Abstract: An improvement in a high pressure condensate return unit and a method of using such a unit are disclosed. In a high pressure condensate return vessel of the type which includes a receiver portion and a deaeration portion for separating non-condensible gases from the steam condensate for venting from the vessel, the improvement includes a throttle valve responsive to the level of condensate within the vessel for controlling the amount of condensate returned directly to a steam boiler or recirculated to the interior of the unit. When fully open, the throttle valve substantially causes all of the condensate pumped from the outlet of the vessel to be returned to the vessel for deaeration, whereas when the throttle valve is fully closed, all of the condensate is provided directly to the boiler.

Abstract: An ignition timing indicator for indicating crank angle of an engine in conjunction with a measuring mark on rotary member rotatable in response to a crankshaft of the engine, is arranged not to be permanently mounted on the engine body. To do this, there are provided locating elements for temporarily locating the timing indicator at a predetermined position of the engine body without fastening the timing indicator to the engine body. Preferably, the locating elements comprise a pin fixed to the timing indicator and a locating hole formed in the engine body for fitly but removably receiving the pin of the timing indicator.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprises a catalytic converter having a monolithic catalyst, and an exhaust manifold having branch runners and a branch runner gathering section to which the catalytic converter is directly connected, the extensions of the axes of the branch runners meet a plane containing the inlet end surface of the catalyst at separate and different points, respectively, thereby uniformly supplying exhaust gas onto the entire inlet end surface of the catalyst.

Abstract: A mobile system for purifying liquids, such as water, including a truck trailer in which multiple purification treatment tanks are mounted. The system includes an inlet, an outlet, conductivity measuring equipment for monitoring the quality of the purified liquid, and specially designed liquid conduits and valves which permit the treatment tanks to be operated in series, in parallel, or in series/parallel. The treatment tanks can be filled with any desired purification material. The trailer is enclosed and heated to protect the system from cold temperatures.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle equipped with means for preventing false locking comprises additionally a slider having a supporting means at its front end, supporting the front portion of a latch member. The slider can be slid in accordance with the insertion of a tongue into the buckle. The ratchet is prevented from rotating by the supporting means until when the tongue is completely inserted to its locking position, whereby the tongue is prevented from false locking.

Abstract: A symmetrical magnetic field type objective lens for an electron microscope comprises an upper magnetic pole piece and a lower magnetic pole piece disposed below the upper pole piece with a predetermined inter-pole distance S. Bores of a same diameter b are formed in the upper and the lower pole pieces, respectively. The distance S and the diameter are selected so that 1.ltoreq.S/b.ltoreq.5. Additionally, excitation J of the objective lens is so selected with respect to a predetermined magnetomotive force Jc.o. of a Riecke-Ruska's condenser objective lens that the condition that 1.4 Jc.o..ltoreq.J.ltoreq.1.7 Jc.o. is fulfilled. The objective lens assures a wide field of view without being accompanied with blurs or distortion of image.

Abstract: A spark timing adjusting circuit receives a basic spark timing signal from a spark timing determining circuit and regulates the spark timing according to a knocking signal from a knocking detector. A speed changing circuit serves to increase the rate of advance of the spark timing after the spark timing has been retarded when the operational state of the engine is in a first predetermined range corresponding to a first speed range in which all the engine speeds are lower than a first predetermined value. The speed changing circuit may include a circuit which decreases the rate of retard of the spark timing when the operational state of the engine is in a second predetermined range corresponding to a second speed range in which all the engine speeds are higher than a second predetermined value which is higher than the first predetermined value, thereby avoiding rapid retardation of the spark timing.

Abstract: A pulse signal generator produces a first pulse signal having a pulse width substantially equal to twice the travel time required for light to travel a braking distance. A light transmitter radiates a light beam signal representing the first pulse signal so as to cover a detection area in which the braking distance is contained. A photoreceptor receives the light signal reflected by an obstacle present in the detection area and converts the received light beam signal to a second corresponding electric pulse signal. A determination device determines whether the time width of a pulse of the first signal is larger than the time interval taken from the time when the corresponding pulse of the light signal is transmitted to the time when the pulse of the light signal is received by the receptor after reflection by the obstacle.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a steerable vehicle such as an automotive vehicle, including a steering column tube fixed to the body structure of the vehicle, a steering shaft extending through and rotatable with respect to the column tube, and a steering wheel structure rotatable with the steering shaft, wherein a switch support structure supporting a switch assembly including, for example, a switch for a warning horn is arranged to be rotatable with respect to each of the steering column tube, steering shaft and steering wheel structure and is connected to the steering column tube by means of two flexible lines which are wound in such a manner that the switch support structure is held stationary with respect to the steering column tube irrespective of the turning of the steering wheel structure and the steering shaft.

Abstract: A knocking control system includes a spark timing adjusting circuit which responds to the magnitude of knocking occurring in the engine to set an amount of retardation of the timing from a reference spark timing within a predetermined range. The spark timing adjusting circuit includes a range change circuit which responds to a drive signal produced from an engine operational state determining circuit, in order to change the predetermined range.

Abstract: An engine mounting structure characterized in that a shock and vibration insulating unit and a vibration cancelling device are provided operatively in parallel with each other between the body structure of an automotive vehicle and the engine mounted on the vehicle body structure, wherein the vibration cancelling device comprises at least one rigid elongated bar having one end portion pivotally engaged by the body structure of the engine and a longitudinally intermediate portion pivotally engaged by the vehicle body structure, and a mass or counterweight member carried by another end portion of the elongated bar whereby the vibrations to be transferred through the shock and vibration insulating unit are at least partially cancelled by the vibrations to be transferred through the vibration cancelling device.

Abstract: A fuel supply control system is disclosed having a means for determining an engine load condition based on the revolution speed of a compressor shaft and a means for determining a target speed of a turbine output shaft. The latter means increases the target speed in a relatively low engine load condition to increase an inertia moment applied to the turbine output shaft and thereby to maintain the output shaft revolution speed within a given range, even when the load applied to the engine is rapidly increased.

Abstract: A turning indicator with high accuracy and reliability for its ON-OFF operational period, regardless of external conditions such as changes in ambient temperature and voltage of the battery, by means of the utilization of an oscillation source of a crystal clock used for automobiles.

Abstract: At each of a plurality of sub-time intervals within a fixed time interval, the speed and the throttle opening are accumulated sequentially. Averaged values of the speed and the throttle opening derived at every fixed time interval are used together with an averaged associated acceleration to select a correct shift pattern well matched to an actual running condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for purifying vinyl acetate contaminated with acetic acid, coloration agents, water, and/or sodium chloride. The first stage consists of removing acetic acid by passing the vinyl acetate feed through a dehydrated anion exchange resin bed. The second stage consists of removing coloration agents by passing the vinyl acetate feed through a bed of activated carbon. The third stage consists of removing water by passing the vinyl acetate feed through a bed of desiccant. The fourth stage consists of removing sodium chloride by passing the vinyl acetate feed through separate cation exchange resin and anion exchange resin beds or through a mixed resin bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling ignition system spark timing. Engine revolution speed is sensed and whether the engine is under cranking or not is sensed. Correction means are provided which, when the engine is under cranking and at the same time the engine speed is lower than a predetermined value, decreases spark advance to small values in accordance with a drop in the engine speed. A digital computer is used to calculate the preferred spark advance values in the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A color displaying method comprises determining the CIE (Commission Internationale d'Eclairage) tristimulus values of a desired color to be displayed. The tristimulus values are converted into corresponding electrical signals in accordance with the relative luminance value of the source of radiations employed to produce the desired color. A system for displaying colors is also disclosed which includes an electro-optical color imaging device. The tristimulus values of the desired color are generated in a computer in response to a set of numerical data keyed through a data input device. The tristimulus values are converted into corresponding electrical signals which are then corrected in amplitude in accordance with the emission characteristics of the imaging device. The latter is driven in response to the amplitude-corrected electrical signals to produce the desired color.

Abstract: A material for reinforcing a panel or plate includes a first resin layer having a high tensile modulus of elasticity after hardening; a second resin layer having a low tensile modulus of elasticity after hardening; an expandable member disposed between the second resin layer side and the panel to be reinforced. The expandable member is narrower than the reinforcing resin sheet. The first and second resin layers are combined in an unhardened or semi-hardened state to form a reinforcing resin sheet. The expandable member expands into a bead-like projection when heated and then hardens. The edges of the reinforcing resin sheet extend beyond the edges of the bead-forming member or expandable member is such a manner that the second resin layer of the reinforcing resin sheet can be attached to the panel or plate.

Abstract: A reinforcing material, comprises a reinforcing resin sheet which is unhardened or semi-hardened to be flexible prior to its use; a high tensile-strength fiber for reinforcing the resin sheet in its longitudinal direction; a low tensile-strength fiber for reinforcing the resin sheet in its transverse direction; and an expandable material narrower than the resin sheet. The expandable material is flexible, at least before the reinforcing material is used. The expandable material is made of a material which can expand to form a bead-like projection before the resin sheet is hardened. The expandable material is fixed to the resin sheet. The resin sheet has its edge portions extending beyond the expandable material so that the underside surface of the edge portion constitutes a surface which can be affixed to the surface to be reinforced.