Abstract: Panels which are joined at their opposing end faces are used to create a panel assembly. The opposing end faces may be a tongue and groove arrangement or they may consist of matching beveled recesses. In either case, the interrelationship between the opposing end faces is such that, upon assembly, an intervening space is created between adjoining panels. This intervening space eliminates the cantilever force effect associated with known panel assemblies and it results, instead, in a shear force which is evenly distributed over the full extent of the abutting panel faces.

Abstract: Siding panels having indicia indicating a zone into which fasteners should be placed, and methods for manufacturing and installing the panels are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the siding includes a panel of siding material having a first edge extending along a first dimension, a second edge spaced apart from the first edge a first distance, and a first side with indicia. The indicia define a zone into which at least one fastener should be placed to install the panel. The zone extends along the first dimension and has a width of approximately 0.2 inch to approximately 0.3 inch. The zone has a center line spaced apart from the first edge a second distance of approximately 7 percent to approximately 22 percent of the first distance. The siding material is composed of a continuous, single fiber-cement compound including cement, silica, and cellulose fiber.

Abstract: A piping clamp for holding a pipe to a concrete form. The piping clamp includes a base having a vertical standoff and a spring clamp extending horizontally from the base. The vertical standoff prevents the spring clamp from contacting the top surface of a poured concrete structure, thus allowing workers to trowel the concrete's surface without interfering with the clamp. In addition, a web portion of the spring clamp acts as a horizontal standoff and precludes a clamped piping run from coming into contact with the concrete form. The base may include a plurality of staggered fastener openings facilitating adjustment of the piping clamp during installation. In use, the spring clamp removably secures a piping run to a concrete form until the concrete form is removed. During removal, the spring clamp allows the piping run and the concrete form to be easily separated without disturbing the piping run.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding products to be dispatched, such as, for instance, documents, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, and the like, to a conveyor of a packaging line, provided with transport pushers, the feeder being provided with a magazine for storing a stack of products, the dimensions of the magazine being settable through the setting of guides, wherein at least a number of the guides are in communication with a sensor, such that the position of the respective guide is known, while the control is arranged, on the basis of the signals coming from the sensors, to set at least one setting of a packaging line of which the feeder forms a part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing an assembly comprising a plurality of digital data storage media carriers attached to a carrier strip. In the production of the assemblies, carriers are positioned for movement in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor system with the carriers being in a row. Carrier strips are secured to the carriers with the longitudinal axis of the assembly and the carrier strips being generally parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor system. Carriers are deposited onto the conveyor system via a bottom feed depositor which depositor utilizes a pressure differential to help produce positive movement of carriers from a carrier magazine onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A leading end of packaging material is grasped in a packaging material holder while a load is wrapped. Packaging material is dispensed from a packaging material dispenser, and relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and a load to wrap packaging material around the load. The packaging material holder may be positioned on the rotating surface of a turntable but isolated from any electrical or fluid power source of a rotatable surface of the turntable. During the wrapping cycle, the packaging material holder moves downstream along the turntable, automatically releasing the leading end of the packaging material and automatically grasping a trailing end of the packaging material. The packaging material is weakened and then severed between the packaging material holder and the load. The packaging material holder is mounted to permit it to move upstream due to force exerted by the packaging material held in the holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming void-fill packaging wherein a tubular plastics material (11) is periodically fed via driver rollers (15) along a longitudinal guide path (12), first and second transverse spaced parallel heat seals are formed substantially across the plastics material via a transverse heat sealer (36, 38) to define a chamber (104) between the seals, a fluid is discharged into the chamber via a nozzle (20) positioned along the guide path and adapted to extend inside the tubular plastics material adjacent to one longitudinal edge of the plastic material, a third heat seal is formed via a longitudinal heat sealer (78) to seal the chamber (104), and the longitudinal edge of the tubular plastic material is cut via a cutting element (22) so that the movement of the tubular plastics material is not hindered by the nozzle.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant and method for filling bottles with a liquid beverage having a treatment device for beverage container caps. The treatment device for treating beverage container caps includes a first tower and a second tower provided with parallel axes and driven at the same peripheral speed. Transfer chutes are provided that emerge with their ends onto carrier rings of different towers, which chutes transfer caps from each tier of the first tower to a tier of the second tower, and from there, optionally via at least one additional tower and transfer chutes, to the next-lower tier of first tower.

Abstract: Flexible ducting apparatus includes a packaging station and compression station, a support trough for supporting the ducting in the packaging station and compression station, and an actuating post which is arranged to engage a leading end of a length of flexible ducting to be packed and pull the length of ducting in a first direction through the packaging station into the compression station. The apparatus includes a control device to cause movement of a stop member into an operative position in the packaging station downstream of a trailing end of the length of ducting, the control device then being operative to cause the actuating post to execute a second stroke in the opposite direction to the first stroke so that the trailing end of the length of ducting is compressed against the stop member in the packaging station whereby packaging can be placed about the compressed length of ducting in the packaging station.

Abstract: A method of loading a tray with at least one layer of items includes forming a plurality items into a group of items, moving the first group in a first generally horizontal direction so that the items are received through a top opening of the tray to form a layer of items that at least partially covers the upper surface of said base. The method also includes moving the tray loaded with the group of items in a generally vertical direction. The vertical direction may be downward. The tray may then be moved again in a horizontal direction. Also a system is provided to perform the aforesaid method.

Abstract: A system for heat-shrinking a film onto an open-topped container is provided, including at least one reflective cup having a reflective interior surface, and at least one radiant energy source. The reflective cup and the radiant energy source may be rotationally mounted. The interior surface of the reflective cup has as least an elliptical portion and a parabolic portion.

Abstract: A horse browband having a plurality of decorative components adhesively attached to a flexible band with lengths of thread extending through the decorative components from one end of the flexible band to the opposite end of the flexible band to provide added protection against the decorative components falling off the flexible band when, for example, the adhesive fails.

Abstract: An automated animal-training system is provided, which includes an enclosure device for the animal, an arrangement for adjustably fixing the location of the animal within the enclosure device, and an actuation mechanism for moving the automated animal-training system. In order to simulate real racing situations for the animals, the arrangement for adjustably fixing the location of the animal within the enclosure device is controlled by one or more motors movable on sliding rails. Furthermore, a mechanism is provided for suspending the animal in the training device in case the animal trips.

Abstract: A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities.

Abstract: An articulating deck mower comprises a frame unit, relatively movable cutter decks, and a deck height adjuster. The deck height adjuster is configured for adjustment of the height of the cutter decks relative to the frame unit.

Abstract: A steel cord comprises a core with one or more core steel filaments and further comprises a first layer of intermediate steel filaments twisted around the core, and a second layer of second steel filaments twisted around the first layer. At least one of the intermediate steel filaments is individually coated by means of a polymer with a minimum thickness of 0.010 mm. The polymer reduces the fretting between the coated intermediate steel filaments and the other steel filaments and makes the steel cord suitable for reinforcement of carcass plies of a tire.

Abstract: A hybrid flexible wire shaft having an inner portion with the characteristics of a push/pull shaft having at least one layer of wire groups helically wound on a core wire at a relatively high pitch angle, and an outer portion with the characteristics of a torsional transmission flexible shaft having two or more layers of wire groups wound on the central portion at a relatively low pitch angle. Each layer of the outer group is wound in a direction opposite to the wind direction of each adjacent layer of that group. In an alternate construction, the high and low pitch portions are reversed and an additional outer layer is provided which is wound in a direction opposite to the outermost layer of the high pitch portion.

Abstract: An article of furniture is made from elongated polymer filaments. The polymer filaments may be monofilaments or plural filaments which are twisted together and heat set to prevent their untwisting during the subsequent weaving process. The heat setting of the polymer filaments is achieved by heating the polymer material either before or after the twisting process.

Abstract: A cable is disclosed that can be used to reinforce a crown protection ply and/or a stiffener (9) in tires for heavy industrial vehicles. Also disclosed are composite fabrics that can be used as crown protection plies and/or as stiffeners (9) in such tires, and the tires themselves. The cable comprises three strands twisted together in helix of pitch p2, each consisting of two metallic wires twisted together in helix of pitch p1, these wires having diameters (d1, d2), (d1?, d2?), (d1?, d2?) for the strands, respectively, such that the cable satisfies the following conditions: (i) 0.25 < d1 < 0.45 (ii) 0.25 < d2 < 0.45 (iii) 0.25 < d1? < 0.45 (iv) 0.25 < d2? < 0.45 (v) 0.25 < d1? < 0.45 (vi) 0.25 < d2? < 0.45 (vii) 2 < p1 < p2 < 10.

Abstract: A gas turbine installation includes at least one gas turbine. A transition piece may receive an exhaust gas from the gas turbine. The transition piece is an exhaust gas inlet part of a steam recovery part for a steam generator. The transition piece includes a chimney orifice for discharging the exhaust gas of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A power transfer assembly comprises a power turbine constructed of a nickel alloy; a gear shaft constructed of a low-carbon carburized gear material; and a transition portion between and welded to each of the power turbine and gear shaft. The nickel alloy may be welded to the transition portion by inertia welding, and the low-carbon carburized gear material may be welded to the transition portion by electron beam welding, for example. The power transfer assembly may be used in a microturbine engine, for example, to transfer rotation of a power turbine to an electric generator.

Abstract: To obtain an exhaust gas purification method for an internal combustion engine for detecting timing at which an inflow NOx amount flowing into an NOx absorption catalyst exceeds an NOx amount processable by the NOx absorption catalyst, and enriches the air/fuel ratio to prevent deterioration of the exhaust gas and maintain good fuel consumption. Based on an NOx amount absorbed in the NOx absorption catalyst and a maximum NOx absorption amount NOx of the absorption catalyst, a processable NOx amount processable by the NOx absorption catalyst per unit time is calculated and compared with the inflow NOx amount entering the NOx absorption catalyst per unit time, and when it is determined that the inflow NOx amount is greater, the air/fuel ratio is switched to rich.

Abstract: A an improvement in a two wheel motor vehicle having an internal combustion motor and a wheel drive mechanism, wherein the motor has an exhaust system connected thereto, includes a) an exhaust system having a first exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe with the first exhaust pipe being in a fixed position relative to the internal combustion motor, and the second exhaust being rotatably connected to the first exhaust pipe, and b) an exhaust pipe drive mechanism connected to the second exhaust pipe for rotation of the second exhaust pipe. The pipe drive mechanism may operate off some power source of the vehicle, operate independently of the vehicle power sources, may operate from exiting exhaust gases, ambient wind form motion of the vehicle, or a combination of the foregoing.

Abstract: In a transmitting system for a small-sized vehicle, a centrifugal clutch, and a torque converter including a pump impeller connected to an output drum of the centrifugal clutch and a turbine impeller connected to an output gear, are placed between a crankshaft of an engine and the output gear. The pump impeller and the output drum adjacent to the pump impeller are integrally coupled, with an open surface of the output drum facing to an opposite side to the pump impeller, to be constructed as a single component. Thus, occurrence of rotation vibrations and unusual noises can be prevented without requiring machining with high precision, and the numbers of components and assembling steps can be reduced while providing favorable maintainability.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which has sensors that detect pressure on opposite sides of a control valve which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from a source to a hydraulic actuator. The sensors produce electrical signals indicating those pressures. In response to the sensor signals, a controller produces an output signal the operates a proportional control valve to thereby regulate pressure at a node of the hydraulic circuit. Several mechanisms are described that react to the pressure at the node by varying the pressure of the fluid being supplied to the main valve so that a controlled pressure level is achieved.

Abstract: An hydraulic system for a wheeled loader comprising a loader arm assembly which carries a working implement and which is connected to the body and which is movable between raised and lowered positions by means of a hydraulic ram means and in which a hydraulic accumulator is connected to the Hydraulic ram means wherein the loader arm assembly is connected at, or adjacent to, the rear end thereof to the body at, or adjacent to, the rear end thereof so that the loader arm assembly extends forwardly whereby, in a lowered position of the loader arm assembly, the working implement is disposed in front of the body wherein each chamber of the hydraulic ram means is connected to a selection valve means adapted to feed fluid under pressure to one chamber of the ram means and to receive fluid at a lower pressure from the other chamber of the ram means in order to raise the loader arm assembly or to feed fluid under pressure to said other chamber of the ram means and receive fluid at a lower pressure from said one chambe

Abstract: A channelized stratified regenerator with integrated heat exchangers are disclosed using micromachining to precisely construct structural geometries, such as fins and axial stratification of material to be used in a Stirling cycle based system. In operation, a working fluid passes through the regenerator when traveling between two heat exchangers. In some implementations, the regenerator and the heat exchangers are formed as a single construction. In other implementations, the regenerator and heat exchangers are formed separately, but are constructed to integrate efficiently with one another.

Abstract: A method of creating a solenoid temperature estimator includes operating a solenoid based on a data point including a plurality of operating parameters and determining a temperature of the solenoid. The method further includes recording steady-state values for the temperature and each of the plurality of operating parameters and generating the solenoid temperature estimator based on the steady-state values.

Abstract: A housing for a turbocharger comprises a housing shell which surrounds, at least partially, a rotor space, at least one manifold of a combustion engine, a pipe for connecting the housing shell with at least one manifold of the combustion engine, and a cylinder head of said combustion engine. All these parts are integrally cast as one single piece. This may be effected by a method which comprises the steps of: joining and bonding sand cores for part of a housing shell of the turbocharger with sand cores for shaping the cavities of the manifold, and these, in turn, with sand cores for shaping the cylinder head. Subsequently, inserting said joint and bonded sand cores into respective firmly interconnected molds for molding said part of a housing shell of said turbocharger, for said manifold and said cylinder head, and filling molten metal into said molds and allowing solidification of said metal.

Abstract: A system for controlling turbocharger compressor surge includes a turbocharger compressor fluidly coupled to an engine intake manifold, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed in-line with an EGR conduit fluidly coupled between the engine intake and exhaust manifolds, means for determining a mass flow parameter, a speed sensor producing a speed signal indicative of turbocharger speed, and a control computer configured to determine a mass flow rate surge value, corresponding to a fresh air mass flow rate above which turbocharger compressor surge is avoided, as a function of the speed signal, and to limit the EGR valve position and VGT position as a function of the mass flow parameter and the mass flow rate surge value to maintain exhaust gas flow through the EGR valve at a flow rate below which turbocharger compressor surge is avoided.

Abstract: The provision of a structure and method for the affixing of a pretensioner gas generator by which the function of the pretensioner can be improved without the need to use an additional component part or to increase the thickness of the wall of the pipe. In the structure for the affixing of a pretensioner gas generator, a gas generator 16 is held in a pipe 12 by the expanding of the end part 12b of a pipe 12 to form a housing part 15 for the gas generator 16, the gas generator 16 is housed in the housing part 15, and the opened end 15b of the pipe 12 in the structure for the affixing of the gas generator is calked, an annular rib 17 projects outward in the axial direction from the inner circumferential edge part of the calked part A. In the method for the affixing of the gas generator, a press is used to form the abovementioned annular rib 17.

Abstract: A method of generating power is disclosed wherein a liquid having a boiling point near the ambient temperature when it is under atmospheric or moderately higher pressures, preferably propane, isobutane, Freons or ammonia, is placed in a pressure vessel, heat energy is gathered from a naturally occurring heat sources, such as by solar collectors or from hot springs, geothermal or other heat sources, and transmitted through conduction heat pipes to the liquid in the pressure vessel, and the liquid is thereby heated to the boiling point and vaporized. When a liquid is vaporized, its volume expands by several hundred times, creating a pressure sufficient for driving motors. This invention can be used in automobiles, motorcycles, generators, ships, homes, factories, and other suitable places to drive motors, thus reducing the use of petrochemical fuels.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a combustion liner in which a combustion region is formed; and a housing provided for a wall of the combustion liner in a predetermined circumferential region of the combustion liner to form a resonance space between the combustion liner and the housing. The combustion region and the resonance space are connected by a plurality of combustion liner through-holes, and a circumferential length of the housing is longer than a diameter of the combustion liner.

Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.

Abstract: In a method for operating a power plant by means of a CO2 process, isentropic compression first takes place, subsequently an isobaric heat supply, then isentropic expansion, and finally isobaric heat discharge. The CO2 process broken down here takes place with internal combustion, a fuel (21) and the oxygen (18) necessary for oxidization being supplied. After the charging of the CO2 circuit (23) has been carried out, the excess CO2 formed from combustion is discharged continuously, in that this gas is led through a cooler (14), in which said gas is condensed. In order to dispose of this condensed CO2 (15), there are available here, for example, the possibilities of storing this CO2 on the ocean floor or of introducing the condensed CO2 into a worked-out deposit of natural gas.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplementing a power system to achieve consistent operation at varying altitudes are disclosed herein. A hybrid power system comprising a single power source driving multiple generators may implement a power recovery turbine to drive a supercharger compressor, which may provide compressed air at increased altitudes. The supplemental power system disclosed herein provides necessary shaft horsepower at high altitudes to drive a generator and produce cooling air.

Abstract: A gas stream with a reduced oxygen concentration relative to ambient air is used to vaporize a liquid fuel or liquified higher hydrocarbon gas, or is mixed with a vaporized gas, and the reduced oxygen vaporized fuel gas is fed to a combustion device such as a premixed or diffusion combustor. Preferably, the oxygen content of the gas stream is less than the limiting oxygen index. By mixing the fuel with a gas stream that has an appropriately reduced oxygen content, auto-ignition prior to the flame front can be avoided. In some embodiments, the reduced oxygen stream is generated from an air separator or taken from the exhaust of the combustion device.

Abstract: The present invention comprises systems and methods for detecting flame blowout precursors in combustors. The blowout precursor detection system comprises a combustor, a pressure measuring device, and blowout precursor detection unit. A combustion controller may also be used to control combustor parameters. The methods of the present invention comprise receiving pressure data measured by an acoustic pressure measuring device, performing one or a combination of spectral analysis, statistical analysis, and wavelet analysis on received pressure data, and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based on such analyses. The spectral analysis, statistical analysis, and wavelet analysis further comprise their respective sub-methods to determine the existence of blowout precursors.

Abstract: A pressure reduction apparatus is disclosed. Air at high pressure and temperature may be drawn from a source such as a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine that supplies the air to an airplane interior. The air is passed to a pressure reduction vessel. The vessel has sufficient volume such that the high pressure air, upon entering the vessel, will reduce in temperature and pressure. The pressure reduction apparatus allows the air to depressurize and drop in temperature to near ambient conditions. Upon exiting the pressure reduction apparatus, the air is at a temperature and pressure sufficient to allow the air to be sampled and analyzed by conventional equipment used for testing for airborne impurities such as semivolatile compounds ad particulates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion chamber, in particular of a gas turbine, comprising an external wall structure that surrounds an internal area and an internal wall, which is formed by the surface of a housing that is located in the internal area. Said combustion chamber can be cooled essentially by convection by an air stream that flows between the external wall structure and the internal wall, whereby the air stream is conducted in a closed cooling air canal. The housing can be mounted in the internal area of the combustion chamber by means of a suspension device, which comprises a large number of fixing elements that are arranged on the periphery of the housing and are braced against the wall structure.

Abstract: A system for retaining and controlling the temperature of a beverage, suitable for installation in an automobile, includes a generally cylindrical, open-topped heat-conductive expandable cupholder, a heat-conductive liner, one or more thermoelectric devices located on a vertical exterior side of the cupholder, a heat sink contacting the thermoelectric device and thermally insulated from the cupholder; and a switch. The placement of the thermoelectric device and an improved arrangement for contact between the cupholder and the cup enable more efficient heat transfer.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system includes an expansion nozzle having a high-pressure nozzle inlet and a low-pressure nozzle outlet, and a compressor having a compression device, such as a pair of opposing pistons, operable to compress gas within a compression volume. The compression volume has an inlet port and an outlet port. A flapper inlet valve has an inlet valve inlet, and an inlet valve outlet in gaseous communication with the inlet port of the compression volume. The inlet valve opens when a gaseous pressure at the inlet valve inlet is sufficiently greater than a gaseous pressure in the compression volume to overcome a spring force of the flapper inlet valve. A flapper outlet valve has an outlet valve inlet in gaseous communication with the outlet port of the compression volume, and an outlet valve outlet in gaseous communication with the nozzle inlet.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically providing a fresh air exchange to a cargo unit is disclosed. The system includes a single gas sensor, preferably a carbon dioxide sensor, for providing an input to a controller which derives the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the unit. The controller then compares such derived values to preselected levels and selectively opens or closes air flow into the cargo unit in order to bring and maintain the desired oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within the unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a defrosting method thereof which are capable of achieving an appropriate defrosting operation even when a part of constituent elements included in a defrosting system fails. The defrosting method includes the steps of determining whether or not a predetermined first defrosting completion condition is usable, if the predetermined first defrosting completion condition is usable, executing a first defrosting mode, which uses the predetermined first defrosting completion condition, and if the predetermined first defrosting completion condition is not usable, executing a second defrosting mode, which uses a predetermined second defrosting completion condition different from the predetermined first defrosting completion condition, and a defrosting execution determination condition different from that of the first defrosting mode.

Abstract: A cooling member for a mobile ice rink includes a feed manifold extending in a transverse direction and a discharge manifold, and a number of longitudinal pipes which extend transversely to the manifolds and can be connected at a first end to a manifold, two longitudinal pipes in fluid communication with one another at a second end via a connector, so that a fluid path is formed from the feed manifold to the discharge manifold via the two connected longitudinal pipes. In a transport position, the pipe sections are at an angle with respect to one another or are positioned on top of one another, and in an operational position the pipe sections extend in the extension of one another.

Abstract: There is provided an air conditioner, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for controlling a heating operation in a heat pump system, in which a continuous heating operation is provided. 1.

Abstract: An air duct system for a combined refrigerator of the forced air circulation type and comprising a freezing compartment (1) and a refrigerating compartment (2), which are superposed and separated by an intermediate wall (3), and further having an air cooling compartment (4) lodging an evaporator (5) and a fan (6) and presenting at least one circulated air inlet (4a) and at least one refrigerated air outlet (4b). The system comprises a body (10) mounted to the inside of the intermediate wall (3) and defining a rear chamber (11), which is opened to the circulated air inlet (4a); a transversal through-duct (12) communicating the refrigerated air outlet (4b) with the refrigerating compartment (2); at least one first and one second return duct (13, 14) presenting a rear end (13b, 14b) opened to the rear chamber (11), and a front end (13a, 14a) opened to the inside of the freezing compartment (1) and of the refrigerating compartment (2), respectively.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for refrigerating at least one enclosure, such as an aircraft galley cart. The system includes at least one air-to-liquid heat exchanger, an eutectic thermal battery, a liquid-to-direct heat exchanger and at least one liquid-to-direct heat pump. The air-to-liquid heat exchangers are in thermal communication with the interiors of the enclosures. The thermal battery is in fluid communication with the air-to-liquid heat exchangers via a first coolant loop. The liquid-to-direct heat exchanger and the liquid-to-direct heat pumps are in fluid communication with the eutectic thermal battery via a second coolant loop, and in thermal communication with a cold heat sink, such as an aircraft fuselage skin structure. The system can controllably operate in direct passive, indirect passive, direct active and/or an indirect active modes whereby a coolant can selectively flow in the first and/or second coolant loops to thereby refrigerate the enclosures.

Abstract: Device for cooling an object according to the present invention, which comprises a deformable sleeve-like body (1) which includes an inner compartment (3) intended to contact the object and housing a non-freezing cooling liquid and an outer compartment (4) surrounding the inner compartment and housing an insulator, wherein the sleeve-like body has a variable inner diameter, which allows an adjustment thereof to objects having different outer dimensions, and wherein the insulator includes a compressible resilient material. The outer compartment is manufactured of cloth having air-permeability, elasticity and water absorption property.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger capable of circulating a given amount of refrigerant without being affected by an operation state of a heat pump cycle. The heat exchanger comprises a liquid chamber in which liquid is stored, and a refrigerant chamber disposed in the liquid chamber. The heat exchanger also comprises a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid to the liquid chamber, a liquid discharge port for discharging the liquid in the liquid chamber, a refrigerant supply port for supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant chamber, and a refrigerant discharge port for discharging the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber. A liquid refrigerant storing section having a predetermined capacity in the refrigerant chamber and storing the liquid refrigerant is formed in the heat exchanger.