Abstract: A heat exchanger and method for defrosting a heat exchanger is disclosed and which includes a heat exchanger having a fluid receiving conduit, and at least one space which is defined, at least in part, by the fluid receiving conduit, an expandable and contractible heating element which is received within the space, and which is located in heat transmitting relation relative to the fluid receiving conduit, and a biasing member mounted on the heat exchanger and the heating element and which longitudinally, and resiliently restrains the movement of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger during the expansion and contraction of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and method for defrosting a heat exchanger is disclosed and which includes a heat exchanger having a fluid receiving conduit, and at least one space which is defined, at least in part, by the fluid receiving conduit, an expandable and contractible heating element which is received within the space, and which is located in heat transmitting relation relative to the fluid receiving conduit, and a biasing member mounted on the heat exchanger and the heating element and which longitudinally, and resiliently restrains the movement of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger during the expansion and contraction of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting a desired parameter to a remote location, the desired parameter is first communicated to a base transmitter. Then, the base transmitter transmits a first radio signal therefrom having an unknown center frequency within a known frequency band. The first radio signal comprises information representative of the desired parameter. At a remote location, a remote receiver identifies the center frequency of the first radio signal and tunes the remote receiver to the center frequency thereof so as to facilitate reception of the first radio signal with the remote receiver. The information representative of the desired parameter may then be communicated to a desired destination.

Abstract: A water spray process for providing moisture to chip-type food products to cause them to curl when dried. The amount of curling is directly related to the amount of moisture applied to the top surface of the chips. Following the water spray addition, the product may be transferred to a salting conveyor where salt may be deposited in a continuous curtain onto the top surface of the product. The water sprayed top surface provides the adhesive for the salt.

Abstract: A device which is useful in locating lost articles including a GPS translator, located in close proximity of said lost article. The GPS translator is capable of translating a frequency transmitted from a GPS transmitter to a GPS receiver, the GPS receiver is capable of receiving a first signal directly from the GPS transmitter, and a second signal transmitted from the GPS transmitter, through said GPS translator, to the GPS receiver. Since the translator typically uses considerable energy during continual usage, there is a power management portion included which actuates the translator only during those times that a coded signal is transmitted to the translator, which is typically transmitted by the user who is attempting to located the lost article.

Abstract: A tangential vortex burner and method of burning fuel having a moisture content ranging from 0% to 45%. The burner includes means for the tangential injection of air and fuel at different stages.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved digital weight measuring and computing apparatus with automatic zero correction which automatically corrects the zero indication of the apparatus.The weight measuring apparatus comprises a scale which employs a load cell and strain gauge to develop an analog voltage representing the weight on the scale. An analog-to-digital converter is then employed to change the analog voltage into a digital representation of the load on the scale. The digital converter provides a digital indication in addition to the digital indications employed to indicate the weight on the scale. The additional digital indication represents fractions of the least weight increment indicated of the weight on the scale. The additional digital indication is then employed to control the generation of a zero correction factor and this factor is then combined with the weight indications from the scale to indicate the correct weight of articles placed on the scale.

Abstract: In a plural scale system such as a parts counter having a minor scale for measuring the weight of a known number of sample parts and a major scale for measuring the weight of an unknown number of parts to be counted, apparatus for indicating when the scales are zeroed. Circuitry is provided for automatically correcting the weight outputs from each scale for a limited amount of zero errors. A digital display indicates the corrected weight on one of the scales. When the corrected weight on any of the other scales is on zero, an indicator light associated with such scale is illuminated.