Abstract: A solar collector can comprise: a polymeric housing; a polymeric cover attached to the housing defining an internal volume of the solar collector; a solar energy absorber attached to the housing and located within an area defined by the housing and the cover; wherein the housing comprises a flexible sealing member; and wherein the cover comprises a honeycomb structure.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing gas from a vehicle storage unit. The apparatus includes at least one memory and a processor(s) detecting air being drawn, via an exhaust unit, from the front of a vehicle storage space to a rear of the vehicle storage space and through a ventilation unit forcing the air including emitted gas(es) to exit a top of the ventilation unit. The air is initially directed, from a supply unit in an upper part of the ventilation unit, into the rear of the vehicle storage space to the front of the vehicle storage space. The items emitted the gas. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to measure the gas as the air passes through the ventilation unit to determine whether the measured gas equals or is below a predetermined threshold. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A low-profile ventilation system is provided for a motor vehicle. That low-profile ventilation system includes an inlet duct having an inlet-free top wall, a sidewall and a bottom wall. A recirculating air inlet is provided in the sidewall. A fresh air inlet is also provided in the sidewall. A related method of providing a low-profile ventilation system is also provided. The method includes providing an inlet duct with an inlet-free top wall and both a fresh air inlet and a recirculating air inlet, wherein the recirculating air inlet has first and second laterally opposing openings in a sidewall of the inlet duct.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a first steady-state gain associated with a relationship between a characteristic of a furnace and a setpoint used by a controller that is configured to control the characteristic of the furnace, The first steady-state gain is identified using data collected when the furnace is not suffering from flooding. The method also includes identifying a second steady-state gain associated with the relationship during operation of the furnace. The method further includes comparing the first and second steady-state gains and identifying actual or potential flooding of the furnace based on the comparison.

Abstract: A piezoelectric lighter includes a lighter housing having a liquefied gas storage, a gas emitting nozzle extended from the liquefied gas storage, a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter housing, and a lighter cap slidably coupled on top of the lighter housing above the piezoelectric unit. The gas emitting nozzle is slidably received at a nozzle window of the lighter cap, wherein an exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle is embedded in the ceiling of the lighter cap to protect the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle. When the lighter cap is depressed to expose the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle above the ceiling of the lighter cap, the piezoelectric unit is depressed and the gas emission unit is actuated at the same time to produce a flame at the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle.

Abstract: A cooker with a gasket may include a top plate on which a plurality of burners may be placed; a manifold panel provided in front of the top plate and including thereon a plurality of knobs to control output powers of the plurality of burners; and a gasket that extends along a front end of the top plate and is compressed between the top plate and the manifold panel to hermetically seal the top plate and the manifold panel.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system in vehicle is installed in a vehicle in which a vehicle body center position and an aisle center position are different, and has an air conditioner. The air-conditioning system in vehicle has first and second outlets arranged on both sides of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction and discharging conditioned air having substantially the same air volume into an interior, and an air regulating member setting a merging position of air flows discharged from the first and second outlets to the position where the line segment connecting the vehicle body center position and the aisle center position is internally divided at a ratio of between 20:80 and 86:14.

Abstract: An air conditioning device includes a casing that provides multiple air passages, a blower fan that suctions an air from the multiple air passages and blows out the air in the casing, a suction side partitioning member that is disposed on a suction side of the blower fan in the casing and separates air flows from the multiple air passages from each other, and a blowing side partitioning member that is disposed on a blowing side of the blower fan in the casing and separates the air flows from the multiple air passages from each other. The suction side partitioning member and the blowing side partitioning member are disposed so that a relative position of the blowing side partitioning member to the suction side partitioning member is deviated in a rotation direction of the blower fan.

Abstract: A cooking appliance comprises a cooktop, an oven cavity and a console. The console includes a user interface for the cooking appliance. Air exiting the oven cavity passes through a flue, and a deflector reduces heat transfer between this air and the console. The cooking appliance further comprises a back panel including a first hole. Air traveling along a first airflow path defined by the cooking appliance exits the flue and is deflected rearward through the first hole by the deflector.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting and distributing generated and/or solar radiation. The distribution is a pulsed distribution. A pulsed distribution subsystem combining a generated radiation source with a solar radiation collector is provided. Radiation from the pulsed distribution subsystem is provided to one or more discrete distribution systems; the discrete distributions systems transmit and distribute radiation, such as visible light, to one or more end use points in a facility.

Abstract: An incense holder assembly and method of manufacture. The incense holder assembly has a base including a cavity, and an ash collector, and an upper housing including a first end with an incense material support including an incense aperture that can support an incense structure inserted into the incense aperture. An external cavity is positioned coupled to the incense material support and the ash collector, and a channel fluidly extends from the incense aperture to an internal cavity. The assembly also includes incense material support surfaces that can support the incense structure by coupling to a side of the incense structure. An incense material support surface is positioned within a channel or the internal cavity, and an incense material support surface is adjacent to or proximate the at least one aperture.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting vehicle grille shutters based on a direction of motion of the grille shutters. In one example, a method includes adjusting a motor coupled to the grille shutters based on the direction of motion of the grille shutters, a desired opening of the grille shutters, and vehicle speed. Further, the method may include determining the direction of motion of the grille shutters based on a desired motor position relative to an actual motor position.

Abstract: A novel housing for an electronic device is located in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The housing is used to maintain the temperature of the electronic device within its operating temperature range. The housing includes air inlets and outlets through which the temperature-regulated air current from the air conditioning system of the vehicle passes. The temperature-regulated air currents from the air conditioning system that are used to maintain a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment are also used to regulate the temperature of the electronic device. Thus, the housing allows the temperature of the electronic device to be regulated exclusively using the air current from the air conditioning system. The air duct from the air conditioning system can be connected directly to the housing or can end a distance from the housing so that the air current from the duct is directed to strike the outside of the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the direction of a burner flame exposed to potentially impinging wind or other air flows. At least one fluid nozzle is mounted in proximity to a burner nozzle. The fluid nozzle is configured to produce a spray of fluid provided by a fluid supply system. As the spray is produced, an area of low pressure is created near the fluid nozzle, creating a buffer air flow around the spray. The buffer air flow is directed towards the potentially impinging air flow such that at least a portion of the potentially impinging air flow is counteracted and no longer impinges upon the burner flame. One or more fluid nozzles may be used in the burner flame control system to counteract one or more air flows.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to make the process of cooking safer, specifically cooking on hot burners or cooking with hot liquids such as oil. Presented methods and devices in accordance with the present disclosure generally comprise shields that may be temporarily or permanently attached to the body or the handle of cookware or utensils to protect a user's hand from convective and/or radiative heat and from hot liquid splash.

Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing a damper valve of a diffuser mechanism is provided. Embodiments of the invention include a damper construction that selectively alters the amount of air flow through a diffuser grille using a three-plate damper valve. The three-plate damper valve includes a manual plate, a fixed plate, and a motorized plate. The manual plate is manually rotatable around a central axis, while the motorized plate is mechanically rotatable about the same axis. The motorized plate is mechanically and/or remotely controlled using a stepper motor coupled to the motorized plate. Further, the diffuser mechanism includes a sensor for determining the location of the motorized plate with respect to a starting position. As such, multiple configurations of the manual plate and the motorized plate may be used to alter the air flow through the resulting channels of the damper mechanism.

Abstract: An charge element disposed proximate to a combustion reaction is caused to carry a voltage while also being prevented from arc-discharging or arc-charging to or from the combustion reaction, by a current limiting element in electrical continuity with the charge element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sealing an air vent in a switchgear cabinet provide a vent seal assembly having a vent seal cover and a set of linear guides on which the vent seal cover may be mounted. The vent seal cover and linear guides are housed within a casing attachable to an interior surface of the switchgear cabinet and directly over an air vent. Within the casing, the vent seal cover may slide freely along the linear guides toward the air vent, with no spring or other mechanical biasing mechanism to oppose the sliding of the cover. A catch on the casing releasably holds the vent seal cover to keep the air vent open during normal operating conditions. When an arc event occurs, pressure from the arc event knocks the vent seal cover free of the catch and propels it toward the air vent, quickly slamming the air vent shut.

Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.

Abstract: A pressure relief assembly may include at least one pressure relief chamber including a membrane support base connected to a counterbalance clearance space. The membrane support base defines one or more air passages. The pressure relief assembly may also include at least one flap sub-assembly pivotally secured to the at least one pressure relief chamber. Each flap sub-assembly may include a pivot bracket pivotally secured to the at least one pressure relief chamber and including a counterbalance configured to pivot into the counterbalance clearance area, and a membrane flap securely connected to the pivot bracket. The membrane flap seats on the membrane support base over the one or more air passages in a closed position, and is configured to move into an open position. The counterbalance counterbalances the membrane flap and pivots into the counterbalance clearance area when the membrane flap moves into the open position.