Abstract: A valve unit according to one embodiment includes valve equipment and control circuitry. The valve equipment includes a spool valve and a poppet-type logic valve. The spool valve switches a direction of supply and discharge of hydraulic oil to and from a hydraulic actuator. The logic valve is located between the spool valve and a hydraulic pump. The control circuitry controls the spool valve and the logic valve, such that if a supply flow rate of the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic actuator is less than a predetermined value, an opening area of a meter-in passage of the spool valve is less than an opening area of the logic valve, whereas if the supply flow rate of the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic actuator is greater than the predetermined value, the opening area of the meter-in passage of the spool valve is greater than the opening area of the logic valve.

Abstract: A multi-control valve device includes: a valve block including a plurality of valve holes; a plurality of spools movably housed in the plurality of valve holes in a one-to-one correspondence; one or more attachment parts provided on the valve block; and a plurality of solenoid valves provided on the one or more attachment parts in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of spools and each of which reduces a primary pressure, outputs a secondary pressure to a corresponding one of the plurality of spools, and moves the spool. The valve block includes a primary pressure supply passage through which the primary pressure is supplied to each of the plurality of solenoid valves.

Abstract: A multi-control valve includes: spools that are located side by side in a particular direction; and a housing including slide holes that receive therein the respective spools. The housing includes a first and second pump passages that extend in the particular direction, the first and second pump passages being located at both sides of the spools, respectively. Among the spools, a common spool that is used in common for the first and second pump passages is received in a merging slide hole. The housing includes: a first communication passage that is located at the first pump passage side of the merging slide hole and that extends from the first pump passage to the merging slide hole; and a second communication passage that is located at the second pump passage side of the merging slide hole and that extends from the second pump passage to the merging slide hole.

Abstract: A spool is slidably located in a slide hole of a first housing. A second housing forms a servo chamber that is coaxial with the slide hole. A sleeve is slidably located in the servo chamber. A nut is fixed to a piston that is slidably fitted in the sleeve. An electric motor rotates a screw shaft screwed with the nut. The second housing includes an input port and a drain port. A first pressure chamber communicates with the input port. In a balanced state where forces applied to the sleeve from both sides are balanced, a second pressure chamber is blocked from the input port and the drain port by the piston. From the balanced state, when the piston shifts, the second pressure chamber comes into communication with the input port or the drain port.

Abstract: A multi-control valve device includes: a valve block including a plurality of valve holes; a plurality of spools movably housed in the plurality of valve holes in a one-to-one correspondence; one or more attachment parts provided on the valve block; and a plurality of solenoid valves provided on the one or more attachment parts in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of spools and each of which reduces a primary pressure, outputs a secondary pressure to a corresponding one of the plurality of spools, and moves the spool. The valve block includes a primary pressure supply passage through which the primary pressure is supplied to each of the plurality of solenoid valves.

Abstract: A hydraulic excavator drive system includes: a first pump that supplies hydraulic oil to a boom cylinder via a boom control valve, and supplies the hydraulic oil to a bucket cylinder via a first bucket control valve; a second pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to an arm cylinder via an arm control valve; a third pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to a slewing motor via a slewing control valve, and supplies the hydraulic oil to the bucket cylinder via a second bucket control valve; and a controller that moves one of the first bucket control valve and the second bucket control valve when a bucket excavating operation or a bucket dumping operation is performed concurrently with another operation, and moves both the first bucket control valve and the second bucket control valve when a bucket excavating operation is performed alone.

Abstract: Each of left and right direction switching valves includes: a pump port connected to a pump; a first compensation port connected to an upstream side of a corresponding pressure compensation valve; a second compensation port connected to a downstream side of the corresponding pressure compensation valve; a pair of supply/discharge ports connected to a corresponding travel motor; and a communication port. The communication ports of the left and right direction switching valves are connected by a communication line. When a spool shifts from a neutral position by the travel operation device, the pump port communicates with the first compensation port and the second compensation port communicates with one of the supply/discharge ports and the communication port. Each direction switching valve is configured wherein a degree of communication between the second compensation port and communication port increases in a shifting amount of the spool from the neutral position.

Abstract: A hydraulic excavator drive system includes: a first pump that supplies hydraulic oil to a boom cylinder via a boom control valve, and supplies the hydraulic oil to a bucket cylinder via a first bucket control valve; a second pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to an arm cylinder via an arm control valve; a third pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to a slewing motor via a slewing control valve, and supplies the hydraulic oil to the bucket cylinder via a second bucket control valve; and a controller that moves one of the first bucket control valve and the second bucket control valve when a bucket excavating operation or a bucket dumping operation is performed concurrently with another operation, and moves both the first bucket control valve and the second bucket control valve when a bucket excavating operation is performed alone.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit of a construction machine includes: a first pump line that connects a delivery port of a pump to a pump port of a first direction-switching valve; a second pump line that is branched off from the first pump line and is connected to a pump port of a second direction-switching valve; and a priority valve provided on the second pump line. The priority valve is configured to: fully open the second pump line when a pressure difference between a delivery pressure of the pump and a load pressure of a first actuator is greater than a setting value; and decrease an opening degree of the second pump line in accordance with decrease in the pressure difference when the pressure difference is less than the setting value.

Abstract: Each of left and right direction switching valves includes: a pump port connected to a pump; a first compensation port connected to an upstream side of a corresponding pressure compensation valve; a second compensation port connected to a downstream side of the corresponding pressure compensation valve; a pair of supply/discharge ports connected to a corresponding travel motor; and a communication port. The communication ports of the left and right direction switching valves are connected by a communication line. When a spool shifts from a neutral position by the travel operation device, the pump port communicates with the first compensation port and the second compensation port communicates with one of the supply/discharge ports and the communication port. Each direction switching valve is configured wherein a degree of communication between the second compensation port and communication port increases in a shifting amount of the spool from the neutral position.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit of a construction machine includes: a first pump line that connects a delivery port of a pump to a pump port of a first direction-switching valve; a second pump line that is branched off from the first pump line and is connected to a pump port of a second direction-switching valve; and a priority valve provided on the second pump line. The priority valve is configured to: fully open the second pump line when a pressure difference between a delivery pressure of the pump and a load pressure of a first actuator is greater than a setting value; and decrease an opening degree of the second pump line in accordance with decrease in the pressure difference when the pressure difference is less than the setting value.

Abstract: A process for preparing dimethyl ether or a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol including passing a raw gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen through a catalyst slurry containing a mixture including (a) a medium oil having as a main component, a branched, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 16 to 50 carbon atoms, 1 to 7 tertiary carbon atoms, 0 quaternary carbon atoms, and 1 to 16 carbon atoms in the branched chains bonded to the tertiary carbon atom; and at least one of the tertiary carbon atoms is bonded to hydrocarbon chains with a chain length having 4 or more of carbon atoms in three directions, (b) a methanol synthesis catalyst; (c) a methanol dehydration catalyst; and (d) a methanol shift catalyst or a methanol dehydration/shift catalyst.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a effective resolution determinator for forming a plurality of patch patterns different in resolution by the output engine, checking by sensor whether or not the patch patterns formed by the output engine are developed with developer, and determining that a resolution of the patch pattern with highest resolution recognizable by the sensor is an effective resolution which can be outputted by the output engine; and a dot counter for counting number of dots constituting an image of not less than effective resolution in the printing data, by which an error in estimated toner consumption, caused by dots too small to be developed, is reduced.

Abstract: A medium oil to be used for a synthesis reaction in a slurry-bed reaction procedure. The medium oil has as a main component, a branched, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 16 to 50 carbon atoms, 1 to 7 tertiary carbon atoms, 0 quaternary carbon atoms, and 1 to 16 carbon atoms in the branched chains bonded to the tertiary carbon atoms; and at least one of the tertiary carbon atoms is bonded to hydrocarbon chains with a chain length having 4 or more carbon atoms in three directions, wherein the synthesis reaction in the slurry-bed reaction procedure comprises producing an oxygen-containing organic compound from a raw gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: A medium oil to be used for a synthesis reaction in a slurry-bed reaction procedure. The medium oil has as a main component, a branched, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 16 to 50 carbon atoms, 1 to 7 tertiary carbon atoms, 0 quaternary carbon atoms, and 1 to 16 carbon atoms in the branched chains bonded to the tertiary carbon atoms; and at least one of the tertiary carbon atoms is bonded to hydrocarbon chains with a chain length having 4 or more carbon atoms in three directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a effective resolution determinator for forming a plurality of patch patterns different in resolution by the output engine, checking by sensor whether or not the patch patterns formed by the output engine are developed with developer, and determining that a resolution of the patch pattern with highest resolution recognizable by the sensor is an effective resolution which can be outputted by the output engine; and a dot counter for counting number of dots constituting an image of not less than effective resolution in the printing data, by which an error in estimated toner consumption, caused by dots too small to be developed, is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a synthesis gas containing no hydrocarbon and reduced concentration of carbon dioxide among the produced synthesis gas. The process according to the present invention comprises reforming the gas generated by partial combustion of hydrocarbon using a catalyst in a furnace for generating the synthesis gas mounted on a catalyst layer inside the furnace, and producing the synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide as a main components, and is characterized in that the temperature at outlet of the catalyst layer ranges from 1100 to 1300° C. and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the produced synthesis gas is not more than 10% by volume.

Abstract: (a) A medium oil wherein a main component is a hydrocarbon, and the number of paraffinic carbon atoms is 70% or more with respect to a total number of carbon atoms, (b) a medium oil wherein a main component is a polybutene, (c) a medium oil wherein a main component is a mixture of hydrocarbons of the formula (1): CH3—C(CH3)2—[—CH2—C(CH3)2—]n—CH2—R ??(1) wherein R is —CH(CH3)2 or —C(CH3)?CH2, and n is 1 to 10, (d) a medium oil wherein a main component is a hydrocarbon prepared by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, or (e) a medium oil wherein a main component is a branched paraffinic hydrocarbon prepared by hydrogenolysis of a hydrocarbon prepared by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and a process of producing dimethyl ether using the medium oil, are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one xylenol isomer can be separated and purified from a mixture, which contains the specific xylenol isomer and at least one organic substance other than the specific xylenol isomer, by bringing the mixture into contact with 1,1-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane as a host compound to form a complex of the specific xylenol isomer as a guest compound with the host compound and then having the specific xylenol isomer released from the complex. The mixture may contain at least two xylenol isomers consisting of 2,4-xylenol and 2,5-xylenol, and at least one of the xylenol isomers can be separated and purified by having it released from its complex with the host compound.

Abstract: A plurality of groups of delay time data corresponding to a plurality of focal distances Fn satisfying a condition that a ratio (Fi-Fi-1 )/(Fi-1-Fi-2) is equal to a constant value higher than one are stored in a focus memory. Therefore, the groups of delay time data corresponding to short focal distances are densely stored. When a particular focal distance is specified, a plurality of ultrasonic pulses delayed according to a particular group of delay time data corresponding to the particular focal distance are transmitted from a plurality of micro-piezoelectric transducers to a focal point of an organism at the particular focal distance. Thereafter, a plurality of echo signals reflected at the focal point of the organism are received by the micro-piezoelectric transducers, and a piece of tomographic image data indicating a portion of a tomographic image is produced in a signal processing unit.