Abstract: A combination thermal energy storage material capable of functioning in two discrete temperature ranges and comprised of two constituents, one of which has a phase change in the low temperature range between about 35.degree. F. and about 55.degree. F., and the other of which has a phase change in the high temperature range of between about 90.degree. F. and about 130.degree. F. Both temperature ranges are selected to correspond with the operable and desirable ranges for a heat pump operation. The two constituents are selected to be non-reactive with one another and in the mixture maintain independent phase change characteristics. However, the mixture itself alters in some cases, depending upon concentration, the melting points of each member of the pair so that the transition temperatures of the phase changes in the mixture are somewhat different and somewhat lower than the phase changes characteristic of the independent constituents and is dependent upon the concentration of the constituents in the mixture.

Abstract: A track assembly for securing to a wall and receiving shelves. The track assembly includes two spaced, parallel, elongated strips having a plurality of slots along their lengths. There is also provided an adapter member located at one end of each of these strips and the adapter member is U-shaped to provide depending legs connected by a body with the body having at least one circular hole therethrough and dimensioned for each of the legs to be received through the slots in the strips such that the circular hole overlies one of the slots. There is also a headed attachment element through the circular hole of each of the adapter and the underlying strip slot into the wall to secure each of the strips to the wall. Shelf brackets are provided for each of the strips with the brackets having a hook-shaped attachment element at one end removably inserted in the slots for support of the bracket.

Abstract: A dishwasher is disclosed which includes a tub formed of plastic, such as polypropylene, or other heat-deformable material. A heating element for effecting the final drying of the articles in the dishwasher is disposed near the bottom wall of the tub where the heat from the heating element could cause a deformation of the adjacent portion of the bottom wall of the tub. A shallow receptacle is disposed between the heating element and the portion of the bottom wall of the tub in close proximity thereto. The receptacle retains a small amount of the water used in the washing and rinsing operations and the evaporation of this water during the energization of the heating element insures that the temperature of the adjacent bottom wall remains below that at which any damage thereto could occur. Spaced dividers extending transversely of the slope of the bottom wall are provided in the receptacle to insure that water is retained therein over substantially the entire surface of the bottom of the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the manufacture of a continuous heat exchanger tube including helically winding a spine fin material on the outer wall of a base tube member. A preselected portion of the spine fin material is secured against movement relative to the base tube member. The heat exchanger is then severed in the secured portion so that a section of the secured portion is arranged at each end of the severed heat exchanger. The secured severed end sections are effective in maintaining the intermediate portion of the spine fin material from unwinding and, as a result, in heat transfer relationship with the base tube member.

Abstract: A microwave oven for cooking food with microwave energy on a slow simmer cycle. The oven includes a closed vessel in which food is to be cooked slowly for many hours at a simmer temperature. A control apparatus is furnished for monitoring the temperature of the food in the vessel, and it has a temperature-sensing probe adjacent the bottom wall of the vessel. The probe is connected in circuitry for controlling the power level of the microwave energy to medium power, as well as controlling the maximum food temperature to just below a boiling temperature.

Abstract: An improved hand grip assembly for a portable cabinet that includes a finger receiving portion secured to a side wall of the cabinet and located on a line diagonally across the corner of the side wall near the top and front walls of the cabinet. For more control over movement of the cabinet there may also be provided a recess area in the top wall for receiving a person's thumb. This recess area provides a gripping rail for the thumb such that the rail is located between the thumb and the rest of a person's hand. For optimum control over movement of the cabinet a finger receiving portion and recess area are provided on both sides of the cabinet.

Abstract: In a laundry machine having a horizontal axis rotatable drum and a door for access into the drum there is provided an air vent including a duct having one end in air flow communication with the interior of the drum and the opposite end in air flow communication with air outside the machine. The air vent also includes a flexible flap within the duct having one end free and movable from a vertical first position to a second position and the opposite end of the flap is secured to the duct. The flap has a dimension less than the inside lateral cross section of the duct. There is also a partition spaced from the free end of the flap when the flap is in the first vertical position and the partition has an opening smaller than the flap whereby the opening is covered when the machine is in operation and the flap is in the second position.

Abstract: A tracked support having a large load-bearing area is provided for movably supporting a cabinet. The support comprises an elongated horizontal carrier mounted to the cabinet and a continuous flexible track is formed into an encircling band and rotatably mounted around the carrier. The cabinet may be supported by a plurality of such supports.

Abstract: A reversible turbine pump for producing bi-directional liquid flow wherein there is provided a housing having a substantially annular outer wall and top and bottom walls closing the ends of the outer wall. Within the housing there is a rotatable impeller having an annular series of blades extending outwardly and forming with the wall a toroidal space. First and second spaced outlet openings are provided in the housing and also first and second circumferentially spaced channels between the impeller and each of the outlet openings in liquid flow communication with the toroidal space. A dam is located between the channels. An inlet opening is located in each of the channels.

Abstract: A capacitive touch switch device includes a panel in the form of a dielectric sheet element, a touch pad on the front of the panel, and at least a sensing pad on the rear of the panel. A conductive grounded shield plate is also disposed generally upon the rear side of the panel and substantially surrounds the sensing pad.

Abstract: A household refrigerator having a condenser and a fan for passing air over the condenser. The fan is positioned in a fan orifice of an air channel which is of a construction to reduce the foreign substance in the air-stream and thereby reduce the labor of cleaning the condenser and maintain the efficiency of the condenser at a high value.

Abstract: A device and method for checking the adequacy of the rate of air flow in a rotating clothes dryer drum having air flow passing through perforations in the rear wall of the drum into the interior of the drum. The device comprises a rotatable fan and a counter assembly arranged to register the number of revolutions of the fan. There is provided a structure for removably attaching the device to the rear wall of the drum over at least some of the perforations in the rear drum wall. With this device and method the rate of air flow to the clothes dryer drum may be tested by operating the clothes dryer and registering the number of revolutions made by the fan for a period of time and comparing that number to a number determined previously to be an adequate air flow rate.

Abstract: The defrost pressure control system for a refrigerator includes a reservoir connected in communication with the evaporator of the refrigerating system. The reservoir is placed in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the refrigerator which remains at a relatively low temperature during defrosting so that a portion of the refrigerant in the system condenses in the reservoir during defrosting, thereby being effectively removed from the refrigerating system. A suitable heat sink may also be employed in the heat exchange relationship with the reservoir. Because of withdrawal of the aforementioned refrigerant, the pressure in the refrigerating system at the end of the defrosting operation is substantially below that which would otherwise be present. As a result the torque required to start the compressor is significantly reduced, thereby insuring effective starting of the compressor even when driven by an electric motor having a relatively low starting torque.

Abstract: An improved automatic clothes dryer and method of drying clothes wherein the clothes dryer has a rotatable drum through which heated air is circulated by a blower wheel driven at the full speed of a single speed electric motor. There is a thermostatic switch for sensing the temperature of air exiting the drum and through appropriate controls when a selected predetermined temperature is reached both the temperature at which the air is heated and the volume of air flowing through the drum are reduced. The improved clothes dryer and method reduces the amount of energy utilized by the dryer yet good clothes drying characteristics are accomplished.

Abstract: A front-mounted door pull handle assembly is shown on a refrigerator door. The handle is formed of a long extruded metal bar having a mounting bracket fastened on each end. A fastening screw extends through the end of the bar and through the mounting bracket and into a supporting surface. A flexible, decorative cover member snaps over the outside of the bar. The cover has longitudinal ribs to rigidify the cover and hold it on the bar. The bar, in turn, has longitudinal grooves for receiving the ribs.

Abstract: A food temperature-sensing probe assembly for monitoring the internal temperature of food while it is being cooked in a microwave oven includes a disc-like reflector either slidably or fixedly mounted on the probe housing adjacent to, but spaced from, the food. The reflector serves to prevent overcooking of the food in a region immediately adjacent the probe.

Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer having a gas heater assembly for heating the air includes a gas control valve and a gas nozzle in gas flow communication with the valve. The gas nozzle has an exit orifice having spaced therefrom a plate member such that gas will impinge the plate member. A combustion chamber having a truncated cone shaped upper portion and with an opening at the top and bottom thereof surrounds and is spaced outwardly of both the plate member and the nozzle. The bottom opening of the combustion chamber is arranged to allow air into the combustion chamber for mixing with the gas exiting the nozzle orifice. A hood member is spaced outwardly and below the opening at the top of the combustion chamber to allow ambient air into the hood member for mixing with the heated air. There is also provided an igniter for igniting the gas and air mixture.

Abstract: Door mounting structure for reversibly mounting two vertically aligned doors on a cabinet such as a combined refrigerator/freezer. Upper and lower removably mounted hinge pins are disposed at the top and bottom of the cabinet adjacent a first side thereof. An intermediate hinge bracket is located adjacent the bottom edge of the upper door and the top edge of the lower door. This hinge bracket has a mounting portion and a support portion. The support portion is adapted to extend between the two doors and it includes a pivot hole for a slip fit with a double hinge pin. This intermediate hinge bracket is inverted in one side hinge position as compared with the opposite side hinge position. This hinge bracket also includes a side arm that has a lost-motion connection to a front frame of the cabinet to stabilize the mounting portion of the bracket.

Abstract: An improved device and method for checking the adequacy of the rate of air flow in a rotating clothes dryer drum having air flow passing through a first centrally disposed set of perforations and a second set of perforations radially outward of the first set of perforations in the rear wall of the drum into the interior of the drum. The device comprises a rotatable fan and a counter assembly arranged to register the number of revolutions of the fan. There is provided a structure for removably attaching the device to the rear wall of the drum over the first set of perforations in the rear drum wall. A flexible circular skirt having a central opening is removably attached to the rear wall of the drum over and blocking air flow through the second set of perforations.

Abstract: A fastening device and method is provided for fastening first and second members in hingedly assembled relationship. The fastening device includes a slot opening through the first member, an integrally formed hinge member having a first planar portion with an end, a second planar portion, and an intermediate portion with its longitudinal axis at the junction of the first and second portions. The first and intermediate portions are dimensioned to pass through the slot while the second portion is larger than the slot. The intermediate portion is in the slot and the second portion of the hinge is secured to the second member.