Abstract: A method of assessing a probe by measuring a known sample whose shape is known with the probe in an electronic microscope, the known sample having a projection part on a surface thereof, and the projection part having a shape tapered toward a vertex thereof, the method comprising a step of measuring circle equivalent radius of the projection part, a step of comparing the circle equivalent radius with a first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is satisfactory when the width is less than the first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is unsatisfactory when the width is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. Therefore, a large-capacity hot-water storage tank is not needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature. Therefore, it is possible to use a smaller hot-water supply tank.

Abstract: A hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. Therefore, a large-capacity hot-water storage tank is not needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature. Therefore, it is possible to use a smaller hot-water supply tank.

Abstract: A hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. Therefore, a large-capacity hot-water storage tank is not needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature. Therefore, it is possible to use a smaller hot-water supply tank.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a compact lightweight heat pump hot-water supply system. The hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. In this system, therefore, large-capacity hot-water storage tank in conventional systems is no longer needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature.

Abstract: A hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. Therefore, a large-capacity hot-water storage tank is not needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature. Therefore, it is possible to use a smaller hot-water supply tank.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a compact lightweight heat pump hot-water supply system. The hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit.

Abstract: An air-conditioner of a heat pump type includes a refrigeration cycle including an interior heat exchanger, an exterior heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, and an expansion mechanism, and a non-azeotrope refrigerant composed of not less than two kinds of refrigerants is used as a working medium. A refrigerant path in each of the interior and exterior heat exchangers is divided into a group of first refrigerant passages located at a region where a proportion of the liquid-phase refrigerant is large and a group of second refrigerant passages located at a region where a proportion of the liquid-phase refrigerant is small. At least part of the group of first refrigerant passages of each of the interior and exterior heat exchangers is located at the windward side. Heat transfer tubes of the group of first refrigerant passages of each of the interior and exterior heat exchangers are smaller in flow-passage cross-sectional area than those of the corresponding group of second refrigerant passages.

Abstract: A permanent magnet having good thermal stability, consisting essentially of the composition represented by the general formula:R[Fe.sub.1-x-y-z Co.sub.x B.sub.y Ga.sub.z ].sub.Awherein R is Nd alone or one or more rare earth elements mainly composed of Nd, Pr or Ce, 0.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.7, 0.02.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.3, 0.001.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.15 and 4.0.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.7.5.This permanent magnet may contain one or more additional elements selected from Nb, W, V, Ta and Mo. This permanent magnet has high coercive force and Curie temperature and thus highly improved thermal stability.

Abstract: A permanent magnet having good thermal stability, consisting essentially of the composition represented by the general formula:R(Fe.sub.1-x-y-z Co.sub.x B.sub.y Ga.sub.z).sub.Awherein R is Nd alone or one or more rare earth elements mainly composed of Nd, Pr or Ce, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.7, 0.02.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.3, 0.001.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.15 and 4.0.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.7.5.This permanent magnet may contain one or more additional elements selected from Nb, W, V, Ta and Mo. This permanent magnet has high coercive force and Curie temperature and thus highly improved thermal stability.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner and, in particular, an air conditioner which is capable of blowing out warm air in heating mode. In the air conditioner of this invention, the condenser is thermally separated into an air-upstream-side and an air-downstream-side heat exchanger, and the heat exchange capacity of the air-downstream-side heat exchanger is adjusted, so that, under preset operating conditions, the entire refrigerant in the air-downstream-side heat exchanger can be kept in the superheated-gas phase, thus making it possible to blow out warm air having a temperature higher than the condensation temperature. Further, the refrigerant temperature at the outlet of the air-downstream-side heat exchanger is measured by a temperature sensor, and the revolving speed of the compressor, the revolving speed of the fan, etc., is so controlled that the temperature measured is kept at a level higher than the condensation temperature.

Abstract: A structure of an electronic part which may be mounted on and soldered to the surface of a printed circuit board, and a method of mounting such an electronic part. While the electronic part mounted on the circuit board is operation, heat generated by the part is efficiently radiated to the ambience. Connecting terminals extending out from the electronic part are firmly soldered to the circuit board by a minimum of heat, whereby the bonding strength and the strength against shocks are enhanced. The electronic part of interest and other electronic parts neighboring it are free from damage ascriable to heat when the former has connecting terminals thereof soldered to the circuit board. When the connecting terminals of the electronic part are soldered to the circuit board by a laser beam. Other electronic parts mounted on the circuit board are prevented from being damaged by the laser beam.

Abstract: A thermally stable permanent magnet with reduced irreversible loss of flux and improved intrinsic coercivity iHc of 15 KOe or more having the following compositon:(Nd.sub.1-.alpha. Dy.sub..alpha.)(Fe.sub.1-x-y-z Co.sub.x B.sub.y M.sub.z).sub.awherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, Al, Si, P, Zr, Cu, V, W, Ti, Ni, Cr, Hf, Mn, Bi, Sn, Sb and Ge, 0.01.ltoreq.x .ltoreq.0.4, 0.04.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.20, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.03, 4.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.7.5 and 0.03.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.40. This can be manufactured by (a) sintering an alloy having the above composition by a powder metallurgy method, (b) heating the sintered body at 750.degree.-1000.degree. C. for 0.2-5 hours, (c) slowing cooling it at a cooling rate of 0.3.degree.-5.degree. C./min to temperatures between room temperature and 600.degree. C., (d) heating it at 540.degree.-640.degree. C. for 0.2-3 hours, and (e) rapidly cooling it at a cooling rate of 20.degree.-400.degree. C./min.

Abstract: A thermally stable permanent magnet with reduced irreversible loss of flux and improved intrinsic coercivity iHc of 15KOe or more having the following composition:(Nd.sub.1-.alpha. Dy.sub..alpha.)(Fe.sub.1-x-y-z Co.sub.x B.sub.y M.sub.z).sub.awherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, Al, Si, P, Zr, Cu, V, W, Ti, Ni, Cr, Hf, Mn, Bi, Sn, Sb and Ge, 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4, 0.04.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.20, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.03, 4.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.7.5 and 0.03.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.40. This can be manufactured by (a) sintering an alloy having the above composition by a powder metallurgy method, (b) heating the sintered body at 750.degree.-1000.degree. C. for 0.2-5 hours, (c) slowly cooling it at a cooling rate of 0.3.degree.-5.degree. C./min to temperatures between room temperature and 600.degree. C., (d) heating it at 540.degree.-640.degree. C. for 0.2-3 hours, and (e) rapidly cooling it at a cooling rate of 20.degree.-400.degree. C./min.

Abstract: A method for indicating a vehicle operation in a fuel economy range, for a vehicle with a manual transmission, indicates that the vehicle is operating in a fuel economy range when both of an up-shifting condition and a down-shifting condition are not satisfied. The method further detects a non-regular state of the vehicle operation and stops the indication of the vehicle operation under the fuel economy range when the non-regular state of the vehicle operation is detected even though both of the up-shifting and down-shifting conditions are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method for indicating a running condition of a vehicle having an engine and a manual transmission generates a direction of a down-shift operation according to a detected opening angle of a throttle valve of the engine and detected acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. The direction of the down-shift operation is generated when the acceleration of the vehicle is above a predetermined value while the throttle valve is substantially fully closed and when the deceleration of the vehicle is above a predetermined value while the throttle valve is substantially fully opened. Thus, a suitable direction of gear position is generated when the vehicle is climbing an uphill road or coasting on a downhill road.

Abstract: A method for indicating a running condition of a vehicle having an engine and a manual transmission generates a direction of an up-shift operation according to detected results of the throttle position, the gear position, the vehicle speed, and the engine load. The direction of the up-shift operation is basically generated when the throttle valve is open, a medium speed gear is engaged, and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined level. Besides, the generation of the direction of the up-shift operation is stopped when the load of the engine suitably detected by the pressure in the intake manifold is in a medium load range.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed connector for a glove box and a method for exchanging such connectors in which leakage of radioactive material from within the glove box is minimized and an auxiliary glove box is not needed to exchange the connectors. The connector is formed as a cylindrical member having a flange portion hermetically sealed to a packing provided in a through hole in the wall of the glove box. To exchange connectors, a nut is removed from the outer end of the old connector and a tube is screwed thereto. The other end of the tube is fitted to the inner end of the new connector. The tube is then shoved through the packing until the flange of the new connector aligns with the packing. The tube is then removed from the inner end of the new connector and a nut is screwed on in replacement for the tube.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed connector for a glove box and a method for exchanging such connectors in which leakage of radioactive material from within the glove box is minimized and an auxiliary glove box is not needed to exchange the connectors. The connector is formed as a cylindrical member having a flange portion hermetically sealed to a packing provided in a through hole in the wall of the glove box. To exchange connectors, a nut is removed from the outer end of the old connector and a tube is screwed thereto. The other end of the tube is fitted to the inner end of the new connector. The tube is then shoved through the packing until the flange of the new connector aligns with the packing. The tube is then removed from the inner end of the new connector and a nut is screwed on in replacement for the tube.

Abstract: An air conditioner comprising temperature detectors for respectively detecting air temperatures at suction and discharge sides, a fan motor whose rotational speed is controllable, a motor driven wind directing plate, and a control section for controlling the discharge angle by the wind directing plate and for controlling the air flow amount by the fan motor. Thus, the air flow amount and the discharge angle are controlled by the control section to heat a room such that the heating operation is effected with a small amount of warmed air of a high temperature immediately after the start of operation, and the amount of warmed air is gradually increased and the discharge angle is also gradually changed as the room temperature rises.