Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To produce an SiO powder having a rounded spherical particulate shape and a small particle diameter; and further having a low degree of impurity contamination, efficiently and economically. [Solution] A mixture of Si and SiO2 as an SiO gas generation raw material 9 is loaded into a crucible 2. The mixture in the crucible 2 is heated under a reduced pressure so as to generate SiO gas. The generated SiO gas is accumulated on a deposition base 5 rotating on the crucible 2. When SiO deposit 10 accumulated on the deposition base 5 is scraped off with a blade 7, a tip of the blade 7 is separated from a surface of the deposition base 5, and in a state in which a portion of the SiO deposit 10 accumulated on the deposition base 5 is left on the deposition base 5, the remaining SiO deposit 10 is scraped off by the blade 7 and collected as an SiO powder 11.

Abstract: A casting device includes a mold having a cavity, a supply path that is connected to a gate of the cavity and configured to supply a molten metal to the supply path, and a gas flow path that is connected to the supply path and configured to supply a gas to the supply path. In the casting device, a molten metal is atomized by causing the gas supplied from the gas flow path to collide with the molten metal passing through the supply path, and the atomized molten metal is supplied to the cavity.

Abstract: A casting device includes a mold having a cavity, a supply path that is connected to a gate of the cavity and configured to supply a molten metal to the supply path, and a gas flow path that is connected to the supply path and configured to supply a gas to the supply path. In the casting device, a molten metal is atomized by causing the gas supplied from the gas flow path to collide with the molten metal passing through the supply path, and the atomized molten metal is supplied to the cavity.

Abstract: A wear-resistant copper-based alloy includes: at least one selected from the group made of molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium and niobium carbide; chromium in an amount of less than 1.0% in terms of wt %; and a matrix and hard particles dispersed in the matrix, in which the hard particles include niobium carbide and at least one selected from the group made of Nb—C—Mo, Nb—C—W, and Nb—C—V around the niobium carbide.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head including an intake port, an exhaust port, a water jacket, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, an intake valve seat, and an exhaust valve seat. The water jacket is positioned between the intake port and the exhaust port. The intake valve includes an intake valve head, and the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve head. The intake valve contacts an intake valve seat surface of the intake valve seat. The exhaust valve head contacts an exhaust valve seat surface of the exhaust valve seat. The shortest distance between the water jacket and the intake valve seat surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the water jacket and the exhaust valve seat surface.

Abstract: A wear-resistant copper-based alloy includes: at least one selected from the group made of molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium and niobium carbide; chromium in an amount of less than 1.0% in terms of wt %; and a matrix and hard particles dispersed in the matrix, in which the hard particles include niobium carbide and at least one selected from the group made of Nb—C—Mo, Nb—C—W, and Nb—C—V around the niobium carbide.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head including an intake port, an exhaust port, a water jacket, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, an intake valve seat, and an exhaust valve seat. The water jacket is positioned between the intake port and the exhaust port. The intake valve includes an intake valve head, and the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve head. The intake valve contacts an intake valve seat surface of the intake valve seat. The exhaust valve head contacts an exhaust valve seat surface of the exhaust valve seat. The shortest distance between the water jacket and the intake valve seat surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the water jacket and the exhaust valve seat surface.

Abstract: In a lithium ion secondary battery using a negative electrode material powder including a lower silicon oxide powder as a negative electrode material, a charge electric potential at 0.45-1.0 V relative to a Li reference upon initial charging results in a lithium ion secondary battery having a large discharge capacity with excellent cycle characteristics, which can be durable in practical use. On this occasion, the charge electric potential being 0.45-1.0 V relative to the Li reference upon initial charging means that an electric potential plateau caused by the generation of Li-silicate is observed, and the Li-silicate is uniformly generated in the negative electrode material, and this results in excellent cycle characteristics. The negative electrode material powder can have an electrically conductive carbon film on the surface with a ratio of the carbon film to the surface of the powder to be 0.2-10 mass %.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system includes a catalyst disposed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine; a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a common rail; an exhaust-side fuel injection valve that is interposed in the exhaust path so as to be located upstream of the catalyst and injects into the exhaust path the fuel supplied from the fuel pump; and estimation section that estimates a clogging degree of an injection port of the exhaust-side fuel injection valve on the basis of fluctuations in pressure of the common rail and those in revolution speed of the internal combustion engine at the time of fuel injection by the exhaust-side fuel injection valve.

Abstract: A degradation estimating apparatus for an unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst, which is connected with an internal combustion engine and has an unburned fuel component adsorbent and an oxygen storage component is provided. The apparatus includes a degradation estimating unit for making estimation for a degradation of the unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst on the basis of a first term and a second term. The first term is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting a variation of an upstream side air-fuel ratio occurring due to the increase of the reductant quantity in the exhaust gas. The second term is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting of a variation of the downstream side air-fuel ratio due to an increase of the reductant quantity.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system includes a catalyst disposed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine; a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a common rail; an exhaust-side fuel injection valve that is interposed in the exhaust path so as to be located upstream of the catalyst and injects into the exhaust path the fuel supplied from the fuel pump; and estimation section that estimates a clogging degree of an injection port of the exhaust-side fuel injection valve on the basis of fluctuations in pressure of the common rail and those in revolution speed of the internal combustion engine at the time of fuel injection by the exhaust-side fuel injection valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a degradation estimating apparatus for an unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst, which is connected with an internal combustion engine and has an unburned fuel component adsorbent and an oxygen storage component. The apparatus includes a degradation estimating unit for making estimation for a degradation of the unburned fuel component adsorption catalyst on the basis of a first term and a second term. The first term that is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting a variation of an upstream side air-fuel ratio occurring due to the increase of the reductant quantity in the exhaust gas. The second term that is from the cancellation of the fuel supply to detecting of a variation of the downstream side air-fuel ratio due to an increase of the reductant quantity.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a first air/fuel ratio detector arranged on an upstream side of a catalytic converter so as to detect the air/fuel ratio of the engine from components of exhaust gas, a second air/fuel ratio detector arranged in the exhaust system and having a detection response speed slower than the first air/fuel ratio detector, a device for controlling the air/fuel ratio of the engine on the basis of results of a comparison between a detection value from the first air/fuel ratio detector and a predetermined first reference value, a device for effecting a correction to the control of the air/fuel ratio by the air/fuel ratio control device on the basis of results of a comparison between a detection value from the second air/fuel ratio detector and a predetermined second reference value, and a device for shifting the second reference value to a lean air/fuel ratio side in a specific operation state of the engine.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes an air/fuel ratio detector arranged on an upstream side of a catalytic converter so as to detect the air/fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine from components of exhaust gas, a device for controlling the air/fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine on the basis of results of a comparison between a detection value from the air/fuel ratio detector and a predetermined reference value; and a device for shifting the reference value to a lean air/fuel ratio side in a specific operation state of the internal combustion engine.