Abstract: There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a heater for heating a liquid, (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from the liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas, and (c) a membrane permeator for removing the vapor from the vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the heater to the resultant vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of an electronic device under test utilizes a thermal head spaced apart from a movable support structure by a mechanical isolation assembly. The support structure has a manifold configured to route refrigerant fluid between the evaporator head and components of a refrigeration system. The mechanical isolation assembly is configured to compensate for variations in the planar orientation of the device under test. Moreover, the mechanical isolation assembly preferably includes bellows through which the refrigerant fluid is conducted.

Abstract: A method and installation is described for producing cold and/or heat, in a place where the latter are to be used, from one or more heat energy sources. The method is carried out in an installation comprising two or three assemblies of two reactors in which reversible phenomena involving a gas take place, said phenomena being exothermic in the sense of synthesis and endothermic in the sense of decomposition. The energy for the operation of the installation is supplied by a low temperature reactor of one or two assemblies. The installation is suitable for the remote production of cold or heat by means of the transport of gas at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A method of separating volatile organic components, so-called VOC, from crude oil, where, as it is loaded onto a ship, the crude oil is passed into a process vessel (2) in which is established a negative pressure adjusted according to the vapour pressure of the oil, from where the liquid phase of the crude oil flows to the ship's cargo tanks, while the gas phase, the VOC, is extracted from the process vessel (2).

Abstract: To provide a preserving system capable of re-using vaporized nitrogen, and moreover, capable of always cooling the specimens at a predetermined temperature or lower. The preserving system comprising a cylinder and the preserving vessel which is supplied with liquid nitrogen from this cylinder, is provided with a Stirling refrigerator and a condensing chamber arranged outside of said preserving vessel, and the gas phase part of this condensing chamber is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel and also the liquid phase part is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel, and further the cooling part of said Stirling refrigerator is arranged in said condensing chamber, therefore, the nitrogen vaporized in the preserving vessel is cooled by the cooling part of the Stirling refrigerator in the condensing chamber and liquefied again, and so this liquid nitrogen can be reused for cooling the preserving vessel.

Abstract: An economizer circuit assembly for a cryogenic liquid vessel assembly is disclosed. The cryogenic liquid vessel assembly includes a first, outer shell and a second, inner shell defining a storage space. The storage space has a liquid space and a vapor space. The cryogenic vessel also has a delivery line extending from outside the first, outer vessel shell into the liquid space. The economizer circuit assembly includes a vent line and an integration device. The vent line extends from outside the first, outer shell into the cryogenic vessel. The vent line has a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed in the vapor space. The vent line and the delivery line are coupled, and in fluid communication at, the integration device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling device (30) of the reverse Carnot cycle-type using a refrigerant, and an areosol generation system including it. The cooling device (30) includes a refrigerator (310, 320) of the reverse Carnot cycle-type, a cleaning medium conduit (120), a temperature sensor (130), and a heater (140). The intermediate portion of the cleaning medium conduit and the evaporator are wound like a coil in the same configuration so as to maximize the contacting area therebetween. The temperature sensor (130) measures the temperature of the carbon dioxide discharged from the cooling device (30), and the heater (140) is arranged to contact the evaporator of the refrigerator and the intermediate portion of the cleaning medium conduit so as to precisely adjust the liquefying rate of the carbon dioxide according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The carbon dioxide is refrigerated at a temperature in the range of ?80° C. to ?100° C.

Abstract: A sonic nozzle is disclosed that is positioned between an evaporator and compressor in an air conditioning system. The sonic nozzle limits refrigerant flow rate to that allowed by sonic velocity at a throat area of the sonic nozzle. The sonic nozzle may have a by-pass flow area that allows for less pressure drop at lower flow rates where the by-pass flow area is sealed off at a predetermined pressure drop to force all flow through the sonic nozzle. Another embodiment that is disclosed features a thermally actuated suction throttling valve that is attached to a sonic nozzle. A power element of the throttling valve contains thermally active fluid, such as water, when frozen activates a piston member into the throat portion of the sonic nozzle to restrict fluid flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a fluid in the liquid state, possibly also containing solid elements, comprising feeding said fluid into a containing member for said fluid and also feeding into said member a cooling fluid in the liquid state, such as a liquefied gas; said fluids are brought into direct contact within said containing member so that by absorbing heat, the cooling fluid passes into the gaseous state and cools the fluid to be cooled, these fluids then being extracted directly from said member by separate conduits.

Abstract: A compressor having a housing with a compression mechanism mounted therein. A suction fluid passageway is located in the housing through which the compression mechanism receives refrigerant fluid. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with refrigerant fluid substantially at suction pressure in the suction fluid passageway. The thermoelectric device receives thermal energy from the suction fluid passageway and refrigerant fluid therein with the thermal energy being transferred from the compressor assembly.

Abstract: A system and method of pumping liquified gas. Applicants systems includes a liquified gas storage vessel and a smaller high pressure high pressure liquified gas storage cylinder. Applicant provides a pump between the two vessels for pumping the liquified gas from one vessel to the other. Applicants system also includes at least one heat exchanger through which the liquified gas passes as it is pumped from one vessel to the other, which heat exchanger cools the liquified gas that is being pumped to a temperature typically below the vaporization point of the gas.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes an accumulator/dehydrator (A/D) disposed in the suction fluid line for accumulating refrigerant and a heat transfer jacket surrounds the A/D for exchanging heat with the A/D and the refrigerant therein. The heat transfer jacket may define a space between an inner wall of the A/D and an outer wall spaced therefrom with a heat transfer media disposed in the space for cooling by extracting heat from the refrigerant in the A/D. Alternatively, the jacket is defined by a double walled sleeve surrounding the A/D and defining the space for the heat transfer media. Yet another alternative is for the heat transfer jacket to comprise a thermoelectric device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system comprises: a cooling channel for receiving a cooling media, a substrate disposed near the cooling channel, and a fluidic jet disposed within the substrate and in fluid communication with the cooling channel. The cooling channel is for thermal communication with a component to be cooled. The cooling channel has a height of less than or equal to about 3 mm and a width of less than or equal to 2 mm. The fluidic jet comprises a cavity defined by a well and a membrane. In one embodiment, a method of cooling an electrical component comprises: passing a cooling media through a cooling channel, drawing the cooling media into one or more of the fluidic jets, expelling the cooling media from the one or more fluidic jets into the cooling channel, and removing thermal energy from the electrical component.

Abstract: A combination lock having a combination lock mechanism and a key lock mechanism. The combination lock mechanism is able to unlock and lock the combination lock by switching a plurality of dials exposed on the surface of the combination lock, while the key lock mechanism allows the user to unlock the combination lock with a key.

Abstract: An injection-molded resin face gear that can suppress deterioration of gear accuracy caused by shrinkage of resin material after injection molding and allow accurate and smooth rotation transmission is provided. An injection-molded resin face gear 1 includes a boss 3, a disk-shaped web 4, and a teeth section 5. The boss 3 has an axis hole 2. The web 4 is formed on an outer circumferential side of the boss in an outward radial direction. The teeth section 5 is formed on an outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The teeth section 5 includes a cylindrical section 13, a disk-shaped section 14, and a plurality of teeth 15. The cylindrical section 13 is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The disk-shaped section 14 is formed on one end side of the cylindrical section 13 in the outward radial direction. The teeth 15 are formed evenly spaced on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical section 13 such that one side surface of the disk-shaped section 14 is a bottom land 16.

Abstract: A descent control device is disclosed manufactured with a bar having holes for guiding a rope used in descent, and a lever designed to pivot or move relative to the bar and compress the opening of one of the holes. Compressing the opening increases friction and slows or stops descent. Control can be from manually moving the lever or by connecting the lever to the descending weight, thereby automatically moving the lever. Hole and pivot geometry may be altered to provide multiple braking options, accommodate varying ropes, and alter normal operating friction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quick release assembly for a bicycle, wherein the assembly comprises an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion, a cylindrical central portion, and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein a diameter of one of the non-cylindrical end portions is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion. The quick release assembly further comprises an insert having a non-cylindrical outer profile configured to be retained in a non-cylindrical opening and having a cam surface disposed therein, wherein the insert is sized to retain one of the non-cylindrical end portions of the axle therein. The assembly also includes a shaft sized to pass through the axle and having a cam follower on a first end and a handle on a second end, wherein the cam follower is configured to form a locking engagement with the cam surface upon an axial rotation of the handle.

Abstract: The weapon sights can be used simultaneously in conjunction with another optical sight and can be mounted on the same weapon accessory rail as the other optical sight. The weapon sights include a front sight and a rear sight that detachably mount to the weapon's accessory rail, but are cantilevered and off-set so that they do not interfere with the optical sight mounted to the same accessory rail. The cantilevered configuration and off-set orientation of the rear sight assembly and the front sight post also allow the shooter to transition quickly between the weapon sight of this invention and an optical sight by simply canting the weapon 45 degrees to bring the desired sight on target and into the vertical of the weapon.

Abstract: A cutter for a fixed cutter drill bit including a substrate and an ultrahard material layer disposed on an end surface of the substrate, the ultra hard material layer having an upper surface opposite the substrate end surface and a peripheral surface such that the upper surface intersects the peripheral surface along a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge continuously increases and decreases in height as measured from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutter.

Abstract: A wafer transfer apparatus is provided. In a minimum transformed state where a robot arm is transformed such that a distance defined from a pivot axis to an arm portion, which is farthest in a radial direction relative to the pivot axis, is minimum, a minimum rotation radius R, is set to exceed ½ of a length B in the forward and backward directions of an interface space, the length B corresponding to a length between the front wall and the rear wall of the interface space forming portion, and is further set to be equal to or less than a subtracted value obtained by subtracting a distance L0 in the forward and backward directions from the rear wall of the interface space forming portion to the pivot axis, from the length B in the forward and backward directions of the interface space (i.e., B/2<R?B?L0).