Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is separated by a gas-liquid separator and is accumulated in a recovery tank. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The grip position calculator determines a grip position where the fingers can grip a workpiece in any orientation of the workpiece. The calculator then determines an initial position where the finger tips can grip the workpiece and set the initial position as a point of calculation. Then an allowable gripping force is calculated which is an index that indicates an allowable force to be applied to the workpiece at point. Then other allowable forces are calculated for a plurality of points near the point of calculation. Then the point of calculation is selected as a possible gripping position if the allowable force a point is greater than any of the allowable forces. Otherwise, one of the points is selected for another point of calculation where the greatest allowable force (De) has been calculated and return to calculating an allowable gripping force.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a workpiece holding method which enables a workpiece to be held when a multi-fingered hand is used to grasp the workpiece that is in an untidy heap, even if a target workpiece is subject to interference from another workpiece, and thereby the method enhances the success rate for holding the workpiece.

Abstract: An automobile run channel installing method for installing a run channel in a sash of an automobile door is provided. The method involves setting a run channel to a conveyance device having only a pair of arms, the run channel having a concave section and only two corner sections; pushing both corner sections of the run channel into corner sections of an upper portion of the sash, respectively; pressing and fitting an upper-sash roller of the arm into the concave section of the run channel to move from the corner section of the upper sash; and pressing and fitting a lower-sash roller of the arm into the concave section of the run channel to move from a higher portion to a lower portion of a lower portion of the sash and to fit the run channel into the lower sash.

Abstract: A workpiece assembling method uses an assembly work cell, the assembly work cell including: a worker station at which a worker works; an apparatus station at which an apparatus works; and a transfer unit that transfers a workpiece to be processed between the worker station and the apparatus station. In the method, the workpiece to be processed is alternately moved by the transfer unit between the worker station and the apparatus station, so that the worker and the apparatus alternately assemble the workpiece.

Abstract: Water contained in exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack 22 is separated by a gas-liquid separator 48 and is accumulated in a recovery tank 54. The procedure of the invention sets a release amount of water and selects one or multiple positions for water release, based on the driving conditions including the vehicle speed and the acceleration, the turning state, activation or non-activation of skid reduction control, the distance from any object detected by clearance sonars 94a through 94d, a distance from a subsequent vehicle measured by an extremely high frequency radar 92, and the presence of raindrops detected by a raindrop detection sensor, and releases the water accumulated in the recovery tank 54 from water outlets at the selected one or multiple positions among water outlets 58a through 58f at multiple different locations. This arrangement ensures adequate release of the water produced by the fuel cell stack 22 to the atmosphere.

Abstract: If subsequent to discontinuing generation by the fuel cell stack it is predicted that evolved water formed by electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas during generation may freeze in the membrane-electrode assembly provided to the fuel cell stack, low-level generation (temperature gradient formation control) is carried out until the temperature of the membrane-electrode assembly is relatively higher than the temperature of the separators. This temperature gradient formation control is carried out only for the time period necessary to produce a temperature gradient between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separators, and is quickly discontinued once a temperature gradient is created between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separators. Thus, in a fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, reduced energy efficiency of the fuel cell system may be avoided, and low temperature startup may be improved.

Abstract: A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A gas processing device for mixing a first gas (H2) and a second gas (air) comprises a flow passage (110) through which the second gas (air) passes, an inflow port (104) for introducing the first gas (H2) in a non-parallel direction to the flow direction of the second gas (air) within the flow passage (110), and a housing (101) for sealing a part of the flow passage (110). The flow passage (110) comprises hole structures (111), through which the second gas (air) and first gas (H2) pass in and out, in at least a part of the region sealed by the housing (101). According to this constitution, the hole structures generate turbulence, and hence the degree of mixing between the first gas (H2) and second gas (air) can be improved, enabling a uniform reduction in the gas concentration.

Abstract: A compact lighting fixture having various functions can be achieved at low cost. The lighting fixture can provide a high degree of freedom for space utilization, can provide a comfortable illumination space with designed light distribution, can be configured to require a smaller space for installation, and can have an appearance that is not so different from its surroundings. As a component constituting the illumination optical system, a polygonal frustum portion can be located at a center and can have tapered side reflecting portions. When assuming that three concentric imaginary circles have respective radii of R1, R2 and R3 (R1<R2<R3) and a center positioned at a center axis of the frustum portion, individual lens portions can be located at respective intersections where the imaginary circle having the radius of R1 and lines extending radially from the center at regular center angles of ? intersect.

Abstract: A noise eliminator for a fuel cell, where an outer shell has a reception section in which a sound absorption material is placed between the outer shell and an inner pipe and has a water discharge section that is positioned so as to face a lower portion in the vertical direction of the inner pipe and in which the sound absorption material is not placed between the outer shell and the inner pipe. The water discharge section receives water flowing into the outer shell and allows the water to flow to the outside of the outer shell. Although the water discharge section receives water flowing into the outer shell, the sound absorption material inside the noise eliminator does not absorb the water from the water discharge section and does not contain it because there is no sound absorption material in the water discharge section.

Abstract: In a fuel cell vehicle 10 of the invention, fuel cells 20 are integrally placed in a lower space 15 of a front seat 14, while a secondary battery 40 is integrally placed in a lower space 18 of a rear seat 17. The integral arrangements of the fuel cells 20 and the secondary battery 40 separately in the lower space 15 of the front seat 14 and in the lower space 18 of the rear seat 17 ensure high-performance operations of both the fuel cells 20 and the secondary battery 40 having different working environments. This arrangement also attains the effective use of the generally-dead, lower spaces 15 and 18 of the front and rear seats 14 and 17 to receive the fuel cells 20, the secondary battery 40, and their peripheral equipment.

Abstract: A lighting lamp 1 using LED lamps as a light source can include a delay circuit 5, a power supply control unit 6, and a timer circuit 7. The delay circuit 5 can be configured to cause the luminous intensity of the LED lamps to rise along a predetermined slope upon turning on the lighting lamp. The power supply control unit and the timer circuit can be configured to cause the luminous intensity of the LED lamps to fall along a predetermined slope which has an inflection point P at a predetermined time point along the slope.

Abstract: In a humidifying membrane module, a humidifying membrane having plural hollow fiber membranes bundled together is housed in a humidifying membrane chassis having a cylindrical outer periphery, and the humidifying membrane chassis is housed in an assembly chassis having a cylindrical inner periphery. The assembly chassis has an inlet port for taking air that is made to flow into hollow parts of the humidifying membrane, an outlet port for discharging the air, an inlet port for taking an off-gas that is made to flow in gaps in the humidifying membrane, and an outlet port for discharging the off-gas. The air and the off-gas flow in flow paths formed by utilizing the humidifying membrane chassis and the assembly chassis, but are not mixed with each other at positions other than the humidifying membrane owing to annular sealing members provided between the humidifying chassis and the assembly chassis.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include LEDs configured to be a light source of the lamp, where the LEDs can be controlled to be turned on in part or in whole for a predetermined period and in a configuration that is different from the originally intended display purpose configuration of the lamp. The configuration can be controlled to be different when the vehicle is stopped and when a driver (or other person) initiates a predetermined operation on the vehicle. Contents such as color and pattern that are displayed by the LEDs on this occasion can be different from the contents associated with the original display purpose configuration of the vehicle lamp, resulting in an additional new display function, and new design.

Abstract: A cooling system for a fuel cell is provided with a cooling apparatus that regulates the temperature of the fuel cell by supplying the fuel cell with a cooling liquid via a cooling liquid passage by means of a water pump; an impurity-removing device which is provided in the cooling liquid passage and which removes impurities from within the cooling liquid; and flow generating means for causing the cooling liquid in the cooling liquid passage to flow through the impurity-removing device when the fuel cell is not operating.

Abstract: A compact lighting fixture having various functions can be achieved at low cost. The lighting fixture can provide a high degree of freedom for space utilization, can provide a comfortable illumination space with designed light distribution, can be configured to require a smaller space for installation, and can have an appearance that is not so different from its surroundings. As a component constituting the illumination optical system, a polygonal frustum portion can be located at a center and can have tapered side reflecting portions. When assuming that three concentric imaginary circles have respective radii of R1, R2 and R3 (R1<R2<R3) and a center positioned at a center axis of the frustum portion, individual lens portions can be located at respective intersections where the imaginary circle having the radius of R1 and lines extending radially from the center at regular center angles of ? intersect.

Abstract: A method for mounting a soft member (11) on a longitudinal member (27) by pressing the soft member against the longitudinal member by a roller (21). The roller is so rotated that the peripheral speed (V2) of the pressing surface (21a) of the roller, which forms the outer peripheral surface of the roller, is equal to a transfer speed (V1) at which the roller is transferred along the longitudinal member or the peripheral speed is larger by 10% max. than the transfer speed (V1) partly in a roller transfer route. The soft member is pulled back in the opposite direction of the roller transfer direction by the rotating force of the roller to prevent the soft member from being loosened.