Abstract: An agglomerated active with controlled release comprising a particulate solid active material and a binder characterised in that the binder comprises from 0.02 to 5% by weight of a polyvinyl alcohol, based on the total weight of the agglomerate. The binder system simultaneously provides the desired hardness and release characteristics while maintaining a high level of actives. The active may be a bleach activator such as Tetraacetylethylenediamine.A process for manufacturing the agglomerate comprises the steps of mixing a particulate solid active material and optionally a portion of polyvinyl alcohol and optionally also a co-binder and then adding an agglomerating solution which optionally contains polyvinyl alcohol binder while mixing and agglomerating and drying the agglomerates to obtain an agglomerate with average particle size in the range 1-2000 microns wherein the agglomerate comprises from 0.02 to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the agglomerate of polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A bobbin changing apparatus for a flyer frame which allows works to freely be performed by attendants at a front side of the flyer frame at any time during the operation of the flyer frame, while eliminating need for providing independent rails for transporting full bobbins and empty bobbins, respectively. Disposed at a front side of a flyer frame (2) is a work platform (35) on which the number of pegs (49) which is twice as large as that of bobbin wheels are mounted with a pitch equal to a half of that of the bobbin wheels (4). Each of the pegs (49) can selectively be disposed at an operative position on a top surface of a cover plate (41) and to a retracted position retracted from the top surface. Further, the pegs can be driven reciprocatively over a distance corresponding to one pitch of the peg array.

Abstract: A compressor has a refrigerant gas passage selectively connected to and disconnected from a refrigerant circuit apart from the compressor. A swash plate is supported on a drive shaft for integral rotation with inclining motion with respect to the drive shaft to drive the pistons. The swash plate is moveable between a maximum inclined angle and a minimum inclining angle. A disconnecting member disconnects the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant gas passage when the swash plate is at the minimum inclined angle.

Abstract: A rare-earth doped, lithium niobate, diffusion Bragg reflector laser having a simplified structure and improved efficiency is disclosed. The laser has a pump source, a wavelength division multiplexer, a substrate of lithium niobate doped with at least one rare earth element and having a feedback element, and a grating reflector. The grating reflector is formed from portions of an optical fibre and abuts one end of the doped substrate, such that the grating reflector and the feedback element of the doped substrate form a cavity for the laser. The doped substrate may include phase or amplitude modulators for FM or AM mode-locking operation.

Abstract: An acousto-optical waveguide device, tunable, with a polarization independent response, comprises a substrate in a birefringent and photoelastic material, on which there are obtained at least one stage of polarization mode conversion of two separate polarization components of an optical signal, a first and a second polarization selective element, placed upstream and downstream, respectively, of the conversion stage and at least one compensation stage for the polarization mode conversion, wherein at least one optical waveguide transmits the two polarization components in a combined form.A method for the acousto-optical switching of optical signals is based on two conversions of the polarization components of an optical signal, transmitted separate and not separate, respectively, by acousto-optical interactions with two acoustic waves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously spot-welding galvanized steel sheets overlapped to be bonded by way of a spot welding machine having a pair of electrodes. The galvanized steel sheets clamp a resistance increasing material including a spacer to ensure a gap between the sheets. Bonding surfaces of the galvanized steel sheets partly contact each other when the pair of electrodes pressurize the galvanized steel sheets such that a part of the gap is retained around the spacer between the bonding surfaces. The retained gap has a size in which zinc melted or vapored when a weld current flows between the electrodes can escape through a weld section of the galvanized steel sheets to outside. The method comprises the step of recording an inter-electrode resistance for each spot when the continuous spot welding is executed by the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A compressor has a casing and a compressing member located within the casing. A gas drawn from a suction chamber into a compression chamber is compressed to be discharged to a discharge chamber in accordance with the operation of the compressing member. The compressor has a drive apparatus located within the casing for driving the compressing member. The drive apparatus has a fixed drive member fixed to the casing and having a plurality of electrode strips arranged in a single direction with a predetermined pitch. A second member is fixed to the compressing member. The compressing member is driven by relative movement generated between the fixed and movable drive members in response to Coulomb force generated between the fixed and movable drive members when voltage is applied to the electrode strips.

Abstract: A heating system for a vehicle is provided which does not require a large boarding space in an engine room very much, which can be manufactured at a reduced cost, and which can fully heat a passenger compartment of a vehicle when an engine is started. For instance, in the vehicle heating system, a water pump (WP) and a viscous heater (VH) is incorporated into an installation housing (1), a plate (2) and a cover (3) which are bonded to a cylinder block of an engine. The water pump (WP) and the viscous heater (VH) are driven by a drive shaft (11) which is shared by them. Moreover, the viscous heater (VH) includes an auxiliary water jacket (WJ.sub.2). The auxiliary water jacket (WJ.sub.2) is communicated with a main water jacket (WJ.sub.1) of the engine by way of a pump chamber (4) of the water pump (WP), and is further communicated with a heater core for heating a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength optical telecommunication method includes: generating at least two optical transmission signals of wavelengths different from each other, multiplexing the optical signals in a single transmission fibre, forming a multi-wavelength optical signal, transmitting, through the transmission fibre, the multi-wavelength optical signal including the optical transmission signals to a respective receiving station and separating the optical transmission signals, in which the step of separating the optical transmission signals includes: distributing the received multi-wavelength optical signal onto at least two output fibres; selectively reflecting a wavelength band of the multi-wavelength optical signal including at least one of the optical transmission signals, so that the reflected band propagates over the output fibre in an opposite direction to the multi-wavelength optical signal; separating the reflected band from the output fibre and feeding it, through a receiving fibre, to a respective receiver.

Abstract: A tool having a pair of opposed jaws with compression surfaces that are movable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the planes of the compression surfaces can be used to apply evenly distributed compressive force to opposed faces of a flat object. A specific application of the tool is the compression of conductive copper clips joining the ends of bars that form the stator coils of electric power generators.

Abstract: An inner rotor 5 has a recess 7 formed at a position corresponding to a navel 6 and the recess 7 has a taper surface 7a formed to the peripheral edge thereof. The end surface 6c of the navel 6 can be moved together with a support member 12 to an ordinary spinning position where it can be engaged with a thread Y drawn out through a thread guide and to a thread piecing position where it cannot be engaged therewith. When the thread is pieced, the navel 6 is disposed at the thread piecing position and after a seed thread is introduced into an outer rotor 2 from a thread drawing-out path 6b in the state that both the rotors 2, 5 are rotated, a fiber bundle in a fiber collecting portion 2a is drawn out together with the seed thread and a thread is spun without passing through the thread guide. Thereafter, the navel 6 is moved to the ordinary spinning position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a gamma prime precipitation strengthened nickel base alloy having an improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, particularly crack propagation. The alloy is cast, heat treated to dissolve substantially all the gamma-gamma prime eutectic islands and script carbides without causing incipient melting, cooled to below 1000.degree. C., HIP'ed to eliminate porosity, precipitation treated and aged. The alloy has a microstructure which is essentially free of script carbides, gamma-gamma prime eutectic islands and porosity. The microstructure further includes a plurality of regularly occurring large barrier gamma prime precipitates and a continuous field of fine cuboidal gamma prime precipitates surrounding the large barrier gamma prime precipitates.

Abstract: A swash plate is mounted on a drive shaft in a crank chamber. The swash plate rotates integrally with the drive shaft and changes its inclination angle based on the pressure in the crank chamber. Pistons are provided in cylinder bores and coupled to the swash plate. The rotation of the swash plate is converted into reciprocation of each piston in the associated cylinder bore. The pistons'reciprocation draws the gas from a suction chamber into the compression chamber. The gas is compressed and discharged into the discharge chamber. A lug plate that integrally rotates with the drive shaft is mounted on the drive shaft. The lug plate has a receptacle. The receptacle has a pair of side walls that are spaced apart. The swash plate has an arm extending perpendicular to the swash plate. The arm has a distal end surface extending perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft. The head slides along the receptacle and receives a load from the swash plate.

Abstract: A combination of a sprocket wheel and a rapier band employed in a rapier loom is improved for extending the service life of the rapier band. Each of the female holes formed in the rapier band for receiving teeth of the sprocket wheel is formed in a frustum-like shape. The teeth of the sprocket wheel have tooth surfaces each including a non-interference portion located above an expansion/contraction-insusceptible layer of the rapier band and an interference portion located underneath the expansion/contraction-insusceptible layer. The non-interference portions do not contact the tooth surfaces, while the interference portions are brought into contact with the wall surfaces of the hole formed in the rapier band when the band is wrapped around the sprocket wheel.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotatable cylindrical rotor housed in a stator and has a female threaded nut formed inside the rotor. The motor has a male threaded screw shaft engaging with the nut. The rotation of the rotor is transformed to linear movement of the screw shaft by restricting the rotation of the screw shaft. A plurality of engaging sections project from the screw shaft. A contact section is provided with the rotor to contact with the engaging sections. The contact section contacts the engaging sections in accordance with the rotation of the rotor to restrict the rotation of the rotor and to prevent the screw shaft from releasing from the rotor.

Abstract: A swash plate tiltably supported on a drive shaft is controlled by adjusting the pressure in a crank chamber. When an electromagnetic valve is de-excited, the high-pressure refrigerant gas in a discharge chamber is supplied to the crank chamber so that the inclination angle of the swash plate is shifted to its minimum inclination from its maximum inclination. An open/close mechanism located in a suction passage gradually opens or closes the suction passage in accordance with the differential pressure between the pressure in the external refrigeration circuit located upstream the open/close mechanism and the pressure in a suction chamber. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is minimized, the open/close mechanism closes the suction passage. It is therefore possible to prevent frosting while also suppressing rapid changes in load torque.

Abstract: The invention relates to a working tool for working a pipe wall, so that a grooving is created on the inner wall of the pipe. The grooving is carried out by means of a rotating working tool of a grooving machine, and according to the invention, the structure of said tool brings about an efficient use and replacing of the balls provided in the tool for working the pipe to be grooved; it also enables the replacing of the balls without replacing the whole tool.

Abstract: A thin-film forming method comprising an uncured-layer forming step in which a mixed composition containing an organic polymerizing agent curable composition and a silicone polymerizing curable composition is prepared to form an uncured layer consisting of this mixed composition on a resin substrate; a solvent removing step in which the solvent in the uncured layer is removed; a first polymerization curing step in which the organic polymerizing curable composition in the uncured layer is polymerized; and a second polymerization curing step in which the silicone polymerizing curable composition in the uncured layer is polymerized. The thin-film forming method can comprise formation of the uncured layer on a resin substrate through the intermediation of a primer layer or formation of an uncured underlayer and uncured top layer followed by separate underlayer polymerization and top layer polymerization curing steps.

Abstract: A gas turbine abradable seal is prepared by plasma spraying an oxidation resistant metallic material and boron nitride. The resultant structure comprises a metallic matrix encompassing a lubricating amount of boron nitride, with porosity of less than about 15 percent and a fabricated surface roughness of less than about 600 microinches. The reduced surface roughness and substantially reduced permeability of this seal provide substantially enhanced engine efficiency, and improved durability.

Abstract: A variable capacity single headed piston swash plate type refrigerant compressor is provided with a double fulcrum hinge mechanism having a pair of hinges for providing a pivotal connection between a rotary support element of a drive shaft and a swash plate assembly, causing reciprocation of a plurality of single headed pistons in cylinder bores for compressing a refrigerant gas. The pair of hinges of the double fulcrum hinge mechanism cooperate to absorb reaction forces of the compression and suction of the refrigerant gas acting from the pistons on the swash plate assembly to thereby prevent application of a local load to a sleeve element on which the swash plate assembly is turnably mounted.