Abstract: A filter cartridge has a pleated filter media rolled into a cylinder, a tubular core, moulded from plastic with alternate grooves and ridges provided at the outer surface and a collar with uniformly spaced teeth which envelopes the filter media to rigidly space the pleats. The collar is retained by friction and it may be displaced towards the end caps of the cartridge. The core may be withdrawn from the filter media of a waste cartridge and utilized in a new cartridge. The upper end cap has a handle with a hinge provided by a reduced section of the plastic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet which can provide a full-color image having excellent light fastness and heat resistance in a single-color portion as well as in an intermediate color portion and realize excellent reproduction of a wide range of colors. The thermal transfer sheet comprises a long substrate sheet and, provided on the substrate sheet, a plurality of dye layers, the dye layers including a yellow dye layer containing a particular dye and a cyan dye layer containing a particular dye.

Abstract: Predetermined barrier ribs 2 are filled with three types of pastes of fluorescent substances 3 for R, G, and B by a screen printing method. Next, a sandblasting process is performed through a sandblasting mask 7. Thereafter, a sintering process is performed. Thus, fluorescent screens are formed on a glass substrate 1 and the wall surfaces of barrier ribs 2. As the sandblasting mask 7, a photoresist 4 is used. By a photolithographic method, a desired pattern of the sandblasting mask 7 can be used. In this manner, fluorescent screens can be formed on the wall surfaces of the barrier ribs as well as the glass substrate 1. The fluorescent screens formed on the wall surfaces of the barrier ribs are in such a parabolic shape that a discharging space defined by the fluorescent screen is widened toward a front plate 11.

Abstract: A process for peeling an outer tube of a spent NaS cell, concluding the steps of: (1) holding opposite end portions of the spent NaS cell; (2) forming annular cut lines in the outer tube of the cell at the opposite end portions; (3) forming a straight cut line in the outer tube to be continued to the annular cut lines; (4) inserting a pawl into the straight cut line; and (5) peeling the outer tube of the spent NaS cell by turning at least one of the spent NaS cell and the pawl relative to each other. Instead of the pawl, a chisel may be inserted into the straight cut line, and the outer tube of the spent NaS cell is peeled by applying an impact force upon the outer tube of the cell through the chisel. Apparatuses for peeling the outer tube from the spent NaS are also disclosed.

Abstract: An engaging structure of a flexible retainer which includes a retaining portion for retaining a member to be retained and which retains the member to be retained at a mounting plate by engaging the retaining portion with a mounting hole formed at a mounting plate, comprising: a pair of leg pieces which are inserted through the mounting hole; a pair of pawl pieces which are provided at an anchor portion to which distal ends of the pair of leg pieces are connected and which are inserted through the mounting hole so as to elastically abut a back surface of the mounting plate; and elastic plates which are provided in pairs so as to oppose the pawl pieces and elastically contact the surface of the mounting plate. Because the elastic plates urge the anchor portion in a direction of withdrawing the anchor portion, the engaging structure of the retainer can conform to changes in the thickness of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a 2-benzyloxypyrimidine derivative represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently H, a halogen, hydroxyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, or phenyl;n is an integer of 0 to 5; andeach X which may be identical or different if n is greater than 1, is a halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 aralkyloxy, phenyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxycarbonyl, or nitro, andan adjuvant.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element which includes a ceramic substrate having at least one window and an integrally formed diaphragm portion for closing each window, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive unit including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and an upper electrode, which are formed in this order on the diaphragm portion. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer consists of a dense body having a crystal grain size of not smaller than 0.7 .mu.m, and a porosity (x) of not greater than 15%, and the diaphragm portion has a deflection percentage (y) of 0-8%, which is a percentage of an amount of deflection of a central part of the diaphragm portion, with respect to a length of a shortest line which extends across the corresponding window and passes a center of the window. Further, the porosity (x) and the deflection percentage (y) satisfies the following formula: y.ltoreq.0.1167x.sup.2 -3.317x+25.5.

Abstract: A film lens comprises a light transmitting base having one side and an opposite side, a plurality of concave or convex unit lenses formed on the one side of the light transmitting base, and a plurality of projections formed on the opposite side of the light transmitting base and having a profile height not smaller than the wavelength of a source light and not greater than 100 .mu.m. In this arrangement, when the film lens is placed on a smooth surface of a light guide plate of a surface light source of the edge-light type, the projections on the reverse side of the light transmitting base can secure a gap with a width not smaller than the wavelength of the source light between the film lens and the light guide plate. Thus, the source light can be uniformly distributed without hindrance throughout the light guide plate as it is totally reflected by the surface of the guide plate.

Abstract: A cylindrical fluid-filled damping device wherein a center shaft member and an outer cylindrical member are elastically connected by an elastic body having a first and a second annular pocket which are axially spaced apart from each other, and an intermediate sleeve secured to the outer circumferential surface of the elastic body has an axially intermediate small-diameter portion, and two first windows and two second windows which are formed on respective axially opposite sides of the small-diameter portion. The first and second annular pockets are open in the outer surface of the intermediate sleeve through the respective first and second windows. An orifice member is interposed between the axially intermediate small-diameter portion of the intermediate sleeve and the outer cylindrical member secured to the outer surface of the intermediate sleeve.

Abstract: An exhaust gas filter is provided, including a honeycomb structure having a plurality of partition walls defining through-holes extending along an axial direction. The through-holes include first and second groups. The first group is plugged via first sealing members at a second axial end of the honeycomb structure, while the second group is plugged via second sealing members at the first axial end of the honeycomb structure. The first group of through-holes is adapted to receive exhaust gas, and trap therein fine particles. The first sealing members have a three-dimensional micropore structure that includes interconnected pores to allow blowback air to pass therethrough. The blowback air flows through both the first sealing members and the partition walls defining the second through-holes so as to remove the fine particles that have collected in the first through-holes.

Abstract: A rod-damper combination comprising an oscillating rod member and a dynamic damper mounted on the rod member is disclosed. The dynamic damper includes a mass portion having a substantially cylindrical shape, and two elastic support members formed on axially opposite sides of the mass portion to elastically support the mass portion. The oscillating rod member includes a small-diameter portion formed at an axially middle portion thereof, and two large-diameter portions formed on axially opposite sides of the small-diameter portion. Alternatively, the rod member includes a middle portion, and two tapered portions on axially opposite sides of the middle portion. The two elastic support members of the dynamic damper are mounted on the two large-diameter or tapered portions of the oscillating rod member, respectively.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a ceramic substrate having at least one cavity defined by a thin-walled region of the substrate. The thin-walled region has an outer surface provided with at least one piezoelectric transducer and also with a non-operative portion situated adjacent to the piezoelectric transducer such that each piezoelectric transducer surrounds the non-operative portion, or two piezoelectric transducers are arranged on both sides of the non-operative portion.

Abstract: A container including a cylindrical main body having front and rear end portions opposite each other and being axially collapsible along the longitudinal axis thereof to discharge contents therein through the first end portion. The rear end portion is sealed, and a reinforcing member having a discharge aperture extending therethrough is secured to the front end portion of the cylindrical main body. Additionally, a lid is disposed on the reinforcing member to cover the discharge aperture.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to shorten the working time for high pressure slip casting. There is provided a composition for high pressure casting slip including a first starting powder forming a frame of a mold body and second starting powder forming the frame of the mold body and acting as a plastic agent, wherein the first and second starting powders are uniformly mixed in a dry condition. "Slip" of a minimum water content is easily prepared by the composition to effect optimal fluidity of the slip so that the water is removed from the slip in a short time during a casting process.

Abstract: A dust collecting apparatus, including a housing having an inlet duct, a discharge duct and filter provided therein. The filter has a honeycomb cellular structure including an inlet, outlet and a plurality of thin partition walls forming a plurality of axial passages. The filter has two groups of passages, a first group of passages that are closed along the inlet end of the filter and second group of passages that are closed along the outlet end of the filter. Further, a cover body is provided in the housing to form a chamber between the cover body and the outlet end of the filter. The chamber is in open communication with the first group of passages, and includes an outlet duct for passage of gas therethrough and to the discharge duct. Further, the housing provides an induction duct that opposes the outlet duct, for introduction of washing gas therethrough.

Abstract: A bicycle frame with shock absorbing system is used to eliminate the shocking force occurring on the connecting portion of a seat tube fixedly mounted on a bottom bracket and a down tube. The system includes a shock absorber mounted between the seat tube and the down tube. A pair of brackets are integrally formed with bottom bracket and extend toward the down tube. A pivot is fixedly secured to the brackets. A pivot mounting tube is integrally formed on a rear end of the down tube and pivotably mounted on the pivot.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine has a filter for trapping particulates in a recirculation gas, which is arranged in a recirculation gas route, and a device for generating a reverse air flow in which a pure gas flow for the reverse air flow passing through said filter in a reverse direction with respect to a recirculation gas flowing direction in the filter is generated. In the exhaust gas circulation device, the trapped gases are discharged out of the filter by the reverse air flow and are not returned into the internal combustion engine due to an engine exhaust pressure.

Abstract: A lenticular lens has a light transmitting substrate and a plurality of lens elements formed on the light transmitting substrate. The lens elements are defined in such a way that ridges thereof are aligned in parallel with each other, wherein 30.degree..ltoreq..theta..sub.10% .ltoreq.100.degree. and R.ltoreq.20%, where .theta..sub.10% is a diffusing angle range with respect to normal of the one surface in the case that when light is entered from the opposite surface and transmitted from the one surface, the intensity of the light transmitted is equal to or more than 10% of the intensity of the light transmitted in a peak direction of a main lobe; and R is the ratio of side lobes to main lobe. The intensity of side lobes which causes light loss and light stray can be remarkably reduced. Light can be equally and isotropically focused on in a predetermined diffusing angle range.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrodes in the form of strips formed on at least one surface of the substrate such that the electrode strips are spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the substrate surface, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion which is disposed between the adjacent strips of the electrodes in the spacing direction, and in contact with the adjacent electrode strips, so that the piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion produces a flexural displacement or force due to at least the longitudinal mode of converse piezoelectric or electrostrictive effect upon application of a voltage between the adjacent electrode strips.

Abstract: After selectively forming P.sup.+ -type gate regions 14 in the upper surface of a first N.sup.- -type semiconductor substrate 10, gate electrodes 30 are selectively formed on the P.sup.+ -type gate regions. A P.sup.+ -type layer 12 is formed in the lower surface of the N.sup.- -type substrate 10. Recessed portions 26 which can house the gate electrodes are formed in the lower surface of the second N.sup.- -type semiconductor substrate 20 and an N.sup.+ -type layer 22 is formed in the upper surface thereof. After removing impurities from the surfaces of the first and second semiconductor substrates 10 and 20 by RCA cleaning, the surfaces are cleaned with a pure water and are dried by a spinner. Then the substrates 10 and 20 are joined to each other by heating the substrates 10 and 20 at 700-1100.degree. C. in an H.sub.2 atmosphere, while the upper surface of the first semiconductor substrate 10 is brought into contact with projected portions 29 on the lower surface of the second semiconductor substrate 20.