Ngk Insulators, Inc.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated

Ngk Ceramics Europe S.a.

Keiji Matsuhiro

Minoru Matsui

Jungo Kondo

Tsuneaki Ohashi

Kenji Aoki

Takeshi Ishihara

Tomonori Takahashi

Atsuo Kondo

Manabu Isomura

Hitoshi Sakai

Takashi Yoshino

Shinji Kawasaki

Tetsuya Ejiri

Nobuo Tsuno

Yuichi Iwata

Yutaka Furuse

Osamu Mitomi

Shigenori Ito

Kiyoshi Okumura

Manabu Yoshida

Masaharu Kajita

Jeffrey Philip Pattimore

Carine Anne-Marie Dewitte

A device for detecting an accumulation amount of particulates is provided. The device has a filter for trapping particulates from a gas containing the particulates, a container for containing the filter, an upstream pipe provided on the upstream side of the container to lead the gas into the container, a downstream pipe provided on the downstream side of the container to lead the gas after passed through the filter, a transmitting antenna provided within the downstream pipe to transmit an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 30 GHz or more but not exceeding 10 THz, and a receiving antenna provided within the upstream pipe to receive the electromagnetic wave. An amount of the particulates trapped in the filter is detected based on an intensity of the electromagnetic wave received by the receiving antenna.

Devices for detecting accumulation amount of particulates

A device for detecting particulates includes: a filter; a filter container; an upstream pipe; a downstream pipe; an upstream detecting unit; and a downstream detecting unit. The upstream detecting unit has a branch flow route for receiving gas from the upstream pipe, a trapping portion, a transmitting portion for transmitting an electromagnetic wave to the trapping portion, and a receiving portion for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the trapping portion. The downstream detecting unit has a branch flow route for receiving gas from the downstream pipe, a trapping portion, a transmitting portion for transmitting an electromagnetic wave to the trapping portion, and a receiving portion for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the trapping portion. The amount of the particulates trapped in the filter is detected based on a difference between detection values of the mass of the particulates trapped in the upstream and downstream trapping portions.

The present invention provides a radio signal radiation system that alleviates the necessity of a highly specified pass band reception filter and a high performance/reliability amplifier. The radio signal radiation system includes an optical modulator; a light source for inputting an optical carrier wave into the optical modulator; a power source for applying a modulating signal having a frequency Fm on the optical modulator to superimpose a sideband wave onto the carrier wave, the modulating signal having an amplitude of N-times the drive voltage of the optical modulator; a light receiver to receive and convert the outgoing light into an electrical signal; and a radiating means for radiating a radio signal based on the electrical signal, wherein the sideband wave is superimposed at a position shifted by n&#xd7;fm.

Radio oscillating and radar systems

A method and apparatus for testing a ceramic member applies mechanical stress to the member by application of mechanical force and simultaneously applies thermal stress by creating a temperature gradient in the member by localized heating of a portion thereof. The mechanical stress is impact stress or may be applied by application of a static load to the ceramic member. The method is especially applied to the proof-testing a plurality of ceramic members for quality assurance, particularly engine valve members.

Method and apparatus for testing ceramic specimens by simultaneous

A fuel cell generator including arrays of a plurality of fuel cell units each including a solid electrolyte partition, a fuel electrode provided on one side of the solid electrolyte partition, an air electrode provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte partition, and an inner space having opposite open ends. The end openings of the inner spaces of the fuel cell units are opposed to each other and a fuel gas supply tube or oxidizing gas supply tube is extended through the inner spaces from a fuel gas supply inlet or oxidizing gas supply inlet. A desired long array can be provide by changing the number of short fuel cell units in the array to thereby easily limit thermal gradient in each fuel cell unit to improve electricity generating efficiency of the whole fuel cell generator.

Fuel cell generator

A heat resistive phosphate sintered body including a solid solution of R.sub.y Zr.sub.4 Si.sub.x P.sub.6-x O.sub.24 in which O.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2, 2/3.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2, R is a combination of one or more of cations having 2-3 valences, and x and y meet an electrically neutral condition, wherein a thermal expansion hysteresis loss is not more than 0.3%, and a dimensional change after a heat cycling in which heating and cooling are repeated between 100.degree. C. and 1,200.degree. C. at 100 times is not more than 1%. A process for producing such a heat resistive phosphate is also disclosed. The process includes the steps of preparing a batch mixture, as a starting material, of (ZrO).sub.2 P.sub.2 O.sub.7, ZrP.sub.2 O.sub.7, RO and/or a phosphate of R in which R is a combination of one or more of cations having two or three valences, and if necessary further SiO.sub.2, calcining, milling and shaping the thus prepared mixture, and firing the thus shaped body, wherein a calcining temperature is not less than 1,400.degree. C. and equal to or higher than a firing temperature, the starting material is a powder milled to an average particle diameter of not more than 7 .mu.m, and the firing temperature is not less than 1,300.degree. C.

Heat resistive phosphate sintered bodies and a process for producing the

Silicon nitride sintered bodies are disclosed which contain silicon carbide therein and in which intergranular phases between silicon nitride particles are substantially crystallized. Further, a manufacturing method of the sintered bodies is disclosed, in which a silicon carbide powdery raw material is used as an additive when preparing raw powders and the intergranular phases are crystallized during a temperature descending stage following a firing. Silicone carbide effectivley promotes densification of the structure of the sintered body and crystallization of the intergranular phases, thereby making it possible to provide the sintered bodies having intergranular phases with little glass phases uncrystallized and excellent high-temperature strengths.

Method of manufacturing silicon nitride sintered bodies

An yttrium-barium-copper oxide powder consisting of a powdery mixture of Y.sub.2 BaCuO.sub.5 with Ba.sub.3 Cu.sub.5 O.sub.8, which can be formed into a dense sintered body having excellent superconducting characteristics. An yttrium-barium-copper oxide superconducting body is manufactured by firing the above powder preferably at 820.degree.-980.degree. C. under oxidizing atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of 0.01-0.5 atm.

Yttrium-barrium-copper oxide powder and process for manufacturing

A fuel cell generator including a tubular solid electrolyte partition having ion conductivity, a fuel electrode provided on the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the tubular solid electrolyte partition, an air electrode provided on the tubular solid electrolyte partition at the opposite side of the fuel electrode, a conductive fuel gas supply tube and a conductive oxidizing gas supply tube, at least one of these tubes being arranged in an inner space of the tubular solid electrolyte partition. Multipoint contact current collectors are made to contact with electrode surfaces of the fuel electrode and the air electrode substantially over the entire surface thereof, respectively and electrically connect between the conductive fuel gas supply tube and the fuel electrode or between the conductive oxidized gas supply tube and the air electrode.

A heat resistive phosphate-zircon composite body including a main crystalline phase and a secondary crystalline phase, the main crystalline phase being a solid-solved phase of R.sub.y Zr.sub.4 Si.sub.x P.sub.6-x O.sub.24 in which 0&lt;x&lt;2, 2/3&lt;y&lt;2, and R includes of one or more kinds of bivalent or trivalent cations (provided that x and y satisfy electrical neutrality), and the secondary crystalline phase being zircon. A process for producing a heat resistive phosphate-zircon composite body is also disclosed. The process includes the steps of measuring and mixing given amounts of ZrP.sub.2 O.sub.7, (ZrO).sub.2 P.sub.2 O.sub.7, RO and/or a phosphate of R, SiO.sub.2 and a zircon powder, shaping the mixture and firing the shaped body, wherein the given amounts of ZrP.sub.2 O.sub.7, (ZrO).sub.2 P.sub.2 O.sub.7, RO and/or the phosphate of R, and SiO.sub.2 are measured such that the composite body may include a main crystalline phase composed of a solid-solved phase of R.sub.y Zr.sub.4 Si.sub.x P.sub.6-x O.sub.24 and a secondary crystalline phase of zircon.

Heat resistive phosphate-zircon composite bodies and process for

A sintered ceramic composite body is manufactured by preparing a powdery mixture composed of a base material composed of either one of oxide ceramic such as alumina, mullite, magnesia, or the like, and nonoxide ceramic such as silicon nitride, sialon, or the like, and a reinforcement material composed of particles or platelet particles of silicon carbide which have a size ranging from 5 to 20 .mu.m, the particles of silicon carbide being contained at a volume ratio ranging from 3 to 50%. The platelet particles have a maximum diameter ranging from 5 to 50 .mu.m and a thickness which is 1/3 or less of the maximum diameter. The powdery mixture is molded into a shaped product, which is then sintered in a temperature range from 1,400.degree. to 1,900.degree. C. for the base material which is composed of oxide ceramic or in a temperature range from 1,500.degree. to 2,000.degree. C. for the base material which is composed of nonoxide ceramic.

Sintered ceramic composite body and method of manufacturing same

A sintered ceramic composite body is manufactured by preparing a powdery mixture composed of a base material composed of either one of oxide ceramic such as alumina, mullite, magnesia, or the like, and nonoxide ceramic such as silicon nitride, sialon, or the like, and a reinforcement material composed of particles of silicon carbide which have a size of 1 .mu.m or less and a size ranging from 5 to 20 .mu.m, or have a size of 1 .mu.m or less and platelet silicon carbide particles having a maximum diameter ranging from 5 to 50 .mu.m and a thickness which is 1/3 or less of the maximum diameter, the particles of silicon carbide being contained at a volume ratio ranging from 10 to 50%. The powdery mixture is molded into a shaped product, which is then sintered in a temperature range from 1,400.degree. to 1,900.degree. C. for the base material which is composed of oxide ceramic or in a temperature range from 1,500.degree. to 2,000.degree. C. for the base material which is composed of nonoxide ceramic.

A process for producing high density SiC sintered bodies by primarily firing and then hot isostatic pressing. The process includes the steps of formulating a powder consisting essentially of 90.0 to 99.8% by weight of the SiC powder, boron or a boron-containing compound in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight when calculated as boron, and carbon or a carbon-producing organic compound in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight when calculated as carbon, mixing and shaping the formulated powder, firing the shaped bodies in a temperature range from 1,900.degree. to 2,300.degree. C. in vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere, and then hot isostatically pressing the fired bodies in a temperature range from 1,800.degree. to 2,200.degree. C. under a pressure of not less than 100 atms in an inert gas atmosphere. The SiC powder is an SiC mixed powder consisting essentially of 95.0 to 99.9% by weight of a first SiC powder composed of at least one kind of 3C and 2H polytypes and a second SiC powder composed of at least one kind of 6H, 4H and 15R polytypes and having an average grain diameter being less than twice that of the first SiC powder.

Process for producing high density SiC sintered bodies

Silicon nitride sintered bodies are disclosed which contain silicon carbide therein and in which intergranular phases between silicon nitride particles are substantially crystallized. Further, a manufacturing method of the sintered bodies is disclosed, in which a silicon carbide powdery raw material is used as an additive when preparing raw powders and the intergranular phases are crystallized during a temperature descending stage following a firing. Silicon carbide effectively promotes densification of the structure of the sintered body and crystallization of the intergranular phases, thereby making it possible to provide the sintered bodies having intergranular phases with little glass phases uncrystallized and excellent high-temperature strengths.

Silicon nitride sintered bodies

A fuel cell generator including a fuel cell battery element including a plurality of fuel cell battery elements each utilizing a solid electrolyte, first and second power generating rooms, an oxidizing gas supply path, a fuel gas supply path, a construction member having a member including the oxidizing gas supply path and/or a member including the fuel gas supply path, and first and second current collecting members. In the fuel cell generator according to the invention, a fragile solid electrolyte member is supported by the first and second current collecting members, and an oxidizing gas and a fuel gas are respectively introduced into the first power generating room and the second power generating room through the oxidizing gas supply path and the fuel gas supply path at its center portion.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Keiji Matsuhiro