Abstract: A valve main unit, in which a high pressure valve is to be provided, includes a channel for hydrogen gas. An internal surface of the channel is constituted by an oxidation layer formed by performing anodizing on an aluminum-based alloy. The oxidation layer of the channel is formed by performing the anodizing under a condition in which the oxidation layer with a thickness of 8 ?m or less is formed at an external surface of the valve main unit, the external surface having an opening communicating with the channel.

Abstract: A valve main unit, in which a high pressure valve is to be provided, includes a channel for hydrogen gas. An internal surface of the channel is constituted by an oxidation layer formed by performing anodizing on an aluminum-based alloy. The oxidation layer of the channel is formed by performing the anodizing under a condition in which the oxidation layer with a thickness of 8 ?m or less is formed at an external surface of the valve main unit, the external surface having an opening communicating with the channel.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element including: an electrode portion including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer that are laminated; and a non-electrode portion that is in contact with the electrode portion and includes a piezoelectric layer without an electrode layer, in which the non-electrode portion includes a region having a density smaller than a density of the piezoelectric layer of the electrode portion.

Abstract: A valve device includes a wire channel through which wires are routed from the inside of a gas tank to the outside of the gas tank, and a hermetic connector in which a sealing member is provided around wire pins that constitute part of the wires is provided in the wire channel. In addition, the wire channel has multiple (two) bent portions formed on the outer side of the hermetic connector. When pulling force acts on the wires from the outside, stress concentration portions are formed in the wires at these bent portions.

Abstract: A valve device includes a wire channel through which wires are routed from the inside of a gas tank to the outside of the gas tank, and a hermetic connector in which a sealing member is provided around wire pins that constitute part of the wires is provided in the wire channel. In addition, the wire channel has multiple (two) bent portions formed on the outer side of the hermetic connector. When pulling force acts on the wires from the outside, stress concentration portions are formed in the wires at these bent portions.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element including: an electrode portion including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer that are laminated; and a non-electrode portion that is in contact with the electrode portion and includes a piezoelectric layer without an electrode layer, in which the non-electrode portion includes a region having a density smaller than a density of the piezoelectric layer of the electrode portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for treatment of arsenic-contaminated soil, said method being capable of insolubilizing arsenic compounds (in organic form or tri- or pentavalent inorganic form), thereby reducing their leaching level below the environmental standard value for soil. The method consists of heating arsenic-contaminated soil at 200 to 700° C. and mixing the heated soil with a calcium compound and water. The method also consists of mixing arsenic-contaminated soil with a calcium compound, heating the mixed soil at 200 to 700° C., and mixing the heated soil with water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for treatment of arsenic-contaminated soil, said method being capable of insolubilizing arsenic compounds (in organic form or tri- or pentavalent inorganic form), thereby reducing their leaching level below the environmental standard value for soil. The method consists of heating arsenic-contaminated soil at 200 to 700° C. and mixing the heated soil with a calcium compound and water. The method also consists of mixing arsenic-contaminated soil with a calcium compound, heating the mixed soil at 200 to 700° C., and mixing the heated soil with water.

Abstract: A machine tool includes X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis moving units for producing relative movements between a tool and a workpiece; a C-axis drive unit for rotating the workpiece about a C-axis parallel to the Z-axis; and a B-axis turning unit for turning the tool about a B-axis parallel to the Y-axis. The tool is disposed in such a manner that a machining point of the tool coincides with the B-axis. The moving units, the drive unit, and the turning unit are controlled in such a manner that a work point of the workpiece coincides with the machining point of the tool. The bed is formed through casting and has a hollow structure and a hole as cast; and a cover is provided to cover the hole as cast in order to close the interior of the bed.

Abstract: A machine tool includes X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis moving units for producing relative movements between a tool and a workpiece; a C-axis drive unit for rotating the workpiece about a C-axis parallel to the Z-axis; and a B-axis turning unit for turning the tool about a B-axis parallel to the Y-axis. The tool is disposed in such a manner that a machining point of the tool coincides with the B-axis. The moving units, the drive unit, and the turning unit are controlled in such a manner that a work point of the workpiece coincides with the machining point of the tool. The bed is formed through casting and has a hollow structure and a hole as cast; and a cover is provided to cover the hole as cast in order to close the interior of the bed.

Abstract: A machine tool includes X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis moving units for producing relative movements between a tool and a workpiece; a C-axis drive unit for rotating the workpiece about a C-axis parallel to the Z-axis; and a B-axis turning unit for turning the tool about a B-axis parallel to the Y-axis. The tool is disposed in such a manner that a machining point of the tool coincides with the B-axis. The moving units, the drive unit, and the turning unit are controlled in such a manner that a work point of the workpiece coincides with the machining point of the tool. The bed is formed through casting and has a hollow structure and a hole as cast; and a cover is provided to cover the hole as cast in order to close the interior of the bed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing reduced iron briquettes, wherein reduced iron obtained by a direct reduction method is made into briquettes using a briquette machine, and whereafter the hot briquettes are subject to gradual cooling at a cooling rate in the range of 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. per minute using water spray. The reduced iron briquettes thus obtained are (a) less prone to breakage break during storage and transport; (b) less prone to degeneration into powder accompanying such breakages etc.; and (c) also display an excellent degree of metallization. Hence, the loss in weight during storage and transport can be reduced, and the harmful effects caused by dust to the transport vehicles, ships, loading/unloading equipment, and operators of the same can be reduced. Also, since the number of breakages is reduced, there is also a reduction in the amount of any re-oxidation of the reduced iron which tends to occur at newly exposed faces, whereby a product of more consistent quality can be obtained.

Abstract: In a Karman vortex flowmeter according to the present invention, first and second ultrasonic transmission/reception devices are offset from each other along a flowing direction of fluid, and a switching device alternately switches the ultrasonic transmission/reception devices so that the ultrasonic transmission/reception devices can alternately perform transmission and reception. There is also provided a propagation time difference detector for determining a time difference between an ultrasonic wave propagation time when one of the ultrasonic transmission/reception devices performs the transmission, and an ultrasonic wave propagation time when the other of the ultrasonic transmission/reception devices performs the transmission, and for determining a flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the time difference. When no Karman vortex is generated or when the number of generated Karman vortices is greatly reduced, the minute flow rate of the fluid is measured by the propagation time difference detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing briquettes of reduced iron, wherein a residual oil on distillation containing petroleum asphalt or petroleum pitch is sprayed on the surfaces of rolls. The petroleum asphalt or petroleum pitch are thermally cracked into hydrocarbon gas and carbon by the heat (650.degree. to 750.degree. C.) of the reduced ion. This makes it possible to prevent briquettes from sticking on roll pockets, and hence to provide stable operation of the briquette manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: A method for realizing an object-oriented language interface. A server process is performed for operating an object written in a first object-oriented language, and a client process is performed for operating another object written in a second object-oriented language. The object operated in the server process is utilized by the client process by performing a communication process through a communications path between the server process and the client process. The server process operates a server class written in the first object-oriented language and operates a communications manager for managing communications with the client process. The client process operates a virtual server class for defining a method corresponding to a method defined in the server class to utilize the method defined in the server class.

Abstract: A vortex flowmeter comprising ultrasonic wave transmitters and ultrasonic wave receivers adapted to receive ultrasonic waves transmitted by the transmitters through a flow of fluid in which vortices are generated by a vortex generator, the ultrasonic wave signals output by the ultrasonic wave receivers being compared by a phase comparator to measure the flow rate of the fluid by detecting the difference in phase of the ultrasonic waves due to generation of the vortices.

Abstract: A cross correlation flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid comprises a conduit through which the fluid to be measured the flow rate is flowing, first and second upstream sensors disposed on the conduit along a longitudinal direction thereof for sensing passage of the disturbance, a plurality of downstream sensors disposed on the conduit along the longitudinal direction of the conduit at a downstream side relative to the first and second upstream sensors for sensing the passage of the disturbance, first flow velocity detecting circuit for detecting a first flow velocity by calculating a maximum of a cross correlation of output signals from the first and second sensors, selecting circuit for selecting one of the downstream sensors providing a maximum accuracy of the flow rate responsive to the first flow velocity, and flow rate calcualting circuit for calculating the flow rate by finding out a maximum of the cross correlation of output signals from the first upstream sensor and the selected one of the d

Abstract: The present invention discloses a direct reduction process for producing reduced iron by reducing iron ores and/or pellets with reducing gases, wherein the iron ores and/or pellets are reduced to a degree of reduction of 30-80% by a reducing gas containing 15-40% by volume of methane at a temperature of more than 950.degree. C. and further reduced by a reducing gas containing high proportion of carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen at a temperature of below 1000.degree. C.