Abstract: A variable capacity type viscous heater is provided in which the capacity reduction is carried out securely, and which can inhibit a viscous fluid from deteriorating the endurable heat generation even after a long period of service. For instance, it includes a heat-generating chamber, a collector passage, a supply passage, and a control chamber, which are formed therein. The collector passage is communicated with a central region of the heat-generating chamber, and is capable of opening and closing. The supply passage is communicated with a lower region of the heat-generating chamber. The control chamber is communicated with the collector passage and the supply passage. A silicone oil, held in the heat-generating chamber, is collected into the control chamber by the Weissenberg effect by way of the opened collector passage, thereby carrying out the capacity reduction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional parking facility which includes an upper parking portion and a lower parking portion. The three-dimensional parking facility further includes a device for swinging the upper parking portion and the lower parking portion. The swinging device is supported by a member running along a horizontal axis on a solid foundation.

Abstract: Three embodiments of a regenerative pump: the first embodiment is composed of a body and casing separated by an intermediate ring-like spacer having a central annular area the wall of which forms the outer peripheral boundary of a radially defined chamber through which move the vanes of an impeller rotatably mounted in the center of the spacer. Inlet and outlet ports are placed in fluid communication with each other by virtue of the chamber as the impeller rotates. Concentric and overlapping grooves formed on the upper surface of the body and the lower surface of the case have a particular geometry the arrangement of which leads to a substantial reduction in noise contributed by fluid flowing in the region of the outlet port. In a second embodiment of the invention, the downstream portion of each of the grooves extends along a gentle curved line which terminates substantially without deflection in the outlet hole.

Abstract: In a laser machining system for the heat treatment of an object, a pair of cylindrical concave mirrors are used to receive a source laser beam and irradiate a linear laser beam on to the object. The system is further provided between the latter cylindrical mirror and the object with at least a pair of slant-type plane mirrors for conditioning the linear beam. The plane mirrors have means for variably making the lengthwise dimension of the output linear beam smaller than that of the incident linear beam, so that a linear laser beam of various lengthwise dimensions can be produced.

Abstract: A contact sensor for detecting operation of a movable probe against force added by an object from any direction. The contact sensor has a movable probe which is supported in a cylindrical housing, a bridge, and only one set of electric contacts which are provided at center of the movable probe and the bridge and pushed each other by a spring provided in the housing. The movable probe comprises a hollow connector, a stylus which fixed at one end of the connector and extended from an opening of a cylindrical housing, and a flange which is provided at the other end of the connector. The flange is freely mounted on an annular fulcrum fixed on an inner wall of the housing so that electric signals are detected by a detector when the movable probe freely inclines at the fulcrum and the electric contacts operate due to pushing the stylus with an object from any direction.

Abstract: A swash-plate type compressor is provided with an improved internal arrangement for lubricating internal moving elements, such as bearings, pistons and shoes wherein a passage is provided for introducing a foam of the lubrication oil, which was generated in the reservoir at the moment of starting the compressor, into the swash-plate chamber and the cylinder bores for lubricating the internal moving elements. The improved internal arrangement further contributes to effective employment of the blow-by refrigerant gas for the distribution of lubrication oil to the bearings and the cylinder bores.