Abstract: The invention provides an impeller designed to be mounted on a rotary shaft. The impeller comprises a basic rim provided with blades protruding on one surface of the basic rim, and a hub capable of being coupled to the basic rim and to the rotary shaft. In certain embodiments, the impeller comprises an annular plate and the hub, the plate and the basic rim are configured to interact together so as to hold the basic rim axially and to maintain a freedom of radial deformation of the basic rim relative to the hub and to the plate.

Abstract: A product warming apparatus with at least one product holding container having a bottom surface. An enclosure includes at least one opening configured to receive the product holding container. A heat radiating plate is provided in thermal communication with and configured to receive heat from a heating element. The heat radiating plate includes a top surface disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the product holding container with the top surface of the heat radiating plate being spaced apart from the bottom surface of the product holding container to define a gap therebetween. A thermostatic controller is in thermal communication with the heat radiating plate for controlling a flow of heat to the heat radiating plate.

Abstract: This motorcompressor unit comprises at least one motor driving the rotation of a rotor and at least one compression stage comprising a set of bladed impellers mounted on a driven shaft the rotation of which is driven by the rotor, the assembly consisting of the motor and the or each compressor being mounted in a common casing that is gastight with respect to the gas handled by the compressor unit. At least one of the compression members comprises at least one aerodynamic member (13) for regulating the angle at which the gas handled by the said stage flows and a motor (16) for controlling the regulating member (13) mounted in the common casing.

Abstract: A motor compressor unit (1) comprises a motor (3) and a compressor (2) which are mounted in a common housing (4) sealed against the gas to be compressed. The motor (3) comprises a rotor (39) rotatably connected to a rotor (38) of the compressor (2). The rotor (38) of the compressor comprises a main shaft (11) and a connecting shaft (21) coaxial with the main shaft, the connecting shaft being placed at least partly inside the main shaft (11) so as to be radially spaced from the main shaft (11) and comprising a coupling zone (15) for coupling with the main shaft (11).

Abstract: Centrifugal compressor unit (1) comprising a first motor (3), at least one compressor (2) comprising a drive shaft (9) driven by the rotor (12) of the first motor (3) and a set of impellers (5, 6, 7, 8) mounted on the drive shaft (9), the assembly consisting of the motor (3) and the compressor (2) being mounted in a gas-tight common housing (26) operated by the compressor unit (1), the rotor (12) of the first motor (3) and the drive shaft (9) being connected by a flexible coupling (24) placed in the housing (26). The compressor unit comprises a second motor (4) which is placed in the housing and of which the rotor (13) is connected to the drive shaft (9) by a second flexible coupling (25).

Abstract: A product warming apparatus with at least one product holding container having a bottom surface. An enclosure includes at least one opening configured to receive the product holding container. A heat radiating plate is provided in thermal communication with and configured to receive heat from a heating element. The heat radiating plate includes a top surface disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the product holding container with the top surface of the heat radiating plate being spaced apart from the bottom surface of the product holding container to define a gap therebetween. A thermostatic controller is in thermal communication with the heat radiating plate for controlling a flow of heat to the heat radiating plate.

Abstract: A multi-zone griddle with an upper substantially continuous layer of metal adapted for cooking a food product thereon. The upper substantially continuous layer of metal is positioned adjacent to a first lower layer of metal and is displaced a predetermined distance relative to the upper substantially continuous layer of metal to form a space therebetween. A second lower layer of metal is displaced a predetermined distance relative to the upper substantially continuous layer of metal to form a space therebetween. At least one serpentine passageway is formed in the space between the first lower layer of metal and the upper substantially continuous layer of metal. The at least one serpentine passageway may be connected to a source of heated fluid for providing heat to a portion of the upper substantially continuous layer of metal that corresponds to the position adjacent to the at least one serpentine passageway.

Abstract: This compressor unit comprises a motor (34) and at least one compressor (44) comprising a driven shaft (54) driven by the rotor of the motor and bladed wheels fitted on the driven shaft (54), the assembly composed of the motor and the compressor being installed in a common casing (55) leak tight to the gas manipulated by the compressor unit. The rotor and the driven shaft are connected through a flexible coupling (72) placed in the casing.

Abstract: A seal for a rotary compressor comprises a casing, at least one assembly having a rotating seal face ring which rotates as one with a sleeve intended to be mounted on a shaft of the compressor and of a stationary seal face ring mounted on the casing, the seal face rings being urged to press against one another via their rubbing face. The seal design further incorporates fluid circulation for heating leaks of compressible fluid conveyed by the compressor that occur between the seal face rings, this fluid circulation being formed in the casing and extending at least partially downstream of the seal face rings with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid stream.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed in the form of a cabinet having doors and interior side walls with supports for receiving trays of food products to be rapidly rethermalized and held. The apparatus can also condition the rethermalized food product, as well as act as a cooking oven. A steam generator is provided for supplying steam to the cabinet interior where it is continuously mixed with air. Thermocouples control both the steam and air mixture temperature for rethermalizing cooking and holding the food products and an air heater for conditioning the food products prior to use.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which limits soiling of internal turbomachine parts from dirt originating with process gas. In between at least two successive faces in which the turbomachine is operated normally, and during which time only process gas is introduced into the inlet of the turbomachine, a cleaning phase is initiated. During this phase, a substance in a dense state is introduced at the inlet which is capable of dissolving the dirt on internal parts of the turbomachine. Process gas and the dirt dissolving substance are separated.

Abstract: This seal for a rotary compressor comprises a casing (72), at least one assembly consisting of a rotating seal face ring (73) which rotates as one with a sleeve (74) intended to be mounted on a shaft (76) of the compressor and of a stationary seal face ring (71) mounted on the casing, the seal face rings being urged to press against one another via their rubbing face.

Abstract: A filter assembly for a water purifying apparatus including a plurality of cartridges. Each cartridge includes first and second ends and an interior volume containing a filtering medium. A plurality of end caps are respectively connected with the first ends of the plurality of cartridges and each end cap includes a water inlet and a water outlet. A removable manifold is coupled with the water inlets and water outlets and the manifold includes a pair of auxiliary ports. One auxiliary port directs water from the cartridge assembly to an auxiliary processing device and another auxiliary port directs the water from the auxiliary processing device back to the filter assembly. The water inlets and water outlets extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of each cartridge. The cartridge includes an outer tubular member in fluid communication with the water inlet and an inner tubular member in fluid communication with the water outlet.

Abstract: The present invention embodies a piezo-pyroelectric energy converter and is directed to a method and apparatus for conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy and refrigeration. The present invention utilizes one or more piezo-pyroelectric materials with thermally conductive metal electrodes, which resonate at a high frequency and are in thermal communication with hot and cold heat sinks to create a thermal gradient and heat flow along the metal electrodes and the piezo-pyroelectric material.

Abstract: A retractable safety latch is disclosed and includes a base mounting member having perpendicular base walls, a draw bar guide attached to the mounting base member by a hinge, a draw bar having an arcuate hook on one end and an eccentrically positioned oblong hole on the other end slidably mounted on the draw bar guide, a rotatable shaft mounted on the draw bar guide and having an eccentrically mounted pin extending through the oblong hole for driving and retaining the draw bar in the draw bar guide, and a handle having a safety catch pivotably mounted on the rotatable shaft. Between the handle and the rotatable shaft is a spring for the purpose of biasing the handle in one direction with respect to the rotatable shaft so that when the latch is closed, the handle is in contact with the perpendicular base walls and the safety catch catches on one of the perpendicular base walls to prevent the rotatable shaft on which the handle is mounted from rotating and opening the latch.

Abstract: The present invention is an edge extrusion which is attached on the peripheral rim and to the sidewall of a shell of a plastic container. The edge extrusion has either a male or female joining edge. A rubber gasket is placed between the male and female joining edges in order to seal the plastic container. The present invention also includes casing hardware such as hinges, clamp assemblies and handles, all of which have a base which is adapted to be attached and secured to the edge extrusion without the use of rivets or epoxy. The edge extrusion has a pair of L-shaped flanges, oppositely disposed to each other and parallel to the plane of the sidewall of the container. The base is a rectangular member adapted to loosely slide between the two L-shaped flanges and it has a set of flanges protruding from one of its longitudinal sides.