Abstract: A catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas includes a support including rutile titania, an NOx storage material including at least on element selected from alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and rare-earth elements and loaded on the support, and a noble metal loaded on the support. Since the rutile TiO2 and the NOx storage material form a fine composite oxide, the NOx storage material is likely to decompose even when it is subject to the sulfur poisoning, and the NOx storage material easily recovers the NOx storage ability. Therefore, the NOx storage material can be inhibited from the sulfur poisoning, and a high NOx conversion ratio can be maintained even after the service at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: The air/fuel ratio (A/F) controller for an internal combustion engine pertaining to the present invention comprises a upstream catalyst, a hydrocarbon-adsorbent exhaust purification (HAEP) catalyst that is disposed downstream from the upstream catalyst, an upstream A/F sensor disposed upstream from the upstream catalyst, a downstream A/F sensor disposed downstream from the HASP catalyst, a middle A/F sensor disposed between the upstream catalyst and the HAEP catalyst, an A/F main feedback (F/B) control unit, and an A/F sub-F/B control unit. The A/F main F/B control unit performs main F/D control such that the exhaust A/F detected by the upstream A/F sensor is kept at a specific main F/B target A/F.

Abstract: A closing plate for a battery comprises a metal substrate provided with a safety valve at a peripheral portion thereof. The safety valve is protected by applying a protection film to the metal substrate of the closing plate. The closing plate comprises a metal substrate, metal foil which is adhered to the lower surface of the metal substrate, and a protection film attached to the upper surface of the metal substrate, which protection film has previously been provided with a cut in a prescribed shape.

Abstract: A setting apparatus 30 in which a mandrel of a blind rivet is inserted into a hole 47 of a nose at the front end of the setting apparatus, and wherein a rivet body of the rivet is projected from the nose into a mounting hole of a workpiece. The mandrel is pulled rearward of the nose with a force capable of breaking the mandrel and expanding a shank of the rivet body so that the rivet is set in the workpiece by the expanded shank and a flange of the rivet body, followed by discharging of the broken mandrel from the setting apparatus. The force for pulling the mandrel is obtained from hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic cylinder 34. The hydraulic pressure is produced by a piston 41 which moves in a pneumatic cylinder 39 adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder. The nose 31 is axially aligned with an apparatus body 33 including the hydraulic cylinder and the pneumatic cylinder 39 along the longitudinal direction of the setting apparatus 30 from the front end to the rear end thereof.

Abstract: A setting apparatus 30 in which a mandrel of a blind rivet is inserted into a hole 47 of a nose at the front end of the setting apparatus, and wherein a rivet body of the rivet is projected from the nose into a mounting hole of a workpiece. The mandrel is pulled rearward of the nose with a force capable of breaking the mandrel and expanding a shank of the rivet body so that the rivet is set in the workpiece by the expanded shank and a flange of the rivet body, followed by discharging of the broken mandrel from the setting apparatus. The force for pulling the mandrel is obtained from hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic cylinder 34. The hydraulic pressure is produced by a piston 41 which moves in a pneumatic cylinder 39 adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder. The nose 31 is axially aligned with an apparatus body 33 including the hydraulic cylinder and the pneumatic cylinder 39 along the longitudinal direction of the setting apparatus 30 from the front end to the rear end thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases which aims to efficiently purify NOx in exhaust gases in oxygen-rich atmospheres whose oxygen concentrations are more than required for oxidizing CO and HC, and to attain improved NOx purifying performance after used for a long time. The catalyst includes, being arranged in an order from the upstream to the downstream of exhaust gas flow, a first catalyst 1 in which a noble metal catalyst 12 is loaded on a porous acidic support, a second catalyst 2 in which at least one kind of metal 22 selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, and rare earth metals is loaded on a porous support, and a third catalyst 3 in which a noble metal catalyst 32 is loaded on a porous support. Since SO2 is not adsorbed or oxidized by the first catalyst 1, SO2 is discharged downstream from the second catalyst 2 without generating sulfate.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a support including at le one composite selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 composites, an NO.sub.x adsorbent including at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and rare-earth elements and loaded on the support, and a noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the support. The composites constituting the support improve initial NO.sub.x conversion of the catalyst, but also inhibit NO.sub.x purifying performance thereof from degrading even after a durability test.

Abstract: A valve performance control apparatus has a low speed cam, a high speed cam, and an intermediate speed cam. A rocker arm is arranged between the cams and a valve. The rocker arm contacts the low speed cam. A pair of cam followers are reciprocally supported in the rocker arm to contact the high speed and intermediate speed cams. Lock members are slidably received in bores (or grooves) of the rocker arm. The lock members, when positioned in an unlocked position, permit the free reciprocation of the associated cam followers with respect to the rocker arm, which causes the valve to be driven by the low speed cam. When locked, the lock members abut against the associated cam followers and lock the cam followers to the rocker arm, which causes the valve to be driven by the cam with the largest profile. The lock member has an abutment surface, which contacts and is pressed by the cam follower.

Abstract: A process includes the step of bringing exhaust gases into contact with a catalyst, wherein the catalyst includes a support including a porous substance, at least one NO.sub.x adsorbent loaded on the support, and selected from the group consisting of alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth elements and alkali metals, and at least one element loaded on the support, and selected from the group consisting of copper and cobalt. The process enables the catalyst to exhibit superb NO.sub.x purifying performance even after a durability test and to stably and efficiently purify NO.sub.x during the fuel-lean side (i.e., the oxygen-rich atmospheres) driving.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, a combustion chamber and a valve that selectively opens and closes the combustion chamber. The valve has a timing relationship to the crankshaft and lift characteristic. A control device hydraulically alters at least one of the timing relationship and the lift characteristic. A lubricant passage is connected with the control device to supply oil to a mechanism that is formed by engine parts slidably contacting one another within the engine. An auxiliary passage is provided for supplying the oil to the mechanism. Oil supplied from an oil pump to said auxiliary passage is restricted by an electromagnetic valve that is actuated based on the instruction from an electric controller when engine speed is lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases which aims to efficiently purify NO.sub.x in exhaust gases in oxygen-rich atmospheres whose oxygen concentrations are more than required for oxidizing CO and HC, and to attain improved NO.sub.x purifying performance after used for a long time. The catalyst comprises, being arranged in an order from the upstream to the downstream of exhaust gas flow, a first catalyst 1 in which a noble metal catalyst 12 is loaded on a porous acidic support, a second catalyst 2 in which at least one kind of metal 22 selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, and rare earth metals is loaded on a porous support, and a third catalyst 3 in which a noble metal catalyst 32 is loaded on a porous support. Since SO.sub.2 is not adsorbed or oxidized by the first catalyst 1, SO.sub.2 is discharged downstream from the second catalyst 2 without generating sulfate. Therefore, since the NO.sub.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus can process a workpiece at high speed and high precision while suppressing tool abrasion by maintaining optimum cutting conditions determined by a combination of spindle rotational speed and tool feed speed. A spindle rotational speed control section changes the speed of the spindle according to a tool feed speed obtained by a tool feed speed deciding section based on the shape of the tool moving path commanded by a machining program. Alternatively, the spindle rotational speed is changed by a spindle rotational speed control section based on a change in the contact position between the tool and the workpiece to be cut in the tool axial movement direction. Further, the spindle rotational speed may be changed by the spindle rotational speed control section based on the tool feed speed including tool axial movement direction data obtained by a feed speed deciding section based on the shape of the tool moving path.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, a combustion chamber and a valve. The valve opens and closes the combustion chamber. The valve has a lift characteristic that is altered by a control device according to a change of hydraulic pressure therein. The engine has a lubricant passage that is connected with an oil pump and supplies oil to a mechanism formed by parts slidably connecting one another within the engine. A hydraulic pressure passage extends into an interior of the control device to exchange the hydraulic pressure with the control device, thereby the control device is actuated to alter the lift characteristic. The oil pump supplies the oil to the pressure passage when connected with the pressure passage. The oil pan supplies the oil to the pressure passage when connected with the pressure passage. A switching valve selects one of the oil pump and the oil pan to connect the selected one with the control device based on the engine speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a valve performance controller for an internal combustion engine. A camshaft is provided with a plurality of cams having different cam profiles. Changeover of the cams is performed through operation of a valve lift control mechanism. Also, a valve timing control mechanism is provided on the camshaft. The valve timing mechanism has a pulley, which is connected to a crankshaft of the engine via a timing belt. The pulley is connected to the camshaft via a ring gear. Through movement of the ring gear along the axis of the camshaft, the relative rotational phase between the pulley and the camshaft is changed. At least during cam changeover operation, oil is charged and retained within the hydraulic chamber located on both sides of the ring gear in the moving direction thereof. This structure reduces an impact which acts on the timing belt upon changeover of the cams.

Abstract: An automotive exhaust catalyst includes a support, which is less likely to adsorb SO.sub.x contained in exhaust gases thereon, an NO.sub.x storage compound loaded on the support, and a noble metal element loaded on the support. The support is an alumina support with a Ti--Zr composite oxide loaded thereon, or is formed of a Ti--Zr or Ti--Zr--Y composite oxide. The composite oxide inhibits the NO.sub.x storage compound, which is selected from alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and rare-earth elements, from being poisoned by sulfur, and enhances the thermal resistance of the support. Thus, the automotive exhaust catalyst can effectively purify NO.sub.x contained in lean-side exhaust gases, even after it is subjected to a thermal durability test.

Abstract: Data of textiles for various types of items offered by a different textile company stored in an integrated database (DR) of a data service company item by item, and data of business results relating to the respective items is also stored therein. Data of business results stored in the integrated DB is renewed based on business data sequentially input from an apparel manufacturer or the textile company. In retrieving textile data from the apparel manufacturer or the textile company, a host computer (integrated database managing system) of data service company retrieves sale data based on the content of the textile in the integrated DB and the content of the business results relating to the content of the textile, and displays the retrieved result on a terminal, which designated the retrieval, that is, a terminal of the apparel manufacturer or a terminal of the textile company.

Abstract: A process for purifying an exhaust gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides by periodically adjusting exhaust gas conditions from lean-burn to fuel-rich and by using a catalyst comprising an alumina support with lithium dissolved therein to form a solid solution, at least one first ingredient selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium loaded on the alumina support, and at least one second ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkali elements, alkaline-earth elements, and rare-earth elements loaded on the support. Sulfates formed from sulfur oxides in the exhaust gas are decomposed by the lithium under the fuel-rich conditions to inhibit the alumina support from being acidified.

Abstract: A delivery service management system utilizes a two-dimensional bar code having key information for specifying the source of a material and content information of this material and attached in a delivery service, a two-dimensional bar code having key information for specifying the source of an item obtained by processing the material and content information of the item and attached in a delivery service, and a two-dimensional bar code having key information for specifying a seller of the item and content information describing a selling condition of the item and attached in a delivery service. Every time a delivery service has occurred between the material system, the processing system, and the selling system, the key information and the content information are received from the two-dimensional bar code to a database. Delivery service information associated with a given source is fed back to the given source represented by the key information from a set of pieces of received information.

Abstract: A glycerin derivative having the following formula (I) or (I') and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof are useful to treat diseases caused by the platelet activating factor.