Abstract: A continuous high flow rate process for the transport of metal ions from a first aqueous liquid to a nonaqueous, water-immiscible liquid and therefrom to a second aqueous liquid. The nonaqueous liquid contains one or more complexing agents and is kept separated from the metal-ion-transferring aqueous liquid by one or more microporous hydrophobic membranes. A portion of the nonaqueous liquid is found in the pores of these membranes. The bulk of the nonaqueous liquid, however, is circulated through two or more transport zones. The transport of the metal ions to the second aqueous liquid occurs by mechanically mixing the nonaqueous liquid with the second aqueous liquid to form a mixture having an aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is separated from the mixture by means of an isolation process using membranes. The present process is well suited for processes involving the coupled co-transport and counter-transport of metal ions and can be used advantageously in ore dressing and wastewater treatment.

Abstract: In a vehicle front suspension of the type wherein a control arm is vertically pivotally mounted to a vehicle body at two inboard end portions thereof spaced apart substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction through respectively a front and a rear elastic linkage bearing and is horizontally pivotably connected at an outboard end portion thereof with a wheel support member bearing a knuckle arm extending rearwardly and rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel, and the free end of the knuckle arm is pivotably connected with an end portion of a tie rod for steering of the vehicle, the rear elastic linkage bearing is constructed to exhibit non-linear spring characteristics such as to exhibit a first spring constant with respect to force acting thereto in a vehicle lateral direction and not exceeding a certain value and a second spring constant which is lower than said first spring constant with respect to the lateral force exceeding said certain value, and the first spring constant of the rear elastic linkage

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston for partitioning the interior of a cylinder into two liquid chambers while affording communication between both liquid chambers through a plurality of ports, and a valve body biased toward the piston for opening and closing the ports. The piston has a ring portion which forms a path in cooperation with the valve body for regulating the amount of liquid flowing from the ports around an outer peripheral edge of the valve body. An effective area of the ports is larger than the maximum effective area of the path.

Abstract: A method for producing a blow molded, heat set container including at least one large collapse panel in a side wall of the container. The area of the side wall of the container forming a collapse panel is heat set at a different temperature than the area of the side wall of the container adjacent to the collapse panel to prevent distortion of the large collapse panel when the container is removed from the mold.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure forming die has a forming section provided with at least forming channels and a plurality of opening holes. The forming channels have a sectional shape conforming to that of honeycomb structural bodies to be extruded by the die, and have a given depth from a front face of the die toward a rear face thereof. The opening holes are independently formed from the die rear face toward the die front face and communicate with the forming channels. The honeycomb structure forming die is further provided with communicating holes which communicate with the opening holes of the forming section.

Abstract: Determination of the engagement of a lockup clutch is performed in a system for integrally controlling an automatic transmission and an engine, wherein gear stages can be automatically switched in accordance with a preset map, the lockup clutch of a torque converter is engageable during at least one gear stage, and engine torque is changed during shifting to maintain satisfactory shift characteristics. The engagement is determined not only in response to an engaging signal of the lockup clutch from the computer, but also in consideration of a time lag after the engaging signal is turned ON. Alternatively, engagement is determined by detecting the rotary speeds of the engine and the turbine of the torque converter when the engaging signal is ON. As a result, mistaken determinations of engagement of the lockup clutch are avoided.

Abstract: The apparatus disclosed is a co-ordinate measuring machine having a column (33) movable relative to an object (11) for determining the contour (12) thereof. A tube (15) movable relative to the column (33) has a lens (18) focussing light to a sensing point (19) intended to lie at the contour (12). When, on moving the column (33) across the contour (12), the contour (12) rises relative to the column (33) and the lens (18), the change is at first detected by an optical position sensor (23) which produces an error signal (26A) to a motor (27) causing the latter to move the tube (15) in the sense restoring the sensing point (19) to the new position of the contour (12). The movement of the tube (15) is sensed by a further position sensor (30) which outputs a signal (30Z) connected to move the column (33) in the sense of restoring its previous position relative to the tube (15).

Abstract: A heat transfer sheet having a heat transfer layer on one surface of a base sheet, said heat transfer layer being formed of a material containing a dye substantially dissolved in a binder with a weight ratio of the dye to the binder (dye/binder ratio) of 0.3 or more, and said base sheet having a heat-resistant slipping layer provided on the surface on which the heat transfer layer is not provided.A heat transferable sheet to be used in combination with the heat transfer sheet, comprising a receptive sheet having (a) a base sheet and (b) a receptive layer for receiving the dye migrated from the above-mentioned heat transfer sheet on heating, said receptive sheet having an intermediate layer provided between the base sheet and the receptive layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for transferring metal ions from an aqueous liquid to a non-aqueous liquid and then to another aqueous liquid. The non-aqueous liquid contains one or more complexing agents and is kept separate from the aqueous liquid releasing metal ions by one or more microporous hydrophobic membrane(s). The non-aqueous liquid is circulated through two or more transfer zones in which the metal ions are taken up and released. The metal ions are released from the non-aqueous liquid into the second aqueous liquid by mechanical mixing of the two phases, followed by a mechanical separation process. The flow of metal ions obtained by this low-cost process is higher than in other processes. The process facilitates coupled co- and counter transport and may be used with advantage, inter alia, in the dressing of ores and in effluent treatment.

Abstract: High density fine ceramic sintered bodies are disclosed, which have a maximum pore diameter of not more than 10 .mu.m and a porosity of not more than 0.5%. A process for producing such high density fine ceramic sintered bodies comprises the steps of mixing a ceramic raw material powder with a sintering aid, grinding the resulting mixture granulating and shaping the mixture, and firing the shaped body. The granulated powder is once forcedly dried, and upon necessity is added with water and/or sieved to obtain a uniform granulated powder having a given amount of water.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite ceramic structure, including: preparing a formed ceramic piece which constitutes a portion of the composite ceramic structure; preparing a rubber mold having a molding surface defining a remaining portion of the composite ceramic structure; positioning the rubber mold in contact with a joining part of the formed ceramic piece from which the remaining portion of the composite ceramic structure extends; covering an exposed surface of the formed ceramic piece, and at least an end of the rubber mold adjacent to the joining part of the formed ceramic piece, with an elastic member; filling the rubber mold with a mass of ceramic powder such that the mass of ceramic powder contacts the joining part of the formed ceramic piece, the mass of ceramic powder being substantially identical in composition with a ceramic material of which the formed ceramic piece is formed; applying a static hydraulic pressure to an assembly of the formed ceramic piece and the mass of ceramic powder in the ru

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding with compressed gas a weapon of the type including a gas reserve, a valve that can move inside a valve housing and a valve seat located in this housing, holding and guiding a valve rod. This device includes an expansion unit interposed between the gas reserve and the valve, consisting of a first expansion chamber communicating with the gas reserve and a second chamber, the chambers being separated by a calibrated orifice. The volume of the second chamber is smaller than that of the first chamber. Both chambers are delimited by hollow cylindrical elements, the cylinder which constitutes the second chamber projecting into the valve housing, its end constituting the valve stop so that the distance between the stop of the seat and the valve stop determines the valve stroke. The motive power that closes the valve consists of the reaction force generated by the impact of the valve against the stop, on the one hand, and of the compressed gas pressure, on the other hand.

Abstract: A diagnostic system of an air-fuel ratio control device including an O.sub.2 sensor and an air bleed control valve actuated in response to a signal output by the O.sub.2 sensor. When the electric control current fed into the air bleed control valve reaches an upper limit or lower limit and remains at the upper limit or lower limit for a fixed time, the diagnostic system determines that the air-fuel ratio control device has malfunctioned. When the temperature of the engine cooling water is high, a diagnosis is prohibited, to prevent an incorrect diagnosis.

Abstract: Cylindrical plastic pieces (i.e., preforms) each with a bottom are supplied one by one to jigs circulated through the heating and blowing mold of a biaxial-orientation blow-molding machine. The pieces are formed of polyethylene terephthalate material to obtain transparent thin-walled bottle-shaped containers, and are formed in cylindrical shape each with a semispherical bottom and a prefinished neck portion molded simultaneously in large number by an injection molding machine.

Abstract: A matrix switching apparatus for preventing a pseudo input condition caused by a detour of a signal as well as output of an erroneous signal caused by a noise intruding into an apparatus and the like, in which a plurality of key lines having a plurality of switches are arranged in the first and second directions respectively. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting an ON condition of the plurality of the switches by a time-sharing detection, a counter for counting up a number of the switches which are in the ON condition simultaneously, both totally and respectively with the key lines, a storage means for storing a first, second, third and fourth statuses which represent the condition of the switches respectively, and a controller for inverting the second status into the first status.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust gas passage, an actual air-fuel ratio is adjusted in accordance with the outputs of the upstream-side and downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensors. Also, when the output of the upstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is in an abnormal state, an alarm is generated.

Abstract: A trigger type liquid dispenser having a nozzle unit including a nozzle at its front end, a pump operated by a trigger and a container mount, in which the pump is operated by the trigger and has an annular cylinder including concentric outer and inner cylindrical members of double wall shape projecting forwardly of a body, and a piston unit telescoped in the annular cylinder and having an annular piston sliding on the inner surface of the outer cylindrical member and the outer surface of the inner cylindrical member. The piston unit has skirts annularly flared at the axial edges of the sliding surfaces which coact with the surface of the inner and outer cylindrical members to form a pump chamber. A spring is contained in a spring chamber formed of a bore in the inner cylindrical member of the annular cylinder with the piston unit telescoped about the inner cylindrical member, the spring urging the piston unit outwardly of the annular cylinder.

Abstract: A latching mechanism comprises an energy storage system having a first closing spring, and a second opening and earthing spring, arranged between a transmission device and a closing control crankshaft and an earthing crank. A retaining plate pivoting on an axis cooperates on the one hand with an opening control lock by means of a unidirectional locking and on the other hand with the crankshaft by means of two latchings. The first latching is released during the opening travel after the lock has been unlocked, and the second latching causes positive locking of the device at the beginning of the closing travel of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A compact sorting machine inverts recorded sheets into a face-down attitude and discharges them into individual trays. When a recorded sheet is sent from a feed opening, this sheet is transported on a transport path located below entrances of a plurality of trays. Guide members disposed in the vicinity of each tray entrance are driven according to a control signal so that the recorded sheet is discharged into individual trays. At this time, a guide member having an arc-shape simultaneously inverts the recorded sheet into a face-down attitude.

Abstract: A stud driver has threaded jaws with thread relief provided on a leading edge area of the jaws to reduce thread marking or deformation of the thread on the stud when the stud is driven under high torque conditions. The thread relief in the leading edge area of the jaws creates a shallower angle and increases contact area. If the stud driver is subjected to unusually high torques, the increased contact area prevents shearing of the thread on the stud.