Abstract: Provided herein are various systems and methods (i.e., utilities) broadly directed to the generation of hot water using energy derived from renewable energy sources as an alternative to or in conjunction with another power source (e.g., fossil fuel-based energy from a utility provider, an underperforming solar/wind/wind system, etc.). In the various aspects, these utilities are directed to the retrofitting of existing water heaters with electrical heating elements that are connectable to a renewable source of electrical energy. While primarily discussed in relation to retrofitting existing water heaters, various aspects are applicable to OEM manufactured systems. Further, various control methods are provided that allow for enhancing the efficiency of hot water generation, net metering, and/or the generation of renewable energy credits.

Abstract: An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.

Abstract: A volumetric heating device for beverage preparation machines, along with a beverage preparation machine containing same, are disclosed, along with methods of producing and using same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling arc/short between a wire and a work piece is described. A current path parallel to the wire/work is provided. The voltage drop across the parallel path can be preset, to limit the wire/work voltage, or it can be controlled to a desired level. The control can be in response to feedback.

Abstract: A welding system includes a welding power source configured to provide pulsed electropositive direct current (DCEP), a gas supply system configured to provide a shielding gas flow that is at least 90% argon (Ar), a welding wire feeder configured to provide tubular welding wire. The DCEP, the tubular welding wire, and the shielding gas flow are combined to form a weld deposit on a zinc-coated workpiece, wherein less than approximately 10 wt % of the tubular welding wire is converted to spatter while forming the weld deposit on the zinc-coated workpiece.

Abstract: A method for producing an ophthalmic lens includes a step of laser marking in order to produce permanent etchings on one surface of the lens, at least one predefined step subsequent to the marking step and implementing extreme thermal stress that is applied to the surface, and a step of determining an operating point (PF) of a laser marking machine (1) configured to implement the marking step from geometric characteristics (Di) of the etchings to be made, the determining step including the steps of determining (304) a value (CPM) representative of the deformation of the lens on at least one treatment area of the surface, from the stress and data relative to a predetermined material from which the lens is formed, and of deducing (308) the operating point from the value representative of deformation and from the geometric characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a safety circuit for disrupting power to a heating element of an appliance to be powered through a solid state switch (Q1), typically a triac, from an AC power source (V1) having a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle for delivering power. A low resistance condition is sensed by detecting either the current through, or voltage across, the solid state switch during the positive half cycle and the negative half cycle of the AC power line, when the solid state AC switch is not actuated. A fault signal is generated to interrupt power to the heating element, preferably by a crowbar circuit opening a fuse, whenever the low resistance condition is detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention are directed to welding systems having a welding power supply and wire feeder, where the power supply and wire feeder communicate over the welding power cables. In exemplary embodiments, the wire feeder communicates with the power supply over the welding cables using current draw pulses which are generated and recognized by the power supply. Similarly, the power supply generates voltage pulses which are transmitted over the welding power cables and recognized by the wire feeder.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention are directed to welding systems having a welding power supply and wire feeder, where the power supply and wire feeder communicate over the welding power cables. In exemplary embodiments, the wire feeder communicates with the power supply over the welding cables using current draw pulses which are generated and recognized by the power supply. Similarly, the power supply generates voltage pulses which are transmitted over the welding power cables and recognized by the wire feeder.

Abstract: A machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a product of animal or vegetable origin, provides a hollow body having a longitudinal axis. In the hollow body a sieve is mounted having a plurality of holes, in order to result co-axial to the hollow body same. The machine also includes a rotor mounted coaxially in the sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate it into a main product that crosses the sieve and that is discharged through a first outlet and into a waste material that, instead, cannot cross the sieve and is discharged through a second outlet.

Abstract: In various examples, a dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is fabricated by forming a resistive material. Prior to forming the phase change material region over the resistive material, at least an upper portion of the resistive material is exposed to an implantation or plasma that increases the resistance of an upper portion of the resistive material relative to the remainder, or bulk, of the resistive material. As a result, the portion of the resistive material proximate to the phase change material region forms a heater because of its high resistance value, but the bulk of the resistive material has a relatively lower resistance value and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and current usage of the device. Other methods and devices are disclosed.

Abstract: In various examples, dual resistive-material regions for a phase change material region are fabricated by initially forming a resistive material. Prior to forming the phase change material region over the resistive material, at least an upper portion of the resistive material is exposed to an implantation or plasma that increases the resistance of an upper portion of the resistive material relative to the remainder, or bulk, of the resistive material. As a result, in certain embodiments, the portion of the resistive material proximate to the phase change material region may be used as a heater because of a relatively, high resistance value of the resistive material, but the bulk of the resistive material has a relatively lower resistance value and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and current usage of the device. Other methods and devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate carrier is described that uses a proportional thermal fluid delivery system. In one example the apparatus includes a heat exchanger to provide a thermal fluid to a fluid channel of a substrate carrier and to receive the thermal fluid from the fluid channel, the thermal fluid in the fluid channel to control the temperature of the carrier during substrate processing. A proportional valve controls the rate of flow of thermal fluid from the heat exchanger to the fluid channel. A temperature controller receives a measured temperature from a thermal sensor of the carrier and controls the proportional valve in response to the measured temperature to adjust the rate of flow.

Abstract: A laser machining device includes a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam to have a variable output according to a machining condition, an optical fiber for propagating the laser beam, a sensor for detecting an intensity of a light leaking from a cladding side face of the optical fiber and outputting a detection signal indicating that intensity, and an oscillation control unit for controlling an operation of that laser machining device based on the detection signal. The oscillation control unit compares a first threshold that is set in correspondence to that output with an intensity or an amount of light obtained from the detection signal, compares a second threshold that is set in correspondence to that output with an intensity or an amount of light obtained from the detection signal, and controls the operation of that laser machining device based on a result of comparing.

Abstract: Laser additive manufacturing apparatus, systems, and methods for the fabrication of high quality freeform high value structures. The apparatus, systems, and methods utilize a material powder having varying particle size and shape as raw material. It can also be adopted to use a wire as the feed material.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention are directed to welding systems having a welding power supply and wire feeder, where the power supply and wire feeder communicate over the welding power cables. In exemplary embodiments, the wire feeder communicates with the power supply over the welding cables using current draw pulses which are generated and recognized by the power supply. Similarly, the power supply generates voltage pulses which are transmitted over the welding power cables and recognized by the wire feeder.

Abstract: An apparatus for hardening a spring having a helical or beehive shape. The apparatus has a rotation support system and an induction heating system. The rotation support system is designed to support the spring while the spring is heated by the induction heating system. The induction heating system has an induction coil system having a coil system. The coil system has a spaced region designed to receive the spring and to heat the spring while the spring is supported on the rotation support system.

Abstract: Radiant furniture made of a concrete mix includes one or more heating elements or hot water supplied hydronic tubing that provide comfortable radiant heat. Tabletops can be heated to a temperature that is comfortable for people seated at the table. Other tabletops can be heated to a lower temperature for use in a greenhouse. Benches and seats can be heated to provide comfortable heated seating. Combinations can also be used together, such as a heated tabletop with heated seats. A controller senses the temperature of the furniture and the ambient temperature, then applies power to one or more heating elements in the furniture according to programmed temperature thresholds to provide comfortable radiant heat from the furniture.

Abstract: A method and system to manufacture workpieces employing a high intensity energy source that irradiates a surface of a workpiece to create a puddle and at least one resistively heated wire which is heated to at or near its melting temperature and deposited into the puddle as droplets. Preferably, a wire feeding device feeds the wire to the puddle, and a power supply supplies a heating signal to the wire where the heating signal comprises a plurality of current pulses and where each of the current pulses creates a molten droplet on a distal end of the wire which is deposited into the puddle.

Abstract: This invention discloses an airlift pumping mechanism for a fluid container, which is intended to address the problem of decreasing efficiency of the pumping mechanism when the liquid level in the container is low in the prior art. For this purpose, the airlift pumping mechanism comprises an air compressor and a riser tube assembly, wherein the riser tube assembly is located in a fluid container, and the air compressor is in communication with the riser tube assembly for feeding the compressed air to the riser tube assembly so that the same flows upward through the riser tube assembly together with the fluid in the fluid container. The pumping mechanism is characterized by further comprising a sunken cavity downwardly extending from the inner bottom surface of the fluid container, wherein the sunken cavity is located between the air compressor and the riser tube assembly and is in communication with the air compressor and the riser tube assembly.