Abstract: A travel speed change apparatus for a farm vehicle in which a first speed change mechanism and a second speed change mechanism coact to change the travelling speed. The first and second speed change mechanisms are operable by manipulating a single hand lever movable in two different directions and not two independent levers. This single lever is adapted to actuate the first and second speed change mechanisms by moving in the same direction.

Abstract: Mill scales formed on the surface of a steel wire are continuously removed by causing the wire to pass through a plurality of pairs of electrodes which are connected to an electric power source and arranged in series in an electrolytic cell without contacting the electrodes. This apparatus is applicable in a continuous stretching equipment.

Abstract: A process for preparing a biaxially stretched film of a polyamide blend, which comprises (1) melt extruding a polyamide blend to make an unstretched film and (2) stretching the unstretched film first in the machine direction and then in the transverse direction, or (2') stretching the unstretched film first to make a uniaxially stretched film having a plane orientation index of about 0.6 to 1.7 and then stretching the uniaxially stretched film in a direction substantially at a right angle to the direction at the previous stretching, said polyamide blend comprising 97 to 80% by weight of an .alpha.-type aliphatic polyamide (Component A) and 3 to 20% by weight of at least one polyamide (Component B) selected from the group consisting of (i) an .alpha.-type aliphatic polyamide different from the Component A, (ii) a .gamma.

Abstract: Microporous pitch spheres prepared from pitch are oxidized at a temperature of from 100.degree. C to 500.degree. C in an atmosphere of an oxidative gas to produce pitch spheres containing not less than 10% by weight of combined oxygen. Then the combined oxygen-containing pitch spheres are heated at a temperature of from 150.degree. C to 700.degree. C in an atmosphere of ammonia gas to produce pitch spheres containing not less than 1.5% by weight combined nitrogen. The resultant pitch spheres are subsequently activated by a conventional method to produce activated carbon spheres containing more than 1% by weight of combined nitrogen.

Abstract: A band clamping device which is constructed with a U-shaped main body with the bottom part thereof constituting a seating member, and with both sides extending from the seating member in the form of a channel being made to constitute a pair of support members; a flexible band, one end of which is folded for being hooked at the seating member through at least one slot formed therein; a band take-up member provided in one part thereof with a band insertion slot and which is rotatably held by said pair of support members; a ratchet wheel which rotates integrally with the band take-up member and a return preventive mechanism to cause an engaging pawl provided on the support member to be engaged with the ratchet wheel, wherein the angle of bending of the support members is made greater than 90.degree.

Abstract: A block copolymer of 99.8 to 90 % by weight of a polyamide segment and 0.2 to 10 % by weight of a polyether segment dispersed in an island state of not more than about 10 .mu. in particle size, the polyamide segment comprising at least one diamine component containing 100 to 50 mol % (preferably 100 to 70 mol %) of m-xylylenediamine or its mixture with p-xylylenediamine and at least one dicarboxylic acid component containing 100 to 50 mol % (preferably 100 to 70 mol %) of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, the polyether segment comprising at least one polyether having a molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000 and an amino group or a carboxyl group at at least one terminal position thereof and the block copolymer having a scattering index of not less than 1.