Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion and an outer layer portion. The annular core portion is formed by connecting together both ends of a first strand material which is made up of six twisted first metal filaments. The outer layer portion is formed by winding spirally a second strand material which is made up of six twisted second metal filaments around the annular core portion. The second strand material is wound at a predetermined winding angle relative to a center axis of the annular core portion, and a winding initiating end portion and a winding terminating end portion are connected together. As a result, the breaking strength of the annular metal cord can be made large, and the production thereof can be facilitated.

Abstract: The disclosed bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive and high in formability includes an annular core and a wrap wire helically wrapped around the annular core, the annular core being made of a medium carbon steel or an alloy steel having a lower carbon content and containing specific elements in suitable amounts. The diameter dC of alular core satisfies 1.04?dC/dS?1.30 where dS is the diameter of the wrap wire. The wrap wire has a coil diameter DS which is 0.5 to 1.3 times diameter DC of an annular shape of the annular core. The annular core may be formed with a plating layer of an Al—Zn alloy or a thick plating layer of Zn, or the annular core may be made of stainless steel.

Abstract: A bead cord is described including an annular core and a side wire. The side wire is helically wound around the annular core. Further, the annular core is made of a strand wire. The strand wire includes a plurality of twisted core wires. The plurality of core wires may have substantially the same diameter.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bead cord wire includes the steps of subjecting a steel wire to a descaling treatment, subjecting the descaling-treated steel wire to a chemical conversion coating treatment through electrolysis so as to form a phosphate coating on a surface of the steel wire, and subjecting the chemical-conversion-coating-treated steel wire to drawing so as to produce a bead cord wire. In producing the bead cord wire, the drawing is conducted in such a way that the phosphate coating remains on the surface of the bead cord wire.

Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion formed in an annular shape, and an outer layer portion spirally wound around the annular core portion while running over an annular circumference thereof plural times and covering an outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Each of the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a strand material which is formed by intertwisting a plurality of metal filaments. At least part of the outer layer portion is covered with an outer layer sheath made of a coating material having elasticity.

Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion formed in an annular shape, and an outer layer portion spirally wound around the annular core portion while running over an annular circumference thereof plural times and covering an outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Each of the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a strand material which is formed by intertwisting a plurality of metal filaments. The annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a continuous strand material.

Abstract: An annular metal cord and an endless metal belt are provided which have superior breaking strength and which are easy to be produced. The annular metal cord includes an annular core portion 3 and an outer layer portion 4. The annular core portion 3 is formed by connecting together both ends of a first strand material 1 which is made up of six twisted first metal filaments 5. The outer layer portion 4 is formed by winding spirally a second strand material 2 which is made up of six twisted second metal filaments 6 around the annular core portion 3. The second strand material 2 is wound at a predetermined winding angle relative to a center axis of the annular core portion 3, and a winding initiating end portion and a winding terminating end portion thereof are connected together. Since it is not that six second strand materials 2 are not wound but that the second strand material 2 is wound six rounds, there only has to be the single second strand material 2, and there is only one connecting portion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to impart long-lasting, stable corrosion resistance to an annular core of an annular concentric-lay bead cord at a low cost. Corrosion-resistant coating is provided on the surface of the steel wire forming the annular core 1 to cover the surface of the steel wire with a thick coating film 3, thereby preventing exposure of the surface of steel wire even if fretting develops between the annular core 1 and the wrap wire 2. With this arrangement, it is possible to impart long-term, stable corrosion resistance to the annular core 1 at a low cost.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent shifting of a connector for a wrap wire, reduced strength of the connector, and deterioration in balance, and to make it possible to easily connect the ends of the wrap wire. The connector is formed by pressing the ends of a columnar metallic member inwardly with punches to define a central thick portion 11 as a partition, and recessed sleeves 12 at both ends of the thick portion 11 into which leading and trailing ends 51 of the wrap wire 50 are inserted. The axial length (l) of the central thick portion 11 and the diameter (d) of the wrap wire satisfies the relation: diameter (d) of the wrap wire?axial length (l)?8×diameter (d) of the wrap wire. The wrap wire 50 is cut so that the distance between the leading and trailing ends 51 of the wrap wire 50 is shorter than the axial length of the thick portion 11.

Abstract: A system for producing an annular coaxial stranded bead cord in which speedy winding operation, good winding performance and good shaping performance causing no disturbance in the arrangement of a siding wire (2) are ensured. A reel (21) is made to reciprocate on the core surface of an annular core (1) transversely at a predetermined position and the annular core (1) is made to perform pendulum motion about a fulcrum, i.e. a clamp unit (13) becoming the winding point of the siding wire (2). Since a substantially constant distance is kept from the reel (21) to the winding point of the siding wire (2), the siding wire (2) being fed out from the reel (21) does not slack at the time of winding and is wound around the annular core (1) with a constant tension. In a system for winding the siding wire around the annular core by moving the reel in a box type with respect to the annular core, the siding wire is prevented from slacking by turning the reel reversely when the reel approaches the annular core.

Abstract: A crystal growth furnace for a compound semiconductor single crystal has: a small diameter section for placing a seed crystal therein; an increasing diameter section that has diameters to increase from the small diameter section to upward; and a constant diameter section that extends from the increasing diameter section to upward. The increasing diameter section has an angle of 120 degrees or more and less than 160 degrees between inner walls opposed to each other.

Abstract: A bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive, high in formability, and includes an annular core that is high in corrosion resistance. The bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive and high in formability includes an annular core 1 and a wrap wire 2 helically wrapped around the annular core 1, the annular core 1 being made of a medium carbon steel or an alloy steel having a lower C content and containing specific elements in suitable amounts, and having a diameter dC that satisfies the following relation 1.04?dC/dS?1.30 with respect to the diameter dS of the wrap wire 2, the wrap wire 2 having a coil diameter DS which is 0.5 to 1.3 times the coil diameter DC of the annular core 1. In order to improve the corrosion resistance of the annular core 1, the annular core 1 may be formed with a plating layer 4 of an Al—Zn alloy or a thick plating layer 4 of Zn, or the annular core 1 may be made of stainless steel.

Abstract: A crystal growth furnace for a compound semiconductor single crystal has: a small diameter section for placing a seed crystal therein; an increasing diameter section that has diameters to increase from the small diameter section to upward; and a constant diameter section that extends from the increasing diameter section to upward. The increasing diameter section has an angle of 120 degrees or more and less than 160 degrees between inner walls opposed to each other.

Abstract: A method for growing a compound semiconductor single crystal comprising cooling a starting material melt of a compound semiconductor with an upward increasing temperature gradient in a crystal-growing container having a seed crystal placed at a lower end, thereby growing a single crystal upward from the seed crystal, the crystal orientation of the seed crystal in a crystal growth axis direction being an offset orientation of <100>+?, wherein the offset angle ? is 2°???55°.

Abstract: A method for growing a compound semiconductor single crystal comprising cooling a starting material melt of a compound semiconductor with an upward increasing temperature gradient in a crystal-growing container having a seed crystal placed at a lower end, thereby growing a single crystal upward from the seed crystal, the crystal orientation of the seed crystal in a crystal growth axis direction being an offset orientation of <100>+&thgr;, wherein the offset angle &thgr; is 2°≦&thgr;≦55°.

Abstract: There has been a drawback that, when donation for organizations for a social action is attempted, an eagerness of making the donation is lost because of troublesomeness of investigation of a receiver's address or account or work of sending the money, and the organizations for the social action fall into short of funds. A social action system using a credit card wherein, when an individual 2 holding the credit card issued by a credit card issuer 1 that intends to contribute to the society uses the card at a store 3 and the like that handle the credit card, the sale proceeds of the store or the like are used for a social action.

Abstract: The ferrite stainless steel welding rod of this invention comprises the following: 0.03% by weight or less of carbon, 1.00% by weight or less of silicon, 1.00% by weight or less of manganese, from 16.0 to 21.0% by weight of chromium, from 0.30 to 0.80% by weight of niobium, from 0.30 to 0.80% by weight of copper, 0.025% by weight or less of nitrogen, and the balance of iron. The ferrite stainless steel welding rod of this invention offers a good weldability not only in welding stainless steels of the same type but also in welding stainless steels of different types. Further, the welding steel of this invention has a good oxidation resistance, and a good workability and mechanical property.