Abstract: A friction stir welding tool 1 includes a rotor 2 to be attached to a rotation-drive section and a probe 3 concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the rotor 2. A provisional joining projection 4 is concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the probe 3. A relation 0.3 D?d?0.8 D is satisfied, where D represents a diameter (mm) of the distal end surface of the probe 3, and d represents a diameter (mm) of the contour of a transverse cross section of the provisional joining projection 4. The provisional joining projection 4 has a length of 0.3 to 2 mm. This friction stir welding tool can improve the work efficiency of friction stir welding and can carry out friction stir welding which is excellent in welding quality after main friction stir welding.

Abstract: According to this load detection method, load (Fi) in insertion of a linear body having flexibility in an inlet of a hollow tube inserted in a bending vessel in a body is detected, an image of the hollow tube or the linear body is taken, a degree of bending of the hollow tube or the linear body is detected based on the image, and load (Fo) at a tip end of the linear body is calculated based on the detected insertion load (Fi) and the degree of bending. Therefore, the load (Fo) at the tip end of the thin linear body can readily be detected.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool 1 includes a rotor 2 to be attached to a rotation-drive section and a probe 3 concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the rotor 2. A provisional joining projection 4 is concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the probe 3. A relation 0.3 D?d?0.8 D is satisfied, where D represents a diameter (mm) of the distal end surface of the probe 3, and d represents a diameter (mm) of the contour of a transverse cross section of the provisional joining projection 4. The provisional joining projection 4 has a length of 0.3 to 2 mm. This friction stir welding tool can improve the work efficiency of friction stir welding and can carry out friction stir welding which is excellent in welding quality after main friction stir welding.

Abstract: A drive device for driving a linear body having flexibility includes a first roller, a motor for feeding the linear body in a direction of extension of the linear body by directly transmitting rotation force to the first roller to rotate the first roller, a motor drive portion for driving the motor by supplying a current to the motor, and a control unit for calculating force applied to the linear body in the direction of extension based on the current supplied to the motor.

Abstract: A friction stir welding method in which a base having a recess, and a cover for fitting into and closing the opening of the recess are prepared. A stepped portion on the inner circumferential surface of the recess at an intermediate depth allows a peripheral portion of the cover to rest thereon. A cylindrical holder portion having a cooling-medium accommodation recess is formed integrally with the outer surface of the cover. The cover is fitted into the recess and placed on the stepped portion. A cooling medium is placed in the cooling-medium accommodation recess. A friction-stir-welding tool probe is plunged into a peripheral portion of the base around an opening of the recess and into a peripheral portion of the cover. During rotation of the probe, the base, and the cover, and the probe undergo relative movement, friction-stir-welding the base and the cover together.

Abstract: A linear body drive device capable of safely and reliably operating a linear body is provided. A linear body insertion device includes a drive portion, an operation portion, a sensor portion and a processing portion serving as a measurement portion, and an output portion serving as a notification portion. The drive portion drives a linear body having flexibility. The operation portion includes an input member (an operation lever) operated by an operator for controlling performance of the drive portion. The sensor portion included in the measurement portion detects compressive force in a direction of longitudinal axis applied to the linear body, based on a degree of bending of the linear body driven by the drive portion. The output portion provides notification of data of compressive force detected by the measurement portion.

Abstract: A measurement device capable of sensing presence of an obstacle within a vessel from outside the vessel in operating a linear body inserted in the vessel is provided. According to this measurement device, an easy-to-use measurement device capable of measuring compressive force in a direction of longitudinal axis applied to the linear body that has a sheath thicker than the linear body, such as a wire having a coil for embolizing an aneurysm attached at a tip end, without lowering measurement accuracy, can be provided. In addition, a length of a restraint portion is minimized, to achieve a smaller size of the measurement device. Moreover, the measurement device capable of measuring compressive force in the direction of longitudinal axis applied to the linear body regardless of magnitude of buckling load of the linear body can be provided, and the same measurement device is applicable to linear bodies of various materials, which leads to cost efficiency.

Abstract: A measurement device can detect a degree of bending of a linear body with a sensor when compressive force in a direction of longitudinal axis is applied to the linear body as a result of contact of a tip end of the linear body with an obstacle. Then, the detected degree of bending of the linear body is converted to compressive force in the direction of longitudinal axis applied to the linear body based on predetermined correlation between the degree of bending and the compressive force, so that presence of an obstacle in a direction of travel of the linear body can be sensed based on increase in the compressive force. In addition, as the same measurement device is applicable to linear bodies of various shapes and materials, cost effectiveness is achieved.

Abstract: A joining method for joining together a first member having a circular hole and a second member having a circular portion fitted into the circular hole, at and around an entire annular joint interface between a circumferential wall of the circular portion and a circumferential wall of the circular hole. The joining method includes: preparing a clamp apparatus having a clamp body and a presser member attached to the clamp body in a manner rotatable about an axis of the circular hole of the first member; and joining the first and second members together at and around the annular joint interface therebetween while clamping the second member by the presser member so as to prevent movement of the second member in relation to the first member and rotating the first and second members about the axis of the circular hole of the first member.

Abstract: A base 1 having a recess 2, and a cover 3 to be fitted into the recess 2 and to close an opening of the recess 2 are prepared. A stepped portion 4 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the recess 2 at an intermediate depth for allowing a peripheral portion of the cover 3 to rest thereon. A cylindrical holder portion 5 having a cooling-medium accommodation recess 6 is formed integrally with the outer surface of the cover 3. The cover 3 is fitted into the recess 2 and placed on the stepped portion 4. A cooling medium for removing latent heat is placed in the cooling-medium accommodation recess 6 of the holder portion 5 of the cover 3. A probe 9 of a friction-stir-welding tool is plunged from outside into a peripheral portion of the base 1 around an opening of the recess 2 and into a peripheral portion of the cover 3.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool 1 includes a rotor 2 to be attached to a rotation-drive section and a probe 3 concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the rotor 2. A provisional joining projection 4 is concentrically provided on a distal end surface of the probe 3. A relation 0.3 D?d?0.8 D is satisfied, where D represents a diameter (mm) of the distal end surface of the probe 3, and d represents a diameter (mm) of the contour of a transverse cross section of the provisional joining projection 4. The provisional joining projection 4 has a length of 0.3 to 2 mm. This friction stir welding tool can improve the work efficiency of friction stir welding and can carry out friction stir welding which is excellent in welding quality after main friction stir welding.

Abstract: A method for friction-stir-welding two hollow workpieces. While open end portions of the workpieces butt each other, and an annular support member supports the butt end portions from the inside, the workpieces are joined together by friction stir welding. An annular, radially outward projection is formed on the entire outer circumferential surface of the support member in an intermediate region along the support member width. Support portions to be fitted into corresponding end portions of the workpieces for support from the inside are formed on the support member at corresponding opposite sides of the annular, radially outward projection. While the support portions are fitted into the workpieces, respectively, and end faces of the workpieces abut the annular, radially outward projection, the butt end portions of the workpieces and the support member are friction stir welded from the outside. Thereby, the hollow workpieces are welded without joint defect.

Abstract: A clamp apparatus clamps a circular cover in joining together a base having a circular recess and the cover fitted into the recess of the base, at and around an entire annular joint interface between a circumferential wall of the cover and a circumferential wall of the recess of the base. The clamp apparatus has a clamp body and a presser member attached to the clamp body in a manner rotatable about the axis of the recess of the base and about the axis of the cover. The clamp apparatus enables joining of the base and the cover at and around the annular joint interface therebetween without need to provisionally join them at and around the interface.

Abstract: Two joining members different in high temperature deformation resistance are disposed in an abutted manner. The rotational direction of a probe of a joining member is set to coincide with a rotational direction rotating from the joining member having lower high temperature deformation resistance toward the joining member having higher high temperature deformation resistance. Then, the rotating probe is inserted into the abutting portion of the joining members. The probe is advanced along the abutting portion with the probe inserted in the abutting portion to perform friction stir joining. As a result, a butt joint having high joining strength can be obtained.

Abstract: A rotation transmission device has a two-way clutch prevented from engaging while the inner member is rotating unengaged with the outer member. The clutch includes an outer member, a cam ring mounted in the outer member, rollers each mounted between a cylindrical surface of the outer member and a cam surface of the cam ring, and a roller retainer. The device further comprises a rotor mounted between the solenoid and retainer so as to be nonrotatable relative to the outer ring, an armature nonrotatable relative to the retainer and axially movable, a spring axially biasing the armature away from the rotor, and an engaging plate nonrotatable relative to the inner member and axially immovable. The armature and engaging plate engage together when the armature rotates in one direction by a predetermined angle relative to the engaging plate. A high-strength clutch outer ring is mounted in the outer ring.

Abstract: In a friction agitation joining method, two plate-shaped joining members different in thickness, or first and second joining members, are abutted against each other with a level difference formed at upper surface sides thereof. A rotating probe of a joining tool is inserted into the butted portion of the first and second joining members from upper surface sides thereof. Joining-direction front sides of the first and second joining members with respect to the probe inserted position are pressed by first and second front pressing rollers, respectively, from the upper surface sides thereof. Furthermore, joining-direction lower sides of the first and the second joining members with respect to a probe inserted position from the upper surface sides are pressed by first and second lower pressing rollers, respectively, from the upper surface sides thereof. In this state, the butted portion is joined by the friction agitation joining method.

Abstract: The magnetic attraction force of an electromagnetic coil in an electromagnetic clutch is increased in a limited installation space, thereby improving reliability of operation. The dimensions of a field core housing the electromagnetic coil and a rotor are optimized to increase the magnetic attraction force. The thicknesses of cylindrical portions on the inner-diameter side of the field core and the rotor have larger thicknesses than those of cylindrical portions on its outer-diameter side so that the sectional areas of both cylindrical portions will be equal to each other. Also, a rotation transmission device provided with an electromagnetic clutch is proposed which can avoid deterioration of its sealing property and damage to its bearing and avoid cost increase.

Abstract: A rotation transmission device is provided in which the two-way clutch is prevented from engaging while the inner member is rotating not engaged with the outer member. The two-way roller clutch includes an outer member, a cam ring mounted in the outer member, a plurality of rollers each mounted between the cylindrical surface of the outer member and one of the cam surfaces on the cam ring, and a retainer for retaining the rollers. The device further comprises a rotor mounted between the solenoid and the retainer so as to be nonrotatable relative to the outer ring, an armature mounted so as to be nonrotatable relative to the retainer and axially movable, and a spring for axially biasing the armature away from the rotor, and an engaging plate mounted so as to be nonrotatable relative to the inner member and axially immovable.

Abstract: To provide a compact bearing assembly equipped with a rotation sensor capable of detecting not only pulse signals for detecting the number of revolution, but also a home position signal, the bearing assembly equipped with the rotation sensor includes a rotatable member (2) and a non-rotatable member (3) with rolling elements (4) interposed between the rotatable and non-rotatable members (2) and (3) to permit the rotatable member (2) to be rotatable relative to the non-rotatable member (3). The rotatable member (2) is provided with a magnetic encoder (7) and the non-rotatable member (3) is provided with magnetic sensors (8A) to (8C). The magnetic encoder (7) includes first and second to-be-detected elements (7A) and (7B) each having a plurality of equally spaced, opposite magnetic poles defined therein so as to alternate with each other in a direction circumferentially thereof.

Abstract: A friction agitation joining tool (10A, 10B) includes a rotor (11) having an end portion to be pressed onto at least one of surfaces of joining members (11a, 1b) and a probe (13) to be inserted into a joining portion (3) of the joining-members (1a, 1b), wherein the probe (13) has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the rotor (11). An end face (12) of the end portion of the rotor (11) is formed into a concave surface dented from a periphery of the end face (12) toward a rotational center of the end face (12). The probe (13) is protruded from the rotational center of the end face (12). The end face (12) is provided with a spiral groove (15) or an annular groove (16) surrounding the probe (13). By performing the joining operation with the joining tool (10A, 10B), a joined member with a good joint can be obtained.