Abstract: A photocatalyst according to the invention comprises a photocatalytic film of a compound of titanium and oxygen and is characterized in that the photocatalytic film is made porous and has 0.02 or higher value as a value calculated by dividing the arithmetical mean deviation of profile Ra with the film thickness. The photocatalytic film can also be specified by the intensity ratio between x-ray diffraction peaks of the anatase structure of titanium oxide. Such a porous photocatalytic material can be obtained by a reactive sputtering method in conditions of adjusting film formation parameters such as the film formation rate, the sputtering pressure, the substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure and the like in proper ranges, respectively, and the photocatalyst material is provided with excellent decomposition and hydrophilization capability.

Abstract: A photocatalyst according to the invention comprises a photocatalytic film of a compound of titanium and oxygen and is characterized in that the photocatalytic film is made porous and has 0.02 or higher value as a value calculated by dividing the arithmetical mean deviation of profile Ra with the film thickness. The photocatalytic film can also be specified by the intensity ratio between x-ray diffraction peaks of the anatase structure of titanium oxide. Such a porous photocatalytic material can be obtained by a reactive sputtering method in conditions of adjusting film formation parameters such as the film formation rate, the sputtering pressure, the substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure and the like in proper ranges, respectively, and the photocatalyst material is provided with excellent decomposition and hydrophilization capability.

Abstract: A photocatalyst according to the invention comprises a photocatalytic film of a compound of titanium and oxygen and is characterized in that the photocatalytic film is made porous and has 0.02 or higher value as a value calculated by dividing the arithmetical mean deviation of profile Ra with the film thickness. The photocatalytic film can also be specified by the intensity ratio between x-ray diffraction peaks of the anatase structure of titanium oxide. Such a porous photocatalytic material can be obtained by a reactive sputtering method in conditions of adjusting film formation parameters such as the film formation rate, the sputtering pressure, the substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure and the like in proper ranges, respectively, and the photocatalyst material is provided with excellent decomposition and hydrophilization capability.

Abstract: A photocatalyst according to the invention comprises a photocatalytic film of a compound of titanium and oxygen and is characterized in that the photocatalytic film is made porous and has 0.02 or higher value as a value calculated by dividing the arithmetical mean deviation of profile Ra with the film thickness. The photocatalytic film can also be specified by the intensity ratio between x-ray diffraction peaks of the anatase structure of titanium oxide. Such a porous photocatalytic material can be obtained by a reactive sputtering method in conditions of adjusting film formation parameters such as the film formation rate, the sputtering pressure, the substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure and the like in proper ranges, respectively, and the photocatalyst material is provided with excellent decomposition and hydrophilization capability.

Abstract: A photocatalyst according to the invention comprises a photocatalytic film of a compound of titanium and oxygen and is characterized in that the photocatalytic film is made porous and has 0.02 or higher value as a value calculated by dividing the arithmetical mean deviation of profile Ra with the film thickness. The photocatalytic film can also be specified by the intensity ratio between x-ray diffraction peaks of the anatase structure of titanium oxide. Such a porous photocatalytic material can be obtained by a reactive sputtering method in conditions of adjusting film formation parameters such as the film formation rate, the sputtering pressure, the substrate temperature, the oxygen partial pressure and the like in proper ranges, respectively, and the photocatalyst material is provided with excellent decomposition and hydrophilization capability.

Abstract: A water electrolyzer for electrolyzing water to produce and recover acidic and/or alkaline water. The electrolyzer is of the membraneless laminar-flow type which is designed to electrolyze water without placing a membrane between the electrodes. To this end, the anode and cathode are arranged closely with one another with a very small spacing (generally less than 1 mm) to establish a laminar flow in a narrow flow path. The anode is provided with a slit-shaped aperture for separating a thin layer of acidic water flowing along the anode surface. This aperture is situated sufficiently upstream of the downstream end of the flow path to ensure that the layer of acidic water is separated away from the remainder of the laminar flow while the laminar flow is sustained in the flow path. Accordingly, formation of turbulence at a point of acidic water separation is minimized so that highly acidic water can be recovered.

Abstract: A toilet bowl flushing device controls the rate of flow of flushing water supplied to a toilet bowl so that the toilet bowl can be washed out with a minimum amount of flushing water for a maximum flushing effect. The toilet flushing device includes a water supply system for supplying flushing water through a water supply pipe to a toilet bowl, a flow rate control valve disposed in the water supply pipe, for varying the rate of flow of flushing water supplied to the toilet bowl through control of the opening of the valve, an actuator for actuating the flow rate control valve, and a controller for controlling operation of the actuator. The controller controls operation of the actuator to vary the opening of the valve stepwise with time in one flushing cycle according to a predetermined flow rate pattern so that the flushing water is supplied toilet bowl at a flow ate which varies stepwise with time.

Abstract: A whirlpool bath with an inverter-controlled circulating pump comprises a bathtub body, a circulating pump driven by a power-operated motor, a hot water circulation path disposed between the bathtub body and the circulating pump, the hot water circulation path comprising a hot water suction path and a hot water forced-feed path, the hot water forced-feed path having at least one terminal end which communicates with the interior of the bathtub body, at least one blow-off nozzle which is mounted on the terminal end of the hot water forced-feed path, an air intake portion connected to the hot water forced-feed path to permit blowing of bubbling hot water into the bathtub body from the blow-off nozzles, an inverter interposed between a drive circuit of the power-operated motor of the circulating pump and a power source and an electrical insulation means protecting the transfer of high frequency components of inverter-produced current to the hot water in the bathtub body.

Abstract: A multi-layer disk fan with blades operates quietly. The multi-layer disk fan with blades is formed by laminating a multiplicity of annular disks in a measured spaced relation, the arrangement having such a feature that a multiplicity of blades are interposed between the annular disks and the ends of the respective blades. The blades are further positioned a circumferentially measured spaced apart distance inward of the outer peripheral edges of the annular disks. Turbulent air flow caused by peeling-off at the tips of the blades through the effect of laminar flow by the disks is effectively prevented. Likewise, distortion in outlet speed at the outer peripheral edges of the annular disks is controlled, reducing noises from turbulent flow and interference and resulting in quiet operation.

Abstract: Rotatable circular plates are stacked apart to form thin air layers therebetween. Rotation of the circular plates moves air over an air treatment material: catalyst or adsorbent. In one embodiment, the air treatment material is affixed to the surface of the circular plates. In another embodiment, the circular plates are formed from the air treatment material. The increased velocity of air relative to the circular plates causes separation of laminar flow, promotes boundary-layer turbulence near the plate surfaces, and promotes propagating stall in the air layers. These phenomena enhance the contact between the flowing air and the air treatment material.

Abstract: A whirlpool bath is provided with a bathtub body, a circulating pump, a hot water circulation path disposed between said bathtub body and said circulating pump, a plurality of blow-off nozzles which are mounted on said respective terminal ends of the hot water circulation path, and an air intake portion connected to the hot water circulation path to permit blowing of air-mixed hot water into said bathtub body from the blow-off nozzles and control means for selectively controlling the degree of opening of each blow-off nozzle, the degree of opening of the air intake portion and the number of revolutions of said circulating pump to provide blow-off of the hot water in various modes which are different in the blow-off amount and pressure. Namely, the whirlpool bath is capable of giving various kinds of massaging effect including a stimulating effect and a relaxing effect to a bather.

Abstract: A blow-off nozzle structure capable of automatically varying the blow-off volume of water comprises a tubular nozzle casing defining a blow-off flow forming passage therein, the passage forming a blow-off opening at a front end thereof and a hot water inlet opening at a rear end thereof, a valve seat formed in the midst of the blow-off flow forming passage, a valve element capable of being extended to or retracted from said valve seat so as to adjust the degree of opening of said valve seat, an air mixing portion defined in the blow-off flow forming passage and disposed at a position in front of the valve seat, the air mixing portion communicated with an air intake portion which has one end opened to atmosphere, and an automatic valve-element reciprocating means capable of moving said valve element toward or away from said valve seat.

Abstract: An automatically operating valve for regulating water flow, especially a mixing valve for automatically mixing hot water and cold water to obtain a mixed water of a desired temperature is characterized by employing piezoelectric actuators for operating valve bodies thereof. Due to such a construction, the valve can not only fully close or open but also carries out the fine flow amount control by regulating the opening rate or angle of the valve body. Especially in case the automatically operating valve is a mixing valve, the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water can be accurately regulated so that the mixed water of a desired temperature can be always automatically obtained.

Abstract: A toilet bowl flushing device washes out a toilet bowl while controlling the flow rate of flushing water supplied to the toilet bowl for a maximum flushing effect. The toilet bowl flushing device includes water supply apparatus for supplying flushing water to the toilet bowl, the water supply apparatus including a flow rate control valve for controlling a rate of flow of flushing water to be supplied to the toilet bowl, an actuator for actuating the flow rate control valve, and a control subsystem operable according to a predetermined flow rate pattern program for controlling operation of the actuator to vary the rate of flow of flushing water in one flushing cycle with respect to time from a time to start flushing the toilet bowl to a time to finish flushing the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A washing device for parts of human body comprises a thermostatic mixing valve which is disposed at a junction of a cold water supply passage and a heated water supply passage, a latching solenoid valve which is mounted on a heated water drainage passage branched out from said heated water supply passage and a latching solenoid valve which is mounted on a mixed hot water supply passage. Due to such construction, electric power for heating water is no longer necessary in the toilet bowl and electric power for mixing heated water and cold water to produce mixed hot water to be ejected from an ejecting nozzle also becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, electric power for operating the solenoid valve is minimized by means of a latching solenoid. Accordingly, the overall consumption of electric power necessary for operating and controlling the washing device can be minimized thus enabling the use of a small dry cell or battery as an electric power source of the washing device.

Abstract: An automatically operating valve for regulating water flow, especially a mixing valve for automatically mixing hot water and cold water to obtain a mixed water of a desired temperature is characterized by employing piezoelectric actuators for operating valve bodies thereof. Due to such a construction, the valve can not only fully close or open but also carries out the fine flow amount control by regulating the opening rate or angle of the valve body. Especially in case the automatically operating valve is a mixing valve, the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water can be accurately regulated so that the mixed water of a desired temperature can be always automatically obtained.

Abstract: An automatically operating valve for regulating water flow, especially a mixing valve for automatically mixing hot water and cold water to obtain a mixed water of a desired temperature is characterized by employing piezoelectric actuators for operating valve bodies thereof. Due to such a construction, the valve can not only fully close or open but also carries out the fine flow amount control by regulating the opening rate or angle of the valve body. Especially in case the automatically operating valve is a mixing valve, the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water can be accurately regulated so that the mixed water of a desired temperature can be always automatically obtained.

Abstract: An automatically operating valve for regulating water flow, especially a mixing valve for automatically mixing hot water and cold water to obtain a mixed water of a desired temperature is characterized by employing piezoelectric actuators for operating valve bodies thereof. Due to such a construction, the valve can not only fully close or open but also carries out the fine flow amount control by regulating the opening rate or angle of the valve body. Especially in case the automatically operating valve is a mixing valve, the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water can be accurately regulated so that the mixed water of a desired temperature can be always automatically obtained.