Abstract: A slow cooker includes a cooking base having a heating element and an open end. The slow cooker has a first container sized to fit within the open end of the cooking base. The first container has an opening for receiving foodstuff. The volume of the first container is sized to accommodate a second container. The second container has an opening for receiving foodstuff. The opening of the second container is generally equal in size to the opening of the first container. The first container has a cooking position wherein the first container is inserted in the cooking base. The second container has a cooking position wherein the second container is inserted in the cooking base. The first container and second container have a storage position, wherein the second container is nested within the first container. The slow cooker also includes a lid that is sized to enclose the opening of either of the first and second containers during their respective cooking positions.

Abstract: A clothes dryer comprises a plurality of generally parallel shelves. Each shelf includes at least an outer frame having a first end and a second end. Each shelf also includes a fabric extending across the frame to form a substantially planar surface. The dryer further includes a fan and a housing that encloses the fan. The housing has an extension arm and at least one air intake vent. The extension arm supports the second end of each shelf and comprises a plurality of air exhaust vents that are configured to direct air substantially parallel to the planar surface of each shelf.

Abstract: A deep fryer including a housing, a pot positioned in the housing and a basket which is removably positioned in the pot. The basket includes first and second handle attachment brackets that mount each of first and second handles to opposite sides of the basket.

Abstract: An electromechanical power transfer system that transfers power between a prime mover and a direct current (DC) electrical system, comprises: a permanent magnet machine (PMM) that has a permanent magnet (PM) rotor coupled to the prime mover, a stator with a multiphase alternating current (AC) winding coupled to an AC bus and a control coil with a winding that has a configuration to generate a magnetic field with flux that varies the reactance of the stator winding with the application of control coil current; a control coil current sensor for generating a control coil current signal that is representative of the level of electrical current in the control coil; an electrical current sensor for generating a DC bus current signal that is representative of the level of DC current through the DC bus; an electrical potential sensor for generating a DC bus potential signal that is representative of the level of DC potential on the DC bus; a fixed pattern active rectifier and inverter system coupled between the AC bu

Abstract: A method of applying a coating to an internal surface of a device includes applying an electric current through an interior space of the device to electrodeposit resin particles onto a first portion of the internal surface and curing the resin particles to form a coating on the first portion of the internal surface. The method further includes repeating an application of the electric current through the interior space of the device to electrodeposit resin particles onto a second portion of the internal surface and curing the resin particles to form a coating on the second portion of the internal surface. The application of the electric current through the interior space and the curing of the resin particles may be repeated until a coating is formed on all of the internal surface.

Abstract: A motor is provided including a housing having single and integral motor and bearing cooling inlets. The motor is arranged within the housing and includes a stator and a rotor assembly supported on air bearings. The cooling inlet is in fluid communication with the motor stator and with the air bearings. The motor cooling inlet provides and the bearing cooling inlet provides a uniform pressure on the rotor assembly. The uniform pressures exerted on the rotor assembly produce bearing loads that generally cancel one another. The source of the cooling flow is uncompressed air at low pressure. This may be achieved by providing a vent in the housing that is common to both the motor cooling inlet and the bearing cooling inlet. As a result, journal bearings and seals of substantially the same size may be used.

Abstract: A method for packaging, shipping, displaying and positioning a foldable filter having a hinge into an air filtration unit wherein the foldable filter is pivotable about the hinge between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The method includes the steps of positioning the foldable filter in the collapsed position, inserting the collapsed foldable filter into a package, shipping the collapsed foldable filter within the package to a store, positioning the packaged foldable filter for display at the store, removing the foldable filter from the package, moving the foldable filter to the expanded position and positioning the foldable filter into the air filtration unit. The foldable filter includes first and second frame sections connected by the hinge and pleated filter material that includes at least one pleat edge extending generally parallel to a hinge axis. The hinge is formed at least partially by a portion of the at least one pleat edge.

Abstract: A gear and clutch cluster receives rotational input from a bi-rotational input gear. The gear and clutch cluster produces rotational output in a driveshaft of a drive train in a single direction for both rotation directions of the bi-rotational input.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance with a safety interlock for processing foodstuff including a housing with a motor and a switch to actuate the motor within the housing. A bowl has a first actuator therein for selectively actuating the switch. A bowl lid is removably mountable over a mouth of the bowl and is mounted to a mouth of the bowl when the bowl and bowl lid are in a working position. A feed tube defines a feed cavity including a feed mouth. The feed tube has a second actuator in an operative relationship with the first actuator. A feed tube lid is pivotably and removably mounted to the feed tube and includes a tab. The tab contacts and moves the second actuator to its operative position to thereby actuate the switch through the first actuator when the feed tube lid is in a closed position.

Abstract: A self-regulating permanent magnet device has a first rotor segment and second rotor segment, each supporting a set of permanent magnets, wherein the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment is modified based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device. By modifying the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment, the alignment between their respective sets of permanent magnets, and therefore, the electromotive force (emf) generated in the stator coils is regulated. The position of the second rotor segment is defined by the connection of a torsion spring between the first rotor segment and second rotor segment and a reactionary torque device connected to the second rotor segment. The torsion spring creates a spring force that acts to maintain the alignment between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment.

Abstract: A water production unit is provided having two modes of operation for extracting water from exhaust and air.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine comprises: a stator that comprises a plurality of stator poles arranged around a stator surface of revolution with a stator axis for the stator surface of revolution; at least one rotor that comprises a plurality of permanent rotor magnets arranged around a rotor surface of revolution with a rotor axis for the rotor surface of revolution that is coincident with the stator axis and with the rotor surface of revolution adjacent the stator surface of revolution; a drive shaft with a drive shaft axis of rotation that is substantially coincident with the stator axis coupled to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator about the drive shaft axis of rotation; and a at least one actuator for axially displacing the rotor surface of revolution along the drive shaft relative to the stator surface of revolution to change magnetic flux interaction between the stator poles and the rotor magnets; wherein at least one of the surfaces of revolution tilts with respect to the drive shaft a

Abstract: An aircraft is provided with an integrated galley refrigeration unit and vehicle cabin air conditioning packet. A control selectively determines whether the provision of cooled air into an air cooled galley takes precedent over the provision of cooled air into the passenger cabin. Valving is provided to selectively provide cold fluid to a recirculation air heat exchanger, which supplies supplemental cooled air for delivery into the passenger cabin. This refrigeration air heat exchanger is utilized when precedent is given to providing cooled air to the cabin. On the other hand, the valve is maintained in an off position when it is determined that the air cooled galleys should take precedent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor. Typical electro-motors need additional components to identify the functional status of the motor. This means additional weight for such motors determining the functional status. According to the present invention a circuit is provided using a part of a motor as a sensor for detecting the functional status of the electro-motor.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant synchronisation source for excitation control of a three-phase generator system that combines point of regulation (POR) signals representing parameters comprising voltage and current for each phase at the POR to generate a fault-tolerant synchronisation signal.