Abstract: The pump (10, 110, 210) may comprise a casing (39, 139, 239) and a substantially disk-shaped impeller (36, 136, 236) that rotates within the casing. A group of depression-shaped grooves may be formed on at least one of the front and reverse surfaces of the impeller and the two casing internal surfaces in opposition to these surfaces. The depression-shaped grooves may extend from the center towards the outer periphery of the impeller. When the impeller rotates, fuel within the clearance between the impeller and the casing is propelled, within the depression-shaped grooves, from the center towards the periphery. In this way, forces are generated in the direction that increases the clearance between the impeller and the casing. It is preferred that the group of depression-shaped grooves 38b is formed closely spaced near the discharge hole 50 (area B), and elsewhere (area C) is formed more widely spaced.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to kill both the cells and the microorganisms of edible and perishable plants and at the same time to cause the cellular resolution by autolytic enzymes, and to change undesirable characteristics for foods such as harshness, bitterness, astringency, grassiness and the like into desirable characteristics such as tastiness, sweetness, and flavors.

Abstract: This fuel injection valve is provided in a body thereof with a needle valve so that the needle valve can be moved in the axial direction and inclined by an angle of inclination of &thgr;1 with respect to the axis of the body, and with stopper plates with which a stopper portion of the needle valve is engaged when the valve is opened, and an angle of inclination &thgr;2 with respect to a perpendicular plane crossing the axis of the needle valve at right angles thereto is given between the stopper portion and stopper plates. The angle of inclination &thgr;2 between the stopper portion and stopper plates is set to be larger than that &thgr;1 in the axial direction of the needle valve, and the stopper portion is formed so that a ratio D1/D0 of an outer diameter D1 of the stopper portion of the needle valve to an inner diameter D0 of an inner chamber of the body becomes 0.6 to 1.1.

Abstract: An arrangement for measuring a quantity of intake air passing through an intake air duct by a sensing element disposed in parallel with a flow direction of the intake air. The sensing element includes a flow speed sensing resistor deposited on a base plate and formed into a film for sensing a flow speed of the intake air, and a pair of lead members deposited on the base plate and electrically connected to the resistor. The flow speed sensing resistor is arranged to form a temperature distribution of the resistor uniform in a direction parallel with and/or perpendicular to the flow direction of the intake air.

Abstract: A drip-absorbing sheet comprising a powdery or granular edible saccharide supported and laminated between a semipermeable membrane and a water-absorbing porous sheet. This drip-absorbing sheet has a simple structure and can be automatically manufactured without the need for a large labor force, thus reducing the manufacturing cost. This sheet can be cut to an optional size according to an intended use, and the incorporated saccharide will not drop from the cut portion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for measuring a quantity of intake air passing through an intake air duct by a sensing element disposed in parallel with a flow direction of the intake air. The sensing element includes a flow speed sensing resistor deposited on a base plate and formed into a film for sensing a flow speed of the intake air, and a pair of lead members deposited on the base plate and electrically connected to the resistor. The flow speed sensing resistor is arranged to form a temperature distribution of the resistor uniform in a direction parallel with and/or perpendicular to the flow direction of the intake air.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for measuring a quantity of intake air passing through an intake air duct by a sensing element disposed in parallel with a flow direction of the intake air. The sensing element includes a flow speed sensing resistor deposited on a base plate and formed into a film for sensing a flow speed of the intake air, and a pair of lead members deposited on the base plate and electrically connected to the resistor. The flow speed sensing resistor is arranged to form a temperature distribution of the resistor uniform in a direction parallel with and/or perpendicular to the flow direction of the intake air.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for detecting a rotational angle of a rotating shaft by a sensor. The sensor includes a substrate and a detecting element which has a plurality of blocks of magnetoresistance element deposited on a planar surface of the substrate. The sensor also includes a magneto member which has a pair of magnetic poles facing each side end of the substrate respectively and providing a magnetic field covering at least the planar surface of the substrate. The sensor is so arranged that one of the detecting element and the magneto member is mounted on the rotating shaft, and the other is disposed at a certain position relative to the rotating shaft. Accordingly, the blocks of magnetoresistance element are disposed always in a uniform magnetic field, so that the rotational angle is detected accurately.

Abstract: A water absorption controlled dehydrating device which comprises covering a high osmotic pressure substance and a water soluble thickening agent with a supporting material provided at least partly with a water-permeable semipermeable membrane.

Abstract: A material to be dehydrated wrapped in a semipermeable sheet is dipped in a dehydrating solution to cause part of water contained in the material to be absorbed into the dehydrating solution to dehydrate the material, and the water-absorbed dehydrating solution is cooled and concentrated to adjust its temperaure and concentration, and sterilized as needed, to be used repeatedly for the dehydration treatment, thereby dehydrating a large amount of material to be treated without changing the quality of the material under consistent conditions with enhanced economy and efficiency.

Abstract: A dehydrating device comprises a high osmotic pressure substance, a polymeric water absorber and a hydrophilic alcohol, which are co-present and are integrally covered with a semipermeable membrane allowing selective permeation of water. The dehydrating device is excellent in dehydrating capacity and particularly useful for removing water from foods.

Abstract: A dehydrating and water-retaining sheet comprising a water-absorbing agent, a wetting agent having a water-absorbing property, and a water-permeable membrane, in which the water-absorbing agent and the wetting agent are at least partially wrapped together in the water-permeable membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electromagnetic fuel injector comprising a fuel outlet opening formed at the front portion of the slide member of the valve body, an annular fuel passage leading from the fuel outlet opening to the valve seat and an annular restricted portion provided at the annular fuel passage. The fuel injector of the invention may compensate decrease in the amount of fuel flow because of decrease in the specific weight of fuel and creation of fuel vapor at the fuel injection nozzle in association with increase in fuel temperature, and may supply an engine with fuel mixture having stable air-fuel ratio to purify exhaust gas during engine operation at high temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a variable venturi carburetor adapted for controlling the air-fuel ratio by air bleeding operation which includes an actuator for controlling the amount of bleed air in response to the engine running conditions and a fuel jet having a fuel metering portion and an air bleed portion provided downstream of and adjacent to the fuel metering portion. The air bleed portion has an outlet opening adapted for delivering bleed air into the fuel passage and the inside diameter of the air bleed portion is designed to be slightly larger than that of the fuel metering portion. Especially, at engine idle operation, the restriction area of the air bleed portion is designed to become larger than that adjusted by the actuator and the inside diameter of the fuel passage downstream of the air bleed portion is designed to become large in such a manner that air and fuel flows may not be influenced by the restricting operation of the air bleed portion.