Abstract: A device for processing food items arranged in a receptacle includes a steam-generating unit for generating steam, and a steam supply unit, which is connected to the steam-generating unit, for supplying steam to the receptacle. The steam supply unit has a steam probe having at least one steam-dispensing opening, and also has a steam probe stroke drive for a stroke movement of the steam probe along a stroke axis.

Abstract: A heatable container suitable for material such as bitumen. The container includes a vessel for holding a flowable material having side wall zones, end wall zones and a base wall zone. The container also includes a heating system for transferring heat to at least the base wall zone as well as a zone disposed along a central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The heating system may also included at least two internal heating ducts for conveying a heat transfer medium, wherein the ducts are disposed substantially parallel relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel, and are vertically and horizontally spaced apart relative to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-efficiency water pump and heater assembly for use with a pool or spa as a device that facilitates the filtering and heating of the pool water. A water pump and turbine engine are combined using an inventive linkage assembly that incorporates a revolutions per minute (rpm) reducing device. The rpm reducing device is operative to reduce the rpm speed associated with the turbine engine substantially to a revolutions-per-minute speed commonly associated with pool water pumps. A heat exchanger is disposed in the exhaust path of the turbine engine whereby water flowing through the heat exchanger coils is heated to a predetermined threshold as monitored by a temperature-monitoring device. The temperature-monitoring device causes a bypass device to redirect the flow of exhaust air once the predetermined temperature threshold has been reached such that the heat exchanger coils are bypassed as long as the water temperature is at or above the predetermined threshold.