Abstract: A heat transfer engine having cooling and heating modes of reversible operation, in which heat can be effectively transferred within diverse user environments for cooling, heating and dehumidification applications. The heat transfer engine of the present invention includes a rotor structure which is rotatably supported within a stator structure. The stator has primary and secondary heat exchanging chambers in thermal isolation from each other. The rotor has primary and secondary heat transferring portions within which a closed fluid flow circuit is embodied. The closed fluid flow circuit within the rotor has a spiraled fluid-return passageway extending along its rotary shaft, and is charged with a refrigerant which is automatically circulated between the primary and secondary heat transferring portions of the rotor when the rotor is rotated within an optimized angular velocity range under the control of a temperature-responsive system controller.

Abstract: An air conditioning or refrigeration system includes an expansion device that has a plurality of operating positions. When the expansion device is in a fully open position, the expansion device provides an indication to a system controller regarding that position. The controller responsively determines if the fully open position of the expansion device is caused by an undesirably low amount of refrigerant charge in the system. In one example, the controller rules out other possible reasons for the expansion device being in the fully open position. In one example, the controller automatically shuts down appropriate portions of the system to avoid any component damage that may result from having too low refrigerant amount in the system.

Abstract: A circuit in accordance with the invention includes a safety switch device coupled with, and between, a thermally activated voltage source and a primary switch. The circuit also includes a safety switch control circuit coupled with the safety switch device and a controller circuit; and a voltage generation circuit for turning on the safety switch device. The voltage generation circuit is coupled with the safety switch control circuit, the controller circuit and the safety switch device, such that the controller circuit substantially controls operation of the voltage generation circuit, the safety switch control circuit, and a primary switch circuit that includes the primary switch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a temperature control method for a refrigerator which can minimize a deviation in refrigerant compartment temperature while minimizing the power consumption of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A garment for a personal cooling or warming system, the garment comprising a carrier formed in the shape of the garment, and a bladder comprising at least two channel segments, wherein the channel segments have a substantially flat configuration so as to improve thermal efficiency.

Abstract: An improved heater and method of controlling the same is provided. The water heater has the combination of a tank for holding water, a heater for heating the water, a controller having logic to regulate the heater, and first and second sensors. Each of the sensors detects the water temperature at different areas within the water heater. The sensors also provide the controller with signals corresponding to the detected water temperature. In response to these signals, the controller regulates the heater when at least one of the signals of the first and second sensors satisfies at least one predetermined state condition.

Abstract: The invention is directed to temperature control system in which a temperature control apparatus for controlling the operation of at least one temperature-modifying device may include a thermostat housing; a controller to control the operation of the temperature modifying device in response to the electronic comparison of a measured ambient temperature with at least one set point temperature; and display for displaying information received from the controller; wherein the display may be oriented in a plurality of positions, allowing the thermostat housing to be mounted in a plurality of positions. In one embodiment, the display may be oriented in at least two positions that are rotated ninety degrees from each other using a jumper located in the controller.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for conditioning a supply of hot pressurised air for use in an environment the system including a primary heat exchanger in which heat in the hot pressurised air supply is exchanged with a cooling fluid, a compressor to compress the supply of pressurised air cooled in the primary heat exchanger, a secondary heat exchanger in which heat in the compressed air supply is exchanged with a cooling fluid, and an expansion device for expanding and cooling the compressed air supply cooled in the secondary heat exchanger, mixing apparatus for mixing the expanded and cold supply air with recirculating air from the environment, a by-pass flow path for compressed cooled supply air from the secondary heat exchanger to the environment, and a secondary supply flow path for the hot pressurised air to the secondary heat exchanger, a first valve in a primary supply flow path to the primary heat exchanger, a second valve in the secondary supply flow path to the secondary heat exchanger, a third valve i

Abstract: A liquid injection type scroll compressor is used to a refrigerating apparatus using hydrocarbon fluoride refrigerant which does not contain chlorine (HFC-125/HFC-143a/HFC-134a) as an operating fluid and an amount of an injected liquid is controlled according to a discharge temperature of the compressor. Further, ester oil and/or ether oil is used as refrigerator oil and a dryer is disposed in a refrigerating cycle. With this arrangement, a refrigerating cycle operation can be stably realized in a wide range without almost changing the arrangement of a conventional refrigerating apparatus.

Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with a transient mode for moving from a defrost cycle back to steady state operation. In particular, some default position of the expansion device is selected when defrost cycle ends. The evaporator is hot at the end of defrost cycle, and might otherwise suggest an increased flow of refrigerant through the expansion device, which could be undesirable. Thus, a control for the inventive system moves the expansion device to a defrost transient position, with the defrost transient position restricting the flow of refrigerant to a value that would be less than that dictated by the high temperature of the evaporator. At some period of time after the end of the defrost mode, the refrigerant cycle can be returned to state steady operation.

Abstract: A control unit for variable displacement compressors is used for two independent air conditioning cycles, wherein two compressors 1, 11 driven by a common external drive source 8 include electromagnetic displacement control valves 6, 16, respectively. By controlling these control valves by ECU 7, the displacement of the compressor is variable. When the air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature T0, both of the compressors are subjected to the variable displacement operation even though one of them is unnecessary for the air conditioning operation. On the contrary, if the outer air temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, only one compressor, needed for the air conditioning operation, is subjected to the variable displacement operation, while the other compressor is subjected to the minimum displacement operation.

Abstract: A heat pump water heater system includes a compressor that has a variable clearance volume that can be selectively controlled to control the mass flow rate of refrigerant from the compressor. Under higher ambient air temperature conditions, the variable volume is increased to keep refrigerant in a variable clearance volume chamber and to decrease the mass flow rate of the refrigerant from the compressor. Under lower ambient air temperature conditions the variable volume is decreased to increase the mass flow rate. The variable clearance volume allows for maintaining optimum system performance under a variety of ambient air temperature conditions.

Abstract: A spreader for distributing a material on a surface. In certain embodiments, the spreader may include a disk rotatable about an axis and having an upper surface extending substantially radially from the axis. A driver may operably connect to the disk to provide rotation about the axis. A paddle may secure to the upper surface of the disk and rotate therewith. The paddle may be aligned to rotationally engage particulate material directed thereto and generate a centrifugal acceleration therein. A controller may limit the centrifugal release of the particulate material from the apparatus.

Abstract: A thermostat configured to control engine coolant temperature, a coolant temperature control method and system, includes a thermoelement, arranged to open a main valve upon reaching a predetermined temperature; a heating element arranged, based on an output signal from a controller, to heat said thermoelement, the coolant flowing through the thermostat being exclusively coolant from the radiator. Further, the controller may transmit an output signal to said heating element according to an engine signal received from an engine temperature sensor arranged near the engine block to close one or more coolant flow slots arranged at the thermostat exit until a certain predetermined temperature is sensed. The output signal may be transmitted upon the engine temperature sensor sensing a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A swinging decorative attachment comprising a base having at least one rack and one boring allowing airflow through the base; two swinging means, both having a wheel-shaped connector on the first end of said swinging means, connecting with the edge of said base, forming a wheel gear respectively, to which two wheel gears connect each other; a fan module attached on that base; at least one gear module connecting to an axle of said fan module; and a subordinate module connecting said gear module and the second end of one said swinging mean, making said two swinging means pushed and turned mutually, forming open-closed swinging motions. In addition, fragrant materials can be used inside said base. The airflow will bring out the fragrance from said base through said bore, and to spread the fragrance among the room.

Abstract: A cooling device for an electric machine with thermal zones having interactions with one another is proposed, each of the thermal zones containing a heat source and a temperature sensor, and at least one cooling means, a controlling element connected to the temperature sensor being allocated to each thermal zone for activation of the at least one cooling means. The cooling device is characterized by the fact that outputs of a plurality of controlling elements can be connected to the at least one cooling means. In an inventive cooling device, a plurality of controlling elements can act on one or more cooling means, whereby cooling means are supported or completely replaced by other existing cooling means.

Abstract: Formed in a scroll type compression mechanism is a connection passageway with a discharge opening through which refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism flows out into a clearance space defined between the compression mechanism and a drive motor. A muffler space in communication with the connection passageway that is configured to reduce operating noise is formed in the compression mechanism. A motor cooling passageway configured to circulate working fluid which has flowed out into the clearance space is formed between the drive motor and an inner surface area of a casing. A guide plate is disposed in the clearance space. Formed in the guide plate is a flow dividing concave portion which causes a part of refrigerant flowing toward the motor cooling passageway to be distributed in a circumferential direction and toward an internal end of a discharge pipe located in the clearance space.

Abstract: Our invention describes a muzzle or exit exhaust attachment for firearms or other thermodynamic heat engine jetting devices and incorporates magnetic field diversion design features not previously utilized to increase efficiency in the reduction of noise, flash, barrel whip, exhaust flame temperature and muzzle blast effect. Our invention advantageously applies relatively recent discoveries in the field of ballistic studies; know as transition ballistics, and mitigates the high velocity, high pressure exhaust gasses from the instant of existence through decline to atmospheric pressure with greater efficiency than prior art devices such as, silencers, suppressors, mufflers and sound absorber attachments.

Abstract: A distribution tube includes multiple liquid discharge openings provided in a sidewall of a tube body that has one liquid inlet, but is sealed off at its front end. The liquid distributor has a simple structure that allows manual adjustment of the amount of liquid discharged from the liquid discharge openings. In another embodiment, the tubular liquid distributor has a tube body with openings for liquid inlets at both ends and the center part is sealed. The sidewall of the tube body has multiple liquid discharge openings. Multiple entrance sealing rods that each have a conical tip are located on a sidewall opposite to the multiple liquid discharge openings and threaded into the tube body.