Abstract: For use in a fuel cell, constituted by plural cells, a separator that can reduce fluctuations in electromotive force across respective cells includes a recessed gas path. Depth fluctuations of the gas path can be reduced. It is formed easily even if the separator is formed of a hard material. The gas path having plural depths or gradation can be formed easily. An electrically conductive member, as a separator, and a processing electrode, having patterned electrode projections, are immersed in an electrolytic solution facing each other. Current is fed between the conductive member and electrode for electrolytic processing to dissolve the portion of the conductive member facing the projections, thus forming a gas path having a surface roughness Rz on this bottom surface not larger than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A disk rotor is produced using pre-forms. A manufacturing device 10 includes lower mold 11 and upper mold 12. The lower mold 11 includes support block 13, main body part of the lower mold 14, inclined pins 15, core elements 16 and slider 17. In securing and supporting pre-forms 4A, 5A, a cylinder 18 is actuated to cause upward movement of the support block 13 and the main body part of the lower mold 14, during which movement, core elements 16 and slider 17 are slid relatively outwards along inclined pins 15. In this state, the pre-forms 4A, 5A are guided to preset sites. The support block 13 and the main body part of the lower mold 14 are then moved downwards, during which movement, core elements 16 and slider 17 are slid relatively inwards along the inclined pins 15. In this state, the pre-forms 4A, 5A are supported and secured stably to define a cavity.

Abstract: A disk rotor is produced using pre-forms. A manufacturing device 10 includes lower mold 11 and upper mold 12. The lower mold 11 includes support block 13, main body part of the lower mold 14, inclined pins 15, core elements 16 and slider 17. In securing and supporting pre-forms 4A, 5A, a cylinder 18 is actuated to cause upward movement of the support block 13 and the main body part of the lower mold 14, during which movement, core elements 16 and slider 17 are slid relatively outwards along inclined pins 15. In this state, the pre-forms 4A, 5A are guided to preset sites. The support block 13 and the main body part of the lower mold 14 are then moved downwards, during which movement, core elements 16 and slider 17 are slid relatively inwards along the inclined pins 15. In this state, the pre-forms 4A, 5A are supported and secured stably to define a cavity.

Abstract: A method of removing a molded article, which makes it possible to remove easily said molded article without causing deformation and damages thereto and an apparatus for same. The method comprises removing a sand core W which is obtained using a sand core forming mold 12 comprising a fixed and movable molds 21 and 31 from a sand core forming mold 12 by a separating movable mold 31 from the fixed mold 21 to perform a mold opening. The fixed mold 21 is provided with a fixed mold side core 23 having a front end face 23a forming a part of a first molding face 22, which is extendable and retractable in a mold opening direction A1. The movable mold 31 is provided with a movable mold side core 33 having a front end face 33a forming a part of a second molding face 32, which is extendable and retractable in a mold opening direction A1. The relation in which the sand core W is held between both cores 23 and 33 is kept by extending both cores 23 and 33 in a mold opening direction A1.

Abstract: A casting device for metallic product includes a main unit 1 having a pressurizing chamber 14 and casting cavities 16 for accommodating a metallic material M, a pressurizing unit 3 for pressurizing the metallic material M contained in the pressurizing chamber 14 to cause the metallic material to flow into the casting cavities 16 and a blade unit 4 provided between the pressurizing chamber 14 and the casting cavities 16. The blade unit 4 includes a scraper edge 41 for scraping the outer layer of the metallic material M pressurized by the pressurizing unit 3. After the end of the scraping operation for the outer layer M2 of the metallic material M, the blade unit 4 is moved by the first driving unit 51 from the scraping position A1 to a disengaging position. Thereby, the metallic material can be readily separated from the blade unit.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric rotary machine includes a rotatable rotor body, a plurality of magnet portions provided at the rotor body in circumferential direction with a certain interval, and a supporting portion provided at the rotor body for supporting the plurality of the magnet portions. At least the supporting portion of the rotor body is made of ferritic cast iron as base material.

Abstract: A method of die casting spheroidal graphite cast iron able to prevent formation of chill crystals to allow the crystallization of fine spheroidal graphite and simultaneously prevent the formation of internal defects, including the steps of preparing a die formed with a heat insulation layer at inside walls of a cavity, filling molten metal having a composition of the spheroidal graphite cast iron through a runner into the cavity, closing the runner so as to seal the cavity right before the molten metal in the cavity starts to solidify, and allowing the molten metal to solidify by the action of the inside pressure caused by crystallization of the spheroidal graphite in the sealed cavity.

Abstract: A metal die device for casting of a simpler device structure by which a cast product having an undercut may directly be produced is disclosed. A casting (cavity) S is provided between a fixed die 21 and a movable die 31 as a movable core 40 having an undercut forming projection 41 is interposed between the fixed and movable dies. A swing member 54, caused to swing by a cylinder 51, is provided overlying the movable die 31. On the swing member 54, there is provided a cylinder 57 for vertically sliding the core 40. In die opening, following casting, the core 40 is vertically slid and subsequently caused to swing towards an upper outer side to release the core 40 from the cast product. Degree of freedom in metal designing is achieved without excess restriction in the shape or position of the undercut.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ferrite-based spheroidal graphite cast iron containing the following elements in the following contents in % by weight: C: 3.1 to 4.0%; Si: 3.6 to 4.6%; Mo: 0.3 to 1.0%; V: 0.1 to 1.0%; Mn: 0.15 to 1.6%; and Mg: 0.02 to 0.10%, and the total content of V and Mn is 0.3 to 2.0 wt %, and an exhaust system component using the spheroidal graphite cast iron. Thus, the ferrite-based spheroidal graphite cast iron having higher heat resistance than that of a conventional high Si spheroidal graphite cast iron that can be produced inexpensively by a simple method.

Abstract: A method for producing a separator integrated with a gas flow channel of fuel cells efficiently at low costs without deteriorating processing accuracy and the like. A plane-facing electrode nozzle 30 is placed oppositely to the face to be processed, which is partially covered with a mask M, of base material B of a separator. While feeding electricity to the electrode nozzle 30 and the base material B of a separator, an electrolytic solution is injected and fed from the side of the electrode nozzle 30 to the face to be processed of the base material B from a direction that is almost perpendicular to the face. Thereby, the unmasked portion undergoes electrolytic etching with the electrolytic solution lying between the face to be processed and the electrode nozzle 30 to form recessed portions for making a gas flow channel.

Abstract: A method for producing a separator in which a recessed gas path is formed. Depth fluctuations of the gas path can be reduced. The gas path having plural depths or gradation can be formed easily. An electrically conductive member 3, as a separator, and a processing electrode 16, having patterned electrode projections 20, are immersed in an electrolytic solution facing each other. Current is fed between member 3 and electrode 16 for electrolytic processing to dissolve the portion of the member 3 facing projections 20, thus forming a gas path 30 having a surface roughness Rz on this bottom surface 30e not larger than 1 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A plant-cultivating artificial material includes: a porous sintered body containing at least one of silica and alumina; and a substance being mainly composed of a bone material component or calcium phosphate. A process for producing the plant-cultivating artificial material includes the steps of: preparing a base material containing at least one of silica and alumina, and a miring substance mainly composed of at least one of bone material and an additive; forming a green body; and heating the green body to obtain a porous sintered body so as to hold a bone material component or calcium phosphate in the porous sintered body. The porous sintered body may include a nitric acid component. The process may include the step of bringing the porous sintered body into contact with a liquid containing a nitric acid component.

Abstract: For use in a fuel cell, constituted by plural cells, a separator that can reduce fluctuations in electromotive force across respective cells. An electrically conductive member 3, as a separator, and a processing electrode 16, having patterned electrode projections 20, are immersed in an electrolytic solution facing each other. Current is fed between member 3 and electrode 16 for electrolytic processing to dissolve the portion of the member 3 facing projections 20, thus forming a gas path 30 having a surface roughness Rz on this bottom surface 30e not larger than 1 &mgr;m. Using the separator having the gas path with extremely smooth bottom surface, the gas flow in each cell proceeds in a reduced fluctuation to reduce fluctuations in the electromotive force.

Abstract: A fuel cell and a separator for same meritorious in reducing the weight and improving resistance against corrosion. In a fuel cell having a separator 2, the separator 2 includes an aluminum-based substrate 6, an intermediate plating layer layered on the aluminum-based substrate 6 and a noble metal layer 72 layered on the intermediate plating layer. The intermediate plating layer can be made up of a zinc-substitution plating layer 70 and a copper plating layer 71. The noble metal layer 72 can be a silver plating layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a plurality of unit cells each including electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte membrane in-between, and a plurality of separators (3) each arranged between the unit cells. Each separator (3) has a plurality of contact lugs (65, 75) facing the electrodes and contacting the electrodes at pre-set contact widths and a plurality of fluid ducts (6a, 7a) each having a space between neighboring ones of the contact lugs (65, 75) as a duct width. The contact width of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid outlet is set smaller than that of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid inlet. Diffusion of an active material in an active material containing fluid into the inside of electrodes on a downstream side of a fluid duct, that is on a side closer to a fluid outlet, is facilitated.

Abstract: A disc rotor used in a disc brake which generates a vibration having a large component in the axial direction of the disc rotor when a brake pad is pressed against the disc rotor. The disc rotor has a hat portion to be fixed to an axle hub of a vehicle. A sliding portion, which is pressed by a brake pad so as to generate a brake force, is connected to the hat portion via a connecting portion. A plurality of ribs are provided to increase a rigidity of the connecting portion. A low-rigidity portion having a rigidity less than the sliding portion and the connecting portion may be provided between the sliding portion and the connecting portion.

Abstract: A silicone resin-metal composite comprising a thin metal plate and a silicone resin layer formed on at least one side of the thin metal plate by injection molding, wherein a silicone resin layer has a thickness of from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm and a hardness within a range of from 20 to 70 (JIS K6301 spring type hardness test A).

Abstract: The present invention provides foam molding equipment which has an advantage in performing exchange of a molding dies within a short time period and in improving productivity thereof, and which is most suitable, in particular, to the case of using upsized molding dies. The equipment is provided with a fixed die base 21, movable die base 8, a die opening/closing mechanism to move the movable die base 8 together with a movable die 12, and a base frame 1. The fixed die base 21 is detachable from the base frame 1. Molding dies comprising a stationary die 11 and a movable die 12 is preliminarily attached to the fixed die base 21 to form a unit 20. The base frame 1 is provided with a loading surface 4 to load the unit 20 and a unit connector 27 to fix the unit loaded on the loading surface 4 to the base frame 1. The unit 20 is loaded on the loading surface 4 in a detachable manner.

Abstract: A disc rotor formed of flaky graphite cast iron in which the natural frequency of the disc rotor is set by the graphite length in the flaky graphite cast iron structure.For preventing resonant vibrations ascribable to the self-excited vibrations of the component parts of disc brakes, such as pads, the natural frequency of the disc rotor are shifted from the frequency of excited vibrations of the component parts of disc brakes, such as pads.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide an inorganic porous body which can be ensured with high strength and high porosity and which is applicable to soil conditioners. The inorganic porous body has a pellet-shape having pores, includes 50% and more silica by weight, and 20% and more alumina by weight. Also, the inorganic porous body has a porosity of 40% and more by volume. The sludge, which discharged from casting foundries as sludge-wastes and which has an ignition loss of 20%, is utilized as a starting material. The starting material is mixed with water to make a mixture, the mixture is formed to become pellets, and the pellets are burned.