Abstract: A battery includes a current collecting member connected to a power generating element housed in an outer casing with a lid, and a rivet placed outside the outer casing. The current collecting member includes a plate-shaped portion placed along the lid. The rivet includes a through part extending through the lid, and a contact part contacting a first surface of the plate-shaped portion. A part of a peripheral end portion of the contact part is joined to the first surface. An edge portion of a non-joined portion of the peripheral end portion, facing the first surface, includes a tapered surface generating a gap smaller at a position closer to the through part. The tapered surface has a maximum size of 0.1 mm or more in a direction from the peripheral end portion to the through part and 0.03 mm or more in a thickness direction of the peripheral end portion.

Abstract: In a battery, a terminal member includes: a columnar portion; a head portion, outside an outer casing, having a larger diameter than a through hole of a lid; and an umbrella-shaped portion, more inside than a current collecting member, having a larger diameter than a through hole of the current collecting member to closely contact an inside surface thereof. A gasket includes: a plate-shaped portion between the lid and the head portion; and a cylindrical portion between a wall surface of the through hole of the lid and the columnar portion. An insulator includes: a plate-shaped portion between the lid and the current collecting member; and a cylindrical portion between the wall surface of the through hole of the lid and the columnar portion. Leading ends of the cylindrical portions close contact each other between the wall surface of the through hole of the lid and the columnar portion.

Abstract: A control rod has four blades, each of which has a rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the control rod, disposed so as to form a cross-shaped cross section in the plane perpendicular to the axis. The blades include a plurality of aligned square tubes having a square cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis and including a neutron absorber filling hole filled with neutron absorber, frame plates disposed parallel to the aligned square tubes in a direction perpendicular to a width direction of the blade, and on one side end and another side end of the blade in the width direction, respectively, and cover plates disposed along the width direction and sandwiching the aligned square tubes. Each blade has the aligned square tubes, the frame plates and the cover plates joined together as a single-piece construction by Hot Isostatic Pressing diffusion bonding.

Abstract: A control rod includes a tie-rod, a handle mounted to an upper end portion of the tie-rod, either a connector plate or a fall velocity limiter mounted to a lower end portion of the tie-rod, sheaths having a U-shaped cross-section, welded intermittently to the tie-rod at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the tie-rod, and having an upper end welded to the handle and a lower end welded to either the connector plate or the fall velocity limiter, and a neutron absorbing member disposed inside each of the sheaths. An upper end of a weld portion located at uppermost position in an axial direction of the tie-rod among a plurality of weld portions between the tie-rod and the sheath is disposed at a position within a range between 0.8 and 13% of total axial length Ls of the sheath below an upper end of the sheath.

Abstract: A control rod includes a tie-rod, a handle mounted to an upper end portion of the tie-rod, either a connector plate or a fall velocity limiter mounted to a lower end portion of the tie-rod, sheaths having a U-shaped cross-section, welded intermittently to the tie-rod at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the tie-rod, and having an upper end welded to the handle and a lower end welded to either the connector plate or the fall velocity limiter, and a neutron absorbing member disposed inside each of the sheaths. An upper end of a weld portion located at uppermost position in an axial direction of the tie-rod among a plurality of weld portions between the tie-rod and the sheath is disposed at a position within a range between 0.8 and 13% of total axial length Ls of the sheath below an upper end of the sheath.

Abstract: Excessive generation NO2 by oxidation catalyst arrangement upstream of a selective reduction catalyst is suppressed to prevent falling of NOx reduction rate. A selective reduction catalyst 4 capable of selectively reacting NOx with ammonia even in the presence of oxygen is incorporated in an exhaust pipe 3 from an engine 1. A pair of oxidation catalysts 5A and 5B are arranged in parallel with each other and upstream of the selective reduction catalyst. In an operation condition with low exhaust temperature, amounts of the exhaust gas 2 distributed to the oxidation catalysts 5A and 5B are adjusted so as to make NO/NO2 ratio in the exhaust gas 2 to about 1-1.5.

Abstract: Prevented is thermoelectric elements from being exposed to abnormally high temperature A thermoelectric generating device has a thermoelectric module 12 with p- and n-type thermoelectric elements 1 and 2 being connected in series, a passage 7 through which heating fluid 8 flows to heat one side of the module and a passage 10 through which cooling fluid 11 flows to cool the other side of the module 12; arranged between the passage 7 and one side of the thermoelectric module 12 is a passage 15 through which urgently cooling fluid 25 flows for prevention of the thermoelectric elements 1 and 2 from abnormally high temperature.

Abstract: Arranged within a cylindrical housing are capturing cells each including a cylindrical outer electrode capable of capturing particulates and an inner electrode inserted into the outer electrode and lined at its outer surface with a dielectric. A divergent exhaust unit is arranged on an end of the housing so as to guide exhaust to interiors in the respective capturing cells. A convergent exhaust unit is arranged on the other end of the housing so as to communicate with a gap between an inner surface of the housing and outer surfaces of the outer electrodes in the respective cells. The inner and outer electrodes are connected to an electric discharge controller.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control device with a plasma generator received in a filter casing incorporated in an exhaust pipe for capturing particulates and capable of conducting electric discharge so as to generate plasma in the exhaust gas at a capturing place and with a power supply for impressing voltage on the plasma generator. The plasma generator is unitized and arranged in plurality. A control switch is provided for sequential changeover of the connection of the power supply to the plural units of the plasma generator. A processing capability comparable to a single, large-sized plasma generator is obtained while increase in size of the power supply is prevented.

Abstract: Provided are a hollow inner electrode constituted by an electrically conductive filter capable of capturing particulates, a cylindrical outer electrode circumferentially surrounding the electrode, a housing incorporated in a flow passage of exhaust and accommodating the electrodes and, a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the exhaust and an electric discharge controller for controlling electric power to be distributed to the electrodes and on the basis of a detected value of the temperature sensor. When the temperature of the exhaust obtained by the temperature sensor is lowered, electric power necessary for generation of discharge plasma is distributed by the discharge controller to the electrodes and, thereby oxidizing the particulates captured by the electrode to reduce electricity consumption.

Abstract: Provided are an electrically conductive pipe 12 providing an earth electrode, a mixed gas flow passage 14 which guides a mixed gas of fuel with air into the conductive pipe 12 and a high voltage electrode which impresses high voltage between the same and the conductive pipe 12 as the earth electrode to generate plasma for reformation of the fuel guided from the flow passage 14 into the conductive pipe 12 so as to efficiently perform the reformation of the fuel which can be effectively utilized for a field of, for example, reduction of a NOx-occlusion reduction catalyst and of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Excessive generation NO2 by oxidation catalyst arrangement upstream of a selective reduction catalyst is suppressed to prevent falling of NOx reduction rate. A selective reduction catalyst 4 capable of selectively reacting NOx with ammonia even in the presence of oxygen is incorporated in an exhaust pipe 3 from an engine 1. A pair of oxidation catalysts 5A and 5B are arranged in parallel with each other and upstream of the selective reduction catalyst. In an operation condition with low exhaust temperature, amounts of the exhaust gas 2 distributed to the oxidation catalysts 5A and 5B are adjusted so as to make NO/NO2 ratio in the exhaust gas 2 to about 1-1.5.

Abstract: A recording apparatus such as a DVD recorder for supporting titling an image shot by a DV camera or the like, sparing a user the trouble of inputting the title with a remote controller. The DVD recorder prestores information on the schedule of persons who may be objects of shooting, and information concerning general yearly events such as New Year's Day. The DVD recorder retrieves, from the schedule and event information, candidates for the title of the image, based on the shooting time of the image and information concerning a person shot in the image. The DVD recorder then displays the title candidates so that the user can select a desired title from the displayed candidates.

Abstract: Arranged within a cylindrical housing 1 are capturing cells 2 each including a cylindrical outer electrode 7 capable of capturing particulates and an inner electrode 6 inserted into the outer electrode and lined at its outer surface with a dielectric 5. Exhaust divergent means 3 is arrange on an end of the housing 1 so as to guide exhaust G to interiors in the respective capturing cells 2; exhaust convergence means 4 is arranged on the other end of the housing 1 so as to communicate with a gap 14 between an inner surface of the housing and outer surfaces of the outer electrodes 7 in the respective cells 2. The inner and outer electrodes 6 and 7 are connected to an electric discharge controller 15. Thus, provided is an exhaust emission control device with high removal efficiency of particulates and with easiness in maintenance.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control device with less electricity consumption comprises a cylindrical outer electrode 7 extending in a direction of flow of exhaust G, a plurality of inner electrodes 5 and 6 constituted by electrically conductive filters capable of capturing particulates and aligned in the direction of flow of the exhaust G within an outer electrode 7, captured particulate amount estimating means 2 for estimating captured particulate amounts of the respective inner electrodes 5 and 6 and an electric discharge controller 3 for supplying electric power for generation of electric discharge to the outer electrode 7 and any of the inner electrodes 5 and 6 on the basis of calculated values of the estimating means 2.

Abstract: Provided are a hollow inner electrode 5 constituted by an electrically conductive filter capable of capturing particulates, a cylindrical outer electrode 6 circumferentially surrounding the electrode 5, a housing 4 incorporated in a flow passage of exhaust G and accommodating the electrodes 5 and 6, a temperature sensor 2 for detecting temperature of the exhaust G and an electric discharge controller 3 for controlling electric power to be distributed to the electrodes 5 and 6 on the basis of a detected value of the temperature sensor 2. When the temperature of the exhaust G obtained by the temperature sensor 2 is lowered, electric power necessary for generation of discharge plasma is distributed by the discharge controller 3 to the electrodes 5 and 6, thereby oxidizing the particulates captured by the electrode 5 to reduce electricity consumption.

Abstract: Present invention is a resin composition obtained by reacting polyolefin (A) with a (co)polymer (B) prepared from a copolymerizable monomer mixture (C) comprising an &agr;,&bgr;-monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and other copolymerizable monomers in a weight ratio (A)/(B)=1/9-9/1 under radical generation in an organic solvent, or by polymerizing a copolymerizable monomer mixture (C) comprising an &agr;,&bgr;-monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and other copolymerizable monomers in the presence of polyolefin (A) in a weight ratio (A)/(C)=1/9-9/1 in an organic solvent and successively by reacting the obtained reaction mass under radical generation; and the resin composition has good solution stability, does not cause liquid phase separation or solid precipitation, can be used as intact, is excellent in sprayability at high concentration, and, specifically, has novel function and effect that adhesion to polyolefin molded articles is excellent; and the resin composition can be favorably used f

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus for reproducing digital information recorded on an optical disc, comprises an optical pickup for reading said digital information recorded on said optical disc to have said digital information converted into electric signals, said digital information containing errors appearing when said digital information is read by said optical pickup; signal amplifying means for amplifying said electric signals converted from said digital information read by said optical pickup; signal processing means for processing said electric signals in one or more times of retry routines to correct said errors outputted as said electric signals from said signal amplifying means; a buffer memory for storing said electric signals outputted from said signal processing means; signal decoding means for decoding said electric signals stored in said buffer memory and outputted from said buffer memory; pickup driving means for driving said optical pickup to move on said optical disc, said errors being associated wit

Abstract: By using an assay device comprising a sample-receiving port, a pump-connection port, a sample-treating zone which is provided with a labeled substance with a label, a sample-treating and optical-measuring zone which has a porous material having immobilized thereto one of a specifically binding pair, and a pathway interconnecting these zones and ports, wherein the sample-treating zone and the sample-treating and optical-measuring zone are positioned between the sample-receiving port and the pump-connection port;or by using an assay device comprising a sample-receiving port, a pump-connection port, a sample-treating and optical-measuring zone which has a porous material having immobilized thereto a labeled substance with a label and one of a specifically binding pair, and a pathway interconnecting these zone and ports, wherein the sample-treating and optical-measuring zone is positioned between the sample-receiving port and the pump-connection port,biological components can be quantitatively determined by immun

Abstract: The biological fluid analyzing device for analyzing biological fluid by measuring optical characteristics of a sample has a sample receiving port 1 and a pump connection port 5. Between the sample receiving port 1 and the pump connection port 5, the analyzing device has either a combination of at least one sample-treating chamber 2a, 2b, 2c and at least one optical-measuring chamber 3a, 3b, or a combination of at least one sample-treating chamber, at least one optical-measuring chamber and at least one waste liquid reservoir 4. The sample receiving port 1 is connected with one sample-treating chamber; the pump connection port 5 is connected with a pathway 6 or waste liquid reservoir 4; and the sample-treating chamber and optical-measuring chamber are interconnected with the pathway, or the sample-treating chamber, optical-measuring chamber and waste liquid reservoir are interconnected with the pathway.