63results about How to "Simple and low-cost structure" patented technology

A check valve having a thermostat function is provided between an engine and a thermal storage tank that stores a portion of the coolant circulating in the engine. The check valve restricts the flow of the coolant from the engine to the thermal storage tank, and loosens the restriction when the temperature of the coolant increases. Through such operation of the check valve, the warm coolant is collected in the thermal storage tank and engine preheating may be performed before engine start. Thus, by providing between the engine and the thermal storage tank the check valve that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant, engine preheating can be accomplished with a simple structure and at a low cost, without using a three-way valve and performing an electrical valve switching control.

A generator of electric energy based on a thermoelectric effect includes a layer of thermoelectric material set between two pipes that guide two flows of fluid at temperatures different from one another. Each of the pipes has its wall in heat-conduction contact with respective side of the layer of thermoelectric material. Each pipe has a cavity of passage for the respective flow of fluid occupied by a porous material or divided by diaphragms into a plurality of sub-channels so as to obtain a large heat-exchange surface between each flow of fluid and the wall of the respective pipe and between said wall and the respective side of the layer of thermoelectric material.

A check valve having a thermostat function is provided between an engine and a thermal storage tank that stores a portion of the coolant circulating in the engine. The check valve restricts the flow of the coolant from the engine to the thermal storage tank, and loosens the restriction when the temperature of the coolant increases. Through such operation of the check valve, the warm coolant is collected in the thermal storage tank and engine preheating may be performed before engine start. Thus, by providing between the engine and the thermal storage tank the check valve that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant, engine preheating can be accomplished with a simple structure and at a low cost, without using a three-way valve and performing an electrical valve switching control.

A reflector includes a first reflector portion located above the central axis of a headlamp extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a second reflector portion located below the central axis. A first light source and a second light source are arranged such that: the light emitted from the first light source is reflected by the first reflector portion to form a first light distribution pattern; and the light emitted from the second light source forms two partial light distribution patterns by being reflected with both the first reflector portion and the second reflector portion, and a second light distribution pattern, which is different from the first light distribution pattern, is formed by combining the two partial light distribution patterns.

A lens barrel includes a standard optical element used in a standard photographing operation and an insertable optical element which is selectively inserted into and removed from a photographing optical path. The lens barrel includes an accommodating driving device which moves the standard optical element and the insertable optical element rearward in an optical axis direction from a ready-to-photograph state to a retracted state; an insertable-optical-element drive mechanism which moves the insertable optical element between an inserted position on the optical axis on which the standard optical element is positioned, and a removed position off the optical axis, in the ready-to-photograph state of the lens barrel; and a forced removing device which forces the insertable optical element to move from the inserted position to the removed position independently of the insertable-optical-element drive mechanism when the lens barrel moves from the ready-to-photograph state to the retracted state.

A wavelength cross connect device includes an input demultiplexing optical system for demultiplexing light input from a plurality of input ports into respective wavelengths, a wavelength switching optical system for switching and outputting the lights of respective wavelengths input from the input demultiplexing optical system to respective desired ports, and an output multiplexing optical system for multiplexing the lights of respective wavelengths input from the wavelength switching optical system per port. The input demultiplexing optical system and the output multiplexing optical system includes a lens system that has a function of focusing lights independently in vertical and widthwise directions. The wavelength switching optical system includes two light deflector arrays for outputting incoming light of each wavelength after adjusting a horizontal reflection angle of the light, and a switching lens including a lens that has a focal length equal to the Rayleigh length and acts only in a widthwise direction.

An optical device for motor vehicles, designed to detect the condition of the road surface, comprises a unit for the emission of electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the road surface to be detected, a receiving unit coupled to an optical element for focusing the radiation back-diffused by the road surface and an electronic control and processing unit for receiving signals at output from said receiving unit and for processing them in order to determine the condition of the road surface, on the basis of a reference map. Appearing in said map are the values of the intensity of radiation Iref back-reflected at a reference wavelength and at least one second wavelength. The map is divided into subareas identified beforehand as corresponding to the different conditions of the road surface.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a worktable in a process chamber to horizontally place a target substrate thereon. A plasma generation space is defined above and around the worktable within the process chamber. The plasma generation space includes a peripheral plasma region and a main plasma region respectively located outside and inside an outer edge of the target substrate placed on the worktable. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field forming mechanism configured to form a magnetic field within the peripheral plasma region. The magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending through the peripheral plasma region between a start position and an end position, at least one of which is located radially inside a sidewall of the process chamber.

An optical disk drive apparatus has an objective lens which converges a light beam to direct it to an optical disk, an objective lens support, an elastic support member which movably supports the objective lens on the objective lens support portion, and a coil and a magnet. The coil and magnet are capable of moving the objective lens against an elastic force of the elastic support member relative to the objective lens support portion so as to vary an angle of incidence of the light beam emitted from the objective lens with respect to an irradiated surface of the optical disk. The angle of incidence is adjusted by an electric power supplied to the coil.

An optical direct amplifier lowers the power consumption with a simple structure at a low cost. This amplifier includes an optical amplification medium (e.g., optical fiber) that carries out an optical amplification function in response to optical excitation by an exciting light source (e.g., semiconductor laser); a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the amplification medium; a heat radiating member for radiating the heat generated by the light source; and a heat transmission regulator (e.g., Peltier module) for allowing the heat to flow into the amplification medium from the light source and for preventing the heat from flowing into the light source from the amplification medium. The amplification medium is heated by application of the heat generated by the light source by way of the heat radiating member and the heat transmission regulator.

The present invention discloses a household sectional oven and warmer cooking apparatus, which comprises an electric heating device therein for controlling the heating temperature and time of an oven by a switch control, an opening disposed at the top of the oven, a meat grilling pan having a larger depth and mounted around the periphery of the opening, a hotdog broiler disposed above the meat grilling pan and comprising a plurality of parallel cylinders at an appropriate distance apart from each other, a bread tray with a smaller depth disposed above the hotdog broiler and having a plurality of through holes disposed at the bottom of the bread tray, and a lid for covering the whole oven and warmer apparatus and keeping it warm. With a quick, convenient, and flexible installation of a meat grilling pan, a hotdog broiler, and a bread tray onto the oven, the electric heating device and each cooking food item are kept in an appropriate distance with partitions to avoid the food from being burned and achieve the purpose of heating and warming the food appropriately. The overall structure is simple, low-cost, and easy-to-clean, which constitutes an economic convenient household cooking apparatus.

A lighting and / or signalling device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one light source (S) emitting a light beam and at least one optical guide (G) within which the light beam propagates, the optical guide comprising:a first face forming an exit face (FS) for the light beam,a second face forming a face (FR) for reflecting the light beam, anda screen (ED) disposed facing the reflection face (FR) of the light guide (G) and comprising an orientation means redirecting light rays escaping from the guide at the reflection face, so as to return them, at least partially, into the guide, the orientation means comprising catadioptric reflecting patterns.

A fuel system for a vehicle with an engine includes: a fuel tank for storing fuel: first and second ports disposed on a wall of the fuel tank, between which wall and a fuel fluid level a clearance is created when the fuel is contained in an allowable maximal amount in the fuel tank of the vehicle in a horizontal state, the first and second ports being positioned frontward and rearward, respectively, in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first port and the second port being out of alignment in a lateral direction; a canister for adsorbing and releasing a fuel vapor; an inflow line for sending the fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank to the canister through the first and second ports; and a discharge line for sending the fuel vapor from the canister to an air-intake path to the engine.

An objective lens driving device for an optical head has a lens holder including one or more tracking coils, one or more focusing coils, a plurality of wires which supply control currents to the tracking coils and the focusing coils and which support the lens holder in a cantilever manner, and a pair of movable magnets which are provided on a lower face of the lens holder in a track direction with an interval therebetween. A base part includes a pair of fixed magnets which are arranged so as to be opposed to the tracking coils and the focusing coils of the lens holder thereby to act thereon, a pair of right and left coils for correcting tilt angles which are arranged so as to be respectively opposed to the movable magnets thereby to act thereon, and power supply lines for supplying control currents to the tilt angle correcting coils.

A liquid supply device includes a liquid container having a liquid chamber and a contact portion, and a mounting portion having an opening, and first and second surfaces. The liquid container is inserted into and removed from the mounting portion via the opening. The mounting portion includes an urging member that urges the liquid container toward the opening, a retaining member that selectively retains the liquid container in the mounting portion, and a stopper having a bendably deformable resilient member that extends from one of the first and second surfaces in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the liquid container, and that contacts the contact portion of the liquid container in the mounting portion. A first force required for deforming the resilient member in the insertion direction is less than a second force required for deforming the resilient member in the removal direction.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a worktable in a process chamber to horizontally place a target substrate thereon. A plasma generation space is defined above and around the worktable within the process chamber. The plasma generation space includes a peripheral plasma region and a main plasma region respectively located outside and inside an outer edge of the target substrate placed on the worktable. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field forming mechanism configured to form first, second, and third magnetic fields within the peripheral plasma region. The first magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along a vertical first cylindrical plane. The second magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along a vertical second cylindrical plane located inside the first cylindrical plane. The third magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along vertical radial planes located between the first and second cylindrical planes.

Provided is a heating blow-off apparatus, comprising a fan for blow-off, an electric motor, a heating portion, a detecting portion, and a control portion, wherein the electric motor is used for driving the fan; the heating portion is used for heating the air driven by the fan to flow; the detecting portion is used for detecting the voltage or current electrifying the electric motor; and the control portion is used for controlling the electricity provided for the heating portion according to the detecting result of the detecting portion.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a worktable in a process chamber to horizontally place a target substrate thereon. A plasma generation space is defined above and around the worktable within the process chamber. The plasma generation space includes a peripheral plasma region and a main plasma region respectively located outside and inside an outer edge of the target substrate placed on the worktable. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field forming mechanism configured to form first, second, and third magnetic fields within the peripheral plasma region. The first magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along a vertical first cylindrical plane. The second magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along a vertical second cylindrical plane located inside the first cylindrical plane. The third magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending along vertical radial planes located between the first and second cylindrical planes.

A plasma etching apparatus includes a pressure-reducible chamber 1, a placement section 3 for supporting an object to be treated within the chamber 1, a dielectric member 5 for sealing an upper opening of the chamber 1, and a coil 4 provided outside the dielectric member 5. The coil 4 generates a plasma 6 in the chamber 1 by inductive coupling so that the object 2 is subjected to etching. The dielectric member 5 has recess portions 5c discontinuous to one another. Portions of the dielectric member 5 form large-thickness portions 5b. A thickness of the dielectric member 5 in the recess portions 5c is smaller than a thickness of the large-thickness portions 5b. The recess portions 5c are placed according to distribution densities of conductors constituting the coil 4.

An ignition apparatus includes a spark plug having a high voltage electrode and an external electrode facing each other across a gap and being configured to generate a spark discharge in the gap to ignite a combustible fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an ignition coil device configured to generate a predetermined high voltage and supply the high voltage to the high voltage electrode to form a path for the spark discharge in the gap, a high frequency power supply having a band-pass filter and being configured to supply an alternating current to the spark discharge path, and a control device configured to control operation timing of the high frequency power supply. The band-pass filter passes a frequency of from 1 MHz to 4 MHz.

The present invention is to provide a barbecue spit equipped with a probe, which includes a rod configured to pierce a food and connected to a power device of an electric barbecue apparatus so that the rod can be driven to rotate by the power device, a temperature setting device provided adjacent to one end of the rod and including a control module and an alert module, a conductive wire provided in the rod and having one end electrically connected to the setting device, and a probe having one end to be inserted into the food and an opposite end electrically connected to the other end of the conductive wire. Thus, when the food temperature measured by the probe reaches a predetermined temperature, the control module drives the alert module to generate an alert signal (e.g., a continuous sound), thereby informing the user of the roasted state of the food.

In a gas-supply system for internal-combustion engines, a pressure-reducing valve is set between the reservoir of the gas and a distribution manifold or rail that feeds the gas to a series of electromagnetically controlled injectors associated to the various cylinders of the engine. The pressure-reducing valve has a piston member that faces a chamber set downstream of a restricted passage defined inside the body of the valve in communication between the inlet connector and the outlet connector. The piston member is pushed by thrust means towards a position in which it causes opening of an open / close element that controls the communication between said restricted passage and the inlet connector. The piston member is preferably provided with a single seal gasket that prevents leakage of gas towards the outside through the sliding coupling of the piston member within the respective guide bushing. The thrust means to which the piston member is subject may be constituted by spring means, or else by a pilot-pressure signal, in the case where it is intended to obtain a variable reduction of the pressure according to the operating conditions of the system.

A sensor array for viscosity measurement includes the following: a carrier substrate formed with an opening; a metal plate-shaped oscillating element disposed on a surface of the carrier substrate and parallel to the surface over the opening; at least two metal contact electrodes disposed on the carrier substrate; at least two metal spring elements, wherein each of the contact electrodes is connected to the oscillating element by way of a spring element such that the element is mounted on the carrier substrate by way of the spring elements; and a magnet, which is disposed in the vicinity of the carrier substrate such that the magnetic field lines penetrate the plate-shaped oscillating element.

A horizontal boring machine tool is described that includes a boring bar equipped with a cutting bit and a counter-bar coupled in head-to-head rotation with the boring bar. This counter-bar is also equipped with a cutting bit, or a series of cutting bits destined to operate simultaneously on the same cylindrical seat to be bored. Both the bit or bits arranged on the bar, and the bit or bits arranged on the counter-bar are radially adjustable via an automatic adjustment system.