Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine in which water is conserved by replacing the conventional deep rinse by a series of spray rinses. Each spray rinse utilises a predetermined quantity of water which is sprayed directly at the clothes load while the load is rotated, thereby allowing the rinse water to pass straight through the clothes load, removing soil and/or detergent from the clothes on its way. The amount of water used in each spray rinse is determined from a first "sense rinse" cycle in which the volume of water required to totally saturate the clothes load is found. In each subsequent rinse, a proportion (preferably from about 50% to about 100%) of this value is used.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine in which the period of each agitation stroke (comprising "ramp", "plateau" and "coast" phases) is controlled by adjusting the "coast" phase of each stroke in order to maintain consistent washing performance. The "coast" phase is initiated (after a predetermined period has elapsed in the "plateau" phase) by starting a timer and allow the motor to coast until the motor velocity drops to a predetermined reversal velocity at which point the motor is reversed to begin the next agitation stroke. The value of the timer when the velocity reaches the reversal velocity is compared to a desired value or range of values. The predetermined value of the reversal velocity is increased if the timer value is greater than the desired value or range of values. Alternately, the value of the reversal velocity is decreased if the timer value is less than the desired value or range of values. The period of the coast phase of the next agitation stroke should then be closer to the desired period.

Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: A rotating drum clothes drier has an annular lint filter which rotates with the drier drum and which encircles the drier door. Heated air enters an inlet at one end of the drum, passes through the clothes in the drum (picking up lint from the clothes), through the annular lint filter and out of the drier. During operation, lint collects on the inner surface of the rotating filter, eventually building up to form a felted layer. A scraper blade fixed to the drier cabinet and aligned with (but displaced a fixed distance from) the surface of the filter peels the felted layer of lint from the filter once the thickness of the felt is such that the scraper blade contacts the lint felt. The layer of lint felt thus removed from the filter surface is then collected in a cavity within the drier door for storage and later disposal.

Abstract: An electric motor is suitable for use in, for example, a home appliance, such as a refrigerator/freezer, to drive a fan blade. The electric motor includes a permanent magnet rotor and an excited two part laminated stator. The two parts of the stator are adapted to be connected together about the rotor with the axis of the rotor in the plane of the laminations. The rotor has two axially separated pole regions and the stator is configured to provide a separate rotor receiving pole pair for each rotor pole region. Each stator pole pair provides a rotor receiving space within which respective rotor pole regions are disposed, wherein the stator is made up of separate laminations of ferromagnetic material and adjacent laminations are displaced relative to each other in the plane of the laminations in directions perpendicular to the rotor axis such that the stator poles are each formed by a pair of semi-circular shaped poles to provide the rotor receiving spaces.

Abstract: A laundry machine which includes a method for adaptively controlling the flow of water into the laundry machine during the rinse phases of a wash cycle. Water is admitted into the machine through a proportional valve and the flow rate with the valve set at a predetermined degree of opening is calculated. This is compared with a desired flow rate and the degree of opening of the valve is incremented, decremented or left unaltered, depending on whether the calculated flow rate is less than, greater than or substantially the same as the desired flow rate.

Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: A humidifier conduit has an enclosed helical passageway in the wall thereof to provide an insulating barrier against heat transfer from the inside of the conduit to the outside of the conduit. The conduit may include at least one heating means hectically disposed between the inner wall and outer wall of the conduit to assist in the retention of a desired gases temperature in the humidified air flow which is to flow through the conduit in use. The conduit preferably is constructed by helical winding of a unit profile and bonding of adjacent turns of the helically wound profile to form the conduit, the unit profile including complementary connecting means so that adjacent turns of the helically wound profile are securely connected to form the conduit. The unit profile may include an overlapping member to overlap adjacent turns of the profile and act in an armadillo-like fashion to ensure flexibility of the conduit, while retaining the insulative properties of the double wall and enclosed helical passageway.

Abstract: A low voltage power supply which uses a low voltage transistor in conjunction with a winding of an electric motor and the high voltage motor commutation transistors. The motor winding is energised by the commutation transistors for example during use of the motor, and the low voltage transistor is used to divert current from the energised motor winding at desired intervals to provide the low voltage power supply. The low voltage supply may be used in an appliance such as a laundry machine for supplying the motor control circuitry and auxiliary devices for example, a drainage pump and water supply control valves.

Abstract: A humdification chamber for the humidification of respiratory gases has particular application for use over extended time periods with infrequent refills.The humidification chamber has a heated reservoir and a supply reservoir, the heated reservoir adapted to be in thermal contact with a heater base to which the humidification chamber is attached. A partition separates the heated reservoir from the supply reservoir, the partition having a gas flow path and a liquid flow path, the flow paths allowing gas and liquid communication respectively between the supply and heated reservoirs. The partition substantially thermally insulates the supply reservoir from the heater base. A gas inlet port and a gas outlet port are provided in the top surface of the humidification chamber to allow gases to be humidified to circulate through the chamber above the heated reservoir.

Abstract: A humidifier having an ambient temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the ambient air in the environment in which the humidifier is located. A difference temperature selector is provided to allow a user to select a difference temperature which is the difference in temperature between the sensed ambient temperature and a comfortable and efficient temperature for supply of the humidified gases provided by the humidifier to a patient or user. The humidifier controls the temperature of the humidified gases it provides to the patient to the selected difference temperature above the sensed ambient temperature, so that any change in the sensed ambient temperature results in a corresponding change in the temperature of humidified gases supplied to the patient or user. This construction prevents or minimises the condensation which occurs at low ambient temperatures in the gases supply conduit provided between the humidifier and the patient or user.

Abstract: A heated respiratory humidifier conduit for use with a respiratory humidifier/ventilator circuit. The conduit consists of an inspiratory tube passing gases from the humidifier/ventilator to the patient and an expiratory tube passing exhaled gases from the patient back to the gases supply. An insulated resistance heating wire runs the full length of the inspiratory tube to reduce condensation forming on the walls of the tube. The return path for the heating wire is supplied by an insulated conductor which also runs the full length of the inspiratory tube and is connected to the heating wire near the patient. This ensures that the voltage of the heating wire is substantially zero volts at the patient end of the conduit, minimizing the interactions with other patient connected equipment.

Abstract: A method of controlling the commutation of power to an electric motor back EMF sensing or Hall effect sensors is disclosed. At least part of the current waveform is sensed in at least one motor winding and is used to establish information relating to the appropriate commutation pattern required to commutate power to the motor and control motor parameters e.g. motor speed.

Abstract: A humidifier in which the temperature of the humidified gases leaving the humidifying chamber of the humidifier is measured. The measured temperature is compared with a predetermined temperature required for a minimum humidity level for humidified gases supplied to a patient and if the measured temperature is less from the predetermined temperature a warning is provided. The humidifier also has a securing device for securing the humidifying chamber to the heater plate of the humidifier. The securing device comprises a sprung gate member which is biased in an upward position to prevent the humidifying chamber from being removed but may be pressed downwardly by a user in order to engage or remove the chamber.

Abstract: A power system for wheelchairs is described, in particular for wheelchairs of the foldable type with quick-release wheel axles 1, the power system having two compact drive units, which are affixable and removable without the use of tools. The drive units connect vertically to complementary mounting brackets fixed to the wheelchair frame. The drive system also includes a control unit 51 for controlling power supply to each drive unit from batteries 41 held in underslung battery tray 42. The power system is retrofittable to existing wheelchairs, and is designed for easy removal.

Abstract: A dishwasher having spray arm, motor and pump components configured and mounted so as to occupy very low height. In one form the complete wash system is arranged as a drawer which slides in and out of a cabinet. The cabinet opening is stiffened against racking forces by incorporating an inverse portal frame in the opening flange. A synchronous AC motor is used with the rotor running within the wash chamber driving a wash pump integrated with a rotating spray arm.

Abstract: An infrared gas analyser. The analyser comprises a sample cell located in a gas flow, a source of infrared radiation of selected wavelengths which is propagated through the sample cell and an infrared detector which receives radiation which has passed through the cell, The radiation incident on the detector provides a measure of the concentration of selected substances in the gas flow due to one of the wavelengths being selected to be absorbed by the gas being measured. One preferred use is as a humidity sensor in a medical respiratory circuit where at least one selected wavelength is a wavelength strongly absorbed by water. Heating means am associated with the sample cell to vaporize any liquid water which may enter it and the cell is provided with internal baffles to reduce deposition or condensation of water on internal surfaces through which infrared radiation must pass.