Abstract: A adjustable crutch, cane or similar walking aid for assisting everyday movement for temporarily injured and even permanently handicapped persons, the crutch having telescoping crutch tubes encasing a locking gas spring crutches which can instantaneously and controllably be adjusted in length during use, thereby considerably facilitating such common physical activities as sitting down, standing up, negotiating stairs or other obstacles and other similar everyday mobile activities. The locking gas spring functions by internal gas pressure and the telescoping crutch tubes are extended as the internal gas pressure seeks to reach the lowest energy state by maximizing its internal volume. For safety purposes a disengagement mechanism is provided so that extension occurs up to a preset level dictated by the user, and can even be overridden if desired.

Abstract: An tent structure includes a tent, at least one solar energy panel placed on the tent structure for absorbing sunlight or other light and generating a first electric energy, and a electric energy converter connected to the at least one solar panel for converting the first electric energy to a second electric energy, and a storage device connected to the electric energy converter for storing the second electric energy.

Abstract: An umbrella curtain kit enables a user to outfit an umbrella to shield a user from elements having horizontal velocity. The kit comprises a curtain, a plurality of clips, and a plurality of sleeve members. The curtain comprises a plurality of clip-receiving apertures. The clip-receiving apertures extend from an inner curtain surface to an outer curtain surface adjacent a superior curtain end. The sleeve members each comprise rib-receiving structure. The clips each comprise an aperture-engaging end, a sleeve-engaging end, and a structure gateway. Each structure gateway accepts and directs certain structure into a select clip end. Each sleeve member is receivable by a select umbrella rib member for positioning the sleeve-engaging ends and the clip receiving apertures held by the clips in inferior adjacency to an outer umbrella periphery. Thus, the curtain is positioned substantially equidistant from an umbrella upright and shields the user from elements having horizontal velocity.

Abstract: A structural camouflage system includes as the primary structural component a planar panel with a reflective outer face, formed in a trapezoidal configuration with upper and lower edges of the panel in parallel relation, the panels connected in edge to edge orientation to form an enclosed structure with the reflective faces of the panels facing outward of the structure and inclined toward the surface upon which the structure rests, so that the panels reflect an image of the immediate foreground to more distant observer looking toward the structure, camouflaging the structure. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of reflective strips are connected to vertical supports with each strip disposed at an angle so as to reflect a composite image of the immediate foreground to a more distant observer.

Abstract: A collapsible structure includes a first frame member defining a base of the structure and a second frame member defining a top of the structure. A piece of foldable material is attached to and extends between the first and second frame members. A plurality of foldable frame supporters is mounted on the piece of foldable material whereby folding of the frame supporters drives the first and second frame members towards a superimposed and collapsed position, and unfolding of the frame supporters drives the first and second frame members towards a spaced apart and expanded position. The collapsible structure can be in the form of a baby bed, a play pen, an igloo or a teepee.

Abstract: A thermoelectric element formed of a sintered body of a semiconductor comprising at least two kinds of elements selected from the group consisting of Bi, Te, Se and Sb, and having a micro-Vickers' hardness of not smaller than 0.5 GPa. The thermoelectric element has a hardness of not smaller than 0.5 GPa, and exhibits a large resistance against deformation, and is not easily broken by deformation. As a result, breakage due to deformation is prevented and a highly reliable thermoelectric element is realized even when a shape factor which is a ratio of the sectional area of the thermoelectric element to the height thereof, is increased and even when the element density is increased.

Abstract: Provided is a high-efficiency power factor improvement circuit which is capable of simultaneously handling a rectification operation performed by rectifying bridge diodes and a power factor improvement operation and reducing switching loss using a snubber circuit when an input voltage is boosted to a predetermined level. The power factor improvement circuit includes: a boost converter circuit which comprises rectifying bridge diodes that constitute a bridge circuit; and a snubber circuit which reduces switching loss caused due to the reverse recovery current characteristics of the rectifying bridge diodes.

Abstract: A thin-film photovoltaic device comprising a hard conductive transparent oxide front contact layer, and photovoltaic modules comprising such devices. The photovoltaic modules of this invention comprising hard conductive transparent front contact layers have excellent resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: Nanostructured materials and photovoltaic devices including nanostructured materials are described. In one embodiment, a nanostructured material includes: (a) a first nano-network formed from a first set of nanoparticles; and (b) a second nano-network coupled to the first nano-network and formed from a second set of nanoparticles. At least one of the first set of nanoparticles and the second set of nanoparticles are formed from an indirect bandgap material. The nanostructured material is configured to absorb light to produce a first type of charge carrier that is transported in the first nano-network and a second type of charge carrier that is transported in the second nano-network. The nanostructured material has an absorption coefficient that is at least 103 cm?1 within a range of wavelengths from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Abstract: A multi-crystalline silicon germanium bulk crystal with microscopic compositional distribution is adapted for use in solar cells to substantially increase conversion efficiency. By controlling the average Ge concentration between 0.1 and 8.0 mole percent, significant improvements are attained with respect to short circuit current density and conversion efficiency.

Abstract: In the conventional cast method, when an element causing large segregation is added to a polycrystalline silicon ingot, a concentration fluctuation becomes large depending on a region, and the yield of a portion having the target composition is low. On the contrary, the present invention enables to make the ingot having the uniform concentration. Particularly, in the case of polycrystalline silicon containing germanium and polycrystalline silicon in which gallium is added as a dopant, when the yield of a crystal having a target composition is low while conversion efficiency is high, cost reduction is not achieved in a solar cell. However, because polycrystalline silicon having the homogenous composition is easily obtained in the present invention, the high-efficiency solar cell can be produced at low costs. Therefore, polycrystalline silicon by the present invention can widely be utilized as solar-cell polycrystalline silicon containing germanium.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising: a first base member having a light-transmitting substrate, a light-transmitting conductive layer formed on a surface of the light-transmitting substrate and a semiconductor electrode formed on a surface of the light-transmitting conductive layer and containing a sensitizing dye; a second base member having a ceramic substrate and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the ceramic substrate in such a manner that the catalyst layer faces the semiconductor electrode; and an electrolyte layer formed between the semiconductor electrode and the catalyst layer. The dye-sensitized solar cell of the first aspect of the present invention shows a sufficient power generation efficiency and excellent durability.

Abstract: The present invention provided a float type drain trap capable of preventing penetration of foreign matters into the pilot valve to eliminate troubles caused with penetration of foreign matters, furnishing the pilot valve operation with stability and function of snap action, and reducing the bore diameter of the pilot valve to make the float as small as possible. The pilot valve mechanism is constructed by comprising a pilot valve 7, disposed in part of the pilot chamber 8 and putting the pilot chamber 8 in communication with the outside of the drain case 1, an orifice 9, formed on the upstream side of the pilot valve 7 and putting the pilot chamber 8 in communication with the inside of the drain case 1, and a microfilter 10 provided on the orifice 9, and a permanent magnet 11 is provided on said pilot valve 7, while on said float 6 is provided a permanent magnet 12 for operating the pilot valve 7 in repellence to the permanent magnet 11.

Abstract: A float valve structure according to the invention includes a case; a valve seat that is formed at an end portion of the case, at a position near an upper opening of the case; a float that is arranged in a space formed in the case so as to be vertically movable; a valve support member that is arranged above the float and that can be inserted into the upper opening; a valve that is fitted to the valve support member and that can contact the valve seat; and a valve opening member that can vertically move together with the float and that opens at least one portion of the valve.

Abstract: A method and an installation for alternating storage of CO2 and natural gas in a way that ensures minimal mixture of the gases, is described. CO2 and natural gas are alternately stored in a tank installation comprising a plurality of tanks connected in series, where CO2 is always filled and emptied through a first tank in the series of tanks, and where natural gas always is filled and emptied through a last tank in the series of tanks.

Abstract: A faucet improvement including a seat defining a bore, and a valve stem movable toward and away from the seat, comprising a shoulder screw threadably attachable to the stem, and having a head located in the bore, a shank, and a non-metallic O-ring extending about the screw shank to be retained in the bore between the screw head and the valve stem, the O-ring sized to seal off between the shank and the bore.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve with lockout for controlling the flow of a fluid includes a housing, a fluid flow passage extending through the housing between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a valve movable along an axis to open and close the flow passage. A pneumatic actuator is operable to move the valve to open and close the flow passage. A manual lockout device is actuable to selectively enable and disable the valve. The device includes a locking member movable to prevent actuation of the lockout device when the valve is disabled. A fitting on the housing to convey a pressurized gas to the pneumatic actuator is mounted to swivel about the housing for connection to an air source on any radial within 360°. The valve is compact, simple to connect in a system and safe.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for use in the cistern (8) of a toilet is described having an inlet valve (20) operated by a float (46) such that when the level of water in the cistern reaches a threshold amount, the float operates the inlet valve to substantially instantaneously close the supply of incoming water. The inlet valve of the valve arrangement is provided with an air gap or clearance (51) to eliminate, prevent or reduce siphoning of water from the cistern into the water supply when the valve is in the fully closed position. The air gap allows water within the inlet valve to drain into the cistern so as to form the air gap.

Abstract: A pneumatic ventilation system delivers high amplitude, low frequency oscillatory flows while maintaining the load impedance at a specified mean pressure, thereby accurately controlling mean airway pressure, oscillation amplitude, and frequency content allowing use in applications to optimize high frequency ventilation protocols in patients. The pneumatic ventilation system includes a pneumatic pressure oscillator based on a proportional solenoid valve to provide forced oscillatory excitations to a respiratory system over a bandwidth suitable for mechanical impedance measurements and high frequency ventilation.

Abstract: A washer fluid system (20) in a motor vehicle (10). A walled reservoir (22) holds washer fluid used to wash one or more windows (16) of the vehicle. Washer fluid is introduced through a fill opening (26) to fill the reservoir. The reservoir has one or more through-openings (36, 38, 40, 42) in a wall (44) at a location suitable for venting air from the reservoir during filling. One or more fluid-impermeable, air-permeable elements (46, 48) close the one or more through-openings. The elements are patches adhered to the reservoir wall in covering relation to the through-openings. Venting through such an element can eliminate the vent tube or neck used in prior washer fluid systems and enable more complete filling of a reservoir.

Abstract: An all fluid-based no-moving part micro-mechanical logic family of microfluidic bubble logic devices is constructed from complex sequences of microfluidic channels, microfluidic bubble modulators for programming the devices, and microfluidic droplet/bubble memory elements for chemical storage and retrieval. The input is a sequence of bubbles/droplets encoding information, with the output being another sequence of bubbles/droplets. For performing a set of reactions/tasks, the modulators program the device by producing a precisely timed sequence of bubbles/droplets, resulting in a cascade of logic operations within the microfluidic channel sequence, utilizing the generated bubbles as a control. The devices are based on the principle of minimum energy interfaces formed between the two fluid phases enclosed inside precise channel geometries. Various devices, including logic gates, non-volatile bistable memory, shift registers, multiplexers, and ring oscillators have been designed and fabricated.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging fluid from a container. The apparatus comprises a mounting member coupled to the container. A valve is coupled to the mounting member and selectively in fluid communication with the container. A swivel, including a single ninety-degree elbow member, is coupled to the mounting member and the valve. A chute is coupled to the swivel, wherein the chute is pivotable in an arc to any side of the container.

Abstract: A tapered expansion plug for winterizing swimming pools has a peripheral flange at its larger end, to enable one to seat the plug properly in a return line when operating “blind”. The plug is expanded by turning a wing nut after the plug has been properly seated.

Abstract: A test fitting for installation in a plumbing system comprises an annular sleeve having opposed first and second open ends and an inner surface that defines an open interior space and a hole. A cord has a first portion removably positioned in the sleeve's interior space and a second portion extending through the hole for removing the cord from the interior space through the hole. The first portion of the cord forms a watertight spiral disc that extends across the interior space to define a first area completely separated from a second area, and an outer edge of the spiral disc may be supported by a ledge extending from the inner surface into the interior space. Means are included for selectively sealing the hole after the cord is withdrawn through the hole, such as a plug complementary to the hole.

Abstract: The heald shaft (1) according to the invention has, for coupling the shaft rods (2) with the end binders (5), connecting joints (10) whose pivot axes (14) lie externally of the shaft rods (2) and preferably inside the end binders (5). By means of the connecting joints (10) a moment-free coupling between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5) is ensured. The relative pivotal motions between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5) appearing during operation do not generate any moment transmissions between the shaft rods (2) and the end binders (5). According to a preferred embodiment, the driving couplers (7) are arranged above the end binders (5) in a direct extension thereof.

Abstract: An end binder (5) for a heald shaft (1) is formed by a bent sheet metal member (9) which preferably has a U-shaped cross section and which, according to the preferred embodiment, is of high-grade steel. The open side of the U-section faces the shaft rods (2, 3). In the hollow space enclosed by the bent sheet metal member (9) shaft rod couplers (28) are secured which are preferably pivotally held The upper or lower end of the bent sheet metal member forms part of a driving coupler (25) which is situated preferably in a linear continuation of the bent sheet metal member (9) and is a one-piece component with the end binder (5). Such a structure may be is manufactured in a simple manner with very small tolerances, and it has a low weight, a substantial stiffness and highly satisfactory bearing properties for being supported in plastic guides.

Abstract: On the one hand, the invention relates to a method for weaving a fabric comprising: a backing fabric (100, 200) formed by backing warp yams, comprising binding warp yarns (101, 201) and first an second weft yams (3, 4); one or several tension warp yarns (102, 202, 103, 203); non-pattern forming and/or pattern forming pile warp yarns (7, 6), the pattern forming pile warp yarns (6) forming pattern forming pile burls (6a), and each pattern forming pile burl (6a) being interlaced round at least one third weft yarn (5), and each pattern forming pile burl being interlaced over at least one third weft yarn situated at the back of the fabric (1, 2) with respect to the tension warp yarns (102, 202, 103, 203). On the other hand, the invention relates to a fabric (1, 2) woven in accordance with such a method and a weaving machine provided for weaving such a method and for weaving such a fabric (1, 2).

Abstract: A paper machine fabric comprising at least two machine direction yarn systems, which are bound together by means of a binding yarn system. The layer of the machine side is formed of a warp system and a binding yarn system. The binding yarn system comprises a binding yarn, binding yarns or a pair of binding yarns. The binding yarn, the binding yarns or the pair of binding yarns is/are bound to more than one bottom warps at the point where the binding yarn binds the top and bottom warps together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a forming fabric, with a paper side fabric having paper side threads and with a wear side fabric having wear side threads. The paper side fabric and the wear side fabric are superimposed to one another and connected by binding threads weaving with both the paper side threads and the wear side threads, both extending in cross direction relative to the binding threads. The binding threads form part of the weave pattern of the paper side fabric and form part of the weave pattern of the wear side fabric, and alternate from weaving with the paper side fabric to weave with the wear side fabric and vice versa, thereby crossing each other forming crossing points. The wear side weave pattern is repeated by wear side repeat units, wherein the binding threads alternate such that one or less than one crossing point within each wear side weave repeat unit is formed and the ratio of the paper side threads to the wear side threads is greater than 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a forming fabric, with a paper side fabric having paper side threads and with a wear side fabric having wear side threads. The paper side fabric and the wear side fabric are superimposed to one another and connected by binding threads weaving with both the paper side threads and the wear side threads, both extending in cross direction relative to the binding threads. The binding threads form part of the weave pattern of the paper side fabric and form part of the weave pattern of the wear side fabric, and alternate from weaving with the paper side fabric to weave with the wear side fabric and vice versa, thereby crossing each other forming crossing points.

Abstract: A load lock chamber and method for regulating the temperature of substrates positioned within a chamber are provided. In one embodiment, the load lock chamber is configured to remove gases heated during venting of the load lock chamber. In another embodiment, the load lock chamber is configured to provide a cross flow of vent gases. In yet another embodiment, the load lock chamber includes a resistive heating element configured to uniformly head substrates positioned within the load lock chamber.

Abstract: A bag-on-valve aerosol valve system in a container. Propellant is pressure filled around the valve stem, outwardly over the stem gasket and down into the container space outside the bag. Product is filled through the valve stem into the bag. The valve stem has an exterior intermediate frusto-conical annular surface and the valve housing has an interior frusto-conical annular surface, with both surfaces engaging in annular sealing contact to block propellant access to the bag when the valve stem is deeply depressed to a first predetermined position for propellant pressure filling. A stem exterior surface indent interacts with radially-biased spring-loaded slides to lock the stem in a second less depressed predetermined position for product filling through the stem down into the bag. The propellant and product may be pressure filled in either order using essentially conventional pressure filing equipment, after the valve is mounted on the container and the bag is mounted on the valve.

Abstract: A bag-on-valve aerosol valve system in a container. Propellant is pressure filled around the valve stem, outwardly over the stem gasket and down into the container space outside the bag. Product is filled through the valve stem into the bag. The valve stem has an exterior intermediate frusto-conical annular surface and the valve housing has an interior frusto-conical annular surface, with both surfaces engaging in annular sealing contact to block propellant access to the bag when the valve stem is deeply depressed to a first predetermined position for propellant pressure filling. A stem exterior surface indent interacts with radially-biased spring-loaded slides to lock the stem in a second less depressed predetermined position for product filling through the stem down into the bag. The propellant and product may be pressure filled in either order using essentially conventional pressure filing equipment, after the valve is mounted on the container and the bag is mounted on the valve.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant with a beverage bottle filling machine for filling beverage bottles, as well as the filling elements for the beverage bottle filling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.

Abstract: A method for purging a manifold for the delivery of a high purity chemical by injecting of a purge gas into the manifold under vacuum conditions. In one embodiment, the method comprises a first step of injecting a purge gas into the manifold at a first end while applying vacuum at a second end; a second step of closing the first end and evacuating the manifold by applying vacuum at the second end; and a third step of opening the first end and injecting purge gas into the manifold at the first end while applying vacuum at the second end, causing a turbulent flow of the purge gas along the internal walls of the manifold due to the pressure differential between the purge gas and the evacuated manifold. An effective removal of residuals of the high purity chemical within the manifold is thereby achieved.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispensing unit suitable to precisely dispense material in powdery and/or granular form. The dispensing device comprises an gate valve opening sealingly closed by a blend. A control unit, which is interconnected to a scaling device, controls the opening of the gate valve opening by the position of the blend. The precise amount of the material is adjusted in relation to the signal of the scaling device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for generating nanostructures in order to obtain in an area on the surface of a metal piece (10) a nanostructured layer of defined thickness, characterized in that it comprises: a step for projecting onto an impact point in the area of the surface of the piece (10) to be treated, for a given duration, at a given speed and at variable incidences at the same impact point, a given quantity of perfectly spherical balls (22) of given dimensions, reused continuously during the projection; repetition of the preceding step with a shift of the impact point so that the impact points as a group cover the entire surface of the piece to be treated; a step for treatment by diffusion of chemical compounds into the nanostructured layer generated during the step for implementing the method for generating nanostructures.

Abstract: The invention provides a cam follower having an outer ring which is used in a state where the cam follower comes into sliding contact or rolling contact with a mating part. The outer ring is configured such that the hardness of a surface layer portion existing between the surface and at least 3 ?m below the surface is Hv 780 to 900, and the hardness of an internal surface portion existing at a depth of 10 ?m or more from the surface is lower than the hardness of the surface layer portion and less than Hv 780. Such hardness can be obtained by performing soft shot blasting or flow barrel processing on a surface layer portion of a base material to be the outer ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a martensite stainless steel with excellent toughness and used as oil well pipes. The martensite stainless steel according to the present invention comprises, by mass percent, 0.15 to 0.21% of C, 0.05 to 1.00% of Si, 0.3 to 1.00% of Mn, 10.5 to 14.00% of Cr, not greater than 0.010% of Al, not greater than 0.050% of P, not greater than 0.010% of S, 0 to 0.050% of Ti, 0 to 0.50% of V, 0 to 0.020% of Nb, not greater than 0.1% of N, and the balance being Fe and impurities, and the amount of Cr carbonitride precipitating at grain boundary is not greater than 5%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of martensite stainless seamless steel pipe for oil well pipes and couplings. The martensite stainless seamless steel pipe has the chemical components comprising, by mass percent, 0.15 to 0.22% of C, 0.18 to 1.0% of Si, 0.05 to 1.0% of Mn, 10.5 to 14.0% of Cr, and the balance of Fe and impurities that include, by mass percent, not greater than 0.20% of Ni, not greater than 0.05% of Al, not greater than 0.100% of N, not greater than 0.015% of S, and not greater than 0.020% of P. The method comprises the steps of piercing and rolling a billet having the said chemical components to obtain a seamless steel pipe having a cross-sectional area being 10 to 95% of that of said billet; then heating the seamless steel pipe at a temperature of 850 to 980° C., and then subjecting said seamless steel pipe to quenching and tempering in the condition that let P value in the follow expression be 18500 to 22200. P=T·(17.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steel wire for cold forging, which has excellent low temperature impact properties, and a method of producing the same. The steel wire consists of 0.10-0.40 wt % C, 1.0 wt % or less of Si, 0.30-2.0 wt % Mn, 0.03 wt % or less of P, 0.03 wt % or less of S, and the balance of Fe and impurities. The steel wire has an austenite grain size of 5-20 ?m, impact absorption energy of 60 J/cm2 or more at ?40° C., and tensile strength of 70-130 kgf/mm2. A steel material for cold forming according to the present invention has impact toughness that is greatly superior to a conventional spheroidized material or non-heat treated steel at a low temperature of ?40° C.

Abstract: Steel sheets containing residual austenite of not more than 7 vol.%, crystallized and/or precipitated compounds with particle diameters of 0.01 to 5.0 ?m of 100 to 100000 particle/mm2 and C of 0.05 to 0.3 mass %, Si of not more than 3.0 mass %, Mn of 0.01 to 3.0 mass %, P of not more than 0.02 mass %, S of not more than 0.02 mass %, Al of 0.01 to 3.0 mass %, N of not more than 0.01 mass % and Mg of 0.0002 to 0.01 mass %, with the remainder comprising iron and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: A steel alloy suitable for holders and holder details for plastic moulding tools contains in weight-%: 0.06-0.15 C, 0.07-0.22 N, wherein the total amount of C+N shall satisfy the condition, 0.16?C+N?0.26, 0.1-1.0 Si, 0.1-2.0 Mn, 12.5-14.5 Cr, 0.8-2.5 Ni, 0.1 1.5 Mo, optionally vanadium up to max. 0.7 V, optionally, in order to improve the machinability of the steel, one or more of the elements S, Ca and O in amounts up to max. 0.25 S, max. 0.01 (100 ppm) Ca, max. 0.01 (100 ppm) O, balance iron and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: A technology for refining the crystal grains of alloy whose main constituents are elements exhibiting weak affinity with hydrogen. With respect to the alloy whose main constituents are elements exhibiting weak affinity with hydrogen in which an element exhibiting strong affinity with hydrogen is contained, resulting from attaining of presence of an element exhibiting strong affinity with hydrogen in an alloy whose main constituents are elements exhibiting weak affinity with hydrogen, any crystal grains of the alloy can be super-atomized by subjecting the alloy to heat treatment involving hydrogen absorption and release, thereby realizing super-high strength thereof. Thus, the properties of the alloy can be improved and enhanced.

Abstract: Tires define air flow passageways arranged so that rotation of the tire causes air to flow through the passageways, thereby improving heat transfer to cool the tires.

Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire including cross grooves which are provided on a tread portion in such a manner as to cross each other in an X shape, as well as cross each other symmetrically with respect to a tire transverse line, wherein assuming that a point of intersection between a tire circumferential line which passes through a point of intersection A of the cross grooves and a tire contact patch shaping line is a point of intersection B, a crossing angle of the cross grooves which lie to hold therebetween a tire transverse line which passes through the point of intersection A is ??, and an angle made by a tire circumferential line which passes through the point of intersection B and a tangential line to the tire contact patch shaping line at the point of intersection B is ??, the cross grooves satisfy the following conditions: when ??<45°, ??<?2.5×??+162.5°??1) when 45°???<60°, ??>?1.2×??+179°??2) when 60°????90°, ??>105°.

Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and a pair of sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply shaped in a substantially toroidal configuration. Opposite lateral edges of the carcass structure are associated with respective bead wires. Each bead wire is enclosed in a respective bead. The belt structure includes at least one belt strip. The tread band includes a radially outer layer designed to contact the ground and a radially inner layer between the belt structure and the radially outer layer. The radially inner layer includes a crosslinked elastomeric composition. The crosslinked elastomeric composition includes at least one diene elastomeric polymer and at least one layered inorganic material comprising an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.01 nm and less than or equal to 30 nm. A process for producing the tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cavity face 34 of a mold 32 has a protruding ridge P. A shape of cross section of the ridge P is almost rectangular. The ridge P has a first corner P1, a second corner P2, a third corner P3 and a fourth corner P4. The ridge P has a height H of 0.1 mm or greater and 1.0 mm or less. The ridge P has a width W2 of 0.1 mm or greater and 2.0 mm or less. A curvature radius Rc of the second corner P2 and a curvature radius Rd of the third corner P3 are equal to or less than 0.2 mm. Included angles ?1, ?2, ?3 and ?4 of the ridge P are 80° or greater and 100° or less. A tire which is obtained by the mold 32 has small grooves with a reversed shape of the ridge P.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire which has improved drainage property on a wet road surface and improved uneven wear resistance and steering stability on a dry road surface while enhancing drainage property on a wet road surface. The tire has at least a pair of circumferential grooves 2 disposed at a tread portion 1. An inner land portion 3 and an outer land portion 4 are defined by outermost circumferential grooves 2a. A plurality of transverse grooves 5 are disposed on at least the outer land portion 4 and the outer land portion 4 is divided and formed into a large number of blocks by these transverse grooves 5. The width w1 of the groove bottom 6 of the outermost circumferential groove 2a is narrower than the opening width w2. The groove bottom extends with inclination with respect to the tire circumferential direction so that it substantially continues to the transverse groove between the adjacent transverse grooves. The groove bottom forms the zigzag shape as a whole.