Abstract: An integrated refrigeration and rethermalization system includes a wall unit having a refrigeration system for producing refrigerated air and a convection heating system for producing heated air. A cart having hot and cold compartments for storing food items on trays is docked with the wall unit to receive refrigerated and heated air. A thermal barrier isolated the hot and cold compartments of the cart. The thermal barrier includes a plurality of thermal dividers filled with an insulating foam material. Each tray contains both hot and cold items and is positioned in the cart so that hot food items are located within the hot compartment and cold food items are located within the cold compartment. Movable damper doors within the wall unit control the flow of refrigerated and heated air from the wall unit to the cart. When the cart is docked with the wall unit, foods within both compartments are initially stored in a refrigerated state.

Abstract: A side-mountable liquid level sensor utilizes a rubber sealing grommet to temporarily hold the buoyant member within the cylinder of the liquid container opening to facilitate assembly. The buoyant member has an open slot with cooperating limit structure on the buoyant member and sensor rod to facilitate manufacture.

Abstract: A rethermalization system for rethermalizing refrigerated foods in an institutional food service setting is disclosed. A rethermalization cart is provided with a plurality of trays for supporting food items to be served. The trays are supported on heater shelves including heating elements located under the portions of the trays corresponding to locations of food items to be heated. A loaded cart is placed in a refrigerator and is attached to a power supply and controller. A serving time is programmed into the system and the controller provides power to the cart a predetermined interval before the desired serving time. Heater microcontrollers are associated with the heater shelves and control power to the heating element on the shelves in accordance with at least one rethermalization program.

Abstract: An improved thermal curtain for separating a food service cart into hot and cold regions is disclosed. The thermal curtain is composed of composite foam structural elements which have enhanced insulating capability, toughness and the ability to provide structural support for food service trays placed thereon. The thermal curtain is composed of a plurality of vertically superposed tray support/thermal barrier sections which attach to a support bracket which further attaches to the back of the food service cart. The upper portion of the support/barrier is adapted to provide a tray support and conforms to the design of the food service tray to minimize migration of heated or cold air to the opposite compartment. The lower edge of the support/barrier section is composed of a blade seal floating in a retention channel which allows vertical movement of the seal.

Abstract: A main power terminal block (10) for a street light assembly (130) includes connectors (14) having a single-gauge metal piece (20) the front of which is adapted to receive a power conductor (16), and the back of which is shaped into overly-thick and under-wide wings (62) which are then coined along at least a peripheral edge (70) to define a thinner and wider spade lug (40, 42) to receive a spade lug terminal (76) thereover. The connector (14) also includes a nut-like member (22) and bolt (24) which cooperate with a hole (116) in the insulative housing (12) to secure connector (14) within a passageway (90) of housing (12) while also electrically and mechanically securing conductor (16) within the front portion of connector (14).

Abstract: A drive system for providing multiple output speeds in a single direction based upon a reversible input is disclosed. The drive system provides a dual drive path from an input to an output such that each separate drive path is capable of an overall gear ratio different from that of the other drive path. The drive path is selected by the direction of rotation of the input and is configured such that regardless of the drive path selected, the rotation of the output of the drive system will be in a single direction. The drive system utilizes two parallel auxiliary shafts disposed perpendicularly to a single drive shaft and an output shaft disposed parallel to the two auxiliary shafts. Both auxiliary shafts engage the drive shaft such that they are driven by the rotation of the drive shaft in directions opposite each other.

Abstract: The invention of this application comprises a novel filter assembly including a charcoal filter and a fiberglass filter positioned within a housing. The fiberglass filter comprises a fiberglass mat mounted to a wire structure formed in an accordion-shape so as to increase the surface area of the fiberglass mat. The invention also comprises a novel sensor system for sensing when the grease filter and the filter assembly have been installed, for sensing when the filter assembly is about to require changing and for shutting down the exhaust hood when the assembly requires changing.

Abstract: A capacitive liquid level sensor utilizes capacitive principles to sense the level of a liquid contained within a receptacle. As a liquid rises and falls in the container, the dielectric effect of the liquid changes the effective capacitance of a sensing capacitor which is detected by electronic circuitry coupled to the sensor. One plate of the sensor capacitor is a probe disposed within a receptacle while a grounded conductive portion of the receptacle is a second plate of the capacitor. The liquid within the receptacle acts as a dielectric between the plates.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a tubular spindle having a central portion of reduced diameter defining at each axial end of the central portion an axially facing locking surface. Two annular bearing members encircle and are supported on the spindle on opposite sides of the reduced diameter central portion, each bearing member having at least one resilient locking member which projects axially toward the other bearing member and which has a shoulder engageable with a respective shoulder on the spindle. Each bearing member has at its axially outer end a radial projection which carries an axially inwardly facing annular surface. A wheel has a central axial opening, the spindle and bearing members being disposed within the opening and the radially outer surfaces of the bearing members engaging the central axial opening through the wheel. The wheel has at each end of the central opening an axially outwardly facing surface which engages the surface on the radial projection of a respective bearing member.

Abstract: An air filter is provided for a food cooking apparatus to avoid the necessity for venting same within a building and permitting the use of a free standing independently movable structure capable of receiving a movable cooking apparatus or accommodating a fixed cooking apparatus such as a grill.An air filter assembly for filtering exhaust air from cooking devices is illustrated as having filter elements in vertically aligned stacked relation accessibly positioned in an imperforate housing.

Abstract: Within a hermetically-sealed compressor, a cluster assembly provides the connection to a three-prong header so that power can be applied to the motor within the compressor. The walls of the compressor are closed as completely as possible except for openings for leads extending from the cluster block and for pins from the header projecting into the cluster block. Each pin has a ceramic collar that is surrounded by a skirt extending from the cluster block surface. The collar and skirt configuration more than doubles the length of the path that an arc must follow if there is arcing between pins.

Abstract: A refrigeration system comprised of a walled insulated enclosure is provided with a drive motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom. The drive shaft and drive motor are positioned along the ceiling of the walled enclosure. The drive shaft terminates at a coupling mechanism. A complimentary coupling mechanism is attached to the top of a well-known movable food rack. Thus, when the food rack is stored within the walled enclosure, the coupling mechanism on the food rack mates with and attaches to the complimentary coupling mechanism of the drive shaft. When the drive motor is actuated, the drive shaft will rotate the movable food rack. It will be appreciated that by rotating the movable food rack, the present invention will permit the food stored on the food rack to chill far more quickly than if the food rack were to remain stationary. In addition, by rotating the food rack, the present invention eliminates warm air pockets which allow bacterial growth.