Abstract: A connecting mechanism has a reversely tapered fit portion, an elastically expandable collet chuck fitted on the fit portion, a locking sleeve surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the fit portion and axially slidably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the collet chuck, and a spring for biasing the locking sleeve in its advancing direction. The locking sleeve advances with the collet chuck being fitted on the fit portion and locks the collet chuck such that the collet chuck cannot be expanded in the fit portion.

Abstract: An extendable mast of the joint type constructed by freely swingably connecting essentially-rigid members to one another. It includes a plurality of battens extending in the traverse direction of the mast, a plurality of longerons extending in the longitudinal direction of the mast to connect battens adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the mask, and diagonals arranged along the diagonal lines of a rectangle which is formed by the two battens adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the mast and by the two longerons adjacent in the traverse direction thereof. Each of the longerons consists of a pair of beam members freely swingably connected to each other and when these beam members are folded, the mast is also folded compact. The diagonal comprises plural slider members slidable relative to each other and it can be extended to a full length. When these diagonals are extended to their full length, the beam members are locked under overcenter condition.

Abstract: A structure comprising a pair of end plates, plural longerons arranged parallel to one another and elastically buckled, a plurality of radial spacers for holding these longerons at a certain interval and a pair of diagonal cords stretched between two adjacent radial spacers, between one of the end plates and the uppermost radial spacer and between the other of the end plates and the lowest radial spacer, respectively, wherein a means is attached to one of the paired diagonal cords stretched between one of the end plates and the uppermost or lowest radial spacer to apply a predetermined tension to this diagonal cord. The transforming of the longerons or radial spacer located at one end of the structure can be restrained by the tension applying means while the structure is being deployed or collapsed.

Abstract: A structure comprising a pair of end plates, plural longerons arranged parallel to one another and elastically buckled, a plurality of radial spacers for holding these longerons at a certain interval and a pair of diagonal cords stretched between two adjacent radial spacers, between one of the end plates and the uppermost radial spacer and between the other of the end plates and the lowest radial spacer, respectively, wherein a means is attached to one of the paired diagonal cords stretched between one of the end plates and the uppermost or lowest radial spacer to apply a predetermined tension to this diagonal cord. The transforming of the longerons or radial spacer located at one end of the structure can be restrained by the tension applying means while the structure is being deployed or collapsed.

Abstract: A spring apparatus has a spring body including a plurality of elastic longitudinal beam members and a coupling beam member for holding the elastic longitudinal beam members at a predetermined interval. The apparatus further has a pair of spring retaining members for supporting the both ends of the spring body, and a rotary member rotatable provided around the central axis of the spring body as a center at least one one spring retaining member. At least one of the elastic longitudinal beam member is provided at one end of the rotary member. This spring apparatus is a tightly wound coil and made of the elastic longitudinal beam members in fully compressed state. When extended, each elastic longitudinal beam member is sequentially spirally deformed at larger pitch from the end. The twisting deformation of the elastic longitudinal beam member is released by rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: An extendible structure includes at least three extendible longerons and a plurality of integrated radial spacers. Each spacer includes a plurality of legs integrally formed therewith to radially extend from the central part thereof. The distal end of each of the spacers is connected to a corresponding one of the extendible longerons. In the extended state of the extendible structure, at least three longerons are deployed in parallel with one another with space intervals among them in the lateral direction which intersect with the direction of extension of the longerons, and the spacers support the longerons with the horizontally spaced interval within a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the longerons. In the collapsed condition of the extendible structure, each of the longerons is collapsed in a loop form, and the spacers are laid one upon another inside the loop formed by the longerons while the legs of the spacers are twisted.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a power semiconductor device in which a bipolar transistor and a diode are formed in antiparallel in a semiconductor chip with an emitter electrode (21) on one surface of the transistor (16) serving also as an anode electrode of the diode and a collector electrode (23) on another surface of the transistor serving also as a cathode electrode of the diode. A plurality of emitter lead wires (24) of the power transistor serving also as anode lead wires of the diode are connected in the anode region of the diode. Thus, electric current is made to flow from the anode region of the diode to the cathode thereof if a short circuit occurs, so that the lead wires can be prevented from being melted by large current.