Abstract: In a method for producing maraging steel, a thin plate of maraging steel is subjected to an aging treatment, is then subjected to a fluoridation processing in which the thin plate is heated and maintained in a fluoric reacting gas including fluorine so as to form a fluoride layer on a surface of the thin plate, and is then subjected to nitriding in a nitriding reaction gas including ammonia gas so as to restrict the carbon concentration of the thin plate after the nitriding to 2 weight % or less.

Abstract: A metal V-belt MV comprises endless belt-form metal rings 20 and numerous metal elements 10 supported along these metal rings 20. The metal rings 20 comprise a plurality of thin, endless belt-form metal ring sheets superposed in the radial direction, and of these ring sheets, the outermost and innermost ring sheets 20a and 20b are made from a metal material with high wear resistance, while the rest of the ring sheets 20c in the middle are made from a metal material with high tensile strength.

Abstract: The relation of the length h1 of the V surface of each metal element to the saddle primary thickness h2 is determined such that the strength of the metal element for the Hertz's pressure generated on the V surface 2 from the normal force P which acts on the V surface 2 when the element engages in the V-shaped groove of a pulley and the strength for the bending moment which is produced by the normal force P on the saddles 1 of the metal element are made substantially equal to each other. Also, the relation of the length of the V surface to the saddle primary thickness is determined such that the fatigue life by the Hertz's pressure which acts on the V surface and the fatigue life by the bending moment which acts on the saddles are made substantially equal to each other. The length h1 of the V surface, which is determined in the above mentioned ways, can be about 0.26-1.0 of the saddle primary thickness h2.

Abstract: A surface-type illumination device suitable for providing backlight in a liquid crystal display is disclosed. For example, an L-shaped fluorescent light can be used as an illuminant and mounted next to two edges of a substantially rectangular light guide plate. The corner of an edge portion between the two edges is removed. The fluorescent light, the length of whose illuminating portion is long, is positioned with an appropriate gap from the light guide plate allowing for illumination with high brightness and low power consumption. Consequently, when the illumination device is used in a color liquid crystal display, appropriate backlight with high brightness can be obtained. Moreover, because the influence of the temperature from the illumination device is small, a stable color display can be achieved.

Abstract: A surface-type illumination device suitable for providing backlight in a liquid crystal display is disclosed. For example, an L-shaped fluorescent light can be used as an illuminant and mounted next to two edges of a substantially rectangular light guide plate. The corner of an edge portion between the two edges is removed. The fluorescent light, the length of whose illuminating portion is long, is positioned with an appropriate gap from the light guide plate allowing for illumination with high brightness and low power consumption. Consequently, when the illumination device is used in a color liquid crystal display, appropriate backlight with high brightness can be obtained. Moreover, because the influence of the temperature from the illumination device is small, a stable color display can be achieved.

Abstract: A metal V-belt type continuously variable transmission in which the length of a side of an element contacting with a V-face of a pulley is shortened to increase a ratio range. If the element side length of a metal element is represented by L, the angle of the V-face of the pulley is represented by .alpha., and the hertz surface pressure between the pulley and the metal element is represented by .sigma..sub.H, the following relation is established: L .varies. sin .alpha./.sigma..sub.H.sup.2. When the hertz surface pressure .sigma..sub.H is determined to be between an upper limit value defined by the wear durability of the metal element and a lower limit value defined by the limit tensile force of an endless belt, the element side length L can be decreased by decreasing the angle of the V-face of the pulley. Thus, the distance through which the metal element can be moved radially of the pulley is increased to increase the ratio range.

Abstract: A surface-type illumination device suitable for providing backlight in a liquid crystal display is disclosed. For example, an L-shaped fluorescent light can be used as an illuminant and mounted next to two edges of a substantially rectangular light guide plate. The corner of an edge portion between the two edges is removed. The fluorescent light, the length of whose illuminating portion is long, is positioned with an appropriate gap from the light guide plate allowing for illumination with high brightness and low power consumption. Consequently, when the illumination device is used in a color liquid crystal display, appropriate backlight with high brightness can be obtained. Moreover, because the influence of the temperature from the illumination device is small, a stable color display can be achieved.

Abstract: A solenoid valve is provided which is so constructed that reaction chambers are formed on both sides of a spool. Into the reaction chambers is introduced the loading pressure of an actuator to accomplish the balance between the pressing force of proportional solenoids and the reaction force of the reaction chambers, resulting in a control pressure applied to a cylinder being automatically adjusted depending on the loading pressure of the actuator.