Abstract: A double-wall pipe includes an outer pipe, and an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe. An outer wall of the inner pipe has thereon a ridge portion, which defines a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe. The outer pipe and the inner pipe are bent to have a straight portion extending straightly, and a bend portion bent from the straight portion. In the straight portion, the outer pipe has an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of an imaginary cylinder defined by an outer surface of the ridge portion of the inner pipe. Furthermore, the ridge portion of the inner pipe contacts an inside surface of the outer pipe to be radially squeezed and held by the outer pipe, in the bend portion. The double-wall pipe can be suitably used for a refrigerant cycle device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a double pipe includes a step of inserting a straight inner pipe into a straight outer pipe such that the inner pipe and the outer pipe are positioned at a predetermined relative position, a step of fixing a first end portion of the outer pipe to the inner pipe so as to form a first fixing portion, a step of bending the outer pipe and the inner pipe at the same time at a predetermined portion so as to form at least one bending portion after the fixing step of the first end portion, and a step of fixing a second end portion of the outer pipe to the inner pipe so as to form a second end portion after the bending.

Abstract: A compound tube is disclosed that includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube. A passage is defined between the outer tube and the inner tube. Various methods of joining the outer tube to the inner tube are disclosed.

Abstract: A double-wall pipe includes an outer pipe, and an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe. An outer wall of the inner pipe has thereon a ridge portion, which defines a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe. The outer pipe and the inner pipe are bent to have a straight portion extending straightly, and a bend portion bent from the straight portion. In the straight portion, the outer pipe has an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of an imaginary cylinder defined by an outer surface of the ridge portion of the inner pipe. Furthermore, the ridge portion of the inner pipe contacts an inside surface of the outer pipe to be readially squeezed and held by the outer pipe, in the bend portion. The double-wall pipe can be suitably used for a refrigerant cycle device.

Abstract: A refrigerant pipe connected to a suction side of a compressor and a refrigerant pipe connected to a discharge side of the compressor are integrated into one body. A refrigerant pipe connected to an inlet side of a condenser and a refrigerant pipe connected to an outlet side of the condenser are integrated into one body. A refrigerant pipe connected to an inlet side of a decompressor and a refrigerant pipe connected to an outlet side of the temperature detecting portion are integrated into one body. In these piping structures, a double pipe structure and a double pipe joint structure are adopted in which an inner pipe for circulating high pressure fluid and an outer pipe for circulating low pressure fluid are formed separate from each other and the respective end portions of the pipes are joined to a joint member by plastically deforming the pipes.

Abstract: A compound tube is disclosed that includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube. A passage is defined between the outer tube and the inner tube. Various methods of joining the outer tube to the inner tube are disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe joint has a joint main body, a union nut connected to the joint main body, and a lock ring. The lock ring has a tubular wall, and a first axial end and a second axial end of the tubular wall are deformable by inner walls of tapered hole portion of the joint main body and the union nut. The lock ring has a first tapered opening portion providing a first groove for receiving a first end of a first pipe member and a second tapered opening portion providing a second groove for receiving a second end of a second pipe member, in a radial inside of the tubular wall. A radial outer surface of the first tapered opening portion and a radial outer surface of the second tapered opening portion are tapered such that the first groove and the second groove are narrowed toward its ends, respectively.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a double pipe includes a step of inserting a straight inner pipe into a straight outer pipe such that the inner pipe and the outer pipe are positioned at a predetermined relative position, a step of fixing a first end portion of the outer pipe to the inner pipe so as to form a first fixing portion, a step of bending the outer pipe and the inner pipe at the same time at a predetermined portion so as to form at least one bending portion after the fixing step of the first end portion, and a step of fixing a second end portion of the outer pipe to the inner pipe so as to form a second end portion after the bending.

Abstract: An evaporator has tubes, and evaporates working fluid therein by heat of exhaust gas. A condenser emits heat of the working fluid toward coolant so as to condense the working fluid, and returns the condensed working fluid to the evaporator. A fin for increasing an area for transmitting heat is disposed between the tubes, and is connected to the tubes. The fin has an operation force reducing part for reducing an operation force applied to the fin in accordance with a thermal expansion difference between the tubes. The operation force reducing part is disposed at a midpoint of the fin between the tubes.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter comprises a thermoelectric element assembly that includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements which are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern; and a heat-exchange element assembly provided with a plurality of heat exchange elements and a retaining plate retaining the plurality of the heat exchange elements, the plurality of the heat exchange elements being retained in a predetermined arrangement condition corresponding to a arrangement condition of the thermoelectric elements. Then, a plurality of joining sites between the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are all together joined by joining members in a state in which the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are stacked on each other.

Abstract: The configuration comprises a shaping member 3 having a substantially rectangular shape and shaping the inner surface side of a bent portion 1b, a worm gear 2 slidably linked with the shaping member 3 and gradually reducing the distance between the shaping members 3 for sequentially feeding the shaping member 3 from one side to the other side, and a reference member 4 arranged so that the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b comes into contact with its reference surface, and the distance between the shaping members 3 is gradually reduced to a predetermined fin pitch and the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b is shaped into a predetermined shape by rotating the worm gear 2 after the plurality of bent portions 1b are arranged at the shaping members 3. Due to this, it is possible to shape the bent portion into a continuous and stable shape.

Abstract: The configuration comprises a shaping member 3 having a substantially rectangular shape and shaping the inner surface side of a bent portion 1b, a worm gear 2 slidably linked with the shaping member 3 and gradually reducing the distance between the shaping members 3 for sequentially feeding the shaping member 3 from one side to the other side, and a reference member 4 arranged so that the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b comes into contact with its reference surface, and the distance between the shaping members 3 is gradually reduced to a predetermined fin pitch and the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b is shaped into a predetermined shape by rotating the worm gear 2 after the plurality of bent portions 1b are arranged at the shaping members 3. Due to this, it is possible to shape the bent portion into a continuous and stable shape.

Abstract: In a thermoelectric transducer, a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices are alternately arranged on an insulating board, and each of a plurality of electrode members is connected to two end portions of adjacent N-type and P-type thermoelectric devices for electrically connecting the adjacent N-type and P-type thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, a plurality of heat exchanging members each of which includes an electrode portion connectable to the electrode member and a heat exchanging portion for exchanging heat transmitted from the electrode portion are located at two sides of a thermoelectric device substrate to form a heat absorbing part and a heat radiating part partitioned from each other. The electrode portions and the heat exchanging portions have, respectively, the same shapes, and the electrode portions and the heat exchanging portions are arranged in the same direction in all the heat exchanging members of each heat absorbing or radiating part.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a thermoelectric device assembly and a pair of heat exchanging member assemblies arranged at both sides of the thermoelectric device assembly. The thermoelectric device assembly includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices, a first holding plate for holding the thermoelectric devices, and a plurality of electrode members for electrically connecting the thermoelectric devices. Each of the heat exchanging member assemblies includes a plurality of heat exchanging members provided in correspondence with the plurality of electrode members, and a second holding plate located for holding the plurality of heat exchanging members. Each of the plurality of electrode members has an outer periphery that contacts one surface of the second holding plate in a state where the electrode member is connected to the heat exchanging member.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a group of thermoelectric devices having a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices alternately arranged on a thermoelectric device substrate, electrode members for electrically connecting the adjacent P-type and N-type thermoelectric devices in series, and heat exchanging members including electrode portions connected to the electrode members. In the thermoelectric transducer, at least a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of heat exchanging portions are formed continuously in a corrugated shape to couple the plurality of electrode members to each other along at least the group of thermoelectric devices, and the adjacent heat exchanging members are provided to be electrically insulated from each other. Accordingly, the thermoelectric transducer can be easily formed.

Abstract: A dielectric resonator antenna which emits an electric wave by having a dielectric body resonate is disclosed. A magnetic material is contained in the electric body, thereby increasing the relative permeability to more than 1 and lowering the relative permittivity. Consequently, the Q-value of the resonance can be lowered while maintaining the rate of wavelength shortening. With this technique, a broadband dielectric resonator antenna can be realized.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a grooved pipe includes a pressing step and a longitudinally displacing step. The pressing step presses a grooving tool toward an outer surface of a wall of a pipe in a radially inward direction of the pipe at a location, which is separated by a predetermined distance from an end portion of the pipe. The longitudinally displacing is performed by longitudinally displacing at least one of the grooving tool and the pipe relatively in a longitudinal direction of the pipe while pressing the grooving tool toward the outer surface of the wall of the pipe to form a groove portion, which is recessed from the outer surface of the wall of the pipe. The method is suitably used for forming an inner pipe of a double-wall pipe.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a group of thermoelectric devices having a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices alternately arranged on a thermoelectric device substrate, electrode members for electrically connecting the adjacent P-type and N-type thermoelectric devices in series, and heat exchanging members including electrode portions connected to the electrode members. In the thermoelectric transducer, at least a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of heat exchanging portions are formed continuously in a corrugated shape to couple the plurality of electrode members to each other along at least the group of thermoelectric devices, and the adjacent heat exchanging members are provided to be electrically insulated from each other. Accordingly, the thermoelectric transducer can be easily formed.

Abstract: The central position of each heating body 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heating body central position, the central position of a heat radiating section 33a located between the neighboring heating bodies 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heat radiating section central position, the end of a heat radiating section 33b connected to a pump 6 on the opposite side of a heat absorbing section is referred to as a heat radiating section front, the distances along the fluid flow from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section central position are referred to as heat transport distances and the distances from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section front are referred to as heat transport distances. S>=the maximum heat transport distance Lmax holds. Lmax is the longest of the heat transport distances.

Abstract: A double-wall pipe includes an outer pipe provided with first and second openings, respectively, at first and second end parts of the outer pipe in a pipe longitudinal direction, and an inner pipe inserted in the outer pipe to define a passage between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. An inlet portion is connected to the outer pipe to communicate with the passage through the first opening, and an outlet portion is connected to the outer pipe to communicate with the passage through the second opening. In the double-wall pipe, the outer pipe and the inner pipe can be disposed to define an expanded portion having an expanded sectional area in the first passage, and the expanded portion can be provided at least at a portion near the inlet portion and the outer portion. The inner pipe can be provided with plural grooves in the double-wall pipe.