Abstract: A method for constructing a refrigerating cycle that has a unit having a refrigerating compressor which is filled with a part or all of a quantity of working medium beforehand and a heat exchanger, and a unit having a heat exchanger that is located in an area of air conditioning and refrigeration, wherein the units are connected with each other by piping, uses such steps of: connecting the unit having the refrigerating compressor and heat exchanger with the unit having the heat exchanger that is located in an area of air conditioning and refrigeration by means of piping; removing oxygen in a system of the refrigerating cycle by providing an oxygen absorbent in a course of a refrigerant circulating path; separating the oxygen absorbent from the refrigerating cycle; and circulating a refrigerant in the refrigerating cycle, wherein the separating step is carried out immediately after or after the removing step, and the refrigerant circulating step is a final step.

Abstract: A device for controlling or metering fluid flow in either direction through a conduit. The device comprises an elongated body having two end walls forming an internal chamber therebetween. One end wall of the device has a first metering orifice. The other end wall has one or more bypass openings. Disposed within the chamber is a free piston having a rod portion extending therefrom and disposed within the first metering orifice. The free piston and rod portion has a second metering orifice axially extending therethrough and in axial alignment with the first metering orifice. Fluid flow through the device urges piston against the end wall in the direction of fluid flow. In one position, fluid flowing into the device passes through the bypassing the opening(s) of the opposite end wall. Fluid flowing out of the device passes through the second metering orifice in the piston. Upon a flow reversal, the piston is urged against the opposite end wall.

Abstract: Containers for transportation of bulk cargo susceptible to spoilage, that have a controlled temperature profile. The refrigerated containers include opposed insulated side walls each of which include internal channels for carrying return air from the floor of the container upward into a plenum. Each plenum is closed at one end, and in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit at the other end to supply return air to the refrigeration unit. Refrigerated air is blown from the refrigeration unit into a central air distribution duct that extends longitudinally along the roof of the container. The central duct is supplied with a multiplicity of spaced apart apertures, and is preferably tapered from a widest point in the vicinity of the refrigeration unit. Thus, substantially equal refrigerated airflow can be obtained throughout the refrigerated container.

Abstract: A removable debris filter for an air conditioning condensing unit. The filter preferably comprises a quantity of fiberglass screen material having a drawstring seam attached onto opposite ends thereof. The screen material is wrapped around all four vertical sides of the air conditioning condensing unit and is held in place thereon by pulling each drawstring tight and tying a knot. The fineness of the screen mesh is adequate to prevent most airborne debris from entering the condensing unit, and the drawstrings allow the filter to be easily removed from the condensing unit for cleaning.

Abstract: A hot water heat pump is coupled to a primary liquid heat source, typically an earth coupled closed loop system, and a hot water retention tank. The hot water heat pump extracts heat from the liquid heat source and gives off heat to water stored in the hot water retention tank. A coupling device is connected to the liquid heat source conduit for diverting liquid heat source flow to the hot water heat pump. A dedicated liquid heat source pump maintains liquid heat source flow through a first heat exchanger in the domestic hot water heat pump independent of primary heat, source operation. Refrigerant flows through both the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. Water stored in the retention tank is circulated by the dedicated hot water circulating pump through the second heat exchanger thereby removing heat from the refrigerant. The stored water is typically used for domestic hot water supply.

Abstract: A cold temperature therapy device for use on localized areas of the human body. The device includes a flexible, pliable liquid circulating pad which may be readily conformed to a portion of the human body. The pad is connected to a liquid source via a suitable pumping or liquid moving device which supplies liquid to the pad. The liquid moving device may be manual or powered. The liquid is, effectively, stored in a measurement tray which is disposed adjacent to a cooling unit. The apparatus (with the exception of the pad, the manual pump and the connecting conduits) is maintained in a carrying case which can be insulated to enhance the operation of the cooling device.

Abstract: An air conditioner which includes ports (22, 23, 24) provided on portions in a refrigerant circuit where oil are liable to gather, such as bottoms of a compressor (1), accumulator (5), a receiver (12) and the like, through which ports a refrigerant is extracted and charged. The air conditioner is further provided with a control unit (50) for controlling washing operation for the refrigerant circuit, such that at the time of washing of the refrigerant circuit, washing operation is continued under the control of the control unit (50) for a predetermined period of time while increasing a frequency of the compressor (1) so as to, for example, make a temperature in a discharge pipe (2) higher than a predetermined value, and then is stopped, and the washing operation is resumed after a fixed period of time.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for servicing a refrigeration system having a refrigerant containing an oil lubricant. The apparatus includes a support frame, a modular housing supported by the frame and defining internal accumulator, condenser, storage, and high and low pressure filter chambers, and a control plate assembly having a plurality of flow passages enabling flow communication between the various chambers. The control plate is adopted for connection to the refrigeration system being serviced, and has control valves operative to control flow of refrigerant through the passages to and between the internal chambers. A processor controls the control valves in a manner enabling selective recovery, evacuation, charging and/or flushing of the refrigerant of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system for use in connection with a refrigeration system having an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, and a purge unit connected to the condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant and non-condensable gases from the condenser. A tank connects to the purge unit by a line for receiving purged gaseous refrigerant and purged non-condensable gases from the purge unit. The tank contains adsorbent material for recovering the purged gaseous refrigerant from the purged non-condensable gases. The system includes means for determining when a predetermined amount of purged gaseous refrigerant is received by the tank and means for controlling the flow of fluids to and from the tank.

Abstract: A power lead for electrically connecting a superconducting coil with a power supply, comprising thermoelectric cooling means, said means including at least an N-type thermoelectric member and a P-type thermoelectric member, being electrically connected to a positive side and a negative side of said power supply, respectively.

Abstract: A thermal cycling module includes an array of thermoelectric devices ?36! divided into multiple zones ?A, B, C, D! independently controlled by corresponding variable power supplies ?56, 58, 60, 62!. The thermoelectric devices ?36! provide localized, precise, and rapid control of both heating and cooling, while fluid from one of several fluid supplies ?64, 66, 68! provides bulk heating or cooling via a fluid heat exchanger ?38!. Sensors ?46, 48, 50, 52! provide feedback of temperature or other process parameters to a controller ?54! which generates control signals for controlling the power supplies ?56, 58, 60, 62!, the fluid supplies ?64, 66, 68!, and fluid valves ?70, 72! which control fluid flow through the heat exchanger ?38!.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body housing (64), a fresh food compartment (63), and a cool air duct (131) provided in a wall of the fresh food compartment and having cool air discharging openings (111) opened toward the fresh food compartment (63) to supply a cool air from an evaporator (72b) into the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator comprises a rotary shaft (85); a partitioning plate (83) mounted on the rotary shaft (85) along a rotation axis of the rotary shaft, the partitioning plate (83) being disposed near the cool air discharging opening (111); a driving means (125) for rotating the rotary shaft; and a pair of cool air dispersing wings (81a,b;82a,b) mounted on both surfaces of the partitioning plate (83) with an inclined angle to the rotation axis. A cool air dispersing device (80) equipped with such cool air dispersing wing (81,82) realizes an even refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (63) in the left, right, up and down directions.

Abstract: A self-contained refrigerant recovery device for recovering refrigerant from a transfer vessel into a storage reservoir, comprising, in a single enclosure a qualitative analyzer for determining a quality of a refrigerant in the transfer vessel; a quantitative analyzer for determining a quantity of refrigerant in the transfer vessel; a refrigerant extractor for withdrawing refrigerant from the transfer vessel into a storage reservoir; an accounting system for determining a value of refrigerant in the transfer vessel based on the qualitative analysis and the quantitative analysis; and an output for outputting said value. The system preferably has a plurality of storage reservoirs, the refrigerant being withdrawn from the transfer vessel into one of said plurality of storage reservoirs based on said qualitative analysis. In operation, a single connection between the transfer vessel and the recovery device is sufficient.

Abstract: A refrigerant metering charge board that accurately meters a refrigerant and an associated synthetic compressor oil into a product, preferably a refrigerator, is provided. Metering is accomplished by way of servo motors coupled to ball screws which are in turn connected to hydraulic cylinders. Calibration of the refrigerant, preferably R134a, is maintained using a temperature sensor, a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a density/temperature equation that has been empirically fit to saturation data. The preferred equation is a modified Benedict-Webb-Ruben (MBWR) equation of state. The refrigerant charge amounts are entered into the PLC using either a fixed bar code scanner or a hand-held bar code scanner that reads a bar code on the refrigerator. An operator interface, preferably a touch-screen display is also provided.

Abstract: A mobile carpet dryer that includes a blower unit that forces heated air onto the carpet. The dryer further includes a vacuum unit that draws water out of the carpet to greatly speed the drying process. The blower unit and the vacuum unit are mounted in a wheeled housing to provide easy portability of the dryer.

Abstract: A refrigerant system adapted for use with a vehicular air conditioner includes a supplemental heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant gas flowing into a compressor and for cooling refrigerant liquid flowing into an expansion valve. Water condensate from an evaporator is used for cooling the gas refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a vessel containing molten metal has a quantity of liquid coolant atomized by a gaseous medium and onto a surface to be cooled. The supply of gaseous medium is constant while the supply of liquid coolant to the spray nozzles is controlled by at least one valve the operation of which is brought about by a non-electrical temperature responsive element in thermal contact with the surface to be cooled. The rate at which the liquid coolant is sprayed on to the hot surface is controlled such that the volume of coolant sprayed on to the surface to be cooled does not exceed the volume of liquid that is capable of being vaporized from the surface.

Abstract: An energy transfer system for a household refrigeration appliance. The energy transfer system includes a compartment for enclosing a condenser which is associated with the refrigeration appliance, and a set of conduits for enabling the transfer of outside air into, through, and out of the compartment. The system also includes a movable barrier for selectively controlling the transfer of air through the compartment. In one form of the present invention, the system also includes a thermostatically actuated fan for forcing outside air into, through, and out of the compartment in response to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A drain spout that is easy to remove for cleaning and for accessing components behind or proximal to the drain pan. Instead of directly connecting the drain hose to the drain pan outlet spout, the drain hose connects to a drain funnel attached to or formed as a part of the shelf supporting the drain pan. The drain pan itself sits on the shelf and the outlet spout of the drain pan fits within the shelf funnel without a positive connection. The drain pan can be lifted out without disengaging the drain hose.

Abstract: A top mount refrigerator having a freezer door pivotally mounted to a cabinet at a position spaced above a fresh food compartment door is provided with a dispenser assembly mounted in the freezer door. A water supply line for the dispenser assembly is routed to the freezer door through a center hinge unit for the two doors. In the preferred embodiment, the water supply line, which preferably leads from a water storage tank housed within the fresh food compartment, is routed to the center hinge unit through a lower hinge unit upon which the fresh food door is pivotally mounted and a conduit that is foamed in-situ within the fresh food door. In models incorporating a dispenser assembly requiring a supply of electrical power, wires are lead into the freezer door through an upper hinge unit associated with the freezer door.