Abstract: A liquid or powder measurement apparatus, usable also for mixing a plurality of measured materials and for distributing the mixture to a plurality of dispensing containers. A flow control valve having a wide flow rate range and excellent linearity between the degree of valve opening and flow rate is disposed in each of the liquid flow paths and is adjustable to have a flow rate linearly varying with the stroke of the valve. A mixing container receives the raw material from one or more supply containers and is weighed by a load cell to thereby detect the amount of material flowing into or out of the mixing container. A control unit operating according to fuzzy logic compares the measured weight with a target weight and accordingly adjusts the flow rate of a selected one of the flow regulators. The same load cell and control unit can also control the flows from the mixing containers to the dispensing containers.

Abstract: A superconducting wire comprises a wire element wherein a plurality of superconducting filaments are arranged in a metallic matrix, and a covering layer which is formed on the surface of the wire element with a number of filaments and has a laminated structure including at least one insulator film as the lower layer and at least one thermal conductor film as the upper layer. Frictional heat generated on the surface of the superconducting wire is prevented from being conducted to superconducting filaments by virtue of the presence of the insulator film, and is conducted through the thermal conductor film to be dissipated. Therefore, the temperature of the superconducting filaments is hardly raised.

Abstract: A powder measuring device and powder measuring mixer in which powder is supplied from a supply hopper to a measuring hopper with its flow rate controlled by a flow regulator associated with the hopper. The weight of the measuring hopper is monitored. A controller compares the measured weight with a target rate to produce a deviation therebetween and a time variation of the deviation. The controller operates according to fuzzy inference to produce a desired flow rate for the next control cycle. This desired flow rate is then supplied to the flow regulator. Several supply hoppers with associated flow regulators can be used. Then the output of the controller is switched between the different flow regulators at different phases of the mixing measurement. Additionally, the measuring hopper can be movable between the different supply hoppers so as to avoid complicated piping.

Abstract: A method for measuring liquid to be transferred from a container or containers to a measurement pot includes the steps of: determining an initial degree of opening of the valve for controlling flow-rate of the liquid from the container to the pot based on the valve's flow-rate characteristics and an arbitrarily chosen set value; opening the valve by the initial degree of opening; detecting the actual amount of liquid that has flowed into the pot; determining a next degree of opening of the valve based on the actual measurement and the set value; and changing the degree of opening of the valve to the next degree of opening. The determination of the degrees of opening of the valve is based on fuzzy control, which uses a fuzzy inference from the set value and actual measured value. An apparatus for measuring liquid for use in a liquid mixing apparatus uses the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A measuring mixer for use with either liquids or powders in which different supply systems supply different stock liquids or powders to a receiving container from supply containers. A continuously variable flow regulator is associated with each supply container. The cumulative weight of the receiving container is measured and compared with a target weight. Then a computation section calculates a desired flow rate based upon both the deviation from the target weight and a time variation thereof. This calculation is preferably done according to fuzzy inference. The desired flow rate is then used to control a selected one of the flow regulators so that the measurement is sequentially performed between supply systems. Optionally, the receiving container can be movable between the different supply systems.

Abstract: The disclosed ceramic honeycomb filter comprises a ceramic honeycomb structural body having a multiplicity of parallel channels extending therethrough, selected channels being sealed at one ends thereof while the remainder of the channels being sealed at opposite ends thereof in such a manner that, as dust-containing gas flows therethrough from said one ends to said opposite ends, the gas passes through walls between adjacent channels where the dust particles are collected. The ceramic honeycomb structural body has a coefficient of thermal expansion .alpha..sub.A of 0 to 8.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. for 40.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., and the sealing material of the channels at said ends thereof has a coefficient of thermal expansion .alpha..sub.B which is in the following range for 40.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. The relationship of the coefficients of thermal expansion .alpha..sub.A and .alpha..sub.B are such that .vertline..alpha..sub.A -.alpha..sub.B .vertline..ltoreq.3.5.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C.

Abstract: The disclosed ceramic honeycomb filter comprises a ceramic honeycomb structural body with a multiplicity of parallel channels extending therethrough, selected channels being sealed at one ends thereof by sealing material while the remainder of the channels being sealed at opposite ends thereof by said sealing material in such a manner that, as dust-containing gas flows therethrough from said one ends to said opposite ends, the gas passes through walls between adjacent channels where the dust particles are collected. Said sealing material is alumina cement containing not more than 27% by weight of calcium oxide (CaO), or a mixture of the alumina cement and aggregates.

Abstract: A die for extruding a honeycomb structural body, all parts of which are uniform in mechanical strength, is disclosed. The die is provided with guide grooves between discharge slits and feed inlets for raw stock, said discharge slits having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the honeycomb structural body and said guide grooves having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the discharge slits.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb filter having a large filter area and a low pressure loss is produced by adhering a film on an opening end surface of a porous ceramic honeycomb structural body having a large number of parallel channels extending therethrough, boring holes at a given portion of the film or adhering a film bored at a given portion to an opening end surface of a porous ceramic honeycomb structural body, charging a sealing material into the channels through the bores in the film to seal an end portion of the given channels, and then sealing another end surface of the remaining channels with the sealing material in the same manner as described above.

Abstract: A die for extruding a honeycomb structural body which comprises a throttle portion having a plurality of openings where the forcedly supplied raw stock flow is throttled at the rear surface side of the die, a reservoir portion provided with a plurality of guide channels, an opening portion having a plurality of openings and guide slots, and discharge slits.

Abstract: Extrusion dies for extruding honeycomb structural bodies which comprise a plurality of cell blocks having a cross sectional shape conforming to cells of the honeycomb structural body, a spoke supporter, and spokes, one end of which is fixed to the cell blocks and another end of which is integrally secured to the spoke supporter, said adjacent cell blocks forming discharge slits conforming to the cross sectional shape of the honeycomb structure, and said spoke supporter being provided with a plurality of feed inlets having a larger diameter, which are perforated from one end surface of the spoke supporter toward the cell blocks and a plurality of openings having a smaller diameter, which are perforated from another end surface of the spoke supporter to the feed inlet and connect to the feed inlet.

Abstract: An insulator with a tin oxide semiconductor glaze coating has a portion at least 100.mu. thick extending from the glaze surface in which the ratio of the maximum to the minimum volume resistivity is not more than 30. It is found that such glazes display marked improvement in resistance to deterioration under unfavorable conditions.

Abstract: A die for extruding a honeycomb structural body capable of preventing the deformation of the honeycomb structural body when the honeycomb structural body is extruded.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical insulator coated with a semi-conducting tin oxide system glaze layer wherein the glaze layer contains 0.05 to 10 percent by weight of at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, yttrium oxide and tungsten oxide. The additional metal oxide reduces the dependance of resistance on the environmental temperature.