(19)

(11)

EP 0 938 637 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 01.09.1999 Bulletin 1999/35 (21) Application number: 98940574.0 (22) Date of filing: 27.08.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  F24F 1/ 00( . ) F24F 13/ 30( . ) F24F 3/ 16( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/JP1998/003810 (87) International publication number: WO 1999/011983 (11.03.1999 Gazette 1999/10)

(84) Designated Contracting States: GB IT (30) Priority: 29.08.1997 JP 19970235119 (71) Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 210-8572 (JP)	(72) Inventors: SEITO, Masaya Shizuoka-ken 417-0821 (JP) FUJIBAYASHI, Masaaki Shizuoka-ken 417-0855 (JP) (74) Representative: Litchfield, Laura Marie, et al  Haseltine Lake & Co. Imperial House 15-19 Kingsway London WC2B 6UD London WC2B 6UD (GB)