Abstract: Providing a negative-electrode active material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, the negative-electrode active material enabling an output characteristic to upgrade, a production process for the same, a negative electrode for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, and a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery. The negative-electrode active material includes an Si-metal-carbon composite composed of: a metal/carbon composite matrix including at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, Nb, Zn, In and Sn, at least one member selected from the group consisting of N, O, P and S, and amorphous carbon; and nanometer-size Si particles dispersed in the metal/carbon composite matrix.

Abstract: A nanometer-size silicon material produced by heat treating a lamellar polysilane exhibits Raman-shift peaks existing at 341±10 cm?1, 360±10 cm?1, 498±10 cm?1, 638±10 cm?1, and 734±10 cm?1 in a Raman spectrum, has a large specific surface area, and has a reduced SiO content.

Abstract: A negative-electrode active material is provided, the negative-electrode active material including: a lamellar polysilane having a structure in which multiple six-membered rings constituted of a silicon atom are disposed one after another, and expressed by a compositional formula, (SiH)n, as a basic skeleton; and the negative-electrode active material containing copper in an amount of from 0.01 to 50% by mass. To contain copper results in upgrading electron conductivity. Consequently, an electric storage apparatus using the negative-electrode active material for one of the negative electrodes has upgraded rate characteristic, and also has augmented charged and discharged capacities.

Abstract: A lithium silicate-based compound according to the present invention is expressed by a general formula, Li(2?a+b)AaMn(1?x?y)CoxMySiO(4+?)Cl? (In the formula: “A” is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Cs; “M” is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Ni, Fe, Nb, Ti, Cr, Cu, Zn, Zr, V, Mo and W; and the respective subscripts appear to be as follows: 0?“a”<0.2; 0?“b”<1; 0<“x”<1; 0?“y”?0.5; ?0.25?“?”?1.25; and 0?“?”?0.05). The lithium silicate-based compound is used as a positive-electrode active material for secondary battery whose discharge average voltage is higher, and which is able to sorb and desorb lithium ions.

Abstract: Providing a negative-electrode material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, the negative-electrode material including lithium silicate particles coated by a carbonaceous substance, a production process for the same, a negative electrode for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, and a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery. A negative-electrode material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery includes lithium silicate particles having a surface at least some of which is coated by a carbonaceous substance formed by heating a carbon-containing compound at a thermal decomposition temperature of the carbon-containing compound or more and 1,100° C. or less, the carbon-containing compound being a solid at ordinary temperature and exhibiting a zeta-potential absolute value being 60 or more against N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (or NMP).

Abstract: Providing a negative-electrode active material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, the negative-electrode active material enabling an output characteristic to upgrade, a production process for the same, a negative electrode for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, and a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery. The negative-electrode active material includes an Si-metal-carbon composite composed of: a metal/carbon composite matrix including at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, Nb, Zn, In and Sn, at least one member selected from the group consisting of N, O, P and S, and amorphous carbon; and nanometer-size Si particles dispersed in the metal/carbon composite matrix.

Abstract: In a secondary battery, a negative electrode, an electrolytic solution for negative electrode, a diaphragm, an electrolytic solution for positive electrode, and a positive electrode are disposed in order. The negative electrode includes a negative-electrode active material that has an element whose oxidation-reduction potential is more “base” by 1.5 V or more than an oxidation-reduction potential of hydrogen, and whose volume density is larger than that of lithium metal. The diaphragm includes a solid electrolyte transmitting ions of said element alone. A secondary battery with high volumetric density is provided.

Abstract: A lithium silicate-based compound according to the present invention is expressed by a general formula, Li(2?a+b)AaMn(1?x?y)CoxMySiO(4+?)Cl? (In the formula: “A” is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Cs; “M” is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Ni, Fe, Nb, Ti, Cr, Cu, Zn, Zr, V, Mo and W; and the respective subscripts appear to be as follows: 0?“a”<0.2; 0?“b”<1; 0<“x”<1; 0?“y”?0.5; ?0.25?“?”?1.25; and 0?“?”?0.05). The lithium silicate-based compound is used as a positive-electrode active material for secondary battery whose discharge average voltage is higher, and which is able to sorb and desorb lithium ions.

Abstract: Provided is a novel lithium silicate-based material useful as a positive electrode material for lithium ion secondary battery. The lithium silicate-based compound is represented by Li1.5FeSiO4.25 The lithium silicate-based compound is a compound including: lithium (Li); iron (Fe); silicon (Si); and oxygen (O), and expressed by a composition formula, Li1+2?FeSiO4+??c(?0.25???0.25, 0?c?0.5). The lithium silicate-based compound, of which iron (Fe) is trivalent, exerts a remarkable chemical stability as compared to Li2FeSiO4.

Abstract: The variable displacement compressor has a suction-pressure region, a discharge-pressure region and a crank chamber. The compressor includes a supply passage, a bleed passage and a control valve that adjusts cross-sectional area of the bleed passage. The control valve includes a valve chamber, a valve portion and a valve seat member. The valve portion is disposed in the valve chamber for dividing the valve chamber into a bleed chamber, a backpressure chamber and a communication passage. The bleed chamber forms a part of the bleed passage. The backpressure chamber communicates with the supply passage. The communication passage is formed between an outer circumferential surface of the valve portion and an inner circumferential surface of the valve chamber for providing fluid communication between the bleed chamber and the backpressure chamber. The valve seat member is disposed in the bleed chamber and provided separately from a compressor housing forming the valve chamber.

Abstract: A compressor includes a valve plate, a suction reed valve, and a seat surface. The valve plate has a suction port that communicates with a compression chamber and a suction chamber. The suction reed valve can open and close the suction port. The seat surface is formed on the valve plate, and is abutted with the suction reed valve when the suction reed valve closes the suction port. The seat surface includes a flat seal surface surrounding the suction port, and a groove surrounding the seal surface. The valve portion of the suction reed valve includes a flat sealing surface which is brought into close contact with the seal surface to close the suction port. The seat surface has a plurality of protrusions which space the seal surface from the sealing surface when the pressures of the compression chamber and the suction chamber are identical.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a thermoelectric conversion module, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first air-conditioning heat exchanger, a second air-conditioning heat exchanger, a radiator, a first circuit connecting the first heat exchanger and the first air-conditioning heat exchanger and a second circuit connecting the second heat exchanger, the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and the radiator. The second circuit includes a bypass passage that bypasses the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and a first switching device switching selectively between a first position where heat exchange medium flows through the bypass passage without allowing the heat exchange medium to flow through the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and a second position where the heat exchange medium flows through the second air-conditioning heat exchanger.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner for a passenger compartment includes a power source, a radiator provided outside the passenger compartment, a heat medium passage through which heat medium is circulated between the power source and the radiator, a first peltier module having a first peltier device and a first heat exchanger, and a second peltier module having a second peltier device and a second heat exchanger. The first and second peltier devices each has a first surface and a second surface, one of the first surface and the second surface serves to release heat, the other of the first surface and the second surface serves to absorb heat. The first heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first surface. The second heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first surface. The heat medium passage is thermally coupled to the second surfaces of the first and second peltier devices.

Abstract: The air-conditioning core includes a plurality of first Peltier devices, a plurality of first fins and a tube. Each of the first Peltier devices has a first surface and a second surface. The first fins are located on the first surfaces of the first Peltier devices. The tube is located adjacent to the second surfaces of the first Peltier devices. The tube has a main portion extending around the second surfaces of the first Peltier devices and also around the first fins for holding the first Peltier devices, an inlet portion connected to the main portion for allowing heat exchange medium of liquid to flow into the main portion, and an outlet portion connected to the main portion for allowing the heat exchange medium of liquid to flow out of the main portion. The outlet portion is located adjacent to the inlet portion.

Abstract: The air conditioner includes an air-conditioning core, a first air-conditioning passage, a liquid passage and a second air-conditioning passage. The core includes a Peltier device having first and second surfaces, a first surface-side passage and a second surface-side passage. The second surface-side passage has a first passage and a second passage that transfer heat therebetween. The first air-conditioning passage is connected to the first surface-side passage for allowing first air-conditioning air in the first air-conditioning passage to flow through the first surface-side passage. The liquid passage is connected to the first passage for allowing liquid that serves as a heat transfer medium to flow through the first passage. The second air-conditioning passage is connected to the second passage for allowing second air-conditioning air in the second air-conditioning passage to flow through the second passage.

Abstract: The air-conditioning heat exchanger includes a plurality of Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat transfer members, a plurality of second heat transfer members, an air-conditioning passage and a heat exchange medium passage. The air-conditioning passage has therein the Peltier devices and the first heat transfer members. The air-conditioning passage allows air to be air-conditioned to flow therethrough. The air-conditioning passage has a plurality of divided passages at least at positions that are downstream of upstream ends of the first heat transfer members with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows through the air-conditioning passage. The Peltier device in each divided passage is controlled separately from the Peltier device in other divided passage. The heat exchange medium passage has therein the second heat transfer members and allows fluid to flow through the heat exchange medium passage.

Abstract: The variable displacement compressor has a suction-pressure region, a discharge-pressure region and a crank chamber. The compressor includes a supply passage, a bleed passage and a control valve that adjusts cross-sectional area of the bleed passage. The control valve includes a valve chamber, a valve portion and a valve seat member. The valve portion is disposed in the valve chamber for dividing the valve chamber into a bleed chamber, a backpressure chamber and a communication passage. The bleed chamber forms a part of the bleed passage. The backpressure chamber communicates with the supply passage. The communication passage is formed between an outer circumferential surface of the valve portion and an inner circumferential surface of the valve chamber for providing fluid communication between the bleed chamber and the backpressure chamber. The valve seat member is disposed in the bleed chamber and provided separately from a compressor housing forming the valve chamber.

Abstract: The variable displacement swash plate compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft, a swash plate, a piston, a bleed passage, a supply passage and a low-melting member. The housing has a cylinder bore, a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber. The swash plate is supported in the crank chamber by the drive shaft and inclination angle of the swash plate is adjustable. The piston is reciprocally movably received in the cylinder bore. The bleed passage is formed in the housing in communication with the crank chamber and the suction chamber. The supply passage is formed in the housing in communication with the discharge chamber and the crank chamber. The low-melting member is disposed in the bleed passage so as to restrict fluid flow therethrough and has a lower melting point than the housing. When the low-melting member is melted, an opening of the bleed passage is increased.

Abstract: In a swash plate type compressor, refrigerant in a discharge pressure region is introduced into a crank chamber through a supply passage while the refrigerant in the crank chamber is drawn out to a suction pressure region through a bleed passage for controlling pressure in the crank chamber, whereby inclination angle of a swash plate is changed. A heat-generating sliding portion is provided in the crank chamber. The supply passage includes a communication port that communicates with the crank chamber and a first throttle portion for throttling the refrigerant. At least parts of the supply passage and the bleed passage are formed in a drive shaft. A part of the bleed passage formed in the drive shaft is located between a part of the supply passage formed in the drive shaft and an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a housing, a rotary shaft, a bearing, a seal member, a shaft seal chamber, a discharge refrigerant passage and a partition. The partition is provided in the shaft seal chamber for partitioning the shaft seal chamber into a first seal chamber to which the discharge refrigerant passage is opened and a second seal chamber part of the periphery of which is formed by the bearing and the seal member. The partition is provided with a first guide passage through which refrigerant containing lubricating oil flowed from the discharge refrigerant passage into tho first seal chamber is substantially all supplied to the seal member of the second seal chamber.