Author: claimsbot

1. An exercise system, comprising:
a pair of step-up apparatuses wearable on feet of a user, wherein each step-up apparatus is configurable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration to simulate a selected motion when the user wearing the pair of step-up apparatuses travels by foot, wherein each of the step-up apparatuses is configured to begin collapsing after the user transfers a substantial portion of the user’s weight to the step-up apparatus and expands upon removal of the substantial portion of the user’s weight without providing any appreciable propelling force, and wherein each step-up apparatus includes a sole assembly having an actuating mechanism operable to move the sole assembly from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the actuating mechanism has
a first state of operation to provide a first rate of collapse, and
a second state of operation to provide a second rate of collapse.
2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the first rate of collapse is at least twice the second rate of collapse for an applied load. An exercise device, comprising:
a self-expanding sole assembly movable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the sole assembly comprising:
a lower sole;
an upper sole movable with respect to the lower sole; and
an expansion mechanism that generates a resistive force as the upper sole spaced apart from the lower sole moves towards the lower sole so as to move the sole assembly from the expanded configuration towards the compressed configuration, the expansion mechanism is configured to generate a restoring force that is less than the resistive force and the restoring force is sufficient move the sole assembly from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration.
4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the step-up apparatus collapses when a user transfers a substantial portion of the users weight to the step-up apparatus and expands upon removal of the substantial portion of the user’s weight without providing any significant propelling force.
5. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the resistive force is a dampening force generated in response to a user pressing on the sole assembly.
6. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the sole assembly is configured to be in the expanded configuration when the lower sole is held above a support surface and moves from the expanded configuration towards the compressed configuration when the user stands on the sole assembly.
7. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the sole assembly in the expanded configuration defines a raised position and in the compressed configuration defines a lowered position.
8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein a distance between the raised position and the lowered position is greater than or equal to about 3 inches.
9. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the expansion mechanism includes an adjustable energy absorber operable to provide the resistive force.
10. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising a foot retainer coupled to the sole assembly, the foot retainer configurable between a foot receiving configuration and a foot retaining configuration.
11. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the expansion mechanism is physically coupled to the upper sole and the lower sole and is configurable to allow the sole assembly to move from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration when the user is supported by the sole assembly and to move from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration when the sole assembly is unloaded.
12. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the expansion mechanism has a delay device to delay collapsing of the sole assembly as the user initially steps onto the sole assembly.
13. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the expansion mechanism includes an expandable piston assembly having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end is rotatably coupled to the upper sole, and the lower end is rotatably coupled to the lower sole.
14. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising a controller configured to adjust a resistive force provided by the expansion mechanism when a user applies a force to the sole assembly.
15. The exercise device of claim 14, wherein the controller has memory configured to store at least one program.
16. An exercise device, comprising:
a self-expanding sole assembly configurable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the sole assembly generates a resistive force as the sole assembly in the expanded configuration moves towards the collapsed configuration and generates an expansion force to move from the collapsed configuration towards the expanded configuration, and the expansion force is substantially less than the resistive force.
17. The exercise device of claim 16, wherein the sole assembly is configured to self-expand as a user’s foot carrying the exercise device moves away from a support surface upon which the sole assembly in the collapsed configuration rests.
18. The exercise device of claim 16, further comprising an actuating mechanism that biases the self-expanding sole assembly towards the expanded configuration.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An orientation device for orienting tubular preforms delivered in bulk by feed means, wherein it comprises:
two continuous endless conveyors positioned side by side and each respectively having two strands which run substantially parallel to one another and which are separated from one another horizontally by a distance greater than the longest transverse dimension of the preforms, the preform feed means being situated above these two endless conveyors and near one of their ends, these two conveyors being driven by drive means in opposite directions to one another so as to cause those of the preforms which arrive crosswise on the endless conveyors to pivot and drop, oriented longitudinally, into the space between the two endless conveyors, and
an endless collecting belt for collecting the preforms running under the aforementioned two endless conveyors and parallel thereto to collect the preforms and move them along, lying down longitudinally aligned one after the other.
2. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless belt has a speed appreciably higher than that of the two endless conveyors.
3. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two endless conveyors are driven in opposite directions at appreciably equal speeds.
4. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each endless conveyor is arranged vertically and in that the aforementioned parallel strands are the respective top strands of the two conveyors.
5. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two endless conveyors are endless belts or conveyor belts.
6. The orientation device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the respective top strands of the two endless conveyors are inclined transversely toward one another.
7. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two endless conveyors are externally bordered by respective casings able to prevent the preforms from falling off the device.
8. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two endless conveyors is supported in such a way that it can move transversely so that the separation between the two endless conveyors can be adjusted according to the transverse dimension of the preforms.
9. The orientation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless collecting belt consists of several successive endless belts having increasing respective speeds so as to increase the spacing between the successive preforms so as to make it easier for them to be toppled over by a downstream system without interfering with one another.
10. The orientation device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transition between the first and second endless belts is located between the two endless conveyors.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a dynamo-electric motor driven to rotate by a polyphase alternating current;
an inverter circuit for converting direct-current power into polyphase alternating-current power by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements to supply the polyphase alternating-current power to said dynamo-electric motor;
a direct-current power supply connected with either bus of a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus of said inverter circuit and a neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor; and
an accumulating device connected between another bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said inverter circuit to which said direct-current power supply is not connected and the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor, said accumulating device being capable of being charged and discharged.
2. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a drive and accumulation controlling circuit for performing driving control of said dynamo-electric motor and controlling an accumulated state of said accumulating device.
3. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drive and accumulation controlling circuit is a circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to regulate the polyphase alternating current to be imposed on said dynamo-electric motor and so as to regulate the charging and the discharging of said accumulating device.
4. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drive and accumulation controlling circuit is a circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements so that the polyphase alternating current enabling said dynamo-electric motor to output target mechanical power is imposed on said dynamo-electric motor and so that a voltage between terminals of said accumulating device is a target voltage.
5. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a second accumulating device connected between the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said inverter circuit, said second accumulating device capable of being charged and discharged.
6. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said dynamo-electric motor is a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by means of input of mechanical power; and
said direct-current power supply is a member capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a charge-controlling circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to drive said dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said direct-current power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor.
7. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a first dynamo-electric motor driven to rotate by a polyphase alternating current;
a first inverter circuit capable of supplying polyphase alternating-current power to said first dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first direct-current power supply connected with either bus of a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit and a neutral point of said first dynamo-electric motor;
a second dynamo-electric motor driven by a polyphase alternating current to rotate;
a second inverter circuit having a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus connected with the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit, respectively, said second inverter circuit supplying polyphase alternating-current power to said second dynamo-electric motor by the switching operation of the plural switching elements; and
an accumulating device connected between the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit, said accumulating device being capable of being charged and discharged.
8. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 7, said apparatus further comprising a first drive and accumulation controlling circuit for performing driving control of said first dynamo-electric motor and for controlling an accumulated state of said accumulating device.
9. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said first inverter circuit so as to regulate the polyphase alternating current to be imposed on said first dynamo-electric motor and so as to regulate the charging and the discharging of said accumulating device.
10. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said first inverter circuit so that the polyphase alternating current enabling said first dynamo-electric motor to output target mechanical power is imposed on said first dynamo-electric motor and so that a voltage between terminals of said accumulating device is a target voltage.
11. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 7, said apparatus further comprising a second direct-current power supply connected between either bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said second inverter circuit and the neutral point of said second dynamo-electric motor.
12. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 11, said apparatus further comprising a second drive and accumulation controlling circuit for performing driving control of said second dynamo-electric motor and for controlling an accumulated state of said accumulating device.
13. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said second inverter circuit so as to regulate the polyphase alternating current to be imposed on said second dynamo-electric motor and so as to regulate the charging and the discharging of said accumulating device.
14. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said second inverter circuit so that the polyphase alternating current enabling said second dynamo-electric motor to output target mechanical power is imposed on said second dynamo-electric motor and so that a voltage between terminals of said accumulating device is a target voltage.
15. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a first dynamo-electric motor driven to rotate by a polyphase alternating current;
a first inverter circuit for supplying polyphase alternating-current power to said first dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first direct-current power supply connected with either bus of a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit and a neutral point of said first dynamo-electric motor;
a second dynamo-electric motor driven by a polyphase alternating current to rotate;
a second inverter circuit having a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus connected with the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit, respectively, said second inverter circuit supplying polyphase alternating-current power to said second dynamo-electric motor by the switching operation of the plural switching elements; and
a first accumulating device connected between another bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit to which said first direct-current power supply is not connected and the neutral point of said first dynamo-electric motor, said first accumulating device being capable of being charged and discharged.
16. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising a first drive and accumulation controlling circuit for performing driving control of said first dynamo-electric motor and for controlling an accumulated state of said first accumulating device.
17. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said first inverter circuit so as to regulate the polyphase alternating current to be imposed on said first dynamo-electric motor and so as to regulate the charging and the discharging of said first accumulating device.
18. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said first inverter circuit so that the polyphase alternating current enabling said first dynamo-electric motor to output target mechanical power is imposed on said first dynamo-electric motor and so that a voltage between terminals of said first accumulating device is a target voltage.
19. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:
a second direct-current power supply connected between either bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said second inverter circuit and the neutral point of said second dynamo-electric motor; and
a second accumulating device connected between another bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said second inverter circuit to which said second direct-current power supply is not connected and the neutral point of said second dynamo-electric motor, said second accumulating device being capable of being charged and discharged.
20. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 19, said apparatus further comprising a second drive and accumulation controlling circuit for performing driving control of said second dynamo-electric motor and for controlling an accumulated state of said second accumulating device.
21. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said second inverter circuit so as to regulate the polyphase alternating current to be imposed on said second dynamo-electric motor and so as to regulate the charging and the discharging of said second accumulating device.
22. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second drive and accumulation controlling circuit controls switching of the plural switching elements of said second inverter circuit so that the polyphase alternating current enabling said second dynamo-electric motor to output target mechanical power is imposed on said second dynamo-electric motor and so that a voltage between terminals of said second accumulating device is a target voltage.
23. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 15, said apparatus further comprising a third accumulating device connected between the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said first inverter circuit, said third accumulating device capable of being charged and discharged.
24. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor are a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first direct-current power supply is capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a first charge-controlling circuit for controlling switching of the switching elements of said first inverter circuit andor said second inverter circuit so as to drive said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first direct-current power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor driven as the generator.
25. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said second direct-current power supply is capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a second charge-controlling circuit for controlling switching of the switching elements of said first inverter circuit andor said second inverter circuit so as to drive said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said second direct-current power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor driven as the generator.
26. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:
said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor are a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first direct-current power supply is capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a first charge-controlling circuit for controlling switching of the switching elements of said first inverter circuit andor said second inverter circuit so as to drive said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first direct-current power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor driven as the generator.
27. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said second direct-current power supply is capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a second charge-controlling circuit for controlling switching of the switching elements of said first inverter circuit andor said second inverter circuit so as to drive said first dynamo-electric motor andor said second dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said second direct-current power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor driven as the generator.
28. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a dynamo-electric motor driven by a polyphase alternating current to rotate;
an inverter circuit capable of supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power of voltage levels of three steps or more to said dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first electric power supply connected with a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus of said inverter circuit;
a second electric power supply connected between either bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said inverter circuit and a neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor; and
a switching controlling circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit.
29. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said first electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said second electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
30. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a dynamo-electric motor driven by a polyphase alternating current to rotate;
an inverter circuit capable of supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power of voltage levels of three steps or more to said dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first electric power supply connected between a positive pole bus of said inverter circuit and a neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor;
a second electric power supply connected between a negative pole bus of said inverter circuit and the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor; and
a switching controlling circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit.
31. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said second electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
32. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said second electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said first electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
33. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said inverter circuit is a circuit for supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power of voltage levels of three steps.
34. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each phase of said inverter circuit comprises:
four switching elements connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series;
two diodes connecting two switching elements of said four switching elements on a positive pole bus side and a negative pole bus side in series so that a direction from the negative pole side to the positive pole side is a forward direction and said two connected diodes straddle two intermediate switching elements of said four switching elements; and
an intermediate voltage supplying member for supplying an intermediate voltage level among the voltage levels of the three steps to an intermediate node of said two diodes.
35. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to clam 34, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member comprises two capacitors connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series, an intermediate node of the two capacitors being connected with the intermediate node of said two diodes.
36. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to clam 34, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member connects the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor with the intermediate node of said two diodes.
37. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said inverter circuit is a circuit for supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power of voltage levels of three steps.
38. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 37, wherein each phase of said inverter circuit comprises:
four switching elements connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series;
two diodes connecting two switching elements of said four switching elements on a positive pole bus side and a negative pole bus side in series so that a direction from the negative pole side to the positive pole side is a forward direction and said two connected diodes straddle two intermediate switching elements of said four switching elements; and
an intermediate voltage supplying member for supplying an intermediate voltage level among the voltage levels of the three steps to an intermediate node of said two diodes.
39. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to clam 38, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member comprises two capacitors connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series, an intermediate node of the two capacitors being connected with the intermediate node of said two diodes.
40. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to clam 38, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member connects the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor with the intermediate node of said two diodes.
41. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said switching controlling circuit controls the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit on the basis of a plurality of carrier waves and a voltage command of each phase that are severally provided between each voltage level of the voltage levels of the three steps or more hierarchically.
42. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said switching controlling circuit sets a voltage level of each phase of said inverter circuit on the basis of which hierarchy the voltage command of each phase belongs to among hierarchies formed by the plural carrier waves, and said switching controlling circuit controls the switching of the plural switching elements so that the voltage level of each phase of said inverter circuit is the set voltage level.
43. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said switching controlling circuit controls the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit on the basis of a plurality of carrier waves and a voltage command of each phase that are severally provided between each voltage level of the voltage levels of the three steps or more hierarchically.
44. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said switching controlling circuit sets a voltage level of each phase of said inverter circuit on the basis of which hierarchy the voltage command of each phase belongs to among hierarchies formed by the plural carrier waves, and said switching controlling circuit controls the switching of the plural switching elements so that the voltage level of each phase of said inverter circuit is the set voltage level.
45. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a dynamo-electric motor driven to rotate by a polyphase alternating current;
an inverter circuit capable of supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power to said dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first electric power supply connected between a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus of said inverter circuit;
a second electric power supply connected between either bus of the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus of said inverter circuit and a neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor; and
a switching controlling circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit on the basis of a modulated wave of each phase based on a voltage command of each phase of the polyphase alternating current and a carrier wave of each phase having a prescribed phase difference to each other corresponding to each phase of the polyphase alternating current.
46. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said first electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said second electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
47. A mechanical power outputting apparatus for outputting mechanical power, said apparatus comprising:
a dynamo-electric motor driven to rotate by a polyphase alternating current;
an inverter circuit capable of supplying pseudo-polyphase alternating-current power to said dynamo-electric motor by switching operation of a plurality of switching elements;
a first electric power supply connected between a positive pole bus of said inverter circuit and a neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor;
a second electric power supply connected between a negative pole bus of said inverter circuit and the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor; and
a switching controlling circuit for controlling switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit on the basis of a modulated wave of each phase based on a voltage command of each phase of the polyphase alternating current and a carrier wave of each phase having a prescribed phase difference to each other corresponding to each phase of the polyphase alternating current.
48. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said first electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said second electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
49. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said second electric power supply is an accumulating device that is charged with electric power from said first electric power supply and is capable of being charged and discharged.
50. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the prescribed phase difference is a phase difference that cancels current ripples at the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor.
51. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the prescribed phase difference is a phase difference that cancels current ripples at the neutral point of said dynamo-electric motor.
52. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the prescribed phase difference is an angle within a prescribed range including an angle obtained by division of 360 degrees by a number of phases of said dynamo-electric motor.
53. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the prescribed phase difference is an angle within a prescribed range including an angle obtained by division of 360 degrees by a number of phases of said dynamo-electric motor.
54. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the prescribed phase difference is an angle obtained by division of 360 degrees by a number of phases of said dynamo-electric motor.
55. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the prescribed phase difference is an angle obtained by division of 360 degrees by a number of phases of said dynamo-electric motor.
56. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:
said dynamo-electric motor is a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply are electric power supplies capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a charge-controlling circuit for controlling the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to drive said dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor.
57. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said dynamo-electric motor is a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply are electric power supplies capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a charge-controlling circuit for controlling the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to drive said dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor.
58. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein:
said dynamo-electric motor is a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply are electric power supplies capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a charge-controlling circuit for controlling the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to drive said dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor.
59. The mechanical power outputting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein:
said dynamo-electric motor is a generation dynamo-electric motor capable of generating electrical energy by input of mechanical power; and
said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply are electric power supplies capable of being charged and discharged,
said apparatus further comprising a charge-controlling circuit for controlling the switching of the plural switching elements of said inverter circuit so as to drive said dynamo-electric motor as a generator and so as to charge said first electric power supply andor said second electric power supply with electric power generated by said dynamo-electric motor.
60. An inverter apparatus for converting a voltage imposed on a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus into a pseudo-polyphase alternating current of voltage levels of three steps, each phase of said inverter apparatus comprising:
four switching elements connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series;
two diodes connecting two switching elements of said four switching elements on a positive pole bus side and a negative pole bus side in series so that a direction from the negative pole side to the positive pole side is a forward direction and said two connected diodes straddle two intermediate switching elements of said four switching elements; and
an intermediate voltage supplying member for supplying an intermediate voltage level among the voltage levels of the three steps to an intermediate node of said two diodes,
said inverter apparatus further comprising a switching controlling circuit for performing switching control of said four switching elements of each phase on the basis of two carrier waves and a voltage command of each phase that are severally provided between each voltage level of the voltage levels of the three steps hierarchically.
61. The inverter apparatus according to clam 60, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member comprises two capacitors connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series, an intermediate node of the two capacitors being connected with the intermediate node of said two diodes.
62. The inverter apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said intermediate voltage supplying member is a direct-current voltage supply connecting the intermediate node of said two diodes with the negative pole bus or the positive pole bus so that an electrical potential of the intermediate node is an electrical potential between an electrical potential of the negative pole bus and an electrical potential of the positive pole bus.
63. An inverter apparatus for converting a voltage imposed on a positive pole bus and a negative pole bus into a pseudo-polyphase alternating current, said inverter apparatus comprising:
two switching elements connecting the positive pole bus and the negative pole bus in series in each phase of the pseudo-polyphase alternating current; and
a switching controlling circuit for controlling switching of said two switching elements in each phase on a basis of a modulated wave of each phase based on a voltage command of each phase of the pseudo-polyphase alternating current and a carrier wave of each phase having a prescribed phase difference to each other corresponding to each phase of the pseudo-polyphase alternating current.
64. The inverter apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the prescribed phase difference is an angle obtained by division of 360 degrees by a number of phases of said dynamo-electric motor.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A fitting for a pipe, particularly a plastic pipe or a plastic and metal composite pipe, having
a base body having a passage for a fluid,
a connecting body releaseably connectable to the base body, also comprising a passage for a fluid, to which a pipe can be connected,
having both bodies comprise contact surfaces that can be slid into each other, comprising at least one pair of opposing recesses forming a receiving chamber, and
a substantially incompressible and flexible locking element that can be inserted into the receiving chamber for fixing the two bodies to each other,
having at least one of the two bodies comprises an access chamber extending between an outer surface of the respective body and the receiving chamber,

having the access chamber substantially connects to the receiving chamber as an extension thereof, and
having the locking element comprises a stop protrusion at one of the opposite ends thereof for stopping the locking element externally at least one of the two bodies in order to prevent the locking element from unintentionally slipping out of the receiving chamber.
2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein a stop surface is implemented at the outer surface of the associated body in the area of the access chamber, at which the stop protrusion of the locking element engages.
3. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are cylindrical and that the opposing recesses extend along at least one part of the contact surfaces in the circumferential direction.
4. The fitting according to claim 3, wherein the recesses extend along a circumferential angle of greater than 180\xb0, particularly of up to 300\xb0, and even of greater than 360\xb0 in the case of implementation as a helix.
5. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises a sealing element disposed in the region between the passage and the recess.
6. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the locking element is a plastic string, a metal wire, a flexible shaft, a chain, or a metal strand.
7. The fitting according to claim 6, wherein the locking element is curved andor particularly conically tapered at its end facing away from the stop protrusion.
8. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein a further access chamber is implemented in one of the two bodies, extending between the outer surface of the associated body and the receiving chamber, and that the two access chambers open into opposite ends of the receiving chamber and are implemented substantially as extensions of the receiving chamber beyond the two opposite ends thereof.
9. The fitting according to claim 3, wherein the receiving chamber extends substantially over 270\xb0, and that the two access chambers terminate externally at the associated body in two surfaces running at an angle, particularly at right angles, to each other, of which one forms the stop surface.
10. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the stop protrusion comprises a handle, particularly a hole, a recess, or an embossment for applying a pulling tool for pulling the locking element out of the receiving chamber.