Abstract: A fail-safe thermostat valve for controlling the flow of coolant to an engine has, in addition to a thermostat element that expands and contracts to open and close the valve, a fusible element that supports an elevated plate that holds two springs. One spring holds the valve plate in its normally closed position. When the thermostat element fails, the fusible element melts and allows the second spring to force the elevated plate away from the valve seat and pull valve plate away from the valve seat as well. Thus, when the thermostat element fails, the valve will remain permanently open until it can be replaced.

Abstract: A food preparation table including a cabinet having a refrigerated base for cooling stored foods, and a refrigerated upper compartment wherein food pans are supported on a pan rail recessed vertically below the top surface of the unit whereby the refrigerator simultaneously maintains a blanket of cool air across the top of the food pan, which is lower than ambient temperature, and the food in the pan is maintained at its desired cooled temperature. An automatic hot gas defrost system prevents ice build-up which would otherwise lower optimum performance of the table.

Abstract: The guide apparatus comprises a fan diverging evaporator cooling air into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, an intaking chamber 5 having the fan 5 mounted at center of therein and encircled part of the fan with a first outside wall and a second outside wall, an incoming passage for the refrigerating compartment and an incoming passage for the freezing compartment individually feeding cooling air into the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, an inside wall formed integrally with the top end of first outside wall at top end portion of the inside wall, a shutter housing having the first outside wall of the intaking chamber encircling part of the fan and the inside wall formed integrally with the top end of the first outside wall at top end portion of the inside wall, the second outside wall facing to the first outside wall and placing the fan between the second outside wall and the first outside wall, the outside walls being flushed with one another, a shutter having a co

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating and maintaining frosted sculptures are described. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an armature, or a length of conduit freely formed into a desirable shape, having circulated therethrough, by reverse-sublimation means operatively coupled therewith, a freezing agent. The reverse-sublimation means preferably includes pump means, condensation means and metering means, and is capable of removing the sensible heat and the latent heat of fusion from water vapor surrounding the armature, thereby to promote growth, on the exposed surface of the armature, of a thick layer of rough-textured frost.

Abstract: Ice making apparatus includes surfaces on which ice pieces form when water is sprayed on those surfaces, a water reservoir and a pump to pump water from the reservoir for spraying onto those surfaces, and a pressure sensitive control which responds to pressure of water in the reservoir, communicated via an air duct to a pressure switch, to control operation of the pump, the switch being adjustable to adjust the sizes of ice pieces formed on the surfaces.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system which includes a compressor having an input coupled through an evaporator and through a solenoid valve to the refrigeration system from which refrigerant is to be withdrawn, and an output coupled through a condenser to a refrigerant storage container. The evaporator and condenser are contained within a closed cylindrical canister for heat exchange and oil separation, the canister having an oil drain valve in the bottom. The refrigerant storage container is carried by a scale having a limit switch coupled to control electronics to prevent or terminate further refrigerant recovery when the container is full. The entire system, including the control electronics, is mounted on a two-wheel hand truck to facilitate transport to a job site such as a building air conditioning or heat pump system.

Abstract: Refrigerator drain pan apparatus including a pair of spaced mounting brackets having longitudinal guide slots for receiving in sliding engagement the longitudinal rims of the drain pan. The brackets also have clamps for securely engaging gripper pads on the rims of the drain pan at the operating position for eliminating vibration noise. The guide slots include a rim support shelf and a parallel top panel space thereabove. Forward extending ramps guide the drain pan rims up into the guide slots. The clamps include V-shaped tabs positioned in front and back of the guide slots, which tabs extend below the plane of the top panel and engage the gripper pads in an interference fit at the operating position. The pan also has bumpers protruding from the rims to engage the front V-shaped path at the operating position of the drain pan thereby providing a stop. An upward cone in the pan bottom provides a drip area for incoming water.

Abstract: A refrigerated mobile cargo container having side and rear platforms for loading and unloading cargo and hydraulic control valves for regulating the raising and lowering of the platforms. Fluid to the control valves can be supplied from either a primary pump system powered by the refrigeration unit prime mover or by a secondary pump system powered by a twelve volt power supply. Each pump system has its own fluid reservoir. Check valves are provided which prevent the fluid from one pump system from being passed into the other pump system.

Abstract: In a slice-ice producing machine of the type in which water is frozen on a rotating drum and scraped off therefrom in the axial direction by means of slightly inclined scraper knives or edges provided on a stationary knife bar, the knives are arranged in two groups of mutually opposite inclination, whereby the total forces acting on the drum and the knife bar, respectively, are drastically reduced.

Abstract: A temperature responsive pneumatic control device comprising a receptacle containing a temperature responsive fluid therein, the receptacle being in open communication with a first diaphragm which in turn is in movable communication in a piston capable of being displaced by movement of the diaphragm, the piston being in communication with a rod attached to a second diaphragm and extending on both sides thereof such that the end of the rod downstream from the diaphragm is in communication with an air supply valve, which upon displacement gives a pneumatic signal to a pneumatic device such as a ridge vent in a building.

Abstract: A high efficiency induced draft clamshell type heat exchanger for use in a hot air furnace. The geometry of the heat exchanger is such that the various segments are compactly arranged to transfer heat from the fuel to the air passing over the heat exchanger surface while maintaining the discharged products of combustion at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent condensation from forming or collecting within the heat exchanger during steady state operation.

Abstract: The damper device of the invention comprises a paddle wheel (2) adapted to allow, by its rotation, the air streaming through the duct (1) wherein the device is mounted. A thermostat (14) senses the temperature in an area immediately upstream the paddle wheel and is adapted to affect a paddle wheel braking device in such a manner that the braking device is caused to brake the paddle wheel to a lesser extent in proportion to the rise of temperature in said area.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for preparing carbonated ice directly from finely divided water ice or snow. According to the process, water ice is contacted with carbon dioxide gas at a temperature within the range of from about -20.degree. C. to about 0.degree. C. at a pressure of about 0.3 times the carbon dioxide vapor pressure at the respective temperatures, the pressure being at least sufficient to cause formation of carbon dioxide hydrate, but insufficient to liquefy the carbon dioxide, at the temperature of contact; and maintaining contact for a period of time effective to form carbon dioxide hydrate in the ice. At the preferred temperatures of from -14.degree. to -2.degree. C., the reaction rate increases dramatically.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in combination with two duct system for bringing in relatively cold outside air into an enclosure while exhausting relatively warm room air from the enclosure. The heat exchanger is positioned so as to recover heat from the exhaust air into the incoming cold fresh air. A valving system switches the incoming cold air with the warm exhaust air in the flow paths of the heat exchanger. This solves the problem of moisture from the exhaust air condensing on the walls of the ducting system for the exhaust air.

Abstract: A housed valve which serves to control the flow therethrough of a medium is disclosed. The valve comprises a control member which projects into a flow-through aperture and is supported flexibly and elastically on a guide wire attached to the housing. The guide wire may be made of steel wire, and the support in a fixed relationship with the housing may be such that the axial position of the control member with respect to the flow-through aperture can be influenced in accordance with temperature.

Abstract: A container lid is released at a desired point in a sterilizing cycle with the actuating movement being provided by an expandable chamber having a quantity of sterilizing environment captured during the sterilizing cycle.

Abstract: An insulating cover for the opening of an attic fan or other exhaust type fan and comprising a mounting frame engagable with the inner periphery of the opening, two insulating panels and disposed within the mounting frame and movable between closed and open positions with respect to the opening in response to the activation or deactivation of the fan, a floating inner frame supporting the insulating panel and pivotally secured to an intermediate frame, which is secured to the mounting frame by an offset pivot connection, stop plates provided on the intermediate frame for engagement with the mounting frame to limit the movement of the intermediate frame, stop plates secured to the mounting frame and disposed inboard with respect to the opening for limiting the movement of the insulating panel in one direction, biasing spring member secured between the stop plates and the inner frame for biasing the insulating panels toward a normal closed position and retaining the insulating panels against fluttering in an op

Abstract: An open top refrigerated display case having an ambient air defrost system and a method of operating such display case, at least one air conduit extends in a U-shaped formation along opposing side walls and a bottom wall of the refrigerated display case. Each of the air conduits has an opening at both ends with such openings being located at upper portions of the side walls and in alignment so as to direct air across the access opening for recirculation through the air conduit during a refrigeration cycle of operation. Arranged within the primary air conduit is a set of refrigeration coils and at least one reversible fan for circulating air through such air conduit. During a refrigeration cycle of operation, the fan circulates air through the air conduit in a first direction through the refrigeration coils. During a defrost cycle of operation, the fan circulates air through the air conduit in the opposite direction and draws in ambient air from outside of the display case.

Abstract: An ice making machine of the type comprising a plurality of ice forming molds into which water is directed by means of a rotating spray bar supplied with water from an associated water sump or reservoir; the spray is mounted for 360.degree. rotation about a generally horizontal axis and includes a plurality of spray nozzles which operate to not only spray water toward the ice forming molds but also toward the water reservoir to provide agitation of the make-up water contained therein so as to prevent settling of any sediment or other impurities within the make-up water.

Abstract: An emergency controller for an air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle which incorporates an electronic control circuit in the automatic temperature adjusting means to perform a proportional control over an air mixing door by the use of a vacuum power servo is operated to connect a vacuum source to the vacuum power servo or to cause the air to flow into the vacuum power servo so that the maximum cooling or heating operation can be achieved. Consequently, when a trouble occurs in the electronic control circuit during running in a high-temperature region or low-temperature region, the air conditioning system may immediately be fixed in the maximum cooling or heating operation without intervention of electric circuits.