Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a refrigerant cooler of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passage -way. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a refrigerant cooler of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to reduce temperature and pressure of refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant cooler and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passageway. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passageway. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a necked-down region and a tube portion. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a converging portion, a throat region and a diverging portion. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A combustion air supply blower includes a blower housing having a housing body and housing cover. The cover is removably attached to the housing body and generally provides access to a motor and fan assembly including a fan and a motor. The motor and fan assembly is removably mounted within the housing body and is captured between the housing body and the housing cover such that, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly is exposed and may then be lifted out of the housing body for easy maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of any portion of the motor and fan assembly. Alternatively, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly may be accessed while remaining within the housing body to complete any maintenance and/or repair of the motor and fan assembly.

Abstract: A combustion air supply blower includes a blower housing having a housing body and housing cover. The cover is removably attached to the housing body and generally provides access to a motor and fan assembly including a fan and a motor. The motor and fan assembly is removably mounted within the housing body and is captured between the housing body and the housing cover such that, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly is exposed and may then be lifted out of the housing body for easy maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of any portion of the motor and fan assembly. Alternatively, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly may be accessed while remaining within the housing body to complete any maintenance and/or repair of the motor and fan assembly.

Abstract: An exhaust system for withdrawing a supply of exhaust gases from an exhaust flue of a heater and expelling the exhaust gases to atmosphere at a remote location that includes a mixing tee for mixing a flow of dilution air and a flow of exhaust gases. The mixing tee includes a first end coupled to the inlet opening of a blower housing and a second end coupled to a supply of dilution air. The dilution air inlet pipe of the mixing tee extends along a longitudinal axis. The mixing tee includes a flue pipe having a first end positioned to receive the exhaust gases from the heater and a second end that enters into the dilution air inlet pipe. The flue pipe extends along a longitudinal axis that is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the dilution air inlet pipe. The exhaust flue extends toward the upstream end of the dilution air inlet pipe such that the flow of dilution air impinges upon the flow of exhaust gases.

Abstract: A single piece impeller that includes an integrally formed hub, back plate, inlet support ring and a plurality of impeller blades. The impeller blades each extend radially from an inner, leading edge to an outer, trailing edge. An extended portion of each impeller blade extends past the outer edge surface of the back plate such that the extended portion is not support along a lower edge surface. The top edge surface of the extended portion of each impeller blade is integrally formed with the support ring. The support ring provides support for each of the impeller blades and is sized to allow the single piece impeller to be removed from a mold.

Abstract: A furnace blower housing that can be flush mounted to a furnace and includes an integrally formed round exhaust outlet. The blower housing is formed from two separate housing members joined to each other. The blower housing includes an impeller cavity that encompasses a rotating impeller that directs the exhaust gases out of a rectangular outlet. An integrally formed transition section extends from the rectangular outlet to a circular exhaust outlet. The transition section is formed by a bottom half integrally formed with the first housing member and a top half integrally formed with the top housing member. The exhaust outlet is offset from the back plate of the blower housing such that the blower housing can be flush mounted to a furnace.

Abstract: A C-frame motor comprising a stator, a rotor, a rotor shaft, a bobbin and a housing is disclosed. The housing is configured to conform to the shape of the stator/rotor/bobbin assembly so that a curtain of air can be concentrated onto the motor to enhance performance, safety and motor longevity.

Abstract: An electric motor design and method useful to reduce noise/vibration generated by a rotor/shaft assembly is provided whereby the motor has a stator which has an axial length and a rotor which has an axial length less than the axial length of the stator such that when the rotor rotates within the motor, the rotor is axially fixed by a stator field.

Abstract: An electric motor design and method useful to reduce noise/vibration generated by a rotor/shaft assembly is provided whereby the motor has a stator which has an axial length and a rotor which has an axial length less than the axial length of the stator such that when the rotor rotates within the motor, the rotor is axially fixed by a stator field.