Abstract: Gas flow control apparatus that includes a gas flow control unit having a gas flow adjusting capability and a gas closing capability of selectively opening and closing a gas. A stepping motor is used for driving the gas flow control unit. A drive control unit is provided for controlling the stepping motor. The gas flow control unit is capable of adjusting the gas flow in multiple stages by selectively opening and closing one of a plurality of gas flow adjusting holes and also capable of varying the gas flow in multiple stages by selectively opening and closing one of the plural gas flow adjusting holes according to a number of pulses of the stepping motor.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a crawler belt (7) incorporating a sealing devices (21), which are each constituted by a coned disc spring (23) and a seal ring (22), to seal up gap spaces between track links (8) and bushes (13). A seal anchor hole (12) is provided in each one of outer link portions (9) of track links (8) of the crawler belt (7), and the sealing device (21) is fitted in the seal anchor hole (12) between an outer link portion (9) and an opposing end face (13A) of a bush (13). The sealing device (21) includes the seal ring (22) in the shape of an O-ring, and the coned disc spring (23) which is arranged to press the seal ring (22) resiliently against peripheral wall surface (12B) of the seal anchor hole (12) and the end face (13A) of the bush (13).

Abstract: The improved slide bearing assembly comprises at least a shaft and a bush that is formed of a porous iron-base sintered material and is characterized in that the bush is impregnated with a lubricant oil having a viscosity of 240-1500 cSt. The bearing assembly can be operated in slow- and high-pressure applications without oil refillings for a prolonged period of at least several years. The shaft is preferably formed of an iron or a steel member that have been subjected to a treatment of surface modification. The slide bearing assembly is preferably used in such an environment that the working pressure applied to the sliding surfaces is at least 6.0 kgf/mm.sup.2 and that the sliding speed is in the range 2-5 cm/sec.

Abstract: A sliding member is sulphonitride by heating at 480.degree.-600.degree. C. in the presence of both 10-500 ppm of a hydrogen sulfide gas and a 20-70 vol % ammonia gas, or by a method which comprises performing a primary heat treatment on the sliding member at 450.degree.-540.degree. C. in the presence of 50-200 ppm of a hydrogen sulfide gas and a 10-70 vol % ammonia gas, then ceasing the supply of the ammonia gas, slowly reducing the temperature to a level of 200.degree.-350.degree. C., and performing a secondary heat treatment at that temperature level. By the either method, the sliding member having a FeS.sub.2 on its topmost surface can be obtained.

Abstract: A sliding member having a layer of FeS.sub.2 on its surface is formed by sulphonitriding the member by heatint it at 480.degree. C.-600.degree. C. in the presence of both 10-500 ppm of a hydrogen sulfide gas and 20-70 vol % ammonia gas. An alternate heating method involves performing a primary heat treatment on the sliding member at 450.degree.-540.degree. C. in the presence of 50-200 ppm of a hydrogen sulfite gas and a 10-70 vol % ammonia gas, then ceasing the supply of the ammonia gas, slowly reducing the temperature to between 200.degree.-350.degree. C., and performing a secondary heat treatment at that temperature level.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a thin plate diaphragm having a strain detecting section thereon, and a support member for receiving and properly positioning the diaphragm within a stepped bore structure. The pressure sensor with which the strain detecting section is formed on the diaphragm surface is formed by the use of semiconductor manufacture technology by making the diaphragm of the pressure sensor in the form of a thin plate member. The diaphragm and the support member are joined together by diffusion bonding, and heat treatment for this diffusion bonding is also utilized to crystallize the semiconductor strain gauges.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe comprising an acoustic lens (20) having a concave lens surface (21) formed on one side of a lens body, and a piezoelectric transducer (23) disposed on the other side of the acoustic lens, ultrasonic waves generated by applying voltage to the piezoelectric transducer being focused through the lens surface to detect the reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves from a sample (26) by the piezoelectric transducer for obtaining information about the surface or interior of the sample. The lens surface (21) of the acoustic lens (20) is defined by an etch profile (15) formed by etching a substrate material (11) which makes up the lens body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe comprising an acoustic lens (20) having a concave lens surface (21) formed on one side of a lens body, and a piezoelectric transducer (23) disposed on the other side of the acoustic lens, ultrasonic waves generated by applying voltage to the piezoelectric transducer being focused through the lens surface to detect the reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves from a sample (26) by the piezoelectric transducer for obtaining information about the surface or interior of the sample. The lens surface (21) of the acoustic lens (20) is defined by an etch profile (15) formed by etching a substrate material (11) which makes up the lens body.

Abstract: Aluminum or its alloy is subjected to surface treatment wherein the surface is heated and melted by the heat of an electric arc in an atmosphere of a mixture of inert gas and nitrogen gas. By this treatment, a dense layer of aluminum nitride is formed on the surface of aluminum or its alloy so that material of increased wear resistance is obtained.

Abstract: The improved slide bearing assembly comprises at least a shaft and a bush that is formed of a porous iron-base sintered material and is characterized in that the bush is impregnated with a lubricant oil having a viscosity of 240-1500 cSt. The bearing assembly can be operated in slow- and high-pressure applications without oil refillings for a prolonged period of at least several years. The shaft is preferably formed of an iron or a steel member that have been subjected to a treatment of surface modification. The slide bearing assembly is preferably used in such an environment that the working pressure applied to the sliding surfaces is at least 6.0 kgf/mm.sup.2 and that the sliding speed is in the range 2-5 cm/sec.