Abstract: Provided are a negative electrode that is for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, includes a porous metal body as a current collector, contains a skeleton-forming agent highly infiltrated in the current collector so that it is less likely to suffer from structural degradation and provides improved cycle durability; and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including such a negative electrode. The negative electrode for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a current collector including a porous metal body; a first negative electrode material disposed in pores of the porous metal body and including a conductive aid, a binder, and a negative electrode active material including a silicon-based material; and a second negative electrode material disposed in pores of the porous metal body and including a skeleton-forming agent including a silicate having a siloxane bond.

Abstract: A heat-pump hot water supply apparatus, for dissolving problems of delaying in heating rise-up time when re-starting, and ill influences upon starting characteristics, due to liquid refrigerant residing in an evaporator when the operation is stepped, within a heat-pump circuit thereof, comprises a heat-pump refrigerant circuit, in which a compressor, a water/refrigerant heat exchanger, a refrigerant adjusting valve, and an evaporator, in series, through refrigerant pipes, a direct hot-water supply circuit, into which is supplied hot water heated, obtained by heating water supplied from an outside via a water pipe by means the water/refrigerant heat exchanger, and a compressor operation controller means for stopping the compressor and also closing the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor stops the operation thereof, and for re-starting the compressor after opening the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor starts the operation, again, wherein the refrigerant within the evaporator is collect

Abstract: A heat-pump hot water supply apparatus, for dissolving problems of delaying in heating rise-up time when re-starting, and ill influences upon starting characteristics, due to liquid refrigerant residing in an evaporator when the operation is stepped, within a heat-pump circuit thereof, comprises a heat-pump refrigerant circuit, in which a compressor, a water/refrigerant heat exchanger, a refrigerant adjusting valve, and an evaporator, in series, through refrigerant pipes, a direct hot-water supply circuit, into which is supplied hot water heated, obtained by heating water supplied from an outside via a water pipe by means the water/refrigerant heat exchanger, and a compressor operation controller means for stopping the compressor and also closing the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor stops the operation thereof, and for re-starting the compressor after opening the refrigerant adjusting valve when the compressor starts the operation, again, wherein the refrigerant within the evaporator is collect

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.