Abstract: A fitting groove 46 comprised of a first groove 48 and a second groove 50 is formed in a holder connected to an operation knob. As a pin 54 of a shaft 52 is inserted in the fitting groove 46, the shaft 52 is connected to a holder 24, i.e., the operation knob. As a result, even in a shift-lock state in which the axial movement of the shaft 52 is prevented, it is possible to carry out without trouble the operation of selecting a shift position N, D, or 2 by the rotation of the holder 24 as well as the operation of selecting a shift position L involving the rotation and axial movement of the holder 24. In addition, it is possible to set a multiplicity of shift positions which are selected by the holder 24.

Abstract: In a plant cultivating apparatus for cultivating plants by using an artificial light source, partition walls having a high light reflectance are arranged in a cultivation area to divide the cultivation area into small spaces and in each small space a light-reflecting plate is arranged, and the distance between an artificial light source and a plant is narrowed to irradiate the plant with a light having a low illuminance. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is provided a plant cultivating apparatus comprising sets of pallets which have plants placed therein and are arranged in rows in a growing chamber where environmental conditions which are artificially controlled and which are moved in a direction radial to the row direction in accordance with the growth of plants, wherein all the peripheral surface of the growing chamber are covered with a reflecting plate having a high light reflectance.

Abstract: A ceramic rotor is constituted by a shaft portion and a disk portion. The shaft portion and the disk portion are joined to constitute a single body by sintering. The shaft portion and the disk portion are so formed that the amount of contraction of the shaft portion at the time of sintering is larger by 0.1% to 3% than that of the disk portion such that compresson stress is induced in the disk portion.

Abstract: A bearing includes an inner ring made of ceramics. A shaft is made of metal and fitted in the inner ring. The ceramics has a tensile strength equal to or larger than 50 Kg/mm.sup.2, and the ceramics and the metal are determined so as to satisfy the relation of .beta..sub.2 -.beta..sub.1 .ltoreq.6.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. where .beta..sub.1 is a coefficient of linear expansion of the ceramics and .beta..sub.2 is a coefficient of linear expansion of the metal.

Abstract: A ceramics spike pin is provided with a pin body having a horizontal cross section of a substantially circular shape, which pin body is provided with a rounded free end portion having a predetermined radius of curvature and a connecting base portion having a predetermined radius of curvature, and a horizontally expanded base connected to the connecting base portion, wherein a diameter (d) of the connecting base portion in horizontal cross section, the radius of curvature(r) of the connecting base portion, and a maximum diagonal length (D) of the horizontally expanded base satisfy the relationship of 0<r<d<D and r.sup.2 .times.d/D.gtoreq.1.36. Accordingly, the stress concentration can be greatly relieved, and the impact resistance can be improved to thereby the durability.

Abstract: A turbine rotor having a ceramic turbine wheel having an improved resistance to cracking and breaking. The turbine wheel is made of a ceramic material having pores formed therein with a maximum diameter of 20 .mu.m distributed in the blade portion of the wheel at a porosity of 2 to 10 vol. %. Preferably, the volume porosity of the pores is gradually decreased from the blade surface to the interior of the blade portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for treatment or prevention of diseases of animals or for addition to feeds for acceleration of growth which contains a mycinamicin antibiotic and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a quinoxaline-di-N-oxide and a tetracycline antibiotic as effective ingredients. Administration of this composition affords excellent synergistic effects in antibacterial action and good body weight gaining effect and growth accelerating effect.

Abstract: A method of improving the impact resistance of a ceramic turbine rotor by rotating the rotor in a number of abrasive grindstones such that the edges of the rotor are rounded to a radius in the range of about 0.2 to 1 mm.

Abstract: An inking device in a printing machine is improved by providing an ink reciprocating roller adjacent to ink application rollers, a regulator provided adjacent to a hysteresis surface of the ink reciprocating roller for forming residual ink on the hysteresis surface into a uniform film thickness, an ink source roller partly immersed in ink in an ink receiver, and an ink delivery roller interposed between the ink source roller and the ink reciprocating roller.

Abstract: Processes for the production of a silicon nitride sintered body are disclosed. One process comprises molding a mixed powder of 100 parts by weight of metallic silicon with a maximum particle size of 20 .mu.m or less and 0.2 to 2 parts by weight (calculated as chromium oxide) of a chromium component and, thereafter, reaction sintering the mold in a nitrogen gas or in a non-oxidizing atmosphere containing nitrogen gas at a temperature of 1,300.degree. to 1,500.degree. C. This invention provides further process which comprises molding a mixed powder of 100 parts by weight of metallic silicon with a maximum particle size of 20 .mu.m or less, 0.2 to 1 part by weight (calculated as chromium oxide) of a chromium component, and further 10 to 20 parts by weight of an oxide component of one or more of the oxides of yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, gadolinium, and erbium, reaction sintering the above-prepared mold, and thereafter, hot pressing the reaction sintered body.

Abstract: A sintered silicon nitride products and processes for the fabrication thereof are described, wherein the product comprises from 60 to 98.9% by weight of silicon nitride, from 0.1 to 15% by weight of one or more chromium components selected from metal chromium, chromium oxide, and chromium nitride, and from 1 to 25% by weight of one or more oxides selected from oxides of rare earth elements, scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A silicon nitride sintered product and processes for the production thereof are described, wherein the product comprises from 75 to 97.9% by weight of silicon nitride, from 2 to 20% by weight of yttrium oxide and cerium oxide in a molar ratio of cerium oxide to yttrium oxide of 0.4/1 to 4/1, and from 0.1 to 8% by weight of aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A process for producing a silicon nitride sintered product having high toughness is described, comprising blending from 97 to 57% by weight of metallic silicon powder having a maximum particle size of 25 .mu.m or less with from 1 to 15% by weight, calculated as TiN, of a TiN powder having a maximum particle size of 20 .mu.m or less or a powder of titanium component capable of changing into TiN during reaction sintering, and from 2 to 28% by weight of one or more components selected from the group consisting of AlN, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and oxides of rare earth elements, molding the resulting mixture, carrying out reaction sintering in a nonoxidizing atmosphere of a nitrogen gas or a nitrogen-containing mixed gas, and thereafter resintering in the same atmosphere at a temperature of from 1,600.degree. C. to 2,200.degree. C.

Abstract: A silicon nitride based ceramic tool is disclosed which is prepared from the starting powder compositions surrounded by and including the lines defined by the points A, B, and C and preferably D, E, and F in the FIGURE.

Abstract: A process for producing high density sintered product which comprises molding a composite of an inorganic powder and an organic resin, burning off the organic resin, coating the surface of the molding with a rubber film, pressing said moldings under 2 ton/cm.sup.2 or more of isostatic pressure, and sintering.

Abstract: A high strength silicon nitride sintered material having a modulus of rupture of about 100 kg/mm.sup.2 or more, which is prepared by sintering a mixture of about 88.7 to 98% by weight of silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) and the balance a sintering aid comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: A process for producing a compact silicon nitride ceramic product which comprises molding a powder mixture of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in proportions defined by the region A, B, C, D in the FIGURE within the ranges of 65.0 to 96.0% by volume Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, 1.0 to 32.0% by volume Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and 3.0 to 20.0% by volume Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and then firing the powder mixture in a non-oxidizing atmosphere containing a carbon compound; or hot-pressing the powder mixture; in a graphite mold.

Abstract: Encapsulated medicaments are prepared by dissolving a wall material for capsules in at least one organic solvent poorly miscible with water which has a boiling point of less than 100.degree.C., a vapor pressure higher than that of water and a dielectric constant of less than about 10, dissolving or dispersing in the resulting solution a medicament which is insoluble or slightly soluble in water, dispersing the resulting solution or dispersion to the form of fine drops in a liquid vehicle comprising an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic colloid or surface active agent, and then removing the organic solvent by evaporation.