Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly for use in conducting current through the wall of a sealed motor compressor unit and more particularly to a shield of dielectric material arranged on said terminal assembly so as to prevent contaminants when present in said motor compressor unit from depositing on said terminal assembly.

Abstract: A household refrigerator has a compartment divided into a freezer portion and a fresh food portion. Instead of a solid partition, a moving invisible layer of air isolates the two portions from each other.

Abstract: A reverse cycle heat pump refrigeration system including multi-circuited heat exchangers arranged to provide a series of refrigerant flow through the circuits for either heat exchanger when it is used as a condenser, and a parallel refrigerant flow through the circuits for either heat exchanger when it is used as an evaporator.

Abstract: An adjustable time delay disconnect switch or hot wire relay for use with a ground fault circuit interrupter in a power circuit to a load, such as an electric range, to provide ground fault protection for any circuit of the range. The switch has normally closed switch contacts, a biased actuator plunger for opening the contacts, a biased latch for disabling the plunger, and an adjustable hot wire for releasing the latch and hence the plunger when the circuit is overloaded. The plunger is manually resettable when the circuit condition returns to normal.

Abstract: An improved clothes washing machine and method of washing clothes for increasing the unbalance capacity of the machine. The machine includes a tub for containing water, a clothes receiving basket in the tub, the basket having perforations arranged in a pattern from the top to the bottom of the side wall of the basket, a pump for removing water from the tub, and a mechanism for rotatively accelerating the basket from zero to over 220 revolutions per minute. The unbalance capacity improvement is achieved by retaining between 20 and 40% of the initial water in the machine as measured under water only load conditions until 220 revolutions per minute is reached, pumping water continuously from between the tub and basket during such basket acceleration and discharging it from the machine, and restricting the flow of water from the basket to the tub such that the level of water between the tub and basket is lower than the level of water in the basket during such acceleration.

Abstract: A method and 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 machine for forming a serpentine heat exchanger having a predetermined length from a continuously formed spine fin tubing. A supply of continuously formed spine fin tubing is directed to a forming and bending head in predetermined increments where it is bent in alternate directions about a central axis to form the serpentine heat exchanger. Prior to the bending action the portion to be bent is deformed into a cross section having its major axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tube and perpendicular to the central axis. The following bending operation causes the tube diameter across the major axis to decrease as the wall in the area of the outer curve migrates radially inwardly due to its failure to elongate sufficiently, in effect, the cross sectional area in the completed bent portion is substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the tube before the deforming and bending operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible refrigeration system providing a combination of cooling the hermetic motor of the system during the cooling cycle of the system by injecting a portion of refrigerant from the system into the discharge flow of the compressor and storing portion of the refrigerant during the heating cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible refrigeration system providing a combination of cooling the hermetic motor of the system during the cooling cycle of the system by injecting a portion of refrigerant from the system into the discharge flow of the compressor and storing portion of the refrigerant during the heating cycle.

Abstract: A protective circuit for a heating element in a polymeric resinous tub dishwasher including an electric-type resistance heating element and a heat-sensible, dual-functioning switch. The switch is connected in the ground circuit so that current passing to ground will cause a fusible link to melt and thereby open the ground circuit. At the same time, melting of the link allows a switch in the power circuit to open, thereby eliminating any power to the heating element.

Abstract: An improved liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of the stream interaction type is provided. The valve includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid from a liquid source, a pair of first channels communicating with the inlet, each having an exit port, an interaction chamber, a pair of converging second channels between the exit ports and the interaction chamber, three exit areas directed away from the interaction chamber and two flapper assemblies, each having a first portion large enough to seat against and cover a first channel exit port, a second portion at an angle to the first portion and rigidly secured thereto, a pivot at the junction of the first and second portions, the second portions being spaced from and directed toward each other.

Abstract: An offset center of gravity type vibration damper for dampening vibrations of the exhaust gas conduit of a refrigerant compressor. The damper comprises an annular body of elastomeric material sized for encircling a portion of the conduit intermediate the ends thereof, and a unitary element having clamping and mass portions. The clamping portion is generally cylindrical and clamps about the elastomeric body. The mass portion is longitudinally extended and semi-cylindrical.

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 member is secured to the second member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a twin slab heat exchanger A-frame assembly having a plurality of refrigerant circuits arranged to provide a first and second circuit in each of the heat exchanger slabs. The first circuits in each heat exchanger being connected to provide the evaporator in one refrigerant system with the second circuits in each heat exchanger connected to provide the evaporator of another refrigerant circuit. The first and second circuits being arranged so that one precedes the other in air flow communication relative to air passing through the heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: A push-to-turn knob design for a rotary switch to prevent accidental actuation of the switch by requiring a two-step operation sequence. This operating function is obtained without modifying the design of the rotary switch. Hence, a standard rotary switch can be easily converted to a push-to-turn operating sequence.

Abstract: A microwave oven is provided with a cooking cavity and an access door. The oven has a food temperature control system for monitoring the internal temperature of food being heated in the oven, and turning off the microwave power at the completion of a heating cycle, or for holding a predetermined temperature for a timed cycle. A temperature-sensing probe is adapted to be inserted into the food. The probe is equipped with a flexible electric cable that is joined to one wall of the cooking cavity for connecting the probe in a control circuit for the microwave generator. This flexible cable is provided with a plurality of diameter-increasing protrusions so, in the event the cable extends outwardly of the cooking cavity, the oven door may not be closed.

Abstract: Food temperature responsive apparatus for controlling an oven. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing thermistor which may be included in a probe adapted for insertion into food being cooked in an oven. The apparatus includes simplified and effective means, in the form of voltage dividers and comparators, for performing the functions of de-energizing the oven heating means and energizing an audible alarm when interior food temperature reaches a preset temperature, protecting against an open-circuited or a short-circuited condition in a sensing circuit which includes the thermistor, guarding against responding to transient electrical noise, and latching the oven heating means in a de-energized condition once it has been de-energized. Even though the thermistor has a non-linear resistance versus temperature characteristic, the apparatus provides a linear temperature presetting scale and includes a linear temperature presetting potentiometer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a flow restriction in a tube to be used as a capillary in a refrigeration system. The method includes providing at least one longitudinally disposed groove in the internal wall of the tube, shaping the tube longitudinally to a preselected configuration, and then squeezing a section of the tube while directing a fluid therethrough until the fluid reaches a preselected pressure.

Abstract: An improved flexible coupling assembly for connecting a driving member to a driven member and includes two spaced circular end plates, one for securing to the driving member and one for securing to the driven member, the end plates being interconnected by a one-piece flexible plastic molded body having a plurality of bowed ribs which compensates for axial and lateral displacement between the end plates.

Abstract: A flat plate surface heating unit with a utensil-supporting cover plate provided with a separate, flexible, insulation sheet supporting a resistive foil heater that is seated on a pad of dielectric material in a reinforced reflector pan. Constant upward pressure is exerted to maintain the insulation sheet with foil heater in full contact with the underside of the cover plate.