Abstract: An oxide superconducting wire composed of a metal substrate, an intermediate layer vapor-deposited by an ion beam assisted deposition method (IBAD method) on the metal substrate, a CeO2 cap layer vapor-deposited on the intermediate layer by the PLD method or another such method, and an oxide superconducting film formed on the cap layer, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is no more than 2000 nm, and the thickness of the cap layer is at least 50 nm. The time it takes to form a film by the IBAD method can be shortened, and the orientation of the resulting superconducting film can be improved, by reducing the thickness of the intermediate layer manufactured by the IBAD method as above and increasing the thickness of the cap layer. The oxide superconducting wire can be obtained at low cost and with high critical current density.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of mixed metal acetate including one kind or more of element selected from lanthanide series and yttrium, barium and copper is mixed with trifluoroacetic acid to prepare a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate. From a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate obtained thus, purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate of which total content of water and acetic acid is 2% by weight or less is prepared. With purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate, an oxide superconductor of excellent performance may be prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape-form oxide superconductor having a high degree of c-axis alignment and in-plane alignment and an improved Jc value. On a tape-form metal substrate which is non-magnetic or weakly magnetic and has high strength, there are sequentially formed a first intermediate layer wherein YSZ or Zr2Rx2O7 particles are deposited from a target with ion irradiation from a direction inclined to the metal substrate, a second intermediate layer of CeO2 or Y2O3 is formed and an RE1+XBa2−XCu3OY superconducting layer is formed by coating metalorganic salts containing F, followed by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of mixed metal acetate including one kind or more of element selected from lanthanide series and yttrium, barium and copper is mixed with trifluoroacetic acid to prepare a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate. From a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate obtained thus, purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate of which total content of water and acetic acid is 2% by weight or less is prepared. With purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate, an oxide superconductor of excellent performance may be prepared.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of mixed metal acetate including one kind or more of element selected from lanthanide series and yttrium, barium and copper is mixed with trifluoroacetic acid to prepare a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate. From a solution of mixed metal trifluoroacetate obtained thus, purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate of which total content of water and acetic acid is 2% by weight or less is prepared. With purified mixed metal trifluoroacetate, an oxide superconductor of excellent performance may be prepared.

Abstract: A personal ornament having its surface covered with a colored coating, the colored coating formed by dry-plating, which personal ornament comprises a basis material for personal ornament, composed of a copper alloy or zinc; a nickel plating layer on a surface of the basis material, or a nickel plating layer on a surface of a copper plating layer on a surface of the basis material; an amorphous nickel/phosphorus alloy plating layer on a surface of the nickel plating layer; and at least one colored coating layer on a surface of the amorphous nickel/phosphorus alloy plating layer, the colored coating layer formed by dry-plating, and wherein the amorphous nickel/phosphorus alloy plating layer has a phosphorus content of 11 to 16% by weight. As compared with conventional personal ornaments, this personal ornament is furnished with a colored coating having excellent corrosion resistance and can be produced at low cost.

Abstract: In a thin film magnet and a production process thereof, the thin film magnet has a microstructure composed of crystalline phases of a Nd2Fe14B structure type, whose c-axis is oriented in the film-thickness direction, and amorphous phases, and each of the Nd2Fe14B type crystalline phase is isolated from the others by the interposition of the amorphous phase. This thin film magnet exhibits uniform distribution of magnetic flux and less variation in characteristics, and hence is of superior quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape-formed oxide superconductor having high c-axis alignment and in-plane alignment and an improved Jc value. Thus, on a tape-formed metal substrate of non-magnetism or weak magnetism and high strength, there are sequentially formed a first intermediate layer where YSZ or Zr2Rx2O7 particles generated from the target are deposited onto the metal substrate together with irradiation of ion from an inclined direction to the metal substrate, a second intermediate layer comprising CeO2 or Y2O3 and an RE1+XBa2−XCu3OY superconducting layer formed by coating of metalorganic salts containing F followed by subjecting to a thermal decomposition.

Abstract: Non-contact signal transmission apparatus provides signal transmission between a main unit and an auxiliary unit via electromagnetic induction. A set of power cores having hollow sections are provided as a pair at corresponding positions of the main unit and the auxiliary unit. A wire is wound around each of the power cores as power coils for feeding power from the main unit to the auxiliary unit. At least one set of signal cores are provided as a pair at corresponding positions of the main unit and the auxiliary unit. A wire is wound around each of signal cores as signal coils transmitting signals between the main unit and the auxiliary unit. The signal coils are arranged in hollow sections of the power cores.

Abstract: Non-contact signal transmission apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the apparatus performs signal transmission between a main unit and an auxiliary unit via electromagnetic induction in a non-contact state, wherein a set of power cores having hollow sections are provided as a pair at corresponding positions of a main unit and an auxiliary unit, wherein a wire is wound around each of power cores (power coils) for feeding power from the main unit to the auxiliary unit and at least one set of signal cores are provided as a pair at corresponding positions of the main unit and the auxiliary unit, wherein a wire is wound around each of signal cores (signal coils) transmitting signals between the main unit and the auxiliary unit, the at least one set of signal coils arranged in the hollow section of the power core.

Abstract: A noncontact transmitting apparatus includes first and second noncontact transmitting units mounted on a main device and an attachment device, respectively. The second noncontact transmitting unit is removably attachable to the first noncontact transmitting unit for enabling noncontact signal transfer between the main device and the attachment device. Each of the noncontact transmitting units includes a power coil and a signal coil. The power coil is wound on a first core to supply power from the main device to the attachment device by electromagnetic induction. The first cores of the first and second noncontact transmitting units face each other at a first opposite position when the attachment device is loaded on the main device. The signal coil is wound on a second core to perform signal transfer between the main device and the attachment device by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: In a starter for an engine, a magnet switch attracts a plunger by a magnetic force generated by a solenoid coil wound around a sleeve, so that a pinion fitted on an output shaft of a starter motor is driven by movement of the plunger to engage with an engine ring gear. The the plunger is pressed to contact tightly with the sleeve, whereby the relative movement between the plunger and the sleeve is restricted as long as the coil is held deenergized. The pressing may be attained by an inclined surface provided on the plunger or a flexture of a transmitting member which connects the plunger and a pinion.

Abstract: A resilient restricting member of a rotation restricting member which restricts a pinion moving body from rotating is accommodated in a frame of a restricting member holder under a flexed and loaded state so that the rotation restricting member has a sufficient rotation-restricting function as long as the rotary force of the pinion moving body does not exceed the load acting thereon at the time of engagement and restriction of rotation. When a pinion gear abuts the end face of a ring gear and the pinion moving body is restricted from moving forward, the entire rotary force of an output shaft acts on the pinion moving body. The resilient restricting member flexes further in the restricting member holder to allow rotation of the pinion moving body, thus enabling the pinion gear to mesh the ring gear. Thus, the rotary force of the output shaft is converted to the advancing force of the pinion moving body surely even when the spiraling of the helical spline is not so large.

Abstract: In a starter, a plate that turns with a pinion moving body is disposed behind the pinion moving body. The plate has a receiving part that engages with the lower extension of a rotation restricting member for restricting the rotation of the pinion moving body until a pinion gear engages with a ring gear. In a power supply circuit for a starter motor, a first switch and a second switch are provided. The first switch turns on first to energize the starter motor. When the pinion gear engages with the ring gear thereafter, the second switch turns on to energize further the starter motor by short-circuiting a resistor wire.

Abstract: In a starter for an engine, a magnet switch attracts a plunger by a magnetic force generated by a solenoid coil wound around a sleeve, so that a pinion fitted on an output shaft of a starter motor is driven by movement of the plunger to engage with an engine ring gear. The the plunger is pressed to contact tightly with the sleeve, whereby the relative movement between the plunger and the sleeve is restricted as long as the coil is held deenergized. The pressing may be attained by an inclined surface provided on the plunger or a flexture of a transmitting member which connects the plunger and a pinion.

Abstract: A starter has a motor, output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion moving body mounted on the output shaft and engageable with a ring gear, an electromagnet switch, and a rotation restricting member driven by the electromagnet switch to engage and restrict rotation of the pinion moving body until engagement of a pinion gear with the ring gear. To protect the pinion rotation restricting member, continued engagement of the rotation restricting member with the pinion moving body is released by a guide when the pinion moving body rotates a predetermined angle. Further, to protect the pinion moving body, the pinion moving body is advanced closely to the ring gear and thereafter the motor is allowed to rotate so that the pinion engages the ring gear at low rotation speeds.

Abstract: In a starter having a pinion gear on an output shaft driven by a starter motor, a magnet switch, and a shift lever pivotally connecting the pinion and the magnet switch, the shift lever is formed at one end thereof with an annular arm body for engagement with the pinion gear. The annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear to receive the pinion returning force evenly thereby to prevent damage on the shift lever. Preferably the annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear through a plate and a bearing.

Abstract: A rotation restricting member is driven to engage a pinion moving member by a magnet switch and restricts it to rotate, so that it advances under rotation of an output shaft accompanied with energization of a motor and is engaged with a ring gear. Since it is satisfactory to displace the rotation restricting member in order to cause the pinion restricting member to abut against the pinion moving member under application of residual plunger stroke after both contacts of the magnet switch are abutted, it is not necessary to arrange any resilient member between a plunger and the rotation restricting member, thereby simplifying configuration of the magnet switch.

Abstract: A starter which reduces the number of parts for a pinion rotation regulation and provides an accurate magnet switch operation. A concave portion is formed on the bottom side of a plunger to store a spherical body set on the rear end of a cord-shaped member, e.g., wire. A male screw and a fixing are used so that the length of the cord-shaped member is adjusted thereby. The length of the string-shaped member is adjusted so that the claw of the pinion rotation regulating member fits into the notch on the outer circumference of a pinion gear. Furthermore, the claw is fit into the notch via the wire when the plunger moves. The cord-shaped member may be replaced by a rod member disposed radially inside or outside the yoke.

Abstract: A thin film magnet and a cylindrical ferromagnetic thin film having a high maximum energy product (greater than 120 kJ/m.sup.3) and thus suitable for use in miniature high performance devices are provided. The thin film magnet is produced by means of physical vapor deposition. The thin film magnet is an (Nd.sub.1-x R.sub.x).sub.y M.sub.1-y-z B.sub.z alloy having a ferromagnetic compound of the Nd.sub.2 Fe.sub.14 B type as its main phase, wherein R is Tb, Ho, and Dy and M is Fe metal or an Fe-based alloy including at least one of Co and Ni, 0.04.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.10,0.11.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.15, and 0.08.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.15. A perpendicular magnetization film having such a composition is deposited on the side wall of a substrate in the columnar (or cylindrical) form thereby obtaining a cylindrical ferromagnetic thin film having radial anisotropy.