Abstract: A hydrated granular carrier is prepared for microbe immobilization in a biological treatment apparatus such as for treating waste water and exhaust gas. The carrier contains hydrated granular gel particles coated with a finely ground organic powder. The gel particles are made of a polymer insoluble in cold water but soluble in hot water. In making the hydrated gel particles, heated water is added to the polymer while stirring at high speed. Then, the finely ground organic powder is added together with heated water while stirring at high speed to coat the finely ground organic powder on the gel particles. Preferably, the polymer is polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1000 to 2500 and a degree of saponification of 98% or more. Heated water added to the polyvinyl alcohol is added by spraying at 10 to 15 liters per minute at a temperature of 40.degree. to 100.degree. C. in an amount of 50 to 150 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: Between insulative layers (31-37, 41-44), a multilayer substrate comprises at least one dielectric layer (26-29). It is possible to form capacitors (58), resistors (46), and wiring conductors (61, 62) in the substrate. The at least one dielectric layer should be of at least one dielectric composition which has a perovskite structure. Preferably, each insulative layer is of an insulating material which consists essentially of aluminum oxide and lead borosilicate glass. The substrate is convenient in manufacturing a crystal oscillator by mounting a crystal vibrator (71) and a transistor (72) on the principal surface(s). Examples of the dielectric composition are:Pb[(Fe.sub.2/3.W.sub.1/3).sub.0.33 (Fe.sub.1/2.Nb.sub.1/2).sub.0.67 ]O.sub.3,Pb[(Mn.sub.1/3.Nb.sub.2/3).sub.0.01 (Mg.sub.1/2.W.sub.1/2).sub.0.30 (Ni.sub.1/3.Nb.sub.2/3).sub.0.49 Ti.sub.0.20 ]O.sub.3,andPb[(Mg.sub.1/2.W.sub.1/2).sub.0.66 Ti.sub.0.34 ]O.sub.3.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flow change-over valve for the blowing of fluids into a molten metal vessel, which includes a housing provided with at least three inlet ports for different fluids and an outlet port, a valve body with a main passage communicating selectively between one of the inlet ports and the outlet port and rotatably supported in the housing to perform the changing-over of inlet passages. Among these inlet ports, an inlet port for purging fluid is opened in the housing, and a shroud-like gap surrounding the valve body is formed between the inner periphery of the housing and the outer periphery of the valve body in such a manner that it communicates with the inlet port for the purging fluid disposed in the housing and is always to be communicated with an opening of an inlet port of the main passage during the changing-over through the rotation of the valve body.

Abstract: A method of distributing powdered or granular material to a plurality of feeding ends in a system having a pressurizing tank for pressurizing and fluidizing a powdered or granular material, a plurality of transportation pipes having one ends constituting discharge nozzles opening above a fluidized bed in the tank and the other ends connected to different feeding ends so as to introduce the material to the feeding ends, and a plurality of booster gas supply pipes for supplying respective transportation pipes with a booster gas. The internal pressure of the tank is controlled by a controller provided with a set valve in accordance with the mean value of the terminal pressures at the feeding ends, the mean value of predetermined set flow rates of the booster gas in the booster gas supplying pipes, and the mean value of predetermined set rates of transportation of material to the feeding ends.

Abstract: A high-pressure conveyor discharges a powdery or granular material from a pressurization tank through a discharge unit into a conveyor pipe. The discharge unit includes a guide cylinder or trough mounted on the tank, a screw feeder extending through the guide cylinder and having an end extending into the tank in overhanging relation to an aerator in the tank and the other end coupled to a variable-speed drive unit such as a motor. The material as it is fluidized on the aerator under a high pressure is supplied into the discharge cylinder, from which the material is fed by the screw feeder out of a discharge port in the guide cylinder into the conveyor pipe. A plurality of discharge units may be connected to the tank at angularly spaced intervals for uniform or adjusted distribution of the material to a plurality of locations.

Abstract: A constant discharge device for a pneumatic conveyor for powdery or granular materials includes a discharge regulator valve disposed in a pressure tank that stores the powdery or granular material and movable toward or away from a discharge nozzle which has an open end through which the material is discharged out of the pressure tank into a conveyor pipe. The discharge regulator valve has an air outlet for ejecting a stream of air toward the discharge nozzle. The amount of the material as discharged into the conveyor pipe can be controlled by adjusting the position of the discharge regulator valve with respect to the discharge nozzle, and also by adjusting the rate of flow of air through the outlet of the discharge regulator valve.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved system for transporting plastics articles such as containers for foods from one place such as a plastics articles-manufacturing plant to another such as a goods-charging plant and encompasses vehicle means for transporting the articles in large quantities, devices which receive the articles from the vehicle means, convey the articles and discharge them into a pipeline for pneumatic conveyance and a device which is installed at the delivery end of the pipeline, which stores the articles and which is provided with means capable of discharging them therefrom at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A temperature compensated crystal oscillator having a crystal resonator uses a single thermistor and no expensive varactor. The compensation circuit includes, a low temperature compensation circuit consisting of a first fixed capacitor and a first diode in series, a high temperature compensation circuit consisting of a second fixed capacitor and a second diode in series, and an intermediate temperature compensating circuit consisting of a third capacitor having a negative temperature coefficient. All three circuits are in parallel with each other and in series with the crystal resonator of the oscillator. A thermistor is connected to the anodes of both diodes and biasing resistors and connected to the cathode of the second diode whereby a temperature dependent forward bias is applied to the first diode at all temperatures and to the second diode only at the high temperatures.