Abstract: A construction having a damping device for damping vibration having steel wire cables 20 having both ends fixed on the sides of the building 10, the steel wire cables 20 are tautly and obliquely provided on the building 10 so that one side and the other side of the steel wire cables 20 cross at only one point in front view. Since the steel wire cables 20 do not exist in the horizontal direction, the length of the steel wire cables 20 is shorter as compared with the prior art. Accordingly, extension of the steel wire cables 20 decreases, the mechanism is simpler, and maintenance is also simplified.

Abstract: A superconducting device includes a superconducting channel consituted of an oxide superconductor thin film formed on a substrate, a superconductor source electrode and a superconductor drain electrode formed at opposite ends of the superconducting channel, so that a superconducting current can flow through the superconducting channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode. A gate electrode is located through an insulating layer on the superconducting channel so as to control the superconducting current flowing through the superconducting channel. The oxide superconductor thin film of the superconducting channel is formed of a c-axis oriented oxide superconductor crystal, and the oxide superconductor thin film of the superconductor source electrode and the superconductor drain electrode are formed of an a-axis oriented oxide superconductor crystal. The superconducting channel is continuous with the superconductor source electrode and the superconductor drain electrode.

Abstract: A pulverized coal combustion apparatus comprises a burner through which pulverized coal and carrier air are passed to be burnt in a combustion chamber, and a flame retainer disposed at an end of the burner. The flame retainer includes a flared tube and an annular plate, which plate has a plurality of radially inwardly projecting parts equiangularly spaced from each other. The annular plate comprises a plurality of ceramic pieces and a plurality of fastener elements, both of which are arranged and assembled alternately to form the annular plate. Each ceramic piece is so shaped that it projects radially inwardly to serve as the projecting part when assembled. The ceramic piece has at opposite sides thereof smoothly curved edge surfaces, and the fastener element has at opposite sides thereof smoothly curved edge surfaces which are engaged with the curved edge surfaces of neighboring two ceramic pieces.

Abstract: The invention consists of zirconia base with high hydrothermal stability which:(a) consists essentially of at least 40 weight % of partially stabilized zirconia of the ZrO.sub.2 -Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 -CeO.sub.2 system wherein the proportion of ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, and CeO.sub.2 is within the range defined by the line connecting points F, G, L, M, N and K in a ternary diagram (ZrO.sub.2, YO.sub.1.5, CeO.sub.2), the vertices of said points being given by the following molar % of ZrO.sub.2, YO.sub.1.5, and CeO.sub.2, respectively:F (88, 10, 2),G (89, 10, 1),L (93.5, 4, 2.5),M (93, 2, 5),N (88, 1, 11), andK (86, 1,13),and 3 to 60 weight % of at least one of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, spinel and mullite, and(b) has a mean crystal grain size not exceeding 2 micrometers and a bending strength of at least 100 kgf/mm.sup.2, said ZrO.sub.2 containing a minimum of 50 volume % tetragonal crystal structure and a maximum of 5 volume % monoclinic crystal structure when tested in steam of 180.degree. C.

Abstract: The outer periphery of a screw and the inside of a barrel of a screw type extruding or kneading machine are made of ceramics, to improve the abrasion and heat resistances thereof, so that the screw and the barrel will operate for a longer life time even if a hard material or a material containing a hard material is worked.

Abstract: A beam access apparatus for an optical disc system. The apparatus includes a lens position detector for generating a lens position signal indicating a position of the objective lens in a radial direction of the disc with respect to the optical head which is movable relative to the disc. The apparatus is operated in a head access mode in which the optical head is moved in the radial direction of the disc and the objective lens is caused to follow the movement of the optical head such that the objective lens is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the optical head. The apparatus is also operable in a lens access mode wherein the objective lens is moved in the radial direction and the optical head is caused to follow the objective lens such that the objective lens is located at a predetermined position with respect to the optical head.

Abstract: A digital servo control system is responsive to a command signal indicative of a command position of a moveable element and to a phase modulated signal corresponding to the angle of rotation of a motor controlling said moveable element to develop a motor drive signal to position the motor. The system provides control during a velocity control mode and a position control mode, the latter occurring after the moveable element is moved to a predetermined small incremental distance from the commanded position. During the velocity control mode the motor is driven in accordance with a reference velocity selected in dependence upon the position error signal. Following a prescribed time after entry into the position control mode, the position error has added thereto an integration signal which increases in the same sense as the position error.

Abstract: In a digital servo control system (31) for a carriage of a serial printer or a like movable element, a control signal (125) digitally represents a reference angular velocity for a motor (26) until an instant at which a displacement from a current position of the element to a commanded position decreases to a predetermined value, a positional error during a preselected interval following the instant, and an integrated value (52) of a position error between the current and the commanded positions to suppress limit cycle after the interval. A PWM signal (56-57) is derived from the control signal and position pulses (62 or 63) representative of a variation in the current position. Preferably, small-amplitude limit cycle is forced to occur during the interval with the positional error indicated by a modified signal (182) derived by adding unity to positive and zero position errors.

Abstract: A system for controllably driving a motor to place a movable element at a position indicated by a command signal from an external source produces, in response to a phase staggered incremental position signal pair, one and the other of two position pulse sequences at a time depending on an instantaneous angular velocity of the motor. Responsive to the command signal and the position pulses, a mode signal is produced to indicate a position control mode while a position error is within a predetermined range and otherwise a velocity control mode. Likewise, a signal is produced that represents at least one reference angular velocity and the position error during the respective modes. Responsive to the position pulses alone, gate pulses are produced either with two different pulse widths depending on the modes or with a single pulse width.