Abstract: An exhaust emission control apparatus is provided with a supply device, a catalyst, and a gas pressure reduction part. The supply device supplies a reducing agent to an exhaust passage. The catalyst purifies an exhaust gas by the use of the reducing agent. The gas pressure reduction part can make a gas pressure near the supply port lower than the gas pressure on the inside of a supply device body. A NOx catalyst adsorbs nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust. NOx adsorbed by the NOx catalyst is desorbed from the NOx catalyst when the exhaust gas is purified. An ECU estimates an adsorption amount of NOx. Then, the ECU estimates a desorption amount of NOx desorbed from the NOx catalyst on the basis of the estimated adsorption amount of NOx.

Abstract: A fuel injection device is used in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber partitioned by a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston crown surface so that at least one of the amount of NOx, Pmax, and a thermal efficiency ? is maintained at a predetermined value. The fuel injection device includes a fuel injection change unit. The fuel injection change unit virtually divides the combustion chamber into N number of combustion zones where N is a natural number of 2 or more, and can change a fuel injection method according to the respective combustion zones. The fuel injection change unit divides the combustion chamber into the N number of combustion zones, thereby being capable of eliminating a difference of heat in the respective combustion zones, and precisely controlling an in-cylinder pressure P in the combustion chamber. As a result, the amount of NOx and the thermal efficiency can be optimized.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control apparatus is provided with a supply device, a catalyst, and a gas pressure reduction part. The supply device supplies a reducing agent to an exhaust passage. The catalyst purifies an exhaust gas by the use of the reducing agent. The gas pressure reduction part can make a gas pressure near the supply port lower than the gas pressure on the inside of a supply device body. A NOx catalyst adsorbs nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust. NOx adsorbed by the NOx catalyst is desorbed from the NOx catalyst when the exhaust gas is purified. An ECU estimates an adsorption amount of NOx. Then, the ECU estimates a desorption amount of NOx desorbed from the NOx catalyst on the basis of the estimated adsorption amount of NOx.

Abstract: For accomplishing the subjects, the invention provides a nickel electrode material for use in a nickel electrode, wherein the positive-electrode material constituting the electrode material comprises: positive active material particles which comprise as the main component either a nickel hydroxide or a solid solution in a nickel hydroxide of one or more other elements and in which part of the nickel hydroxide has been oxidized; and a coating layer formed on the surface of the positive active material particles and comprising as the main component a high-order cobalt compound in which the cobalt has an oxidation number larger than 2, the average oxidation number of the nickel in the positive active material particles and the cobalt in the coating layer being from 2.04 to 2.40, and the positive-electrode material having a tap density of 2.0 g/cm3 or higher.

Abstract: One problem with a sealed type nickel-metal hydride battery is that the high-rate discharge capability is inferior to that of a nickel-cadmium storage battery, because of a slow transfer rate of charges to the surface of a hydrogen storing alloy that is a negative electrode. Another problem is that the use of an alloy having excellent life characteristics takes much time for initial activation of battery characteristics. The invention provides a solution to the aforesaid problems by the provision of a sealed type nickel-metal hydride battery (1) improved in high-rate discharge capability and charge-discharge cycle characteristics. To this end, the invention is characterized by locating a 50 nm to 400 nm thick nickel-rich layer (11) on the surface of a hydrogen storing alloy powder, and locating the nickel-rich layer (11) as well on the surface of cracks (12) that open at the surface of alloy, and more preferably setting the mass saturation magnetization of the alloy powder at 2.

Abstract: Subjects for the invention are to provide a nickel electrode material having a satisfactory tap density and capable of attaining a sufficient reduction in discharge reserve and a process for producing the nickel electrode material, and to provide a nickel electrode and an alkaline storage battery having a high capacity and excellent internal-pressure characteristics.

Abstract: A subject for the invention is to provide a sealed nickel-hydrogen cell which has an increased capacity attained by reducing the initial generation of a negative-electrode discharge reserve and which has excellent discharge performance, e.g., high-rate discharge performance, and has high productivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrogen absorbing electrode, in which a rare earth element having a basicity weaker than that of La is mixed to a hydrogen absorbing alloy or contained in it for serving as a component element. The invention relates to a nickel electrode, in which a rare earth element is mixed to a nickel hydroxide or contained in it as a solid solution. The invention further relates to an alkaline storage battery, in which a rare earth element is coated on a surface of a nickel electrode or a surface of a separator.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing electrode using a hydrogen absorbing alloy including at least one or more kinds of transition metals belonging to VIIb-group, VIII-group or Ib-group in periodic table at a specified percentage, characterized in that a surface part of the hydrogen absorbing alloy forms a rich layer including the foregoing transition metals at a percentage larger than the foregoing specified percentage. Since the rich layer exists, an activation at initial stage of charge/discharge is not required. Accordingly, this electrode can be utilized effectively for a nickel-hydride secondary battery.