Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing the inside of an article such as a PET bottle comprises a hot air supplying device (14) for supplying hot air to the inside of an article (1), and a mist generating device (33) for producing mists of a sterilizing agent. By mixing the mists produced by the mist generating device with the hot air supplied by the hot air supplying device and introducing the same to the inside of the article, the sterilizing agent mists can be introduced evenly to every corner in the inside of the article so as to obtain an even sterilizing effect. Furthermore, the sterilizing apparatus comprises an air rinsing device (56) for discharging the air including the mists inside the article by blowing in the sterilized air to the inside of the article, and a washing device (57) for supplying a washing agent to the inside of the article.

Abstract: In a fuel pump having a high pump efficiency, an annular portion is formed on an outer periphery of an impeller to let one- and opposite-side blade grooves be independent of each other. Then, various improvements are made such as tilting front and rear wall surfaces of the blade grooves in a predetermined direction, forming one- and opposite-side blade grooves in a zigzag fashion, forming a guide surface in a communicating passage of a pump housing, and forming communicating holes in an impeller.

Abstract: Two-inner gears are overlapped with each other through a partition wall and are eccentrically arranged at an inner peripheral side of an outer gear, and eccentric directions of both the inner gears are shifted from each other by 180° to the opposite side. By this, loads in an outer diameter direction due to a rise in fuel pressure affect one outer gear from the two inner gears oppositely to each other by 180°, so that an eccentric load is not generated, and sliding resistance of the outer gear to a cylindrical casing becomes small. Further, the number of teeth of the outer gear is made odd, and the number of teeth of the inner gears is made even.

Abstract: A turbine fuel pump for smoothly flowing fuel in a fuel inlet passage, preventing a pressure loss at a start end of a pump flow passage to prevent generation of a local negative pressure, thereby increasing pump efficiency. The turbine fuel pump includes an impeller with blades and blade grooves, and a pump housing having first and second housings for rotatably storing the impeller. The first housing has a C-shaped side groove, a fuel inlet passage which bends at a start end of the side groove toward the center of the first housing, and an opening on an outer side surface. The second housing has a C-shaped side groove, and a fuel outlet opening communicating with a terminal end of the side groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dental material comprising a sulfur-containing unsaturated carboxylic acid ester compound having a substituent containing a sulfur atom and at least two (meth)acrylic acid residues through an oxygen atom bonded to a secondary or tertiary carbon atom, specifically, a dental material comprising a polymerizable monomer (A) represented by the following formula (1): 1

Abstract: A poly(thio)ester (co)polymer which comprises a repeating structural unit represented by the formula (1-A) as an essential structural unit: 1

Abstract: Sterilization method for at high speed and surely sterilizing the container, such as a beverage bottle is offered.

Abstract: A trochoid pump composed of an inner gear and an outer gear is used as a fluid pump such as a fuel pump for an automotive vehicle. An inner imbalance load inherently developing in the pumping chambers is suppressed or canceled by an outer imbalance load generated by pressurizing fluid introduced into blade ditches formed on an outer periphery of the outer gear. Positions of a pressure-introducing port and a pressure-releasing port for the blade ditches are selected so that the outer imbalance load is imposed in a direction opposing the inner imbalance load. An amount of the outer imbalance load is made equal to an amount of the inner imbalance load to eliminate undesirable effects of the inner imbalance load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an aliphatic polyester excellent in stability which includes subjecting an aliphatic polyester containing at least 50% of an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid unit, obtainable by solid-phase polymerization under a flowing gas in the presence of a volatile catalyst so as to have a desired weight average molecular weight within the range of 50,000 to 1,000,000, to a heat treatment at a temperature equal to or higher than the reaction temperature of the solid-phase polymerization under a flowing gas with maintaining the aliphatic polyester in a solid state. According to the process of the invention, an aliphatic polyester excellent in stability at molding and storage stability is obtained.

Abstract: In a fuel pump having a high pump efficiency, an annular portion is formed on an outer periphery of an impeller to let one- and opposite-side blade grooves be independent of each other. Then, various improvements are made such as tilting front and rear wall surfaces of the blade grooves in a predetermined direction, forming one- and opposite-side blade grooves in a zigzag fashion, forming a guide surface in a communicating passage of a pump housing, and forming communicating holes in an impeller.

Abstract: Two-inner gears are overlapped with each other through a partition wall and are eccentrically arranged at an inner peripheral side of an outer gear, and eccentric directions of both the inner gears are shifted from each other by 180° to the opposite side. By this, loads in an outer diameter direction due to a rise in fuel pressure affect one outer gear from the two inner gears oppositely to each other by 180°, so that an eccentric load is not generated, and sliding resistance of the outer gear to a cylindrical casing becomes small. Further, the number of teeth of the outer gear is made odd, and the number of teeth of the inner gears is made even.

Abstract: A turbine fuel pump for smoothly flowing fuel in a fuel inlet passage, preventing a pressure loss at a start end of a pump flow passage to prevent generation of a local negative pressure, thereby increasing pump efficiency. The turbine fuel pump includes an impeller with blades and blade grooves, and a pump housing having first and second housings for rotatably storing the impeller. The first housing has a C-shaped side groove, a fuel inlet passage which bends at a start end of the side groove toward the center of the first housing, and an opening on an outer side surface. The second housing has a C-shaped side groove, and a fuel outlet opening communicating with a terminal end of the side groove.

Abstract: Two inner gears are overlapped with each other through a partition wall and are eccentrically arranged at an inner peripheral side of an outer gear, and eccentric directions of both the inner gears are shifted from each other by 180° to the opposite side. By this, loads in an outer diameter direction due to a rise in fuel pressure affect one outer gear from the two inner gears oppositely to each other by 180°, so that an eccentric load is not generated, and sliding resistance of the outer gear to a cylindrical casing becomes small. Further, the number of teeth of the outer gear is made odd, and the number of teeth of the inner gears is made even.

Abstract: A sulfur-containing unsaturated carboxylate compound comprising a sulfur-containing substituent and at least two &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid residues, which are each attached to a secondary or tertiary carbon atom via an oxygen atom; a polymerizable composition comprising the sulfur-containing unsaturated carboxylate compound; a cured product prepared by polymerizing the polymerizable composition; an optical component consisting of the cured product; and novel intermediate compounds for preparation of the above carboxylate.

Abstract: A trochoid pump composed of an inner gear and an outer gear is used as a fluid pump such as a fuel pump for an automotive vehicle. An inner imbalance load inherently developing in the pumping chambers is suppressed or canceled by an outer imbalance load generated by pressurizing fluid introduced into blade ditches formed on an outer periphery of the outer gear. Positions of a pressure-introducing port and a pressure-releasing port for the blade ditches are selected so that the outer imbalance load is imposed in a direction opposing the inner imbalance load. An amount of the outer imbalance load is made equal to an amount of the inner imbalance load to eliminate undesirable effects of the inner imbalance load.

Abstract: A process for producing aliphatic polyester wherein a crystallized aliphatic polyester prepolymer formed from an aliphatic dihydric alcohol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and having a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000 to 100,000 is caused to undergo solid-phase polymerization in the presence of a volatile catalyst to make an aliphatic polyester having a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 to 1,000,000. This process is more efficient than any prior process calling for a complicated step for catalyst removal, since it enables the removal of the catalyst from the reaction system during and/or after solid-phase polymerization. The polyester is comparable in stability to any aliphatic polyester having any catalyst removed therefrom.

Abstract: Two inner gears are overlapped with each other through a partition wall and are eccentrically arranged at an inner peripheral side of an outer gear, and eccentric directions of both the inner gears are shifted from each other by 180° to the opposite side. By this, loads in an outer diameter direction due to a rise in fuel pressure affect one outer gear from the two inner gears oppositely to each other by 180°, so that an eccentric load is not generated, and sliding resistance of the outer gear to a cylindrical casing becomes small. Further, the number of teeth of the outer gear is made odd, and the number of teeth of the inner gears is made even.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing high-molecular aliphatic polyesters capable of being substitutes for general-purpose resins that are required to have high toughness, in a simplified manner and at a high volume efficiency. Specifically, in the process, used as the starting material is an easily-available, low-molecular aliphatic polyester prepolymer to be prepared through polycondensation of inexpensive materials of an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid such as lactic acid, glycolic acid or the like, an aliphatic polyalcohol such as butanediol or the like, and an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid such as succinic acid or the like, and the starting prepolymer is crystallized and thereafter polycondensed in a solid phase in the presence of a catalyst to give the intended, tough and high-molecular aliphatic polyester.

Abstract: A low-birefringent organic optical component comprising a polymer prepared by polymerizing a racemic mixture of the monomer with an asymmetric spiro ring represented by general formula (1) as an essential ingredient; wherein ring A represents a monocyclic or polycyclic organic group, wherein two ring As are mutually bound each other via a spiro bond to form a spiro ring which has a molecular asymmetric structure; n is an integer of 0 to 10; X.sub.1 and Y.sub.1 are binding groups; and Z.sub.1 is a polymerization-active group. The component has excellent transparency, mechanical strength and heat resistance, as well as a low birefringence.

Abstract: A biodegradable aliphatic polyester elastomer which has rubber-like elasticity, hardness of 80 or less in accordance with ASTM D 676-58T, and elastic modulus from 1.times.10.sup.5 Pa to 1.times.10.sup.8 Pa at 25.degree. C., and decomposes with ease in the natural environment, under composting conditions or under hydrolysis conditions. The biodegradable aliphatic elastomer can be obtained by crosslinking aliphatic polyester containing aliphatic unsaturated polybasic acid as a polymer constituting ingredient and having a weight average molecular weight of 15,000 or more.