Abstract: A thermomagnetic cycle device includes: a magneto-caloric element; a magnetic field modulation device that modulates an external magnetic field applied to the magneto-caloric element; a heat transport device that generates a both-way flow of heat transport medium; a phase controller that adjusts a phase difference between a magnetic field phase of change in the external magnetic field generated by the magnetic field modulation device and a flow phase of the both-way flow generated by the heat transport device; and a control device that controls the phase controller. The control device includes: a phase acquisition part that acquires the flow phase of the both-way flow of the heat transport medium or a reaction phase represented by change in heat emitted or absorbed by the magneto-caloric element; and a control part that controls the phase controller based on the flow phase or the reaction phase.

Abstract: A controller is configured to, based on a characteristic information of thermal output with respect to a temperature difference between a hot end and a cold end of a working chamber, changes at least one of a flow rate of a heating target fluid in a high temperature heat exchanger and a flow rate of a cooling target fluid in a low temperature heat exchanger. At least one of the flow rate of the heating target fluid in the high temperature heat exchanger and the flow rate of the cooling target fluid in the low temperature heat exchanger is adjusted such that the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends changes in a direction that increases thermal output.

Abstract: A thermo-magnetism cycle apparatus has a first magneto-caloric element (MCE) element on a low temperature side and a second MCE element on a high temperature side. A first heat transfer medium flows in the first MCE element and a second heat transfer medium flows in the second MCE element. A third MCE element has a first flow passage that flows the first heat transfer medium and a second flow passage that flows the second heat transfer medium. The third MCE element absorbs heat from the first heat transfer medium utilizing a magneto-caloric process and dissipates the absorbed heat partially to the second heat transfer medium. As such, the third MCE element actively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media via the magneto-caloric process. The third MCE element also passively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media.

Abstract: A controller is configured to, based on a characteristic information of thermal output with respect to a temperature difference between a hot end and a cold end of a working chamber, changes at least one of a flow rate of a heating target fluid in a high temperature heat exchanger and a flow rate of a cooling target fluid in a low temperature heat exchanger. At least one of the flow rate of the heating target fluid in the high temperature heat exchanger and the flow rate of the cooling target fluid in the low temperature heat exchanger is adjusted such that the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends changes in a direction that increases thermal output.

Abstract: A thermo-magnetism cycle apparatus has a first magneto-caloric element (MCE) element on a low temperature side and a second MCE element on a high temperature side. A first heat transfer medium flows in the first MCE element and a second heat transfer medium flows in the second MCE element. A third MCE element has a first flow passage that flows the first heat transfer medium and a second flow passage that flows the second heat transfer medium. The third MCE element absorbs heat from the first heat transfer medium utilizing a magneto-caloric process and dissipates the absorbed heat partially to the second heat transfer medium. As such, the third MCE element actively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media via the magneto-caloric process. The third MCE element also passively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a gas casing formed with a gas chamber filled with a refrigerant gas, and a heat exchanging unit received in the gas chamber of the gas casing. The heat exchanging unit has a plurality of regenerative plates each made of a material having a thermal conductivity and a heat capacity. The regenerative plates are positioned in face-to-face and thermally insulated relationships to one another with the surfaces being in substantially perpendicular to the center axis of the heat exchanging unit to define spaces each between the neighboring two regenerative plates. Each of the regenerative plates may be shaped in the symmetrical outline form with respect to its central point and smaller in size than the cross-sections of the gas chamber of the gas casing. Each of the regenerative plates has a plurality of airy holes formed therein.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a regenerative heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical core casing and a stack body core formed by a plurality of circular mesh plates each having fluid passage holes and stacked on one another to form fluid passageways. The stack body core is housed in the core casing to have a fluid cooling medium introduced into the fluid passageways to carry out heat exchange between the stack body core and the fluid cooling medium. Each of the mesh plates has on its outer periphery a reference mark portion positioned with respect to the fluid passage holes, and the mesh plates collectively form a row of reference mark portions indicative of the form of each of the fluid passageways. The row of reference mark portions enables to easily modify or adjust the shapes of the fluid passageways of the stack body core by relatively rotating the mesh plates with reference to the reference mark portions.

Abstract: In a control system for a carriage, a pair of driven wheels are raised or lowered by an elevator section so as to suppress inclination of the carriage which would be otherwise caused due to acceleration/deceleration of the carriage. Specifically, during starting acceleration of the carriage, the driven wheels are raised so as to cancel extended amounts of springs of the driven wheels. On the other hand, during steady running of the carriage, the driven wheels are lowered by a constant amount to reduce loads applied to caster sections so that vibration applied to the carriage are reduced as a whole. During braking acceleration (deceleration) of the carriage, the driven wheels are lowered so as to cancel contracted amounts of the springs of the driven wheels.

Abstract: A traveling carriage includes driven wheels for running on a running surface. For changing a running direction of the traveling carriage, the driven wheels are raised and separated from the running surface by an elevator mechanism and then turned to change their steered directions by a steering mechanism. While changing the steered directions of the driven wheels, the traveling carriage is fixed relative to the running surface by simple-structured leg-like members. Further, the driven wheels have their own turning centers to turn thereabout for changing their steered directions. This realizes a reduced turning radius for each of the driven wheels. Further, since the driven wheels are turned in phase with each other, the stable running of the traveling carriage is ensured.