Abstract: The invention relates to a coffee maker assembly which has a heat exchanger having inlet and outlet pipes. Heat for the heat exchanger is supplied by an electrical heating element. In one embodiment a PTC resistor is in series with the heating element and thermal connections are provided between the resistor and other parts of the system. This allows thermal conditions to be sensed which alter the resistance of the PTC resistor to effect a temperature control by varying the magnitude of current supplied to the heating element. Another embodiment illustrates the heating element itself being formed by an annularly shaped PTC resistor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coffee maker of the type consisting of a water tank at the top, a discharge device at the bottom, connected via a pipe to an electrically heated heat exchanger which has a riser pipe with an outlet nozzle connected to its opposite end, plus a warming plate for a coffeepot to be placed under the outlet nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for electric storage heaters which are supplied with energy during low tariff periods and which give up stored energy during high tariff periods. An electronic integrator which is judiciously charged and discharged is used as a control indicator. The integrator is (1) charged to a fixed predetermined value during the high tariff period and (2) discharged starting at the beginning of the low tariff period at a rate inversely proportional to the outdoor temperature. The discharged state of the integrator is sensed and at that time, and for the remainder of the low tariff period, a signal is developed which can be used to actuate a relay to direct electrical energy to storage heaters. If the integrator does not fully discharge during the low tariff period the remaining charge is sensed and a synchronizing circuit is actuated to rapidly remove the charge prior to the start of the high tariff period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostatic regulator assembly which has the dual function of controlling both the heating and air conditioning equipment of a building. The assembly basically incorporates a first valve unit for controlling the flow of a heating fluid such as steam or hot water and a second valve unit for controlling the flow of air which in turn can control the regulator of a damper system of ducts which supply cooled air for air conditioning. The first valve unit is operative when it is open and the second valve unit is operative when it is closed. Thermostatic motor means operate the first and second valve units sequentially so that they are sequentially effective for first and second temperature ranges which correspond to heating and cooling condition requirements. The second valve unit may have a valve seat in the form of a nozzle and a closure member in the form of a baffle plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric snap switch assembly. The assembly includes a two part carrier unit with at least one leaf spring mounted in one of the carrier parts. The other carrier part is spaced from the free end of the leaf spring and a bearing is mounted on the second carrier part in spaced relation to and in the same plane as the leaf spring. An omega spring is mounted between the bearing and the leaf spring, and bearing control means are provided for moving the bearing in any direction in the plane of the leaf spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timing pulse generating switch assembly, particularly for the monitoring circuit of an oil or gas furnace, having at least one snap switch provided with a contact arm which carries the movable contact. The movable contact arm is fixed with respect to the housing at one end and there is provided a snap system which adjusts the contact arm. The snap system possesses a snap arm which is fixed with respect to the housing at one end and is preferably formed by the contact arm. The snap system includes a snap spring which is articulated to the snap arm and, at its other end, is articulated to a slide that is reciprocatable by a bimetallic member. The switch assembly includes and is influenced by a locking element that is actuated by separate means such as the armature of a relay. The locking element functions to block the movable contact in its rest position as well as in its operating position by using a blocking member which is carried along by the slide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostatic expansion valve assembly for a refrigeration installation of the type having condenser and evaporator units. The valve assembly controls the flow of refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator and has a conventional operating unit which is dependent upon the superheat temperature of the evaporator. Condenser pressure for summer operation is on the order of being five to ten times greater than for winter operation and this represents a greater flow quantity. Compensation for this variance in condenser pressure is provided by a seat and closure member design in which the valve is caused to open at a slower rate than any increase in the condenser pressure. This is done by equipping the closure and valve seat with a piston and cylinder construction which defines an expansible chamber which has fluid communication with the condenser inlet port.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical type contact switch assembly. The assembly includes an insulated contact carrier having a U-shaped portion with spaced apart walls. A slot for receiving a leaf spring extends transversely through the walls. Mutually facing depressions formed in the walls straddle the slot and have oppositely inclined surfaces. A leaf spring disposed in the slot has a resiliently hinged flap extending at an acute angle relative to the plane of the spring. The flap is in resilient biasing engagement with the inclined surfaces of the contact carrier. The flap is of trapezium shape and is an integral part of the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a thermo-element having two sections with two electric conductor materials of different thermo-electric properties connected in series. The method involves forming a porous base body with interconnected pores and introducing p and n type conductor materials respectively into the pores of the two sections. The introduction of the two conductor materials involves forming one or two melts of molten silicon which travels through the body via a capillary action. Doping material is introduced in the melt material or directly into the body where it is picked up by the molten material which is subjected to the capillary action. The two conductor materials results by reason of the capillary action producing a reactive sintering between the graphite and the doped silicon melt.

Abstract: A method of triggering a controlled rectifier to ensure that it conducts fully and remains conducting for a required time, comprising supplying to the control electrode of the rectifier a large amplitude pulse with high transductance per unit of time to initiate conducting, and a small amplitude signal to maintain conducting. A circuit for producing such a pulse and signal comprises a pulse generator and a blocking oscillator both controlled by a control generator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an omega type spring assembly and particularly the pivotal connection between the omega spring element and a bearing element. In a broad sense the invention involves replacing the conventional knife edge pivotal with a ball and socket connection in which the "socket" has the form of an elongated aperture with arcuately shaped edges. The "ball" has a tapered portion which engages the edges and the tapered portion may be spherical, conical or elliptical in shape. There are two contact points between the bearing element and the arcuately shaped edges of the aperture in the omega spring element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shower control valve assembly having the feature of a casing with optionally reversible hot and cold inlets on opposite sides thereof. A replaceable cartridge is insertable into the casing. The cartridge has a mixing valve disk rotatably mounted therein which has first and second indexed starting positions displaced 180 degrees from each other to facilitate th optional choosing of which of the two casing inlets is to be connected to the hot water supply pipe and which is to be connected to the cold water supply pipe. The disk has first and second ports cooperable with two internal valve openings in a manner such that when the disk starts from one of its two indexed positions which corresponds to a particular one of the valve openings being connected to the hot water supply, the disk functions sequentially to draw (1) cold (2) mixed temperature and (3) hot water from the two internal valve openings and route it to the casing discharge outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic contact switch relay assembly of the type having a magnetic coil. A yoke is attached to the coil. The yoke includes a flat plate portion with a knife edge at one end thereof. An insulated contact carrier is attached to the plate portion. An L-shaped armature has first and second legs with the corner therebetween having the inside thereof engaging the knife edge. The first armature leg has an inoperative position on the plate while at rest and an operative position while forming an acute angle with respect to the plate. The carrier has an end wall with resilient bifurcated portions engaging the outside of the armature corner and a rigid stop member therebetween for limiting the movement of the armature. A slide member for actuating contact switches is slidably mounted in the carrier in juxtaposition to the first armature leg for actuation in response to movement by the first armature leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a servo assembly having a stationary part including a housing, a movable member and a servo motor. Of primary interest is the stopping mechanism which includes a stop unit on the movable member and two pressure operated, vertically reciprocal stop members mounted in the housing. Two hydraulic circuits are provided with a first circuit for the two stop members and the second circuit for the servo motor. Throttle valving for the first circuit is provided between the two stop members and the housing. Prior to reaching a stopping position the stop unit on the movable member actuates a switch which relieves the pressure in the first circuit and causes one of the stop members to descend to an intermediate position where throttling occurs and the other stop member to descend to a final position where throttling may or may not occur. The throttling causes substantial braking of the movable member during a short distance of travel just prior to the stopping position being reached.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostatic control unit for radiator valves, this unit being of the type which has an adjustable bellows. The bellows is adjusted only during initial calibration of the thermostatic control unit or when the temperature setting of the unit is changed. The control unit includes a screw and nut arrangement in which the nut is attached to the free or moving end of the adjustment bellows. About three turns between the screw and the nut have been found suitable to provide a sufficient movement of the nut to allow an adequate adjustment of the bellows. A problem with prior units of this type is that if the screw is turned inwardly more than three turns the thread may bottom and thereby cause an excessive and damaging torque to be transmitted to the bellows. Alternately, if the screw is turned outwardly to disengage from the nut, the nut becomes cocked in the enclosed casing and it becomes impossible for the screw to re-enter the nut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic control apparatus of the type used in vehicle steering systems. In all such systems there is a reversible type hydraulic motor connected to the steering linkage. The motor has complementary expansible chambers. With the use of control means pressurized fluid is selectively delivered to one chamber which is caused to expand concomitantly with the collapsing of the other chamber from which fluid is returned to a sump. Forces transmitted to the hydraulic motor through the steering linkage by reason of the wheels striking objects such as stones or curbs cause an objectionable effect by reason of fluid being forced out of the motor back into the system. This effect is avoided by providing two valve assemblies for the two ports of the reversible motor which function in the absence of a steering command as ordinary one way check valves which prevent the undesired flow of fluid from either of the motor ports.

Abstract: The amplification of periodic or aperiodic pulses is varied by envelope detecting the received pulses and passing the resulting envelope waveform to a latching comparator which, when enabled, provides an output pulse whenever the input waveform has an amplitude which exceeds a predetermined value. An itegrator coupled to the output of the comparator is continuously operative to increase or decrease the gain of the amplifier according to the absence or presence respectively of the output comparator pulse. In this manner the amplitude of signals or pulses is automatically controlled despite circuit and transmission vagaries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic steering apparatus comprising a continuously operating pump, an operating motor for controlling the parts to be steered, a control device which is adjustable by the steering wheel and which, in its neutral position, connects the pump to a tank through a short-circuiting path. The control device has two operating positions in which the pump is connected to one side or the other of the operating motor and connects the other side of the operating motor to the tank. The control device has a control element connected to a steering wheel and a following element connected to a metering motor and these elements are relatively displaceable to a limited extent. Apparatus is provided to prevent the steering parts moved by the operating motor from stroking mechanical abutments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gerotor type of rotary piston machine which is operable as either a pump or a motor. In this type of device an externally toothed rotor member is eccentrically offset relative to an internally toothed stator member and in operation these members mesh to form expanding and contracting cells on opposite sides of the line of eccentricity. There is shaft means for driving the rotor and a distributing valve for feeding and exhausting the cells is attached to the shaft means. In order to compensate for torsion stresses in the shaft means which would cause the distributing valve to be slightly out of phase relative to the rotor the connection between the valve and the shaft means is made adjustable in response to sensing means which sense the pressure conditions in the gerotor when the rotor is symmetrical relative to the line of eccentricity.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a bag diaphragm comprising one or more flattened extremely flexible bags assembled together, to be mounted between rigid plates at a variable mean distance and to be inflated in operation by a variable pressure difference, and with an air damper operated by means of a bag diaphragm as mentioned above, this air damper being suitable for air conditioning plants, in constant flow, or constant variable flow, or mixing appliances, in fresh air and return air ducts, where an air flow is to be controlled, the operation of the air damper being possible without any electrical or pneumatic energy supply system, due to the particular characteristics of the aforesaid bag diaphragm and particular design of the damper.