Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members arranged in a lengthwise direction and a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion between the traction portion and the back portion. The traction portion is formed from a first material and the inner portion is formed from a second material having an increased fire resistance compared to the first material. A method of forming an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of tension members in a lengthwise direction and securing the plurality of tension members in a jacket by at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members in the jacket. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion having a greater fire resistance than the traction portion.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members arranged in a lengthwise direction and a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion between the traction portion and the back portion. The traction portion is formed from a first material and the inner portion is formed from a second material having an increased fire resistance compared to the first material. A method of forming an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of tension members in a lengthwise direction and securing the plurality of tension members in a jacket by at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members in the jacket. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion having a greater fire resistance than the traction portion.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members arranged in a lengthwise direction and a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion between the traction portion and the back portion. The traction portion is formed from a first material and the inner portion is formed from a second material having an increased fire resistance compared to the first material. A method of forming an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of tension members in a lengthwise direction and securing the plurality of tension members in a jacket by at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members in the jacket. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion having a greater fire resistance than the traction portion.

Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A controller selectively controls at least one of (i) the gas provided to the pump, which controls the fluid pressure in the conduit, or (ii) the gas provided to the nozzle or the conduit, which controls the gas pressure delivered to the nozzle.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car of an elevator system includes a plurality of tension members arranged in a lengthwise direction and a jacket substantially retaining the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion between the traction portion and the back portion. The traction portion is formed from a first material and the inner portion is formed from a second material having an increased fire resistance compared to the first material. A method of forming an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of tension members in a lengthwise direction and securing the plurality of tension members in a jacket by at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members in the jacket. The jacket includes a traction portion, a back portion, and an inner portion having a greater fire resistance than the traction portion.

Abstract: An exemplary flexible conduit (26) for use in a fire suppression system (20) includes a core layer (30) that establishes interior surface (32) of the flexible conduit that is configured to contact fire suppression fluid. A jacket layer (36) surrounds the core layer. The jacket layer establishes an exterior surface (38) of the flexible conduit. A reinforcing layer (34) is situated between the interior surface and the exterior surface.

Abstract: An exemplary sprinkler system includes a liquid supply conduit and a gas supply conduit. A mixing device is coupled to the liquid supply conduit and the gas supply conduit. The mixing device is configured to establish a mixture of liquid from the liquid supply conduit and gas from the gas supply conduit. The mixture has a selected gas-to-liquid ratio. A sprinkler supply conduit is coupled with the mixing device for carrying the mixture downstream from the mixing device. A sprinkler coupled with the sprinkler supply conduit is configured to receive the mixture and to discharge a fire suppression mist.

Abstract: A burner for use with an induced draft furnace and which satisfies reduced nitrous oxide (NOx) emission standards is disclosed. The burner may employ a mechanical swirler that introduces a rotational vector to the emitted air and fuel mixed by the burner. By introducing the rotational vector, the resulting flame is more stable and sustainable even with the relatively low air flow afforded by an induced system. Such flame stability can be enhanced by positioning the burner directly within an inlet to a heat exchanger and manufacturing the inlet with reception surfaces that form a frusto-conically shaped flame expansion zone. In doing so, a secondary source of air is avoided and NOx emissions are reduced.

Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a nozzle body configured to carry a fire suppressing fluid to be discharged from a first orifice array and a second orifice array. Gas bubbles can be introduced through a bubbler into the fire suppressing fluid to establish a bubbly mixture in the nozzle. Each first orifice in the first orifice array has a first flow property and is configured to receive the bubbly mixture and through effervescent atomization yield a first fire suppression mist from the first orifice array. Each second orifice in the second orifice array has a second different flow property and is configured to receive the bubbly mixture and through effervescent atomization yield a second fire suppression mist from the second orifice array. The first fire suppression mist and the second fire suppression mist are configured to provide a selected fire suppression nozzle discharge.

Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A controller selectively controls at least one of (i) the gas provided to the pump, which controls the fluid pressure in the conduit, or (ii) the gas provided to the nozzle or the conduit, which controls the gas pressure delivered to the nozzle.

Abstract: A burner for use with an induced draft furnace and which satisfies reduced nitrous oxide (NOx) emission standards is disclosed. The burner may employ a mechanical swirler that introduces a rotational vector to the emitted air and fuel mixed by the burner. By introducing the rotational vector, the resulting flame is more stable and sustainable even with the relatively low air flow afforded by an induced system. Such flame stability can be enhanced by positioning the burner directly within an inlet to a heat exchanger and manufacturing the inlet with reception surfaces that form a frusto-conically shaped flame expansion zone. In doing so, a secondary source of air is avoided and NOx emissions are reduced.

Abstract: A furnace with a burner is disclosed. The burner may include an area expansion plenum, a burner tube, a heat exchanger, a gas valve, an igniter, and an induced-draft blower. The gas valve may meter gas into the area expansion plenum, while the induced-draft blower may draw air into the area expansion plenum, wherein air and gas may mix to produce a lean gas/air mixture. The lean gas/air mixture may then be pulled through the burner tube and into the heat exchanger. Within the heat exchanger, the lean gas/air mixture may be ignited and energy may be produced, exciting acoustic energy in the heat exchanger. The acoustic energy may be distributed out of the heat exchanger by the area expansion plenum. In order to distribute the acoustic energy, the cross sectional area of the area expansion plenum may be greater than the cross sectional area of the burner tube.

Abstract: A side panel for a fabric care appliance is described. The side panel includes an embossed pattern for increasing a first natural frequency (or first harmonic) of the side panel. Preferably, the first natural frequency is substantially higher than any ordinary operating frequency or driving frequency of the appliance. For example, in a washing machine, the first natural frequency of the side panel is preferably at least 1.6 times greater than the maximum rotational frequency of a drum or tumbler of the machine.

Abstract: A laundry appliance having a cabinet enclosing a laundry treating mechanism, the cabinet having an openable door in a vertical front face thereof, is provided with a shelf recessed in the cabinet and arranged to be extendable to a horizontal position in an embodiment a predetermined distance below the door sufficient to allow a laundry basket to be placed on the shelf when extended and to allow the door to be opened and closed with the basket on the extended shelf and in an embodiment to provide a step for a user.