Abstract: A clothes washing machine including a cabinet having an upper wall portion provided with a clothes receiving opening, an annular cowling within the cabinet and having an inner peripheral portion encircling the clothes receiving opening, the cowling having an annular midportion sloped radially downward to an outer peripheral portion of the cowling which is secured to a rim of a drain tub defining an open end thereof, the drain tub having rotatably supported therein a spin tub with an opening disposed within the open end portion of the drain tub and aligned with the clothes receiving opening, and a liquid soap dispensing system disposed within the cabinet and externally of the drain tub, the soap dispensing system comprising a multi-load reservoir of liquid soap connected hydraulically through a pump to a nozzle having a drain tube with a spout end portion adjacent the inner peripheral portion of the cowling and encircling a delivery tube which is disposed longitudinally and eccentrically within the drain tube,

Abstract: A method for fabricating evacuated panels for use in cooling apparatus, such panels being particularly well suited for use in refrigerators. The method includes a preconditioning step in which the powder filler of the panel is heated and agitated, prior to placement in an air permeable pouch for compression and then in a barrier container for evacuation.

Abstract: A microwave heating susceptor for browning or searing packaged foods in a microwave oven. The susceptor is constructed from a thin metal mesh, and a microwave absorbing material applied to the metal mesh. To sear food, the suspceptor is placed in proximity to food in a microwave oven cavity. When the microwave oven is turned on, the susceptor heats to a high temperature, thereby browning and cooking the food.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for chemically fixating a plurality of tissue specimens in a multimode microwave oven. The tissue specimens are loaded in respective cassettes and then placed in radial alignment in a circular container that is filled with a fixation solution. Selective microwave shields such as metal disks with central apertures are located above and below the container which is then rotated on a turntable while being exposed to microwave energy in the microwave oven cavity. The shields are selected to provide a substantially uniform microwave field within the region occupied by the cassettes so that all of the tissue specimens are consistently and uniformly fixated.

Abstract: Air flow apparatus for a clothes dryer wherein a flexible wrap having sealing runners is supported in sliding engagement on the rotating drum to cover that portion of the perforated annulus that is not istantaneously aligned with the suction duct. The end of the wrap opposite the direction of rotation of the drum is resiliently held such as by springs such that the tension on the wrap and the pressure on the drum is self-adjusting and maintained substantially constant. Therefore, the sealing runners are maintained in substantially uniform and continuous contact against the drum to limit the air flow path from the drum so that substantially all of the exiting air passes into the suction duct.

Abstract: A selective ice cube and crushed ice dispenser having a crusher section including a crusher arm mounted to a horizontal shaft axially rotatable in either direction, and a stationary crusher arm mounted to one side of the shaft. When the shaft is driven in one direction, ice pieces fed to the crusher section are caught and crushed between the rotating and stationary crusher arms. However, when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction, the ice pieces escape down the side of the shaft opposite the stationary crusher arms thereby avoiding being crushed. The ice piece feed within the ice piece receptacle is also rotatably driven by the shaft and is operable to feed ice pieces to the crusher section regardless of which direction the shaft is being driven.

Abstract: A combination unbalanced load and lid switch assembly for an automatic washing machine. A switch is mounted to the side wall of a box-like housing with a spring clip that has a pair of legs extending through horizontal holes in the switch. The switch housing has a diagonally extending horizontal flange with a downwardly extending pivot portion to which is pivotally mounted a lid lever. One end of the lid lever has an actuator arm which extends in aligment to a wire extension of the lid hinge that moves upwardly as the lid is being closed to push the actuator arm upwardly. A substantially vertical unbalanced load lever is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lid lever and is pulled downwardly against a biasing spring as the lid is closed. The unbalanced load lever has an actuating finger that depresses the plunger of the switch thereby enabling the washer motor when the lid is closed. The unbalanced load lever also has a downward leg that is engagable by the tub during an out-of-balance excursion.

Abstract: A gas cook-top with a glass top wherein each of a plurality of burners has a neck portion with a flange that seats down on a gasket thereby sealing the burner to the glass top. A collar surrounds the neck portion of each burner. Brackets are positioned below the glass top and support the burners independent of the glass top. A grate covers a pair of burners and has locator rod members that encircle portions of the respective collars, thereby fixedly locating the grate on the glass top.

Abstract: A recuperative furnace system for space air and domestic hot water wherein a combustion product heat exchanger and a space air heat exchanger are each operated in counterflow manner. The dew point of the combustion products are elevated before entry into the combustion product heat exchanger and the water to be heated is introduced at the top at a temperature substantially below the natural dew point of the combustion products so that the fins of the heat exchanger are maintained in a substantially continuous wet state by enhanced condensation. The water thus heated is conveyed to a space air heat exchanger in counterflow to the space air so that the space air is heated to a relatively hot temperature (e.g. about 120.degree. F.) while still cooling the water to a low enough temperature (e.g. 90.degree. F.) so that the water can be looped back to the combustion product heat exchanger and still provide continuous wet operation.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine including a cabinet having therein a spin tub rotatably disposed within a stationary drain tub, and an additive liquid dispensing system comprised of a multi-load reservoir of additive liquid connected hydraulically through a pump to a liquid ejector nozzle. The pump preferably comprises a constant displacement pump coupled to an electrical drive motor for drawing additive liquid from the reservoir and expelling it from the nozzle at a uniform rate of flow. The motor is connected electrically through a control unit to a rechargeable battery which is connected electrically to the output of a trickle charge transformer unit. The control unit includes an adjustable element disposed for preselecting the quantity of additive liquid to be injected into the wash load, and an electrical timer element energized from the battery for activating the motor a length of time corresponding to the quantity of additive liquid selected.

Abstract: A compact rinse aid dispenser that mounts on top of the agitator post and dispenses a rinse aid during the rinse cycle. The rinse aid is held in a conical-shaped cup during the wash/agitate cycle, and then is sprayed out and retained against the inner wall of the housing by centrifugal force during the spin cycle. The rinse aid then drains down through a funnel into the agitator post and out a slot therein when the spinning stops. The dispenser has a lid with a horizontal wall and a cylindrical downwardly extending barrier around the fill hole to prevent rinse aid from being sprayed back out the fill hole as a result of an out-of-balance load that causes the agitator post and dispenser to orbit about the vertical axis. Further, a labyrinth is provided around the drain hole in the funnel to prevent premature draining of rinse aid into the agitator post.

Abstract: A disposable container for heating seeds, kernels, nuts, grains, popcorn or the like items, using microwave radiation. The container comprises a can-shaped package having a floor where the items are placed and held in a clump. As the items are heated with microwave radiation, the items pop, the cover panel and/or container walls expand to form a new shape wherein the walls are inclined toward the floor. As the items pop, the unpopped items continue to be directed into a clump. Alternatively, a ferrite and metal material may be placed on the floor to enhance the heating process.

Abstract: A shelf track lighting for improving illumination of devices such as refrigerators or freezers. Coupled to the shelf is a lamp and a supporting brackets. The brackets engage with vertically positioned standards which are mounted to the rear wall of the device. Power is provided to the lamp through the standards and the brackets so that the lamp may be illuminated when the shelf and lamp levels are adjusted.

Abstract: A washing machine brake and release mechanism adapted for use with a motor that is alternately reversed in direction to provide drive during an agitator cycle, and is driven unidirectionally to provide drive for a spin cycle. The motor is linked through a speed reducer that has an output disc connected to the shaft of the agitator. A collar discriminator releases the washer brake when the disc is driven unidirectionally; however, the collar discriminator leaves the brake engaged when the disc is rotated through a stroke arc less than 360.degree.. The collar discriminator has a pair of downwardly extending pins that ride up on ramps positioned on the top surface of the disc when driven unidirectionally thereby causing the discriminator to push up against and release the brake. When the disc is alternately reversed through some arc less than 360.degree. such as during an agitate cycle, the ramps are arranged so as to avoid engaging the pins of the collar discriminator thereby leaving the brake engaged.

Abstract: A filter for a top loading automatic washing machine wherein a substantially horizontal filter disc is positioned such that its outer periphery seats against the underside of the clothes basket bottom which is upwardly inclined towards the middle. The disc is a unitary plastic molded part, and has a large plurality of vertically aligned holes that have downward draft. An agitator provides pumping action to circulate washing fluid out of the sidewall perforations of the basket, and back into the basket through openings in the bottom thereof. The washing fluid passes through the holes of the filter disc collecting lint on the underside face. The lint is then flushed away during the spin mode of operation.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine including a cabinet having therein a spin tub rotatably disposed within a stationary drain tub, and an additive liquid dispensing system comprised of a multi-load reservoir of additive liquid connected hydraulically through a pump to a liquid ejector nozzle. The reservoir comprises a liquid-tight housing which is vertically elongated and has a triangular cross-sectional shape for fitting into an elongated corner portion of the cabinet adjacent a front defining wall thereof. A side of the housing adjacent the front defining wall has a vertically elongated transparent portion disposed coextensively in alignment with a vertically elongated window in the front defining wall of the cabinet. The transparent portion of the housing may comprise a vertically extending tubular member disposed in communication with additive liquid in the housing such that the level of liquid in the tubular member is an indication of the level of liquid in the housing.

Abstract: A washing machine motor having a high resistance rotor to provide high starting torque and low starting current. The permanent split capacitor motor is linked by a speed reducer to the agitator, and a controller alternately reverses the drive direction of the motor to provide the agitator with a relatively high stroke rate such as 60 strokes per minute. In such application, the motor runs cooler than a conventional motor with low rotor resistance because the frequency of starts is high, and, notwithstanding the fact that a high rotor resistance motor is inefficient at running speed, the high rotor resistance motor generates less heat in the critical thermal loading start-up mode.

Abstract: An expansion thermostat adapted for regulating the temperature of a cooking surface. One end of the cooking surface is secured at one end of a container. Mounted to the other end of the container is a switch which controls the heat. When the cooking surface is heated, the cooking surface expands causing the other end of the cooking surface to release the switch. Releasing the switch turns off heat to the cooking surface. As the cooking surface cools, the switch is pressed. Pressing the switch turns on heat to the cooking surface. The heat to the cooking surface is thus cycled to provide a substantially constant cooking temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator door shelf arrangement wherein the door liner has opposing side panels with corresponding front to back slots or guide channels at a plurality of vertical positions. The slots are formed by a plurality of horizontal ribs, each of which has a laterally facing notch. Bucket shelves have lateral horizontal runners on the sides arranged to be received in sliding engagement in corresponding slots. Each side of a shelf has a flap that can bend inwardly. As the runners of the shelf are being inserted into corresponding slots, a ramp tab on each flap engages the rib above the runner thereby causing the flap to be bent away from the rib until the tab aligns with and enters the respective notch of the rib. Thus, in the fully inserted position, the shelf is securely mounted, and movement upward, downward, or frontward is prevented. Manual bending of the flaps away from the ribs permits the shelf to be removed for cleaning or to be mounted at an alternate vertical position.

Abstract: A window fan with an electronic controller having an AUTO mode of operation that is responsive to the .DELTA.T between inside and outside temperature, a minimum inside temperature threshold, and the outside relative humidity. Accordingly, if it is relatively hot or humid outside, or if it is relatively cold inside, the window fan is inactive. Thus, the fan is automatically activated only during those time periods when it is most advantageous to ventilate with outside fresh air.