Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting method for cutting an upper edge and a lower edge of a cutting plane into a curved shape, when a cutting object is cut by supplying plasma gas to the periphery of an electrode of a plasma torch and ejecting plasma arc from a nozzle. In order to melt the upper edge and the lower edge of the cutting plane to form a curved shape, at least one condition selected from plural conditions including a cutting electric current, cutting speed, height of a plasma torch, angle of the plasma torch, and flow rate of plasma gas upon performing the vertical cutting for forming the upper edge and the lower edge of the cutting object substantially at right angles is changed.

Abstract: A plasma torch life duration detecting device according to the present invention aims at detecting a life duration of a plasma torch, detecting a life duration of a plasma torch in accordance with a requested processing precision, and detecting contact between a nozzle protection cover and a workpiece at a lower cost. The plasma torch is constructed in such a manner that a nozzle member 3 having an electrical conductivity is disposed outside of an electrode 2 to maintain electrical insulation against the electrode 2, and a nozzle protection cover 4 having an electrical conductivity is disposed outside of the nozzle member 3 to maintain electrical insulation against the nozzle member 3. The plasma torch life duration detecting device is provided with a voltmeter 7 disposed between the nozzle member 3 and the nozzle protection cover 4, for detecting a voltage between the nozzle member 3 and the nozzle protection cover 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nozzle for a plasma torch, in which the nozzle is detachably attached to the plasma torch and has an injection port for injecting a plasma arc formed at the center thereof, the nozzle for a plasma torch comprising: a water supplying pipe for cooling water; a water draining pipe for the cooling water; an annular water passage arranged around the injection port; and a plurality of connecting water passages for independently connecting the water supplying pipe to the annular water passage and the water draining pipe to the annular water passage.

Abstract: The present invention provides, as a composition that is highly safe and superior in preservative properties, comprising (a) a xanthine, (b) a buffer and (c) at least one member selected from sorbic acid, EDTA, and salts thereof. This composition has superior preservative properties so that it inhibits the generation and proliferation of microorganisms even when stored for a long period of time. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for enhancing the preservative properties of sorbic acid, EDTA, and salts thereof, which are known to have preservative properties, and the preservative properties of compositions containing these ingredients, and provides a method for producing a composition with superior preservative effectiveness.

Abstract: A polymer comprising quaternary ammonium salts and alkylene groups having hydroxyl groups on the main chain, is extremely useful as a disinfectant for ophthalmic apparatuses, as eye drops, and an eyewash solution as well as a cleaning solution, disinfectant, or storing solution for contact lens care. The polymer compound has sufficient bactericidal and fungicidal effects within a concentration range in which the compound causes no damage on human cells and does not irritate the eye as well as being hard to be absorbed, adsorbed, and accumulated on hydrophilic contact lenses. In addition, the compound is highly hydrophilic, and as a result, when the polymer is used for contact lens care, the lenses become favorably lubricated to be worn comfortably, and furthermore, is very gentle to eye.

Abstract: A relay device for a concatenated sensor system includes first and second relay units (14, 16) and a relay cable (28) connecting the two relay units. When the first relay unit is located in intimate contact with one side of a sensor unit (8) that is situated at one end of a sensor unit group (4) or with one side of a master unit (2), a linking connector of the relay unit is connected to an input-output connector provided on one side of the master unit or on one side of the sensor unit. When the second relay unit is located in intimate contact with the other side of a sensor unit that is situated at the other end of a sensor unit group (4 or 6), a linking connector of the relay unit is connected to an input-output connector provided on the other side of the sensor unit. Thus, electrical connection between the master unit and the sensor unit group and between the sensor unit groups of the concatenated sensor system can be established with reliability.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery which, in accordance with the state of a battery, can make a polyphase alternating current rotating machine in a hybrid car assist the driving gear (the internal combustion engine) or charge the battery. The current and voltage during discharge and charging of a battery mounted on a vehicle are measured, and on the basis of this measured current and voltage information, a program control circuit controls the discharge current when an auxiliary driving force is given to the driving gear. This control is performed via an inverter which performs AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC conversion between the battery and the polyphase alternating current rotating machine coupled to the driving gear of the vehicle. Because the charging and discharging currents are limited in accordance with the state of charging of the battery, it is possible to avoid charging and discharging uniformly irrespective of the amount of charging of the battery.

Abstract: The state of charging and discharging of a secondary cell circuit varies with battery deterioration and with the margin for charging and discharging. The state of charging and discharging is detected accurately without coming into contact with any unit cells, and maintenance and inspection can be performed efficiently. Charging and discharging characteristics of the battery are held in a memory, and charging current and discharging current are controlled by comparing measured voltage and current values with the charging and discharging characteristics held in the memory. Furthermore, battery information relating to each unit cell is transmitted by radio signals and the substance of this information is displayed at the driver's seat.

Abstract: Charging and discharging of a battery are controlled while observing the state of the battery, thereby improving its efficiency and increasing battery service life. A program control circuit acquires vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor and the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine from a rotation sensor. The program control circuit controls an inverter which performs AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC conversion between a motor-generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and a battery mounted on the vehicle. At the same time, the program control circuit acquires the charging and discharging current (i) of the battery, which is detected by a current sensor, and calculates the time integral I of the charging and discharging current (i). The circuit controls the charging current to the battery during regenerative braking, and the discharge current when the vehicle is being driven, in accordance with a function of the time integral I.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a specific analyte in solution comprising the steps of affixing to a chromatographic medium a first antibody which binds with specificity to the analyte in a pattern which forms a pre-determined geometric symbol or symbols consisting of a plurality of line segments; partially blocking or obstructing the expected passage of a moving phase or solvent through the symbol; reacting the solution to a marker-second antibody complex which binds with specificity to the analyte to form analyte-marker-second antibody complexes in the presence of the analyte; eluting the solution containing any analyte-marker-second antibody complex through the partially blocked or obstructed medium; and observing the substantially complete formation, or lack thereof, of the predetermined geometric symbol or symbols by means of the marker.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric braking and auxiliary engine mechanism for a motor vehicle including a rotary machine coupled with the crank shaft of the internal combustion engine which drives the axle of the vehicle. This mechanism is characterized in that squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine is used as the rotary machine which is fixedly connected to the crank shaft, and the squirrel-cage polyphase induction mechanism is fed with a revolving magnetic field which is variable either positive or negative direction by an invertor, so that the squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine may be utilized either as a power generator or a motor.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric braking and auxiliary engine mechanism for a motor vehicle including a rotary machine coupled with the crank shaft of the internal combustion engine which drives the axle of the vehicle. This mechanism is characterized in that squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine is used as the rotary machine which is fixedly connected to the crank shaft, and the squirrel-cage polyphase induction mechanism is fed with a revolving magnetic field which is variable either positive or negative direction by an invertor, so that the squirrel-cage polyphase induction machine may be utilized either as a power generator or a motor.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the prevention of dental caries which comprises as essential component(s) one or more of pentacyclic acid triterpenes of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents CH.sub.3, CHO or CH.sub.2 OH, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently represent CH.sub.3 or COOH, R.sub.4 represents H, CH.sub.3, COOH or COOCH.sub.3, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently represent H, CH.sub.3 or OH, and A represents two Hs or O, and their salts.