Abstract: A side by side refrigerator has a vertical evaporator formed from an elongated tube wrapped with a ribbon of material having spine fins extending substantially perpendicular from the elongated tube. The elongated tube has elongated straight runs joined by return bent ends to define a vertically extending evaporator having a generally oval spiral or configuration. In one embodiment, the elongated straight runs are spaced from each other throughout the vertical length of the evaporator to provide a space of constant area for air flow.

Abstract: A spine fin refrigerator evaporator is formed of lower and upper sections of elongated straight runs, which have fins thereon and have their ends connected to each other by return bent ends. The lower section is formed with two rows of the elongated straight runs in an A shape to provide a passage therebetween through which air initially flows through the evaporator so that frost can be gathered without blocking air flow therethrough. The upper section has three rows of the elongated straight runs with the fins of adjacent rows overlapping each other to provide an efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant in the elongated straight runs to the air whereby the lower and upper sections combine to provide a practical and efficient evaporator. If desired, the upper and lower sections can be vertically spaced from each other to have a defrost heater disposed therebetween.

Abstract: The valve assembly for a rotary compressor includes an elongated valve member which rests on pads on each side of the valve seat and includes an intermediate sealing section normally sealing against the valve seat. An elongated valve spring biases the sealing section toward engagement with the valve seat. An elongated spring backer sits on one end of the valve spring and the other end of the valve member. One end of each of the valve member, valve spring and spring backer are bolted to the compressor end plate. The other end of the spring backer permits the corresponding end of the valve member to slide along the end plate as the valve member moves between its open and closed positions, while restraining the end of the valve member from moving away from the end plate. A backer support, positioned between the spring backer and the head of the bolt, spreads the clamping force and defines a line about which the valve member and valve spring flex.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment with a rear wall, an evaporator refrigerating air and an air passageway directing a stream of refrigerated air to flow down the rear wall. An adjustable storage assembly includes a frame mounted adjacent the rear wall, a storage pan slideably mounted to the frame, a shroud surrounding the pan and an air deflector extending upwardly and upwardly of the rear of the shroud. An user operable handle mounted to the frame and connected to the shroud for adjusting the position of the shroud and the deflector relative to the stream of air.

Abstract: A fabric washing machine has a container for fabrics and fluid to wash the fabrics. A switched reluctance motor is connected to the container. The motor is operated at a constant torque and the time needed to accelerate the container and a load of fabrics from one speed to a higher speed is measured. The measurement may be repeated with a different torque input. The inertia of the system, and thus the size of the fabric load, is calculated from the time measurement. The load size information, whether calculated or inputted, is used to calculate the blend of fabrics in the load. Water is added to the container in predetermined increments, and the container is oscillated a predetermined number of strokes and the required torque is measured after each addition of water. The required torque is used to calculate the blend of fabrics as the torque value varies with load size (already known) and the percentage of cotton in the load.

Abstract: An improvement to conventional atmospheric gas burners particularly advantageously applied to the type used as surface heating units in gas cooking appliances such as ranges and cooktops, which typically comprise a burner head having a plurality of primary burner ports formed at port locations equally spaced about the periphery of the burner head. Improvement is realized by not forming primary burner ports at selected ones of the equally spaced port locations. The unused port locations are selected so as to separate the primary ports into groups. The reduction in the number of ports reduces the total port area thereby reducing the amount of primary air entrained in the air/gas mixture delivered to the burner. In addition the resulting spacing of the groups of ports has the effect of reducing the amount of secondary air per port relative to that which would be entrained by the same number of ports, if equally distributed about the periphery.

Abstract: A rotary compressor comprising a cylindrical chamber, a vane slidably mounted in the peripheral cylinder wall and a torsion spring to bias the vane into contact with an eccentrically mounted roller. The spring includes an elongated central portion and a pair of arms extending from the central portion in parallel planes. The arms are curved or radiused in opposite directions. The central portion is connected to the outer edge of the vane while the ends of the arms are connected to opposite side of the cylinder so that the arms exert a torsional force on the central portion.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet having an upper compartment to be refrigerated and a lower machinery compartment. First and second elongated support members extend across the front and back of the machinery compartment respectively. A condenser is supported from the first support member and extends rearwardly in the machinery compartment. A support frame is supported from the second support member and extends forwardly in the machinery compartment in partial overlapping relationship with the condenser. The overlapping portions of the condenser and frame are structurally connected. A compressor is mounted on the frame. A condensate collection container is supported from the rear support member and extends forwardly in the machinery compartment in partial overlapping relationship with the condenser. The overlapping portions of the condenser and container are structurally connected.

Abstract: An electronic control arrangement for controlling the power applied to an electrical load, in which the electronic control includes in its memory a predetermined power control parameter look-up table associated with each of a plurality of potentially applicable voltage ranges. Each table contains the appropriate control parameters for controlling the load when the associated one of the input voltage ranges is applied to the load. The control, in response to an input signal identifying the voltage to be applied, selects the control parameters from the look-up table associated with the identified voltage. This signal may be generated by voltage sensing circuitry which monitors the supply voltage, or by a manually adjustable circuit which enables presetting for a particular supply voltage.

Abstract: An improved anti-tip apparatus for an appliance includes a generally L-shaped retaining bracket which mounts to the wall adjacent the appliance with one leg projecting forwardly to engage a retaining edge in the rear of the appliance. A downwardly extending hook member at the free end of the appliance engaging leg prevents the retaining edge from sliding off of the end of the retaining leg in the event of upward movement of the retaining edge as might result from forward tipping motion of the appliance.

Abstract: A fabric washing machine includes a container to receive fluid and fabrics to be washed in the fluid. A switched reluctance motor includes a stator and a rotor directly connected to the container so that the rotor and container oscillate together to wash the fabrics and continuously rotate together to extract fluid from the fabrics. A control stores a plurality of sets of empirically determined wash values representing instantaneous rotor velocities, calls up individual values in a predetermined timed sequence and controls the motor in accordance with the currently called up value to provide oscillation of the rotor and container. User operable means selects which set of wash values is used in a particular wash operation. The control also stores a set of empirically determined spin values representing instantaneous rotor velocities. User operable means selects at least one spin value representing a rotor velocity less than the maximum velocity represented by any stored spin value.

Abstract: A refrigerator has a compartment to be refrigerated and a refrigerant evaporator normally operable at frost producing temperatures to refrigerate the compartment. The evaporator includes an elongated tube to receive refrigerant with an elongated spine fin ribbon wrapped in an open spiral about and in intimate heat exchange contact with the tube. The ribbon includes an elongated base with a continuous series of fingers projecting outwardly of the tube along each edge of the base. The space between adjacent passes of ribbon is greater than the width of the base.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for installing a stretchable rectangular shaped gasket in a rectangular shaped channel member secured to a refrigerator door. A rectangular shaped frame is formed with side rails, the side rails as viewed in lateral cross-section having a vertical leg forming an outer periphery of the frame and joining a horizontal leg perpendicular thereto, the vertical leg being slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the door. The frame is pivoted to an upwardly facing position and the gasket is placed on the horizontal leg of the frame. The refrigerator door is positioned under the frame with the rectangular shaped channel member facing toward the frame and the frame is pivoted from an upwardly facing position to a downwardly facing position and moved downwardly to a lower position to contact the gasket with the channel member.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is formed with a metal substrate at least a portion of which is coated with a layer of porcelain enamel. At least one conductive element is deposited on the coated portion of the substrate in such a manner as to provide a first sensor configuration for sensing temperature as a function of the resistance of the conductive element itself. This conductive element in operative combination with the porcelain enamel layer and the metal substrate provides a second sensor configuration for sensing temperature over a second temperature range as a function of the resistance of the porcelain enamel layer.

Abstract: An arrangement provides for the electrical grounding of a temperature probe and allows its use in conjunction with a cooking appliance control circuit having a floating signal ground. An isolation transformer connects the temperature probe to the control circuit. A temperature sensing circuit includes two parallel voltage-dividing legs. One of the legs includes a primary winding of the isolation transformer, whereas the other of the legs includes a variable resistor allowing a consumer to set the predetermined temperature at which the control circuit will stop heating. Preferably the control circuit is used to control a full wave full bridge inverter connected to an AC input line by way of a bridge rectifier. The inverter is connected to a magnetron by way of a power transformer. The voltage-dividing legs are connected to receive gate pulses from the control circuit, which gate pulses also are used for controlling switches within the inverter.

Abstract: A combination evaporator and radiant heater defrost means including a heater housing which prevents defrost water from impinging directly on the heater while enhancing defrosting of the evaporator.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a glass-ceramic substrate and a plurality of conductive elements deposited on the substrate. The substrate serves both as a support for the conductive elements and as a temperature-sensitive resistive material forming an operative part of the sensor itself. The conductive elements are arranged to provide one sensor configuration for sensing temperature over a first temperature range as a function of the resistance of one of the elements, a second sensor configuration for sensing temperature over a second temperature range as a function of the surface resistance of the substrate between two of the elements, and a third sensor arrangement for sensing temperature over a third temperature range as a function of the bulk resistance of the substrate between two of the elements separated by a thickness of substrate material less than the surface distance therebetween. Four contact pads are provided to connect the three sensor configurations to external signal processing circuitry.

Abstract: A self-cleaning gas range has its frame support an oven with a storage compartment beneath the oven in spaced relation thereto. A burner, which is beneath the oven and above the storage compartment, heats the oven to a temperature to produce self cleaning. A baffle assembly, which is beneath a heat shield beneath the burner and above the storage compartment, prevents the top of the storage compartment from exceeding a predetermined maximum temperature when self cleaning occurs. The baffle assembly includes a bottom baffle of galvanized steel attached to the frame and forming the top of the storage compartment, an intermediate baffle of galvanized steel above the bottom baffle in spaced relation thereto, and an inner baffle of reflecting aluminum above the intermediate baffle in spaced relation thereto with the three baffles assembled to each other.