Abstract: Volatile organic compounds, for example organophosphonate compounds including chemical warfare agents, pesticides, and solvents, are decomposed by contacting the compounds with either a manganese oxide catalyst in the presence of visible light or a catalyst material selected from the group consisting of vanadium, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide and mixtures thereof deposited upon a catalyst support that is heated to at least 300° C. The catalyst material may be regenerated by a process selected from the washing with water, washing with a solvent, heating, exposing to light, purging with oxygen, purging with a reactive gas, exposing to microwave radiation, and combinations thereof. The catalyst composition may be used as an air filter in a vehicle, a building or a personnel protection device, such as a gas mask.

Abstract: A refrigerated cabinet (10) includes a cabinet base (20) defining an open top compartment having a refrigerated interior for housing a refrigerated product (50) and a canopy (30) disposed atop the refrigerated compartment. A transparent glass window in the front wall of the canopy (30) is extended downwardly to the product fill line within the refrigerated compartment thereby expanding the customer view area. The rear wall of the canopy (30) includes a transparent service door (40) and a framework (42). The service door (40) may be rotated independently of the framework (42) to an open position providing service access to the refrigerated compartment. The service door (40) and the framework (42) may also be rotated together as a unit to a second open position to provide access to the refrigerated compartment for cleaning and sanitizing. A lamp (80) for illuminating the cabinet interior is disposed externally of the canopy (30).

Abstract: A hot gas defrost system for a refrigeration cycle, including at least a compressor, reversing valve, condenser and evaporator. During defrost, the reversing valve directs the superheated refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator. The hot gas traverses the evaporator coil which, in turn, causes the ice or frost to melt. The hot gas defrost refrigeration system may also include a receiver to store the refrigerant during the refrigeration and defrost cycles.

Abstract: A biosensor 10 provides for real time monitoring a selected aspect of an air conditioning or a refrigeration process and system. The biosensor 10 includes a biocomponent element 20 carrying a bioagent 22 operative to detect one or more analytes indicative of the selected aspect of the climate control process to be monitored.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser (100) includes an upright, open-front, insulated cabinet (110) defining a product display area (125) connected in airflow communication with a compartment (120) via an air circulation circuit (122, 114, 116). The flow of refrigerant through the coils (46) of evaporator (40) is arranged to configure the evaporator (40) as a “thermodynamically counterflow” heat exchanger.

Abstract: A refrigerated cabinet (10) includes a cabinet base (20) defining an open top compartment having a refrigerated interior for housing a refrigerated product (50) and a canopy (30) disposed atop the refrigerated compartment. A transparent glass window in the front wall of the canopy (30) is extended downwardly to the product fill line within the refrigerated compartment thereby expanding the customer view area. The rear wall of the canopy (30) includes a transparent service door (40) and a framework (42). The service door (40) may be rotated independently of the framework (42) to an open position providing service access to the refrigerated compartment. The service door (40) the framework (42) may also be rotated together as a unit to a second open position to provide access to the refrigerated compartment for cleaning and sanitizing. A lamp (80) for illuminating the cabinet interior is disposed externally of the canopy (30).

Abstract: A plurality of frost shields (50) are removably positioned about the upper circumferential expanse of the walls of the liner (20) of a refrigerated cabinet (10). The frost shields (50) are magnetically mountable to the liner (20) to facilitate ease of installation and removal. Each frost shield (50) is a pliable panel fabricated in a layered construction with a relatively thin observe layer (52) of vinyl mounted on nominally thicker back layer of thermoplastic material (54) impregnated with magnetic material (60). Each frost shield (50) may be provided with a pair of handles (70) inserted in their respective slots (58) formed through the frost shield panel.

Abstract: A condenser unit (10) for an air conditioner or heat pump system has a cabinet defining a control box (50). A sloping support shelf (52) is provided within the control box (50). Electrical components (72, 74, 76, 80) are mounted to the sloping support shelf (52) so as to facilitate viewability and accessibility.

Abstract: Assembly of parts for mutually joining one or more panels of an air conditioning cabinet, the assembly comprising: a wall and one or more profile parts joined to this wall which extend therefrom, which profile parts are joinable with a cabinet panel in such a way that the wall makes no contact with sides of the panel forming the inner wall of the air conditioning cabinet, wherein the wall and the profile parts are chosen such that a low heat transfer coefficient is providable and such that condensation within and exterior to the cabinet is substantially avoidable.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser system (10) includes a compressor (20), a condenser (30), a display case (100) having an evaporator (40), an expansion device (50) and an evaporator pressure control device (60) connected in a closed refrigerant circuit via refrigerant lines (12, 14, 16 and 18). The evaporator pressure control device (60) operates to maintain the pressure in the evaporator at a predetermined pressure so as to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant expanding from a liquid to a vapor within the evaporator (40) in the range of about 27 degrees F to about 32 degrees F. The evaporator (40) has a fin and tube heat exchanger coil having a relatively high fin density of at least 5 fins per inch, and most advantageously in the range of 6 to 15 fins per inch.

Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser system (10) includes a compressor (20), a condenser (30), a display case (100) having an evaporator (40), an expansion device (50), and an evaporator pressure control device (60) connected in a closed refrigerant circuit via refrigerant lines (12, 14, 16 and 18). The evaporator pressure control device (60) operates to maintain the pressure in the evaporator at a set point pressure so as to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant expanding from a liquid to a vapor within the evaporator (40) at a desired temperature. A controller (90) operatively associated with the evaporator pressure control device (60) maintains the set point pressure at a first pressure for the refrigerant equivalent to a first refrigerant temperature during a first refrigeration mode and at a second pressure for the refrigerant equivalent to a second refrigerant temperature about 2 to about 12 degrees warmer than the first temperature during a second refrigerant mode.

Abstract: A screw machine (10) has a rotor housing (12) defining overlapping bores (13, 15). Female rotor (14) is located in bore (13) and male rotor (16) is located in bore (15). Either or both of the facing surface (51) of the outlet casing (53) or the end faces (24, 26) of the female and male rotors, respectively, has a surface formed by a plurality of discrete cavities (70) separated by a network of interconnected wall members (80).

Abstract: A heat transfer tube (10) for use in an application, such as a shell and tube type air conditioning system condenser, in which a fluid flowing through the heat exchanger external to the tubes condenses by transfer of heat to a cooling fluid flowing through the tubes. The tube has at least one fin convolution (20) extending helically around its external surface (13). A pattern of notches (30) extends at an oblique angle (&agr;) across the fin convolutions at intervals about the circumference of the tube. There is a spike (22) between each pair of adjacent notches. The fin convolution, notches and spikes are formed in the tube by rolling the wall of the tube between a mandrel and, first, a gang of finning disks (63) and, second, a notching wheel (66). Because, during the manufacture of the tube, of the interaction of the rotating and advancing tube and the notching wheel, the angle (&bgr;) of inclination of the axis of the tip of the spike is oblique with respect to the notch angle.

Abstract: An electronic air cleaner (10) includes a housing (20), a mechanical prefilter (30), an electrostatic precipitator cell (40) and at least one germicidal lamp (50). The electrostatic precipitator cell (40) includes a plurality of collector plates (42) for collecting thereon particulate material from the air stream. The germicidal lamp or lamps (50) are disposed to irradiate the collector plates (42) and any particulate material collected thereon with germicidal light to destroy microbial growth that might occur on the particulate material deposited on the collector plates. Reflectors (60) may be provided in operative association with the germicidal lamp or lamps (50) to concentrate the germicidal light unto the collecting surface of the collector plates (42). A post filter (90), disposed downstream with respect to air flow of the lamp or lamps (50), is provided to remove volatile organic compounds from the air flow.

Abstract: A burner system for a furnace (10) includes an in-shot burner (20) having an axially elongated tubular nozzle (40) having an inlet end (42), an outlet end (44) and a venturi transition section (46) therebetween. At least a portion of a catalyst body (50) is disposed within the outlet end (44) of the burner (40). The catalyst body (50) supports a partial oxidization catalyst operative to catalyze the fuel in the primary air/fuel mixture to intermediate combustion species, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby reducing emissions such as nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: An inshot burner (10) includes an axially elongated tubular nozzle (40) having a flared inlet end (42), a cylindrical outlet end (44) and a venturi section (46) therebetween. A burner head insert (20) is disposed within the cylindrical outlet end 44. The burner head insert (20) has an axially elongated annular body (22) having an axially extending inner flow passage (25) passing therethrough and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines (30) radiating outwardly therefrom toward the surrounding wall of the outlet end (44) of the burner tube. A plurality of second flow passages (35) are defined between the plurality of splines (30). Each of the axially extending splines (30) has a cross width which enlarges in the axial direction from the inlet end of the burner head insert to the outlet end of the burner head insert.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing microbial growth on the collector plates (42) of an electronic air cleaner (10) by directing germicidal light, advantageously ultraviolet light, upon the surface of the collector plates (42) and the particulate material deposited thereon. At least one germicidal lamp (50) is disposed to irradiate ultraviolet light upon the collector plates (42) to destroy microbes that might be growing on the particulate material collected on the plates (42).

Abstract: A system for the in situ destruction of compressible refrigerant from a refrigerant containing apparatus includes a refrigerant recovery apparatus (30) for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant containing apparatus (20) and a refrigerant disposal apparatus (100) for destroying refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus. The disposal apparatus (100) includes a storage tank (110) for collecting refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus (30) and a reactor device (130) for receiving refrigerant collected in said storage tank and destroying the refrigerant received from the storage tank. The reactor device includes a reaction chamber (135) housing a replaceable reactor core (140) containing a reagent functional to chemically react with the received refrigerant. A heater device (138) is provided in operative association with the reaction chamber for heating the reactor core (140) to a desired temperature at which the reagent will most effectively react with the refrigerant.

Abstract: A heat transfer tube having an internal surface that enhances the heat transfer performance of and also improves the workability of the tube and a method of manufacturing such a tube. The internal surface has a plurality of ribs that extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube. A pattern of parallel notches, extending at an angle to the ribs, extend through the ribs and into the main inner surface of the tube wall. The tube can be made by rolling embossing the pattern of ribs and notches on to one side of a flat metal strip, then roll forming the strip into a tubular shape with the embossed pattern on the interior of the tubular shape and the edges of the strip forming a longitudinal seam, then joining, preferably by welding, the edges along the longitudinal seam to form a tube. In a preferred embodiment, the notches in the inner surface extend into the weld zone of the tube.

Abstract: A filter assembly 10 includes a housing 12 defining a filter chamber having a first region forming a contaminated air inlet chamber 30 and a second region forming a clean air outlet chamber 40. A filter element 20 extends within the housing between the inlet chamber 30 and the outlet chamber 40. A flow barrier member 60 protrudes from the housing into a cooperating groove 70 provided in the end face of the filter element 20. The flow barrier forms a labyrinth type seal blocking contaminated air from bypassing the filter element.