Abstract: A novel decorating pigment-transfer sheet 1 utilizing at least one photosensitive resin layer 3 and at least one pigment layer deposited thereon is provided for decorating heat-resistant articles 7 such as ceramics. The transfer sheet 1 comprises a water-absorbing substrate sheet 2; a water soluble paste layer 5 placed thereon; at least one and normally three photosensitive resin layers 3 placed thereon, each resin layer 3 having adhesive dot photo-images 3c produced by irradiating the resin layer 3 through a photographic dotted film 6; and at least one and normally three glaze-containing pigment layers (a, b, c) deposited on the adhesive dot images 3c of each resin layer 3. The three pigment layers (a,b,c) normally comprise each pigment of three primary colors, respectively. The heat-resistant article 7 is decorated by soaking the transfer sheet 1 in water, removing the substrate sheet 2, transferring the resin/pigment layers onto the article surface, followed by firing.

Abstract: The fracture-free paving block (1) comprises a cement block substrate (1-1) and a top solid layer (1-2), and is characterized in that the top layer is selected from a cured cement mortar layer and a tile-like layer firmly bonded to the substrate with cement mortar; the top layer is bonded to the block substrate with lateral margins (2) of 1 to 8 mm wide in horizontal distance (1.sub.5) from the peripheral edges of the substrate: and the vertical distance (1.sub.6) from the surface of the top layer to the peripheral edge of the substrate is 5 to 50 mm. The method for producing the paving block (1) having a tile-like top layer comprises applying adhesive cement mortar between the back of the top layer (1-2) and the upper surface of the substrate (1-1); placing the top layer on the substrate with the above-mentioned margins (2) of the substrate surface: and applying vibration and/or pressurization between the top layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a foam glass tile having a surface skin comprises the steps of molding a material consisting essentially of a vitrifiable mineral and a foaming agent into a tile-like block; coating the block with a thin layer comprising a vitrifying agent for the mineral material; heating the coated block to a temperature sufficient to fuse the coated layer whereby the molten vitrifying agent permeates into the coated surface of the block; and further heating the coated block to a temperature sufficient to soften the vitrifiable mineral. The method may further include the step of forming a thin layer comprising a vitrifiable mineral and a lesser amount of a foaming agent between the tile-like block and the vitrifying agent layer, followed by firing. The foam glass tile formed by the above method comprises a foam glass tile body and a rigid reinforcing vitrified surface skin, the surface skin being integrally melt-bonded onto at least a top surface of the foam glass body.

Abstract: A mechanism for supporting toilet bowl covering members, comprises a cylinder fixedly mounted on a toilet body and rotatably supporting a toilet seat or a toilet lid, lock plates fitted within the cylinder and connected for rotation with the toilet seat or the toilet lid, and a plurality of sliding rings fitted around the lock plates and held in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and having respective arcuate recesses of gradually variable arcuate lengths for controlling rotation of said lock plates. When the toilet seat or the toilet lid is rotated to close the toilet body, the lock plantes are also rotated to successively come into contact with steps in the recesses. As a result, the sliding rings are successively pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder so that the member closes slowly.

Abstract: An apparatus for examining urine for certain constituents thereof includes a vertically disposed cylinder for receiving urine therein. The cylinder includes a diametrically enlarged upper portion having an inside diameter which is larger than that of its remaining portion. A piston is vertically movably disposed in the cylinder. If the piston is lowered, urine can be stored in the cylinder. If it is raised, the urine is discharged from the cylinder, except that only a small portion thereof remains in a clearance defined between the piston and the diametrically enlarged portion of the cylinder. If the piston is lowered again, a reagent and water are supplied into the cylinder and mixed with the urine remaining therein. An electrode is connected to the cylinder for determining the concentration of sugar, etc. in the urine which has been mixed with the reagent and water.

Abstract: A rotary valve for brass wind instruments with improved lubricating and durability properties is provided. The valve body 2 or both the valve body 2 and casing 1 of the rotary valve comprise(s) a machinable ceramic-resin composite material. The rotary valve can be readily produced by a method which comprises impregnating a machinable ceramic article containing substantially continuous micropores with a liquid resin material and hardening the resin material; machine-processing the resulting machinable ceramic-resin composite article into a shape of the valve body or shapes of the valve body and casing; and assembling the valve body into a rotary valve having the valve body 2 of the composite material rotatably contained in the casing 1 of the composite material or a metal material.

Abstract: An alumina porous body which comprises coarse alumina particles as a filler and SiO.sub.2, said alumina and SiO.sub.2 forming an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 compound (mullite) on the surface of the coarse alumina particles through the reaction between them that takes place at the time of firing, said compound binding said coarse alumina particles, forming pores between them. The invention also relates to a process for producing an alumina porous body which comprises mixing coarse alumina particles with SiO.sub.2, molding the mixture, and firing the molding at a temperature not higher than 1700.degree. C., thereby sintering the coarse alumina particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sintered ceramic body with high strength, excellent refractoriness (heat-resistance) and machinability characterized by comprising a composition of CaO-SiO.sub.2 -MgO as surrounded by the points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in FIG. 1.Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a sintered ceramic body with excellent refractoriness (heat-resistance) and machinability characterized by preparing a raw material composition which consists of CaO, SiO.sub.2 and MgO as surrounded by the points, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in FIG. 1 and then firing the composition at a temperature higher than 1200.degree. C. and up to 1350.degree. C.

Abstract: A disk type valve which is arranged such that a pair of fixed and movable disks which are superposed one upon the other are disposed in a cylindrical valve casing in such a manner that the planes of the disks are perpendicular to the axis of the valve casing, these disks being provided with notches or openings for passing water, and the movable disk being engaged with the distal end of a spindle which is inserted into the valve casing from one end thereof in parallel to the axis of the valve casing, wherein the movable disk is disposed at the other end of the valve casing, and the spindle is passed through an insertion portion provided in the fixed disk and engaged with the movable disk.

Abstract: A cerebral aneurysm clip composed of blade parts capable of clipping the root of a lump of cerebral aneurysm and a spring part of imparting a clipping force to the said blade parts, which is characterized in that the said blade parts are made of a synthetic resin or ceramic.

Abstract: Powder is filled in an axially elongate powder filling space defiined in a flexible pressure tube, and the pressure-bearing surface of the flexible pressure tube is pressurized with a pressurizing fluid, from a wall portion of the pressure tube which corresponds to a localized region of the powder filling space progressively toward another wall portion of the pressure tube which corresponds to an end of the powder filling space, until the pressure-bearing surface of the pressure tube is pressurized in its entirety, thereby compacting the powder in the powder filling space. Therefore, air in the powder is progressively squeezed toward the end of the powder filling space where the air can be discharged. Thus, no air remains trapped in the powder, and a formed product is prevented from being damaged, which enables elongate products to be produced.

Abstract: A control apparatus for water temperature and water flow rate includes a mixing valve adapted to be supplied with hot water and cold water from a hot water source and a cold water source, respectively, and delivers mixed water. In addition, the control apparatus includes a flow rate controller disposed to a system for delivering the mixed water from the mixing valve to a place where it is required and a controller for operating the mixing valve and the flow rate controller.

Abstract: Powder is filled in an axially elongate powder filling space defined in a flexible pressure tube, and the pressure-bearing surface of the flexible pressure tube is pressurized with a pressurizing fluid, from a wall portion of the pressure tube which corresponds to a localized region of the powder filling space progressively toward another wall portion of the pressure tube which corresponds to an end of the powder filling space, until the pressure-bearing surface of the pressure tube is pressurized in its entirety, thereby compacting the powder in the powder filling space. Therefore, air in the powder is progressively squeezed toward the end of the powder filling space where the air can be discharged. Thus, no air remains trapped in the powder, and a formed product is prevented from being damaged, which enables elongate products to be produced.

Abstract: A method for drain-casting a slip to obtain a substantially hollow molded article 42 is provided, by the use of an apparatus including a divisible mold 21 including an upper mold portion 22, a lower mold portion 23, and at least two side mold portions 24, 25 to form a mold cavity 38, each mold portion containing a filter member and a water-drainage means, and the lower portion having a slip supply duct 40.

Abstract: Water and hot water from a water storage tank and a hot water storage tank, respectively, are mixed in a mixing valve, are pressured up by a pump, and outflow from a shower head. The motor for the mixing valve and the pump are driven so that a signal is output from the controller to the regulator of the motor for altering the mixing ratio of hot water to water in the mixing valve and the regulator of the pump thereby to obtain objective water temperature and water pressure.

Abstract: A mold (1) for cast-molding a slip is provided, which comprises a divsible casting mold including a plurality of mold portions to form a mold cavity (4) when mated together; each mold portion including an air-tight housing (2), an intermediate layer (5) of coarsely porous structure adjacent to the air-tight housing (2), and a solid synthetic resin filter layer (3) of fine open-cell structure; a slip supply duct (8) being connected with said mold cavity (4) and communicated with the outside of the air-tight housing (2); a fluid-flowing duct (9) being connected with said coarse intermediate layer (5) and communicated with the outside of the air-tight housing (2); said filter layer (3) being permeably joined to the coarse intermediate layer (5), and having substantially precise shape and dimension of substantially uniform fine open-cell structure.

Abstract: There is provided a novel marble-translucent thin resilient decorative sheet 1, which comprises thin permeable pulp paper 2, fine whitish inorganic filler powder, and a substantially transparent cured resin contained by impregnation throughout the pulp paper, said filler powder being uniformly deposited onto at least the top surface of the pulp paper and being firmly fixed thereto. The decorative sheet is produced by impregnating fine whitish inorganic filler-loaded permeable pulp paper with a liquid polymerizable resinous composition for forming a substantially transparent cured resin, placing the impregnated pulp paper between molding plates, and polymerizing the resinous composition into a cured resin; or by impregnating permeable non-loaded pulp paper containing no filler powder with the liquid resinous composition containing fine whitish inorganic filler powder and carrying out the polymerization between molding plates as described above.

Abstract: A steam sauna has a passage for circulation of air existing in a sauna booth, and is provided with a heater for heating air flowing through the passage, and a steam generator with an ultrasonic oscillator for mixing steam generated with the air heated.

Abstract: A novel cured extruded article of a metal fiber-reinforced hydraulic material is provided, wherein protrusion of the metal fibers at the extruded surfaces thereof is substantially prevented. The cured extruded article is produced by extruding a blend mixture comprising an inorganic hydraulic material, water, a reinforcing amount of metal fibers having a specified sectional area and a specified length, and a protrusion-preventing amount of non-metal fibers having a specified length into an article, and then curing the resulting article. The extruded article can be glazed by applying a glazing agent onto a desired surface thereof, heating it to a high temperature up to 1000.degree. C., and then hydrating it.