Abstract: A steam engine of a simple constitution capable of efficiently obtaining mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from various heat sources in a low-temperature state such as the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The engine comprises a displacement engine 1 having a rotor 13 that rotates, a steam-generating portion 2 arranged thereunder and a condenser 3 arranged thereover. Water heated in the steam-generating portion 2 becomes the steam which is fed into the displacement engine 1, enters into an operation chamber that moves up, rotates the rotor 13 and is, thereafter, fed into the condenser 3 where it is condensed to turn into the condensate. The condensate falls on the rotor 13 on the lower side due to gravity, and is refluxed into the steam-generating portion 2 through the operation chamber that moves downward with rotation of the rotor 13.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid 5 comprising: an electromagnetic coil 9; a fixed yoke 10 provided immovably inside the electromagnetic coil 9 and having a convex portion 13 formed at an edge portion of an end surface of the fixed yoke; and a movable yoke 20 that is disposed inside the electromagnetic coil 9, has a tip portion thereof inserted into the convex portion 13 of the fixed yoke 10, and is provided movably relative to the fixed yoke 10, the proportional solenoid 5 enabling the position adjustment of the movable yoke 20 by controlling an electric current applied to the electromagnetic coil 9, wherein a protruding portion 21 that protrudes at the side of the fixed yoke 10 is formed at an edge portion of the surface of the movable yoke 20 on the side of the fixed yoke 10, and an inner surface 21b of this protruding portion 21 is tapered such that the inner surface is located further outside as the inner surface approaches the fixed yoke 10.

Abstract: A steam engine of a simple constitution capable of efficiently obtaining mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from various heat sources in a low-temperature state such as the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The engine comprises a displacement engine 1 having a rotor 13 that rotates, a steam-generating portion 2 arranged thereunder and a condenser 3 arranged thereover. Water heated in the steam-generating portion 2 becomes the steam which is fed into the displacement engine 1, enters into an operation chamber that moves up, rotates the rotor 13 and is, thereafter, fed into the condenser 3 where it is condensed to turn into the condensate. The condensate falls on the rotor 13 on the lower side due to gravity, and is refluxed into the steam-generating portion 2 through the operation chamber that moves downward with rotation of the rotor 13.

Abstract: A vehicle mounting an engine and a transmission, and automatically controlling the transmission using a shift map, wherein shifting is executed to meet the traveling conditions of the vehicle and to ensure the braking force based on the engine brake as intended by the driver at the time of decelerating the vehicle. The transmission control unit has a shift map for determining the gear depending on the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening degree of the engine, and, further, has a mode-judging means for judging an acceleration mode period and a deceleration mode period depending on the operating conditions of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal. In the deceleration mode period after the driver has depressed the brake pedal, the shift-up is prohibited (S9), and a gear region in the map for shift down is corrected in a direction in which the vehicle speed increases (S2, S3) to execute the shift-down early.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid 5 comprising: an electromagnetic coil 9; a fixed yoke 10 provided immovably inside the electromagnetic coil 9 and having a convex portion 13 formed at an edge portion of an end surface of the fixed yoke; and a movable yoke 20 that is disposed inside the electromagnetic coil 9, has a tip portion thereof inserted into the convex portion 13 of the fixed yoke 10, and is provided movably relative to the fixed yoke 10, the proportional solenoid 5 enabling the position adjustment of the movable yoke 20 by controlling an electric current applied to the electromagnetic coil 9, wherein a protruding portion 21 that protrudes at the side of the fixed yoke 10 is formed at an edge portion of the surface of the movable yoke 20 on the side of the fixed yoke 10, and an inner surface 21b of this protruding portion 21 is tapered such that the inner surface is located further outside as the inner surface approaches the fixed yoke 10.