forming a homogeneous gas-liquid mixture from said gaseous mixture and water, and spraying said homogeneous mixture into a reactor. Efficient desulfurization can be realized even if the temperature of the waste gas being treated is fairly high at the exit of the reactor and the concentration of ammonium sulfamate in the by-product ammonium sulfate can be reduced.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a cooling water control valve disposed in a cooling water circuit of a water-cooled engine, switching of the cooling water flowing into and out of a heat-accumulating tank and control of an amount of the cooling water passing through a bypass water passage are performed by a single control valve element. Further, a bypass water passage is opened according to a decrease of an absolute of intake negative pressure detected by a pressure sensor and is closed according to the increase of the absolute of the intake negative pressure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an oil storage chamber for temporarily accumulating a high-viscosity oil is formed below a heat-generating chamber for accumulating high-viscosity oil which generates heat when a shearing force is applied thereto. When an electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic clutch is set off, i.e., a rotation of a rotor of a viscous heater is stopped, the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber moves into the oil storage chamber by own weight thereof, and a liquid level of the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber is greatly reduced. In this way, when the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch is turned on to start the rotor of the viscous heater, a torque applied to the rotor is greatly reduced, with the result that a stress applied to the rotor is reduced.

Abstract: A coolant circulation circuit of an internal combustion engine includes a heat accumulation tank having a heat insulating structure and a heater core for heating air for heating a compartment in the vehicle. High temperature coolant is reserved in the heat accumulation tank even when the engine is stopped. An intake air heat exchanger is disposed in the circuit on the downstream side of the heater core, and high temperature coolant can effectively heat the intake air. An engine lubricating oil heat exchanger and a transmission operating oil heat exchanger are arranged in the circuit on the downstream side of the intake air heat exchanger. Intake air, engine lubricating oil and transmission operating oils are suitably heated during warm-up of the engine to thereby improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust gas pollution.

Abstract: An information data recording/reproducing apparatus where input information data is divided into sectors and distributed to be recorded on a magnetic tape by a plurality of magnetic heads. In a recording mode, the sector phase of the information data to be recorded is identified by input sync data which represents the phase relation thereto. In a playback mode, the sync data which identifies the sector phase of the recorded information data is obtained form the magnetic tape and used to control the playback operation. The phase relation of the information data can be restored exactly.

Abstract: This invention provides a paper molded cushion having a sufficient shock absorbing ability without substantial deformation during the drying process even if the shape of the cushion is very complex. The process comprises the steps of mechanically fluffing waste paper or pulp, adding a proper amount of adhesive to the fluffed paper of pulp, mixing uniformly, casting the mixture in a mold having water drainage small apertures thereof, heating said mold with the mixture therein by dielectric heating or microwave heating, thereby drying the molded paper cushion to a predetermined water content level and taking out the molded paper cushion from the mold.