Abstract: A third electrode (8A) is soldered, via a support fitting (9) onto the inner surface of a support part (1a) which projects into the intermediate part of the inner surface of an insulation tube (1A). An arc generated between the fixed-side contact (5A) and the movable-side contact (5B) when the switch is opened is led from the outer periphery of the fixed-side contact (5A) via the third electrode (8A) to the movable-side contact (5B), in a so-called two-point switch, and the dielectric breakdown probability is thus reduced, particularly at low voltages. The third electrode may have its outer periphery exposed from the insulation tube and be used as one electrode when conditioning is carried out. By the use of this structure, the present invention is capable of meeting the demands for environmental protection and insulation reliability.

Abstract: {W—CuxSb-balance Cu} alloy is employed for contacts. As the anti-arcing constituent in the alloy W or WMo in a content of 65 to 85%, of grain diameter 0.4 to 9 &mgr;m is employed. As auxiliary constituent, CuxSb is employed, the content of the CuxSb being 0.09 to 1.4 weight %, the x being x=1.9 to 5.5, the grain diameter being 0.02 to 20 &mgr;m, and the mean distance between grains being 0.2 to 300 &mgr;m. As conductive constituent, Cu or CuSb solid solution is employed, the Sb content present in solid solution form in the CuSb solid solution being less than 0.5%. As a result, not only is dispersion of CuxSb, which is evaporated on subjection to arcing, reduced, but also generation of severe cracks, which have an adverse effect in terms of occurrence of restriking. Arcing at the contacts surfaces is prevented, suppressing dispersion and exfoliation of W grains.

Abstract: A third electrode (8A) is soldered, via a support fitting (9) onto the inner surface of a support part (1a) which projects into the intermediate part of the inner surface of an insulation tube (1A). An arc generated between the fixed-side contact (5A) and the movable-side contact (5B) when the switch is opened is led from the outer periphery of the fixed-side contact (5A) via the third electrode (8A) to the movable-side contact (5B), in a so-called two-point switch, and the dielectric breakdown probability is thus reduced, particularly at low voltages.

Abstract: The contact material of the present invention comprises: an anti-arcing constituent consisting of at least one TiC, V and VC of which the content is 30˜70 volume % and whose mean particle (grain) size is 0.1˜9 &mgr;m; C whose content is 0.005˜0.5 weight % with respect to the anti-arcing constituent, whose diameter is 0.01˜5 &mgr;m when its shape is calculated as spherical, and which is in non-solid solution condition or condition in which it does not form a chemical compound; and a conductive constituent consisting of Cu and constituting the balance.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement of a vacuum circuit breaker for making and breaking electrical connection. The electrode arrangement has: a pair of contact members which are adopted for making contact to and release from each other by relatively moving to and from each other along a predetermined direction; a pair of electrically conductive bars being connected to the above pair of contact members, respectively, for providing electric conduction to the contact members; and a magnetizing device with a magnetic body for generating magnetic field parallel to the predetermined direction between the contact members. The magnetic body is composed of an iron alloy comprising 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of carbon and iron. The iron alloy may further contain at least one of manganese and silicon.

Abstract: A reactor circulating pump system comprises a pump and a power supply apparatus for driving the pump. In the power supply apparatus, an AC/DC converter and a DC/AC converter provided with an AC voltage/frequency adjuster are connected in series between an in-plant AC bus and a reactor circulating pump, a DC voltage adjuster, a superconducting energy storage apparatus and an excitation power supply source are connected to the input side of the DC/AC converter. A controller is incorporated in the power supply apparatus so as to receive a signal indicating instantaneous power failure or power breakdown on the in-plant AC bus, or reactor trip, and change an AC voltage supplied to the reactor circulating pump with a ratio of AC voltage and frequency kept constant for controlling a pump delivery rate to have a predetermined value, while holding an output voltage from the superconducting energy storage apparatus at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fusion reactor has an internal component in which an internal structure assembly is housed in a toric vacuum vessel in an arrangement along a circumferential direction thereof and in which a high-temperature plasma in which hydrogen and hydrogen isotopes are maintained in a plasma state is confined in a toric internal space defined in the internal structure assembly. The internal component includes a cooling structure of a multi-wall structure having multiple walls formed to the internal structure assembly and a flow channel formed in the cooling structure for a cooling fluid for extracting heat caused by plasma and a nuclear reaction.

Abstract: A process for preparing silica having a low silanol content which comprises heating amorphous silica in an atmosphere of a low partial pressure of water vapor to maintain the amorphous silica at a temperature in a range of from 600.degree. to 1000.degree. C. at a first heating step and then maintain at a temperature of 1200.degree. C. or more at a second heating step. The silica having a low silanol content obtained according to the present invention is advantageously used as a raw material for quartz glass, particularly as a raw material for preparing crucibles used to pull up silicon single crystals.

Abstract: A method for producing a nonsintered cristobalite particles comprising heating amorphous silica particles at a temperature of 1400.degree. to 1700.degree. C. in the presence of cristobalite particles (hereinafter referred to as cristobalite particles for addition and mixing) of at least 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said amorphous silica particles to convert said amorphous silica particles to cristobalite particles with their particle form kept unchanged. According to the present invention, dense cristobalite having a low alkali content can be obtained in the form of particles. Such cristobalite is used as a filler, a dispersing agent, etc., and also as a material for high-quality artificial quartz, ceramics, etc., and particularly as a material for transparent quartz glass because of its generating no bubbles at the time of melt-molding.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing unsintered cristobalite silica by heating an amorphous silica in the presence of an alkali component, which comprises heating an amorphous silica having a specific surface area (measured according to BET method) of 50 m.sup.2 /g or more at a temperature in the range of 1000.degree. to 1300.degree. C., in the presence of an alkali metal element in a concentration of 5 to 600 ppm to said silica to change it partially or completely into cristobalite and then heating at a temperature of exceeding 1300.degree. C. to eliminate alkali.

Abstract: This invention deals with a process for manufacturing high purity silica which comprises making an aqueous alkali silicate solution into fine fibrous gel in a coagulant, treating the fibrous gel obtained with an acid-containing solution, and then with water to extract and remove impurities; and optionallly heating a resulting silica at a temperature of 1,000.degree. C. or higher. Thus obtained silica is preferably used as a filler, especially, the one for resin compositions for encapsulating electronic parts; etc.

Abstract: Apparatus for stirring hydrogel particles of a water-soluble polymer made as a tank defined by a drum within which is housed an inner drum. Water-soluble polymers are introduced through a top opening in the tank into an annular space defined by the inner wall surfaces of the tank and the outer wall surfaces of the inner drum. The water-soluble polymer contents in the annular space are stirred by vanes mounted on a corresponding vertically disposed driven arms. The vanes have leading surfaces advanced in different circular paths within the annular space. One of the vane stirring arms and vane thereon is disposed to travel along a circular path in the vicinity of the inner surfaces of the tank and the other stirring arm vane and corresponding vane are advanced along a circular path in the vicinity of the outer wall surfaces of the inner drum.

Abstract: A device for detecting metal ions in an atmosphere. The device is based on a well known insulated gate-type field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The device includes a metal ion detecting element based on the MOSFET; a means, connected to the metal ion detecting element, for making a current flow through said metal ion detecting element; and a means, connected to the metal ion detecting element, for detecting the change of the strength of the current flowing through the metal ion detecting element, the change being brought by the electric charge of the metal ions which reached the gate oxide film. A metal ion introducing passage for allowing migration of the metal ions to be detected to the gate oxide film is formed in the gate electrode of the metal ion detecting element in the direction of its thickness.

Abstract: A process for preparing an unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt represented by the general formula (I):(CH.sub.2 =CR.sub.1 --COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NR.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4).sup.+ X.sup.-wherein R.sub.1 is --H or --CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are --CH.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, R.sub.4 is --CH.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, and X is Cl, Br or I, by reacting an unsaturated tertiary amine represented by the general formula (II):CH.sub.2 =CR.sub.1 --COOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NR.sub.2 R.sub.3wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plugging device which comprises a plugging orifice having in a passage for a liquid metal a conical portion spreading out toward the upper-course side and a straight pipe portion extending from a small-diameter part of the conical portion at the lower-course end thereof to the lower-course side, whereby plenty of impurities in the liquid metal flowing supersaturated through the straight pipe portion are precipitated at the straight pipe portion, and a cooler so controlled as to stop a driving motor of a blower for cooling the liquid metal when the flow rate of the liquid metal is below a predetermined level and to rotate the motor in proportion to the deviation between the flow rate by actual measurement and the predetermined level of flow rate when the flow rate of the liquid metal is at the predetermined level or above.

Abstract: A plugging indicator comprises an economizer having concentric outer and inner pipes one ends of which are connected to a main conduit through which liquid metal passes, an electromagnetic pump mounted on the outer pipe for branching the liquid metal into the outer pipe, a device for measuring flow quantity of the liquid metal passing through the outer pipe, and cooling means mounted on the outer pipe. The inner pipe is provided with two openings as a plugging orifice and a by-pass orifice to deposit impurities contained in the liquid metal. The plugging indicator further comprises a thermometer for measuring temperature at the plugging orifice, a blower for supplying cooling air to the cooling means, and a device for controlling the blower in response to the flow quantity at the flow quantity measuring device and the temperature at the plugging orifice.

Abstract: In an arrester comprising a characteristic element made up of a stack of a plurality of metal oxide resistors, parallelly connected capacitor and a linear resistor are connected between the characteristic element and ground, and voltage drop across the linear resistor is used to light a neon lamp or to operate an alarm device for detecting deterioration of the characteristic element. To protect the capacitor and the linear resistor at the time when the arrester operates, a nonlinear resistor may be connected in parallel with the capacitor and the linear resistor.

Abstract: In cooling polymeric hydrogel blocks of about 70.degree. to about 110.degree. C. to less than about 70.degree. C., said hydrogel blocks can efficiently be cooled in a short time by feeding them to a screw conveyor with a screw disposed in a horizontal or inclined trough, at least one end of which is blind and which has a discharge opening at the bottom or the side near the other end, and blowing the cooling air against the hydrogel blocks which are being pressed by the rotating screw against the blind end of the trough and lifted upward along the blind wall by the action of the rotary screw and are falling backward on the screw by gravity.

Abstract: In a protective gap device for protecting a circuit breaker, there are provided a cylindrical metalic shell, a high voltage electrode unit, and a low voltage electrode unit. The high and low voltage electrode units are respectively provided with a main electrode, a trigger electrode, and a cylindrical electrode plate, each of the trigger electrodes having a rod-shaped electrode so as to form a trigger gap between the main electrode and the trigger electrode.

Abstract: A method for preventing the surface of a hydrogel of a water-soluble acrylamide-type polymer from being tacky, which comprises coating the surface of the hydrogel with at least one of a higher fatty acid or an alkali metal salt thereof.