Abstract: A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.

Abstract: A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.

Abstract: A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.

Abstract: A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.

Abstract: A spark plug has a cylindrical housing case, a cylindrical glass insulator, a center electrode, and an earth electrode fixed to the cylindrical housing case. The earth electrode has a projected part which is projected toward the center electrode. The projected part has a facing surface which faces the center electrode and is most close to the center electrode in a spark discharge gap. This gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. The facing surface is covered with a plating layer. A base material, with which the earth electrode is made, is exposed on a side surface of the projected part around the facing surface of the projected part. The base material of the earth electrode is made of Ni alloy containing not less than 90 wt % Ni, and preferably, Ni within a range of 90 wt % to 98 wt %.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine. The spark plug is equipped with a metal shell, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, and a center electrode disposed in the metal shell. The ground electrode has a protrusion formed on a top end thereof. The metal shell and the ground electrode are covered with a plated layer which has a thickness of 2 ?m to 18 ?m, which minimizes the possibility of peeling of the plated layer from the ground electrode while keeping the plated layer as thin as possible without sacrificing the resistance to corrosion on the ground electrode.

Abstract: A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug having an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to attachment fitting 2, earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting a part of an opposed surface 51 toward center electrode 4, and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 passes through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. The relation S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug has a cylindrical housing case, a cylindrical glass insulator, a center electrode, and an earth electrode fixed to the cylindrical housing case. The earth electrode has a projected part which is projected toward the center electrode. The projected part has a facing surface which faces the center electrode and is most close to the center electrode in a spark discharge gap. This gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. The facing surface is covered with a plating layer. A base material, with which the earth electrode is made, is exposed on a side surface of the projected part around the facing surface of the projected part. The base material of the earth electrode is made of Ni alloy containing not less than 90 wt % Ni, and preferably, Ni within a range of 90 wt % to 98 wt %.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal-combustion engine comprises an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to the attachment fitting 2, the earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting toward the center electrode 4 a part of the opposed surface 51, which faces the center electrode 4, of the earth electrode and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52 which is the reverse side of the opposed surface 51 of the earth electrode 5. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 may pass through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. A relation of S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug having an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to attachment fitting 2, earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting a part of an opposed surface 51 toward center electrode 4, and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 passes through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. The relation S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine. The spark plug is equipped with a metal shell, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, and a center electrode disposed in the metal shell. The ground electrode has a protrusion formed on a top end thereof. The metal shell and the ground electrode are covered with a plated layer which has a thickness of 2 ?m to 18 ?m, which minimizes the possibility of peeling of the plated layer from the ground electrode while keeping the plated layer as thin as possible without sacrificing the resistance to corrosion on the ground electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal-combustion engine comprises an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5 . While fixed to the attachment fitting 2, the earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting toward the center electrode 4 a part of the opposed surface 51, which faces the center electrode 4, of the earth electrode and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52 which is the reverse side of the opposed surface 51 of the earth electrode 5 . The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 may pass through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. A relation of S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a metal shell, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. The center electrode is retained in the porcelain insulator to define a spark gap between itself and the ground electrode. The porcelain insulator has a nose made up of an upright portion and a tapered portion continuing from the upright portion toward a top end thereof. The tapered portion has a diameter decreasing toward the top end of the porcelain insulator. The upright portion has an outer wall extending substantially parallel to an inner wall of the metal shell, thereby inducing the formation of side sparks between the tapered portion and the metal shell before the insulation resistance between the center electrode and the metal shell drops, thereby giving a signal indicative of such an event to an operator.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a metal shell, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. The center electrode is retained in the porcelain insulator to define a spark gap between itself and the ground electrode. The porcelain insulator has a nose made up of an upright portion and a tapered portion continuing from the upright portion toward a top end thereof. The tapered portion has a diameter decreasing toward the top end of the porcelain insulator. The upright portion has an outer wall extending substantially parallel to an inner wall of the metal shell, thereby inducing the formation of side sparks between the tapered portion and the metal shell before the insulation resistance between the center electrode and the metal shell drops, thereby giving a signal indicative of such an event to an operator.

Abstract: An image information displaying system comprises a transparent support, a hologram screen attached to the transparent support, a radiation unit for radiating image information on the hologram screen, a sensor for detecting the ambient condition within the viewing angle of the hologram screen, and a controller for controlling the radiation unit based on the signal from the sensor. The image information displaying system, which is inexpensive, long in service life, superior in eye-catching effect and low in running cost, consumes less energy and is controlled by a central control unit connected thereto through a communication line. The lower-end of the hologram screen is 80 to 180 cm from the floor level.

Abstract: An image information displaying system comprises a transparent support, a hologram screen attached to the transparent support, a radiation unit for radiating image information on the hologram screen, a sensor for detecting the ambient condition within the viewing angle of the hologram screen, and a controller for controlling the radiation unit based on the signal from the sensor. The image information displaying system, which is inexpensive, long in service life, superior in eye-catching effect and low in running cost, consumes less energy and is controlled by a central control unit connected thereto through a communication line. The lower end of the hologram screen is 80 to 180 cm from the floor level.

Abstract: There is provided a hologram with excellent heat resistance. The hologram comprises a hologram film (10) in which a diffraction grating has been recorder, a substrated (11) situated on one side of the hologram film (10) via a bonding material (13), and a polymer film (12) situated on the other side of the hologram film (10) via a bonding material (13), wherein the thickness of the polymer film (12) is no greater than 100 &mgr;m. Otherwise, the polymer film (12) is subjected to prior heat treatment. There is further provided a production process for holograms with minimal appearance defects.

Abstract: There is provided a hologram with excellent heat resistance. The hologram comprises a hologram film (10) in which a diffraction grating has been recorded, a substrate (11) situated on one side of the hologram film (10) via a bonding material (13), and a polymer film (12) situated on the other side of the hologram film (10) via a bonding material (13), wherein the thickness of the polymer film (12) is no greater than 100 .mu.m. Otherwise, the polymer film (12) is subjected to prior heat treatment. There is further provided a production process for holograms with minimal appearance defects.

Abstract: An apparatus synthesizes the image of a viewer and a second image into a synthesized image and displays the synthesized image. The apparatus is capable of aligning the line of sight of the viewer with the line of sight of the displayed image of the viewer and correctly reproducing colors on the synthesized image. The apparatus has a transparent hologram screen (15) on which a diffuser is recorded, a camera (25) for imaging a viewer (81) through the hologram screen, a synthesizer (28) for synthesizing the image of the viewer and a second image into a synthesized image, and a projector (11) for projecting signal light (31) containing the synthesized image onto the hologram screen. In place of the synthesizer, a display unit may be arranged behind the viewer. The hologram screen (15) may be combined with a mirror or a half-mirror.