Abstract: A gas concentration sensor includes a measurement chamber for measuring a concentration of a specific gas component in a gas under measurement; an inflow path for allowing inflow of the gas under measurement thereinto and an outflow path for allowing outflow of the gas under measurement therefrom; a reflection wall for reflecting an acoustic wave; and an acoustic wave transmitting-receiving element having a transmitting-receiving surface adapted to transmit an acoustic wave toward the reflection wall and receive an acoustic wave reflected from the reflection wall. The concentration of the specific gas in the gas under measurement is detected on the basis of a propagation time between transmission of the acoustic wave and reception of the reflected acoustic wave. When a predetermined member having the sensor attached thereto is placed in a horizontal plane, the transmitting-receiving surface faces downward. A recess is formed in a peripheral portion of the reflection wall.

Abstract: A traction drive fluid is provided containing a naphthenic compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 through R4 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and A is a naphthenic hydrocarbon group, a saturated polycyclic hydrocarbon group, a naphthenic ester group, or a naphthenic carbonate group.

Abstract: A gas sensor having a laminate structure composed of thin sheets of solid electrolyte and including a cavity portion 21 and an oxygen concentration cell 5. The oxygen concentration in the cavity portion 21 is held constant. The oxygen concentration cell 5 includes an active electrode 12 having a relatively high catalytic capability with respect to NOx or combustible gas and an inner common electrode 13/15 (serving as an inactive electrode and an oxygen-concentration-sensing electrode) having a relatively low catalytic capability with respect to NOx or combustible gas. The oxygen concentration cell 5 is disposed in the gas sensor so as to be exposed to the interior of the cavity portion 21. The concentration of NOx or combustible gas is determined based on an electromotive force (of the order of mV) generated between the active electrode 12 and the inner common electrode 13/15 by a concentration cell effect.

Abstract: A gas sensor (10) including a measurement chamber (28) into which a gas GS is flown and a detection element main body (40) facing the measurement chamber (28). The detection element main body (40) includes an element case 42, and a protective film (48) is adhered to a bottom surface thereof. An acoustic matching plate (50) and a piezoelectric element (51) of a substantially columnar shape and a tube body (52) provided in a position surrounding the acoustic matching plate 50 and the piezoelectric element 51 are housed in the element case (42). A filler is then introduced into the element case (42), whereby the acoustic matching plate (50), the piezoelectric element (51), and the tube body (52) are sealed by a filled layer (99).

Abstract: A wiper blade which is prepared by one-piece molding of a wiper base material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and a dynamically vulcanized elastomer component and having a structure wherein the dynamically vulcanized elastomer component is dispersed in a continuous phase comprised of the thermoplastic resin, and a reinforcing material. The wiper blade is advantageous in that it is excellent in wiping property and also durability, the occurrence of chattering noise is expressed, and it needs a reduced number of steps for assembly. The use of the wiper base material has allowed the preparation of a wiper blade having such excellent characteristics by the use of one-piece molding.

Abstract: A blood collecting apparatus comprises a blood collecting needle 152; the blood collecting bag, a first tube whose one end communicates with the blood collecting bag and other end communicates with the blood collecting needle, the branch portion provided on a portion of the first tube, a second tube connected with the branch portion at one end thereof and having a blood take-out port (sampling port); and a flexible resin bag including a third tube communicating with the second tube. The flexible resin bag is capable of accommodating air inside a part of the first tube between the branch portion and the blood collecting needle and air inside the second tube when the blood collecting apparatus is used.

Abstract: A refrigerator oil for use in compressors using therein a hydrogen-containing halogenocarbon as a refrigerant, consisting essentially of as a base oil at least one kind of an ester selected from the group consisting of a specific pentaerythritol ester such as an ester of pentaerythritol with a mono- or dicarboxylic acid, a specific polyol ester such as an ester of trimethylolethane with a mono- or dicarboxylic acid, a specific ester such as an ester of ethylene glycol and a dicarboxylic acid, and a specific polyol ester synthesized from a neopentyl type polyhydric alcohol, a monocarboxylic acid and a dicarboxylic acid; and further comprising at least one kind of an epoxy compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus using a gas concentration sensor for accurately controlling an air fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine, featuring in that before the fuel-vaporized gas purged from the canister enters into the intake manifold whereat the sensor detects the gas concentration of the purged gas, the sensor is adjusted so as to adjust a zero point (or zero output level) of the sensor output. In step 100 of FIG. 7, a judgment is made as to whether the flow rate of air reaches a predetermined level. In step 110, processing for zero-point correction of the gas concentration sensor is performed. Specifically, in a state in which the purge valve 17 is closed, concentration of purge gas is measured by use of the gas concentration sensor 4, and a sensor output S1 at that time is obtained. Subsequently, the sensor output S1 is compared with a correct sensor output S0 in order to obtain a difference &Dgr;S therebetween.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-wave propagation time measuring method which enables determination of accurate propagation time, a gas-pressure measuring method, a gas-flow-rate measuring method, and a gas sensor. A reception wave which has been transmitted and received by an ultrasonic element 5 is shaped and integrated by an integration circuit 67 to obtain an integral value. A peak value of the integral value is held by a peak-hold circuit 39. As to detection of gas concentration, a resistance-voltage-division circuit 41 sets a reference value on the basis of the peak value, and a point in time when the integral value of the reception wave is judged by a comparator 43 to have reached the reference value is regarded as an arrival time. Subsequently, a gas concentration is detected on the basis of a period between the emission time and the arrival time.

Abstract: A gas sensor suitable for measuring hydrogen concentration, including a proton conductive layer (1); a first electrode (3) and a second electrode (5) provided on the proton conductive layer (1); a gas diffusion-limiting inlet (19) provided between the first electrode (3) and a measurement gas atmosphere (6) containing hydrogen gas; and a gas diffusion-limiting outlet (21) provided between the second electrode (5) and the atmosphere (6); wherein the ratio (a/b) between the diffusion resistance (a) of the diffusion limiting portion (19) and the diffusion resistance (b) of the gas outlet portion (21) is not greater than 2.

Abstract: A gas sensor having a laminate structure composed of thin sheets of solid electrolyte and including a cavity portion 21 and an oxygen concentration cell 5. The oxygen concentration in the cavity portion 21 is held constant. The oxygen concentration cell 5 includes an active electrode 12 having a relatively high catalytic capability with respect to NOx or combustible gas and an inner common electrode 13/15 (serving as an inactive electrode and an oxygen-concentration-sensing electrode) having a relatively low catalytic capability with respect to NOx or combustible gas. The oxygen concentration cell 5 is disposed in the gas sensor so as to be exposed to the interior of the cavity portion 21. The concentration of NOx or combustible gas is determined based on an electromotive force (of the order of mV) generated between the active electrode 12 and the inner common electrode 13/15 by a concentration cell effect.

Abstract: This invention provides a gas sensor including a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte layer and a method for measuring gas concentration, that are capable of measuring gas concentration at high accuracy nothwithstanding the presence of water vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the concentration of ammonia gas, including a solid electrolyte body having oxygen ion conductivity, a reference electrode formed on a first inner surface of the solid electrolyte body and contacting a reference gas, a detecting electrode formed on a second outer surface of the solid electrolyte body and containing a noble metal and/or a metal oxide therein, a Pd catalyst layer formed on an outer surface of the detecting electrode and including a Pd-containing porous body, and a heater element for heating the solid electrolyte body.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor is configured such that an O-ring 21 is disposed within a measurement chamber 11a in order to seal against a first support element 9a and against a proton conduction layer 1. This O-ring 21 assumes the form of a rectangular frame that surrounds a first electrode 3, and a substantially circular cross section, and is elastic, heat resistant, and durable. A first metal plate 23a and a second metal plate 23b are disposed from the outside on opposite support elements 9a and 9b, respectively. The hydrogen gas sensor of the present embodiment has a pair of right-hand and left-hand through-holes 29 formed therein so as to extend along the thickness direction thereof. Bolts 31 are inserted into the corresponding through-holes 29. By fastening the metal plates 23a and 23b from the outside by means of the bolts 31 and nuts 33, the opposite support elements 9a and 9b are fastened, thereby clamping the entire hydrogen sensor in a unitary condition.

Abstract: A method for detecting the concentration of a specific gas (NOx) in an engine exhaust gas using a gas sensor and a process of correcting the gas sensor. According to the correcting process, the amount of moisture in the exhaust gas is estimated, then a gas concentration detection signal output by the gas sensor on the basis of an estimated amount of moisture is corrected.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor is configured such that a first electrode (3) is provided on one surface of a proton conduction layer (1); a second electrode (5) and a reference electrode (7) are provided on the other surface of the proton conduction layer (1) in opposition to the first electrode (3); and these components are supported in a support element (10) consisting of a first support element (8) and a second support element (9). The first support element (8), which partially constitutes the support element (10), has a diffusion controlling portion (19) for establishing communication between an ambient atmosphere and a first recess (11a). The ratio (area ratio) S1/S2 between the first area S1 (the area of the meshed portion in FIG. 1) and the second area S2 (the area of the hatched portion in FIG. 1) is less than 0.35.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor including a first electrode 3 provided on one surface of a proton conduction layer 1; a second electrode 5 provided on the other surface of the proton conduction layer 1 in opposition to the first electrode 3; and these components are supported in a support element including a first support element 9a and a second support element 9b. A conductive, elastic element 23 is disposed between a first lead portion 10a and a first electrode 3 in contact with the first lead portion 10a and the first electrode 3. The conductive, elastic element 23 is an electrically conductive, elastic sheetlike element made of metal, and has a pair of right-hand and left-hand through-holes 25 formed therein at a central portion thereof. The conductive, elastic element 23 is held between the first lead portion 10a and the first electrode 3 while being pressed inward by a first support element 9a.

Abstract: A humidity sensor comprising an insulating substrate, a detection electrodes and a moisture-sensitive layer, wherein the moisture-sensitive layer is a porous layer and has a thickness not greater than 200 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 provided in contact with a proton conduction layer 2; a gas diffusion controlling portion 6 provided between a measurement gas atmosphere and the first electrode 3; and a support element (1a, 1b) for supporting the proton conduction layer 6, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 4, and the gas diffusion controlling portion 6. Hydrogen contained in a measurement gas introduced via the gas diffusion controlling portion 6 is dissociated, decomposed, or reacted by applying a voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 to thereby generate protons. Hydrogen concentration is obtained on the basis of a limiting current generated as a result of the generated protons being pumped out via the proton conduction layer 2 from the first electrode 3 side of the proton conduction layer to the second electrode 4 side of the proton conduction layer.

Abstract: A method for detecting the concentration of a specific gas (NOx) in an engine exhaust gas using a gas sensor and a process of correcting the gas sensor. According to the correcting process, the amount of moisture in the exhaust gas is estimated, then a a gas concentration detection signal output by the gas sensor on the basis of an estimated amount of moisture is corrected.