Abstract: A refrigeration system (300) having a compressor (12) with a rotor (20) rotatably supported by a plurality of hydrodynamic bearings (22, 24) lubricated by oiless pressurized liquid refrigerant and pressurizing refrigerant which flows to a condenser (34) providing liquid refrigerant which flows to an evaporator (68) in fluid communication with the condenser and the compressor in accordance with the invention includes a first refrigerant circuit (302), coupled to the compressor, for providing pressurized liquid refrigerant to the hydrodynamic bearings from the compressor without flow through a subcooler; and a second refrigerant circuit (304), coupled to the hydrodynamic bearings and to the evaporator including at least one subcooler (42 and 44), for providing a flow of refrigerant from the hydrodynamic bearings through the at least one subcooler to the evaporator, the at least one subcooler cooling the refrigerant flowing between the hydrodynamic bearings and the evaporator.

Abstract: A shipping container for live lobsters and the like has an interior subdivided by partition walls into discrete compartments, each being configured and dimensioned to receive an individual lobster. The thus received lobsters are confined and segregated one from the other, and are thus safeguarded from injury during shipment.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler is disclosed wherein at the four corners of the usual cube shaped cooler structure is added four outwardly protruding projections, each of the projections having louver openings on both its sides, as well as on the four sides of the cooler, with watered pads immediately behind in order to substantially increase the wetted pad area through which air flows into the evaporative cooler. In addition to the usual interiorly contained blower and water pump mechanisms in the cooler, a pad holding structure is disclosed to accommodate a single pad for each of the angled side members of the evaporative cooler, the structure including in addition to the side member a plurality of connected wire screens which attach to the side member at its edges, the wire screens and the side member compressibly encompassing a single pad over the whole side.

Abstract: A pan and fan housing assembly for a fan coil unit includes a primary pan having a wall defining an air passage through which air is directed by a fan in a fan housing powered by a motor. The fan housing is formed of two fan housing bodies snap-secured to each other and snap-secured to the primary pan air passage defining wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling circuit modules by use of a thermo-electric device which comprises a series of semiconductor regions and etched copper conductors designed to conduct heat in a specified direction by means of the Peltier Effect. The thermo-electric device is sandwiched between two layers of a polymer based, thermally conductive dielectric such as the dielectric used in the manufacture of Thermal Clad.TM.. The hot layer of Thermal Clad.TM. (i.e., the layer that receives heat) is laminated directly to a heat sink. The cold layer of Thermal Clad.TM. is laminated directly to a cold plate which is, in turn, coupled to the circuit module.

Abstract: A flow metering device for use as an expansion valve in a heat pump system includes a body having a flow passage extending therethrough. Two pistons are moveably disposed within the flow passage. Each piston has a flow metering port extending therethrough and a bypass flow means associated therewith. A refrigerant metering rod is fixed within the flow passage and extends through both metering ports. The rod has two flow metering configurations formed thereupon, each of which cooperates with one of the pistons to define a variable area flow passage within the valve. The pistons are spring biased to closed positions when there is no flow through the valve. Flow in one direction results in metering through the variable area passage defined by one piston and its associated flow configuration and free flow through the bypass means of the other piston. Flow through the valve in the opposite direction reverses the roles of the pistons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus combining absorption refrigeration and mechanical expansion refrigeration to chill an air conditioning medium wherein a mechanical refrigeration system is alternately (1) connected in series with an absorption refrigeration system during a cooling cycle to cool an external air conditioning medium, and (2) connected to drive the absorption system during a storage cycle to concentrate and store a strong internal liquid absorbent solution and to store an internal diluent refrigeration liquid which liquids are utilized during the cooling cycle.

Abstract: A pressurized flow of a refrigerant gas discharged from a gas compressor and which has compressor lubricating oil entrained as a mist therein, is subjected to an oil separation in a separating unit of a separator assembly wherein by impacting flow of the oil-containing gas against impact structure in the separating unit, oil is caused to separate from the gas with the oil falling to the bottom of the separating unit, post-impact flow of the refrigerant gas being in a torturous flow path in the separating unit which torturous flow produces further and additional oil separation from the gas. The gas ultimately, has outlet from the unit at an upper end thereof from whence the gas passes to a point of use, the separated oil passing from the unit through a return capillary tube conduit to the compressor.

Abstract: A portable refrigeration system and process for flushing and cleaning an installed refrigeration system including disconnecting the compressor from the installed system and connecting the disconnected lines to a portable refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an evaporator, a filter, and a dehydrator so as to form a closed circuit of the installed system and the portable system; operating the portable system to flush refrigerant through the installed system alternately as a liquid and as a gas, and alternately in the normal and reverse directions of flow; passing the flushing refrigerant through a filter for removing particulate matter and through a dehydrator for removing aqueous contaminants; and returning the installed system to its separate operating circuit when all parts and when the refrigerant is judged to be cleaned.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, condenser, pressure-reducing device, evaporator, and gas-liquid separator between the pressure-reducing device and the evaporator. The gas-liquid separator separates a coolant from the pressure-reducing device into a liquid coolant and a gas coolant. A conduit between the gas-liquid separator and the evaporator supplies the separated liquid and gas coolant into the evaporator at a predetermined rate for controlling the quality of the coolant downstream of the gas-liquid separator, thereby attaining a super-cool condition of the coolant at the outlet portion of the condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for sequestering sublimating water vapor with molecular sieves during freeze drying. Long mesh columns of sieves permit unimpeded sublimating water vapor flow while efficiently adsorbing sublimating water vapor at high flow rates, and also allow efficient sieve desorption during regeneration.

Abstract: Ultraviolet air float bar for use in floating and drying a continuous planar web of a material in a dryer. Direct radiated or reflected ultraviolet electromagnetic energy from an ultraviolet bulb in a removable air bar channel assembly accelerates drying, or evaporation of solvents, or curing of planar web material passing in proximity to the ultraviolet air float bar either by ultraviolet electromagnetic energy, or in combination with Coanda air flow. The ultraviolet bulb is cooled by pressurized air passing through an interior portion of the removable air bar channel.

Abstract: A tower, or vertical shaft, equipped with a two stage evaporative cooler near the top. The chimney effect, in reverse, causes the cool air to flow by gravity down the tower. The air can be used for cooling and ventilating structures. In one embodiment of the invention, the ambient air flow is all that is required for the embodiment to operate and all reliance upon electrical energy is eliminated.

Abstract: Discarded refrigerators, freezers and like cooling units are relieved of confined supplies of coolant and/or lubricant by transporting them onto a tiltable platform which attracts the cooling units by suction and tilts them until the freshly tapped portion of the normally closed circuit for coolant or lubricant is located at the lowermost point of the circuit. The lubricant or coolant can be evacuated by a pump by way of a conduit which is connected to a tapping tool and discharges into a vessel. Alternatively, the coolant or lubricant is caused to flow from the tapped circuit by gravity to gather in a vessel beneath the tiltable platform. The transporting system for cooling units can employ trolleys and winches with suction cups which lift discarded cooling units from the gathering point for discarded cooling units and remove cooling units from the platform when the lubricant- or coolant-evacuating operation is completed.

Abstract: A vacuum roll transfer apparatus is disclosed for drying a web extending through a single tier dryer section of a paper machine. The apparatus includes a rotatable perforate shell having a first and a second end. A stationary duct is disposed within and along the length of the shell between the ends of the shell. The duct is connected to a source of partial vacuum and the shell defines a plurality of holes along the length thereof such that in use of the apparatus, when the duct is connected to the source of partial vacuum, a partial vacuum is generated within a chamber defined between the shell and the duct. A flow restricting arrangement is disposed within the duct for generating a greater vacuum level adjacent to at least one of the ends of the shell for facilitating threading of a tail of the web.

Abstract: Efficient dehumidification is provided by directing air flow through a coil (30, 60) to cool the air below the dew point such that water vapor in the air is condensed to liquid to dehumidify the air, and then directing air flow through the coil to heat the air to a temperature below the incoming air to the coil and above the dew point of the air. Air flow is directed along a first set of coil sections (42, 64) giving up heat to refrigerant in the first set of coil sections to evaporate refrigerant in the first set of coil sections, and then directing the air flow along a second set of coil sections (44, 66) absorbing heat from refrigerant in the second set of coil sections to condense refrigerant in the second set of coil sections. The coil sections are connected to alternately evaporate and condense refrigerant in the coil differentially such that less refrigerant is condensed in condensing coil sections than is evaporated in evaporating coil sections.

Abstract: This invention relates to cover panels for enclosures, such as those found on the sides or roofs of buildings, which house air conditioning equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a cover panel for an air conditioning enclosure which both accommodates the penetration of piping through it and allows for access to the interior of the enclosure, subsequent to the hookup of the piping to air conditioning system components housed within the enclosure, without the need to break a piping connection.

Abstract: A flow metering device for use as an expansion valve in a heat pump system includes a body having a flow passage extending therethrough. A piston having a flow metering port extending therethrough is moveably positioned within the flow passage. An elongated member extends through the metering port of the piston and is axially and radially fixed within the body. The elongated member has a central portion which cooperates with the metering port to prevent flow through the port when axially aligned with it. The elongated member has flow metering configurations formed thereon on both sides of the central portion. The piston is spring biased into alignment with the central portion. Refrigerant flow in either direction through the device results in movement of the piston against a spring force into a flow metering relationship with one of the metering configurations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drying plant which is intended for drying one or more objects (3, 3') having a cylindrical outer surface, e.g. tubular cores for paper rolls, and which utilizes high frequency apparatus with associated electrodes (10, 11), and means (12, 13) for moving the object between the electrodes during the drying process. In accordance with the invention the object is rotated about its longitudinal axis or rolled along a horizontal flat path formed by the lower electrode (10) during passage of the object through the drying plant.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device for use in a refrigeration system includes a body having a flow passage extending therethrough. A piston having a flow metering port therethrough is moveably mounted within the flow passage. A flow metering rod is supported within the housing and extends through the flow metering port. The flow metering rod and the flow metering port cooperate to define a flow metering passage between them. The flow metering rod is configured so that the cross sectional area of the metering passage varies relative to the axial position of the piston with respect to the rod. The piston is spring biased and the piston moves relative to the rod as a function of the pressure differential across the piston.