Abstract: Disclosed is a switching valve having a small contact resistance when a valve body moves along a seating surface of a housing. In a switching valve which includes a valve body, coming into contact with a seating surface of a housing having a plurality of ports and selectively communicating at least two ports of the plurality of ports, and applies a fluid pressure to a back surface of the valve body, the switching valve includes a biasing member configured for biasing the valve body in a direction in which the valve body is moved away from the seating surface of the housing.

Abstract: A controller is used for an air-fuel ratio sensor. The air-fuel sensor includes a detection element that detects an oxygen concentration, and a PWM-controlled heater that receives a PWM signal for temperature control of the detection element. The controller includes a resistance detection circuit configured to detect a resistance of the detection element, and a processor. The processor is programmed to generate the PWM signal for the heater based on the detected resistance such that the resistance of the detection element is kept at a predetermined target resistance, and determine whether a failure has occurred in the air-fuel ratio sensor based on a manner of time-series increase in duty cycle of the PWM signal.

Abstract: A central air conditioning system includes dampers individually air conditioning multiple spaces, an air conditioning controller controlling the dampers, a temperature sensor disposed in each space to detect a temperature, and a temperature predictor that receives the detected temperature, predicts a temperature in each space, and transmits temperature information to the air conditioning controller. The temperature sensor may wirelessly transmit the detected temperature when an amount of change in temperature gradient exceeds an allowable range. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may predict a temperature based on a temperature gradient, and wirelessly transmit the detected temperature when a difference between the predicted and detected temperatures exceeds a certain range. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may predict a temperature by using one of prediction formulae, and transmit the detected temperature when a difference between the predicted and detected temperatures exceeds a certain range.

Abstract: A controller is used for an air-fuel ratio sensor. The air-fuel sensor includes a detection element that detects an oxygen concentration, and a PWM-controlled heater that receives a PWM signal for temperature control of the detection element. The controller includes a resistance detection circuit configured to detect a resistance of the detection element, and a processor. The processor is programmed to generate the PWM signal for the heater based on the detected resistance such that the resistance of the detection element is kept at a predetermined target resistance, and determine whether a failure has occurred in the air-fuel ratio sensor based on a manner of time-series increase in duty cycle of the PWM signal.

Abstract: A central air conditioning system includes dampers individually air conditioning multiple spaces, an air conditioning controller controlling the dampers, a temperature sensor disposed in each space to detect a temperature, and a temperature predictor that receives the detected temperature, predicts a temperature in each space, and transmits temperature information to the air conditioning controller. The temperature sensor may wirelessly transmit the detected temperature when an amount of change in temperature gradient exceeds an allowable range. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may predict a temperature based on a temperature gradient, and wirelessly transmit the detected temperature when a difference between the predicted and detected temperatures exceeds a certain range. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may predict a temperature by using one of prediction formulae, and transmit the detected temperature when a difference between the predicted and detected temperatures exceeds a certain range.

Abstract: A zinciferous coated steel sheet comprises a steel sheet, a zinciferous coating layer formed on the steel sheet, a Fe--Ni--Zn--O film formed on the zinciferous coating layer, and an oxide layer formed on a surface portion of the Fe--Ni--Zn--O film. The method comprises providing an electrolyte of an acidic sulfate aqueous solution, carrying out an electrolysis treatment in the electrolyte under a current density ranging from 1 to 150 A/dm.sup.2, and carrying out an oxidation treatment to a surface of the zinciferous coated steel sheet.

Abstract: A zinciferous plated steel sheet which comprises a steel sheet, at least one zinciferous plating layer formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet, and an Fe--Ni--O film as an uppermost layer formed on the zinciferous plating layer. The total quantity of metallic elements in the Fe--Ni--O film is within a range of from 10 to 1,500 mg/m.sup.2, and the oxygen content in the Fe--Ni--O film is within a range of from 0.5 to under 30 wt. %. The ratio of the iron content (g/l) relative to the total quantity of the iron content (g/l) and the nickel content (g/l) in the Fe--Ni--O film is preferably within a range of from over 0 to under 1.0.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a zinciferous plated steel sheet, comprises: forming a zinciferous plating layer on a steel sheet; and forming an Fe--Ni--O film on the zinciferous plating layer. The Fe--Ni--O film is formed by carrying out electrolysis with the steel sheet as a cathode in an aqueous solution, dipping the steel sheet in an aqueous solution, or spraying a mist on a surface of the zinciferous plating layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a zinc-electroplated steel sheet comprising the steps of: pickling a steel sheet with a pickling solution so as to deposit a tin of an amount of 0.5 mg/m.sup.2 to less than 10 mg/m.sup.2 on the steel sheet; and zinc-electroplating the pickled steel sheet.

Abstract: A zinc-electroplated steel sheet comprises a steel sheet; a tin layer which is formed on the steel sheet, the tin layer having a deposition amount of 0.5 mg/m.sup.2 to less than 10 mg/m.sup.2 ; and a zinc-electroplating layer which is formed on the tin layer.A method for producing a zinc-electroplated steel sheet comprising the steps of: pickling a steel sheet with a pickling solution so as to deposit a tin of an amount of 0.5 mg/m.sup.2 to less than 10 mg/m.sup.2 on the steel sheet; and zinc-electroplating the pickled steel sheet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a plated steel sheet with a Zn--Cr alloy plating, including the steps of preparing a plating bath having a pH of 1 to 3 by adding 50 to 250 g/l of ammonium sulfate to a sulfuric acid plating bath and forming a Zn--Cr alloy plating film on a steel sheet using the resultant plating bath.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a plated steel sheet with a Zn--Cr composite plating, wherein a total of 0.01 to 300 g/l of at least one type of salt having a pH buffering action in a pH range of 2 to 6 in a bath containing only zinc are added to an acidic Zn--Cr composite plating bath containing zinc ions and trivalent chromium ions to prepare a plating bath, and plating film is formed on a steel sheet using the resultant plating bath.

Abstract: A method for continuously manganese-electroplating or manganese-alloy-electroplating a steel sheet, which comprises the steps of: using a manganese electroplating solution or a manganese alloy electroplating solution, using an insoluble anode, and causing a DC electric current to flow between the insoluble anode and a steel sheet during travelling through the electroplating solution while replenishing the manganese electroplating solution or the manganese alloy electroplating solution with manganese ions or manganese alloy ions, thereby forming a manganese plating layer or a manganese alloy plating layer on at least one surface of the steel sheet. As the insoluble anode, a hydrogen gas diffusing insoluble anode is used.