Abstract: To produce a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder which is an aggregate of alloy particles each including a metal matrix and added-components, an aggregate of metal matrix particles and an aggregate of added-component particles are used, and mechanical alloying is carried out. In this case, the relationship between the particle size D of the metal matrix particles and the particle size d of the added-component particles is set at d≦D/6. Thus, the milling time can be shortened remarkably.

Abstract: Carbon structures, e.g. carbon nano-fibers, suitable for absorbing hydrogen at low pressures and low temperatures are produced by a selective oxidation and/or acid reflux process. The process includes heating an impure mixture containing a crystalline form of carbon in the presence of an oxidizing gas at a temperature and time sufficient to selectively oxidize and remove a substantial amount of any amorphous carbon impurities from the mixture. Metal containing impurities can be removed from the mixture by exposing the desired carbon and accompanying impurities to an acid to produce a carbon fiber that is substantially free of both non-fiber carbon impurities and metal impurities. Another aspect of the present invention includes purified carbon structures that can store hydrogen at low pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: A gas cooking stove is disclosed to which a very-small gas cylinder is joined in a one-touch manner and the state of joining is reliably maintained. When the gas cooking stove is used, the gas cooking stove can stably be installed. When the gas cooking stove is not used, the overall size can be reduced to save the space. Thus, the operability, safety and the portability can be improved. A valve mechanism, an operation member for opening/closing the valve mechanism and a piezoelectric spark unit are provided. Moreover, a stove body is provided which has an upper portion to which a dish is joined and a lower portion provided with a gas-cylinder joining portion to which a gas cylinder is joined. A grate is rotatively supported by the dish.

Abstract: There is provided a method of purifying single wall carbon nanotubes so as to be able to remove impurities such as a metal catalyst to obtain the single wall carbon nanotubes with high purity. The method includes the first oxidizing step of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 containing an impurity with a metal catalyst 2, the first refluxing step of refluxing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 obtained by the first oxidizing step in an acid solution, the second oxidizing step of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes soot 1 obtained by the first refluxing step, and the second refluxing step of refluxing the single wall carbon nanotubes obtained soot 1 by the second oxidizing step in an acid solution. The single wall nanotubes 1 are synthesized by an arc discharge with a carbon electrode containing a metal catalyst 2. The carbon electrode contains a metal catalyst which consists of Ni, Y, and Ti.

Abstract: A hydrogen-storage material includes a plurality of carbon carriers made of a carbon material having an electric conductivity, and a plurality of fine particles carried on each of the carbon carriers and having a hydrogen-adsorbing ability. The amount A of fine particles carried is in a range of 0.1% by weight≦A≦20% by weight. The fine particles are at least one selected from fine particles of a metal, fine particles of an alloy and fine particles of an oxide semiconductor. For example, the alloy corresponds to an alloy made of at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, a rare earth element, Zr, V, Ca and Al, and at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, Mo and W. Thus, the hydrogen-storage material is relatively light; has a high hydrogen-storing ability at ambient temperature and under a lower hydrogen pressure; and moreover, exhibits hydrogen-absorbing/releasing rates.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a carbon nanotube so as to be able to increase the yield of a web and to increase the amount of a carbon nanotube contained in the web. A high-energy heat source is caused to act on carbon in the presence of catalysts. The catalysts include a main catalyst made of at least one metal which is selected from the group consisting of an iron group element, a platinum group element, and a rare earth element, and an auxiliary catalyst made of a material which causes an exothermic reaction in a process of generating the web including the carbon nanotube. The auxiliary catalyst is made of a material for generating a carbide more stable in terms of thermal energy than a carbide generated by the main catalyst. The free formation energy of the carbide generated from the material is smaller than the free formation energy of the carbide generated by the main catalyst.

Abstract: To produce a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder which is an aggregate of alloy particles each including a metal matrix and added-components, an aggregate of metal matrix particles and an aggregate of added-component particles are used, and mechanical alloying is carried out. In this case, the relationship between the particle size D of the metal matrix particles and the particle size d of the added-component particles is set at d≦D/6. Thus, the milling time can be shortened remarkably.

Abstract: An adhesive member is used to bond one member to another member to form an adhesive layer whose internal defection can be detected by utilizing a magneto-mechanical property of a soft magnetic material. The adhesive member is comprised of a main body formed of an uncured adhesive, and a plurality of soft magnetic materials embedded in the main body and restrained in an external force-applied state after curing of the main body.

Abstract: In measuring the stress of a ferromagnetic linear metal member, an alternating current is supplied to flow between a pair of terminals mounted to the ferromagnetic linear metal member to measure an impedance .vertline.Z.vertline. of the ferromagnetic linear metal member between the terminals by an analyzer. Then, a stress .sigma. is determined based on the measured value of the impedance .vertline.Z.vertline. from an impedance .vertline.Z.vertline.-stress .sigma. relationship possessed by the ferromagnetic linear metal member. The stress distribution in a sheet-like sensor can be likewise measured by inserting into the sensor a plurality of intersecting ferromagnetic linear metal members. The stress .sigma. is determined for each individual member as described above, and then the stress distribution in the sheet-like sensor is determined by summing up the stresses of mutually intersecting members.

Abstract: In measuring a stress of a soft magnetic metal wire, an A.C. magnetic field exceeding a coercive force of the metal wire is applied to the soft magnetic metal wire with a tensile load applied thereto, using an exciting coil, thereby inducing an A.C. electromotive force through a detecting coil. An effective value of one or more higher harmonic wave components including a stress information of the soft magnetic metal wire in the waveform of the A.C. electromotive force is determined as a measurement amount. By taking higher harmonic wave components as an amount in this manner, the stress of the soft magnetic metal wire 4 can be measured correctly.

Abstract: The detection of an internal damage in an FRP member constituted by reinforcing fibers, a matrix resin and magnetic members having a magneto-mechanical property is conducted by disposing the magnetic members in the FRP member, and measuring a change in the magnetic properties of the magnetic members by a non-destructive inspection method.

Abstract: A method of making quartz oscillators wherein, round-sectioned bar-shaped leads are inserted through a base and are glass-sealed to be secured to the base, the parts above the base are pressed to form flat plate-shaped inner parallel spaced leads, so that the leads annealed in the glass-sealing step will be compressed and hardened, and the inner leads will be resilient to enable a quartz piece to be resiliently held by its sides when it is inserted between the inner leads. The steps can be automated and the cost of manufacturing the oscillators can be reduced.

Abstract: A process for sugar-coating a solid preparation such as tablet, pill, granule or grain with a sugar-coating liquid comprising pullulan and/or a water-soluble derivative thereof dissolved in an aqueous solution of sucrose. The solid preparation sugar-coated by the above-mentioned process exhibits an enhanced impact strength and shelf life.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein each glass plate is arranged between a male mold and female mold and is successively intermittently moved through a heating molding chamber and the male mold is depressed and undepressed whenever the glass plate stops in a fixed position in the heating molding chamber to quickly and continuously produce Braun tubes of an accurate shape.

Abstract: A serial printer is described which includes a platen, a printer head, a mechanism for selecting one desired type out of a plurality of types on the printer head, a mechanism for joining a printer head shaft and an output shaft of the type selector, a pusher for pushing the selected type further outward than the adjacent types, a support for supporting the printer head and a striking mechanism connected to the printer head for causing the printer head to strike the platen, thereby enabling printing of the desired type. The printer head includes a shaft and a type wheel which is connected to the shaft. The printer head also has a plurality of resiliently supported types thereon. The selector brings a desired type to a printing position on the printer head, and the support allows the printer head to pivotally move about an axis to strike the platen.