Abstract: A method and apparatus for the maintenance of snow quality on an indoor artificial ski slope. The snow quality of the slope, comprising a thin compacted surface layer and a deep unfused base layer, is maintained by promptly managing against the variations of snow quality due to various heat sources. The old surface layer snow is replaced with fresh snow on a daily basis, while deterioration of the snow base layer is prevented by air conditioning and refrigeration means. The old snow is melted, filtered, and used to make new snow, to air condition the slope, and to expedite melting of yet additional old snow.

Abstract: In order to safely transport a building material to its mounting area of a building body and to temporarily hold the same until it is firmly mounted on the mounting area on the building site, according to the present invention, there is provided, an apparatus for transporting/mounting a building material including a self-propelled vehicle body provided with a steering/driving device, the vehicle body assuming a substantially L-shaped form constructed of an upright main body and a pair of lower frames which are parallelly spaced apart from each other and horizontally extend from opposite sides of a lower portion of the main body; an elevator unit movably mounted on a vertical side portion of the main body so as to be vertically movable along the vertical side portion of the main body; a first frame horizontally extending forward from a vertical side of the elevator unit, the first frame having its base end mounted on the elevator unit so as to be horizontally movable in a horizontal plane; a second frame slida

Abstract: An exterior wall panel as the basic component of a curtain wall for a multi-storied building. The wall panel includes a steel frame and fastening means for securing the frame to steel girders of a building. Mounting means to secure the wall panel to the exterior side of the steel frame include fastening means which removably interconnect the wall panel and the steel frame. The wall panel may comprise a plurality of panel segments to which steel furring strips attach. An interior wall panel may be secured to the interior side of the steel frame.

Abstract: A linear motor driven elevator including in an elevator shaft, a fixed portion, an upper turning portion, and a lower turning portion. An ascending passage and a descending passage are sectionally formed between both turning portions in the fixed portion in a manner that the passages are positioned oppositely. A plurality of cages are accommodated in the passages, the cages being provided with permanent magnets which oppose the linear motor primary coils. Locking mechanisms for selectively locking the cages in position are provided. The turning portions each include a motor driven turn table which rotates the cage about the center axis of the elevator shaft to switch from the ascending to the descending passages and vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consolidating agent injecting apparatus having a nozzle mounted at the end of a pipe. The apparatus is inserted in a guide hole formed in the ground and the nozzle injects a high pressure jet liquid in a radial direction. The injecting direction of the nozzle is downwardly inclined from the horizontal direction within a range from 15 to 45 degrees. The present invention also relates to a ground improving injecting apparatus having first and second nozzles, mounted at the end of a pipe, for injecting a high pressure liquid and a ground improving injection liquid. The first nozzle comprises a plurality of annularly-arranged nozzles. The pipe is inserted into a hole dug in the ground and the high pressure liquid and the ground improving injection liquid are injected from the first and second nozzles.

Abstract: The method stores heat in ice by freezing water through its direct contact with a hardly-water-soluble refrigerant; i.e., water is mixed with the refrigerant at a high pressure to produce a liquid mixture while preventing evaporation of the refrigerant, and the liquid mixture is jetted from a nozzle into a space at a lower pressure, whereby the refrigerant evaporates at the lower pressure and the water in the liquid mixture is frozen into sherbet-like ice and dispersed over a wider area than in the case of non-sherbert-like ice. A device based on the method uses a heat-insulating water tank whose top space above water level therein is kept at a pressure P2 lower than saturation pressure P0 (P2<P0) of the refrigerant for water freezing point 0.degree. C. A mixer mixes the refrigerant of liquid phase and water at a pressure P1 which is higher than the saturation pressure P0 of the refrigerant for water freezing point 0.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elevator system for transferring a large number of passengers at a high speed and for operating elevators to stop at each floor or as an express for passing floors. An ascending passage and a descending passage are sectionally formed in an elevator shaft having an upper turning portion, a fixed portion and a lower turning portion, respectively. Both the ascending and descending shafts are provided with a local line, a passing line and a sliding area. Switch frames for switching the line and the area are provided at a plurality of locations and a linear motor drive mechanism is provided on the cages and a center core of the elevator shaft.

Abstract: A safety monitoring device is provided for the use in an active seismic response and wind control system for exerting a control force, which restrains the vibration of a structure due to disturbances such as earthquake and wind, from an actuator in response to the above vibration. The safety monitoring device measures the work done of a seismic response control force and judges the work done of the seismic response control force to be positive or negative, so that whether or not the seismic response control is properly carried out by the actuator is judged. If any abnormality is found, a stop signal or the like is generated to stop the seismic response and wind control system, whereby the safety of the structure is ensured.

Abstract: A structure having a movable dome-type roof including a plurality of independently movable shell sections which nest one beneath the other. A frame superstructure is arched over the dome to support the upper ends of the shell sections. The lower edges of the shell sections are mounted on self-powered carriages and are independently shiftable about a circular base of the structure. By selectively shifting individual shell sections, the dome may be contracted or expanded as desired. The superstructure may be mounted on a circular track or on a pair of linear tracks to expedite the opening and closing of the dome.

Abstract: An elasto-plastic damper adapted to be used in a structure for absorbing vibration energy created by earthquake tremors and other ground vibrations. The damper is formed from flat plates to simplify design and to minimize costs. The damper may be used in combination to absorb vibration energy impacting the structure from different directions.

Abstract: An elasto-plastic damper to protect a building from destructive impact of seismic tremors and/or high winds. The damper is a cylindrical shaft with a constricted waist portion adapted to yield uniformly throughout its length to an external force from any direction in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the waist portion. This elasto-plastic deformation of the damper dissipates the energy of seismic and/or wind impact throughout its range of elastic deformation. The ends of the damper are threaded to facilitate threaded fastener engagement with structural and non-structural members of building.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the ground of a large area. The method comprises the steps of inserting a pipe into a hole previously dug in the ground, injecting a high pressure liquid and a ground improving injection liquid from an injecting apparatus attached to the tip of the pipe, drawing up the pipe, grouting the ground, and injecting the ground improving injection liquid to thereby form an underground columnar consolidation body for improving the ground. The drawing-up operation of the pipe is executed while applying vertical vibration to the pipe. Thus, a consolidation body of a large area for improvement of the ground is obtained without concave and convex portions.

Abstract: A ski chair lift with variable speed drive for each chair. A linear motor is used in lieu of the conventional closed loop tow cable. The stator of the linear motor includes a closed loop I-beam guide rail, electromagnets secured to the top flange of the I-beam, and permanent magnets secured to chair lift carriers which are driven by selective energization of the electromagnets. Failsafe stops and brakes delimit movement of the chairs on the guide rail in the event of a power failure.

Abstract: A fire sensing system, a process for sensing a fire and an environment monitor are disclosed. The system includes infrared sensors with sensing wavelength bands sensing an infrared radiation from an infrared source. One of the sensing wavelength bands is a CO.sub.2 -molecular resonance radiation wavelength band. The system determines whether a disastrous fire occurs or not on the basis of outputs of the sensors and a change in a ratio of the outputs. The process computes the temperature of the infrared source from a ratio of outputs of infrared sensors with at least two sensing wavelength bands of an infrared radiation from a monitored area, produces the intensity of infrared radiation of either of the bands from the computed temperature and computes a heating area from the intensity and the output of a corresponding infrared sensor. The process determines the progress of a fire.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston device installed between the frame of a structure and a vibration-resisting element provided separately from the frame varies the rigidity of the frame by changing the condition of connection between the frame and the vibration-resisting element. A valve controls the operation of the piston device and can be adjusted to change the coefficient of damping of the piston device. To obtain maximum rigidity of the frame, the piston is hydraulically locked in place. For maximum flexiblity of the frame, the piston can be hydraulically released from a locked position to move freely. Hydraulic resistance to movement of the piston can be graduated by metering the flow of oil into and out of the piston device. The coefficient of damping is a function of the metered flow of hydraulic fluid in the piston device.

Abstract: A space tension chord arch member dome reinforced with tension members and method of construction. Maximum building space is ensured by using tension chord members, which reduces the material costs and simplifies assembly of the dome. The system permits use of laminated wood for the arch members of the dome superstructure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the ground of a large area. The method comprises the steps of inserting a pipe into a hole previously dug in the ground, injecting a high pressure liquid and a ground improving injection liquid from an injecting apparatus attached to the tip of the pipe, drawing up the pipe, grouting the ground, and injecting the ground improving injection liquid to thereby form an underground columnar consolidation body for improving the ground. The drawing-up operation of the pipe is executed while applying vertical vibration to the pipe. Thus, a consolidation body of a large area for improvement of the ground is obtained without concave and convex portions.

Abstract: A vibration absorbing device to be secured between structural and non-structural members of a framed structure. An outer ring may be secured to a structural member and an inner ring is concentrically positioned within said outer ring and may be secured to a non-structural member. Radial spokes interconnecting the inner and outer rings are adapted to elasto-plastically deform when one ring is arcuately shifted relative to the other ring responsive to vibration of the inner and/or outer ring, thereby absorbing the energy of vibration.

Abstract: Automatic collection and set up equipment for chairs, characterized by the fact that it performs automatically all the jobs required in collecting and setting up chairs; markedly reduces the man-hours required to prepare a conference room; and it has an arrangement of many hooks which are able to move up or down at short intervals, in line, on a truck picking up or letting down crossmembers of the chairs and stacking chairs one by one.

Abstract: An elasto-plastic damper is adapted to be used in a structure, such as a building and other facilities, for absorbing vibration energy created by earthquake tremors and other ground vibrations. The damper is a centrally bulged and generally cone-shaped hollow body of revolution so that its section modulus changes substantially porportional to a bending moment created in the damper body due to horizontal stresses, thus permitting a maximum degree of deformability. This elasto-plastic damper is compact in size and demonstrates a high degree of vibrational energy absorbability.