Abstract: A method for performing radiation-inducted graft polymerization on substrates in the form of webs of woven or non-woven fabric, which includes the steps of exposing a substrate woven or non-woven fabric composed of polymer fiber to electron beams in a nitrogen atmosphere, contacting the irradiated substrate with a specified amount of monomer in a nitrogen atmosphere, and subjecting the monomer and the substrate in mutual contact to graft polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere, characterized in that the first through third steps are performed in succession.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an electrical deionization apparatus with which various feed water types ranging from water of high ion concentration to water of low ion concentration can be consistently deionized with high efficiency. At least part of cation-exchange membranes and anion-exchange membranes alternate between electrodes to form an alternating array of deionization and concentration compartments and the deionization compartment contains a woven or non-woven fabric made of cation-exchange fiber that is placed on the cation-exchange membrane side in a face-to-face relationship with a woven or non-woven fabric made of anion-exchange fiber that is placed on the anion-exchange membrane side, with the passageway of feed water between the two woven or non-woven fabrics containing an ion-conducting spacer provided with an ion-exchanging capability.

Abstract: An air purifying filter which comprises: (a) an ion-exchange fiber filter and (b) a high- or ultrahigh-performance filter comprising glass fibers is disclosed. The ion-exchange fiber filter preferably comprises a fibrous substrate and ion-exchange groups and hydrophilic groups which are chemically bound to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Separation functional fibers are produced by exposing fibers with a core/sheath structure to an ionizing radiation and then grafting a polymerizable monomer to the fibers. Ion-exchange fibers are produced by introducing, through radiation-initiated graft polymerization, ion-exchange groups into the sheath of each of composite fibers the core and the sheath of which are composed of different kinds of high-polymer components. The separation functional fibers and the ion-exchange fibers are useful in various applications such as the production of pure water in electric power, nuclear, electronic and pharmaceutical industries and the demineralization of high-salt content solutions in the production of foods and chemicals. The fibers are also useful in removing harmful components from gases, as well as odorous components such as ammonia.

Abstract: A method for evaluating performance of a chemical filter element is disclosed. A moisture content, a weight or a pressure loss of a filter element including an ion exchanger is determined, and the determined value is compared with a prescribed value. Alternatively, the determined value is converted into a residual ion exchange capacity of the filter element, and the residual ion exchange capacity is compared with a prescribed value. When the determined value or the residual ion exchange capacity is equal to or less than the prescribed value, the filter element is exchanged. On the other hand, when the determined value or the residual ion exchange capacity is more than the prescribed value, after waiting a prescribed period, the determining step and the comparing step are repeated.

Abstract: Separation functional fibers are produced by exposing fibers with a core/sheath structure to an ionizing radiation and then grafting a polymerizable monomer to the fibers. Ion-exchange fibers are produced by introducing, through radiation-initiated graft polymerization, ion-exchange groups into the sheath of each of composite fibers the core and the sheath of which are composed of different kinds of high-polymer components. The separation functional fibers and the ion-exchange fibers are useful in various applications such as the production of pure water in electric power, nuclear, electronic and pharmaceutical industries and the demineralization of high-salt content solutions in the production of foods and chemicals. The fibers are also useful in removing harmful components from gases, as well as odorous components such as ammonia.

Abstract: A process for producing a fabric absorbent that is capable of efficient removal of odorous substances, in particular malodorous substances. The absorbent is obtained by exposing an organic high-molecular weight compound, such as polyolefinic polymers or halogenated polyolefinic polymers, to an ionizing radiation and thereafter graft polymerizing the high-molecular weight compound with a polymerizable monomer that contains ion-exchange groups and/or a polymerizable monomer that can be converted to ion-exchange groups so as to incorporate the ion-exchange groups in the high-molecular weight compound.

Abstract: Electrically regenerable desalting apparatus having the desalting compartment packed with ion exchangers produced by utilizing radiation-initiated graft polymerization, in which said ion exchangers are nonwoven fabrics in the form of a fiber assembly and a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger are disposed in a face-to-face relationship, with a porous material being interposed between the two ion exchangers. Having the ability to reject ions from liquids, the apparatus is particularly suited to the production of pure water in the electrical power generating industries (including the nuclear industry), electronic industry and the pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry, as well as to the desalting of thick fluids encountered in food and chemical manufacturing processes.

Abstract: The improved electrically regenerable demineralizing apparatus uses ion exchangers that are produced by radiation-initiated graft polymerization and that are packed in the demineralizing compartment of an electrodialyzer. The apparatus may use a mosaic ion exchanger that consists of alternately arranged cation- and anion-exchange groups. Alternately, the apparatus may have an immobilized amino acid packed in the demineralizing compartment of an electrodialyzer. The apparatus maintains consistent water quality for a prolonged time, is capable of treating from small to large volumes of water and yet is easy to service and manage.

Abstract: The improved electrically regenerable demineralizing apparatus uses ion exchangers that are produced by radiation-initiated graft polymerization and that are packed in the demineralizing compartment of an electrodialyzer. The apparatus may use a mosaic ion exchanger that consists of alternately arranged cation- and anion-exchange groups. Alternately, the apparatus may have an immobilized amino acid packed in the demineralizing compartment of an electrodialyzer. The apparatus maintains consistent water quality for a prolonged time, is capable of treating from small to large volumes of water and yet is easy to service and manage.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising core glass having therearound a cladding comprising fluorine-containing quartz glass and a process for producing the same are disclosed. Said cladding is composed of an inner portion having a prescribed thickness and a constant fluorine content through its thickness and an outer portion having its fluorine content being gradually decreased in a radial direction so that its outermost surface has a fluorine content of about 0.7% by weight or less relative to SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: An image fiber in which the contrast of the viewed image is improved. The image fiber of the invention is composed of a plurality of optical fiber cores with a cladding layer provided around the cores and filled into the spaces between the cores. A primary coating covers the cores and cladding layer. The primary coating contains a light-absorbing substance, for instance, carbon particles. Preferably, the primary coating is composed mainly of silicone resin.

Abstract: A high frequency induction coupled plasma torch is disclosed. The torch is comprised of a multi-pipe structure and is used for forming a plasma flame by high frequency power induction. The torch is comprised of a plurality of pipes which are coaxially arranged within each other. Each of the pipes has one or more flanged openings positioned on its surface whereby it is interconnected to the adjacent pipe. By means of the flanged openings any given pipe may be interconnected with any number of outer pipes. The torch can be economically produced and maintained.

Abstract: A robot vehicle for automatic operation in a predetermined travelling route comprises a pair of driving wheels connected to a driving device; means for detecting revolving speeds of said driving wheels; means for detecting azimuth of the travelling direction of said robot vehicle; a memory device for memorizing a travelling program including data of a travelling distance and an azimuth; and a control processor device which control the travelling of said robot vehicle depending upon the travelling program of said memory device under comparing the travelling distance and azimuth of the travelling program with a travelling distance detected by said revolving speed detecting means and an azimuth detected by said azimuth detecting means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a moving object and particularly for automatically stopping the moving object in a predetermined position and direction. The apparatus comprises a pair of photoelectric sensors having a light emitting element and a light receiving element for the moving object, and a pair of reflectors at predetermined positions opposing the photoelectic sensors. The moving object is stopped when the received light outputs of the photoelectric sensors are balanced with each other preferably in a vehicle in an automated factory.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical transmission fiber is provided which comprises feeding highly pure halides, hydrides or organic compounds of Si and B by way of carrier gas on the outer surface of a fused silica rod or a fused silica pipe, or inner surface of a fused silica pipe, oxidizing them and depositing the products to form a pure fused silica layer or a doped fused silica layer containing B.sub.2 O.sub.3, melting the pipe and the deposited layer followed by a spinning. The SiO.sub.2 layer can alternatively contain fluorine instead of B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further SiO.sub.2 layer can be deposited thereon to improve the spinning processability and lower the index of refraction of the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical transmission fiber is provided which comprises feeding highly pure halides, hydrides or organic compounds of Si and B by way of carrier gas on the outer surface of a fused silica rod or a fused silica pipe, or inner surface of a fused silica pipe, oxidizing them and depositing the products to form a pure fused silica layer or a doped fused silica layer containing B.sub.2 O.sub.3, melting the pipe and the deposited layer followed by a spinning. The SiO.sub.2 layer can alternatively contain fluorine instead of B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further SiO.sub.2 layer can be deposited thereon to improve the spinning processability and lower the index of refraction of the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical transmission fiber is provided which comprises feeding highly pure halides, hydrides or organic compounds of Si and B by way of carrier gas on the outer surface of a fused silica rod or a fused silica pipe, or inner surface of a fused silica pipe, oxidizing them and depositing the products to form a pure fused silica layer or a doped fused silica layer containing B.sub.2 O.sub.3, melting the pipe and the deposited layer followed by a spinning. The SiO.sub.2 layer can alternatively contain fluorine instead of B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further SiO.sub.2 layer can be deposited thereon to improve the spinning processability and lower the index of refraction of the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical transmission fiber is provided which comprises feeding highly pure halides, hydrides or organic compounds of Si and B by way of carrier gas on the outer surface of a fused silica rod or a fused silica pipe, or inner surface of a fused silica pipe, oxidizing them and depositing the products to form a pure fused silica layer or a doped fused silica layer containing B.sub.2 O.sub.3, melting the pipe and the deposited layer followed by a spinning. The SiO.sub.2 layer can alternatively contain fluorine instead of B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further SiO.sub.2 layer can be deposited thereon to improve the spinning processability and lower the index of refraction of the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass rod for optical waveguides is proposed. In this method, several gaseous mixtures or powdery mixtures of materials for glass forming are reacted at a high temperature and deposited on the top or end of a rotating glass rod which is initially deposited on a rotating base plate and grown in the form of a rod of a fixed powdery or vitreous state. It is possible to obtain the glass rod having a predetermined radial distribution of index of refraction.