Abstract: A cooler for a counter top has a bottom panel having lateral and transverse edge portions and a plurality of upright panels attached thereto and extending upward therefrom forming a vessel with an interior adapted to hold ice. The plurality of upright panels includes a front panel having a front surface and plurality of pockets extending from the front surface to the interior of the vessel. An access panel provides access to the interior for filling the cooler with ice. The ice cools each pocket to thereby chill a beverage container resting in the pocket.

Abstract: A container such as a drinking cup includes an inner wall defining a space and an outer wall that preferably includes portions that are translucent and preferably transparent. A thermal mass is provided between the inner and outer walls and has a decorative pattern that is visually discernible through the outer wall. The thermal mass preferably includes a gel material that will not freeze at the normal operating temperature of a household freezer. The gel material includes a multiplicity of globules that preferably have a median diameter that is within a preferred sizing range. The decorative pattern is preferably created by the provision of a colorant material that is introduced within the interstitial space defined between the gel globules.

Abstract: A refrigerant system is provided where the functions of an economizer heat exchanger and liquid-suction heat exchanger are combined. The two configurations are disclosed with a single common heat exchanger construction. In a first configuration, a series of valves selectively routes only one of two possible refrigerant flows through a common heat exchanger such that a control can selectively activate either an economizer heat exchanger circuit or a liquid-suction heat exchanger function. In a second configuration, both refrigerant flows are passed to the common heat exchanger through separate fluid lines and are selectively activated by the control. Variations of the second configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an inlet heat exchange unit, wherein a refrigerant's dryness is low and its flow distribution is likely to cause deviation, a number of heat exchange passages in an ascending flow path at an upstream side is less than the number of heat exchange passages in descending flow paths. Accordingly, refrigerant flowing in the ascending flow path increases, and a region in which the refrigerant lacks is reduced, thereby decreasing temperature variations. In an outlet heat exchange unit, wherein the refrigerant's dryness is high and its flow distribution is unlikely to cause deviation, the number of heat exchange passages a most downstream path is greater than the number of heat exchange passages in the immediately preceding path, thereby suppressing an increase in flow resistance in the most downstream path and keeping flow resistance in the outlet heat exchange unit low.

Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a heat insulating housing and an inner chamber that is cooled by the circulation of cooling air. A hollow body extends in the inner chamber, defining a flow channel for the cooling air. Carriers for goods to be cooled are disposed in the inner chamber and are supported on the hollow body.

Abstract: A vaccum-breaking valve comprising: a tubular body (10) mounted through one of the walls (P) of the cabinet (G) and having inner (11) and outer (12) ends, a valve seat (15) defining a fluid communication between the inside and the outside of cabinet (G); and a seal constantly biased towards a closed position, blocking said fluid communication and dispalceable towards an open valve position. The seal comprises a slide (20), which is axially and slicingly mounted through the valve seat (15) and has a surrounding sealing ring (25), which is seated against the valve seat (15) when the slide (20) is displaced to the closed seal position, the slide (20) being provided with at least one air passage (24) interconnecting the upstream and downstream sides of the valve seat (15) when the slide (20) is in the open seal position.

Abstract: A detergent supply system for a kitchen hood has a mounting case perpendicularly attached to the kitchen hood, a detergent dispenser with a pump, a wastewater collector and a detergent reservoir mounted higher than the detergent dispenser is mounted. By mounting the detergent dispenser, wastewater collector and the detergent reservoir inside the mounting case, the detergent supply system can be conveniently attached to a self-cleaning kitchen hood.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus is provided with a vapor compression type refrigerant circuit. With this apparatus, reliability from the standpoint of the pipe cleaning mode of the apparatus is improved. The air conditioning system has a main refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, and a user-side heat exchanger. The air conditioning system also has a contaminant collecting device provided on the intake side of the compressor (21). The contaminant collecting device is equipped with a contaminant collecting container, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a main opening/closing device. The contaminant collecting container separates contaminants from refrigerant flowing in the intake gas pipe toward the compressor when the refrigerant is directed through it. The inlet and outlet pipes are each provided with a return preventing shape for preventing contaminants that have accumulated inside the pipes from returning to the intake gas pipe.

Abstract: A phase-change cooling system for a vehicle includes an electronic control device for receiving power from a power source and having a first temperature. The phase-change cooling system also includes a condenser of an air conditioning system of the vehicle thermally communicating with the electronic control device and having a second temperature less than the first temperature to remove heat from the electronic control device due to a phase-change of coolant in the condenser.

Abstract: A modular burner/blower system and method directed to an independently operable direct fired burner unit and an independently operable blower unit that are also configured to be interconnected to one another and to operate together. The direct fired burner unit includes a burner casing and a direct fired burner mounted within the burner casing. The blower unit includes a blower casing configured to interconnect with the burner casing and a blower mounted within the blower casing. The burner unit may be interconnected to the blower unit in a vertical or horizontal configuration and includes heating components and controls.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method comprising: (a) a first step whereby natural gas (1) is subjected to a first refrigerating cycle to obtain cooled natural gas (4), and brought to a temperature less than 20° C. by a first coolant (201); a second step whereby the cooled natural gas (4) is subjected to a second refrigerating cycle wherein the cooled natural gas (4) is cooled and condensed by a second coolant (103) comprising methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen. The second coolant (103) further contains ethylene, the total ethane and ethylene content being close to 50 mole %.

Abstract: A receiver-dryer of an integrated receiver-dryer-condenser for an air-conditioning system that maximizes a liquid phase of refrigerant therein for return to a sub-cooling stage of a condenser. A receiver-dryer vessel includes a base wall, a side wall extending from the base wall, and a concave end wall terminating the side wall. A refrigerant inlet pipe extends into the interior of the vessel and terminates in an exit end that faces the concave end wall of the vessel. The refrigerant inlet pipe is adapted for directing refrigerant into contact with the concave end wall such that the refrigerant impinges on the concave end wall for improved dispersion into a gaseous phase that accumulates in the upper portion of the vessel and a liquid phase that flows down the walls of the vessel to accumulate in the lower portion of the vessel and for improved separation of the liquid phase and to return to the sub-cooling stage of the condenser for improved sub-cooling of the liquid phase of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A device and method for ferrofluid power generator and cooling system, wherein the waste heat of electronic device is used as a heat source to vaporize fluid and form bubbles as a forwarding pump of the ferrofluid. The fluid with magnetic nano particles is pumped forward and rotated by a fluid mechanism, then passes through a high density coil to result in the time varying magnetic flux and induced current. No additional heat-dissipating device is needed for this invention to dispose the waste heat, which requires the waste heat to produce electricity, which provides cooling and saves power.

Abstract: A multiple stage pump having valves downstream from each respective pump in a same line thereof. The respective lines then merge into a common line. The multiple stage pump prevents pressure variations and shot to shot fuel variations.

Abstract: A method and system for venting accumulations of leakage from a vehicle cryo fuel tank system, whereby elements of the tank system like lines, valves and/or a storage container for the fuel are enveloped at least partially by a capsule, the interior of the capsule is vented regularly as a function of at least one boundary condition by a pressure differential, and the exhausted gas from the capsule is treated to reduce its environmental impact. The venting may be performed using an inert gas as the rinsing medium. The gas can be burned or oxidized catalytically, and may be disposed of by a separate burner or by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. A blower, arranged outside the capsule may generate the pressure differential. Alternatively, the pressure differential may be generated within the capsule by convective forces or a stagnation pressure generated by movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A barbeque grill assembly includes a base unit, a barbeque grill mounted on top of the base unit, and a pair of leg units. The base unit includes a pair of leg coupling seats provided respectively on opposite lateral sides of a base plate. Each leg unit includes a pair of leg members connected by a foldable stretcher. The leg members of each leg unit have upper insert ends inserted removably into corresponding insert grooves formed in a respective one of the leg coupling seats. The leg units are operable so as to be disposed from a removable state, in which movement of the insert ends of the leg members into and out of the insert grooves is permitted, to a supporting state, in which removal of the base unit from the leg units is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning apparatus which is provided with two adsorption elements (81, 82). The air conditioning apparatus repeats in alternation an operation in which the second adsorption element (82) is regenerated and, at the same time, air is dehumidified by the first adsorption element (81), and an operation in which the first adsorption element (81) is regenerated and, at same time, air is dehumidified by the second adsorption element (82). Additionally, the air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a refrigeration cycle in which a regenerative heat exchanger (92) operates as a condenser and a first cooling heat exchanger (93) or a second cooling heat exchanger (94) operates as an evaporator. For example, air, which has robbed heat of adsorption in the first adsorption element (81), is further heated by the regenerative heat exchanger (92) and is introduced into the second adsorption element (82).

Abstract: A suction and discharge valve arrangement for a small hermetic compressor of the type presenting a compression cylinder (1), which has an end closed by a valve plate (10) and which has a suction pipe (5) adjacent to the valve plate (10) and substantially orthogonal to the cylinder axis, the valve plate (10) being provided with a discharge orifice (11) substantially centralized in relation to the axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and with at least one suction orifice (12), which is internal to said axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and defining at least part of the extension of a suction passage (P), with an end opened to the inside of the compression cylinder (1) and an opposite end opened and connected to the suction pipe (5) by means of a transition portion (T), which is configured to minimize load losses.

Abstract: A cooling system for audio equipment uses a temperature sensor and Peltier effect module in a feedback control loop. The cooling system reads the temperature sensor to obtain the temperature of an audio component of the equipment, and adjusts the drive for the Peltier effect module that cools the audio component, to prevent overheating of the component. The cooling system may include an autonomous power supply that generates electric power from the audio signal driving a loudspeaker of the audio system. In another embodiment, the cooling system cools an audio component installed in a vehicle, even when the vehicle is unattended. To prevent discharge of the vehicle's battery, the cooling system employs a battery supervisor for turning the cooling system off when the battery has discharged down to a predetermined state.

Abstract: In a heat-pump water heater with a super-critical refrigerant cycle, a valve open degree of a decompression valve is controlled to control a pressure of high-pressure side refrigerant so that a temperature difference between refrigerant flowing out from the water-refrigerant heat exchanger and water flowing into a water-refrigerant heat exchanger is set in a predetermined temperature range. Thus, the pressure of high-pressure side refrigerant in the super-critical refrigerant cycle can be controlled, thereby suitably adjusting heat-exchange performance of an internal heat exchanger, and restricting the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant compressor from being uselessly increased.