Abstract: A disk for holding, centrifuging and microscopically viewing fluid samples is provided. The disk includes a plurality of reaction wells radiating outwardly and includes a barrier to restrain particles during centrifugation. This disk is used in the disclosed apparatus and method for blood typing and related procedures. The apparatus comprises sample loading, mixing, centrifuging, incubating, viewing and sterilizing stations. Additionally, a photomicrograph of the sample is taken, digitized, displayed, stored and printed along with corresponding test results and interpretation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, which comprises polymerization of a precursor of the polyester in the presence of a polyesterification catalyst in an amount of up to 0.1% by weight, based on the weight of the cyclic precursor, and a co-catalyst comprising glycerol or butyrolactone in a weight proportion of not more than three times that of the catalyst.The invention also relates to the use of the resulting biodegradable aliphatic polyester in polymer processing, such as injection molding or compression/press molding.

Abstract: A switching valve has a cylindrical housing including a bore, an inlet port, a first inlet-outlet port, and a second inlet-outlet port which open to the hollow. A valve member slidably disposed in the bore has a ringed groove around its periphery. The valve member can open or block a portion between the groove and the first inlet-outlet port and a portion between the groove and the second inlet-outlet port. The groove formed outside the valve member always communicates with the inlet port and can communicate with the first and second inlet-outlet ports. A single drain port is formed within the valve member so that the single drain port can communicate with the first and second inlet-outlet ports. The valve member is caused to slide by a solenoid.

Abstract: In a reverberation effect imparting apparatus, sampled data of an input signal is written into a RAM 23 and the data is read out after an elapse of a predetermined time period, thereby imparting a reverberation effect. A storage area of the RAM 23 is divided into an area 1 for storing waveform data and an area 2 for imparting a reverberation effect. During evaluation, the waveform data is sequentially read out from the area 1 by using an absolute address, and sampled data of the waveform data is written into and read out from the area 2 by using a relative address, thereby imparting a reverberation effect.

Abstract: A sectional chessboard includes a number of sections corresponding to blocks of a chessboard which are formed by injection molding or press work and each section of the chessboard has protrusions and grooves around all sides thereof to be respectively engaged with grooves and protrusions of other sections so that all adjoining sides of each section is jointed together for playing chess as a complete chessboard, wherein it becomes possible to reduce the bulk of the chessboard so that users may conveniently carry them anywhere to play chess and the manufacturing cost may be reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for producing poly(lactic acid) enable trapping and recovering of lactide vapor discharged from a reaction vessel without requiring a solvent or the like. In the method and system, lactide vapor is discharged from a polymerization reaction vessel in which poly(lactic acid) is produced by ring-opening polymerization, and trapped by solidification. The solidified lactide is liquefied by heat. Lactide can be recovered more easily and assuredly.

Abstract: A pump incorporates a housing with a pump chamber and an internal bore communicating with the pump chamber, and a power driven impeller shaft supported in the housing by at least one bearing in the internal bore. The impeller shaft has an impeller in the pump chamber. A seal mechanism is in the internal bore between the bearing and the pump chamber providing a seal between the impeller shaft and the wall surface of the internal bore. The internal bore has a stepped configuration with small and large diameter portions and a vertical wall defined therebetween. The large diameter portion defines an intermediate chamber between the bearing and the pump chamber and that chamber connects with the pump chamber. The intermediate chamber contains liquid with air being trapped in the remaining portion of the intermediate chamber. The bearing and the seal mechanism are located in the small diameter portion.

Abstract: An auxiliary propulsion system for a boat or other marine vessel according to the invention incorporates an electric motor/transmission device for generating locomotive force to propel the boat or vessel, an electrical power supply for providing electrical energy to drive the electric motor/transmission device, at least one electrical energy generating device for generating electrical energy through conversion from one of at least sunlight, wind motion and water motion, a charging circuit having a device for controlling charging of the power supply with electrical energy from the energy generating device, and a device for controlling speed and direction operation of the electric motor/transmission device. In operation, electrical energy is inputted into the electric motor/transmission device from the electrical power supply and locomotive force is thereby generated by the electric motor/transmission device when the primary propulsion system of the boat or other marine vessel is inactive.

Abstract: A nitrogen oxide detecting sensor, according to the present invention, incorporates a gas detecting portion including, as a main component thereof, an oxide compound having electric conductivity or semiconductivity, the oxide compound having a crystal structure of 2212 phase and expressed generally as: Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 (Ca.sub.1-x Y.sub.x)Cu.sub.2 O.sub.8.+-..delta. where 0.6.ltoreq.x<1; 0.ltoreq..delta..ltoreq.1. Electrodes are electrically connected to the gas detecting portion. When the gas detecting portion is analyzed by X-ray diffraction using cuK.alpha. rays to obtain diffraction peak values thereof in the range of a diffraction angle between 5.degree. and 65.degree., the diffraction peak values having a sum .SIGMA. I?2212! expressed by one of the following:(a) .SIGMA. I?2212!/.SIGMA. I?T!>88.1%(b) {.SIGMA. I?2212!+.SIGMA. I?2201!}/.SIGMA. I?T!>94.8%(c) {.SIGMA. I?2212!+.SIGMA. I?Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 !} .SIGMA. I?T!>88.1%(d) {.SIGMA. I?2212!+.SIGMA. I?(Bi, Ca) O!}/.SIGMA. I?T! >88.8%where .

Abstract: An automatic player piano has solenoid-operated key actuator units under a keyboard mounted on a wooden key bed, and the solenoid-operated key actuator units are supported by a frame structure inserted into a slot formed in the wooden key bed and bolted to metallic bracket members screwed to the wooden key bed; when the frame structure is taken out for a repairing work, the bracket members are never removed from the wooden key bed, and the bolt holes of the wooden key bed are never undesirably enlarged.

Abstract: A turbocharger incorporates a turbine rotor, a housing having defined therein a turbine housing portion in which the turbine rotor rotated by exhaust gas is disposed, a shaft rotatably supported on the bearing housing portion via a bearing, a compressor rotor fixed to a second end of the shaft, a bypass passage formed on the turbine housing portion so as to communicatively connect an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet of the housing while bypassing the turbine rotor, a waste gate valve disposed in the bypass passage and operatively positioned to open or close the bypass passage in response to a boost pressure, and a nozzle member fixedly positioned with the exhaust gas outlet of the housing such that a first end of the nozzle member is adjacent to the turbine rotor while maintaining a predetermined clearance therefrom and a second end of the nozzle member defines an opening of an exhaust gas outlet side of the bypass passage oriented along the direction of the main flow of the exhaust gas discharged

Abstract: A viscous fluid coupling which includes an input member having a rotatable shaft and a rotor secured to the shaft is disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple input, dual output differential motor transmission device incorporates a sun gear device having first and second sun gears fixedly connected to each other whereby the first and second sun gears rotate together along a common axis of rotation; first and second ring gear devices having first and second ring gears, respectively; and first and second sets of planetary gears. The first set is inter-engaged between the first sun and ring gears, while the second set is inter-engaged between the second sun and ring gears. The first sun and ring gears are concentrically and independently rotatable relative to each other with the first set of planetary gears inter-engaged therebetween. The second sun and ring gears are concentrically and independently rotatable relative to each other with the second set of planetary gears inter-engaged therebetween.

Abstract: A fluid container molded from a plastic material according to the present invention is embodied in a disposable, single-use, sterilized fluid container for beverages or fluids parentally or controllably taken by human beings. The fluid container may be manufactured, storable and transportable in simplified manner, facilitating consumption of the fluid contents, and administrable with additional solutions and/or water so that it can be used as a container for non-parenteral or direct gastrointestinal infusion.

Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a rotational shaft for opening and closing a valve, a rotational transmitting member rotatably mounted on the rotational shaft, a vane connected to one of the rotational shaft and the rotational transmitting member, a chamber defined between the rotational shaft and the rotational transmitting member and divided into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber by the vane being extended into the chamber, a fluid supply device for supplying fluid under pressure to at least a selected one of the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, a locking mechanism for connecting the rotational shaft and the rotational transmitting member when the relative phase between the rotational shaft and the rotational transmitting member is in a predetermined phase and a damping mechanism for damping the locking operation of the locking means.

Abstract: An impact detecting apparatus has a housing having a conical slope therein and a ball located on the conical slope. A shaft is located within the housing and movably supported on the housing for striking the ball with one end. A fixed electrode is located within the housing and a movable electrode is located near the fixed electrode. The movable electrode electrically connects with the fixed electrode. A lever is rotatably and slidably supported within the housing. One end of the lever is able to push the movable electrode and the other end of the lever is able to contact with the shaft. A spring urges the shaft for striking the ball.

Abstract: A liquid pump in which a perfect seal is achieved between a liquid and the atmosphere without the use of magnets includes a driving unit coupled to external power for being rotated thereby, a shaft installed obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the driving unit and having one end thereof rotatably supported on the driving unit, an impeller, rotatably supported on a housing so as to rotate in coaxial relation to the driving unit, for rotatably supporting the other end of the shaft and impelling a liquid by being rotated, and a bellows provided between the shaft and the housing for effecting sealing liquid-tightly between the shaft and the housing on the side of the impeller.

Abstract: A tandem pump apparatus is featured having a main suction passage connected to a fluid source. The main suction passage branches into first and second suction passages which, in turn, feed into first and second pumps. Each pump discharges a portion of the fluid to a return passage that is fluidly connected to the suction port of each respective pump. In each return passage, a return control valve is disposed to control the amount of fluid returned to the suction port. The tandem pump featured in this invention exhibits increased efficiency and decreased noise.

Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a rotation shaft for opening and closing a valve, a rotation transmitting member rotatably mounted on the rotation shaft, a vane connected to one of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a chamber defined between the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member and divided into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber by the vane extending into the chamber, a first fluid passage in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber for supplying and discharging the fluid therein and therefrom, respectively, a second fluid passage in fluid communication with the second pressure chamber for supplying and discharging the fluid therein and therefrom, a retracting hole formed on one of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a locking pin slidably fitted in the retracting hole and urged toward the other of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a receiving hole formed on the other of the rotation shaf

Abstract: A water pump is provided with pressure-feed means whereby coolant that has leaked into a space between a bearing and a seal member in a pump housing is recovered by being forcibly fed into an radiator reservoir tank.