Abstract: A metal gasket for an internal combustion engine is formed of at least one metal plate extending substantially throughout an entire area to be sealed. The metal plate includes a hole to be sealed, and a bead projecting outwardly from the first metal plate to surround the hole. A concave is formed inside the bead to extend inwardly from an outer surface of the metal plate. A sealing material is disposed in the concave to project outwardly from the outer surface of the first metal plate. Thus, even if a foreign material is disposed on the bead, the sealing ability of the gasket is not substantially affected.

Abstract: A temperature adjusting device has an air-tight container. A thermoelectric element is disposed in the air-tight container and has first and second opposite surfaces each capable of radiating and absorbing heat through a Peltier effect. A first heat exchanger is disposed in the air-tight container for performing heat exchange between a thermally conductive first medium and the first surface of the thermoelectric element. A tank is disposed in the air-tight container and is connected to an inlet side of the first heat exchanger for storing the first medium. A second heat exchanger is disposed in the air-tight container for performing heat exchange between a thermally conductive second medium and the second surface of the thermoelectric element. A pump circulates the first medium through the first heat exchanger. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the first medium circulated by the pump.

Abstract: A turbo vacuum pump has a rotor and magnetic bearings. The magnetic bearings are held in a housing having a suction port and an exhaust port, and support the rotor rotatably. A peripheral flow pump stage and screw pump stage are formed in the rotor, so that the pressure at the exhaust port can be at or near atmospheric pressure level. Before starting the turbo vacuum pump, the magnetic bearings are operated to displace a rotor position and to scrape off the reaction products which have deposited inside the pump. In addition, before starting the turbo vacuum pump, a stator of the pump is heated up to decrease a binding force of the reaction products. Therefore, the pump can be restarted, even if the rotor has locked by the solidification of deposited reaction products formed during stopping of the pump.

Abstract: An instrument for chemical and microbiological tests comprises a sample container for temporarily storing a liquid sample; a plurality of sample-holding portions formed on the bottom face of the sample container; and a liquid-absorbent body capable of coming in contact with the liquid sample so that the body can absorb the excess sample, when the liquid sample is introduced into the container, while retaining the sample to be held on the sample-holding portions. This instrument can be used in a chemical or microbiological test wherein a sample is used in a relatively small amount and, in particular, those requiring a large number of reactions and cultivation. Moreover, the instrument does not require the dispensation of a sample to each reaction system and does not cause any scatter of the sample in the surroundings.

Abstract: A test kit for a chemical test or microbiological test, which comprises at least one independent sample-receiving part on a support is disclosed. The test kit of the present invention is usable for various chemical and microbiological tests which have been conducted with a plastic microplate and which have necessitated many reaction and culture steps in the prior art. The test kit of the present invention can be produced at an extremely low cost because of its structure. The test kit can previously contain a reagent necessitated for the test to remarkably facilitate the test.