Abstract: A swash plate type variable displacement compressor includes a collection and supply mechanism. The collection and supply mechanism has collection passages, supply passages, an annular space, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The inlet port is communicable with a working collection passage of the collection passages. The outlet port is communicable with a working supply passage of the supply passages. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is maximum, residual refrigerant gas in a compression chamber of collection phase is collected through the working collection passage and the collected refrigerant gas is supplied to a compression chamber of supply phase. On the other hand, when the inclination angle is less than the maximum, residual refrigerant gas is supplied no more into the supply-phase compression chamber.

Abstract: A piston-type compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft supported on the housing, a communication hole formed inside the drive shaft, a valve mechanism, and a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is inserted in the communication hole to disconnect a residual gas bypass passage and the communication hole from each other and to open the interior space of the cylindrical body to the communication hole. The valve mechanism includes an annular space defined outside the cylindrical body in the communication hole and multiple connection holes providing communication between the annular space and communication passages. The residual gas bypass passage is formed of the annular space and the multiple connection holes.

Abstract: A swash plate type variable displacement compressor includes a collection and supply mechanism. The collection and supply mechanism has collection passages, supply passages, an annular space, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The inlet port is communicable with a working collection passage of the collection passages. The outlet port is communicable with a working supply passage of the supply passages. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is maximum, residual refrigerant gas in a compression chamber of collection phase is collected through the working collection passage and the collected refrigerant gas is supplied to a compression chamber of supply phase. On the other hand, when the inclination angle is less than the maximum, residual refrigerant gas is supplied no more into the supply-phase compression chamber.

Abstract: A piston-type compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft supported on the housing, a communication hole formed inside the drive shaft, a valve mechanism, and a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is inserted in the communication hole to disconnect a residual gas bypass passage and the communication hole from each other and to open the interior space of the cylindrical body to the communication hole. The valve mechanism includes an annular space defined outside the cylindrical body in the communication hole and multiple connection holes providing communication between the annular space and communication passages. The residual gas bypass passage is formed of the annular space and the multiple connection holes.

Abstract: A first rotor and a second rotor have helical teeth each including a dedendum portion, an addendum portion, and an addendum tip portion. Profiles of the addendum portions of the first and second rotors are formed by cycloidal curves. Profiles of the dedendum portions of the first and second rotors are formed by trochoidal curves. A pitch circle of the second rotor is larger than that of the first rotor. The number of teeth of the second rotor is larger than that of the first rotor. A width angle of the first rotor is not less than a minimum angle at which the addendum tip portions of the first rotor are in line contact with an outer circle of the first rotor, and not more than an angle at which a discharge volume ratio is approximately equal to that at the minimum angle.

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: A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a bearing, a thrust bearing, a lug plate and urging means. The urging means is placed between the bearing and the lug plate and has urging force for reducing thrust force applied to the thrust bearing. The bearing receives radial force and thrust force.

Abstract: A vehicle heater for generating heat for heating a vehicle compartment. The heater includes a rotor rotated by a vehicle engine. The rotor has a predetermined thickness and a peripheral edge. The heater further includes a heating chamber for accommodating the rotor and a fluid. The fluid is heated in the heating chamber when the rotor rotates. The heater further includes a reservoir. The fluid from the heating chamber is stored in the reservoir. The heater further includes a return passage connecting the reservoir and the heating chamber. The fluid returns from the heating chamber to the reservoir through the return passage. The return passage has an entrance opening in an inner wall of the heating chamber. The entrance opening faces the peripheral edge of the rotor, and the maximum width of the entrance opening is greater than the thickness of the rotor.

Abstract: In the heater of the present invention, a heating chamber accommodates a viscous fluid. A rotor is located in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. The heat generated in the heating chamber is transferred to the heat exchanger and heats a fluid that flows through the heat exchanger. A reservoir stores the viscous fluid. The reservoir has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the lower portion has a greater volume than the upper position. A return passage connects the heating chamber to the reservoir so that the viscous fluid moves from the heating chamber to the reservoir when the rotor rotates. A supply passage connects the reservoir to the heating chamber so that the viscous fluid flows from the reservoir to the heating chamber.

Abstract: A compressor has a casing and a compressing member located within the casing. A gas drawn from a suction chamber into a compression chamber is compressed to be discharged to a discharge chamber in accordance with the operation of the compressing member. The compressor has a drive apparatus located within the casing for driving the compressing member. The drive apparatus has a fixed drive member fixed to the casing and having a plurality of electrode strips arranged in a single direction with a predetermined pitch. A second member is fixed to the compressing member. The compressing member is driven by relative movement generated between the fixed and movable drive members in response to Coulomb force generated between the fixed and movable drive members when voltage is applied to the electrode strips.

Abstract: A multiple axes drive apparatus having a plurality of electrostatic actuators for applying driving forces in a plurality of different directions within a plane to a driven member. Each electrostatic actuator of the drive apparatus includes a first member that has a plurality of first electrode strips arranged in a single direction with a predetermined pitch, and a second member that has a plurality of second electrode strips arranged in the same direction as the first electrode strips with the same pitch. The members are located opposite to each other so one of the members moves along the single direction in response to a Coulomb force generated between the electrode strips when voltage is applied to the electrode strips.

Abstract: A compressed dry air supply system includes an air compressor which uses water for lubricating and cooling the movable parts thereof. Compressed air obtained from the compressor is sufficiently dehumidified by a refrigerator type dryer. The water produced due to the dehumidification of the compressed air is received in a water tank, and some of the water held in the water tank is recycled back to the compressor.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning apparatus includes an input shaft connected to an engine, a pump unit disposed on the input shaft, a compressor unit disposed on the input shaft, and a separator wall disposed between the pump unit and the compressor unit and adapted to seal therebetween in the axial direction of the input shaft. The pump unit includes a first short-circuiting passage communicating the suction space and the discharge space, and the first short-circuiting passage is provided with a first control valve. The compressor unit includes a second short-circuiting passage communicating the suction area and the discharge area, and the second short-circuiting passage is provided with a second control valve. When heating, the first short-circuiting passage is closed with the first control valve, and the second short-circuiting passage is opened with the second control valve to disable the compressor unit.