Abstract: A superconducting cable line includes a heat insulation pipe for a fluid for transporting a fluid having a temperature lower than an ordinary temperature and a superconducting cable housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid. The superconducting cable including a cable core in a heat insulation pipe for a cable is housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid to make a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the heat insulation pipe smaller than that in a situation of laying in an atmosphere. In addition, the superconducting cable has a double heat insulation structure formed with the heat insulation pipe for a cable and the heat insulation pipe for a fluids. Therefore, the superconducting cable line can effectively reduce heat intrusion from the outside into the cable.

Abstract: There is provided a gas sensor, which includes a sensor element extending axially of the gas sensor and having a gas sensing portion at a front end thereof and an electrode portion at a rear end thereof, a cylindrical metal shell retaining therein the sensor element with the gas sensing portion and the electrode portion protruding from front and rear ends of the metal shell, respectively, and having a flange portion and a rear end portion located on a rear side of the flange portion, a cylindrical protection cover having a front end fitted onto the rear end portion of the metal shell so as to cover the electrode portion and a weld joint through which the entire circumference of the front end of the protection cover is joined through the metal shell. The weld joint extends from an end face of the protection cover to the metal shell.

Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including a protector (100) for protecting a detection portion (11) of a sensor element (10). The protector (100) has an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110). A diameter r of an exhaust hole (160) formed in the inner protector (120) and an axial distance h between a front end 10a of the sensor element 10 and the exhaust hole (160) satisfy a relation r?2h/15+?.

Abstract: A sensor having a terminal connection structure in which an elongated sensor element (21) is inserted, from its rear end through relative movement, into a metallic-terminal-member retainer. Metallic terminal members (51) are elastically deformed and pressed against corresponding electrode terminals (25) formed on side surfaces (26) of the sensor element. A chamfer (28) is formed on a rear edge of sensor element (21). Rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25) are biased from the chamfer (28) toward a front end of the element (21). A flat surface (26b) is present between the rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25) and a front end (28a) of the chamfer (28). During insertion of the element (21), a large force generated when the metallic terminal members (51) pass over the chamfer (28) is not directly applied to the rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25), thereby preventing damage to the electrode terminals (25).

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus 1 includes: an elongated insertion section 7 inserted into an object subject to image-pickup; a light source section 3 for emitting laser light; a power supply unit 8 for supplying electric power to the light source section 3; an enclosure section 10 disposed in the power supply unit 8; an intermediate section 11 connecting the enclosure section 10 to the insertion section 7; a light guide 5, disposed in the insertion section 7, for guiding the laser light emitted by the light source section 3; and fluorescent substance 6, disposed to the distal end of the insertion section 7, for illuminating illumination light by being excited by the laser light guided through the light guide 5.

Abstract: In a protector (100) for protecting a detecting portion (11) of a sensor element (10) of a gas sensor (1), the opening area of individual inner introduction holes (130) and (140) formed in an inner protector (120) is 3.5 mm2 or less. In this manner, the amount and size of water droplets able to pass through the inner introduction holes (130) and (140) and to adhere to the sensor element (10) is restricted. In order to ensure good gas replaceability between the interior and the exterior of the inner protector (120) so as to attain quick gas response, the total opening area of the inner introduction holes (130) and (140) is 10 mm2 or more.

Abstract: A glow plug includes a heater member; heater power lead wires which extend rearward along an axis and whose conductors electrically communicate with one and of a heater conductor for supply of power; a sensor, portion for detecting the combustion pressure of an internal combustion engine; a sensor connection line connected to the sensor portion and extending rearward along the axis; a housing; a sensor-portion-enclosing tube; and a grommet formed from an insulating rubber-like elastic material., having insertion holes through which the heater power lead wires and the sensor connection line are respectively inserted, the grommet liquid-tightly closing an end portion of the sensor-portion-enclosing tube and liquid-tightly holding the heater power lead wires and the sensor connection line.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug includes a metal shell, an electrical insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode held in an axial hole of the electrical insulator to define a cavity by a front end face of the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator axial hole and a ground electrode arranged on a front end of the electrical insulator. The ground electrode has an opening defining portion defining an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside of the spark plug. The opening defining portion is located radially inside of or in contact with a first imaginary circular conical surface where the first imaginary circular conical surface has an axis coinciding with an axis of the spark plug and a vertex angle of 120° opening toward a front end of the spark plug and passing through a front edge of the insulator axial hole.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug includes a metal shell, an electrical insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode held in an axial hole of the electrical insulator to define a cavity by a front end face of the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator axial hole and a ground electrode arranged on a front end of the electrical insulator. The ground electrode has an opening defining portion defining an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside of the spark plug. The opening defining portion is located radially inside of or in contact with a first imaginary circular conical surface where the first imaginary circular conical surface has an axis coinciding with an axis of the spark plug and a vertex angle of 120° opening toward a front end of the spark plug and passing through a front edge of the insulator axial hole.

Abstract: This endoscope device is provided with: a laser light source that emits light having a specific wavelength; a diffusion optical component that diffuses light emitted from the laser light source and irradiates it onto an endoscopic examination subject at a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an adaptor that has a fluorescent substance that uses light from the laser light source as excitation light to emit light having a different wavelength, and is mounted on the distal end portion of the insertion portion such that it is able to be freely attached or removed; and a diffusion prevention component that is placed between the fluorescent substance of the adaptor and the diffusion optical component, and that prevents diffusion of light irradiated from the diffusion optical component.

Abstract: A superconducting cable line includes a heat insulation pipe for a fluid for transporting liquid hydrogen, a superconducting cable housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid, and heat exchange means for performing a heat exchange between liquid hydrogen and a refrigerant of the cable. The superconducting cable includes a cable core inside a heat insulation pipe for a cable and is housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid to form a low temperature environment around the cable and a double heat insulation structure including the heat insulation pipe. Therefore, since heat intrusion into the superconducting cable is reduced and the refrigerant is cooled with liquid hydrogen, the line can reduce energy for cooling the refrigerant.

Abstract: To provide a combustion pressure sensor capable of reducing noises generated by the force in a rocking direction by making uniform the stress exerted onto the piezoelectric element; and a glow plug having the same.

Abstract: A glow plug comprising: a cylindrical housing; a heater member as defined herein; a conductive center pole as defined herein; a first piezoelectric element as defined herein; and a second piezoelectric element as defined herein, wherein each of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element is subjected to a preload for compressing it in said axial direction and is arranged such that, when said center pole is displaced to a root-end side, a load to be applied to one of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element for compressing the same in said axial direction increases whereas a load to be applied to the other for compressing the same in said axial direction decreases.

Abstract: A water-repellent filter member formed from a resin sheet of a porous, fibrous structure having air permeability and water repellency; a waterproof instrument and gas sensor having air permeability; and a method of manufacturing the same. A water-repellent filter member (19) is formed from a resin sheet (54) of a porous, fibrous structure having air permeability and water repellency by subjecting the resin sheet to forming work, and includes an axially extending tubular side wall portion (19s) and a bottom wall portion closing one end of the tubular side wall portion. At least a portion of the bottom wall portion (19t) retains the porous, fibrous structure of the resin sheet and thereby has air permeability.

Abstract: A surface position detecting system for detecting surface information related to a substrate. The system includes a single sensor for measuring surface positions at plural locations on the substrate, while relatively scanning the substrate, a discriminating device for discriminating, beforehand, effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the sensor during scanning measurement, on the basis of information related to substrate processing, and a calculating device for calculating, during scanning measurement, the surface information of the substrate on the basis of the surface positions measured by the sensor discriminated as being effective by the discriminating device.

Abstract: A gas sensor 100 includes: a cylindrical metal shell 110; a gas detection element 120; a cylindrical sleeve 170 at least partially located inside the metal shell 110, and an axial hole 170c penetrating through the sleeve and accommodating the gas detection element 120 therein; and a connector 180 joined to a rear end portion of the gas detection element 120 and spaced apart from the sleeve 170, the connector 180 including a plurality of connector terminal portions 182 to 186 electrically connected to corresponding electrode terminal portions 125 to 129.

Abstract: To provide a combustion pressure sensor capable of reducing noises generated by the force in a rocking direction by making uniform the stress exerted onto the piezoelectric element; and a glow plug having the same.

Abstract: A sensor having a terminal connection structure in which an elongated sensor element (21) is inserted, from its rear end through relative movement, into a metallic-terminal-member retainer. Metallic terminal members (51) are elastically deformed and pressed against corresponding electrode terminals (25) formed on side surfaces (26) of the sensor element. A chamfer (28) is formed on a rear edge of sensor element (21). Rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25) are biased from the chamfer (28) toward a front end of the element (21). A flat surface (26b) is present between the rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25) and a front end (28a) of the chamfer (28). During insertion of the element (21), a large force generated when the metallic terminal members (51) pass over the chamfer (28) is not directly applied to the rear ends (25b) of the electrode terminals (25), thereby preventing damage to the electrode terminals (25).

Abstract: A glow plug comprising: a cylindrical housing; a heater member as defined herein; a conductive center pole as defined herein; a first piezoelectric element as defined herein; and a second piezoelectric element as defined herein, wherein each of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element is subjected to a preload for compressing it in said axial direction and is arranged such that, when said center pole is displaced to a root-end side, a load to be applied to one of said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element for compressing the same in said axial direction increases whereas a load to be applied to the other for compressing the same in said axial direction decreases.

Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus includes a surface position adjuster for adjusting the surface position of an object with respect to an image plane of a projection optical system, on the basis of a detection by the surface position detector in the projection, a controller for controlling a moving system and the surface position detector to perform a pre-scan measurement of the surface position of the object, prior to the projection, so as to detect an error, related to the detection through the surface position detector, with respect to each of detection points, which error is attributable to a difference in pattern structure at the detection points in the region, the detected error being used for correcting the adjustment by the surface position adjuster in the projection, and an initializing device for initializing the surface position detector in synchronism with the scan motion and the projection, at the position where the surface position detector has started the detection in the pre-scan measurement.