Abstract: In a spark plug in which a space between a center electrode at the top end side and a terminal electrode at a rear end side which are arranged to be opposite to each other in an axial hole of an insulator, the glass seal is effected at a temperature within the range of 500 to 1000° C. and under a condition where the concentration of oxygen is 12 vol % or less.

Abstract: An insulator for spark plug comprises an alumina-based sintered body comprising: Al2O3 (alumina) as a main component; and at least one component (hereinafter referred to as “E. component”) selected from the group consisting of Ca (calcium) component, Sr (strontium) component and Ba (barium) component, wherein the alumina-based sintered body comprises particles comprising a compound comprising the E. component and Al (aluminum) component, the compound having a molar ratio of the Al component to the E. component of 4.5 to 6.7 as calculated in terms of oxides thereof, and has a relative density of 90% or more.

Abstract: In a spark plug of the invention, as the top end edge of a terminal 13 is located within a middle trunk portion 2g of the insulator 2 with a longer reach of the screw portion 7, it acts as a support against fracture, more likely causing the problem of strength. Thus, the wall thickness of the middle trunk portion 2g at a position corresponding to the top end edge of the terminal 13 is sufficiently secured to be 0.42 or larger, based on the value of (D−d)/D, whereby it is possible to prevent the inconvenience such as fracture of the insulator, particularly, the middle trunk portion 2g from occurring owing to some strong force of bending, impact or torque applied on the insulator 2, when the spark plug is attached.

Abstract: In a transfer sheet and a method of transferring a figuration to a ceramic product, an ink is provided by mixing a chromophoric pigment for expressing a desired coloration, a vitreous powder and thermoplastic resin. A sheet of paper or plastic film is prepared on which an appropriate figuration is screen printed with the use of the ink to transfer it to an outer surface of a ceramic product. A thermoplastic separable layer is provided between the mount sheet and a pigment layer. The pigment layer is coated with an adhesive layer.

Abstract: In a spark plug, a resistor is placed between a terminal and a center electrode within a through hole of an insulator. The through hole of the insulator has a first portion which allows the center electrode to be inserted therethrough, and a second portion which is formed on a rear side of the first portion so as to be larger in diameter than the first portion and which accommodates the resistor therein, where the second portion is connected to the first portion via a connecting portion including a two- or more-stepped reduced-diameter portion. Then, an electrically conductive glass seal layer is placed at a position corresponding to the connecting portion between the resistor and the center electrode.

Abstract: In a spark plug (100), the resistor composition constituting a resistor (15) contains semiconductive ceramic particles, offering a superior load life characteristic. Also, the value of (.alpha.2-.alpha.1)/.alpha.1 >=-0.30, where a value of electric resistance between a terminal (13) and a center electrode (3) is .alpha.1 at 20.degree. C. and .alpha.2 at 150.degree. C., so that deterioration of the radio frequency noise prevention performance at high temperatures can be effectively suppressed. The resistor composition contains semiconductive ceramic particles whose temperature coefficient of electric resistance shows a positive value, or a negative value of relatively small absolute value, (e.g., TiO.sub.2 particles having a rutile type crystalline structure, titanate or zirconate of alkali earth metal elements, titanium suboxide, etc.), or titanium metal.

Abstract: In a spark plug in which a space between a center electrode at the top end side and a terminal electrode at a rear end side which are arranged to be opposite to each other in an axial hole of an insulator, the glass seal is effected at a temperature within the range of 500 to 1000.degree. C. and under a condition where the concentration of oxygen is 12 vol % or less.

Abstract: In a transfer sheet and a method of transferring a figuration to a ceramic product, an ink is provided by mixing a chromophoric pigment for expressing a desired coloration, a vitreous powder and thermoplastic resin. A sheet of paper or plastic film is perpared on which an appropriate figuration is screen printed with the use of the ink to transfer it to an outer surface of a ceramic product. A thermoplastic separable layer is provided between the mount sheet and a pigment layer. The pigment layer is coated with an adhesive layer.

Abstract: An Nb.sub.3 Al multi-filamentary superconducting wire capable of realizing both stabilization of a superconducting state and increase in capacity is provided. The Nb.sub.3 Al multi-filamentary superconducting wire includes a core formed of copper or copper alloy and located at the center of the wire; a multi-filamentary superconductor layer located around the core and having filaments containing Nb and Al as constituent elements embedded in a matrix formed of copper or copper alloy; and a high resistance layer located around the multi-filamentary superconductor layer, and is characterized in that a sectional area of the core is at least 15% of the total sectional area of the core and the matrix and that the core and the matrix are formed of copper or copper alloy of at least 99.9% purity.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine. The spark plug includes an insulator coated with glaze in an area extending from a head portion to a trunk portion of the insulator. Preferably, the glaze is prepared from B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 glass containing two or more oxides selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Na.sub.2 O, CaO, ZnO, BaO, Li.sub.2 O and Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3. The glaze is prepared by dry-mixing a plurality of powder materials, melting the resultant mixture in water for vitrification, wet-powdering the resultant vitrification, and adding an organic binder to the resultant powder. The glaze is applied to the insulater and fired at a glost temperature of not more than 1150.degree. C. The Pb content of the glaze is not more than 10 wt. % in terms of PbO. Accordingly, even when a strong electric field is induced at the trunk portion of the insulator, the conversion of Pb to conductive substances is very little or zero.

Abstract: In a spark plug insulator having a sintered ceramic body, the ceramic body has silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4), aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), the sum of the weight of aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) to silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) is in the range of 0.093.about.1.439. Typically, the additive is represented by the group consisting of yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3), calcium oxide (CaO), lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2 O.sub.3), magnesia (MgO), cerium oxide (SrO), barium oxide (BaO) and neodymium (Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3). The percentage by weight of the sintering additive ranges from 0.3% to 15.0% of the total weight of the silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4), aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).

Abstract: In a spark plug insulator for use in an internal combustion engine, a sintered body has boron nitride and a metal oxide, the boron nitride of the sintered body being 80% or exceeding 80% by weight, and the sintered body having a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 5.0.times.10-.sup.6 /.degree.C. The metal oxide is selected alone or combination from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, silicon oxide, boron oxide, yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide.

Abstract: In a spark plug insulator for use in an internal combustion engine, a sintered body has boron nitride and a metal oxide, the boron nitride of the sintered body being 80% or greater by weight, and the sintered body having a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 5.0.times.10-.sup.6 /.degree.C. The metal oxide is selected alone or in combination from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, silicon oxide, boron oxide, yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a cylindrical metallic shell having a shoulder portion, and a tubular insulator having a stepped portion which rests on the shoulder portion within the metallic shell. The insulator has a rear half made of aluminum oxide and a front half made of aluminum nitride, the rear half having a protrusion, while the front half having a housing, and tightly joining the protrusion within the housing. An overlapping portion of the protrusion and the housing is at least partly located in a plane which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the center electrode, the plane passing through the shoulder portion of the metallic shell.

Abstract: In a spark plug insulator having a sintered ceramic body, the ceramic body has silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4), aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), the weight ratio of aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) to silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) being in the range of 0.093 to 1.439; and at least one sintering additive is among the group consisting of yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2).sub.3), calcium oxide (CaO), lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2 O.sub.3), magnesia (MgO), cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2), scandium oxide (Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3), strontium oxide (SrO), barium oxide (BaO) and neodymium (Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3). The weight percentage of the sintering additive ranges from 0.3% to 15.0% of the total weight of the silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4), aluminum nitride (AlN) and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).

Abstract: A spark plug insulator is desirably made up of a sintered body of AlN-based ceramic powder comprising about 60-98% AlN and a sintering additive. There is provided on the surface of the sintered body a layer of pyrolytic boron nitride having a thickness in the range 10-100 .mu.m.

Abstract: In a sintered ceramic body used for an insulator of a spark plug, magnesium (Mg) is uniformly diffused into grains of a nitride-based ceramic body. An amount of the diffused magnesium (Mg) is within a range from 20 ppm to 100 ppm which is calculated by reducing the magnesium (Mg) to its oxidized component.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A semiconductor material having a resistance of 5.times.10.sup.2 -5.times.10.sup.4 M.OMEGA./mm is coated or baked in the form of a band on the peripheral surface of a basal part of a leg portion of an insulator of the spark plug. Preferably, at least the basal part of the leg portion, including the band, is covered with a water-repellant insulating coating. An inner wall of a metal shell of the spark plug is desirably coated with a water-repellant material at an area facing at least the peripheral surface of the basal part of the leg portion of the insulator.

Abstract: Several embodiments of remote controlled helicopters wherein the longitudinal position of the helicopter is controlled by means of a tether wire affixed to the rear of the helicopter. In some embodiments, the connection of the tether wire to the fuselage is such that at least a portion of the torque created on the fuselage by the rotation of the main rotor is absorbed by the tether wire.

Abstract: A motorcycle and specifically an improved light weight, high strength frame for such a vehicle. The frame is made up of a head pipe and main frame members which have a box section and interlocking relationship for affixing the main frame members to the head pipe.