Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a sheet laminator. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet being conveyed as an inner sheet. The sheet laminator performs a sheet laminating operation on a two-ply sheet in which the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus is inserted between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The sheet laminator includes a heater and circuitry. The heater heats the two-ply sheet during the sheet laminating operation. The circuitry is to execute a control mode when a specific abnormal event occurs among a plurality of abnormal events that occurs in the image forming apparatus, where the control mode maintains heating by the heater of the sheet laminator for a predetermined time and interrupt the heating by the heater when an abnormal event other than the specific abnormal event occurs.

Abstract: A condenser is provided that makes a liquid droplet of a liquid phase medium drop effectively, the liquid phase medium residing in a lower end opening of a medium passage of the condenser, thereby preventing any degradation in the performance of the condenser. In the condenser, vapor, which is supplied to a cooling pipe (14) connected to cooling fins (16), is cooled, condensed into water, and recovered in a water-collecting tray (21) provided beneath the cooling pipe (14), and a needle-shaped member (24) provided so as to face the lower end opening of the cooling pipe (14) ruptures the droplet that, due to surface tension, resides in the lower end opening of the cooling pipe (14) and makes it drop into the water-collecting tray (21).

Abstract: An outer periphery of an output shaft integral with a rotor of an expander of a vane-type operated by a high-pressure vapor is supported at its opposite ends by a static-pressure bearing mounted at one end thereof in a floated state provided by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied from a pressurized liquid-phase fluid feed bore through a pressurized liquid-phase fluid passage, and by a static-pressure bearing mounted at the other end thereof in a floated state provided by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied from a pressurized liquid-phase fluid feed bore through pressurized liquid-phase fluid passages. Vanes supported radially in the rotor for reciprocal movement are supported in floated states by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied through pressurized liquid-phase fluid passages extending radially outwards within the rotor.

Abstract: An expansion unit (4) for converting an expansion energy of pressure-increased steam into a rotation energy of an output shaft, wherein a cover member (26) is provided on the casing outer surface of the expansion unit (4). The cover member (26) has a function of sealing the end section of an output shaft (23) protruding beyond the casing outer surface against the outside and a function of recovering steam led out from the casing and has its pressured reduced after the conversion. The end section of the output shaft (23) provided inside the cover member (26) and a driven-side transmission shaft (119) disposed outside the cover member (26) are coupled with each other via a magnet type shaft coupling (120) so as to be able to transmit power, whereby the output shaft (23) and the driven-side transmission shaft (119) can be coupled without steam in the expansion unit leaking outside.

Abstract: In a drive system, there is provided a waste heat recovering device forming a Rankine cycle by an evaporator for heating water with waste heat of an internal combustion engine to generate high-pressure vapor, the internal combustion engine being connected to a transmission, a displacement-type expander for converting high-pressure vapor generated by the evaporator to an output with constant torque, a condenser for liquefying low-pressure vapor discharged from the expander, and a feed pump for supplying water liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator. The expander is connected to a power generator/motor via a planetary gear mechanism, and the expander is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the planetary gear mechanism and a belt-type continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A vane type fluid machine includes: a casing; a rotor rotating in the casing; and a plurality of vanes supported by the rotor to slide on an inner surface of the casing. A seal portion of each vane is formed to be elastically deformable so as to slide on the inner surface of the casing while bending backward of a rotational direction of the rotor. Therefore, an improved structure of the seal portion of each vane secures good sealing performance even if machining accuracy of the inner surface of the casing is alleviated.

Abstract: An outer periphery of an output shaft (23) integral with a rotor (31) of an expander of a vane-type operated by a high-pressure vapor is supported at its opposite ends by a static-pressure bearing (25) mounted at one end thereof in a floated state provided by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied from a pressurized liquid-phase fluid feed bore (129) through a pressurized liquid-phase fluid passage (W5), and by a static-pressure bearing (25) mounted at the other end thereof in a floated state provided by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied from a pressurized liquid-phase fluid feed bore (129) through pressurized liquid-phase fluid passages (W6, W7, W9, W10. W11 and W12). Vanes (42) supported radially in the rotor (31) for reciprocal movement are supported in floated states by a liquid film of a pressurized liquid-phase fluid supplied through pressurized liquid-phase fluid passages (W14) extending radially outwards within the rotor (31).

Abstract: In a drive system, there is provided a waste heat recovering device forming a Rankine cycle by an evaporator for heating water with waste heat of an internal combustion engine to generate high-pressure vapor, the internal combustion engine being connected to a transmission, a displacement-type expander for converting high-pressure vapor generated by the evaporator to an output with constant torque, a condenser for liquefying low-pressure vapor discharged from the expander, and a feed pump for supplying water liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator. The expander is connected to a power generator/motor via a planetary gear mechanism, and the expander is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the planetary gear mechanism and a belt-type continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A condenser is provided that makes a liquid droplet of a liquid phase medium drop effectively, the liquid phase medium residing in a lower end opening of a medium passage of the condenser, thereby preventing any degradation in the performance of the condenser. In the condenser, vapor, which is supplied to a cooling pipe (14) connected to cooling fins (16), is cooled, condensed into water, and recovered in a water-collecting tray (21) provided beneath the cooling pipe (14), and a needle-shaped member (24) provided so as to face the lower end opening of the cooling pipe (14) ruptures the droplet that, due to surface tension, resides in the lower end opening of the cooling pipe (14) and makes it drop into the water-collecting tray (21).

Abstract: A mechanism for forming a liquid-tight seal around the rotary shaft of a liquid pump having a stationary ring attached to the casing of the pump and a rotating ring attached to the rotary shaft and contacting the stationary ring. The stationary ring is formed from baked carbon, while the rotating ring is a sintered product of silicon nitride. The stationary ring has an effective seal width ratio, rp/Di, of 0.07/1 to 0.22/1, where rp is the width of the effective seal surface of the stationary ring and Di is its inside diameter.

Abstract: A reinforced molded body of ceramic, which is to be fired, is produced by adding ceramic fibers to a matrix of ceramic. The ceramic fibers are composed of silicon, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon, the carbon and the oxygen having a total content of at most 10 weight % and having respective contents at a ratio ranging from 0.08 to 2.

Abstract: A silicon nitride reaction-sintered body having a high mechanical strength without surface working can be produced by (1) forming a silicon powder mixture of at least two types of silicon powders having substantially independent particle size distribution ranges into a green body, the silicon powder mixture having an average particle size ranging from 5 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m; (2) heating the green body in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere for nitrogenation; and (3) sintering the nitrogenated green body at a temperature of 1900.degree. C. or higher.

Abstract: An yttrium-containing composite powder for use as a material of a silicon nitride/silicon carbide composite sintered body is produced by thermally decomposing yttrium-containing polysilazane having an Si--N bond and an Si--C bond and an Si--O--Y bond and/or an N--O--Y bond in molecules thereof in an inert gas atmosphere or a vacuum at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C., and grinding the thermally decomposed yttrium-containing polysilazane.

Abstract: A swash-plate hydraulic pressure device for use as a hydraulic pump or motor includes a cylinder block having an annular array of cylinder holes defined therein around an axis. A plurality of plungers of a ceramic material are reciprocally movably disposed in the cylinder holes, respectively, the plungers having respective partly spherical tip ends. A swash plate of metal is disposed around the cylinder block for rotation with respect to the cylinder block, the swash plate having a annular groove of a partly spherical cross section defined therein and, the partly spherical tip ends of the plungers engaging in the groove. The tip ends of the plungers preferably have a pore area percentage of at most 7.8% and a maximum surface roughness of at most 1.6 s. The partly spherical tip end of each of the plungers has a radius R.sub.0 of curvature, each of the plungers has a diameter D, the groove has a radius R.sub.1 of curvature and a depth E. The ratios R.sub.0 /D, R.sub.0 /R.sub.1, and E/R.sub.

Abstract: A crystalline ceramic fiber suitable for reinforcing a formed ceramic body is produced by crystallizing an amorphous ceramic fiber composed of silicon and nitrogen by heat treatment within non-oxide ceramic powder in an inert gas atmosphere. The amorphous ceramic fiber is produced by thermally decomposing a pre-ceramic fiber produced by melting and spinning polysilazane. The amorphous ceramic fiber is mainly composed of silicon, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen, and has such a composition that silicon has a 40 to 60 weight %, nitrogen has a 5 to 40 weight %, carbon has a 20 weight % or lower, and oxygen has a 50 weight % or lower.

Abstract: In the method of heat-treating a silicon nitride sintered body which was produced from silicon nitride powder and sintering aid powder in order to provide it with an increased crystallinity, the silicon nitride sintered body is heat-treated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere under conditions such that the silicon nitride sintered body is embedded in at least one selected from the group consisting of powders of W, Mo, Ta, Re and carbides thereof.

Abstract: A silicon nitride sintered body having a composition of 1.5-3.0 weight % of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.1-1.0 weight % of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and balance substantially Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, a weight ratio of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 being 2.5 or more, which has a density of 3.0 g/cm.sup.3 or more and has a structure in which the minor axes of grains are substantially 6 .mu.m or less. This silicon nitride sintered body is produced by preparing a powder mixture containing Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder and silicon nitride powder in the above proportions, the silicon nitride powder having an oxygen content of 1.2 weight % or less, a specific surface area of 9-11 m.sup.2 /g and a metal impurity content of 200 ppm or less; and sintering the powder mixture at a temperature of 1900.degree.-2100.degree. C. and a pressure of 5 kg/cm.sup.2 G or more in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced ceramic green body containing fine ceramic fibers uniformly dispersed in a ceramic matrix. The green body is composed of 50 weight % or more of a ceramic main component such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and 50 weight % or less of at least one ceramic additive such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, at least part of one or both of said ceramic main component and said ceramic additive being in the form of fine fibers. This green body is produced by a slip casting method.