Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a ceramic sheet and a gas sensing element are disclosed. At least ceramic powder, a binder and a plasticizer are blended and mixed in slurry. The slurry is formed into unfired green sheets, on which paste is printed. Each of the unfired green sheets has porosity greater than 5%. In the manufacturing methods, the unfired green sheets are pressurized with a pressure of 10 MPa at a temperature above 60° C., after which the paste is printed on surfaces of the unfired green sheets. In the method of manufacturing the gas sensing element, a shielding layer, a porous diffusion resistance layer and the unfired green sheets for a sensing layer, a reference gas airspace forming layer and a heating layer are stacked to form a stacked ceramic body, whish is fired to obtain the gas sensing element.

Abstract: A method of matching a firing profile of alumina material is disclosed as having a reference profile preparing step of preparing a reference profile of dissimilar material, an alumina profile preparing step of preparing an alumina profile of alumina material, a comparing step of comparing the reference profile and the alumina profile to determine whether to or not to perform correction on the alumina profile, and an adjusting step of adjusting the alumina material by increasing or decreasing a specific surface area of alumina raw material powder or by adding zirconia or magnesia to alumina material when a determination is made that the alumina profile needs to be corrected.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a ceramic sheet and a gas sensing element are disclosed. At least ceramic powder, a binder and a plasticizer are blended and mixed in slurry. The slurry is formed into unfired green sheets, on which paste is printed. Each of the unfired green sheets has porosity greater than 5%. In the manufacturing methods, the unfired green sheets are pressurized with a pressure of 10 MPa at a temperature above 60° C., after which the paste is printed on surfaces of the unfired green sheets. In the method of manufacturing the gas sensing element, a shielding layer, a porous diffusion resistance layer and the unfired green sheets for a sensing layer, a reference gas airspace forming layer and a heating layer are stacked to form a stacked ceramic body, whish is fired to obtain the gas sensing element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic stack is provided, which can suppress distortion, separation, cracking and the like that may be caused in plural types of ceramic sheets after being stacked and baked for integration. The method includes a step of obtaining a relation between volume rates of organic materials contained in the ceramic sheets and baking shrinkages of the sheets, resulting from baking the sheets at a predetermined temperature, a step of selecting a volume rate of organic materials for each of the ceramic sheets based on the relation obtained at the previous step, so that all the sheets may have substantially the same baking shrinkage as desired, a step of forming the plural types of ceramic sheets based on the volume rate selected at the previous step, and a step of stacking and baking for integration the plural types of ceramic sheets to fabricate a ceramic stack.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition, having a tetragonal perovskite structure and represented by a general formula PbaSrb(ZrcTidSbeMnf)O3 wherein Pb and Sr are assumed to occupy A site, Zr, Ti, Sb and Mn are assumed to occupy B site, and a molar ratio of A site/B site atoms of (a+b)/(c+d+e+f) is more than 1.00 to 1.03, preferably 0.01 to 0.03.

Abstract: A hologram includes an optically transparent base plate having first and second opposite surfaces. A hologram element is provided on the first surface of the base plate, and has a predetermined holographic pattern. An optically transparent member has first and second opposite surfaces. The first surface of the member faces the hologram element. An arrangement serves to prevent light, which successively passes through the transparent base plate, the hologram element, and the member and is then reflected at a boundary between the second surface of the member and an atmosphere, from travelling back to the hologram element.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a mixture including an injected engine fuel from an injector, a combustion engine intake-air and an evaporative gas from the engine fuel. The method includes the steps of measuring a characteristic of the evaporative gas and changing step for changing a mixing ratio of the evaporative gas to at least one of the injected engine fuel and the combustion engine intake-air, according to the measured characteristic of the evaporative gas, by changing a flow rate of the combustion engine intake-air.

Abstract: A hologram includes an optically transparent base plate having first and second opposite surfaces. A hologram element is provided on the first surface of the base plate, and has a predetermined holographic pattern. An optically transparent member has first and second opposite surfaces. The first surface of the member faces the hologram element. An arrangement serves to prevent light, which successively passes through the transparent base plate, the hologram element, and the member and is then reflected at a boundary between the second surface of the member and an atmosphere, from travelling back to the hologram element.

Abstract: A pilot injection system according to the present invention, which is used in a fuel injection pump, has a casing attached to the pump. The casing connects internally with a pump chamber of the injection pump. A partition wall is fixed in the casing, whereby the pump chamber is divided from the inside of the casing. A movable wall, which is movably located in the casing, divides the inside space of the casing between a fuel-spill chamber and a holding chamber. The partition wall is formed with a valve hole, which connects the pump chamber and the spill chamber. The valve hole has a seat surface which faces the pump chamber. A valve plug, which is located in the pump chamber, can be seated on the seat surface. The valve plug is connected to the movable wall by means of a coupling rod, which extends through the valve hole. Located in the spill chamber is a return spring which urges the movable wall in a direction such that the valve plug closes the valve hole.

Abstract: Anti-reducing semiconducting porcelain having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance comprises a barium titanate composition, and a flux containing 0.14 to 2.88 parts by weight of TiO.sub.2 0.1 to 1.6 parts by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0.1 to 1.6 parts by weight of SiO.sub.2 per 100 parts by weight of the barium titanate composition. It has a high positive temperature coefficient of resistance which does not show any appreciable change in the presence of a reducing atmosphere, such as hydrogen gas or gasified gasoline. It need not be isolated from a reducing atmosphere by a plastic or metallic enclosure, but can be exposed thereto. The flux may further contain a zinc, potassium or lithium compound.

Abstract: A self-temperature controlling type heating device comprises a positive temperature coefficient ceramic resistor having a thin layer portion, a first electrode provided on one face of the thin layer portion, a second electrode provided on the other face of the thin layer portion opposite to the first electrode, and at least one third electrode provided on the surface of the PTC ceramic resistor in spaced relation to the first electrode. An electric current is allowed to flow between the first and second electrodes to form a heating element, and an electric resistance value between the first and third electrodes is detected to thereby make a temperature control. Thus, a high output is obtained at a low voltage and the control temperature is freely varied.

Abstract: An air heater for heating intake air for an internal combustion engine only in cold start or further warming up operation, having a frame which defines an opening for passing air therethrough, and at least one heater element in the shape of a perforated plate such as a lattice or honeycomb plate supported by the frame so as to traverse only a part of the opening area of the air passage opening, while leaving a substantial part of the opening area free as untraversed by the heater element.

Abstract: In an apparatus for heating intake air arranged in an intake air passage, a heater member of ceramic material having apertures for passing air therethrough is supported between upper and lower frame members. Metal plate members, such as silver plate members, are inserted between the end portions of the heater member and the electrode lead members which connect the heater member with terminal bolts of the heating apparatus.