Abstract: A method of inspecting non-destructively a specimen for examining the presence or absence of a defect in the specimen, in which an ultrasonic wave is emitted from a probe and a reflected wave from the specimen is received by the probe whose output signal is processed to determine the presence or absence of the defect. The signal processing includes steps of extracting characteristic parameters from a frequency spectrum of the ultrasonic echo and comparing the extracted parameter with corresponding experimentally or theoretically determined values. The invention makes it possible to automatically determine discriminatively whether the reflector of the ultrasonic echo is a configured portion, a weld boundary or a defect of a specimen to be inspected.

Abstract: A direct drive type servo motor in which a spool is driven directly by a force motor, the force of the force motor being balanced by the reactional force generated by a resilient member to stabilize the position of the spool to control the flow of working fluid. The resilient member is constituted by a metallic cylindrical member having holes formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof. The holes are arranged such that, when the force is applied to the cylindrical member in the axial direction, the cylindrical member produces an axial reactional force. In consequence, the generation of force component which would act to press the spool against the sleeve is avoided to reduce the friction between the spool and the sleeve to permit a smooth movement of the spool, while allowing the resilient member to have a high spring constant to improve the response characteristic of the servo valve.

Abstract: A granulating apparatus comprising a device which adds a binder of an epoxy resin or the like into a powder to-be-treated, a screw feeder which conveys the powder to-be-treated containing the binder, and rolls which compression-molds it. By rotating the screw feeder and the rolls, the powder to-be-treated is caused to induce internal friction and to generate heat, thereby to temporarily dissolve the binder, whereupon the powder to-be-treated is pelletized. In order to temporarily dissolve the binder, the granulating apparatus is equipped with a device for measuring the temperature of the powder to-be-treated, and a controller for controlling the stirring speed of the screw feeder and the molding speed of the rolls on the basis of the measured value so as to establish a desired temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is disclosed for continuously producing an indefinite length strip of material in a mold with monitoring of such operating characteristics as product temperature, product pressure, product quantity, film temperature, film pressure, film quantity, reaction time, processing time, product through speed, and the like, together with comparing such monitored values with "profiles" of the desired characteristics to provide for close and quick control of such characteristics. The profile is a comparison standard for each characteristic and defined as a fixed curve representing the desired change of such characteristic with respect to another characteristic, for example, the desired variable temperature along the length of a molding apparatus. Most preferably, foam products are produced.

Abstract: A tilting shelf type vertical conveyor wherein a plurality of shelves are pivotally mounted between two endless chains that are driven by pairs of upper and lower sprockets, is provided with a shelf control system having effectively a single track formed by a first track half adjacent one chain and a second track half adjacent the other chain. One side of the shelf is provided with two rollers for engaging in one of the tracks, whereas the other side of the shelf is provided with two rollers, generally at right angles to the first two rollers, for engagement with the other track. The shelf position is controlled during the conveying run by one set of rollers and track, and during the return run with the other set of rollers and track.

Abstract: A small amount of chlorine contained in the converted potassium sulfate obtained by dry-mixing and heating potassium chloride with sulfuric acid or potassium hydrogensulfate can greatly be reduced by totally pulverizing the potassium sulfate to 60 mesh pass, and then calcining at 300.degree. to 500.degree. C. for 5 minutes to one hour. The chlorine content is further reduced by adding a small amount of water or dilute sulfuric acid prior to calcination.

Abstract: A security storage box for papers of a similar size, such as checks, is provided by a one piece molded container, one piece molded lid, and accessories such as a handle, key lock securing the lid to the container, adjustable interior partition wall to adjust the container for a different volume of papers, and a transparent envelope on one end wall of the container to secure identification cards. The container and lid are provided with various reinforcing ribs and flanges, and an interlocking structure to secure multiple lidded containers in a stacked position with like end walls aligned.

Abstract: A shelf support bracket including a flat rectangular plate having opposite end edges and opposite side edges. Tabs extend outwardly from the plate in one direction for mounting same to a vertical column. Flanges extend outwardly from the side edges of the plate in a direction opposite to the tabs. The flanges have a length substantially less than the length of the side edges. The opposite ends of the flanges are provided with hooks which are spaced different distances from the plate end edges. This allows the plate to be inverted for selectively supporting a shelf on one or the other of the hooks to vary the elevation of the shelf.

Abstract: Provided is a method for foreseeing the residual life of a structural member, making use of an X-ray, comprising: preparing a plurality of test pieces made of the same material and subjected to the same working and heat-treating conditions as the structural member to be examined of which the fatigue strength is in question; executing fatigue tests with said test pieces till failure under a plurality of different stress conditions; obtaining for each stress the relationship between the residual life of said test piece and the halfvalue width ratio of X-ray diffraction profile; determining, from the above-mentioned relationships, a first relationship region between the halfvalue width ratio and the residual life that is independent of the level of the stress; measuring the halfvalue width ratio of said structural member; and determining the residual life of said structural member from the measured halfvalue width ratio in accordance with said first relationship region.

Abstract: A combustion process for reducing nitrogen oxides in combustors is proposed wherein combustion takes place successively forming an incomplete combustion zone, a reducing combustion zone, and a complete combustion zone, respectively corresponding to primary burners, secondary burners and air ports or after-burners, successively arranged in the direction of gas stream in a furnace. According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce nitrogen oxides by improving a manner of combustion without providing any denitrating apparatuses for exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method of determining fatigue life of metals that are subject to the cyclic load. A metal that exhibits a half-value width that varies depending upon the degree of deformation by fatigue is melt-adhered onto a recessed portion formed in a metal of which the life is to be determined. The two metals are subjected to the cyclic load simultaneously. Then, the melt-adhered metal is irradiated with an X-ray, and a half-value width of an S-N curve of the resulting diffracted X-ray is measured, thereby to determine the fatigue life of the metal of which the life is to be estimated. The method is effective for accurately determining the life even for the metals which exhibit half-value widths that change very little depending upon the degree of deformation by fatigue.

Abstract: A rotary shaft seal device in a hydraulic machine. With the water seal segments in the conventional water seal device, a gap tends to be generated between the inner peripheral surface of the segment packing and the outer peripheral surface of a liner of the rotary shaft due to the wear during use and progressively developed. The present invention contemplates to minimize the gaps between the adjacent segments and guide members interposed between the adjacent segments are solidly secured, whereby the flow rate of water leakage through the segments is reduced and the segments themselves are improved in mechanical strength, so that the segments can be reduced in size and the water seal device itself can be rendered compact in size.

Abstract: An adjustable cantilever rack containing means for accurately setting the elevational position of the outer end of the supporting arms. The cantilever rack includes a column of rectangular cross sectional shape, a base secured to the bottom of the column, a load supporting arm and a channel-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of the arm and adapted to fit around the column. Rows of circular spaced apertures formed in the column are adapted to receive bearing pins which are slidably insertable therethrough. An additional pair of apertures are formed in the flange portions of the bracket so that when aligned with the apertures in the column, a gap exists between the web portion of the bracket and the column. A pair of set screws are threadedly engaged with a corresponding pair of threaded apertures in the web portion of the bracket below the supporting arm for adjustably controlling the width of the gap and thereby adjustably controlling the elevational position of the outer end of the supporting arm.