Abstract: There is disclosed a self-cooling self-carbonating beverage container including a beverage container housing containing a liquid beverage, a coolant gas bottle inside said beverage container storing pressurized carbon dioxide, a tab located on an external portion of said beverage container housing and apparatus actuated by movement of said tab for opening said bottle to release said carbon dioxide into said liquid beverage.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system for use in combination with a low pressure recovery reservoir to recover refrigerants such as CFC, HCFC and HFC from a air conditioning or refrigeration system selectively operable in a plurality of system operating modes including a pressurization mode, a liquid refrigerant recovery mode and a vapor refrigerant recovery mode comprising a system control including a microprocessor to control the operation of the refrigerant recovery system and a plurality of control sensors to monitor a corresponding plurality of system operating parameters, a refrigerant processor operatively coupled to the low pressure recovery tank and the air conditioning or refrigeration system by a fluid conduit network including a plurality of fluid conduits and a fluid flow control including a plurality of fluid flow control devices coupled to the microprocessor to receive control signals therefrom and operatively disposed relative to the fluid conduit network to selectively configure the fluid conduit net

Abstract: A method for dividing and charging of a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant filled in at least one refrigerant tank, comprising:a step of successively dividing and charging the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant filled in the refrigerant tank into a plurality of receivers while maintaining a vapor phase or a liquid phase of the refrigerant in the refrigerant tank in communication with a vapor phase of an adjustor refrigerant in at least one adjustor refrigerant container filled with the adjustor refrigerant having a composition substantially equivalent to that of the non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an interior side heat exchanger, an exterior side heat exchanger, an expansion device provided between the interior side heat exchanger and the exterior side heat exchanger, a four-way valve provided between the compressor and the interior side heat exchanger and between the compressor and the exterior side heat exchanger, an oil separator provided between a delivery outlet of the compressor and the four-way valve, a first restrictor and a second restrictor provided between the oil separator and a suction inlet of the compressor, and an open-close valve provided between the second restrictor and the suction inlet of the compressor.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for injecting mixed refrigerant into a refrigerant circuit comprising at least a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator which are connected to one another through a refrigerant pipe, the mixed refrigerant is intermittently injected from a refrigerant bomb at a predetermined position of a low pressure side of the refrigerant circuit while keeping the mixed refrigerant in a liquid state. The intermittent injection operation (amount) of the liquid refrigerant into the refrigerant circuit may be controlled on the basis of the degree of superheat of the mixed refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A pressure vessel housing that can be brazed and leak tested before adding desiccant material, eliminating the risk of damaging desiccant bags during assembly. The desiccant is added to the housing of the pressure vessel through an existing inlet opening in the top of the accumulator housing, thereby eliminating the potential for damage to the desiccant and the desiccant container while maintaining the integrity of the housing because no additional openings in the housing are required to access the desiccant material. A screen permanently mounted inside the pressure vessel supports the loose desiccant material and another screen removably attached to the inlet opening provides access to the loose desiccant material housed within the pressure vessel. A method of making the pressure vessel allows the accumulator assembly to be leak tested before the desiccant is added, reducing scrap and allowing repair of accumulator assemblies.

Abstract: An air conditioner has an outdoor unit and a plurality of room units supplied with a refrigerant from the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit and the room units are connected by a plurality of refrigerant pipes. In a recovery operation for returning refrigerator oil from the room units, the refrigerant pipes and the like to the outdoor unit, the plurality of room units are divided into a plurality of room unit groups, and the recovery operation of the refrigerant is carried out for each of the room unit groups.

Abstract: A water container and cooling fan assembly including a fan motor base, a cylindrical housing mounted on the fan motor face and covered with a top cover, and a water container put inside the housing, the water container having a plurality of longitudinal turning angles defining with the housing a plurality of longitudinal wind passages through which induced currents of air from a fan in the fan motor base pass, top cover having a smoothly curved wind guide face on the inside adapted for guiding induced currents of air from the longitudinal wind passages to an exhaust port.

Abstract: A method for controlling oil viscosity in a refrigeration unit having an oil viscosity effecting parameter with a desired set point. The refrigeration unit includes an oil lubricated compressor having a capacity and a suction pressure, a condenser, refrigerant control valves, and an evaporator connected in series, for circulating a refrigerant for adjusting air temperature of a compartment.

Abstract: Self-contained device and method for determining the variations in temperature regulated temperature enclosures. The device consists of a container comprising a tank connected to a receptacle, the inner spaces of which communicate with one another through one or two ducts of reduced or constricted cross sections. Said container is formed at least partially, of a material allowing heat transfer with the exterior and contains an intially solidified material, the melting temperature thereof being constant and the total volume being less than or equal to the overall volume of the tank and duct element.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved refrigerator incorporating a vegetable-storage chamber in which, using moisture-permeable films capable of automatically varying humid-permeability, humidity inside of a vegetable-storage container is automatically and securely controllable to prevent dewing symptom from being generated therein while always preserving high humidity suited for vegetables and other produce to make it possible to store.The inventive refrigerator incorporates a vegetable storage container 18 having open top-surface and provides a lid member 19 in close contact with and by way of covering the open top surface of the vegetable storage container 18. The lid member 19 is provided with moisture-permeable films 20 comprising a humid-vapor-permeable basic cloth 21 made from nylon or polyester resin and a hydrophilic shape-memory resin film 22 made from polyurethane resin or the like.

Abstract: A varying cross-sectional area capillary tube for a refrigeration system. The capillary tube comprises at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a cross-sectional area that is effectively smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second portion. By doing so, any contaminants contained in the refrigerant will deposit themselves within the second portion of the capillary tubes, but because of the increased cross-sectional area, will not clog the capillary tube.

Abstract: A receiver/dryer (10) includes a canister (12) with a cylindrical sidewall (13), an integral lower end (14), and an open upper end (16). A pick-up tube (18) is disposed centrally within the canister. According to one aspect, the lower end (19) of the pick-up tube has a wedged-shape and which is supported by the lower end of the canister. The upper end (20) of the pick-up tube has an annular groove (21) which carries an O-ring seal (22). A lower baffle (23) and lower filter pad (40) are received over the pick-up tube with the lower baffle having a tight slip-fit therewith; loose desiccant (24) is introduced into the canister and supported by the lower baffle and filter pad; and then an upper filter pad (50) and upper baffle (44) are received over the pick-up tube, with the upper baffle having a slip-fit therewith.

Abstract: A refrigerator for improving a cooling efficiency. The refrigerator has a cabinet having a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber, and an evaporator chamber which is disposed at a rear portion of the freezing chamber, an evaporators which generates a chilled air and has a helical shape forming a conical space portion therein, a blower assembly coaxially disposed at a rear of the evaporator so as to blow an air towards the evaporator, and a heater installed in the conical space portion of the evaporator so as to remove a frost adhering to the evaporator. The refrigerator can effectively make a heat-exchange between the evaporator and the air so that the cooling efficiency is improved. Since the turbulent air flow is introduced into the freezing chamber, the freezing chamber can be uniformly cooled and since the heater is coaxially disposed in the evaporator, the heater can uniformly heat the evaporator, so the defrosting a frost from the evaporator is effectively carried out.

Abstract: A process for operating a motor vehicle air conditioner, which contains a refrigerant circulating system with a compressor and an evaporator. The compressor is deactivated to protect against an insufficient amount of refrigerant being supplied to the compressor when the refrigerant pressure on the high-pressure side of the refrigerant circulating system falls below a definable value. The deactivation to protect against inadequate refrigerant levels is suppressed as long as the temperature of the motor vehicle engine coolant (which is utilized to heat an air flow blown by the air conditioner into the vehicle interior), is below a definable coolant temperature deactivation threshold value and the evaporator temperature is above a definable first evaporator temperature deactivation threshold value. The process can also be used to reduce the tendency of the vehicle's windows to fog up.

Abstract: An improved housing for draining condensed water from the interior of a heating and air conditioning unit installed in a motor vehicle. The contoured bottom wall of the housing includes a raised portion surrounded by a series of sloped channels which lead to a collection basin having a drain. A fan or blower forces air through the housing inlet and past the heating and cooling elements. A portion of one of the sidewalls adjacent the air inlet interrupts the entering air to create a low pressure area. Condensed moisture is drawn along the sloped channels towards a collection basin located in the low pressure area. A drain is provided in the collection basin to remove the moisture from the housing.

Abstract: In order to improve a refrigerating plant comprising a refrigerant circuit, which has a main stream of refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a collector one after the other, and an oil circuit for the compressor with an oil cooler such that the oil cooler can be operated as simply and reliably as possible, it is suggested that the oil cooler be adapted to be cooled by a branch stream of liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit, that the branch stream circulate in a branch circuit on the pressure side, that the branch circuit branch off from a collector arranged downstream of the condenser in the main stream of the refrigerant circuit, convey liquid refrigerant to the oil cooler and then supply the refrigerant evaporated at least partially in the oil cooler to the main stream of refrigerant on the pressure side upstream of the condenser and that a pumping device driven by the main stream of refrigerant flowing from the compressor to the condenser pump the branch stream

Abstract: In an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, when a bi-level mode or a foot/defroster mode is set, a stop position of a second mode selecting door is shifted relative to a stop position of a first mode selecting door so that a pressure loss in a second air passage corresponds to a pressure loss in a first air passage. Therefore, in each air outlet mode, a ratio between an amount of air blown from the first air passage toward a driver's seat side in a passenger compartment and an amount of air blown from the second air passage toward a front passenger's seat side next to the driver's seat in the passenger compartment can be set at a predetermined value. Thus, air-conditioning feeling for a driver or a passenger in the passenger compartment can be improved while reducing production cost of the air conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: A method of separating an immiscible lubricant from a liquid refrigerant in a refrigerating system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, wherein the expansion device is connected to the condenser by a liquid refrigerant flow line for liquid refrigerant and immiscible lubricant. The method comprising slowing the rate of flow of the liquid refrigerant and immiscible lubricant between the condenser and the expansion device such that the liquid refrigerant and the immiscible lubricant separate based upon differences in density. The method also comprises collecting the separated immiscible lubricant in a collection chamber in fluid communication with the separated immiscible lubricant. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The environmentally protected module (16, 116, 216), which is qualifiable under military and space specifications, uses commercial and/or industrial grade electronic components (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220). The components are secured to and are electrically coupled together on a printed wiring board (24, 124, 224), through which thermally conductive vias (38, 138, 238) extend. The components are encapsulated in a thermally conductive and electrically insulative packaging material (25a, 25b; 125; 225, 229). Cooling or heating is provided by Peltier thermoelectric heat pump devices (32, 132, 232) coupled between an external heat sink/exchanger (35, 80; 135; 235) and the components.