Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for removing nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) present in exhaust gases discharged from boilers and the like. When the temperature of the exhaust gas is 100.degree. C. or below, a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600 to 1,200.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to remove oxygen-containing functional groups present at the surfaces thereof and thereby reduce the atomic surface oxygen/surface carbon ratio to 0.05 or less is preferably used. When the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds 100.degree. C., a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600 to 1,200.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and activating the surfaces thereof with sulfuric acid or nitric acid to impart oxidizing oxygen-containing functional groups thereto is preferably used.

Abstract: A slurry containing a precursor fiber convertible to carbon fiber and/or a carbon fiber and, based on 100 parts by weight of the fiber, 10 to 300 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin, e.g. phenol resin, is processed into a random web. This web may contain a pitch or an organic granular material. The web is hot-pressed between a pair of belts while curing of the resin is inhibited to prepare a prepreg sheet. This sheet is disposed, leaving a clearance, in a mold having ribs on a molding surface and heated over the melting point of the resin for expansion and complete cure to provide a porous composite sheet equipped with grooves. This porous composite sheet is carbonized or graphitized to produce a porous carbonaceous material for use as a fuel cell electrode material and so on. This porous carbonaceous material has high homogeneity, gas permeability, electrical conductivity, heat conductivity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: A method for producing friction material free of pill having at least 2 mm in shorter diameter comprising mixing dispersion medium and friction base comprising carbon fiber having weighted mean fiber length of at least 0.3 mm, binder and friction modifier to form a dispersion ranging in a solid content concentration of 0.5 to 50% by weight, filtering the dispersion, drying a filter cake and forming the cake.

Abstract: This invention provides(1) a method for producing a silicon network polymer which comprises subjecting a trihalosilane to the electrode reaction using a perchlorate as the electrolyte, an aprotic solvent as the reaction solvent, Mg, Cu or Al as one electrode material and an electronically conductive material which is the same as or different from said one electrode as a counter electrode material with the polarity of electrodes being switched from time to time, and(2) a method for producing a silicon network polymer which comprises subjecting a trihalosilane to concurrent sonication and electrode reaction using a perchlorate as the electrolyte, an aprotic solvent as the reaction solvent, Mg, Cu or Al as one electrode material and an electronically conductive material which is the same as or different from said one electrode as a counter electrode material with the polarity of electrodes being switched from time to time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to produce a thin film three dimensional microelectrode of an electrically conductive polymer having an organized array of identical microprotrusions, which method comprises:(a) depositing at least one conductive metal thin film on an essentially smooth substrate,(b) depositing a thin film of a micropositive photoresist on the surface of the at least one conductive metal thin film,(c) subjecting the combination of step (b) to photolithographic or electron beam lithographic conditions with a mask capable of producing a metallic microwell,(d) electrochemically polymerizing an electrically conductive polymer onto the conducting metal,(e) removing the photoresist to produce the three dimensional microelectrode array of the electrically conductive polymer. Preferred electrically conductive polymers of step (d) are selected from polypyrrole or polyaniline.

Abstract: A process for producing a Josephson device is disclosed, wherein a Josephson junction is formed over a recess step by oblique deposition and a protective layer of conducting material or semiconducting material is formed on the Josephson junction. The actual thickness of the Josephson junction is controlled to be smaller due to the proximity effect.

Abstract: A sintered product based on mesocarbon microbeads is prepared by pressure-molding mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) having an MSP (maximum solubility percent) value of 30 to 38% by volume whereby a body is formed, and sintering the body, wherein MSP represents the percentage volume reduction (volume %) determined by heating a given amount of an MCMB to 350.degree. C. under a pressure load of 10 kgf/cm.sup.2. The quality of a molded MCMB sintered product can be controlled by determining the percentage volume reduction (MSP) of an MCMB by heating it under a given pressure load in a predetermined space using the MSP value so found as an indicator.

Abstract: An in-pipe running robot includes a vehicle body movable inside piping along a piping axis, and a pair of running devices disposed in front and rear positions of the vehicle body. Each of the running devices has a pair of wheels secured to opposite ends of an axle. The wheels are steerable as a unit about a vertical axis of the vehicle body, and have a center of steering thereof extending linearly in a fore and aft direction of the vehicle body. When the robot is caused to run in a circumferential direction inside the piping, the vehicle body is set to a posture having the fore and aft direction inclined with respect to the piping axis, with the running devices set to a posture for running in the circumferential direction. Then, the running devices are driven to cause the vehicle body to run stably in the circumferential direction of the piping.

Abstract: A repelling material for animals retaining a great amount of a repellent and also having an excellent sustained release property can be obtained by adsorbing the repellent and at least one substance of phthalic acid esters, citric acid esters and glycols.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a three dimensional conductive organic polymer covered micro structure having improved current carrying capacity as compared to a substantially smooth surface. More specifically, it relates to a three-dimensional poly(aniline) or poly(pyrrole)-substrate micro structure for use as a battery electrode, having improved properties as compared to a substantially smooth surface, which structure comprises: a thin surface layer of poly(aniline) or poly(pyrrole) film on a substrate surface, wherein the polyaniline or poly(pyrrole) film has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 10 microns and the substrate surface is irregular or patterned having a protruding surface, wherein representative protrusions amount to between about 40 to 90 percent of the surface of the electrode. The processes to produce the three-dimensional microstructure are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetically active organometallic Schiff base polymer having a molecular weight of between about 4,000 and 50,000 daltons. In an additional aspect, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of magnetically active organometallic polymer having a molecular weight of between about 4,000 and 50,000 daltons, wherein the polymer comprises a multiplicity of Schiff base tridentate chelating groups having the capacity to combine with the iron (II) or iron (III) ion of an organic salt, which process comprises:(a) combining at least one organic diamine including hydrazine with at least one organic diketone or dialdehyde in an anhydrous dipolar aprotic solvent for a time sufficient to produce to polymer at a temperature of between about 50.degree. C. and 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A pipe electromagnetic field simulation apparatus used to simulate a current produced by flaw in a pipe when the flaw is subjected to the electromagnetic field of a transmitting coil. The apparatus includes a system for determining an electromagnetic field distribution of a represented pipe without a flaw, a system for determining an equivalent current source of a represented flaw in the represented pipe, and a system for determining the electromagnetic field distribution of a represented pipe with a flaw. The apparatus may also include a system for determining a signal received by a detector which indicates a flaw.

Abstract: The present invention provides: (1) a formed tubular thermal insulator comprising a felt piece of carbon fibers spirally wound to form a laminate of felt layers integrally bonded to each other with the carbonized substance present between the felt layers with substantially no wavy deformation of spiral winding form, and (2) a process for preparing a formed thermal insulator, the process comprising spirally winding a felt piece of carbon fibers and a film and/or net with a carbonizable resin inserted therebetween while applying a tensile force on the film and/or net to form a laminate, followed by curing and carbonization.

Abstract: A toroidal chamber in a piston communicating through an orifice at a top face of the piston located in an internal combustion system, such as a spark ignition engine or a compression ignition engine. The chamber arranged to receive a fuel/air mixture so that a flame front, propagated in a main combustion chamber outside the toroidal chamber reaches the toroidal chamber, the fuel in the toroidal chamber burns. The burning creates pressure in the chamber that exceeds the pressure in the main combustion chamber. The combustion gas of high pressure is jetted out of the toroidal chamber into the main combustion chamber. The high pressure combustion gas jet generates turbulence and mixing in the main combustion chamber, contributing to an improved combustion. Accordingly, the power output and the thermal efficiency of the internal combustion system is improved.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall with an inner wheel member including a portion of magnetically permeable material. The inner wheel member has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the outer wheel member and is rollable on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel member. A magnet is provided in the inner wheel member having magnetic poles in contact with the permeable portion of the inner wheel. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of manufacture of an essentially smooth texture-free conductive polymer comprising poly(dithiophene) which is subsequently doped with a dopant comprising an organometallic compound, preferably an optionally substituted metal phthalocyanine. Specifically, the process relates to a process to produce a smooth, texture-free conductive polymer comprising poly(dithiophene) and an organometallic compound which process comprises:A. contacting a solution itself comprising:(a) dithiophene is present in between about 0.01 and 0.001 M concentration;(b) a water-soluble salt of an optionally substituted organometallic wherein the metal is selected from iron, copper, cobalt or nickel, at a concentration of between about 0.01 and 10 mM;(c) in a solution of acetonitrile/water in a ratio of between about 30:70 and 10:90 percent by volume with a cycling potential of between about 0.1 volts and 10 volts at between about 0.degree. and 95.degree. C. for between about (0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an electrochromic electrically conductive composite membrane, which process comprises:(a) combining aniline and metal phthalocyanine in dilute hydrochloric acid; and(b) applying to the solution of step (a) a constant current density of between about 0.05 and 0.2 milliamperes/cm.sup.2 for between about 1 to 10 minutes on an electrode selected from a transparent platinum electrode or an ITO electrode to produce the improved electrically conductive electrochromic membrane. The present invention also relates to a process for the production of an electrically conductive composite membrane which comprises:(a) combining aniline, organic sulfonic acid and NAFION.RTM. all in the acid form and electropolymerizing the aqueous solution to obtain the polyaniline thin film. The electrochromic electrically conductive composite membrane produced by the process is described which is colorless when subjected to between about -0.

Abstract: A heater is adapted to provide heat for heating a room by effecting heat exchange in a heat section which is between combustion and ventilation sections. The heat exchange section comprises a rotary body positioned across the combustion and ventilation sections so as to rotate at that position. The rotary body has air flow passages extending in the same direction as the axis of rotation of the rotary body. The heater can effect heat exchange with an increased efficiency and also can prevent the interior of the room from being abnormally dried.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for detecting damage to a buried object which includes the steps of (a) providing a buried object extending in a longitudinal direction which has an electrically insulating layer over a conductive member, (b) connecting one terminal of a power supply to the conductive member at a first position thereon, (c) connecting the other terminal of the power supply to an ammeter which is grounded, (d) connecting both terminals of at least one voltmeter to the conductive member on each side of the first position with the terminals of each voltmeter being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, (e) connecting at least one voltmeter and the ammeter to data processing equipment for analyzing output values from the at least one voltmeter and the ammeter when power is supplied to the conductive member from the power supply, (f) supplying electric current from the power supply to the conductive member, and (g) measuring and comparing output values from the ammeter and the at least one voltmet

Abstract: A burner for a pulse combustion apparatus according to this invention comprises a plurality of small diameter air passages distributed in cross-sectional directions of a combustion air feed duct. These small diameter air passages are defined by small diameter pipes each provided with fuel gas jet openings to allow air and gas to mix with each other well therein prior to entry to a combustion chamber downstream of the small diameter air passages. Explosions occur intermittently and automatically in the combustion chamber.