Abstract: An indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of the nozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes the nozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assembly prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination of a spray condition, a stream condition, and/or a foam condition. The indexing nozzle assembly is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of a lock mechanism that prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base from the cap off condition position. The lock mechanism can be manually manipulated with one hand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting rotation of the nozzle cap from its off condition position relative to the base.

Abstract: An atomizer includes a plenum having an open first end with a diameter greater than that of a second end of the plenum. An inlet defined in the second end of the plenum. The inlet communicates with an inner periphery of the plenum and connected to a water source. A sprayer is attached to the open first end for closing the plenum and has multiple through holes defined therein. An atomizing device is securely attached to the sprayer opposite to the plenum. The atomizing device includes multiple nozzles each co-axially aligning with a corresponding one of the multiple through holes. The nozzle includes a skirt extending from the atomizing device. Each nozzle has at least two awls laterally and radially extending from an inner periphery of each of the skirt to centrally define a passage that co-axially aligning with a corresponding one of the through hole.

Abstract: Refrigerant is circulated through a vapor compression system including a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Preferably, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. The expansion device is a work recovery device which extracts energy from the expansion process and is coupled with a fluid pumping device that cools the refrigerant flowing through the gas cooler. The fluid pumping device pumps fluid through the gas cooler at a flow rate related to the energy extracted from the expansion process. The system provides a self-controlling mechanism to regulate the pressure in the gas cooler. If the pressure in the gas cooler increases, more energy is extracted from the expansion process, increasing the flowrate of the fluid pumping device, and decreasing the pressure of the refrigerant in the gas cooler.

Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism for a transmission/engine fluid cooler bypass valve of the type in which a responsive element expands to urge a valve member against a valve seat and thereby causes transmission fluid to flow through an oil fluid cooler. A cast valve housing is utilized which is interposed between the cooler and the oil source. The valve actuating mechanism is designed to allow fluid to pass through the valve once the fluid has reached an elevated temperature.

Abstract: An air conditioner having an air blower (1) for air blowing, a front heat exchanger (2) and a rear heat exchanger (3) respectively provided on the front side and the rear side of an indoor unit (10) so as to surround the air blower (1) and for carrying out heat exchange between the indoor air and a refrigerant, a rear drain pan (11) provided under this rear heat exchanger (3) and for receiving drained water, and an air blower air path (4) formed around the air blower (1) and narrowed near the front end portion of the drain pan (11). The lower portion of the rear heat exchanger (3) is located rearward in comparison with the upper portion of the rear heat exchanger (3) so as to be inclined backward.

Abstract: A water aerator comprises an inlet for wash water, an outlet a bubbly stream, first means for mixing air with wash water disposed in a wash water passage extending between the inlet for wash water and the outlet for the bubbly stream, and second means for rectifying the wash water disposed downstream of the first means. The first means comprises a pressure reducing disk provided with a plurality of pores and blocking the wash water passage, air inlets disposed in a circumferential wall of the wash water passage downstream of the pressure reducing disk, and a tapered zone of the wash water passage with conically diminishing diameter located downstream of the pressure reducing disk. The second means comprises a rectifying zone of the wash water passage extending between the downstream end of the tapered zone and the outlet for the bubbly stream, and a honeycomb disposed in the rectifying zone. The pores in the pressure reducing disk are directed to a circumferential wall of the tapered zone.

Abstract: A system for controlled freezing, storing and thawing a biopharmaceutical material includes a flexible container and a supporting structure. The flexible container is adapted to receive the biopharmaceutical material therein for freezing, storing and thawing. The container further includes a flange and the supporting structure is engageable with the flange to receive the container. The supporting structure may position the container for freezing and may protect it during transport and storage.

Abstract: A cooling air passage apparatus of a refrigerator includes: a left cooling air duct installed having a plurality of cooling air discharge holes in the vertical direction at the left side of the opened marginal portion of an inner case forming a storage chamber, and discharging cooling air from the left side of the storage chamber toward a refrigerator door; a right cooling air duct installed having a plurality of cooling air discharge holes in the vertical direction at the right side of the opened marginal portion of the inner case, and discharging cooling air from the right side of the storage chamber toward the refrigerator door; a ventilating unit for ventilating cooling air generated from a freezing system to the storage chamber; and a diverging unit for diverging and guiding cooling air ventilated by the ventilating unit to the left cooling air duct and the right cooling air duct.

Abstract: A self-operated regulating valve has a spool (13) moving axially in an internal space of a cylindrical valve body (11). One pressure P1 acts on one end surface of the spool (13), and other pressure P2 acts on the other surface of the spool (13). A through-hole (13a) is provided in the spool (13). When a difference between the one pressure P1 and the other pressure P2 exceeds a set value, the through-hole (13a) and pipe lines (12) connected to the valve body (11) communicate to bring the self-operated regulating valve into an open state.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle, including a refrigerant circuit and an engine, has a battery, a compressor, an electric motor and a load torque control mechanism. The battery supplies electric power. The compressor is operative to compress refrigerant gas for the air-conditioning system. The electric motor is electrically connected to the battery. The motor is driven due to the electric power, and is operatively coupled to drive the compressor when the motor is energized. The load torque control mechanism responsive to the operating condition of the engine to control the load torque of the compressor below a predetermined value during times when the motor is driving the compressor.

Abstract: An insulated cooler having a narrower upper portion and a wider lower portion with a ledge therebetween is transformed into an elegant food dispensing station. A shelf that surrounds the cooler at its upper portion is formed from a horizontal panel with an aperture great enough to pass the upper portion of the cooler and rest on the ledge. The shelf may be provided with features for holding items on its surface such as glasses. It may have features for mounting a skirt that conceals the lower portion of the cooler. The assembly may include a rolling cart that is also concealed by the skirt to provide a complete self-contained dispensing station for parties.

Abstract: A closed circuit refrigeration system of successive coalescent/depth filters provides the almost total removal of liquid refrigerants from a refrigeration gas stream. The liquid refrigerant so extracted is then be returned to the suction side through a metering device such as a capillary line to provide intermediate cooling of the oncoming discharge gas. The auto cascade system utilizes short path plate heat exchangers. The properties of coalescent/depth filters place a physical barrier between the differing temperature/pressure regimes on the discharge side of the system. The provision of a start valve in a line connecting the gas discharge path and the return path close to the cryo-coil enables the use of hermetic compressors and eliminates the requirement for supplementary pressure vessels within auto-cascade cryogenic refrigeration systems.

Abstract: A refrigerator system includes one or more insulated cabinets structured and disposed for mounting to a wall, soffit, or ceiling in suspended relation above a countertop so that the insulated cabinets are positioned at a height which enables easy viewing and access to items stored within the cabinets' interior compartments, while also providing an open and unobstructed area between the underside of the cabinets and the countertop. In a preferred embodiment, at least two insulated cabinets are used, including one insulated cabinet providing a refrigerator compartment and a second insulated cabinet providing a freezer compartment. A stand-alone refrigeration and freezing unit for controlling and maintaining the temperature in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is separated from the insulated cabinets and, in the preferred embodiments, is mounted in a soffit or ceiling structure above the insulated cabinets.

Abstract: An expansion valve 1 comprises a piping member 10 equipped with passages to which refrigerant pipes are to be connected, and a cassette unit 100, the two members being formed as separate units. The cassette unit 100 comprises a tube member 110 having a flange portion 111, and at the interior of the tube member 110 are fixed a guide member 170, an orifice member 180, and a plate member 166. The pressure of gas filled in a gas charge chamber 122 defined by a lid 120 and a diaphragm 130 displaces the diaphragm 130, the displacement being transmitted to a shaft member 150 through a stopper member 140 including at the center thereof a tubed portion 142 storing an absorbent. The shaft member 150 is guided by a guide member 170 and controls the valve means 160 inside a valve chamber 161. The cassette unit 100 is inserted to the piping member 10 and fixed to position by a ring 50. Seal members 62, 64, and 66 are equipped to appropriate areas between the cassette unit and the piping member.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for freezing supercooled water, which method includes the steps of (1-1) filling said supercooled water in a sealed container, reducing pressure of said supercooled water to generate bubbles from the supercooled water, mixing said generated bubbles in the supercooled water, or (1-2) filling said supercooled water in a sealed container with a bubble-mixing inlet, reducing pressure of the supercooled water to mix bubbles into the supercooled water from outside of the container through the bubble mixing inlet, or (1-3) filling said supercooled water in the sealed container with the bubble-mixing inlet, introducing bubbles into the supercooled water from outside the container through the bubble-mixing inlet under pressure, mixing the bubbles into the supercooled water, (2) simultaneously repeating expansion, compression, disruption, clustering and disappearance of the bubbles mixed into the supercooled water and (3) thereby freezing the supercooled water by vigorously oscillating gas-liquid

Abstract: A system for sensing the torque exerted upon a motor shaft assembly relative to the consistency of a mixture. The system includes a moving member for moving the mixture. One form of the mixture may be a chilled beverage in which the moving member moves the chilled beverage within a container. The motor shaft assembly includes a drive device coupled to the moving member for imparting movement to the moving member and a drive shaft connecting the drive device in the moving member. The drive shaft defines an axis of rotation. The drive shaft is adapted for rotation to effect movement of the moving member. The drive shaft includes at least one axially aligned resilient coupling extending generally coaxial with and radially spaced from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An assembly (10) of a component (12) of a vehicle air conditioning system to a support structure (14), wherein the component (12) has a first connection element (32) and the support structure (14) has a second connection element (28). According to an important aspect of the invention, either the first or the second connection element (28) comprises a recess (30) therein for receiving the other connection element (28, 32) and a lateral opening (34) for allowing lateral introduction of the other connection element (28, 32) into the recess (30).

Abstract: An ice making machine in which upon starting of an ice making operation, a water level detecting switch starts measurement, and a water-supply-stop time T1 is compared with a reference time T2. When the water-supply-stop time T1 is not longer than the reference time T2, it is determined that the ice making machine is an excessive-ice-making state, and control is performed so as to reduce the RPM of a fan motor for cooling a condenser.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ice cube catcher that is attachable to a refrigerator door to catch ice cubes dispensed from the outlet of the dispenser. Preferably, the ice cube catcher includes a body that has a lower integral portion and two end portions. The integral portion and ends contact the refrigerator once the catcher is mounted on the refrigerator door. The body may be a single piece construction or be constructed of two body members that are joined together in a telescopic fashion such that the length of the catch can be adjusted to accommodate different size ice cube dispensers. The ends of the body have flanges or protrusions upon which are secured magnets or other types of attachment fixtures for mounting the catcher onto the refrigerator.

Abstract: A bypass valve assembly, comprising: (a) a housing 12 having an inlet 16 and an outlet 18; (b) a valve member 20 disposed within the housing and being movable between a closed position and an open position; and (c) a slug of material 30 disposed in an initial substantially solid phase in contact with the valve member 20 so as to maintain the valve member in the closed position. The slug of material 30 is subsequently heatable into a substantially softened phase so as to permit the valve member 20 to move into the open position.