Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir, a plurality of grooves formed in the thermal reservoir, and a plurality of fluid tubes. Each of the fluid tubes is disposed in a respective one of the grooves such that it is in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. In a particular embodiment, the grooves form helices around the outer surface of the thermal reservoir. Additionally, each of the grooves can be formed parallel to the other groove(s) such that each of the process fluid tubes will be disposed in parallel to the other process fluid tube(s). The heat exchanger can also include a heating apparatus and/or a cooling apparatus.

Abstract: A device for turning an object includes a handle defining a cavity and an opening into the cavity, a strap positioned within the cavity and extending through the opening such that an exposed portion of the strap defines a hoop adapted to be place around the object, and a retraction mechanism coupled to the handle and the strap. The retraction mechanism permits more of the strap to be pulled out of the cavity when a force is applied to the exposed portion of the strap. The retraction mechanism also automatically retracts the strap into the cavity when the pulling force is removed. In a particular embodiment, the device is a jar opener. The device provides the advantages that the strap can be easily and securely positioned around an object and enables a person with low grip strength to turn the object.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10, 10, 10b) for selectively heating and/or cooling a process fluid (38). A process fluid tubing 14 is wrapped around a primary thermally conductive cylinder (12) having a spiral groove (24) therein adapted for closely accepting the process fluid tubing (14) and increasing the area in thermal contact therebetween. The process fluid tubing (14) is a generally chemically inert tubing. The spiral groove (24) supports the process fluid tubing (14) such that the process fluid tubing (14) can be bent in a radius smaller than the natural minimum bend radius of the process fluid tubing (14). Various embodiments have a cooling apparatus (26, 26a) for cooling the process fluid (38). The cooling apparatus (26, 26a) has a outer thermally conductive cylinder (16) or an outer thermal reservoir (50) cooled alternatively by coolant fluid (44) passing through cooling fluid tubing (18), by a plurality of thermoelectric modules (54), or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.

Abstract: A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10, 10, 10b) for selectively heating and/or cooling a process fluid (38). A process fluid tubing 14 is wrapped around a primary thermally conductive cylinder (12) having a spiral groove (24) therein adapted for closely accepting the process fluid tubing (14) and increasing the area in thermal contact therebetween. The process fluid tubing (14) is a generally chemically inert tubing. The spiral groove (24) supports the process fluid tubing (14) such that the process fluid tubing (14) can be bent in a radius smaller than the natural minimum bend radius of the process fluid tubing (14). Various embodiments have a cooling apparatus (26, 26a) for cooling the process fluid (38). The cooling apparatus (26, 26a) has a outer thermally conductive cylinder (16) or an outer thermal reservoir (50) cooled alternatively by coolant fluid (44) passing through cooling fluid tubing (18), by a plurality of thermoelectric modules (54), or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10, 10, 10b) for selectively heating and/or cooling a process fluid (38). A process fluid tubing 14 is wrapped around a primary thermally conductive cylinder (12) having a spiral groove (24) therein adapted for closely accepting the process fluid tubing (14) and increasing the area in thermal contact therebetween. The process fluid tubing (14) is a generally chemically inert tubing. The spiral groove (24) supports the process fluid tubing (14) such that the process fluid tubing (14) can be bent in a radius smaller than the natural minimum bend radius of the process fluid tubing (14). Various embodiments have a cooling apparatus (26, 26a) for cooling the process fluid (38). The cooling apparatus (26, 26a) has a outer thermally conductive cylinder (16) or an outer thermal reservoir (50) cooled alternatively by coolant fluid (44) passing through cooling fluid tubing (18), by a plurality of thermoelectric modules (54), or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus (10, 10, 10b) for selectively heating and/or cooling a process fluid (38). A process fluid tubing 14 is wrapped around a primary thermally conductive cylinder (12) having a spiral groove (24) therein adapted for closely accepting the process fluid tubing (14) and increasing the area in thermal contact therebetween. The process fluid tubing (14) is a generally chemically inert tubing. The spiral groove (24) supports the process fluid tubing (14) such that the process fluid tubing (14) can be bent in a radius smaller than the natural minimum bend radius of the process fluid tubing (14). Various embodiments have a cooling apparatus (26, 26a) for cooling the process fluid (38). The cooling apparatus (26, 26a) has a outer thermally conductive cylinder (16) or an outer thermal reservoir (50) cooled alternatively by coolant fluid (44) passing through cooling fluid tubing (18), by a plurality of thermoelectric modules (54), or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.