Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a chiral smectic liquid crystal and a pair of substrates sandwiching the chiral smectic liquid crystal therebetween and each having thereon an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal. At least one of the substrates being provided with an alignment control film comprising a specific aromatic polyimide which has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment. The chiral smectic liquid crystal assumes bistability in a chiral smectic temperature range when incorporated in a test cell which is not provided with an alignment control film and has been subjected to shearing treatment. In the liquid crystal device including the polyimide alignment control film, the chiral smectic liquid crystal at least has a voltage-transmittance characteristic such that an effective tilt angle and a transmittance continuously change depending on an electric field applied thereto.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a first bus, a second bus, a plurality of modules connected to both buses, a bus arbiter for arbitrating a bus access request of a bus master, and a storage means for storing access data up to a predetermined amount for one of modules when access destination information indicates that said module is the access destination. Each bus master outputs access destination information and when the bus arbiter judges that one of the bus masters issues a bus access request when it performs an access operation, the bus arbiter refers to whether the predetermined amount of access destination information is fully stored in the storage means, and decides whether or not to give a bus access to the bus master.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode, and a smectic liquid crystal having a plurality of smectic liquid crystal layers disposed between the substrates. The smectic liquid crystal is disposed to form a first region wherein the smectic liquid crystal layers are aligned to have a layer inclination angle smaller than a calculated layer inclination angle based on a temperature-dependent layer spacing-changing characteristic or are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the substrates to form a bookshelf structure, and a second region wherein the smectic liquid crystal layers are aligned to form a chevron structure having a substantial layer inclination angle or having a layer inclination angle substantially equal to a calculated layer inclination angle based on a temperature-dependent layer spacing-changing characteristic.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of transparent substrates each having thereon a transparent electrode, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates so as to assume at least two optically stable states. At least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment film which comprises a polyimide represented by a recurring unit of formula (I) shown below and has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment. ##STR1## wherein A denotes a planar tetravalent organic residue group comprising an aromatic ring, an aromatic polycyclic ring, a heterocyclic ring or a condensed polycyclic ring, and B denotes a divalent aliphatic group comprising .paren open-st.CH.sub.2 .paren close-st..sub.n (n: an integer of at least 1) or an alicyclic ring.

Abstract: A DC circuit breaking device is provided for interrupting the transmission of direct currents to an electric power system by making external changes to an arc generated upon contacting or separation of contacts 11 and 12 in order to rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents. In a self-excited commuting DC circuit breaking device, coils 41 and 42 opposed to a fixed and a movable contact 11 and 12, respectively, are disposed around the outer circumferences of the contacts 11 and 12, and currents flowing through a commutation circuit or the contacts 11 and 12 are allowed to flow through the opposed coils 41 and 42 so as to apply magnetic fields to the neighborhood of an arc. This constitution provides the DC circuit breaking device with high performance that it can rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents to thereby interrupt direct currents.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates at least one of which is provided with an alignment control film, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates and contacting the alignment control film. The alignment control film comprises an amide polymer and a pyridine-based polymer. The liquid crystal device using a mixture alignment control film described above is effective in improving a switching characteristic by minimizing a depolarization field while keeping a uniform alignment characteristic.

Abstract: An objective of this invention is to provide a DC circuit breaking device having functions for transmitting direct currents to an electric power system and interrupting direct currents to the electric power system under abnormal conditions such as grounding and short-circuits, where the DC circuit breaking device can minimize the capacity of a condenser for the commuting circuit while rapidly changing the arc voltage to cause arc currents to be quickly extended and vibrated in order to interrupt direct currents in a short arc time. This DC circuit breaking device includes a main DC circuit breaker for interrupting the transmission of direct currents to an electric power system and a DC circuit breaker that is connected in series to the main DC circuit breaker and which is smaller than the main DC circuit breaker.

Abstract: A small-sized arrangement for a DC circuit breaker with a reactor and a capacitor connected in series is provided which includes a DC circuit breaker, a parallel impedance means with a suitably determined inductance and a suitable capacitance less in value than the inductance, and an energy-absorbing element. The parallel impedance means has a parallel reactor of a carefully selected inductance and a parallel capacitor of a smaller capacitance value. Determining the inductance and capacitance values of the parallel reactors and parallel capacitors employed in the parallel impedance means to satisfy a certain condition defined by specific formulas can cause the DC circuit breaker to take full advantage of the inherent performance thereof while allowing the interruption time to remain minimized, thereby achieving enhanced interruption performance. Since the capacitance of the parallel capacitor is rendered relatively smaller, the device can be small in size and low in cost.

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive refractory monitoring temperature sensor and a compact and inexpensive refractory erosion location measuring device which can effect continuous detection of erosion over a wide range and specification of a location of an erosion and further can be re-used and used continuously. The temperature sensor includes at least two metal members and an insulating substance (2) filled between the metal members. The sensor detects a condition of an erosion of a refractory not from a melting breakdown of the sensor but from a variation in insulation resistance of the insulating substance which arises from a high temperature of the refractory due to erosion of the refractory. The measuring device incorporates such temperature sensor and discriminates an amount and a location of erosion of the refractory from a variation in insulation resistance between the metal members.

Abstract: A watertube boiler for all types of boilers including natural circulation, forced circulation and one-through types. The boiler includes a plurality of heat absorption water tubes forming a heat absorption watertube unit in the furnace. The heat absorption watertube unit comprises a relatively dense arrangement of heat absorption water tubes disposed in the combustion path of the burner, such that the flame of the burner impinges on the unit. The heat absorption watertube unit can be arranged in the first stage of a watertube boiler having at least one additional furnace stage receiving exhaust gas from the first stage. The additional stage can be disposed either perpendicularly and horizontally, and the air/fuel mixture in each stage is maintained at a specificied ratio to optimize combustion of the fuel. A method of operating a watertube boiler having three stages is also provided.

Abstract: An intermediate layer made of an Si.sub.1-X Ge.sub.X mixed crystal layer is formed on an Si crystal substrate, where the character X denotes a value in the range of 0 to 1. The intermediate layer is connected to the substrate via a heterojunction generating a first heterojunction barrier. An Si crystal layer is formed on the intermediate layer and is connected to the intermediate layer via a heterojunction generating a second heterojunction barrier. The substrate, the intermediate layer, and the Si layer form a laminated structure. The first and second heterojunction barriers form a charge storage well in an energy band of the intermediate layer. Charges in the well are excited by absorbing infrared light. The intermediate layer contains unevenly-distributed impurities whose concentration montonically varies in a direction along a thickness of the laminated structure. The variation in the concentration generates an internal electric field in the energy band of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: An infrared sensor includes a metal and a semiconductor contacted to each other via a rectifying potential barrier. The semiconductor includes a p-type strained Si.sub.1-X Ge.sub.X epitaxial layer grown on a p-type substrate, wherein the character X denotes a Ge atomic fraction and wherein X increases from zero to a predetermined upper limit in a direction away from the Si substrate toward the metal. The metal may be selected from the group of Pt, an alloy of Pt and Si, and an alloy of Pt, Si, and Ge. In addition, the metal may also be selected from the group of Ir, an alloy of Ir and Si, and an alloy of Ir, Si, and Ge.

Abstract: Two casings are hinged together along a laterally extending hinge axis. Each casing has a generally box-like configuration with an open side, and a pair of laterally spaced blades are fastened to each casing. The blades have semicircular longitudinally extending cutting edges adjacent the open sides of the casings, and the edges are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the hinge axis. Further, a blade having a laterally extending cutting edge is mounted in one of the casings and extends between the two longitudinal blades of the casing. The two casings have holders or braces for properly locating a cable relative to the blades and for pressing the cable against the laterally extending cutting edge when the casings are pivoted to close the open sides.

Abstract: A method of distributing powdered or granular material to a plurality of feeding ends in a system having a pressurizing tank for pressurizing and fluidizing a powdered or granular material, a plurality of transportation pipes having one ends constituting discharge nozzles opening above a fluidized bed in the tank and the other ends connected to different feeding ends so as to introduce the material to the feeding ends, and a plurality of booster gas supply pipes for supplying respective transportation pipes with a booster gas. The internal pressure of the tank is controlled by a controller provided with a set valve in accordance with the mean value of the terminal pressures at the feeding ends, the mean value of predetermined set flow rates of the booster gas in the booster gas supplying pipes, and the mean value of predetermined set rates of transportation of material to the feeding ends.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for and a method of baring an electric cable including a plurality of insulated wires covered by a sheath. The apparatus comprises a pair of box-like frames hinged together along one edge to move between open and closed positions and adapted to receive the cable in a position that is generally parallel to the hinge axis, means on said frames for holding them in the closed position. A first pair of clamp members are fixed to one of said frames adjacent its one end thereof, and a second pair of clamp members are slideably supported within the said frames for movement generally parallel to the hinge axis. A pair of cutters are also supported within the frames adjacent the clamp members, and the cutters have cooperating cutting edges for cutting through the sheath. A lever is connected to the pair of frames for moving the second pair of clamp members relative to said frames and to the first pair of clamp members.

Abstract: A high-pressure conveyor discharges a powdery or granular material from a pressurization tank through a discharge unit into a conveyor pipe. The discharge unit includes a guide cylinder or trough mounted on the tank, a screw feeder extending through the guide cylinder and having an end extending into the tank in overhanging relation to an aerator in the tank and the other end coupled to a variable-speed drive unit such as a motor. The material as it is fluidized on the aerator under a high pressure is supplied into the discharge cylinder, from which the material is fed by the screw feeder out of a discharge port in the guide cylinder into the conveyor pipe. A plurality of discharge units may be connected to the tank at angularly spaced intervals for uniform or adjusted distribution of the material to a plurality of locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing powdered particles from a single pressurized transporting vessel to a plurality of receiving ends through a plurality of transporting pipes. The vessel is supplied with a pressurized gas to fluidize the powdered particles, which then are distributed to the transporting pipes which include discharge control valves to control the discharging rate of the particles in each of the transporting pipes. The transporting pipes are supplied with booster gas, the flow rate of which is controlled by a booster flow rate control valve. The booster flow rate control valve in each pipe is controlled in cascade by a booster flow rate controller receiving an output signal from a differential pressure detector for detecting a differential pressure of a discharging nozzle at the end of the pipes.

Abstract: A tubular cylindrical portion of a connection terminal is held between upper and lower dies by pressure applied using a multi-purpose actuator lever. An end portion of a coated or insulated wire is held between an insert slider and a holder and is advanced toward an open end of the cylindrical portion of the connection terminal, through the use of an insert lever. The core wire is pressed into the cylindrical portion while its surrounding insulation is compressed and pushed back by engagement with the end portion of the cylindrical portion. The multi-purpose actuator lever is moved to crimp the cylindrical portion on the core wire. Then, the actuator lever is turned to separate the upper and lower dies. The wire is then withdrawn and the compressed insulation is moved to cover the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a gas-laden refining agent into molten metal in a ladle comprises a multinozzle lance which has a plurality of introduction tubes in a lance body and a plurality of nozzles mounted in the lance body and connected to the introduction tubes, the nozzles opening substantially tangentially to an outer circumferential surface of the lance body. Each of the nozzles is molded of boron nitride and in the form of a conical taper which becomes progressively smaller in diameter toward the outer circumferential surface of the lance body. There is a system for independently distributing the gas-laden refining agent under pressure through a plurality of feed pipes which are connected to the introduction tubes, respectively, of the multinozzle lance.