Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a resin member comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms, a straight-chain saturated hydrocarbon compound, and a gelling agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite member comprising a porous body having a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, and a communication hole communicating with the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface; and an organic material comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of chain saturated hydrocarbon compounds and sugar alcohols, the organic material filling the communication hole, wherein the porous body is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the organic material.

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 magneto-caloric-effect element has a plurality of element units. The element units have lengths, respectively. The element units have different Curie temperatures, respectively. The element units demonstrate magneto-caloric effects. Two adjoining performance distribution crosses at a cross temperature. A temperature in the rated operational status between two adjoining element units is called a boundary temperature. The lengths and/or Curie temperatures are set so that the boundary temperatures and the cross temperatures coincide each other. Thereby, a plurality of element units can function at high effectiveness in the rated operational status.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration system constructed in such a way that a refrigerant transfer part transfers refrigerant from a first refrigerant discharge part of one refrigerant port to a first refrigerant circulation circuit after a magnetic field is applied to a magnetic working material by a magnetic field applying and removing part and that the refrigerant transfer part transfers refrigerant from a second refrigerant discharge part of other refrigerant port to a second refrigerant circulation circuit after the magnetic field is removed from the magnetic working material by the magnetic field applying and removing part.

Abstract: A magnetic heat pump system which arranges permanent magnets at the two sides of a magnetocalorific effect material to thereby strengthen the magnetic field to improve the cooling and heating ability, which magnetic heat pump system uses first and second magnets which move inside and outside of the containers in the state facing each other to change a magnitude of a magnetic field which is applied to a plurality of containers in which a magnetocalorific effect material is stored so as to change a temperature of a heat transport medium which is made to flow through the containers by a reciprocating pump, the intensity of the magnetic field which is applied to the magnetocalorific effect material in the containers being increased to enlarge the change of temperature of the heat transport medium which is discharged from the magnetic heat pump and improve the cooling and heating efficiency.

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 magnetic heat pump cycle has a first to a fourth steps, which are repeatedly carried out. In the first step, a movement of heat medium is stopped by a pressure valve and a pressure accumulating tank and a magnetic field is applied by a magnetic-field control unit to a magnetic working material. In the second step, the pressure valve is opened so that the heat medium flows in a working chamber from a second axial end to a first axial end, and the magnetic field is increased depending on a moving speed of the heat medium. In the third step, the movement of the heat medium is stopped and the magnetic field is decreased. In the fourth step, the heat medium is moved in a reversed direction and the magnetic field is decreased depending on the moving speed of the heat medium.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric effect type heat pump apparatus includes a magneto-caloric element which generates heat when an external magnetic field is applied to and which absorbs heat when the external magnetic field is removed from; a magnetic field switcher which switches the applying and the removal of the external magnetic field from each other; a pump pumping a heat transport medium between a low-temperature end and a high-temperature end of the magneto-caloric element; and an auxiliary heat source device which supplies heat of a heating element to the magneto-caloric element.

Abstract: In a magnetic heat pump system, in which heat transport medium is heated or cooled by magnetocaloric effect material accommodated in a magnetic heat pump device. A material having a coefficient of thermal conductivity, which is higher than that of the heat transport medium, or a material having a specific heat or a volume specific heat, which is higher than that of the heat transport medium, is mixed in the heat transport medium. A coefficient of thermal conductivity of the heat transport medium is thereby increased so as to increase heating and/or cooling performance of the magnetic heat pump system.

Abstract: A thermo-magnetic cycle apparatus includes: a magnetic element having a Curie temperature distribution in a distribution direction. A magnetic-field supplier supplies an external magnetic field to the magnetic element. A pump pumps heat transport medium to flow forward and backward in the distribution direction. The heat transport medium transports heat of the magnetic element. A shift device causes a position of a high temperature end and/or a low temperature end of the magnetic element to move.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration system constructed in such a way that a refrigerant transfer part transfers refrigerant from a first refrigerant discharge part of one refrigerant port to a first refrigerant circulation circuit after a magnetic field is applied to a magnetic working material by a magnetic field applying and removing part and that the refrigerant transfer part transfers refrigerant from a second refrigerant discharge part of other refrigerant port to a second refrigerant circulation circuit after the magnetic field is removed from the magnetic working material by the magnetic field applying and removing part.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric effect type heat pump apparatus provides a thermo-magnetic cycle apparatus. A magnetic field modulating device has a rotary permanent magnet. By rotating the permanent magnet, magnetic field applied to a magneto-caloric element is modulated alternatively in a magnetized state and a demagnetized state. A magnetized period, when the magnetic field is applied, is shorter than a demagnetized period, when the magnetic field is removed. Thereby, it is possible to reduce weight of the magnetic field modulating device having the permanent magnet. The magneto-caloric element has a heat exchange portion which varies heat exchanging efficiency depending on flow directions of a heat transport medium. The heat exchanging efficiency in the magnetized period is higher than the heat exchanging efficiency in the demagnetized period. Therefore, it is possible to provide sufficient heat exchanging quantity even in a short magnetized period.

Abstract: A thermo-magnetic engine apparatus includes a magnetic element having a high temperature end to which hot energy is supplied and a low temperature end to which cold energy is supplied, a magnetic-field applier device, and a power source device. Curie temperature of the magnetic element is set between a temperature of the high temperature end and a temperature of the low temperature end. The power source device gains a magnetic power generated between the magnetic element and the magnetic-field applier device as kinetic energy.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric-effect element has a plurality of element units. The element units have lengths, respectively. The element units have different Curie temperatures, respectively. The element units demonstrate magneto-caloric effects. Two adjoining performance distribution crosses at a cross temperature. A temperature in the rated operational status between two adjoining element units is called a boundary temperature. The lengths and/or Curie temperatures are set so that the boundary temperatures and the cross temperatures coincide each other. Thereby, a plurality of element units can function at high effectiveness in the rated operational status.

Abstract: In a sheet collection planned to be prepared, when there exists a monochrome sheet group comprised of one or more consecutive monochrome sheets all of whose front and back sides are monochrome pages, between two color sheet groups comprised of one or more consecutive color sheets having a color page on at least one of front and back sides, an information processor determines that sheets in the monochrome sheet group and each one or each two sheets before and after the monochrome sheet group sandwiching the monochrome sheet group are saddle-stitched sheets formed by papers for saddle-stitching. The information processor determines that any sheet other than those determined to be the saddle-stitched sheets are sheets of an adhesive bound group.

Abstract: A magnetic heat pump apparatus includes: a container defining a work chamber; a magnetic working element arranged in the work chamber; a magnetic-field applier that alternately applies a magnetic field to the magnetic working element and removes the magnetic field from the magnetic working element in a magnetic-field direction; and a transportation device that transports heat medium to reciprocate in a reciprocation direction. The magnetic-field direction and the reciprocation direction intersect with each other. The magnetic working element is one of a plurality of magnetic working elements. Each of the plurality of magnetic working elements has a column shape extending in the magnetic-field direction.

Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioner has a magneto-caloric effect type heat pump apparatus (MHP apparatus). MHP apparatus has a magneto-caloric element (MCE element) which generates heat dissipation and heat absorption in response to strength change of an external magnetic field. The MCE element can demonstrate high performance when an element temperature is in a highly efficient temperature zone. A controller has an initial control part which adjusts the element temperature so that the element temperature approaches to the highly efficient temperature zone when the MHP apparatus is in an initial state in which the temperature is out of the highly efficient temperature zone. Thereby, starting of MHP apparatus is promoted. The initial control part may activate an auxiliary apparatus. The auxiliary apparatus heats or cools a part or all of the MCE elements.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric effect type heat pump apparatus provides a thermo-magnetic cycle apparatus. A magnetic field modulating device has a rotary permanent magnet. By rotating the permanent magnet, magnetic field applied to a magneto-caloric element is modulated alternatively in a magnetized state and a demagnetized state. A magnetized period, when the magnetic field is applied, is shorter than a demagnetized period, when the magnetic field is removed. Thereby, it is possible to reduce weight of the magnetic field modulating device having the permanent magnet. The magneto-caloric element has a heat exchange portion which varies heat exchanging efficiency depending on flow directions of a heat transport medium. The heat exchanging efficiency in the magnetized period is higher than the heat exchanging efficiency in the demagnetized period. Therefore, it is possible to provide sufficient heat exchanging quantity even in a short magnetized period.

Abstract: A charge control circuit includes a charge control unit that controls an operation of a charging unit that charges a rechargeable battery; and a voltage detection unit that detects a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery, wherein when a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery as detected by the voltage detection unit is lower than a predetermined first threshold-value voltage, being lower than a full-charge voltage which is a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery in full charge, the charge control unit causes a constant current charging to the rechargeable battery by requesting the charging unit to supply a charging current of a predetermined first current value, causing the charging unit to supply a charging current of the first current value to the rechargeable battery, when the terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery as detected by the voltage detection unit exceeds the first threshold-value voltage but is less than the full charge voltage, the charge control unit causes the constan