Abstract: A play house for use by children to play with dolls or toy figurines. It has a base, a plurality of lateral walls and a roof which altogether define an openable enclosure externally shaped as a house. It also has one or more floor members within the enclosure, each of which has an upper surface provided with a plurality of identical connecting elements, preferably in the form of cylindrical studs, that extend upwardly therefrom. The connecting elements are sized and positioned to fit into, and retain construction toy blocks capable of being assembled with other construction toy blocks provided with the same connecting elements. Advantageously, the floor members are detachably mounted within the enclosure to allow the construction toy blocks to be assembled therewith outside the enclosure.

Abstract: A gas sensor that has its heater and sensing layer on opposite sides of the substrate. The gas sensor includes a buffer layer separating the gas-sensing layer from the substrate to improve mechanical strength and electrical properties. The heater is preferably formed of nickel paste and is provided on the back of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention refers to a process and an arrangement to connect and seal tubes (2, 4) made of glass, metal or ceramic materials, that are joined to form flue-gas pipes. The sealing system according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that it can be used for exhaust gas pipes as well as for diminished cross-sections for chimneys, for example, since the sealing material is used in such a way that the overlapping pipes (2, 4) are connected in gas-tight manner even in the case of varying pressure conditions, and that the sealing material (8) is sufficiently resistant to acid, water and temperature to be used in the removal of hot, acid gases. In a preferred form of construction, the pipes (2, 4) are fixed together before applying the anorganic sealing material (8). The pipes are either fixed by punctually applied, quick-setting adhesive (6) or secured together by a pipe clamp (14) attached at the circumference of the pipes.

Abstract: A two-stage detection noncontact positioning apparatus comprises a light position-detecting mechanism 3 which includes a first light position detector 15 having a slit 17 at a central location corresponding to an optical axis K.sub.4, and a light position detector 16 for receiving a measuring beam S.sub.9 having passed through the slit 17. The first light position detector 15 can be switchably operated such that while the second light position detector 16 receives the measuring beam, the first light position detector 15 is made inoperative not to detect light. The apparatus also includes an optical mechanism 2 having focusing lenses 13 and 14 provided in a manner corresponding to the first and second light position detectors 15 and 16, respectively.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of polycrystalline silicon ingots by providing a first layer of coating on the inside walls of a mold with a slurry of silicon nitride powder in an organic binder dissolved in a solvent; charging the said coated mold with silicon pieces along with calcium chloride or/and calcium fluoride; heating the mold to a temperature in the range of 1420.degree.-1500.degree. C. so as to melt the silicon, by keeping the mold inside the furnace; bringing down the temperature of the mold to a temperature 5.degree.-10.degree. C. above the melting point of silicon; withdrawing the mold containing the melt downwardly and slowly from the hot zone of the furnace so that the solidification of the melt starts from the bottom of the mold and proceeds towards the top as the withdrawal continues till all the melt solidifies; cooling the mold to the room temperature under inert atmosphere and removing the polycrystalline silicon ingot from the mold.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a hollow rotary engine body, an axially opposite pair of main pistons capable of rotating with but slidably reciprocating relative to the engine body, a cam mechanism for causing the main pistons to make one full rotation with the engine body as the piston makes two reciprocations, and a pair of axially fixed auxiliary pistons coaxially inserted into the respective main pistons. A main combustion chamber is formed in the engine body between the main pistons, whereas a pair of auxiliary combustion chambers are formed in the respective auxiliary pistons. Explosive combustion takes place alternately in the main combustion chamber and each auxiliary combustion chamber.

Abstract: A low noise type converter comprising an input transformer having first and second terminals for inputting a repetitive waveform signal. First and second series circuits are provided, each having one end connected respectively to the first and second terminals on the secondary side of the input transformer. A first circuit of serially connected complementary transistors have their bases or gates connected through a common node to the first series circuit. Similarly, a second circuit of serially connected complementary transistors have their bases or gates connected through a common node to the second series circuit. An output transformer has a first terminal on its primary side connected to a common node of the first complementary transistors and has a second terminal on its primary side connected to a common node of the second complementary transistors.

Abstract: A speed change operation assembly is provided which requires only a small mounting space and is unlikely to interfere with a brake lever assembly and the like even if mounted near a grip portion of a handlebar. The speed change operation assembly (1) comprises an annular lever mount (5) fixedly fitted on a handlebar (2), and a generally C-shaped lever member (6) elastically fitted on the lever mount for pivotal operation about an axis of the handlebar. The lever mount is integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a sheath stopper portion (11) for attachment to an end of an outer sheath (w2) of a speed control cable (W) which additionally includes an inner wire (w]) inserted in the outer sheath. On the other hand, the lever member is integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a wire stopper portion (14) for attachment to an end of the inner wire extending beyond the end of the outer sheath as well as with operating arm portions (15a, 5b) for engagement with the fingers of a rider.

Abstract: A plating device for a wafer employs an air bag 6, 20 as a holding means for downwardly depressing the wafer 8 upon performing plating on the wafer 8. The air bag 6, 20 constrain only the upper surface 13 of the circumferential edge of the wafer at an expanded state and releases the constraint by contracting to restore an initial configuration at a non-expanded state. By this, the holding means will not occupy the upper side space of the wafer both during plating process and during non-plating process so as to avoid adhering of dust and foreign matter onto the wafer 8.

Abstract: A fluid dampened support for a rolling element bearing such as a ball bearing, needle bearing, roller bearing and the like. The fluid dampened support includes a network of closely spaced beams which support the outer race of the roller bearing for movement in any direction. A liquid is provided in the spaces between the beams to dampen such movement. The structure and space between the beams is designed so as to provide virtually any reasonable damping characteristics. By providing such damping characteristics, the bearings are able to limit or damp out the vibrations occurring when the supported member passes through natural frequencies before reaching operating speed. This allows use of the rolling element bearing in high speed equipment such as compressors and turbines.

Abstract: The following technical measure is taken to provide a bicycle speed change system or method wherein a speed change operation can be performed substantially without unhanding a handlebar and without erroneously shifting to a lower or higher speed.Specifically, the bicycle speed change system (1) comprises a front speed shifter (1a), a rear speed shifter (1b), and speed change operation assemblies respectively including cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) rotatably supported around right and left grip portions (3a, 3b), respectively, of a handlebar (2); each of the shifters being operated by a control cable (T) which is pulled or released by rotating a corresponding one of the cylindrical operation members, wherein each of the cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) is designed so that rotation thereof in a direction of moving its top surface rearward causes a corresponding one of the shifters (1a, 1b) to shift to a lower speed position.

Abstract: A fluid dampened support for a bearing such as a tilt pad bearing or a rolling element bearing such as a ball bearing, needle bearing, roller bearing and the like. The fluid dampened support includes a network of closely spaced beams which act as structural springs which support the outer race of the roller bearing for movement in any direction. The spring rate or constant of these structural springs can be caused to change after a selected amount of deflection. The amount of deflection needed to cause the change in spring rate can be adjusted to suit the particular application. A liquid is provided in the spaces between the beams to dampen movement of the pads. The damping rate can be made to change with movement of the pads. The structure and space between the beams is designed so as to provide virtually any reasonable damping characteristics.

Abstract: A double-effect distribution sequential valve shaft assembly for use within a cylinder head cover of internal combustion engines or other valve-type distribution systems, includes a rotating valve shaft with openings from side to side in the vertical plane and a jacket supporting the valve shaft for rotation therein. An opening in the valve shaft communicates through diametrically opposed openings in the jacket with the combustion chamber twice during every turn of the valve shaft to regulate the flow of gases into and out of the combustion chamber. The jacket is provided with a series of labyrinths etched into an inner surface thereof to create a barrier to gases flowing out of the combustion chamber during the compression and explosion strokes. The jacket is also provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the inner surface thereof to form a high pressure fluid seal when lubricating oil is introduced therein under pressure.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting two shafts to each other. The coupling allows one shaft to pivot about transverse axes and plunge toward and away from the other shaft. The coupling is well suited for use as the inboard plunging unit of a constant velocity joint for a front wheel drive vehicle. The shaft end is received in a splined opening formed in a trunnion. The trunnion is pivotably supported in a trunnion support body. The trunnion support body is in turn pivotably supported in slider blocks and the slider blocks are slidable within a drive canister or can. The sliding surfaces preferably include bearings formed of a high PV plastic material such as VESPEL.TM..

Abstract: A fuzzy controller for Anti-Skid Brake System which utilizes fuzzy rules to avoid skidding and spinning of a vehicle during braking.

Abstract: A system for measuring the strength of fiber optical current in an AC magnetic field by adopting Faraday effect and temperature compensation. In general, the current measurement systems that adopt Faraday effect have the structure including a Faraday element, a polarizer and an analyzer. When a light beam is directed through the Faraday element, the plane of polarization rotates according to the strength of induced magnetic field and Verdet constant in the Faraday element. The rotation affects the optical intensity sensed by the analyzer. The variation on light intensity after passing through the analyzer is converted into an electric current by a optical-electric transducer. But the accuracy of this system this system always affected by the ambient environment, wherein the major factor is the thermal effect of Verdet constant.

Abstract: A yolk cup is provided for use in an egg breaking apparatus. The yolk cup is pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position. In the horizontal position, the yolk cup receives an egg content including a yolk and an albumen, the yolk cup being provided with a discharge cutout for selectively discharging the albumen while retaining the yolk when the yolk cup is held in the horizontal position. The discharge cutout comprises an upper yolk discharge portion extending up to an upper brim of the yolk cup for discharging the yolk when the yolk cup is pivoted to the inclined position, and a pair of lower albumen discharge portions continuous with the yolk discharge portion at both sides thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for shifting the frequency and wavelength of a laser beam at high efficiency, both pulsed and continuous wave, said system consisting of a hexagonally packed array of optical fibers with non-linear optical cores (1) surrounding by cladding (2) having their end faces (3) optically polished. Input laser beam (4) is split via micro lens array (5) into an array of micro laser beams (6) which matches array of cores (1) where they are frequency converted, said converted beams emerging as micro beam array (7) which is collimated by the second micro lens array (8) into the phase-locked output beam (9).