Abstract: In a first management unit for a redundant array of independent disks (RAID management unit), a shared-class setting unit receives a shared-class setting command, for example, from a host computer. If the shared-class setting command includes information about the first RAID management unit and a second RAID management unit, a shared management-information creating unit creates shared management information, writes the created shared management information onto a first disk, notifies the second RAID management unit corresponding to a second disk about the shared management information, and gives an instruction to write the shared management information onto the second disk. The second RAID management unit then writes the notified shared management information onto the second disk.

Abstract: In a RAID management apparatus, a disk determination unit accesses each of RAID devices, determines a copy source disk, and sets a pointer of the determined copy source disk into a disk management table stored in a storage unit. When an input-output (I/O) processing unit accesses a disk, if an I/O error occurs on the disk, as a result a copy source disk and a copy destination disk are switched; the I/O processing unit renews a pointer associated with the copy source disk in the disk management table stored in the storage unit, and a disk notification unit notifies that the copy source disk and the copy destination disk are switched.

Abstract: In a first management unit for a redundant array of independent disks (RAID management-unit), a shared-class setting unit receives a shared-class setting command, for example, from a host computer. If the shared-class setting command includes information about the first RAID management unit and a second RAID management unit, a shared management-information creating unit creates shared management information, writes the created shared management information onto a first disk, notifies the second RAID management unit corresponding to a second disk about the shared management information, and gives an instruction to write the shared management information onto the second disk. The second RAID management unit then writes the notified shared management information onto the second disk.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is disposed at the upstream or middle portion of a reactor for oxidizing the unburned constituents contained in the exhaust gases discharged from the combustion chambers of the engine. The air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the combustion chambers is controlled so as to maintain the temperature of the upstream or middle portion of the reactor at the predetermined level in the vicinity of but higher than the temperature corresponding to the critical point where the temperature of the downstream portion of the reactor begins to decrease.

Abstract: A fuel vaporizer supplies fuel into a thermal reactor for promoting oxidative purification of unburned components of exhaust gases in presence of secondary air. The additional fuel is injected upstream into the gas stream flowing through a conduit to the fuel vaporizer.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaning system for use with an automotive multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine including first and second groups of engine cylinders which are to be alternately fired, comprising a thermal reactor composed of an outer tubular structure formed with a first group of exhaust inlet ports leading from the first group of engine cylinders and a second group of exhaust inlet ports leading from the second group of engine cylinders, an inner tubular structure positioned within the outer tubular structure and formed with openings, and at least one air-injection nozzle opening in a longitudinal end portion of the interior or a re-combustion chamber of the inner tubular structure, wherein exhaust gases from each of the first group of engine cylinder are fired in the vicinity of the nozzle openings with the agency of secondary air injected from the nozzle and exhaust gases from each of the second group of engine cylinders are fired by the resultant hot gases advancing through a hot zone of the re-combus

Abstract: An elongate outer hollow member encloses an elongate inner hollow member to form an annular passage therebetween which communicates with an exhaust gas inlet of the outer hollow member. The inner hollow member has a combustion chamber defined therein, a plurality of ports formed through a closed upstream end portion and opening from the exhaust gas inlet into the combustion chamber for injection of a portion of exhaust gas thereinto and a plurality of ports formed through a side portion and opening from the annular passage into the combustion chamber for injection of the remaining portion of exhaust gas thereinto. An secondary air injection means is disposed in the combustion chamber adjacent to the closed end portion and upstream of the ports in the side portion for injection of secondary air into the combustion chamber.