Abstract: A fuel cell contains an electrolyte sheet sandwiched between two electrodes. One or both electrode/electrolyte interfaces includes mesoscopic three-dimensional features in a prescribed pattern. The features increase the surface area-to-volume ratio of the device and can be used as integral channels for directing the flow of reactant gases to the reaction surface area, eliminating the need for channels in sealing plates surrounding the electrodes. The electrolyte can be made by micromachining techniques that allow very precise feature definition. Both selective removal and mold-filling techniques can be used. The fuel cell provides significantly enhanced volumetric power density when compared with conventional fuel cells.

Abstract: In a fuel cell assembly typically comprising a plurality of cells each comprising an electrolyte layer (2), a pair of gas diffusion electrode layers (3, 4), and a pair of flow distribution plates (5), each flow distribution plate is provided with a central recess (51, 52) having a number of projections (53, 54) formed therein; and an electrode terminal layer (55, 56) is formed on each projection to establish a connection with an external circuit; each gas diffusion electrode layer defining the passages for fuel and oxidizer gases by covering the central recess, and provided with a porous layer (3a, 4a) typically in the form of a nano-tube carbon film, formed over each flow distribution plate. Because the porous layer is directly formed on each flow distribution plate, the thickness of each gas diffusion electrode layer can be freely controlled, and the overall thickness of the assembly can be minimized so as to allow a compact design.

Abstract: An adhesive member is used to bond one member to another member to form an adhesive layer whose internal defection can be detected by utilizing a magneto-mechanical property of a soft magnetic material. The adhesive member is comprised of a main body formed of an uncured adhesive, and a plurality of soft magnetic materials embedded in the main body and restrained in an external force-applied state after curing of the main body.

Abstract: A wire-and-pulley drive link mechanism such as a robot hand, comprising a base, a linkage connected to said base by a first joint and having a first link and a second link connected by a second joint like fingers. The base carries motors for individual links. A wire-and-pulley drive system is provided such that said linkage moves relative to said base and said first link moves relative to said second link moves when driven by said motors. The wire is made of amorphous material and a coil is wound on each of the wires to detect stress or tensile force by sensing a change of magnetic permeability generated when the wire is subject to external force. A control system having a joint servo is provided and determines a manipulated variable to be supplied to the motor based on at least the detected stress and a servo gain.

Abstract: In measuring the stress of a ferromagnetic linear metal member, an alternating current is supplied to flow between a pair of terminals mounted to the ferromagnetic linear metal member to measure an impedance .vertline.Z.vertline. of the ferromagnetic linear metal member between the terminals by an analyzer. Then, a stress .sigma. is determined based on the measured value of the impedance .vertline.Z.vertline. from an impedance .vertline.Z.vertline.-stress .sigma. relationship possessed by the ferromagnetic linear metal member. The stress distribution in a sheet-like sensor can be likewise measured by inserting into the sensor a plurality of intersecting ferromagnetic linear metal members. The stress .sigma. is determined for each individual member as described above, and then the stress distribution in the sheet-like sensor is determined by summing up the stresses of mutually intersecting members.

Abstract: In measuring a stress of a soft magnetic metal wire, an A.C. magnetic field exceeding a coercive force of the metal wire is applied to the soft magnetic metal wire with a tensile load applied thereto, using an exciting coil, thereby inducing an A.C. electromotive force through a detecting coil. An effective value of one or more higher harmonic wave components including a stress information of the soft magnetic metal wire in the waveform of the A.C. electromotive force is determined as a measurement amount. By taking higher harmonic wave components as an amount in this manner, the stress of the soft magnetic metal wire 4 can be measured correctly.

Abstract: The detection of an internal damage in an FRP member constituted by reinforcing fibers, a matrix resin and magnetic members having a magneto-mechanical property is conducted by disposing the magnetic members in the FRP member, and measuring a change in the magnetic properties of the magnetic members by a non-destructive inspection method.

Abstract: A structural member is produced using starting powder consisting of composite particulates each containing AlN grain within its surface covered by an Al layer of a single crystal structure, and Al alloy particulates of a single crystal structure, and then by sintering the Al layers of the composite particulates with the Al alloy particulates. The Al layers and the Al alloy particulates of the single crystal structure have no dislocation fault, crystal grain boundary. etc., produced therein, and for this reason, they have a low chemical activity. Therefore, the Al layers and the like have a characteristic that they are extremely difficult to oxidize. This ensures that the Al layers and the Al alloy particulates can be reliably sintered to achieve the densification of the resulting structural member.

Abstract: In an adhesively bonded structure between a dynamic power detecting element and an object to be detected, an adhesive bond bonding the dynamic power detecting element formed of a ferromagnetic material with the object to be detected is formed of an adhesive and an inorganic filler having a small linear thermal expansion coefficient and incorporated in the adhesive.