Abstract: The invention provides a blood treatment apparatus realizing double-step-membrane filtration, namely separation of blood into plasma and a corpuscular fraction and separation of high-molecular-weight substances (e.g. gamma-globulin) in the plasma from low-molecular-weight substances (e.g. albumin). A method of treating blood is also provided.The apparatus and method are effective e.g. in the treatment of blood of patients with peripheral circulatory insufficiency due to arteriosclerosis and of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease.

Abstract: A helical conical spring lock-washer includes a lock-washer body having formed on one surface thereof a plurality of triangular pyramid-shaped depressions. Each of the depressions provides a triangular opening formed on the respective surface of the lock-washer body, with the base of the triangular opening positioned adjacent to the outer margin of the lock-washer body and the apex of the triangular opening directed toward the center of the lock-washer body.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a color picture tube of the type comprising the steps of coating phosphors of three primary colors on the inner surface of the face plate of the color picture tube to form dots or stripes of the phosphors, applying an acrylic resin emulsion on the dots or stripes of the phosphors to form an acrylic resin film, vapor depositing metal onto the film to form a metallic reflecting film, subjecting the acrylic resin film to a pyrolysis for decomposing it into gases, and removing the gases, the acrylic resin emulsion comprises a plurality of emulsions respectively containing conventional acrylic resin and normal butyl methacrylate resin. The normal butyl methacrylate resin is mixed with the conventional acrylic resin at a ratio of 5 to 40% by weight.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for igniting a lien air-fuel mixture includes a spark plug having a straight longitudinally extending main electrode and a side electrode disposed adjacent to and electrically insulated from the main electrode.An attraction plug is mounted in the cylinder head at a location offset to one side of and adjacent to the spark plug. The attraction plug includes a straight longitudinally extending central electrode and an insulator which at least partially encases the central electrode for electrically insulating the central electrode and for isolating the portion of the central electrode disposed in the combustion chamber from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. The central electrode has a longitudinal axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the main electrode of the spark plug. In addition, the central electrode has an end portion which is disposed adjacent to the main electrode of the spark plug.

Abstract: A ball joint mounting structure for mounting a ball joint in one of two structural members to be joined together by the ball joint is disclosed. The mounting structure comprises self-caulking engaging means provided by the hollow cylindrical housing of the ball joint and on the cylindrical portion of said one structural member. As the housing is being press fitted into the cylindrical portion, at least one of the ball joint and member plastically deforms to thereby firmly secure the ball joint to the one member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for effecting the ignition of a relatively lean air-fuel mixture includes a pair of electrode gaps at which strong electrostatic fields of relatively long duration are established to accumulate fuel particles in a portion of a combustion chamber adjacent to a spark gap. In one embodiment of the invention, one of the electrode gaps is enclosed so that the atmosphere in this gap is not affected by changes in the pressure and composition of the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. By maintaining the atmosphere in the electrode gap separate from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber, an electrostatic field of substantially constant strength can be maintained at the enclosed electrode gap after the establishment of a corona discharge at an electrode gap exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. In another embodiment of the invention, both of the electrode gaps are exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a rack and pinion type steering gear for an automobile comprising a housing; a pinion rotatably supported in said housing to receive turning effect from a steering wheel of the automobile; and a rack meshed with the pinion and slidably supported in the housing, the rack being connected to a tie rod which is in turn connected to the front wheels of the automobile. The pinion comprises first and second pinion portions rotatable separately from each other and having spiral gear teeth provided reversely to each other, respectively, the first pinion portion being connected to the steering wheel and the second pinion portion being meshed with the rack.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition apparatus includes a secondary spark plug having a center electrode to which a high voltage is applied. A cylindrical peripheral electrode surrounds the center electrode and has peripheral openings. Upon the formation of a corona discharge due to the high voltage applied to the center electrode, a strong ionic wind and convection of an air-fuel mixture are produced. The ionic wind causes fuel constituents to be gathered in the vicinity of the peripheral electrode thus preventing production of hydrocarbons due to cooling or quenching of the fuel on the combustion chamber wall. Initial ignition of the air-fuel mixture is by means of a main spark plug. The resultant flames are propagated to the corona discharge portion of the secondary spark plug. The corona discharge is then changed to secondary continuous spark discharge, to thereby positively fire the stratified air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A conical spring washer is constituted by a conical spring washer body, a plurality of spaced lock pawls extending downward from the lower contacting surface of the body, and each of the lock pawls has a gradually sloped face in the tightening direction of a nut or the head of a bolt and a sharply sloped face in the loosening direction of the nut or bolt head.

Abstract: An improved engine for burning a lean air-fuel mixture includes a main combustion chamber into which the air-fuel mixture is introduced and an auxiliary combustion chamber wherein the air-fuel mixture is initially ignited. A spark plug in the auxiliary combustion chamber has central and side electrodes which define a spark gap. A corona discharge is established in an electrostatic field between the central electrode and a field electrode. The ions in the corona discharge collect on fuel particles in the air-fuel mixture so that these particles are electrically charged and deposited on the field electrode, the walls of the auxiliary combustion chamber, and the side electrode. The fuel particles which come toward the central electrode are electrostatically atomized by the corona discharge and accelerated away.

Abstract: A bolt usable for fastening connecting rods wherein an intermediate threaded portion is formed in the bolt shank between the bolt head and the fastening thread portion, which intermediate thread is reverse to and has a greater pitch than that of the fastening thread. A method of manufacturing the bolt is disclosed which comprises steps of cold heading the bolt head and rolling screw thread for fastening the big end portion of the connecting rod, further rolling the intermediate screw thread having reversed screw thread with respect to the fastening thread between the bolt head and the fastening thread and reducing the diameter of the intermediate thread through a finishing die.

Abstract: Fluid flow control valves such as plug valves or cocks have the plugs thereof supported and sealed in the valve housing by a rigid but somewhat elastic plastics bearing member which is preloaded and compressed from its free state condition and seeks to reclaim this condition for taking up wear and preventing leakage in the valve assembly. The bearing member is preferably stretched over the plug and compressed in the housing by a retainer which is pressed into one end of the housing.

Abstract: A method for producing a core form to be employed in the injection molding of a ball joint bearing which has a spherical bearing surface adapted to encircle the ball of a ball joint resiliently and a plurality of isolated oil retention recesses formed in the bearing surface, comprising the steps of forming a spherical portion corresponding to said bearing surface of the bearing on a core form blank, applying a lead layer onto said spherical portion, removing said lead layer from selected areas of said spherical portion which correspond to said oil retention recesses in the bearing surface to expose the areas, applying a hard chrome plating layer at said exposed areas of the spherical portion to form reliefs which are adapted to form said oil retention recesses in the bearing and removing the remaining portion of said lead layer from the spherical portion.

Abstract: A ball joint which comprises a metallic housing, a resilient bearing of polymer disposed in said housing, a ball stud having a metallic spherical member rotatably supported by said bearing, and at least one resilient metallic closure plate so secured as to close an open end of said housing for applying pre-load to said bearing, and the spherical member is at its annular surfaces opposed to the opposite open ends of the housing and a depression in the closure plate with a slight clearance or under a light contact pressure but being elastically in contact with the bearing between the annular surfaces.