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.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerating cycle unit for refrigerating an atmosphere in the refrigerator by means of heat absorption due to change of a flammable refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase, and a deodorizer having first and second electrodes discharging electricity upon application of high voltage to them, producing ozone, a burning chamber provided so as to surround the first and second electrodes, and a fire-spread preventing unit provided in the burning chamber to prevent burning of the flammable refrigerant in the burning chamber from spreading outside the burning chamber.

Abstract: In an electric compressor integrally comprising a compression mechanism, a motor and an electric circuit (inverter) for driving the motor, the electric circuit is protected from thermal damage. When an actual number of revolutions is not more than a fixed number of revolutions and the temperature of an electric circuit 13 exceeds a fixed temperature, the temperature Tm of a motor 12 and the temperature Ti of the electric circuit 13 are lowered by increasing the number of revolutions of the motor, and when the actual number of revolutions is more than a fixed number of revolutions and the temperature of the electric circuit 13 exceeds a fixed temperature, the temperature Tm of the motor 12 and the temperature Ti of the electric circuit 13 are lowered by decreasing the number of revolutions of the motor.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food stirring fan assembly arranged within a fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly functions to recirculate air in order to minimize temperature stratification in the fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly preferably incorporates a filter to remove airborne debris and absorb odors. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the fresh food stirring fan is operated whenever a damper controlling an inlet flow of cooling air to the fresh food compartment is in a closed position.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioner for blowing conditioned air toward a compartment of a vehicle, and a dashboard having a design surface exposed to the compartment. An inner air passage extending nearly parallel to the design surface is formed in the dashboard, and a plurality of diffusion blowing openings are formed in the design surface. Thus, the condensed air is blown from the diffusion blowing openings into the compartment of the vehicle, while passing through the inner air passage. For example, cool air is blown from the diffusion blowing openings, so that the cool air can cool the dashboard while cooling the compartment of the vehicle. Moreover, because the cool air passes through the inner air passage extending nearly parallel to the design surface, the dashboard can be effectively cooled.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a front air conditioning unit for front seats of a vehicle and a rear air conditioning unit for rear seats of the vehicle. The front and rear air conditioning units are controlled by an air conditioning ECU. The ECU uses a non-linear model, such as a neural network, to determine a target blowout temperature, a blower voltage, and blowout port modes of the front air conditioning unit. The ECU uses a linear model to determine a target blowout temperature, a blower voltage, and blowout port modes of the rear air conditioning unit.

Abstract: A heat pump having an indoor coil that operates as a condenser when the system is in a heating mode and an outdoor coil that operates as an evaporator when the system is in the heating mode. A variable speed indoor fan is used to move supply air over the indoor coil and a temperature sensor is arranged to provide ambient outdoor temperature data to a programmable computer. The computer contains a schedule for continuously adjusting the speed of the indoor fan in response to changes in the ambient temperature so as to maintain the temperature of the supply air at a constant level. In doing so, the compressor discharge pressure is also maintained within allowable limits and is held substantially constant.

Abstract: A selectively controllable valve is arranged in a refrigeration circuit which interconnects the evaporator and the condenser and is controlled so that a pressure differential is built up across the valve. The valve is selectively opened to allow “batches” of working fluid to pass therethrough. In some embodiments, the working fluid which is allowed to pass through the valve, is heated in a chamber to increase the amount of pressure on the downstream side of the valve. This produces expanded pressurized working fluid which increases the pressure in the condenser and forces previously condensed and liquefied working fluid through a flow restricting transfer device into an evaporator. Condensation of the just heated gas in the condenser subsequently reduces the pressure on the downstream side of the valve and establishes conditions suitable for the passage of a further amount of gaseous working fluid while itself becoming liquid to be forced through the flow restricting transfer device.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods using a wireless sensor for wirelessly transmitting a temperature signal to a programmable thermostat without intervening digital storage. A temperature circuit comprises a temperature sensor whose resistance changes with temperature and one or more reactive components. The temperature is inferred at the receiver from the time elapsed between reception of the various coded pulses that indicate activity within the transmitter.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance that dispenses items includes a power source and a cooling system. Power control circuitry is electrically coupled between a power source (e.g., power cord coupled to a wall outlet) and components (for example, a compressor and one or more circulating fans of the cooling system) of the appliance. A controller, which is operably coupled to the power control circuitry, is adapted to manage the supply of electrical power to such components by intelligently transitioning between a normal-operation mode and at least one power-conserving mode. To achieve efficient power conservation, the controller automatically transitions between the at least one power-conserving mode and the normal-operation mode based upon at least one temperature signal, at least one dispensing event signal, and possibly other data signals supplied to the controller.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a spray process that may include measuring a particle property associated with a spray jet of particles, calculating a centroid for the measured particle property and using the calculated centroid as a control parameter for controlling the spray process. At least one operating parameter associated with the spray process may be adjusted in response to the calculated centroid to change a trajectory of at least a portion of the particles within the spray jet of particles. The operating parameter may be adjusted so that an ensemble of particles having the highest measured temperature and an ensemble of particles having the highest measured velocity and an ensemble of particles having the highest measured flow rate are moved more closely together to create a common region proximate a surface of a substrate to be coated by the spray process.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety and quality issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the cooling set point value of a climate control system are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, a humidity error is determined as a function of the actual humidity in the inside space and a humidity set point value. The cooling set point value is then adjusted by a cooling offset that is a function of the humidity error. Under humid conditions, and when insufficient dehumidification occurs during a normal cooling cycle, lowering the cooling set point may provide further dehumidification, which may improve comfort in the inside space. Under less humid conditions, and when the humidity level in the inside space is already below the humidity set point value, increasing the cooling set point value may lower the energy usage of the climate control system while still providing comfort.

Abstract: An automatic cold-storage system includes a food package (22) provided with a noncontact IC tag (11), and a refrigerator (31) for storing the food package (22). Information is read from the noncontact IC tag (11) by a noncontact IC tag reader (12) and is compiled to a database (31c). A managing means (31b) controls the refrigerator (31) on the basis of information contained in the database (31c). The managing means (31b) makes a display device (14) display a warning on the basis of information read by the noncontact IC tag reader (12).

Abstract: A water control module is provided that monitors water temperature in plumbing, such as shower plumbing, and receives certain input commands from a user. The water control module may, in one example, control shower water flow temperature to preferential temperature values. Control of shower water flow temperature is accomplished by receiving user input of desired water temperature on a user interface, sensing current water temperature in the plumbing, and processing the user inputs and sensed water temperature values to control water delivery temperature. In another example, the water control module may provide a display screen with numerical and/or graphical features to inform the user of desired and/or measured temperature values.

Abstract: A temperature control device and temperature control method for a refrigerating apparatus are provided. This system calculates an operation rate of a compressor installed in the refrigerating apparatus, and controls operation of the compressor based on the calculated operation rate, thus obviating the need for an outside air temperature sensor and a damper to accurately control temperature. A heat generating lamp may be positioned in the chilling chamber to further regulate chilling chamber temperature. Operation of the heat generating lamp is also controlled based on the operation rate of the compressor.

Abstract: A rotating spa jet has a body and a nozzle. The body has an upstream end, a downstream end and a flow path defined between the upstream end and the downstream end. The nozzle is disposed within the flow path proximate to the downstream end of the body. The nozzle is rotatable about a pin and is not supported in any way by ball bearings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an electronic controller for a boiler is provided. A method and apparatus for providing a boiler with consolidated electronic connections is also provided.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system with a refrigerant medium circulating in a refrigerant loop has a variable-stroke compressor with a high-pressure outlet chamber, a drive chamber and an intake suction chamber. A first valve regulates a first flow of refrigerant medium from the high-pressure outlet chamber to the drive chamber, and a second valve regulates a second flow of refrigerant medium from the drive chamber to the intake suction chamber. The first and second valves operate independently of each other under the control of a control unit, and the variable stroke of the compressor is controlled by the first and/or second flow of refrigerant medium.

Abstract: A thermostat is operable from battery, common-wire (“C-wire”), or furnace relay power. The thermostat includes a power source selector, such as a jumper wire, that is set when the thermostat is installed in a heating system. In a gas millivolt heating system, the thermostat operates off of battery power. In heating systems having a C-wire, a diode bridge converter converts alternating-current voltage to direct-current voltage to provide operating power to the thermostat. In heating systems without a C-wire and having sufficient furnace relay current, a triac converter in series with the furnace relay provides voltage spikes to the diode bridge converter to provide operating power to the thermostat when the furnace is on, and the diode bridge converts AC to DC voltage when the furnace is not on. The thermostat can also be used in cooling systems and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Thus, the thermostat can be used in a wide variety of applications.