Abstract: A motor current detecting device includes a first wire, an instantaneous current detecting unit, an average electric current detecting unit, and a calculation unit. The first wire is configured and arranged to carry flow of a motor current that has been passed through a motor and a drive current that has been passed through a motor drive unit to drive the motor. The instantaneous current detecting unit is configured and arranged to detect an instantaneous value for a sum of the motor current and the drive current flowing on the first wire. The average electric current detecting unit is configured and arranged to detect an average value of the sum of the motor current and the drive current flowing on the first wire. The calculation unit is configured to calculate the motor current on the basis of the instantaneous value and the average value.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a normal refrigerant path arranged between a condenser and an evaporator, and an assist refrigerant path arranged between the condenser and the evaporator, wherein the assist refrigerant path is activated during low ambient conditions. The assist refrigerant path may include a solenoid valve and an expansion valve arranged between the condenser and the evaporator. The assist refrigerant path may be adapted to regulate the evaporator temperature.

Abstract: Automated methods, apparatuses and computer program products for controlling environmental parameters in a defined environment are disclosed herein. One method disclosed includes the steps of: measuring values of temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity in the environment, calculating a value of perceived temperature as a function of the measured values, and controlling the environmental parameters based on the calculated value. In certain embodiments, the defined environment comprises a chicken house and the temperature perceived by the chickens in the chicken house is calculated as a function of a characteristic of the chickens such as age or weight.

Abstract: An industrial fluid circulating system having at least one fluid circulation circuit, includes a plurality of pumps connected in parallel to circulate the fluid through each of the fluid circulation circuit, a separate motor driving each pump, a load detector to sense operating loads on the system and each circuit, and a speed control to vary the speed of each motor to thereby vary the pumping capacity of each pump in response to the detected load on the system, each pump of each respective circuit running simultaneously at a substantially similar speed or a predetermined equal reduced speed of the respective circuit or an almost equal reduced speed or a similar reduced speed.

Abstract: A vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a first valve coupled to an outlet of the compressor, a cooling circuit between the first valve and the inlet of the compressor, a heating circuit between the first valve and the inlet of the compressor and a controller. The heating circuit includes a heating circuit evaporator and a second valve between the heating circuit evaporator and the inlet of the compressor. The controller is configured to operate the first valve to switch between a cooling mode and a heating mode, cycle the second valve opened and closed in the heating mode, such that when closed, the compressor draws refrigerant out of the cooling circuit and refrigerant pressure builds up within the heating circuit, and maintain the second valve open upon the controller determining that sufficient refrigerant has been drawn out of the cooling circuit during the cycling of the second valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed an air conditioner which can realize appropriate air conditioning control in a situation closer to a feeling temperature even in a case where a floor surface of a room to be conditioned is low. The air conditioner which blows air subjected to heat exchange between the air and a user side heat exchanger into a room to be conditioned by an indoor side blower comprises a user side controller which controls a revolution speed of the indoor side blower based on the present temperature in the room and a set temperature, and this controller raises the revolution speed of the indoor side blower in a case where an outside air temperature is not higher than a predetermined revolution speed rise temperature during a heating operation.

Abstract: To a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of outdoor units are connected. In an operation state where the first outdoor unit is operated with the second outdoor unit stopped, the air conditioner performs refrigerant collection operation for collecting and retaining surplus refrigerant to and in a second outdoor heat exchanger of the second outdoor unit. During the refrigerant collection operation, a second outdoor expansion valve is closed fully, and a second outdoor fan is operated. Part of refrigerant discharged from a first compressor flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger during the refrigerant collection operation. The refrigerant flowing in the second outdoor heat exchanger dissipates heat to outdoor air to be condensed. Since the second outdoor expansion valve is closed fully, the condensed refrigerant is retained in the second outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor, an utilization-side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger; an injection pipe which includes a solenoid switching valve and a second expansion valve; and an objective supercooling degree table which stores objective supercooling degrees according to condensing pressure in the refrigerant circuit and rotation number of the compressor. In the heat pump apparatus, liquid refrigerant is injected to the compressor by way of the injection pipe. The heat pump apparatus switches between a first case where the liquid refrigerant is injected to the compressor and a second case where the liquid refrigerant is not injected, and a value of the objective supercooling degree is changed between the first case and the second case to control the first expansion valve based on the value of the objective supercooling degree.

Abstract: A thermal by-pass valve for a heat exchange circuit includes a housing forming a chamber and a by-pass valve port surrounded by a valve seat. The valve port is located between first and second sections of the chamber. First and second oil ports open into the first section. At least a third port opens into the second section. A thermally sensitive actuator is mounted in the first section and has a body and a piston located at one end. The body is movable in the chamber in response to extension of the piston. A valve member is operably mounted on the body and is movable by extension of the piston. A spacer projects from and is connected to the body and forms a passage through which the piston extends. The spacer acts to maintain the adjacent end of the actuator body at least the length of the passage away from an end of the chamber. The spacer can have a valve portion to close a further valve port.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor, a utilization-side heat exchanger for exchanging heat between water and refrigerant, an electronic expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger; a controller which controls the compressor and the electronic expansion valve; a subcooling value calculating unit which calculates a subcooling value of the refrigerant circuit; a condensing pressure detector which detects condensing pressure of the compressor; a compressor rotation number detector which detects rotation number of the compressor; and an objective subcooling value extracting unit which selects and extracting an objective subcooling value stored in advance, from the condensing pressure and the rotation number of the compressor. The controller adjusts an opening degree of the electronic expansion valve so that the calculated subcooling value of the refrigerant circuit reaches the objective subcooling value.

Abstract: An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator the apparatus includes an ice maker, an ice container to collect ice made by the ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the ice container. The ice detecting sensor has a transmitter module provided on one side of the ice maker and a receiver module provided on another side of the ice maker. The transmitter module is separated by a prescribed distance from the receiver module. At least one of the transmitter module or receiver module includes at least one optical element and at least one heater, and the heater is made of an electroconductive heating material.

Abstract: A resettable thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) is disclosed. The TPRD includes a piston, a housing adapted to receive the piston and allow movement between an open and a closed position. The housing includes an actuator having a temperature sensitive material disposed therein. The temperature sensitive material volumetrically expands, increasing a length of the actuator and forcing a lever from a first position to a second position. The piston is held in the closed position by the lever in the first position. When the lever moves to the second position, the piston is allowed to move to the open position, allowing a fluid to flow through the TPRD from a high pressure vessel in communication therewith.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, first and second heat exchangers connected with high pressure piping, low pressure piping connecting the second heat exchanger to a compressor suction port, a pressure reducing mechanism arranged to reduce pressure in the high pressure piping, a bypass passageway, a vessel connected to the bypass passageway, and first and second opening/closing mechanisms. The first heat exchanger is connected to a compressor discharge port. The bypass passageway is arranged to divert refrigerant from the high pressure piping to the low pressure piping without passing through the second heat exchanger. The first opening/closing mechanism is arranged to open/close a first portion of the bypass passageway that connects the high pressure piping to the vessel. The second opening/closing mechanism is arranged to open/close a second portion of the bypass passageway that connects an upper part of the vessel to the low pressure piping.

Abstract: A wiring arrangement for protecting a bleed air supply system of an aircraft against overheating is associated with a bleed air supply system. The bleed air supply system includes a bleed air source, a bleed air feed, a shutoff valve arranged in the bleed air feed and a leakage monitoring device with a monitoring control device, which is connected via a shutoff circuit to the shutoff valve in such a way that the shutoff valve is closed when the shutoff circuit is interrupted. The wiring arrangement includes a thermal switch, which is connected in series with the shutoff valve and the monitoring control device to the shutoff circuit and which, once a predetermined limit temperature has been exceeded, interrupts the shutoff circuit.

Abstract: A test chamber that is capable of operating in a mode where the temperature of the chamber is efficiently cooled without removing a substantial amount of moisture from the air. In one aspect, the test chamber includes a structure defining a work space having air, and a temperature control system (e.g., a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator valve). The temperature control system includes a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) positioned to communicate with the air in the work space, a source of cold fluid (e.g., a compressed, condensed, and throttled refrigerant) coupled to the heat exchanger, a source of hot fluid (e.g., compressed refrigerant gas) coupled to the heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling a mixture of cold fluid and hot fluid entering the heat exchanger (e.g., by adjusting a cold fluid valve and/or a hot fluid valve).

Abstract: Various thermostat embodiment are provided that includes at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat's operation. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point. The controller is further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is below a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity is above a set-back humidity set-point.

Abstract: An HVAC system to be installed in a vehicle comprises a battery management controller. The battery management controller comprises at least one connection for electrically coupling a first power source with a first voltage; at least one connection for electrically coupling a second power source with a second voltage; and a first memory storage device configured to record data collected by the battery management controller. The battery management controller is configured to run a temperature control system and to supply power to the temperature control system from a combination of the first and second power sources with a combined voltage, and wherein the second power source is disconnected when the combined voltage drops below a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A climatic cabinet and storage cabinet that includes an upper zone, a lower zone, storage positions for storing objects in one of the upper and lower zone, and at least one temperature control unit structured and arranged to maintain a temperature in the one of the upper and lower zone different from the other of the upper and lower zone. The cabinet further includes a lock, a horizontal transport mechanism arranged at least in part in the other of the upper and lower zone to move the objects to and from the lock in a direction having a horizontal component, and a vertical transport mechanism structured and arranged to move the objects between the lower zone and the upper zone.

Abstract: An air-conditioning device includes a refrigerating cycle; a controller to control a refrigerant discharge capacity of a compressor of the cycle in a manner that a refrigerant evaporation temperature of an evaporator of the cycle approaches a target temperature; and a setting portion to set an upper limit for a fuel amount consumed by an engine based on at least the refrigerant evaporation temperature. The controller controls the refrigerant discharge capacity of the compressor in a manner that an actual fuel amount consumed by the engine is equal to or lower than the upper limit.

Abstract: A method of controlling temperature in a compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. During a normal operation of the refrigerator, the compartment is cooled by a temperature control circuit operated in accordance with a predetermined thermodynamic cycle. The method includes the steps of measuring a variable parameter of the compartment, and comparing the variable parameter with a threshold, and if the variable parameter is greater than the threshold, continuing to operate the temperature control circuit in accordance with the predetermined thermodynamic cycle.