Abstract: An evaporator has tubes, and evaporates working fluid therein by heat of exhaust gas. A condenser emits heat of the working fluid toward coolant so as to condense the working fluid, and returns the condensed working fluid to the evaporator. A fin for increasing an area for transmitting heat is disposed between the tubes, and is connected to the tubes. The fin has an operation force reducing part for reducing an operation force applied to the fin in accordance with a thermal expansion difference between the tubes. The operation force reducing part is disposed at a midpoint of the fin between the tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a flat tube and a header in communication with the flat tube. The flat tube has a flat passage part and a groove part. The flat passage part defines a fluid passage therein. The groove part extends along the flat passage part. An end of the groove part is recessed from an end of the flat passage part in a longitudinal direction of the flat tube. The header has a tube insertion hole having a shape corresponding to an outline of the flat passage part. The end of the flat passage part is received in and fixed to the tube insertion hole of the header.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter comprises a thermoelectric element assembly that includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements which are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern; and a heat-exchange element assembly provided with a plurality of heat exchange elements and a retaining plate retaining the plurality of the heat exchange elements, the plurality of the heat exchange elements being retained in a predetermined arrangement condition corresponding to a arrangement condition of the thermoelectric elements. Then, a plurality of joining sites between the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are all together joined by joining members in a state in which the thermoelectric element assembly and the heat-exchange element assembly are stacked on each other.

Abstract: The configuration comprises a shaping member 3 having a substantially rectangular shape and shaping the inner surface side of a bent portion 1b, a worm gear 2 slidably linked with the shaping member 3 and gradually reducing the distance between the shaping members 3 for sequentially feeding the shaping member 3 from one side to the other side, and a reference member 4 arranged so that the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b comes into contact with its reference surface, and the distance between the shaping members 3 is gradually reduced to a predetermined fin pitch and the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b is shaped into a predetermined shape by rotating the worm gear 2 after the plurality of bent portions 1b are arranged at the shaping members 3. Due to this, it is possible to shape the bent portion into a continuous and stable shape.

Abstract: The configuration comprises a shaping member 3 having a substantially rectangular shape and shaping the inner surface side of a bent portion 1b, a worm gear 2 slidably linked with the shaping member 3 and gradually reducing the distance between the shaping members 3 for sequentially feeding the shaping member 3 from one side to the other side, and a reference member 4 arranged so that the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b comes into contact with its reference surface, and the distance between the shaping members 3 is gradually reduced to a predetermined fin pitch and the upper end surface of the bent portion 1b is shaped into a predetermined shape by rotating the worm gear 2 after the plurality of bent portions 1b are arranged at the shaping members 3. Due to this, it is possible to shape the bent portion into a continuous and stable shape.

Abstract: In a thermoelectric transducer, a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices are alternately arranged on an insulating board, and each of a plurality of electrode members is connected to two end portions of adjacent N-type and P-type thermoelectric devices for electrically connecting the adjacent N-type and P-type thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, a plurality of heat exchanging members each of which includes an electrode portion connectable to the electrode member and a heat exchanging portion for exchanging heat transmitted from the electrode portion are located at two sides of a thermoelectric device substrate to form a heat absorbing part and a heat radiating part partitioned from each other. The electrode portions and the heat exchanging portions have, respectively, the same shapes, and the electrode portions and the heat exchanging portions are arranged in the same direction in all the heat exchanging members of each heat absorbing or radiating part.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a thermoelectric device assembly and a pair of heat exchanging member assemblies arranged at both sides of the thermoelectric device assembly. The thermoelectric device assembly includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices, a first holding plate for holding the thermoelectric devices, and a plurality of electrode members for electrically connecting the thermoelectric devices. Each of the heat exchanging member assemblies includes a plurality of heat exchanging members provided in correspondence with the plurality of electrode members, and a second holding plate located for holding the plurality of heat exchanging members. Each of the plurality of electrode members has an outer periphery that contacts one surface of the second holding plate in a state where the electrode member is connected to the heat exchanging member.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a group of thermoelectric devices having a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices alternately arranged on a thermoelectric device substrate, electrode members for electrically connecting the adjacent P-type and N-type thermoelectric devices in series, and heat exchanging members including electrode portions connected to the electrode members. In the thermoelectric transducer, at least a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of heat exchanging portions are formed continuously in a corrugated shape to couple the plurality of electrode members to each other along at least the group of thermoelectric devices, and the adjacent heat exchanging members are provided to be electrically insulated from each other. Accordingly, the thermoelectric transducer can be easily formed.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer includes a group of thermoelectric devices having a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices alternately arranged on a thermoelectric device substrate, electrode members for electrically connecting the adjacent P-type and N-type thermoelectric devices in series, and heat exchanging members including electrode portions connected to the electrode members. In the thermoelectric transducer, at least a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of heat exchanging portions are formed continuously in a corrugated shape to couple the plurality of electrode members to each other along at least the group of thermoelectric devices, and the adjacent heat exchanging members are provided to be electrically insulated from each other. Accordingly, the thermoelectric transducer can be easily formed.

Abstract: The central position of each heating body 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heating body central position, the central position of a heat radiating section 33a located between the neighboring heating bodies 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heat radiating section central position, the end of a heat radiating section 33b connected to a pump 6 on the opposite side of a heat absorbing section is referred to as a heat radiating section front, the distances along the fluid flow from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section central position are referred to as heat transport distances and the distances from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section front are referred to as heat transport distances. S>=the maximum heat transport distance Lmax holds. Lmax is the longest of the heat transport distances.

Abstract: The central position of each heating body 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heating body central position, the central position of a heat radiating section 33a located between the neighboring heating bodies 1 in the fluid flow direction is referred to as a heat radiating section central position, the end of a heat radiating section 33b connected to a pump 6 on the opposite side of a heat absorbing section is referred to as a heat radiating section front, the distances along the fluid flow from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section central position are referred to as heat transport distances and the distances from the heating body central position to the heat radiating section front are referred to as heat transport distances. S>=the maximum heat transport distance Lmax holds. Lmax is the longest of the heat transport distances.