Abstract: A process for hydrogenating carbon dioxide to generate methanol. In the process, a strip of copper base plate is transported by the groups of rotating drive rollers to deposit porous metallic zinc on the copper base plate. Hydrogen is generated from the porous metallic zinc upon electrochemical reactions in the inner space sealed with the above groups of rollers. Simultaneously, zinc oxide and copper oxide catalysts are formed on the porous metallic zinc. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the sealed inner space under high-temperature and high-pressure to generate methanol by hydrogenation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a charge amplifier which can be operated at low cost so that electric charge generated in a piezoelectric pressure sensor having one end grounded is converted into a voltage signal. In the charge amplifier (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plus side power source input terminal of an operational amplifier (5) is connected to a plus power source (+5 V) while a minus side power source input terminal of the operational amplifier (5) is grounded, so that the operational amplifier (5) is supplied with a single power source. Further, an offset voltage lower than the plus power source voltage but higher than the ground potential is applied to a non-inverted input terminal of the operational amplifier (5). Accordingly, change of pressure in both positive and negative directions can be converted into a voltage signal with the offset voltage as its center though the operational amplifier (5) is driven by a single power source.

Abstract: A glow plug comprising: a cylindrical housing; a heater member as defined herein; a conductive center pole as defined herein; a first piezoelectric element as defined herein; and a second piezoelectric element as defined herein, wherein each of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element is subjected to a preload for compressing it in said axial direction and is arranged such that, when said center pole is displaced to a root-end side, a load to be applied to one of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element for compressing the same in said axial direction increases whereas a load to be applied to the other for compressing the same in said axial direction decreases.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating carbon dioxide to generate methanol. In the process, a strip of copper base plate is transported by the groups of rotating drive rollers to deposit porous metallic zinc on the copper base plate. Hydrogen is generated from the porous metallic zinc upon electrochemical reactions in the inner space sealed with the above groups of rollers. Simultaneously, zinc oxide and copper oxide catalysts are formed on the porous metallic zinc. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the sealed inner space under high-temperature and high-pressure to generate methanol by hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating carbon dioxide to generate methanol. In the process, a strip of copper base plate is transported by the groups of rotating drive rollers to deposit porous metallic zinc on the copper base plate. Hydrogen is generated from the porous metallic zinc upon electrochemical reactions in the inner space sealed with the above groups of rollers. Simultaneously, zinc oxide and copper oxide catalysts are formed on the porous metallic zinc. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the sealed inner space under high-temperature and high-pressure to generate methanol by hydrogenation.

Abstract: A misfire deciding method for an internal combustion engine, which can be executed conveniently at low cost by using a gasket type pressure sensor and which can decide a misfire highly accurately and reproducibly. The internal pressure of an internal combustion engine having a spark plug mounted therein is measured by a pressure sensor (or a gasket type pressure sensor) mounted in the mounting seat of the spark plug. The measured information of the internal pressure for a period (or a before top dead center period) after an intake valve is closed and before the crank angle reaches top dead center is used as the before top dead center pressure information, and the measured information of the internal pressure for a period (or an after top dead center period) after the crank angle reaches the top dead center and before an exhaust valve is opened is used as the after top dead center pressure information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a charge amplifier which can be operated at low cost so that electric charge generated in a piezoelectric pressure sensor having one end grounded is converted into a voltage signal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensor unit which is formed separately from a spark plug, and in which an extra space does not have to be secured in the peripheral portion of a pressure sensing element, while a space for attaching peripheral components such as an ignition coil and the like can be secured flexibly in a spark plug hole.

Abstract: A spark plug cap for facilitating the fitting/detaching operation of a spark plug with a built-in pressure sensor, and a method of easily fitting the spark plug with a built-in pressure sensor are provided. The spark plug cap is provided with a cylindrical part of glass-containing PBT, a grommet provided with a cable passing groove, and an ignition coil unit provided with a high voltage terminal. The cylindrical part includes a first engagement part engageable with a spark plug fastening tool on one end, a second engagement part of a metal material engageable with a hexagonal part of the spark plug with a built-in pressure sensor on the other hand, and a groove-shaped clamp part on the outer side surface. By engaging the hexagonal part with the second engagement part to attach the cylindrical part to the spark plug, holding a sensor output cable by the clamp part, and fitting and fastening the spark plug fastening tool in the first engagement part, the spark plug is fitted into an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A pressure sensor-incorporating spark plug including a groove 17e for accommodating an output cable 27 formed on a side surface of a hexagonal portion 17a. A U-shaped member is bent into a tubular shape to obtain a fixing member 31. After the fixing member 31 and the output cable 27 passing through the fixing member 31 are placed in the groove 17e, the fixing member 31 is crimped in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5(a), so that the fixing member 31 is deformed to fit the wall surface of the groove 17e. Thus, the output cable 27 is nipped by the fixing member 31, and the fixing member 31 is held within the groove 17e of the hexagonal portion 17a. As a result, the output cable 27 is fixed to the hexagonal portion 17a.

Abstract: A misfire deciding method for an internal combustion engine, which can be executed conveniently at low cost by using a gasket type pressure sensor and which can decide a misfire highly accurately and reproducibly. The internal pressure of an internal combustion engine having a spark plug mounted therein is measured by a pressure sensor (or a gasket type pressure sensor) mounted in the mounting seat of the spark plug. The measured information of the internal pressure for a period (or a before top dead center period) after an intake valve is closed and before the crank angle reaches top dead center is used as the before top dead center pressure information, and the measured information of the internal pressure for a period (or an after top dead center period) after the crank angle reaches the top dead center and before an exhaust valve is opened is used as the after top dead center pressure information.

Abstract: A pressure sensor-incorporating spark plug including a groove 17e for accommodating an output cable 27 formed on a side surface of a hexagonal portion 17a. A U-shaped member is bent into a tubular shape to obtain a fixing member 31. After the fixing member 31 and the output cable 27 passing through the fixing member 31 are placed in the groove 17e, the fixing member 31 is crimped in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5(a), so that the fixing member 31 is deformed to fit the wall surface of the groove 17e. Thus, the output cable 27 is nipped by the fixing member 31, and the fixing member 31 is held within the groove 17e of the hexagonal portion 17a. As a result, the output cable 27 is fixed to the hexagonal portion 17a.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed to article and process for making it. The article is characterized by a substrate composed of a ring-opened polymer of a norbornene-type monomer having tricyclic or higher cyclic structure and a polymer sheet tenaciously adhering to the substrate. The process includes the steps of positioning the polymer sheet in a mold, flowing the monomer in a liquid state in a plurality of streams into the mold, polymerizing the monomer in the mold by ring-opening of the monomer, and removing the article from the mold with the polymer sheet on at least one outer surface thereof.