Abstract: A fuel cell that includes an anode-side diffusion layer, an anode-side catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane, a cathode-side catalyst and a cathode-side diffusion layer layered in that order. The anode-side catalyst layer includes Pt—Ru catalyst. A catalyst layer portion of the anode-side catalyst layer apart from the electrolyte membrane and/or the anode-side diffusion layer contains a metal element which is lower in standard potential than Ru and higher in standard potential than hydrogen. The metal element which is lower in standard potential than Ru and higher in standard potential than hydrogen is at least one element which may be selected from, for example, Cu, Re and Ge. By this structure, both prevention of poisoning of Pt—Ru catalyst by CO and prevention of contamination of an electrolyte membrane can be satisfied.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a plurality of unit cells each including electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte membrane in-between, and a plurality of separators (3) each arranged between the unit cells. Each separator (3) has a plurality of contact lugs (65, 75) facing the electrodes and contacting the electrodes at pre-set contact widths and a plurality of fluid ducts (6a, 7a) each having a space between neighboring ones of the contact lugs (65, 75) as a duct width. The contact width of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid outlet is set smaller than that of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid inlet. Diffusion of an active material in an active material containing fluid into the inside of electrodes on a downstream side of a fluid duct, that is on a side closer to a fluid outlet, is facilitated.

Abstract: In a hydrogen generating apparatus comprising a housing (10) in which a catalyst (11) is filled up into an inner space (10a), a supplying tube (12) opening to the inner space, a blowing tube (14) by which a reformed gas generated in the inner space with reacting is removed from the inner space, the methanol supplying means (20, 21) connected to the supplying tube and the oxygen supplying means (30, 31, 32) connected to the supplying tube, the heating means (13) placed in near an opening part of the supplying tube are provided and when starting, a time period for obtaining the sufficient amounts of hydrogen generated can be shorten.

Abstract: An energy converter for converting a sound energy into a kinetic energy is comprised of a source device for radiating the sound energy, and a body having a cover member for absorbing the sound energy and a reflecting member mounted thereon with the cover member in such a manner that the sound energy after passing through the cover member reaches the reflecting member so as to be tangential thereto.

Abstract: An energy converter includes a resonator adapted for generating a sound wave in a medium, and a movable member disposed in a progressive direction of the sound wave generated by the resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of the sound wave. Since the vibrational energy of the resonator is conveyed to the movable member as the acoustic radiation pressure by way of the medium, the present energy converter exhibits an excellent energy conversion efficiency. Namely, the loss is reduced during the conversion of the vibration of the resonator into the driving force for the movable member, and accordingly the present energy converter exhibits a high conversion efficiency. The present energy converter may further include a stator adapted for holding the stator thereto and disposing the liquid therein. If such is the case, the energy converter can be applied to liquid media.

Abstract: A brake control device for vehicles includes a master cylinder, a plurality of wheel cylinders, and an anti-lock control apparatus disposed between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders of at least one hydraulic circuit. The anti-lock control apparatus includes a hydraulic pump, a reservoir and a changeover device which is selectively changed over at least between a first condition which permits an increase in the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinders of at least one hydraulic circuit and a second condition which permits an decrease in the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinders of at least one hydraulic circuit in response to the locking condition of the road wheels.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided which generates oscillations in only two directions so as to more efficiently provide for the transmission of driving torque from the driving member to the driven rotor member. The motor includes a stator having a driving portion on a side surface of the stator and a vibrating member for generating radial and circumferential oscillations on the stator member. A rotor is urged against the driving portion of the stator and a further member is provided which continually urges the rotor against the stator so as to provide for the transmission of drive between the rotor and stator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided in which a detector will detect the amplitude of a traveling wave generated on the stator. An oscillator approximates frequency of the travelling wave with respect to the resonance frequency of the stator while the amplitude of the traveling wave is decreased. If the oscillator approaches the frequency of the traveling wave to the resonance frequency of the stator, the amplitude of the traveling wave can be maintained against increasing pressure of the increased torque load of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: A vibratory motor includes a rotor member having a portion of increased stiffness. A spring member presses the portion of increased stiffness of the rotor member in order to maintain a stable contact between the rotor member and the stator member. The stiffness portion distributes the pressure from the spring member uniformly along a circumference of the rotor member.

Abstract: Ultrasonic vibrators, attached to the back of a mirror, are vibrated according to an A.C. signal pattern which is selected from various A.C. signal patterns for the removal of water, frost and/or ice from the surface of the mirror. Further included is a temperature detecting device attached to the back of the mirror for inhibiting operation of the ultrasonic vibrators when the temperature of the mirror exceeds a predetermined temperature, to thus avoid thermally-induced damage to the mirror.

Abstract: A vibratory motor is provided with a detecting member for detecting rotational speed of a rotor member and a control circuit for stopping oscillation of a stator member of the motor when the rotational speed of the rotor member becomes less than a predetermined speed. When the rotational speed of the rotor member is less than the predetermined speed, the control circuit stops oscillation of the stator member. When the stator member stops oscillating, slippage is not generated between the rotor member and the stator member and deterioration of the motor due to friction is successfully decreased.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided with a moving member and a vibrating member which is in contact with the moving member so as to provide the drive input for the moving member. A piezoelectric vibrator is attached to one side of the vibrating member and the opposite side of the vibrating member has a plurality of circumferentially arranged projections. A top section of each projection contacts the moving member. The piezoelectric vibrator will generate a travelling wave on the vibrating member when a proper alternating current electrical power source is applied to the vibrating member. The vibrating member would then be oscillated in a tangential direction, a normal direction, and a radial direction. The oscillations along the tangential direction and the normal direction generate the travelling wave and only the oscillation along the tangential direction is related to the rotational speed of the moving member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprises a stator, a rotor, a disc spring for generating a pressure between the stator and the rotor, and a stabilizer disc having a ring-shaped projection for distributing the pressure uniformly to the rotor along the circumference of the ring-shaped projection. Because of such uniform pressure distribution, greater output can be obtained.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes a housing made up of a base housing member having an inner housing and an outer housing secured on opposite sides thereof to define two chambers. First and second stator members are secured to the inner and outer housings in each chamber respectively, and first and second rotor members secured to a spindle rotatably mounted in the housing are disposed in the respective chambers in contact with the first and second stator members, respectively. First and second spring members are provided for pressing the respective rotors and stators together and first and second adjusting members are provided for adjusting the pressure applied by the first and second spring members.

Abstract: In the X-ray CT system, the X-ray detectors vary in output characteristics such as linearity, directivity and radiation quality from one detector to another. To make compensations for such irregularities, a plurality of phantoms of different absorption is prepared in the CT system according to the present invention. Namely, this plurality of phantoms is set one by one in the measuring space in the same manner as in the examination of an examinee or subject to be examined; the coefficient of X-ray absorption is determined for each of these phantoms. Further, theoretical values of absorption for each phantom are compared to the actual absorption measurements on each phantom to provide an absorption error value for each detector at differing absorption levels. The actual subject absorption value for each detector is used to pick the two error values closest to the actual value. The two error values are interpolated or extrapolated to find an error value for correcting the actual absorption value.

Abstract: An apparatus for axial transverse tomography using piercing radiation such as X-ray and .gamma.