Abstract: A method of producing a porous material having open pores including stirring a mixture including (i) an epoxy compound having at least one epoxy ring in the compound, (ii) a hardener capable of reacting with the epoxy compount to harden the epoxy compound, (iii) a filler and (iv) water to form an emulsion slurry having a low viscosity and containing the soluble salts uniformly dispersed therein, casting the resulting emulsion slurry in a water impermeable mold and then hardening the slurry while maintaining the water content thereof, and wherein the soluble salts are added to the mixture. The method makes it possible to produce a large scale porous material having open pores and a complicated shape whose shrinkage factor during hardening and water and air permeabilities are controlled to desired levels respectively while scattering thereof is reduced.

Abstract: In a switching circuit formed as an integrated circuit, a series circuit comprising a diode (D.sub.1) and a resistor (R.sub.1) is connected between a base and an emitter of an npn transistor (TR.sub.1) requiring a high speed switching operation. Therefore, a high speed operation is made possible. Furthermore, in a circuit constructed such that the above npn transistor is driven by a pnp transistor (TR.sub.3, TR.sub.4), a leakage current produced in the above pnp transistor at high temperature is allowed to flow in the above series circuit. Accordingly, a malfunction of the above npn transistor is prevented. Consequently, an integrated circuit operable even under high temperatures is achieved.

Abstract: The detection system comprises a sensor and a controller which are connected by two wires. The sensor can take more than two states as opposed to conventional detection systems. According to this arrangement, for instance, a small leakage current exists even when the sensor is in normal off state, and, therefore, electric current in the range of I1 to I2 flows even in normal off state. On the other hand, electric current of I3 to I4 flows in normal on state. When there is a wire breakage, no electric current flows. Conversely, when there is a shortcircuiting, electric current exceeding I4 flows. Electric current in the range of I3 to I4 corresponds to an unstable state which is neither normal on state nor normal off state.

Abstract: A mold, used in pressure casting ceramic articles, includes a plurality of mold parts set and clamped in combination. Each of the mold parts includes: a porous body forming a filter layer with a generally even thickness and a plurality of channels formed in the inside or outside surface thereof and most running in parallel with the molding surface of the mold for allowing water and air to flow therethrough; a reinforcing iron frame for fitting the porous body therein; and a filler filling up the space between the porous body and the iron frame.

Abstract: A throttle valve operating cam of an automatic transmission and an output control member of an automotive engine are interconnected so as to cooperate with each other by a cable consisting of an outer tube and an inner cable. The inner cable is connected to the throttle valve operating cam and the output control member and one end of the outer tube is connected first to the automatic transmission. The other end of the outer tube is regulated in position relative to a cable fitting member secured to the automotive engine and then fixed to the cable fitting member secured to the automotive engine.

Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission employed in a vehicle comprises first and second engaging friction elements provided in the automatic transmission for giving rise to speed change, an operating oil pressure control device for applying operating oil pressure to each of the first and second engaging friction elements in accordance with a predetermined control characteristic so as to change engaging conditions of the first and second engaging friction elements, an information detector for obtaining information of the operating condition of the automatic transmission, and a timing control device for causing the operating oil pressure control device to be operative to adjust a time interval from a time at which the first engaging friction element is changed in its engaging condition to a later time at which the second engaging friction element is changed in its engaging condition in accordance with the information obtained from the information detector, with the information being the revolving speed

Abstract: An oscillation circuit of a proximity switch includes a parallel LC resonance circuit (L, C), an oscillation transistor (Tr6) controlled by an output voltage from the resonance circuit for switching a constant current and a feedback circuit (Tr2, Tr3) for feeding back a current flowing through the oscillation transistor to the resonance circuit. In the circuit, there is further disposed a feedback current increase circuit including a second transistor (Tr7) controlled by an output voltage from the resonance circuit and a resistor (R) connected in series to the second transistor. The resonance circuit is supplied via the feedback circuit with a feedback current obtained by adding a current flowing through the feedback current increase circuit and a current passing through the oscillation transistor, thereby developing a large change in the amplitude of the oscillation.

Abstract: A method of making a porous mold for pressure slip casting. A surface porous layer is cast which has an average pore diameter of at most 20 microns and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm. An adhesive is applied in a pattern to the rear surface of the surface porous layer to leave an unapplied portion on the rear surface. A coarse porous layer is applied to the adhesive applied and unapplied portions of the rear surface of the surface porous layer which is made of a mixture of liquid resin and a filler of a particle diameter of 0.1 to 5.0 mm at a volume ratio of 15 to 50:100. The coarse porous layer has a thickness of 5 to 30 mm. A sealing adhesive is applied to the surface of the coarse porous layer and means is applied for passage of water from and air into the coarse porous layer.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a mold used in pressure casting ceramic articles, which includes a plurality of mold parts set and clamped in combination. Each of the mold parts includes: a porous body forming a filter layer with a generally even thickness and a plurality of channels formed in the inside or outside surface thereof and most running in parallel with the molding surface of the mold for allowing water and air to flow therethrough; a reinforcing iron frame for fitting the porous body therein; and a filler filling up the space between the porous body and the iron frame.

Abstract: A porous mold for pressure slip casting, which includes: a surface porous layer having an average pore diameter of at most 20 microns and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm; an adhesive applied in a pattern to the rear surface of the surface porous layer to leave an unapplied portion on the rear surface; a coarse porous layer covering the adhesive applied and unapplied portions of the rear surface of the surface porous layer and made of a mixture of a liquid resin and a filler of a particle diameter of 0.1 to 5.0 mm at a volume ratio of 15 to 50:100, the coarse porous layer having a thickness of 5 to 30 mm; a sealing adhesive covering substantially the outer surface of the coarse porous layer; and a passage for water from and air into the coarse porous layer.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of making a porous mold by using an upper case which bears lines for forming channels for water and air communications.

Abstract: A method of making a porous mold used in pressure casting for forming ceramic articles, which includes the steps of: removably attaching a plurality of apertured holding members in an array at a desired interval to the inner face of an upper case made of a rigid material; threading a flexible line into the apertures of the holding members in each row to hold it at a predetermined spacing from the inner face of the upper case, at least one of the two ends of the flexible line being extended to the outside of the upper case; casting slurry into a mold cavity which is defined between the upper case and a lower basic case joined to the former case to form a porous mold; removing the upper case from the porous mold after the slurry has cured, while leaving the holding members together with the flexible lines in the porous mold; and extracting the flexible lines from the porous mold to form channels in the porous mold.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous material having open pores comprises the steps of preparing an emulsion slurry by vigorously agitating a mixture comprising (i) a glycidyl type epoxy resin, (ii) a first hardener selected from the group consisting of modified polyamine hardeners each being prepared by modifying a polyamine hardener with a modifier, amine hardeners and mixtures thereof, (iii) a second hardener selected from the group consisting of polyamide hardeners, (iv) a filler and (v) water, casting said slurry in a water-impermeable mold, and hardening said slurry while it contains water. A large size molded product having a complicated contour and having open pores whose average pore diameter ranges from 0.2 to 10 microns can be produced with high dimensional accuracy.

Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a slide shaft having one end provided with a discharging valve and a diaphragm, a cam plate in press-contact with the other end of the slide shaft to cause reciprocating movement of the slide shaft, a shaft of a motor for rotating the cam plate and a bearing casing for holding a bearing which supports the motor shaft in a freely rotatable manner, wherein the cam plate is provided at its one side surface with a recess for receiving the bearing and provided at its other side surface with a cam surface.

Abstract: A method of making a mold used in a pressure slip casting process, including the steps of: preparing at least two porous bodies each defining a filter layer having a plurality of channels formed therein for allowing water and air to flow therethrough; placing a reinforcing iron frame and one of the porous bodies on a bottom board with a parting agent applied to its surface; applying a sealing resin to the surface of the other porous body opposite to a molding surface thereof and to a portion of the surface of the bottom board between the box and the porous body; filling up the space between one of the porous bodies and the reinforcing iron frame with a filler; and preparing a second part of the pressure mold.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous material having open pores comprises the steps of preparing an emulsion slurry by vigorously agitating a mixture comprising a main ingredient, a polyamide hardener, a filler and water, casting said emulsion slurry in a water-impermeable mold, hardening said slurry while it contains the water. The main ingredient is a bisphenol-type epoxy resin added with one or more reactive diluents each having one or more epoxy rings per molecule and added in an amount of 18 to 50 wt %, based on 100 wt % of said bisphenol-type epoxy resin. A large size molded product having a high wet bending strength and a complicated contour can be produced.

Abstract: A motor drive vacuum pump comprises a motor provided with a rotor, a stator and a housing holding the rotor and the stator therein, a vacuum pump which is attached on the side surface of the motor housing and is driven by the motor to forcibly feed air from an intake port to a discharge port to thereby generate vacuum, a discharging passage means comprising a discharging hole for introducing the air to be discharged through the discharge port of the vacuum pump into the motor interior and a through hole formed in a part of the housing to discharge the air introduced into the motor interior to the atmosphere, and a discharge valve provided in a part of the discharging passage means.

Abstract: A snap-action diaphragm having an electrically conducting central portion is electrically insulated inside a case to separate it into two parts each of which is ported to a fluid, and is biased by an electrically conducting spring towards one port which serves as an electrical contact to form a switch with the diaphragm when connected to an external circuit. The snap-action characteristic of the diaphragm between two stable states when coacting with the biasing force of the spring provides a hysteresis force that can be predetermined to avoid hunting of the switch in response to anticipated alterations in pressure difference across the diaphragm. In another embodiment, the diaphragm also acts to open or shut a valve to control fluid flow, again with the benefit of hysteresis to prevent hunting during operation.

Abstract: A D.C. charging and starter circuit for a vehicle includes a microcomputer which monitors the state of battery switch units, a pair of charging generators and a starter switch, and operates to control various switching elements and the like to prevent accidental discharge of the batteries, and to prevent damage to either the electrical load or the generator rectifier circuits.

Abstract: A pressure control apparatus, which can be used for a braking force magnification apparatus for a vehicle or a door closing and opening apparatus includes a sensor for sensing a pressure within a vacuum booster. The sensor is of a transfer-contact-type including a medial movable contact and two stationary contacts. The movable contact makes contact with one of the stationary contacts connected to an alarm lamp but breaks contact with the other connected through a control circuit to a DC motor connected to a vacuum pump or a compressor when the absolute gauge pressure produced by the vacuum pump or compressor is below a first predetermined threshold value. The movable contact breaks contact with the one stationary contact to energize the DC motor when the absolute gauge pressure is below a second predetermined threshold value but is above the first one.