Abstract: Assaying of liquid samples of refrigerant to determine their composition utilizing refractive index techniques. The sampling may be done with the use of extractors which remove refrigerant gases from refrigerant machines, and clean and dry the sample before it is assayed.

Abstract: A dehumidifier system comprising: a dehumidifier into which moist air is introduced and contacted with a liquid desiccant solution associated with the dehumidifier to remove moisture therefrom; a regenerator having a liquid desiccant solution associated therewith and contacted with air which removes moisture therefrom, said liquid desiccant solution being in liquid communication with the liquid desiccant solution associated with the dehumidifier; a refrigeration system that comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, a refrigerant and a compressor, wherein the refrigerant passes through the heat exchangers, the heat exchangers including a first heat exchanger in thermal contact with the liquid desiccant solution associated with said dehumidifier, a second heat exchanger in thermal contact with the desiccant solution associated with said regenerator and a third heat exchanger that is not in contact with said desiccant solutions.

Abstract: A bi-stable hook component of a touch fastener can bend into, and remain in, a stable concave position. Another stable position enables initial engagement with a mating component (e.g., a loop component). The concave position applies engagement-enhancing tension to the engaged loops, and in some cases forces end portions of the hooks into close proximity with one another to secure the fastening and to produce a curved touch fastener that, as engaged, can better conform to an underlying curved surface, such as the contour of a wearer's body. Absorbent articles having such a bi-stable fastening system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A steam type absorption refrigerator which circulates absorption fluid from an absorber (1), through a low-temperature heat exchanger (3), a low-temperature regenerator (4), a high-temperature heat exchanger (6), a steam heating type high-temperature regenerator (7), the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) and the low-temperature heat exchanger (3) in order, back to the absorber (1) comprising, a fluid concentrating boiler (10) which is disposed between the high-temperature regenerator (7) and the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) concentrating the absorption fluid under heat, and a pump (13) which extracts a part or all of the concentrated absorption fluid from the high-temperature regenerator (7) and feeds it to the fluid concentrating boiler (10), wherein the fluid concentrating boiler is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) so that the absorption fluid concentrated under heat is returned to the heating side of the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) and is also connected to the high-temp

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing system has a carrier including wafer slots. A process robot engages the carrier and installs the carrier into a rotor within a process chamber. The rotor has a tapered or stepped inside surface matching a tapered or stepped outside surface of the carrier. Wafer retainers on the carrier pivot to better secure wafers within the carrier.

Abstract: A dry-compartment cooler has a dry compartment (1) with compartment walls (3) that are connected water-tightly to a compartment floor (4). The compartment walls are articulated to extend upwardly from proximate a riser framework (6) on a cooler floor (7) to proximate a bottom side of a cooler lid (8) of a predetermined cooler. One or more ice compartments (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) separate ice and water from inside surfaces of the compartment walls and from space inside of the dry compartment. The ice compartments are in fluid communication intermediate proximate the bottom side of the cooler lid and riser-framework space (9) where the riser framework is positioned under the compartment floor. The compartment walls can have heat-conveyance members (27) for conveying coldness and for deterring moisture formation on food and other items being cooled.

Abstract: A cooling device for installation in a furniture niche includes at least one thermally insulating container defining a cooling space and having a door for sealing the space, and a cooler having a compressor, a condenser, and a ventilator. The base has at least two sidewalls, a front region disposed near the door, a rear region, at least one air supply aperture at the front region, and an exhaust aperture at the rear region. The base houses the compressor, condenser, and ventilator. The base is disposed below the cooling space and is force ventilated by the ventilator through the air supply aperture and the exhaust aperture. The exhaust aperture is in at least one of the sidewalls, preferably, in the rear region of the base averted from the door. Preferably, the cooling device is installed in a furniture niche of a kitchen unit.

Abstract: Just before shutdown, or at least prior to a significant pressure equalization in a refrigeration system, an accumulator containing oil is isolated from the rest of the refrigeration system in such a way that oil is at a pressure that is higher than the pressure of the rest of the system. The oil in the accumulator is maintained in a state of higher pressure while the refrigeration system is shutdown with the aid of a spring-loaded piston. Preliminary to start up of the refrigeration system, the pressurized oil is placed in fluid communication with structure requiring lubrication which is thereby lubricated.

Abstract: Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants are not soluble in hydrocarbon oil. Retrofitting refrigeration equipment with hydrofluorocarbons generally entails the use of expensive polyol ester (POE) lubricants. The invention provides hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant compositions that are soluble in hydrocarbon oil thus allowing for a simpler and less expensive retrofit option to the refrigerant user.

Abstract: An inhaler device and a method in which powder for inhalation is jetted off a prepared device surface containing a defined pre-metered quantity of finely divided powder. The jetting function is obtained by a directed air stream pushing or cutting free a medical powder applied to a carrier surface and by creating a stream of air dispersing the powder into inspiratory air at the moment it is being inhaled. The inhaler device includes active (air permeable) porous walls for preventing finely divided powder from sticking to the inner faces of the inhaler device by creating a pressure gradient across the active wall, thus forcing a small flow of air through the active wall thereby keeping the powder from sticking to the inner faces.

Abstract: The present invention essentially comprises a cooling blanket having multiple pockets to contain a heat sink with the heat sink provided in the pocket, the heat sinks being either a thermoelectric cooling unit or a cold pack.

Abstract: An improved portable cooling device for a standard water bottle, specifically a standard water bottle is placed within a cooling jacket and secured in place using a zipper or similar attachment mechanism. The cooling jacket is comprised of a cooling agent located within inner cooling tubes in the cooling jacket. The inner cooling agent is circulated through the tubes by a motor-driven compressor. The motor-driven compressor is connected to a standard automobile cigarette lighter for power.

Abstract: A shipping container for exothermic material comprises an outer container and a plurality of inner containers enclosed within the outer container with a quantity of coolant material adjacent the inner containers. Each inner container includes a box defining an enclosure, a fluted insert disposed within such enclosure for supporting a plurality of vessels, such as plastic syringes containing exothermic material. Each fluted insert includes a plurality of open ended recesses for receiving the syringes separated by upstanding walls defining a barrier between the supported syringes. A pair of heat shields, one at the bottom and one at the top of each inner box, is included for dissipating heat therewithin. Plural inner containers housing exothermic material are bubble-wrapped in a stacked arrangement with gel packs between each inner container.

Abstract: An evaporator for a refrigeration chiller includes a tube bundle in which at least a portion of the tubes of the tube bundle are immersed in a pool which include both liquid refrigerant and is lubricant. Liquid refrigerant and lubricant are deposited into the pool at a first pool location. Because of the vaporization of refrigerant that occurs within the pool, a pattern of flow is established and managed that causes the lubricant in the pool to migrate from the location of its deposit into the pool to a second pool location. An outlet is provided at the second pool location from which lubricant is drawn out of the evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerant mixture for a mixture throttle process contains from 0.06 mol/mol to 0.20 mol/mol propane, from 0.26 mol/mol to 0.36 mol/mol nitrogen and from 0.20 mol/mol to 0.38 mol/mol methane, the remainder being ethane.

Abstract: A combination includes a tray providing a flat upwardly facing surface and a plurality of raised edges forming compartments on the flat surface. The tray is made, in part, of a material adapted for phase changing thermal absorption such as, so called, blue-ice. A plurality of food containers each have a flat bottom surface adapted for intimate contact with the flat surface of the tray. The containers also provide a peripheral bottom edge adapted for snap engagement with the raised edges of the tray for holding the containers on the tray.

Abstract: An air conditioning system that can be driven by solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

Abstract: An insulated chest for holding the head and cape of a harvested game animal, with an insulated, flexible lid having a pair of reclosable openings for passage of the animal's antlers or horns. Each of the openings has an overlapping closure, which can be closed around the base of each antler or horn before the edges of the lid are secured to the chest. A supporting block inside the chest supports the animal's head and elevates its antlers or horns, which protrude through the openings in the lid. Ice or another cooling medium is used to cool the chest.

Abstract: The invention is a system and process for supplying fluid in hermetic circuits. The type of hermetic circuit is identified, and based upon this identification, vacuum and fluid supply conditions that are predetermined for the type of circuit are applied. Using the system and process, multiple types of hermetic circuits with varying operating conditions may be continually processed on a production line.

Abstract: An apparatus to extract water from ambient air. The apparatus includes a dehumidifier, a holding tank, and one or more dispensing tanks in which water is maintained hot or cold. Provision is made to recycle water in the holding tank through an aerator to prevent stagnation of stored water. Water from the holding tank is pumped through a filter system before entering the dispensing tanks. A safety control is provided to prevent overflowing a collection pump reservoir in event of interruption in normal water flow in the machine. Provision is made to control bacteria and algae.