Abstract: A combined handle and light source for a cooking appliance such as a grill which is provided with a rotation joint such that the handle can be placed in a stored position to allow for articulation of a lid which covers a cooking surface and such that the handle can be moved relative to the joint to put the handle in a use position to allow the light to illuminate the cooking surface when the lid is in an open position.

Abstract: A heating and hot-water-supply apparatus is provided with: a control unit that performs control on the basis of detection parameters of a plurality of detection means installed at the aforementioned locations and a setting parameter set in an operation unit. The distribution means can adjust the distribution ratio so as to correspond to a heating operation, a hot-water supply operation, and the simultaneous heating and hot-water-supply operation. The control unit prohibits the simultaneous heating and hot-water-supply operation in a case in which the required heating capacity for the hot-water supply operation calculated on the basis of the detection parameters and the setting parameter is equal to or greater than a predetermined standard capacity.

Abstract: A system for use with a fired vessel of production/separators or dehydration equipment that includes a metal box, a main burner, a pilot burner, and a flame arrestor. The main burner and the pilot burner extend through the metal box and the first flame arrestor is connected to the metal box.

Abstract: The apparatus described herein uses a disc wafer-type rotor featuring channels disposed around its circumference and around the interior circumference of the rotor housing specifically to induce cavitation. The channels are shaped to control the size, oscillation, composition, duration, and implosion of the cavitation bubbles. The rotor is attached to a shaft which is driven by external power means. Fluid pumped into the device is subjected to the relative motion between the rotor and the device housing, and exits the device at increased temperature. The device is thermodynamically highly efficient, despite the structural and mechanical simplicity of the apparatus. Such devices accordingly provide efficient, simple, inexpensive, and reliable sources of distilled potable water for residential, commercial, and industrial use, as well as the separation and evaporation of other liquids.

Abstract: An air mover assembly may be configured such that during insertion of the assembly into an air mover gantry, one or more spring features integral to the gantry apply a first spring force opposite to a direction of insertion of the assembly relative to the gantry in order to maintain the assembly in an unseated position until the first spring force is overcome by an opposite force to fully seat assembly into the gantry and when the assembly is fully seated within the gantry, the one or more spring features integral to the gantry apply a second spring force to the assembly in a direction of air flow through an air mover of the assembly that biases an exhaust portion of the air mover toward a face of the gantry opposite of the one or more spring features.

Abstract: A blower unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioner system (HVAC) of a vehicle. The blower unit includes an inside/outside air switching box. A switching door disposed in the inside/outside air switching box that is configured to selectively open and close an inside air introduction port and an outside air introduction port of the inside/outside air switching box. A fan is also located inside the inside/outside air switching box and blows air introduced into the inside/outside air switching box from the inside air introduction port and the outside air introduction port into the passenger compartment. A first plurality of ribs is provided on an inner surface of the switching door with a first perforated panel coupled to each of the first plurality of ribs. The first plurality of ribs and the first perforated panel reduce noise generated during an inside air introduction mode.

Abstract: A system for mixing and distributing air in an aircraft cabin, comprising: a first, internal air supply line, a second air supply line at least partially surrounding the internal air supply line, and a mixed air distribution system for mixing the air supplied from the air supply lines and for distributing the mixed air. The mixed air distribution system comprises a plurality of outlet lines for the outlet of mixed air into the aircraft cabin. The two air supply lines comprise outlets which, in each case, discharge into the mixed air distribution system. The two air supply lines are thermally coupled, and the main directions of extent of the air supply lines and of the mixed air distribution system are oriented substantially parallel or collinear to one another.

Abstract: A natural ventilator is herein disclosed that is free of moving parts, wind-activated, rain-proof, and free of dust or smog infiltration. It is not only suitable to be a standalone natural ventilator, but is also advantageous to be used as an enhanced exhaust exit in a forced-air ventilation system, for such enclosed spaces or objects as buildings and vehicles. It can also be used as a suction generator that supplies so-called suction or negative pressure to help stabilize such building components as roof membranes by channeling the low pressure to their underside to balance the wind uplift above. The ventilator has an enhanced rainwater-proof method that serves to defend the vent system, and the space being vented, against rainwater invasion, even if raindrop trajectory becomes highly oblique from vertical as driven by strong winds.

Abstract: A vehicle heater includes a burner area, a circumferential wall providing a combustion chamber, a flame tube with a first end forming or adjacent to a part of the combustion chamber circumferential wall and a second flame tube end. A heat exchanger housing has a circumferential wall enclosing the flame tube. A waste gas backflow space is formed, between an outer side of the flame tube and an inner side of the heat exchanger housing circumferential wall, with an inlet area at the second flame tube end and with an outlet area in the area of the first flame tube end. An inner dimension of the circumferential wall increases in the direction from an inlet area of the waste gas backflow space to an outlet area. An outer dimension of the flame tube increases in the direction from the second flame tube end to the first flame tube end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising: a burner for combusting a mixture of air and fuel; and a heat exchange unit in which heat is exchanged between combustion gas caused by the combustion of the burner and a heating medium, wherein the heat exchange unit includes a plurality of unit plates stacked on each other, and a sensible-heat exchange unit and a latent-heat exchange unit coaxially disposed around the burner are integrally formed with the unit plates.

Abstract: A zero pressure drop water heating system comprising a cold side conductor having a receiving end and a closed end; a hot side conductor having an exit end and a closed end; a pump; a bypass conductor having a first end, a second end and a bypass valve, wherein the first end is adapted to the receiving end and the second end is adapted to the exit end; at least one heat exchanger having a flow valve; a heat exchanger inlet temperature sensor disposed on the inlet of one of the at least one heat exchanger; an outlet temperature sensor disposed at an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger closest to the exit end; a system outlet temperature sensor disposed on the exit end and a system inlet temperature sensor disposed on the receiving end.

Abstract: A representative enclosure includes: a base defining an interior configured to receive combustible materials, the base having an aperture defining an opening, which communicates with the interior, the opening being configured to receive therethrough the combustible materials; a spark screen configured to prevent access to the interior via the opening when in a closed position in which the spark screen engages the base, the spark screen being further configured to permit a flow of air into and out of the interior; and a wind shield, mounted to the base, having a shield portion extending upwardly from the base and disposed exterior to the spark screen, the shield portion being movable relative to the base.

Abstract: A cement kiln burner device includes a powdered-solid-fuel flow channel having means for swirling a powdered-solid-fuel flow; a first air flow channel placed inside the powdered-solid-fuel flow channel to be adjacent to the powdered-solid-fuel flow channel having means for swirling an air flow; a second air flow channel placed in an outermost side outside the powdered-solid-fuel flow channel having means for straightly forwarding an air flow; and a combustible-solid-waste flow channel placed inside the first air flow channel. The second air flow channel is divided in a circumferential direction into four or more opening portions adapted to form ports for injecting air flows, and is configured to control flow rates of the air flows ejected from the opening portions, independently for each opening portion.

Abstract: A vent unit includes a bezel installed on a vehicle and formed in a ring shape with a flow hole at the center, and a spacer overlapping and coupled to the bezel and formed in a ring shape rotating relative to the bezel. The bezel has a plurality of first through-holes circumferentially spaced apart from one another, and the spacer has a plurality of second through-holes circumferentially spaced apart from one another such that conditioning air is discharged to an interior through the second through-holes and the first through-holes when the second through-holes are aligned with the first through-holes by circumferential rotation. The vent unit further includes a wing disposed in the flow hole of the bezel and coupled to the spacer through a hinge shaft. The wing controls discharge of conditioning air through the flow hole by axially rotating, and circumferentially relatively rotating together with the spacer.

Abstract: A pressure actuated water shutoff valve is presented. The shutoff valve comprises an upper housing and a lower housing where the upper housing is coupled to the lower housing. The lower housing has a water inlet and a water outlet with a flow passage therebetween. The lower housing includes a plunger seat configured to receive a shutoff plunger. The upper housing includes an chamber having a piston bore in which reciprocates an piston, coupled to the shutoff plunger. In response to a first pressure condition, the piston lifts the shutoff plunger off its seat allowing water to flow through the lower housing. In response to a second pressure condition, a biasing spring seals the plunger against its seat, shutting off water flow through the valve.

Abstract: A draft inducer blower assembly for use with a water heater has a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base adapted to be mounted atop a water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted to receive exhaust gas from the water heater. The fan is connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis. The exhaust volute and the base are non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. The exhaust volute has a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis. The exhaust volute has an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port. The exhaust port is lower than the top of the exhaust volute.

Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems for water heater system receiving electrical power from an electrical grid. The system includes an electronic processor configured to monitor an average water temperature of the water within a water tank of the system based on a first and second signal from an upper and lower temperature sensor, operate an upper heating element heating an upper portion of the tank and a lower heating element heating a lower portion of the tank in a first operation mode, receiving, via a transceiver, either an add load command or a shed load command from a grid controller, operating the upper heating element and lower heating element in a second mode in response to receiving the add load command, and operating the upper heating element and lower heating element in a third mode in response to receiving the shed load command.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet extending vertically between a top portion and a bottom portion. The cabinet defines a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking. The oven appliance also includes a combustion heating assembly. The combustion heating assembly includes a tubular combustion chamber extending from an inlet to an outlet. The outlet of the tubular combustion chamber is in thermal communication with the cooking chamber to provide combustion gas from the tubular combustion chamber to the cooking chamber. The combustion heating assembly also includes a burner in fluid communication with the tubular combustion chamber via the inlet of the tubular combustion chamber. Combustion products from the burner mix with secondary air within the tubular combustion chamber to produce the combustion gas.

Abstract: A solar collection system includes an absorption refrigeration system to generate water from atmospheric moisture, and to do so without the use of an electrically operated compressor. At least a portion of the solar energy captured by the solar collection system is used to operate the absorption refrigeration cycle. The absorption refrigeration cycle provides cooling that causes water in the atmosphere to condense into a liquid that can be collected and used for various applications. As one example, the collected liquid can be used for the cleaning of the solar collection system of contaminants like dust or bird drippings. In other applications, the water can be used outside the solar collection system including, but not limited to, irrigation, drinking, and other industrial purposes.