Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.

Abstract: A laser machining device according to the invention is provided with a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam, a main deflecting galvannometer mirror, an F&thgr; lens, and a sub-deflecting means arranged in an optical path between the laser oscillator and the main deflecting galvanometer mirror. A means for splitting a laser beam is provided, and the sub-deflecting means is inserted into the optical path of one of the split laser beams. At the same time, both the split laser beams are incident from the same main deflecting galvannometer mirror to the F&thgr; lens, and a numerical aperture in the optical system constituted by the main deflecting galvannometer mirror, the F&thgr; lens, and an object is set to be not more than 0.08.

Abstract: The invention intends to reduce a frequency at which defects occur in a welding region during friction stir welding, and to improve the reliability of the welding region. The invention resides in a friction stir welding apparatus wherein a distance to the surfaces of the workpieces is detected by a detector, a change of the detected distance is found by a signal processing device, and a tool is rotated by a rotation driving device in a state where a vertical driving device is controlled by a control device so as to suppress the found change, whereby a plastic fluidity of the workpieces is caused to accomplish joining of the workpieces.

Abstract: The invention intends to reduce a frequency at which defects occur in a welding region during friction stir welding, and to improve the reliability of the welding region. The invention resides in a friction stir welding apparatus wherein a distance to the surfaces of the workpieces is detected by a detector, a change of the detected distance is found by a signal processing device, and a tool is rotated by a rotation driving device in a state where a vertical driving device is controlled by a control device so as to suppress the found change, whereby a plastic fluidity of the workpieces is caused to accomplish joining of the workpieces.

Abstract: A liquid container/dispenser including a container body defining a flexible wall for storing a liquid and a tube member having a first end portion placed outside the container body and a second closed end portion placed inside the container body. The tube member has an opening device provided in the second closed end portion of the tube member inside the container body. The second closed end portion can be broken off from the rest of the tube member inside the container body by a force applied through the wall of the container body. The wall of the container body is preferably made from a flexible material so that the wall can be flexibly brought into contact with the tube member inside the container. The liquid container with the novel dispensing system assures the sealed storage of liquid in the container and yet facilitates clean, quick and safe dispensing of the liquid.

Abstract: A high reliability electric power control semiconductor device with a prolonged product lifetime has been provided by successfully suppressing the metal support plate or the metal heat dissipation plate from warping due to the thermal stress during bonding so as to prevent the occurrences of cracks and gaps in the brazing fillers in the bonded layers between the metal heat dissipation plate or the metal support plate and the insulation plate in the semiconductor device comprising the semiconductor elements, metal heat dissipation plate, thermal stress buffer, insulation plate, and the metal support plate, wherein at least one of the metal heat dissipation plate and the metal support plate comprises a copper alloy of which a softening temperature at which a hot hardness of which becomes 1/2 of the hardness at the room temperature is 350.degree. C. or more.

Abstract: A code reading pattern and an image pickup apparatus are provided for reading a symbol representing significant information, the symbol encoded by the pattern. The code reading pattern is formed by repeated markings of constant pitch on the surface of an object. The markings define area having at least one boundary, the at least one boundary defining an outline of the symbol. The apparatus includes a lighting system for illuminating the code reading pattern with parallel light, an imaging system for imaging light reflected from the pattern, a spatial frequency filtering system, located at the near back focal plane of the imaging system, for blocking regular reflected light and for transmiting diffracted light to project an image of the symbol, and a receiver for receiving the image.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic field generating apparatus, and coil, a superconducting wire, a method of producing a coil and a method of connecting a superconducting wire which are suitable for such a superconducting magnetic field generating apparatus are disclosed. The superconducting magnetic field generating apparatus has a coil of a wound superconducting wire which is composed of superconducting wires with the end portions thereof connected with each other. Each of the superconducting wires is composed of a plurality of superconducting material wires embedded in a stabilizing member. The group of superconducting material wires is embedded at the connecting portion in a state in which the superconducting material wires are densely gathered to the central portion of the stabilizing member and the superconducting material wires are directly in contact with each other.

Abstract: An air pipe for a lighting fixture for a vehicle, comprising a generally cylindrical pipe formed of an elastic material, the air pipe being provided along its interior with a plurality of integral tongue-like tabs each being inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the tabs being provided in a suitably spaced relation and so as to partially overlap at least one of the other tabs to deflect water moving either along or parallel to the center line of the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for joining of high-temperature oxide superconductors per se or a high-temperature oxide superconductor and other conductive material through a very simple process. According to this method, the joining is carried out by using an alloy comprising 0.1%-90% by weight of at least one divalent metallic element and the balance as a brazing material and heating and melting the brazing material. The resulting joined body has a joint low in resistance. The divalent metallic element of the alloy is preferably an element of Group IIA or IIB of the Periodic Table or a transition metal.

Abstract: A calibration disk used for an optical disk inspection unit to correct the measurement values of the mechanical characteristics, such as plane deflection and eccentricity of optical disks, and comprising at least one of three correction sections: an axial displacement correction section, a radial displacement correction section, and a focus error output voltage correction section which are formed on one or both sides of the calibration disk, concentric to the center of rotation of the disk so that measurement values, such as the surface deflection, can be corrected automatically and accurately by simply setting the calibration disk on an inspection unit.

Abstract: An electron-beam exposure apparatus having a correction function for correcting deflection distortion. The correction function is carried out by the provision of a correcting device including an analog correction unit 35 and a digital correction unit having a memory unit 10 for storing correction data other than data that can be expressed by a cubic function. The capacity of such a memory unit can be made smaller than that of conventional apparatuses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and regulating a focused condition of an electron beam emitted from an electron gun of an electron beam welding apparatus. An electron beam of a low intensity is first directed onto the workpiece. The coil current of an electromagnetic condenser lens used to focus the electron beam is then varied linearly. The resulting electrons and other radiation produced from the workpiece as a result of this irradiation is then sensed and a signal corresponding to the intensity thereof is produced. The focus position of the electron beam is determined in accordance with variations in this signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement on material of a shroud for gas turbines. The material comprises 0.25-0.7 wt % C, 20-35 wt % Cr, 20-40 wt % Ni and balance Fe, and has an austenitic structure. The amount of the .sigma.-phase in this invention is less than 5% and Nv value (Electron Vacancy Number) is less than 2.8.

Abstract: Disclosed in a gas turbine nozzle having a superior thermal fatigue resistance. The gas turbine nozzle is made of a cast alloy consisting essentially of 0.1 to 1 wt % carbon, 0.1 to 2 wt % silicon, 0.1 to 2 wt % manganese, 20 to 35 wt % chromium, 0.001 to 0.1 wt % boron, 5 to 15 wt % of at least one of tungsten and molybdenum, 16 to 35 wt % cobalt and the balance nickel. The alloy has a heat-treated structure in which eutectic carbides and secondary carbides are dispersed in the matrix.