Author: claimsbot

1. A composite soil configuration for supporting plant growth, comprising:
a first soil layer adapted to support a first plant growth stage; and
a second soil layer adapted to support a second plant growth stage, the second soil layer disposed proximally to the first soil layer in a manner such that plant roots may engage the second soil layer in the second plant growth stage.
2. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, further including a third soil layer adapted to support a third plant growth stage, the third soil disposed proximally to the second soil layer in a manner such that plant roots may engage the third soil layer in the third plant growth stage, and the second soil layer at least partially disposed between the first soil layer and the third soil layer.
3. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein the first soil layer is adapted to support germination.
4. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein the second soil layer is adapted to support at least one of drainage, moisture retention, and aeration of the first soil.
5. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein the density of the second soil is greater than the density of the first soil.
6. The composite soil configuration of claim 2, wherein the density of the third soil layer is greater than the density of the second soil layer.
7. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first soil layer and the second soil layer is provided in a compressed form to be decompressed by addition of a fluid.
8. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein both the first soil layer and the second soil layer are provided in a compressed form to be decompressed by addition of a fluid.
9. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein the second soil layer is positioned generally concentrically around the first soil layer.
10. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein the second soil layer is disposed horizontally with respect to the first soil layer.
11. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein second soil layer is disposed vertically with respect to the first soil layer.
12. The composite soil configuration of claim 1, wherein an intermediate layer is positioned at least partially between the first soil layer and the second soil layer, the intermediate layer being a non-soil layer configured to be penetrable by a root.
13. A method for layering soils to support plant growth, comprising:
positioning a first soil layer comprising a first soil within a concavity of a first receptacle having an inner surface, the first soil layer adapted for supporting a first growth stage of a plant; and
positioning a second soil layer comprising a second soil within the concavity of the first receptacle, the second soil layer adapted for supporting a second growth stage of the plant,

wherein the second soil layer is at least partially disposed between a portion of the first soil layer and the inner surface of the first receptacle, and wherein the first growth stage is an earlier occurring stage of plant growth than the second growth stage.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first receptacle is configured to be penetrable by one or more roots of the plant.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a third soil layer comprising a third soil in the first receptacle, the third soil layer adapted for supporting a third growth stage of the plant.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first soil is the same as the second soil or the third soil.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the third growth stage is a later occurring growth stage than the first and second growth stages, and wherein the third soil layer is at least partially disposed between a portion of the second soil layer and the inner surface of the first receptacle.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the second soil layer such that the first soil layer is not in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the first receptacle.
19. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the second soil layer such that the first soil layer is in direct physical contact with a portion of the inner surface of the first receptacle.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a third soil layer comprising a third soil disposed within a concavity of a second receptacle, the concavity being configured to accommodate both the third soil layer and the first receptacle.
21. The method of claim 9, wherein the second receptacle is biodegradable.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second receptacle is configured to be penetrable by one or more roots of the plant.
23. The method of claim 13, the method further including positioning an intermediate layer at least partially between the first soil layer and the second soil layer, the intermediate layer being a non-soil layer configured to be penetrable by a root.
24. The method of claim 22, the method further including:
removing the first receptacle from the second soil layer; and
severing a root portion of a plant disposed within the second soil layer, wherein at least part of the root portion of the plant remains disposed within the first soil layer.
25. The method of claim 20, the method further including:
removing the second receptacle from the first receptacle; and
severing a root portion of a plant disposed within the third soil layer, wherein at least part of the root portion of the plant remains disposed within the first and the second soil layers.
26. An apparatus for plant cultivation, comprising
a first plurality of units, each unit comprising a receptacle member with an interior surface and each unit configured to be mechanically coupled to another unit; and
a soil assembly disposed within each receptacle member, the soil assembly further comprising
a first soil layer adapted to support a first growth stage of a plant; and
a second soil layer adapted to support a second growth stage of the plant, the second soil layer being at least partially disposed between the first soil layer and an interior surface of the receptacle member.
27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a third soil layer adapted to support a third growth stage of the plant, the third soil layer being at least partially disposed between the second soil layer and the interior surface of the receptacle member.

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 moving apparatus that moves by transmitting motive power to driven parts thereof, comprising:
a prime mover including an output portion for outputting motive power;
an accessory driven by input of motive power to an input portion thereof;
a first rotating machine that includes a first rotor and is capable of converting input electric power to motive power to output the motive power from said first rotor, and converting motive power input to said first rotor to electric power;
restriction means for restricting rotation of the driven parts;
a controller for controlling operations of said first rotating machine and said restriction means; and
a power transmission mechanism including a first element, a second element, and a third element that are capable of transmitting motive power therebetween, said first to third elements being configured to rotate during transmission of the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of said first to third elements being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed,
wherein said first element is mechanically connected to said first rotor, one of said second and third elements being mechanically connected to said output portion and said input portion while the other of said second and third elements being mechanically connected to the driven parts, and
wherein when said accessory is driven in a state where the driven parts are at rest during stoppage of said prime mover, said controller controls the operations of said first rotating machine and said restriction means such that motive power is input to said input portion and a rotational speed of the driven parts is restricted to approximately 0.
2. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power transmission mechanism further includes a fourth element, said first to fourth elements being configured to rotate during transmission of the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of said first to fourth elements being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed,
wherein said second element is mechanically connected to said output portion and said input portion, and said third element is mechanically connected to the driven parts, and
wherein said restriction means is a second rotating machine that includes a second rotor mechanically connected to said fourth element and is configured to be capable of converting input electric power to motive power to output the motive power from said second rotor, and converting motive power input to said second rotor to electric power.
3. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further including a clutch for connecting and disconnecting between said output portion and said second element, and said controller controls an operation of said clutch.
4. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine, and
wherein said controller controls the operation of said clutch so as to disconnect said output portion from said second element during an EV operation mode in which said controller causes the driven parts to be driven by controlling operations of said first and second rotating machines during stoppage of said prime mover, controls the operations of said first and second rotating machines when said prime mover is started during the EV operation mode, such that the rotational speed of said second element becomes approximately equal to 0, and when the rotational speed of said second element has become approximately equal to 0, controls the operation of said clutch so as to connect between said output portion and said second element, and starts said prime mover.
5. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said restriction means is a second rotating machine that includes an unmovable stator for generating a rotating magnetic field, a second rotor formed by magnets and disposed in a manner opposed to said stator, and a third rotor formed by a soft magnetic material and disposed between said stator and said second rotor, and is configured such that electric power and motive power are input and output between said stator and said second and third rotors along with generation of the rotating magnetic field, and such that the rotating magnetic field and said third and second rotors rotate along with input and output of the electric power and the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of the rotating magnetic field and said third and second rotors being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed, and
wherein said second element and said second rotor are mechanically connected to said output portion and said input portion, and said third element and said third rotor are mechanically connected to the driven parts.
6. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein a predetermined plurality of magnet magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction are formed by said magnets, and a magnetic pole row is formed by arranging the plurality of magnet magnetic poles such that each two magnet magnetic poles adjacent to each other have polarities different from each other,
wherein said second rotor is configured to be rotatable in the circumferential direction,
wherein said stator has an armature row that generates a predetermined plurality of armature magnetic poles, to thereby cause the rotating magnetic field rotating in the circumferential direction to be generated between said stator and said magnetic pole row,
wherein said soft magnetic material is formed by a predetermined plurality of soft magnetic material elements arranged in the circumferential direction in a manner spaced from each other, and a soft magnetic material element row formed by said plurality of soft magnetic material elements is disposed between said magnetic pole row and said armature row,
wherein said third rotor is configured to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, and
wherein a ratio between the number of the armature magnetic poles, the number of the magnet magnetic poles, and the number of said soft magnetic material elements is set to 1:m:(1+m)2(m\u22601.0).
7. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further including a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said output portion to and from said second element and said second rotor, and said controller controls an operation of said clutch.
8. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine, and
wherein said controller controls the operation of said clutch so as to disconnect said output portion from said second element and said second rotor during an EV operation mode in which said controller causes the driven parts to be driven by controlling operations of said first and second rotating machines during stoppage of said prime mover, controls the operations of said first and second rotating machines when said prime mover is started during the EV operation mode, such that the respective rotational speeds of said second element and said second rotor become approximately equal to 0, and when the respective rotational speeds of said second element and said second rotor have become approximately equal to 0, controls the operation of said clutch so as to connect said output portion to said second element and said second rotor, and starts said prime mover.
9. A moving apparatus that moves by transmitting motive power to driven parts thereof, comprising:
a prime mover including a first output portion for outputting motive power;
an accessory driven by input of motive power to an input portion thereof;
a first rotating machine including an unmovable first stator for generating a first rotating magnetic field, a first rotor formed by first magnets and disposed in a manner opposed to said first stator, and a second rotor formed by a first soft magnetic material and disposed between said first stator and said first rotor, said first rotating machine being configured such that electric power and motive power are input and output between said first stator and said first and second rotors along with generation of the first rotating magnetic field, and such that the first rotating magnetic field and said second and first rotors rotate along with input and output of the electric power and the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of the first rotating magnetic field and said second and first rotors being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed;
restriction means for restricting rotation of the driven parts; and
a controller for controlling operations of said first rotating machine and said restriction means,
wherein one of said first and second rotors is mechanically connected to said first output portion and said input portion while the other of said first and second rotors is mechanically connected to the driven parts, and
wherein when said accessory is driven in a state where the driven parts are at rest during stoppage of said prime mover, said controller controls the operations of said first rotating machine and said restriction means such that motive power is input to said input portion and a rotational speed of the driven parts is restricted to approximately 0;
further including a power transmission mechanism including a first element, a second element, and a third element that are capable of transmitting motive power therebetween, said first to third elements being configured to rotate during transmission of the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of said first to third elements being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed, and wherein said restriction means is a second rotating machine that includes a second output portion and is configured to be capable of converting input electric power to motive power to output the motive power from said second output portion, and converting motive power input to said second output portion to electric power, and wherein said first rotor and said second element are mechanically connected to the driven parts, said second rotor and said first element are mechanically connected to said first output portion and said input portion, and said third element is mechanically connected to said second output portion.
10. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a predetermined plurality of first magnet magnetic poles arranged in a first circumferential direction are formed by said first magnets, and a first magnetic pole row is formed by arranging the plurality of first magnet magnetic poles such that each two first magnet magnetic poles adjacent to each other have polarities different from each other,
wherein said first rotor is configured to be rotatable in the first circumferential direction,
wherein said first stator has a first armature row that generates a predetermined plurality of first armature magnetic poles, to thereby cause the first rotating magnetic field rotating in the first circumferential direction to be generated between said first stator and said first magnetic pole row,
wherein said first soft magnetic material is formed by a predetermined plurality of first soft magnetic material elements arranged in the first circumferential direction in a manner spaced from each other, and a first soft magnetic material element row formed by said plurality of first soft magnetic material elements is disposed between said first magnetic pole row and said first armature row,
wherein said second rotor is configured to be rotatable in the first circumferential direction, and
wherein a ratio between the number of the first armature magnetic poles, the number of the first magnet magnetic poles, and the number of said first soft magnetic material elements is set to 1:m:(1+m)2(m\u22601.0).
11. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first output portion to and from said second rotor and said first element.
12. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine, and
wherein said controller controls the operation of said clutch so as to disconnect said first output portion from said second rotor and said first element during an EV operation mode in which said controller causes the driven parts to be driven by controlling operations of said first and second rotating machines during stoppage of said prime mover, controls the operations of said first and second rotating machines when said prime mover is started during the EV operation mode, such that the respective rotational speeds of said second rotor and said first element become approximately equal to 0, and when the respective rotational speeds of said second rotor and said first element have become approximately equal to 0, controls the operation of said clutch so as to connect said first output portion to said second rotor and said first element, and starts said prime mover.
13. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said restriction means is a second rotating machine that includes an unmovable second stator for generating a second rotating magnetic field, a third rotor formed by second magnets and disposed in a manner opposed to said second stator, and a fourth rotor formed by a second soft magnetic material and disposed between said second stator and said third rotor, and is configured such that electric power and motive power are input and output between said second stator and said third and fourth rotors along with generation of the second rotating magnetic field, and such that the second rotating magnetic field and said fourth and third rotors rotate along with input and output of the electric power and the motive power while maintaining a collinear relationship in rotational speed therebetween, with straight lines representing respective rotational speeds of the second rotating magnetic field and said fourth and third rotors being sequentially aligned in a collinear chart representing the collinear relationship in rotational speed, and
wherein said second and third rotors are mechanically connected to said first output portion and said input portion, and said first and fourth rotors are mechanically connected to the driven parts.
14. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a predetermined plurality of second magnet magnetic poles arranged in a second circumferential direction are formed by said second magnets, and a second magnetic pole row is formed by arranging the plurality of second magnet magnetic poles such that each two second magnet magnetic poles adjacent to each other have polarities different from each other,
wherein said third rotor is configured to be rotatable in the second circumferential direction,
wherein said second stator has a second armature row that generates a predetermined plurality of second armature magnetic poles, to thereby cause the second rotating magnetic field rotating in the second circumferential direction to be generated between said second stator and said second magnetic pole row,
wherein said second soft magnetic material is formed by a predetermined plurality of second soft magnetic material elements arranged in the second circumferential direction in a manner spaced from each other, and a second soft magnetic material element row formed by said plurality of second soft magnetic material elements is disposed between said second magnetic pole row and said second armature row,
wherein said fourth rotor is configured to be rotatable in the second circumferential direction, and
wherein a ratio between the number of the second armature magnetic poles, the number of the second magnet magnetic poles, and the number of said second soft magnetic material elements is set to 1:n:(1+n)2(n\u22601.0).
15. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further including a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first output portion to and from said second and third rotors.
16. The moving apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine, and
wherein said controller controls the operation of said clutch so as to disconnect said first output portion from said second and third rotors during an EV operation mode in which said controller causes the driven parts to be driven by controlling operations of said first and second rotating machines during stoppage of said prime mover, controls the operations of said first and second rotating machines when said prime mover is started during the EV operation mode, such that the respective rotational speeds of said second and third rotors become approximately equal to 0, and when the respective rotational speeds of said second and third rotors have become approximately equal to 0, controls the operation of said clutch so as to connect said first output portion to said second and third rotors, and starts said prime mover.

1. A cast breaking method for crushing and breaking a useless cast raw material by placing the useless cast raw material inside from a placement opening formed above by a first cutter device provided with a first cutter that converges toward a tip end and a second cutter device facing the first cutter device and provided with a second cutter that faces the first cutter and converges toward a tip end as well as having a fulcrum shaft on a lower side by means of a pressing action to press the placed useless cast raw material through a movement of the second cutter device along a circular trajectory via mobile means having a fulcrum shaft on an upper side of the second cutter device and a breaking action between the first and second cutters, characterized in that:
a damper that receives the useless cast raw material placed inside from the placement opening andor a crushed and broken recycled cast product has a structure to be movable via a pneumatic cylinder capable of adjusting an air pressure to be regulated at a pre-set air pressure, so that it is configured in such a manner that the damper is allowed to move automatically via the pneumatic cylinder capable of adjusting the air pressure when an air pressure rises above the pre-set air pressure so as to open the discharge port for letting the crushed and broken recycled cast product be discharged from the opened discharge port; and
the damper is provided with welded ribs in such a manner that the welded ribs are formed in a corrugated shape or a projection shape or in a staggered fashion to form clearing gaps among the welded ribs with purposes of facilitating falling of the crushed and broken recycled cast product through the clearing gaps, enhancing strength of the damper and preventing damage and wearing thereof, and using the welded ribs of the damper as breaking cutters.
2-5. (canceled)

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 key assembly comprising:
a key blade, the key blade being substantially flat and having a first surface and a second surface, the key blade configured to be inserted into a mating lock;
an aperture in the key blade, the aperture having an axis;
a cap having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the first surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture; and
a base having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the second surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture; and
a magnet associated with the base, the cap or both, the magnet having sufficient magnetic strength to attract or repel a movable part of the key, or the lock from a locking position to an unlocking position in the lock, or in both the key and the lock.
2. A lock assembly comprising:
a barrel;
a column extending from the barrel, the column having at least two column apertures;
a cylinder configured to rotate within the barrel, the cylinder including a guide way sized and configured to receive a key blade, the cylinder including a cylinder aperture axially registered with the column aperture when the lock assembly is locked, and movable out of registration with the column aperture with the key blade to unlock the lock assembly;
a first and a second pin captured by one of the cylinder and the column, the pins having a first portion slidable in the cylinder aperture and a second portion slidable in the column aperture, the pins normally being biased to a locking position with the first portion within the cylinder aperture and the second portion within the column aperture to lock the cylinder relative to the barrel;
a magnetically influenced part associated with the first pin, the magnetically influenced part being movable responsive to a magnetic field provided in the guide way to move the first pin to an unlocking position; and
a mechanically influenced part associated with the second pin, the mechanically influenced part being movable responsive to a non-magnetic force provided in the guide way to move the second pin to an unlocking position.
3. The combination of a key assembly and a lock assembly:
the lock assembly having:
a barrel;
a column extending from the barrel, the column having a column aperture;
a cylinder configured to rotate within the barrel, the cylinder including a guide way sized and configured to receive a key blade, the cylinder including a cylinder aperture axially registered with the column aperture when the lock assembly is locked, and movable out of registration with the column aperture with the key blade to unlock the lock assembly;
a first and a second pin captured by one of the cylinder and the column, the pins having a first portion slidable in the cylinder aperture and a second portion slidable in the column aperture, the pins normally being biased to a locking position with the first portion within the cylinder aperture and the second portion within the column aperture to lock the cylinder relative to the barrel;
a magnetically influenced part associated with the first pin, the magnetically influenced part being movable responsive to a magnetic field provided in the guide way to move the first pin to an unlocking position; and
a mechanically influenced part associated with the second pin, the mechanically influenced part being movable responsive to a non-magnetic force provided in the guide way to move the second pin to an unlocking position; and

the key assembly comprising:
a key blade, the key blade being substantially flat and having a first surface and a second surface, the key blade configured to be inserted into a mating lock;
an aperture in the key blade, the aperture having an axis;
a cap having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the first surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture; and
a base having an outer surface, captured in the aperture for continuous axial travel between a first limit extending out of the second surface and a second limit recessed within the aperture; and
a magnet associated with the base, the cap or both, the magnet having sufficient magnetic strength to attract or repel a movable part of the key, or the lock from a locking position to an unlocking position in the lock, or in both the key and the lock.
4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the magnetically influenced part is integral with the pin.
5. The invention of claim 2, wherein the magnetically influenced part is magnetized, and is positioned to repel a magnetic field provided in the keyway
6. The invention of claim 2, wherein the magnetically influenced part is attracted by a magnetic field provided in the keyway.
7. The invention of claim 2, in which the magnetically influenced part is slidable within the cylinder aperture adjacent to the keyway.
8. The invention of claim 2, in which the first pin is normally biased into its locking position by a resilient element.
9. The invention of claim 2, in which the second column aperture is generally coaxial with the first column aperture and diametrically opposed to the first column aperture.
10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the magnet is movable normal to the direction of insertion of the key blade in the guide way.
11. The invention of claim 10, in which the previously defined magnet is further defined as a first magnet, the invention further comprising a second magnet associated with the base or the cap, the second magnet being positioned to repel the first magnet normal to the direction of insertion of the key blade in the guide way.
12. The invention of claim 3, in which the previously defined magnet is further defined as a first magnet, the invention further comprising a second magnet associated with the base or the cap, wherein the first and second magnets being movable with respect to the other magnet, the second magnet being positioned to be repelled by or repel the first magnet normal to the direction of insertion of the key blade in the guide way.
13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the repelling magnets bear between the key blade and the pin to bias the pin into its unlocking position.