Abstract: A scroll compressor having an orbiting scroll member, a stationary scroll member and an Oldham's ring. The stationary scroll member is made of a material having a higher rigidity than the material forming the orbiting scroll member, and a higher density as well as a lower thermal conductivity than any of the materials forming the orbiting scroll member and the Oldham's ring.

Abstract: A scroll fluid machine in which a stationary scroll member and an orbiting scroll member each have an end plate and involute wrap on said end plate and mesh with each other. A winding-start portion of the wrap has such a section such that a base thereof is thick and the tip thereof is thin, with a curve of an inside line at each of the bases of the wraps is made as thick as possible while avoiding mutual interference between the wrap of fixed scroll member and the wrap of orbiting scroll member. A curve of an inside line at each of tips of the wraps has such a shape that it gradually thinned toward an inner periphery end thereof, and a section of each wraps in the wrap axial direction has such a shape that it is gradually reduced in thickness from the base toward the tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sensor for measuring an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine and to a method of manufacturing the gas sensor. The sensor of the invention comprises: a solid state electrolyte layer made of an oxygen ion conductive metal oxide; a first electrode of a porous thin film having the catalyst function which was coated on one surface of the solid state electrolyte layer; a second electrode of a porous thin film having the catalyst function which was coated on the other surface of the solid state electrolyte layer; an electrode shielding layer made of a sintered material of ultra fine particulates whose average grain diameter is 1 .mu.m or less which covers the surface other than the region of a predetermined area of the second electrode; and a gas diffusion layer made of a porous electric insulative metal oxide which covers the region of the predetermined area of at least the second electrode.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio (A/F) sensor for detecting the A/F over a wide range covering a lean region and a rich region which are partitioned by the stoichiometric A/F comprises a solid electrolyte made of an oxygen ion conductive metal oxide, first and second electrodes sandwiching the solid electrolyte and being operable by a predetermined voltage applied thereacross to ionize oxygen near the solid electrolyte and diffuse oxygen ions into the solid electrolyte, and a gas diffusion layer in the form of a porous sintered layer covering the second electrode and made of electrically insulative metal oxide fine particles having a mean particulate size of 1 .mu.m or less so that oxygen or molecules of other gas components in the exhaust gas can move through pores of the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing ultrafine particles by arc energy characterized by disposing an electrode inclinedly as to a base material so as to generate a magnetic blow to arc, disposing a suction opening at the direction of the arc blown, and cooling vapors generated, followed by collection thereof can improve the production efficiency of ultrafine particles with a uniform particle size.

Abstract: An oil separator for separating oil from exhausted gas containing refrigerant gas and fine particles of oil incorporated in the refrigerant gas including grooved plates each formed with a multiplicity of grooves on opposite surfaces to allow the exhausted gas to flow in a direction substantially at right angles to the grooves, whereby the fine particles of oil can be trapped by the grooved plates. The oil separator can achieve increased oil separation efficiency.

Abstract: A method of efficiently manufacturing ultra-fine particles of material, comprising a step of applying laser energy to the material in order to generate a plume phenomenon thereon to cause the ultra-fine particles. The material may be selected from various materials such as non-metal materials as well as metal materials.

Abstract: In a method wherein arcs are struck across a material to vaporize into ultra-fine particles and an electrode, thereby to manufacture the ultra-fine particles; the material to turn into the ultra-fine particles is arranged for at least either of the electrodes, and plasma currents are generated from the material and the electrode, whereby the formation rate of the ultra-fine particles per unit input is increased, and the material is formed in the shape of a rod or a wire, and a feeder capable of continuously supplying the material is disposed, whereby the ultra-fine particles can be continuously manufactured.

Abstract: Titanium alloy or cast titanium alloy is heat-treated in vacuum or a neutral atmosphere to convert the abnormal structure of the alloy to normal .alpha. or .alpha. + .beta. structure. The titanium alloy or cast titanium alloy thus heat-treated can have sufficiently good material characteristics by the ordinary successive heat treatments.