Abstract: The invention is directed to a retractable rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door mounted on a vehicle body and hinged at a rear upper portion thereof. There is provided rearward of the automotive vehicle, a deflector which is mounted on the rear door at its upper portion and on which a recess is formed. A mirror assembly is movably supported by the deflector, and selectively positionable from a retracted position to an extended position. A motor is provided for actuating the mirror assembly to be positioned in the retracted position or the extended position. The motor is controlled by an controller in response to an output of a detector for detecting a state of the rear door which is positionable in its open state and its closed state. Consequently, the mirror assembly is moved to a position responsive to the state of the rear door, such that the mirror assembly is automatically retracted when the rear door is closed.

Abstract: In a roller guide apparatus for guiding a steel material to be rolled into a rolling mill machine, a ratio (K/M) of an elastic constant (K [N/mm]) of the roller guide portion of a roller guide apparatus to a gradient (M [N/mm]) in a plasticity characteristic curve obtained when pressing the steel material nipped between the guide rollers in rolling is determined to be 0.5 or more, to thereby prevent the steel material from tilting between the guide rollers. As a result, dimensional accuracy in sectional shape and size of an end product can be improved, and miss-rolling can be prevented, thus producing high-quality rolled steel products without surface defects with remarkably high yield rate and productivity.

Abstract: A high-rigid type guiding device for guiding a steel material to be rolled comprises guide rollers toughened by satisfying the condition in which rigidity (K) at contact portions with the steel material is defined by:K=Fmax/Smaxwherein, Fmax represents the maximum load exerted on the guide rollers (Fmax=m.times.FT, 1.0.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.2.0), and Smax represents the maximum allowable value within a range in which increment S of a roller gap defined between the contact portions is determined (Smax=n.times..delta.1, 0.2.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.0.8). Consequently, the efficiency of rolling and the productivity of the rolled steel products can be improved, and the yielding efficiency and quality of the products can be heightened.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a retractable rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle, mounted rearward thereof for ensuring a rear under field of view from a driver's seat. There is provided a base member rearward of the automotive vehicle. A mirror assembly is movably supported by the base member, and selectively positionable from a stored position to a use position. An actuator is provided for actuating the mirror assembly to be positioned in the stored position or the use position. A detector is provided for detecting at least an operating condition of a component out of the components of the automotive vehicle. The actuator is controlled by a controller in response to an output of a detector to move the mirror assembly to a position responsive to the operating condition of the component.

Abstract: A cutter knife for locking a slider by the engagement between a leaf spring member and an engaging notch of a cutter main body. The leaf spring member has a flat spring section; and a U-shaped locking section projecting therefrom at a right angle therewith. A pair of flat portions of the locking section engage the engaging surfaces of the engaging notch. Consequently, the slider is locked. The operating member moves with respect to a slider main body, thus pressing the locking section downward. As a result, the slider is unlocked.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for removing foreign substances from a mirror. A vibrator for vibrating the mirror includes a vibration controlling unit for supplying power to the vibrator. As the vibration controlling unit is located close to the vibrator, the length of the conductive wire which transmits the power can be minimized so as to reduce radio noise. The heat generated by the vibration control unit can be radiated sufficiently through a metallic case member and the vibration controlling unit can be disposed in the closed, small space between the mirror and the housing. Therefore, the size of the housing can be reduced so as to minimize the space which surrounds the vibration control unit. Further, the vibration control unit can be protected from contamination due to the closed case member.

Abstract: An automotive mirror is provided with an actuator which provides vibrations to the mirror so as to remove foreign substances from the surface of the mirror. The actuator may be piezoelectric device which operates in a predetermined, control manner so as to remove foreign substances from the mirrored surface.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for an outside rear view mirror of an automobile cleans and removes frost, ice and water droplets from the mirror. A heating element is provided to quickly heat and melt frost and ice into water droplets. A piezoelectric element is provided to vibrate the mirror to cause water droplets to be atomized and removed from the mirror.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided in which a detector will detect the amplitude of a traveling wave generated on the stator. An oscillator approximates frequency of the travelling wave with respect to the resonance frequency of the stator while the amplitude of the traveling wave is decreased. If the oscillator approaches the frequency of the traveling wave to the resonance frequency of the stator, the amplitude of the traveling wave can be maintained against increasing pressure of the increased torque load of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: Ultrasonic vibrators, attached to the back of a mirror, are vibrated according to an A.C. signal pattern which is selected from various A.C. signal patterns for the removal of water, frost and/or ice from the surface of the mirror. Further included is a temperature detecting device attached to the back of the mirror for inhibiting operation of the ultrasonic vibrators when the temperature of the mirror exceeds a predetermined temperature, to thus avoid thermally-induced damage to the mirror.

Abstract: An actuator and actuator control system is provided for use with a mirror-like surface and is used to remove foreign substances from the mirror-like surface. The actuator may be a piezoelectric device and the control system operates the device in a predetermined vibratory manner to remove the foreign substance.

Abstract: A self-cleaning plate shaped device for use in an automotive rear view mirror. The device preferably includes a mirror and a vibrator disposed on the mirror for propagating oscillations in the mirror substantially entirely parallel to the plane of the mirror. The vibrations remove foreign substances from the mirror. The mirror also includes a heater disposed on the back of the mirror for distributing heat substantially entirely throughout the mirror. When the mirror is heated by the heater, a moisture blur or the like are evaporated quickly and removed from the reflecting surface of the mirror. Further, frost, ice and the like is melted into water drops, and removed from the reflecting surface of the mirror due to the vibration of the mirror by the vibrator.

Abstract: A device for removing water droplets comprises a plate-like member disposed vibratably, a vibrator bonded to the rear face of the plate-like member and oscillation means for vibrating the vibrator at a predetermined frequency, wherein the thickness and/or the diameter of the vibrator is optimized in relation with the thickness thereof, or the longitudinal, lateral width or thickness of the plate-like member. The water droplets on the plate-like member, e.g., automobile mirror can be removed effectively and uniformly with no worry for the destruction of the vibrator. The oscillation means may, advantageously, be adapted to cause bending vibrations to the vibrator by lateral effect.

Abstract: An outside mirror of a vehicle has an ultrasonic vibrator attached to its rear side for removing water and the like from the front side of the mirror. The mirror is attached to a frame by means of a supporting member extending around an outer peripheral edge of the mirror. The supporting portion is formed of a material having less acoustic impedance than the mirror. The vibrator has electrode connectors connected to wires from a control device by being mechanically clamped to those wires.