Abstract: A power generator 1 includes: a fuel electrode 5 that receives a supply of fuel gas; an air electrode 6 that receives a supply of air; an electrolyte layer 7 disposed in between the fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 6; a gas flow channel 3 that circulates therein the fuel gas or the air, with the fuel electrode 5 or the air electrode 6 being exposed to at least part of the gas flow channel 3; a porous body 8 filled in the gas flow channel 3; and a porous sheet 9 present in contact with the porous body 8 and the fuel electrode 5 or the air electrode 6, the porous sheet 9 being made of a material having electrical conductivity, the material having pores formed to spread in a uniform manner, the pores being larger in diameter than pores formed in the porous body 8.

Abstract: A particulate film laminating system includes: a nanoparticle generating chamber in which nanoparticles of a metal material are generated; a nanofiber generating chamber in which nanofibers of a resin material are generated; a laminating chamber in which the nanoparticles and the nanofibers are film-formed and laminated on a substrate; a nanoparticle film-forming region configured such that the nanoparticles are film-formed in the laminating chamber; a nanofiber film-forming region configured such that the nanofibers are film-formed in the laminating chamber; a moving unit which moves the substrate between the nanoparticle film-forming region and the nanofiber film-forming region; an exhaust unit which exhausts the laminating chamber; and a coolant-gas introduction unit which introduces coolant gas into each of the nanoparticle generating chamber and the nanofiber generating chamber.

Abstract: A shift operating apparatus for an automatic transmission which designed to prevent movement of a shift operating device from a parking preparatory condition from being moved to one of the plurality of other gear positions during shifting from one of the other gear positions to the park position. The shift operating apparatus can include a shift operating device moveable between a park position and plurality of other gear positions other than the park position, a parking position detector for detecting when the shift operating device is in the park position. The shift operating device can be adapted to be moved through a parking preparatory condition when shifting between the park position and plurality of other gear positions. A restraint device can be configured to restrain a motion toward the plurality of other gear positions when the shift operating device is in the parking preparatory condition when shifting from one of the plurality of other gear positions to the parking position.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage method is provided which enables a hydrogen storage alloy to store hydrogen up to a maximum hydrogen storage amount thereof in excess of a generally known theoretical value. In a hydrogenation step, a hydrogen storage ratio calculated as an atomic weight ratio between hydrogen and the hydrogen storage alloy is obtained beforehand as a theoretical value, a pressure at which the hydrogen storage alloy stores hydrogen up to the theoretical value is set as a first pressure value, a pressure value ten or more times greater than the first pressure value is set as a second pressure value, and pressure is increased up to the second pressure value. In a dehydrogenation step, the pressure is decreased from the second pressure value to or below the first pressure value. The hydrogenation step and the dehydrogenation step are repeatedly executed.

Abstract: A sputtering device 1 includes: a vacuum chamber 2; a plurality of targets 8 (8a to 8d); a shield 9 that selectively exposes, to the inside of the vacuum chamber 2, only a target 8c out of which a film is to be formed; a substrate holding unit 11 that holds a substrate 10 on which fine particles ejected from the target 8c are deposited to form a film; a first transfer unit 14 that fixedly holds and moves the substrate holding unit 11; a mask 16 disposed between the substrate 10 and the target 8c; a second transfer unit 19 that moves the mask 16; and a plurality of through-hole units 17a to 17f having patterned through holes 17 penetrating through the mask 16.

Abstract: A multinary nanoparticle film forming system includes: a generating chamber with a plurality of metal materials arranged therein so as to generate multinary nanoparticles from nanoparticles; a film forming chamber with a substrate arranged therein; and granulation units arranged in the generating chamber so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of metal materials. Further, each of the granulation units includes each of containers respectively covering the metal materials, each of heaters respectively arranged in the containers, each of outflow ports respectively provided at the containers so as to enable the nanoparticles to flow out therefrom, and each of inflow ports respectively provided at the containers so as to enable the coolant gas to be respectively introduced into the containers.

Abstract: A particulate film laminating system includes: a nanoparticle generating chamber in which nanoparticles of a metal material are generated; a nanofiber generating chamber in which nanofibers of a resin material are generated; a laminating chamber in which the nanoparticles and the nanofibers are film-formed and laminated on a substrate; a nanoparticle film-forming region configured such that the nanoparticles are film-formed in the laminating chamber; a nanofiber film-forming region configured such that the nanofibers are film-formed in the laminating chamber; a moving unit which moves the substrate between the nanoparticle film-forming region and the nanofiber film-forming region; an exhaust unit which exhausts the laminating chamber; and a coolant-gas introduction unit which introduces coolant gas into each of the nanoparticle generating chamber and the nanofiber generating chamber.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy unit comprises a porous body 7 having a large number of holes (spaces) 9 allowing hydrogen atoms to pass through, and a hydrogen storage alloy covering a surface of the porous body 7, inclusive of surfaces of the holes thereof. The hydrogen storage alloy includes a hydrogen storage base formed of a hydrogen storage material, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the hydrogen storage base. The porous body 7 is formed of an assembly of hydrogen storage fibers 8 formed by vapor-depositing the hydrogen storage alloy onto nanofibers.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor using a hydrogen-absorbing alloy containing an Mg—Ni-based alloy and a Zr—Ti-based alloy includes a substrate (2), a hydrogen reaction layer (3) formed on the substrate (2) and containing the Mg—Ni-based alloy and the Zr—Ti-based alloy, and a first catalyst layer (4) formed on the hydrogen reaction layer (3) and capable of accelerating hydrogenation of the Mg—Ni-based alloy.

Abstract: An electricity generation device includes: a tubular fuel cell having an electrolyte layer sandwiched between inside and outside electrodes to which a fuel gas is supplied, the fuel cell having an interior formed as an inside channel for the fuel gas; a cover pipe arranged around the fuel cell with a gap provided between the outside electrode and the cover pipe; a connecting member connecting the fuel cell and the cover pipe to each other and permitting an outside channel for the fuel gas to be formed around the fuel cell by making use of the gap; and a fuel gas pipe connected to each of opposite ends of the cover pipe and forming a flow path for the fuel gas in cooperation with the cover pipe.

Abstract: An electricity generation device (1) using a fuel cell (2) having a fuel electrode (5) and an air electrode (6) to which a fuel gas and air are supplied, respectively, includes: a fuel gas conduit (3) through which the fuel gas flows; a cover (9) configured to cover an outside of the fuel gas conduit (3) and cooperating with a peripheral wall (8a) of the fuel gas conduit (3) to form an air passage (4) therebetween, the air passage extending along the fuel gas conduit (3); an air inlet hole (10) formed through the cover (9) to allow air to flow into the air passage (4); and an air outlet hole (11) provided downstream of the air electrode exposed to the air passage (4), to cause the fuel gas conduit (3) and the air passage (4) to communicate with each other.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy comprises a hydrogen storage base formed of a mixture of magnesium and an alloy, such as a magnesium-nickel alloy, a magnesium-titanium alloy, a magnesium-niobium alloy, a magnesium-manganese alloy, or a magnesium-cobalt alloy, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the base. A hydrogen storage alloy unit includes the hydrogen storage base and a porous body including an assembly of nanofibers. The alloy may be vapor-deposited onto the assembly of nanofibers. The nanofibers may be tangled to provide spaces between the fibers for the passage of hydrogen molecules. The nanofibers in one example are also porous. A catalytic layer of platinum may cover a surface of the hydrogen storage base.

Abstract: An electricity generation device (1) using a fuel cell (2) having a fuel electrode (5) and an air electrode (6) to which a fuel gas and air are supplied, respectively, includes: a fuel gas conduit (3) through which the fuel gas flows; a cover (9) configured to cover an outside of the fuel gas conduit (3) and cooperating with a peripheral wall (8a) of the fuel gas conduit (3) to form an air passage (4) therebetween, the air passage extending along the fuel gas conduit (3); an air inlet hole (10) formed through the cover (9) to allow air to flow into the air passage (4); and an air outlet hole (11) provided downstream of the air electrode exposed to the air passage (4), to cause the fuel gas conduit (3) and the air passage (4) to communicate with each other.

Abstract: An electricity generation device includes: a tubular fuel cell (2) having an electrolyte layer (7) sandwiched between inside and outside electrodes (5, 6) to which a fuel gas is supplied, the fuel cell having an interior formed as an inside channel (3) for the fuel gas; a cover pipe (9) arranged around the fuel cell (2) with a gap provided between the outside electrode (6) and the cover pipe; a connecting member (13) connecting the fuel cell (2) and the cover pipe (9) to each other and permitting an outside channel (4) for the fuel gas to be formed around the fuel cell (2) by making use of the gap; and a fuel gas pipe (12) connected to each of opposite ends of the cover pipe (9) and forming a flow path for the fuel gas in cooperation with the cover pipe (9).

Abstract: A detection membrane is joined to a first surface of an electrolyte membrane. After the detection membrane is hydrogenated, oxygen is supplied to a space facing a second surface of the electrolyte membrane. If the electrolyte membrane has a defect, oxygen leaks to the first surface, resulting in a change in resistance of the detection membrane owing to dehydrogenation of the detection membrane. The defect is recognized by this change. An air electrode is joined to the second surface, and an electric circuit is connected between the detection membrane and the air electrode. After hydrogenating the detection membrane and ionizing oxygen supplied to a space facing the air electrode, oxygen ions permeate through the electrolyte membrane and dehydrogenate the detection membrane. Uniformity of the oxygen ion conductivity is examined by measuring resistance of the detection membrane, which varies depending on the amount of oxygen ions, for each region.

Abstract: When a drive wheel (3) of a vehicle is driven by a motor generator (10) that operates as a motor, electric power is supplied from a storage battery (20) to the motor generator (10). When the drive wheel (3) is braked by the motor generator (10) that operates as a generator, electric power is supplied from the motor generator (10) to the storage battery (20), and a first thermoelectric conversion element (11) is supplied with electric power from the motor generator (10) to cool the motor generator (10).

Abstract: An electric power generation device includes a cell body and a secondary electric power generator. The cell body has an electrolyte, a fuel electrode and an air electrode. The secondary electric power generator is joined to at least one of the fuel and air electrodes and includes P- and N-type thermoelectric conversion members. With the electric power generation device, the cell body generates electric power at temperatures higher than or equal to an power generation start temperature, and at the same time, the P- and N-type thermoelectric conversion members joined to the cell body and functioning as a thermocouple produce electric power by utilizing the Seebeck effect.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a vehicle, which supplies more electric power to a motor which supplements the drive power of an engine and collects energy from an exhaust to be able to improve fuel consumption and reduce the total amount of the exhaust, is realized by comprising an engine coupled to a drive wheel to generate drive power for the vehicle, a generator motor coupled to an output shaft of the engine and the drive wheel, a battery, a power control unit, and a power generation unit which generates electric power using an exhaust of the engine, and selects a charge mode when the vehicle is braked and when an engine output is equal to or greater than an output needed to drive the vehicle, wherein the electric power generated by the generator is stored in the battery, and energy is collected from the exhaust using the power generation unit.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy unit comprises a porous body 7 having a large number of holes (spaces) 9 allowing hydrogen atoms to pass through, and a hydrogen storage alloy covering a surface of the porous body 7, inclusive of surfaces of the holes thereof. The hydrogen storage alloy includes a hydrogen storage base formed of a hydrogen storage material, and a catalytic layer covering a surface of the hydrogen storage base. The porous body 7 is formed of an assembly of hydrogen storage fibers 8 formed by vapor-depositing the hydrogen storage alloy onto nanofibers.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy comprises a hydrogen storage base 2 formed of a mixture of Mg and an alloy (Mg2Ni, for example), and a catalytic layer 3 covering a surface of the hydrogen storage base 2. The hydrogen storage alloy with this structure exhibits both a high ability to store hydrogen and a high ability to cause hydrogen to diffuse in it in the solid state, provided by Mg and Mg2Ni, respectively. Hydrogen absorbed in Mg in one region is passed on to Mg (or Mg2Ni) in another region by virtue of Mg2Ni. Since this movement of hydrogen does not require heat nor pressure, hydrogen can be absorbed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.