Abstract: Three non-contact type displacement sensors are positioned at the vertices of an equilateral triangle and disposed in opposition to an optical flat attached to the tip of a rotating shaft, while the optical flat is rotated at a slight tilt away from parallel. Undulation components synchronized with the rotation are detected from among signals indicating the relative displacement between the optical flat and displacement sensors during rotation, and the individual phase differences are found for two adjacent displacement sensors among the three synchronized components. As a result, three circles can be drawn through the positions of the centers of (two) adjacent displacement sensors, and the position of the center of rotation of the shaft coincides with the coordinates of the point of intersection of the three circles.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring transient earth current includes a detection electrode and a second electrode disposed beneath the surface of the earth in vertical alignment with one another at depths greater than those to which electromagnetic waves generated above the surface of the earth having commercial power line frequencies penetrate, such that the electrical resistance between the detection electrode and the second electrode is on the order of several tens of thousands of ohms, and a charge detector for detecting only high frequency components of a current flowing between the detection electrode and the second electrode. On the basis of these detected high frequency components, the likelihood of an occurance of an earthquake may be determined.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkanoyl peroxide is provided which is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 independently stand for an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, provided that Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 are joined to each other in one of the three patterns of union, 1) direct union, 2) union through the medium of an oxygen atom or 3) union through the medium of a nitrogen atom to form one of the three rings, i.e. five-membered ring, six-membered ring or seven-membered ring.

Abstract: A surge protection device for absorbing surges of either polarity has a second region forming a first pn junction with a first region, a third region capable of injecting first minority carriers into the second region, a fourth region forming a second pn junction with the first region and a fifth region capable of injecting second minority carriers into the fourth region. The surfaces of the fourth region and the fifth region and a first Schottky junction with respect to the first region are in mutual electrical connection with a first ohmic electrode, while the surfaces of the second region and the third region and a second Schottky junction with respect to the first region are in mutual electrical connection with a second ohmic electrode.

Abstract: A vertical type surge protection device for absorbing surges of either polarity has a second region forming a first pn junction with a first region, a third region forming a first minority carrier injection junction with respect to the second region, a fourth region forming a second pn junction with the first region and a fifth region forming a second minority carrier injection junction with the fourth region. When the absolute value of a surge voltage applied across the device exceeds the breakdown voltage, either the one of the first and second pn junctions that is reverse biased owing to the surge polarity breaks down or punch-through occurs between the first and third regions or between the first and fifth regions, whereafter breakover ensues as a result of positive feedback.

Abstract: A pillared clay possessing the ability to exchange cations is produced by a method which comprises heating a cation-exchange clay consisting of (1) silicate layers composed of octahedrons of alumina having part of the aluminum thereof substituted by magnesium or octahedrons of magnesia having part of the magnesium thereof substituted by lithium and tetrahedrons of silica and parallelly arranged in a state assuming negative electric charge and (2) exchangeable cations interposed between the silicate layers in a state retaining an electric charge balance with the negative electric charge of the silicate layers, thereby causing part of the exchangeable cations to be fixed in the silicate layers and inducing a decrease in the cation-exchange capacity of the clay, then cross-linking the interstices between the silicate layers of the clay, and thereafter causing liberation of the fixed cations.

Abstract: A method of generating micro-topography on a surface comprises the steps of using an analog signal to record a magnetic latent image corresponding to the micro-topography to be formed on the surface of a magnetic medium, applying to the magnetic medium a DC magnetic field weaker than its coercive force, supplying a magnetic fluid to the surface of the magnetic medium and allowing super-fine magnetic particles in the magnetic fluid to be attracted to and deposited on the magnetic medium in accordance with the intensity distribution of the leakage magnetic field from the magnetic latent image, and fixing the super-fine magnetic particles.

Abstract: A flow battery comprises a plurality of unit cells each constituted of stacked unit cells each consisting of a prescribed number of stacked diaphragms and positive electrode chambers and negative electrode chambers separated by the diaphragms, a positive electrode fluid tank associated with each unit cell to have its outlet connected with an inlet of the positive electrode chamber of the unit cell and its inlet connected with an outlet of the positive chamber of a immediately preceding unit cell, a negative electrode fluid tank associated with each unit cell to have it outlet connected with an inlet of the negative chamber of the unit cell and its inlet connected with outlet of the negative chamber of an immediately preceding unit cell, a pump for supplying positive electrode fluid from the positive electrode fluid tanks to the positive electrode chambers, a pump for supplying negative electrode fluid from the negative electrode fluid tanks to the negative electrode chambers, and means for electrically connec

Abstract: A self reconfigurable cellular robotic system comprises cells having arms which can be independently extended and retracted in both directions along three orthogonal axes by actuators and coupling member at the distal ends of the arms for coupling adjacent cells. The arrangement of the cells can be modified by extending and retracting the arms and coupling and uncoupling the coupling members.

Abstract: A shearing interferometer measures the aberration of a lens by passing a beam through the lens, splitting the beam into plural beams with a slightly wedged plate and causing interference between the wavefronts of the beams. The front and rear optical surfaces of the wedged plate are coated with reflective thin films each having a specific reflectance and transmittance.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkanoyl peroxide is provided which is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 independently stand for an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, provided that Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 are joined to each other in one of the three patterns of union, 1) direct union, 2) union through the medium of an oxygen atom or 3) union through the medium of a nitrogen atom to form one of the three rings, i.e. five-membered ring, six-membered ring or seven-membered ring.

Abstract: A catalyst for the reduction of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide includes tungsten sulfide alone or at least one catalyst support selected from among alumina, silica, activated carbon, zeolite, iron oxide, zirconia, titania, ferrite, yttria thoria, lanthania, neodymia and activated clay and tungsten sulfide deposited on the support. The catalyst is produced, for example, by a method including the steps of adding the support to an aqueous solution of ammonium tetrathiotungstate, an aqueous ammoniacal solution of it or an acid solution of it, drying the resultant solution and heating the resultant dried solid in a current of hydrogen, nitrogen, argon or helium, thereby decomposing the solid.

Abstract: A method for the production of a standard oxide sample for X-ray fluorescence analysis of an impurity element contained in an inorganic compound. The standard oxide sample is produced by accurately weighing a high-purity compound of the type of the main-component element of the inorganic compound, dissolving the weighed compound in an acid, adding an element of the type of the impurity element to be subjected to determination in a prescribed amount to the acid solution, evaporating the resultant solution to dryness, and heating the dry residue of evaporation.

Abstract: A time series signal multichannel frequency analyzer comprises a Fourier transform lens, a liquid crystal panel disposed at the front focal plane of the Fourier transform lens, means for inputting a time signal from a different signal source to each scanning line of the liquid crystal panel, observation means disposed at the rear focal plane of the Fourier transform lens, and a cylindrical lens disposed between the Fourier transform lens and an observation plane of the observation means.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermoelectric material comprises molding a material powder comprising two or more elements selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tellurium, antimony and selenium and having average diameter in the range from 0.05 to 100 .mu.m and sintering the molded material powder with or without hot isostatic pressing. The material powder may be calcinated before the molding. A process for producing a thermoelectric element comprises cutting out pieces of a pillar-like shape from each of a p-type thermoelectric material and a n-type thermoelectric material, connecting the pieces cut out from the p-type thermoelectric material and the pieces cut out from the n-type thermoelectric material alternately with electrodes at the upper faces or the lower faces of the pieces and attaching insulating base plates to the surfaces of the electrodes. The p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material are respectively produced by the process described above.

Abstract: A method for improving the transient thermal properties of hydrostatic air main spindles for precision machine tools comprises the steps of installing an entire precision machine tool that has a main spindle with an air-lubricated hydrostatic bearing in a temperature-controlled constant-temperature environment, and raising the temperature of the lubricating air supplied to the air-lubricated hydrostatic bearing above the temperature of the constant-temperature environment until the thermal displacement of the main spindle reaches a target value, and thereafter lowering it below the temperature of the constant-temperature environment.

Abstract: A C/C composite including a carbon matrix and carbon fibers and exhibiting a crystal structure of the carbon matrix differing between (a) the portion at and in the vicinity of the interface between the carbon fibers and the carbon matrix and (b) the other portion of the carbon matrix and excelling in strength and thermal conductivity is produced by a method which includes intercalating a carbonizing catalyst in carbon fibers, causing said carbon fibers having said carbonizing catalyst intercalated therein to be impregnated with a precursor of a carbon matrix, and then firing the product of impregnation.

Abstract: Organic group modified silica particles modified by at least one of an alkyl group of a carbon number of 1-6 and a substituted alkyl group of a carbon number of 1-6; a method of producing such modified silica particles comprising the steps of preparing an alcohol solution containing an alkoxy silane having at least one of an alkyl group of a carbon number of 1-6 and a substituted alkyl group of a carbon number of 1-6, and ethylsilicate, mixing an alcohol ammonia water solution into this alcohol solution under stirring, and allowing the alkoxy group to hydrolyze completely; and a resin composition consisting of such modified silica particles and a resin.

Abstract: A method for transportation, utilization and recovery of heat comprises the wide-area installation of methanol and reformed gas supply pipelines, combustion of the methanol and reformed gas to obtain high-temperature heat, subjecting reformed gas supplied from the reformed gas supply pipeline to an exothermic reform reaction and feeding the methanol thus produced into the methanol supply pipeline to obtain low-temperature heat, subjecting methanol supplied from the methanol supply pipeline to an endothermic reform reaction and feeding the reformed gas thus produced into the reformed gas supply pipeline and recovering the waste heat that is generated.

Abstract: A lens for a charged particle beam comprises first, second, third and fourth quadrupoles, a first aperture electrode placed in front of the first quadrupole, a second aperture electrode placed between the first quadrupole and the second quadrupole, a third aperture electrode placed between the second quadrupole and the third quadrupole, a fourth aperture electrode placed between the third quadrupole and the fourth quadrupole, a fifth aperture electrode placed behind the fourth quadrupole, means for exciting the quadrupoles to cause them to converge the charged beam to a line near the third aperture electrode, and means for applying voltage to excite the first to fifth aperture electrodes and cause them to produce an octupole lens action for correcting aperture aberration.