Abstract: The control knob for stoves and ovens includes a timer coupled with an automatic power shut-off feature and that also includes a control for setting the temperature of the stovetop burner or oven. A single knob or controller having a variety of embodiments is disclosed and incorporates both the timer and a temperature controller. After the set time has expired, the oven or burner is turned off. An alarm is also provided to indicate that the time has expired.

Abstract: A chemical state monitoring system for a refrigeration system that continuously monitors and detects problems within a refrigeration system. The monitoring system comprises a sampling device for collecting refrigerant in a high pressure liquid line of the refrigeration system, a purge valve in an upper portion of the sampling device; a refrigerant state sensor for sensing a condition indicative of the state of refrigerant in the collection chamber; and a controller operatively connected to the refrigerant state sensor and to the purge valve for controlling said purge valve and detecting fault conditions based on signals from the sensor.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a water circulation system includes a bypass valve with an inlet and an outlet that permits recirculating flow of water from a hot water line of the water circulation system. The valve assembly also includes a shut-off valve with a valve body having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet configured to be coupled to a fixture of the water circulation system. The shut-off valve is located proximate the fixture and operating in an open position allowing water to flow to the hot water outlet and a closed position restricting water from flowing to the hot water outlet. The shut-off valve is configured to move automatically from the open position to the closed position in a controlled manner to limit discharge, from the hot water outlet, of water having a temperature below a desired level.

Abstract: A sleek, low-profile wall-mountable thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a ring-shaped controller that rotates about a central axis, and an optical sensor directed away from the central axis and toward a radially inward-facing surface of the ring-shaped controller so as to accurately detect optical signals indicating controller's rotational movement.

Abstract: A frictionless, pressure balanced proportioning valve assembly, for low power electric operated thermostatic cartridge, composed of a housing with spaced apart hot and cold water inlets and intermediate mixed water outlet, flow communicated to a spool bore with a central widened portion; a spool, guided in the spool bore, by widened end portions, is carrying a central widened disk portion, separating the spool bore into two tubular inlet chambers; two diaphragm seals disposed at both ends of the spool and housing, pressure balancing the inlet chambers; a temperature sensor, exposed to the mixed water outlet pathway, generates a signal, readable by a control circuit; a drive unit energized by a low power electric motor, driving past gear train and eccentric shaft, a bendable connecting rod, axially displacing the spool. Axial displacement of the balanced friction-free spool, proportions flow from the hot and cold water inlets to the mixed water outlet.

Abstract: A wall-mountable programmable electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a circular wall-mountable backplate with a central opening to allow for the passage of HVAC wires for electrical connection to the thermostat. The head unit body is also circular and is removeably mountable to the back plate. A plurality of wedge-shaped wiring terminals are mounted on the backplate for making a tool-free connection to HVAC wires. Each wiring terminal has button that a user can depress while a wire is inserted in a wire hole. The terminals are arranged along one or more circular arcs about the central opening of the backplate such that the wire holes face the central opening and the buttons are located close to the outer periphery of the backplate.

Abstract: An indicator for a dispenser is disclosed. The indicator includes at least one display layer having at least one display surface surrounded by at least one edge surface, the at least one display layer being transparent in a direction of the at least one edge surface; at least one light source configured to transmit light through the at least one display layer in the direction of the at least one edge surface; and at least one pattern portion disposed in the at least one display surface such that light from the at least one light source is redirected through the at least one pattern portion.

Abstract: An arrangement of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement of insulation includes bulk insulation filling the container and an insulation layer that is located within the container, between the apparatus and the container. The insulation layer as opposed to the bulk insulation has a lower thermal conductivity. An exterior region of the apparatus is situated closer to an opposite container wall region of the container than remaining exterior regions of the apparatus. The insulation layer is sized to only insulate the exterior region of the apparatus from heat leakage from the opposite container wall region. The insulation layer can be formed of an aerogel.

Abstract: Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant.

Abstract: Device for cool drying comprising a heat exchanger (2) whose primary part is the vaporizer (3) of a cooling circuit (4) which also includes a compressor (6) driven by a motor (5), a control device (16) for this motor (5) and measuring device (17) for the lowest air temperature (LAT), measuring device (18) for the ambient temperature (Tamb) and a flow meter (19), whereby this control device (16) can be at least switched in a first user mode in which the cooling circuit (4) is only activated when the gas flow exceeds a preset value and a second user mode in which the lowest air temperature (LAT) is maintained within a certain range by controlling the cooling circuit (4).

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor adjusts the pressure in a control pressure chamber and controls the displacement in accordance with the adjusted pressure. Refrigerant is supplied via a supply passage, and released via a bleed passage. The compressor includes a first control valve for adjusting the cross-sectional area of the supply passage for refrigerant. The compressor further includes a second control valve that adjusts the cross-sectional area of the bleed passage in accordance with the opening/closing state of the first control valve. The second control valve adjusts the cross-sectional area of the bleed passage such that the cross-sectional area when the first control valve is in the closed state is larger than that when the first control valve is in the opened state. The back pressure chamber is located in a section of the bleed passage that is located between the second control valve and the control pressure chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a refrigerating installation, according to which the cooling liquid temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the expansion valve, and the suction vapor temperature is controlled and stabilized upstream of the condenser in dry expansion systems, thermosyphon installations, two-stage evaporation installations, dry expansion installations having a downstream internal heat exchanger (IWT), and all other refrigerating systems.

Abstract: A method and system is provided which receives a desired humidity level from a user for the refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator, determines the current humidity level, and then activates an atomizer in the refrigeration compartment to increase the humidity level if needed. The humidity in the refrigeration compartment may be determined based at least in part on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment, the defrost timer, the door opening times, and the compressor timer.

Abstract: A device for reducing temperature variation in a plenum includes at least one pipe and a plurality of sumps containing a fluid operable to vary between a liquid state and a gaseous state depending upon a temperature of the fluid. The plurality of sumps are positioned at various locations within the plenum and the at least one pipe is in fluid communication with the plurality of sumps. In addition, the fluid, in the gaseous state, is caused to move through the at least one pipe and condense, thereby reducing the temperature at the location of the sump where the fluid was vaporized and thereby reducing temperature variation in the plenum.

Abstract: A humidity control apparatus has a humidity control apparatus having a humidifying part for humidifying air and a dehumidifying part for dehumidifying to control humidity of a humidity control space. The dehumidifying part has: a main body part that is configured to encapsulate a working fluid therein and to cause a heat-pipe phenomenon. A heat-insulating part fits externally to the main body part and a heat absorption part absorbs heat from a base side part located on one side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part and thereby condenses the working fluid that evaporated into gas in a front side part located on the other side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part. The dehumidifying part dehumidifies the air by means of the front side part of the main body part where the working fluid in liquid form evaporates.

Abstract: A cryopump includes: a cryopump chamber having an inlet port through which a gas to be pumped is introduced; a refrigerator provided with a second cooling stage provided in the cryopump chamber; an intermediate member thermally coupled to the second cooling stage; and a cryopanel having a connecting part connected to the intermediate member at a position farther from the inlet port in the direction in which the gas is introduced than the second cooling stage, and extending from the connecting part toward the inlet port. For example, a cryopump having a suspended panel structure is provided.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid storage tank having a first conduit adapted for filling and extracting a cryogenic liquid from the tank and a second conduit adapted for filling and extracting a gas from the tank is disclosed, wherein heat originating from inlet and outlet conduits transferred to the tank is minimized.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.

Abstract: A method of treating a contaminated refrigeration fluid including the steps of transferring, separating, returning, moving and removing. The transferring step includes the transferring of a portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid from a refrigeration system to a first tank. The separating step includes the separating of refrigerant from the portion of the contaminated refrigeration fluid resulting in the refrigerant and a refrigerant depleted portion. The returning step includes the returning of the refrigerant to the refrigeration system. The moving step includes the moving of the refrigerant depleted portion to a second tank. The removing step includes the removing of oil from the refrigerant depleted portion.

Abstract: An integrated industrial plant includes various systems, all of which use a cryogenic liquid obtained from a common source. One system includes a fermentation unit, in which cold air, chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid, absorbs excess heat generated by the fermentation. Another system is a lyophilization unit, in which a refrigeration step is performed through the use of air that has been chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid. Another system is a device for freezing discrete samples of biological products, the samples being frozen by partial immersion in the cryogenic liquid. The invention substantially reduces the use of electric power, and provides systems which operate economically and reliably.