Abstract: A ceramic composition for a thermistor of the formula (M.sup.1.sub.1-x.N.sup.1.sub.x)(P.sup.2.sub.1-y-z.N.sup.2.sub.y.Al.sub.z)O .sub.3 where M.sup.1 is one or more elements selected from the group 3A elements of the Periodic Table excluding La, N.sup.1 is one or more selected from the group 2A elements of the Periodic Table, P.sup.2 is one or more selected from the elements of the groups 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 8 of the Periodic Table whose oxides exhibit p-type characteristics, and N.sup.2 is one or more selected from the elements of the groups 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 8 whose oxides exhibit n-type characteristics,wherein x, y and z are larger than 0 and smaller than 1 and 0.001.ltoreq.x/(1-y-z)<0.20, 0.05.ltoreq.y/(1-y-z).ltoreq.0.80 and 0<z/(1-y-z).ltoreq.0.90. Thermistor elements are usable within a broad temperature range of 300.degree.-1100.degree. C., have a stable resistance in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, can prevent deterioration of lead wires, and have superior stability at high temperatures.

Abstract: A distance-velocity predicting system has an illuminator for projecting a light beam for searching for an obstacle, and a plurality of position sensors spaced at a distance corresponding to a base line length. A minimum value of a distance component from the base line to an obstacle lying in a direction perpendicular to the base line, which is obtained from the light beam and the position sensors, or a value in the neighborhood of the minimum value, is sampled to obtain time-series data, and a relative velocity component in a direction perpendicular to the base line with respect to the obstacle is obtained in real time by using the time-series data. The relative velocity component perpendicular to the base line is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and when the relative velocity component exceeds the threshold value, a starting signal for life protecting equipment is generated.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive system comprises a check valve cb1 for detecting a pressure on the outlet side of a pressure compensating device VB1, a maximum load pressure detecting line SL1 for selecting higher one of the pressure detected by the check valve cb1 and a load pressure of an actuator associated with a hydraulic pump P1 and supplying it as a signal pressure, a check valve cb2 for detecting a pressure on the outlet side of a pressure compensating device VB2, a maximum load pressure detecting line SL2 for selecting higher one of the pressure detected by the check valve cb2 and a load pressure of an actuator associated with a hydraulic pump P2 and supplying it as a signal pressure independently of the maximum load pressure detecting line SL1, and a passage 300 for joining hydraulic fluids supplied from the hydraulic pumps P1, P2 and passing through variable restrictors RB1, RB2 with each other and supplying it to an actuator B. Mutual independence between the two hydraulic pumps P1, P2 can be thereby ensured.

Abstract: A ceramic composition for thermistor exhibiting stable resistance values over a wide temperature range and capable of being used for a prolonged time. The composition is represented by (M.sup.1 M.sup.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x .multidot.(M.sup.1 AlO.sub.3).sub.x, wherein M.sup.1 is an element selected from the elements of the group 3A of the International Periodic Table excluding La and M.sup.2 is an element of the groups 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 8 of the International Periodic Table, and wherein the mixing ratio between an electrically conductive substance stable at elevated temperatures and an insulating substance stable at elevated temperatures, may be adjusted. A thermistor formed of the composition is superior in high-temperature stability and can be used over a broad temperature range because its resistance value can be selected to an optimum value.

Abstract: A transport system installed in a cleanroom where clean air is caused to flow from a ceiling toward a floor. The transport system includes a vehicle for transporting loads, and a guide rail suspended from the ceiling to guide the vehicle. The vehicle has a main body for running along the guide rail, a load supporting deck disposed over the main body, and connecting members for interconnecting the main body and load supporting deck. The guide rail is enclosed in a tubular cover defining an opening extending longitudinally of the guide rail for receiving the connecting members. The cover has a substantially streamline configuration with respect to the direction of clean air flows.

Abstract: In an oxygen sensor of the type having an oxygen ion conductive tube of solid electrolyte, a ceramic heater disposed within the oxygen ion conductive tube for heating the same is in the form of a quadrangular prism or a bar of a rectangular cross section. The ceramic heater is formed by piling up ceramic green sheets with metallic thick-film patterns for heat generating resistors interposed between adjacent two of the ceramic green sheets. The ceramic heater is so shaped as to satisfy the relation of b/a=0.75.about.1 where "a" is the width and "b" is the thickness of the ceramic heater. The metallic thick films, which the metallic thick-film patterns are turned to by firing, are arranged so as to be parallel to the side surfaces opposed in the thickness direction of the ceramic heater.

Abstract: A gradient index measuring apparatus includes a device for generating a first light beam and a second light beam having coherence, a sample provided on a first optical path along which the first light beam travels, a device for combining the first light beams traveling along the first optical path, transmitted through the sample, with the second light beam traveling along a second optical path, and a device for measuring interference fringes produced by the combination of the first and second light beams to calculate a gradient index of the sample from its measured value. Thus, the gradient index measuring apparatus is capable of measuring the gradient index provided in a radial direction in particular, with a high grade of accuracy, of a gradient index lens, and allows the measurement of asymmetry of the gradient index. Whereby, the quality of the measured sample is determined and the information of the measured asymmetry can be used as tolerance data in the design.

Abstract: A light phase difference measuring method including: a step of splitting a coherent light beam into two light beams; a step of allowing one of the two light beams to be transmitted or reflected through or on a sample to be measured; a step of producing interference fringes having a high spatial frequency by inclining the other light beam relative to the optical path for incidence thereof so as to overlap these two light beams with each other; a step for detecting locations of points having locally maximum lightness and points having locally minimum lightness on the interference fringes; and a step for measuring locations of the points having locally maximum lightness and the points having locally minimum lightness or a spatial frequency for determining a phase difference between the two light beams. This measuring method makes it possible to always input correct data into a processing circuit.

Abstract: A vari-focal lens system comprising, in the order from the object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power and an aperture stop arranged on the image side of said third lens unit, using at least one radial GRIN lens, axial GRIN lens or aspherical surface, and having a high vari-focal ratio and a wide field angle at the wide position.

Abstract: A photographic lens system comprising, in the order from the object side, a first lens component which is designed as a cemented doublet consisting of a positive lens element and a negative lens element in this order, a second lens component which is designed as a cemented doublet consisting of a negative lens element and a positive lens element in this order, and an aperture stop arranged between said first lens component and said second lens component, and using at least the aspherical surface therein. This photographic lens system comprises a small number of lens elements, and has a high aperture ratio and favorably corrected aberrations.

Abstract: A safety device for an open-type combustor such as a room-type oil stove which is capable of quickly extinguishing the flame of the combustor upon the occurrence of oxygen starvation but which does not operate unnecessarily during ordinary shut-off operations. A thermally deformable element is mounted in the vicinity of a wick guide cylinder or the like for detecting changes in temperature in case of abnormal combustion. An interlock body provided through an operating lever operates an automatic fire-extinguishing unit in response to the thermally deformable element. An engagement/locking portion is provided in the vicinity of the thermally deformable element for engaging and locking the interlock body.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a table mounted on a bed and adapted to be moved in the direction of longitudinal axis of the bed, said table being arranged to be driven or rotated, intermittently indexed and controlled of the turning position thereof; vertical columns installed in a plane extending at right angles to the bed and having vertically sliding rails or vertical slides; a cross rail mounted on said vertical slides so as to be slidably moved in the vertical direction; a saddle mounted on said cross rail so as to be slidably moved in the horizontal direction; said saddle being arranged to slidably move the ram means in a direction at right angles to said cross rail; said ram means having a lower end face on which a turning tool can be fixedly mounted; said ram means having in the front face or the side of the lower end thereof a turret head adapted to be rotated and indexed in a plane extending at right angles to said table face, said turret head having a main spindle which is adapted to be rotated or drive

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a table mounted on a bed and adapted to be moved in the direction of longitudinal axis of the bed, said table being arranged to be driven or rotated, intermittently indexed and controlled of the turning position thereof; vertical columns installed in a plane extending at right angles to the bed and having vertically sliding rails or vertical slides; a cross rail mounted on said vertical slides so as to be slidably moved in the vertical direction; a saddle mounted on said cross rail so as to be slidably moved in the horizontal direction; said saddle being arranged to slidably move the ram means in a direction at right angles to said cross rail; said ram means having a lower end face on which a turning tool can be fixedly mounted; said ram means having in the front face or the side of the lower end thereof a turret head adapted to be rotated and indexed in a plane extending at right angles to said table face, said turret head having a main spindle which is adapted to be rotated or drive