Abstract: There is provided a locking element and a thermostat incorporating same for use in a liquid-cooling system. The locking element has attachment means comprising a body portion and an end portion for attaching the locking element to the thermostat. Locking means comprising a tab extending from the body portion locks the displaceable valve of the thermostat in an open position when the valve has been displaced a pre-determined amount. In a first embodiment of the locking element, the end portion extends through an aperture in a lower bridge of the thermostat. In this embodiment, two locking elements are attached to the thermostat on opposing sides of the displaceable valve. In a second embodiment of the locking element, the end portion rests against the bottom member of the lower bridge of the thermostat. In this embodiment, two body portions extend from the end portion to opposing sides of the displaceable valve.

Abstract: A cage ventilation system for use in isolating a plurality of cages from an uncontrolled environment is provided, including a frame adapted to support cages in a plurality of vertically spaced shelves and an enclosure isolating all supported cages from the uncontrolled environment. A source of air from the uncontrolled environment is connected to the interior of tubes supported above each shelf in the frame, where each of the tubes has an axially disposed opening for outletting air over substantially the entire length of the associated row therebeneath. Each tube includes an interior opening which, in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the conduit, has an area which is less than the area of the outlet opening. The enclosure also includes an air outlet.

Abstract: A fluid mixing valve designed for hot/cold water mixing in showers provides fully adjustable proportioning independent of flow rate. It may be thermostat controlled for convenience, and to save water by avoiding iterative manual adjustment. It comprises a rotor enclosed in a fitted case, the case having adjacent fluid inlets and an elongated outlet. The rotor has a throat, one end of which registers with the inlets in varying proportion depending on the position of the rotor. A linkage arm within the elongated outlet connects between the rotor and a control shaft. This arm transmits control movements from shaft to rotor, and is also the thermostatic element. Hydrodynamic forces are neutral against the rotational moment of the rotor, avoiding rotor oscillation. Damping means are described. Mixing occurs immediately in the throat, and is completed prior to the thermostat. This valve is expected to be used with a downstream flow valve.

Abstract: A cooling tank for a water cooler, comprising a housing for holding water, having set therein a condensing coil which is uniformly arranged around the inner wall surface of said housing with one end connected to the expansion valve of said water cooler and an opposite end connected to the compressor of said water cooler for circulation of cooling medium, and a plurality of coil-shaped water pipes which are separately mounted in said housing with each two opposite ends respectively connected to an independent inlet valve and an independent outlet valve mounted on said housing at the outside. A plurality of reservoirs are separately connected to the inlet and outlet valves of each coil-shaped water pipes so that the liquid from each reservoir can be separately pumped into the coil-shaped water pipes for circulation through the cooling tank for cooling.

Abstract: A heat pump refrigeration system for refrigerating a compartment includes a first heat exchanger mounted outside the compartment, a second heat exchanger mounted inside the compartment and coupled to the first heat exchanger, and a compressor. A refrigerator conduit is coupled between the first and second heat exchangers, and between the compressor and the first and second heat exchangers, to transport refrigerant. A valve mechanism is coupled between the compressor and first and second heat exchangers. A cycle control mechanism switches the valve mechanism between two positions, one of which enables refrigerant to flow to the first and second heat exchangers in one direction and the other position enables refrigerant to flow in the opposite direction. Bypass conduits are coupled to the first and second heat exchangers to pass at least a portion of the refrigerant around the heat exchangers.

Abstract: An auxiliary, portable storage and cooling unit in combination with a primary source of refrigerated air providing a secondary source of refrigerated air formed of a housing having an upper product storage compartment and a fan driven refrigerated air flow path including an air inlet duct for connection to the primary source of refrigerated air, an air inlet chamber, air distribution ducts, and air distribution chambers for feeding refrigerated air into the storage compartment.

Abstract: A new and improved combination evaporator and ice-forming device preferably includes an interlocking grid-type ice-forming plate arrangement with water-receiving and ice-forming recesses being defined by the interlocking grid members. The preferred embodiments include a pair of such plate subassemblies interconnected in a back-to-back relationship with an evaporator tube disposed therebetween. Novel water distribution and frame and housing arrangments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes the combination of a vehicle having a passenger compartment, a heating and cooling air-conditioning system, and an air vent opening for providing conditioned air to the passenger compartment. Within the storage compartment of the vehicle, a food container is placed which has an air conduit connected thereto. The air conduit is also connected to the air vent opening on the dash of the vehicle so that conditioned air is directed to the internal food compartment of the food container. A fan may be provided within the conduit for facilitating the movement of air from the air-conditioning vent of the vehicle into the food compartment of the container. A modified form of the invention utilizes collapsible container walls and collapsible shelves within the container.

Abstract: A geothermal heating and air conditioning system having heat exchange coils located vertically in the ground is provided with a condenser receiver and a metering system which allows a relatively large amount of refrigerant to be used within the system for maximum efficiency without the problems of liquid refrigerant buildup which have been previously associated with geothermal systems using vertical coils.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for making slush ice. A liquid is directed to flow over a hot exchanger to cool the liquid and form slush. By selecting the constituents of the liquid such that the adhesion and cohesion forces are controlled to permit harvesting the slush while substantially all of the energy required by conventional harvesting cycles is saved.

Abstract: The apparatus for conditioning the air in a room comprises a frame (2) supporting means (3) for compressing a fluid, means (4) for its condensation and means (5) for its evaporation and means (6) for cooling the condensing means; the condensing means comprise at least one first condenser (7) for the air-cooling of the liquid and at least one second condenser (8) for the water-cooling thereof.

Abstract: A direct contact evaporator-freezer comprising a body defining a chamber having an upper vapor discharge opening and a lower aqueous slurry discharge opening; a conduit to supply an aqueous liquid to the chamber at a rate which produces a pool of liquid in the chamber while aqueous slurry is discharged therefrom; and a nozzle to spray a liquid refrigerant in the form of small high velocity droplets into the aqueous liquid in the chamber.

Abstract: A high efficiency, self-modulating refrigeration system has three principal parts, including (1) a compression refrigeration circuit, (2) an absorption refrigeration circuit coupled in cascade with the compression circuit, and (3) an engine or prime mover/electric generator combination, with the electric generator supplying power to the compressors, pumps, fans and other auxiliary equipment, of the refrigeration circuits, and the waste heat from the prime mover or engine being supplied to the still, or reboilers associated with the absorption refrigeration circuit. Ammonia is used in the absorption circuit, and ammonia or Freon is preferably used in the compression circuit. For retrofitting of compression systems, the existing compression and other equipment may be retained, and employed when servicing or repairing the absorption circuit, or engine generator. Multiple staging may be employed, and the various circuits may be intercoupled from a heat exchange standpoint at several points in the circuits.

Abstract: A sub-cooler for a refrigeration system is located between the condenser and the expansion device for the evaporator. The sub-cooler has a sealed cylindrical housing with a main inlet coupled to the outlet of the condenser. This inlet is connected to a spray bar located along the length of the housing near its top, and spray apertures are distributed along the length of the spray bar to spray the refrigerant into the interior of the sub-cooler housing. The temperature controlled expansion valve supplies a tapped off portion of the refrigerant from the condenser to a distributor located within the housing. Three to six separate cooling coils, having multiple turns, extend from the distributor throughout the interior of the housing. The other ends of the cooling coils are coupled with a collector in the housing, and the outlet from the collector is injected into the main suction line coupled to the inlet of the compressor.

Abstract: An ice making system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, and having freeze and harvest cycles. During the harvest cycle, hot vaporous refrigerant is circulated from the compressor to the evaporator through a discharge line. The refrigerant is thereafter returned to the compressor through a supply line. To ensure that a predetermined amount of refrigerant is circulated between the compressor and the evaporator during the harvest cycle, a harvest pressure regulating valve automatically adds vaporous refrigerant to the supply line from the condenser when the pressure therein falls below a predetermined level.

Abstract: The ice maker includes an ice mold in direct thermal communication with a thermoelectric refrigeration unit for freezing water contained in the mold. The mold and a harvest means for removing ice from the mold are in an insulated housing defining a cold storage bin for receiving harvested ice. The mold and refrigeration unit are mounted on the housing and a bottom wall of the housing comprises an insulated door with a closed position for supporting harvested ice and an open position for discharging harvested ice to a separable drawer for use. The door is mounted for rotation between open and closed positions and is rotated by a drive motor. The refrigeration unit includes a thermoelectric module in direct thermal communication with an external heat exchanger and the module may be sealed within an insulated wall of the housing. A locking mechanism may be provided to lock the dispensing door closed and a heat seal may be provided around the door.

Abstract: An apparatus, made in accordance with the present invention, comprises an ice-making unit for making pure ice using a refrigeration system, an electric heater for melting into fresh water the ice produced by the ice-making unit, a tank for storing the fresh water resulting from the melting, a sensor for sensing the water temperature prevailing in the tank, and a control responsive to a signal from the sensor to actuate the heater for maintaining the water temperature at a predetermined value. The apparatus further comprises a sensor for sensing the water level in the tank, and a control responsive to a signal from the water level sensor to control the operation of the ice-making unit for maintaining the water level at a predetermined value.