Abstract: The portable washing station has a mounting plate having rigid upper and lower sections joined by fabric so that it can be folded up for storage and transport. The washing station has a detachable sink basin attached to the lower section, made of flexible and lightweight, waterproof material. The washing station has straps that serve a dual purpose. While in use, the straps allow the washing station to be mounted to a support structure, such as a tree, utility pole, sailboat mast, fence post or any other structure of sufficient height. The straps also keep the portable washing station securely in the stored configuration, when folded up. This portable washing station is perfect for families while camping, the military while cleaning weapons in the field, first responders during natural disasters and any other users in which the convenience of providing and maintaining good hygiene are necessary.

Abstract: A filling system for filling powder into a target container to be sealed has a metering device for metering a partial quantity of the powder to be filled in. A compaction element for the powder is arranged below the metering device. The compaction element can be lowered from above into the target container. The compaction element is a shaking element with a shaking drive. During filling of the target container with the powder, the shaking element at least partially projects from above into the target container. The shaking element has a bottom edge provided with a shaking projection, wherein the shaking projection, beginning at the bottom edge, extends downwardly. During filling of the target container with the powder, only the shaking projection of the shaking element projects from above into the target container and the shaking element as a whole does not contact the target container.

Abstract: A fuel cap includes a filler-neck closure adapted to mate with a filler neck to close a mouth opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck. The filler-neck closure includes a vacuum-relief valve and a handle arranged to overlie the filler-neck closure and gripped by a user during removal of the fuel cap from the filler neck.

Abstract: A variable depth swimming pool/spa can comprise a movable deck and a bottom. The movable deck can be movable relative to the bottom of a variable depth swimming pool/spa to provide for a variable depth of the portion of pool/spa that is accessible to a pool/spa user. The movable deck can be connected to the bottom of the variable depth swimming pool/spa via one or several legs. The one or several legs can be rotatingly connected to the movable deck and can be slidingly connected to the bottom of the swimming pool/spa. The rotational displacement of the legs can result in the vertical displacement of the movable deck. The legs can be connected to synchronizing arms that can interact with a synchronizing drive to coordinate the movement of a first leg with a second leg.

Abstract: Methods and systems to manage refrigerant levels in a chiller system are provided. An evaporator of the chiller system may be configured to have a spill over port allowing oil containing refrigerant to spill over through the spill over port. The spill over port may be positioned at a place that corresponds to a desired refrigerant level in the evaporator. The spill over refrigerant may be directed into a heat exchanger that is configured to substantially vaporize refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant to a slightly superheat temperature. A method of maintaining a proper refrigerant level in the evaporator may include regulating a refrigerant flow to the evaporator so that the vaporized refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant is maintained at the slightly superheat temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorption refrigeration machine (10) that includes an evaporator (12) and an absorber (18) and is characterized in that the evaporator (12) comprises at least one evaporating unit (12?) having a coolant channel (26), through which the coolant (16) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (24), and having at least one refrigerant channel (28) that adjoins the heat-conducting wall (24), is loaded with the refrigerant (14), and is separated from a vapor chamber (32) by a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall (30) on the side of the refrigerant channel opposite the heat-conducting wall (24), and in that the absorber (18) comprises an absorption unit (18?) having a cooling-medium channel, through which a cooling medium (34) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (36), and having an absorption channel (40) which adjoins the heat-conducting wall and to which the concent

Abstract: A shower door assembly includes a wall member, a door and a hinge assembly. The wall member is configured to be coupled to a fixed portion of a bathing enclosure. The door is pivotably coupled to the wall member by the hinge assembly, and the door is positioned such that at least a portion of the door overlaps with at least a portion of the wall member when the door is in a closed position. The door is configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the wall member between an opened position and a closed position. The door is also configured to translate in a direction normal to the pivot axis to selectively adjust a relative distance between a side edge of the door and a side edge of the wall member such that the door fits in a door opening of the bathing enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water-saving sit-down toilet wherein the pressure of flushing water discharged from a cistern into the toilet is raised and a straight discharge pipe is used such that the toilet is flushed clean using a small amount of water, and, at the same time, excreta is smoothly discharged as the direct discharge tube is opened and closed by means of the water pressure and a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, and an appropriate amount of residual water is supplied to the toilet bowl such that odors are blocked from rising from a foul-water port into the toilet, and an odor removing unit sucks in odors emanating from the excreta and discharges same through the foul-water port such that the user can use the sit-down toilet without feeling any embarrassment.

Abstract: Disclosed therein is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which includes: a bypass passageway formed at a lower portion of an air-conditioning case which bypasses cold air and warm air passageways; a regeneration passageway formed at the lower portion of the air-conditioning case for supplying the air passing through the bypass passageway to a regeneration part of the desiccant rotor; and a heater having one side area arranged on the bypass passageway and the other side area arranged on the warm air passageway.

Abstract: A sensor surrogate (120) for causing a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (110) to maintain a desired room temperature, contains a temperature sensor (122) for determining an actual room temperature and logic embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium (130). The logic (130) is configured to perform the steps of: calculating a current low temperature that is lower than a pre-programmed HVAC system temperature and providing the HVAC system with a first signal that represents the calculated current low temperature, if the desired temperature is above the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature; and calculating a current high temperature that is above the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature and providing the HVAC system (110) with a second signal that represents the calculated current high temperature, if the desired room temperature is below the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus is capable of suppressing refrigerant flow noise regardless the refrigerant state of an inlet of an expansion mechanism. In parallel to a flow control valve, an opening and closing valve that opens and closes a refrigerant passage and an expansion mechanism having porous bodies capable of passing a refrigerant therethrough are connected in series with each other. In a heating mode, in the case where a controller stops an operation of one or more of a plurality of indoor units and causes the other indoor unit(s) to operate, the flow control valve of the stopped indoor unit is fully closed and the opening and closing valve of the stopped indoor unit is opened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-phase distribution system, a sub sea heat exchanger provided with such a multi-phase distribution system, the use of such a multi-phase distribution system and a method of temperature control for hydrocarbons. The invention provides an improved control over multi-phase mixtures comprising hydrocarbons and improvements in the controlling of heat exchanging processes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) cooling a fluid and a method for manufacturing, the heat exchanger (10) having an outer pipe section (12) in which a plurality of inner pipe sections (36) with channels for the fluid to be cooled are disposed. At least one cooling fluid channel (56) is disposed in the outer pipe section (12). The at least one cooling fluid channel (56) and the at least one channel for the fluid to be cooled are in heat contact and fluidically separated from each other. A plurality of inner pipe sections (36) open on both ends (38, 46) form of a pipe bundle (34) having ends fixed tightly in a corresponding lead-through opening (40) of an upstream end body (42) and fixed tightly with the other end (46) in a corresponding lead-through opening (48) of a downstream end body (50).

Abstract: The controller controls a bypass solenoid valve and hot-water supply expansion unit in a defrosting operation based on a refrigerant temperature detected by a first temperature sensor and a heat medium temperature detected by a second temperature sensor.

Abstract: A cooling module for cooling at least two server modules that are configured to house a plurality of servers, the cooling module including a housing having an interior containing air, an intake into the housing, an outlet from the housing, at least one fan configured to move the air from the intake to the outlet and at least one sprayer configured to spray a mist into the air in the interior for evaporative cooling of the interior. Also a system formed of the cooling module, first and second server modules and a plenum connecting the outlet of the cooling module and intakes of the first and second server modules.

Abstract: One aspect provides a dehumidifier that has a dehumidifying circuit and includes an evaporator, a first portion of a condensing circuit, and a first blower configured to direct a first air stream along a first flow path and through the evaporator and the first portion of the condensing circuit, for reducing the humidity of the first air stream. The dehumidifier also comprises a heat removing circuit, comprising a second blower configured to direct a second air stream along a second flow path and through a second portion of the condensing circuit for removing heat from the second portion of the condensing circuit. The first and second condensing circuits are fluidly coupled.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an HVAC system, an HVAC controller and a method of operating an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a thermostat call and (2) a processor configured to initiate operation of the HVAC system in response to the thermostat call and control operation thereof based on a temperature difference across a conditioning unit of the HVAC system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting and controlling ice bridge slab thickness and/or initiation of ice harvest following a freeze cycle. This adjusting and controlling is performed through the use of adjustable float clip assemblies which set the amount of water available for ice making in a batch process. The adjustable float clip assemblies provide an ice machine user with the ability to easily adjust the ice slab bridge thickness to a single or plurality of settings, and allow for changes in ice bridge slab thickness at the site of installation.

Abstract: A refrigerator as disclosed herein may include a refrigerator body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment, a cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigeration compartment using a first refrigerant, and a thermosyphon that includes a pipe for a second refrigerant to flow. The pipe may have a first section having a first prescribed shape for condensing refrigerant and a second section having a second prescribed shape for vaporizing refrigerant. A valve may be provided at the pipe to operate the thermosyphon. The cooling circuit and the thermosyphon may be operated independently. The thermosyphon may provide auxiliary cooling for the refrigeration chamber when the cooling circuit is not operational.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a converting unit, an accumulator, and injection module, a supercooling valve, and an injection valve. The injection module expands and vaporizes a portion of refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger in the heating operation. The supercooling valve is disposed between the injection module and the accumulator and is opened to direct the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the accumulator in the heating operation and then closed after a predetermined time passes. The injection valve is disposed between the injection module and the compressor and is opened when the supercooling valve is closed in the heating operation, thereby injecting the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the compressor.