Abstract: A rethermalization cart having at each food tray positions therein a pair of electrical heater pads positioned to controllably heat separate food servings on a food tray positioned in the cart. Mounted in each pad is a hollow dowel of thermochromic material and surrounded by a heat conductive sleeve. The color of the material is readily visible from outside of the cart to indicate whether the food associated with that pad is safely heated. A light bulb is connected to the electrical heating circuit of the pad so that when the circuit is "on" the bulb is lit. When lit, the bulb shines through the hollow dowel. The cart, when in position in a refrigerator unit, is plugged into an electrical receptacle in the unit. When the cart is moved in or out of the unit to access the trays, the cart becomes unplugged. Although the light bulb is thereby extinguished, if lit, the thermochromic dowel still indicates by its color the thermal condition of the food.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 1990
Date of Patent:
February 23, 1993
Assignee:
Aladdin Synergetics, Inc.
Inventors:
W. Burk Wyatt, Kevin B. Cundiff, Kenneth R. Little, Jr.
Abstract: A food preparation and/or storage apparatus includes modular removable elements having a drawer with one connector for mechanical and electrical engagement with a heat only chamber and electrical connections to a removable heat transfer element. The heat transfer element also provides power from one removable heater to an adjacent removable heater. A shim positions a heat transfer element relative to a supporting drawer. A template releasably positions a center of each container directly above at least one heat transferring surface. A power connector includes a rubber-like grommet for tolerance in connecting to an external power source. A method of and an apparatus for adjusting the height of a plurality of vertically oriented shelves in a housing allows a plurality of vertically stacked shelves to be accessed from substantially the same height.
Abstract: A multi-partition food storage and multiple serving apparatus is disclosed and includes a cover portion and a tray portion which mate to form a plurality of insulated cavities. A plurality of types of bowls are removably insertible in any of the cavities. Each bowl includes a separate lid and is capable of holding multiple serving portions. The insulation provided between each cavity allows simultaneous transport and storage of different foods which may be maintained at different temperatures.
Abstract: A multi-partition food storage and multiple serving apparatus is disclosed and includes a cover portion and a tray portion which mate to form a plurality of insulated cavities. A plurality of types of bowls are removably insertible in any of the cavities. Each bowl includes a separate lid and is capable of holding multiple serving portions. The insulation provided between each cavity allows simultaneous transport and storage of different foods which may be maintained at different temperatures.
Abstract: A heat retentive server, in particular a server base, for maintaining food or beverage in a desired temperature range for a period of time includes a non-metallic upper shell and lower shell which sealingly form a cavity between their inwardly facing surfaces. A heat storage member including an encapsulated core of phase change material is disposed in the cavity. As the server base is heated, the phase change material melts and stores heat as heat of fusion. When the core later cools, it undergoes a phase change from the liquid state to the solid state an imparts the stored heat to the server base.
Abstract: A method, and its associated system, for maintaining a close and accurate security surveillance of both the passengers and their baggage on a public conveyance, to insure that, before departure, baggage is not loaded aboard the conveyance without a prior, positive indication that the owner or the passenger has, in fact, been properly boarded.
Abstract: Device for tracking daylight and projecting it into a building. The device tracks the sun and automatically adjusts both the orientation and area of the reflecting surface. The device may be mounted in either a wall or roof of a building. Additionally, multiple devices may be employed in a light shaft in a building, providing daylight to several different floors. The preferred embodiment employs a thin reflective film as the reflecting device. One edge of the reflective film is fixed, and the opposite end is attached to a spring-loaded take-up roller. As the sun moves across the sky, the take-up roller automatically adjusts the angle and surface area of the film. Additionally, louvers may be mounted at the light entrance to the device to reflect incoming daylight in an angle perpendicular to the device to provide maximum reflective capability when daylight enters the device at non-perpendicular angles.
Abstract: An electronic solid state system is provided for starting and operating one or more fluorescent lamps, and which supplies power to the lamps at a relatively high frequency, and at a relatively high power factor. The system includes a circuit which forces the line current to be proportional to the applied input voltage so as to maintain high power factor concomitantly with the removal of flicker by high frequency operation. High power efficiency is achieved through the use of a switching resonant inverter output circuit which is ideally suited to fluorescent lamp applications because of its low harmonic energy content, and because it can accommodate a wide range of resistive loads at high efficiency. The system may also incorporate a dimming circuit for the fluorescent lamps.
Abstract: A mechanism for finishing work pieces of the type having a continuously moving conveyor mechanism having work piece holding fixtures movable therewith wherein the work piece is automatically rotated between separate work finishing stations by a gear mechanism actuated by cam mechanisms associated with the conveyor mechanism.