Abstract: A temperature responsive valve assembly comprises a valve for controlling the fluid communication between fluid inlet and outlet passages containing therein a fluid to be controlled, a valve operating member operatively connected to the valve for operating the same in response to the temperature of a control fluid for controlling the valve assembly. The valve operating member is thermally separated from the fluid in the inlet and outlet passages so that it may sense only the temperature of the control fluid for controlling the valve assembly and the fluid to be controlled.

Abstract: A control for an air conditioning system of the type wherein a supply of air is conditioned at a central station, conditioned air is conducted through a supply air duct to a plurality of zones, and a plurality of discharge terminals discharge conditioned air from the supply air duct into the zones. The control comprises a plurality of air control valves, wherein each discharge terminal includes an air control valve for controlling the amount of conditioned air discharged into a zone by the discharge terminal; and a plurality of thermostatic adjusting devices, wherein each discharge terminal includes a thermostatic adjusting device for adjusting the air control valve to inversely vary the amount of air discharged into the zone in response to changes in the air temperature thereof.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage and utilization system including at least a pair of especially configured liquid containing tanks interconnected by a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy therebetween so that one of the tanks becomes a cold storage tank and the other becomes a heat storage tank. Various types of thermal energy input and output devices are connected to the liquid containing tanks for selectively supplying and/or utilizing the thermal energy stored therein.

Abstract: An icebox for a recreational vehicle such as a van or the like is described and comprises a hollow cylindrical portion which is rotatably mounted in the interior of the van. A tabletop portion is provided on the upper end of the cylindrical portion. An access door is provided at one side of the icebox so that the interior of the icebox is easily accessible. A layer of insulation material is provided between the walls of the icebox. The icebox is centrally positioned in the van or recreational vehicle between the sidewalls so that the icebox is easily accessible from the plurality of seats positioned therearound. The icebox not only serves as an icebox but as a table and its centrally located position enhances its utility.

Abstract: A chimney stack exhaust treatment unit and an improved exhaust gas treatment system utilizing such a unit are disclosed. The unit comprises a generally spherical outer housing which fits over the mouth of a caustic-resistant chimney pipe and encloses a horizontally mounted squirrel cage fan which is driven by an electric motor situated above it. The fan is situated directly above the chimney mouth so that when it is rotated, exhaust gases are drawn up through the chimney and swirled around the inner walls of the outer housing. Exhaust ports near the top of the housing provide an exit for treated gas. An inner housing encloses a fan motor, isolating it from the interior of the outer sphere. A conduit connects an opening in the outer sphere with an opening in the inner housing, and the inner housing includes a mouth directly above the fan, whereby rotation of the fan also draws outside air through the inner housing to cool the motor.

Abstract: A thermostatic expansion device for use in refrigeration systems includes a valve member adapted to control the flow of liquid refrigerant from a condenser to an evaporator of the refrigeration system. A pressure-responsive device is operatively connected to the valve member for responding to a differential pressure in the refrigeration system so as to open and close the valve member. A temperature-responsive device is operatively connected to the pressure-responsive device for responding to a temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator. A lead-lag compensation structure is connected to the pressure-responsive device for permitting a rapid movement of the valve member upon the occurrence of a sudden change either in the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator or in the pressure at the inlet of the evaporator thereby maintaining a constant superheat at the outlet of the evaporator so as to effect stability of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An icemaker with simplified ice ejection. A hollow rotatable mold is provided with parallel rows of ice cups mutually inverted on opposing sides of the mold axis of rotation. A volatile liquid at low pressure within the mold is volatilized by heat energy of incoming fresh water in the upward facing cups. The heated vapor communicates with the inverted cups to cause expansion of the cups and contraction of the ice pieces resulting in a shear action which ejects the ice pieces with the aid of gravity into a storage receptacle. After ejection, the exposed surface of the empty ice cups accelerates formation of new ice pieces in the upward facing cups via the boiling-condensing cycle of the volatile liquid.

Abstract: An especially compact, highly efficient heat recovery device for use in the cool air return duct of a heating system may be easily installed in existing flue pipes and transfers the ordinarily wasted heat in the exhaust gases flowing through the flue pipe to the cool return air thereby preheating the latter and increasing the efficiency of the heating system. The device includes a three stage heat transfer structure housed within a heat conductive tubular member which cooperate to transfer heat away from the gases into the cool return air by means of conduction, convection and radiation processes. A first stage deflects a portion of the gases toward and into heat exchanging contact with the sidewalls of the tubular member and directs the remaining portion into a gas pervious heat storage trap which comprises the second stage.

Abstract: An adjustment control for a thermostatic valve consists of a non-rotatable component to the valve on which is mounted a rotatable knob for setting the temperature control, the knob having a maximum rotation of about one revolution. A releasable auxiliary device is provided which is operable between the component and the knob at a predetermined intermediate rotational position of the knob to limit the rotation of the latter.

Abstract: Pressurized control signal apparatus is disclosed, which being supplied with air from a source of variable pressure, is operative to produce a control signal essentially independent of variations in the supply pressure. In one aspect of the invention, the control signal is amplified in volume of flow; in another, it is generated in response to temperature. The apparatus is specifically adapted to effect regulation of air flow in a variable air volume (VAV) temperature conditioning system in response to temperature in a conditioned zone, wherein the supply air for the apparatus is derived from a temperature conditioned air distribution duct of the VAV system.

Abstract: A diffuser for a conditioned air system for buildings incorporates a self contained and integrated sensor actuator for varying the volume flow of conditioned air through the diffuser in response to changes in room air temperature.The sensor actuator structure for sensing the room air temperature and for modulating the conditioned air flow is entirely contained within the diffuser structure and is powered directly by the changes in room air temperature without auxiliary equipment or power systems.The self contained diffuser is fully adaptable to existing systems to provide either or both modulated cooling and modulated heating and also to supply modulated cooling with the capability of morning warm-up.The diffuser is constructed to direct the air flow from the periphery of the diffuser and into the room at an angle and with a velocity which causes the air flow to have preferred aerodynamic characteristics so as to hug the ceiling and to avoid dumping.

Abstract: This invention relates to a building having a central unit defined and enclosed by a peripheral main section therearound. The central unit has a transparent roof to permit the passage of solar energy therethrough to heat the air and other contents of a courtyard thereunder. The central unit also has a heat storage mass under the courtyard for storage and retrieval of energy during selected periods. The edges of the dome rest upon the walls of the main section defining the courtyard. Such walls rest upon the foundation walls defining the heat storage section containing the heat storage mass.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing more efficient use of heating and/or cooling sources as used within a building structure, particularly residential type buildings. In essence, this system utilizes a wood-burning fireplace in coactive conjunction with a standard form of building heater system, gas, oil or the like, and it functions to provide an integrated system having greater efficiency, and therefore greater fuel conservation. The fireplace includes a plurality of heat exchange chambers through which ambient air is pulled by the central system blower for subsequent recirculation through the heat register or release vents and, as temperature controls will dictate, central system heat may or may not be additive therewith. More efficient cooling is effected in like manner by coaction of a cooling system with the fireplace plenum chambers to provide a continual source of cooled air for contributive use with the central cooling system.

Abstract: An improved wall ventilator for use in building constructions comprising a housing having a peripheral wall member defining an air flow passageway, a first louver section comprising a fixed panel having a plurality of openings therethrough and attached to said peripheral wall members to extend across a front portion of the passageway, a second movable louver section comprising a plurality of movable panels extending in side by side relation and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and alternately spaced with respect to the openings in the first louver section fixed panels whereby imperforate portions of each section of panels overlie the openings of the other when the movable second section panels are located in a common plane and in a first position immediately adjacent the rear face of the fixed panel to close the housing passageway, and a temperature responsive bimetallic spring operatively connected to the movable panels to pivot the same away from the first fixed panel to a second positi

Abstract: A refrigerator having a freezer compartment on top and a fresh food compartment below with an air duct connecting the two compartments. A temperature control system and method of controlling is provided and includes a temperature sensing element located at the top of the fresh food compartment and shielded from the stream of cold air being directed into the fresh food compartment. The temperature sensing element changes the temperature in both the freezer and fresh food compartments without changing the constant ratio of those respective compartment temperatures. An air flow assembly divides the cold air entering the fresh food compartment through the connecting air duct between the top of the compartment and the bottom. The air flow control assembly is arranged to divide the cold air stream such that the ratio of the difference in the freezer and fresh food compartment temperatures is changed.

Abstract: A refrigerator, including an ice cube storage receptacle on the inner surface of the freezer door, a passage through the door communicating with the interior of the receptacle and a closure member pivotally mounted on the exterior surface of the freezer door for closing the passage. The closure member carries a delivery tube extending through the passage and in communication with the ice cube storage receptacle and delivers the ice pieces to the exterior of the freezer door when the closure member is open. There is provided an ice piece stop assembly for preventing the passage of ice pieces into the passage when the closure member is opened and includes at least one gate member movable from a first position obstructing the passage to a second position opening the passage, said gate member being biased to move to the first position when the closure member is opened and moved to the second position by the delivery tube exerting force on the gate member to open the passage when the closure member is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of textile material comprises a plurality of nozzle boxes extending across the operating width at least on one side of the length of material. The nozzle boxes are fed from a front face and have openings discharging in a direction towards the length of material and a fan is disposed at the feed end of these nozzle boxes. The fan is a radial flow fan. It is arranged with its axis of rotation at right angles to the plane of the length of material on the long side of the apparatus.

Abstract: A valve which opens and closes according to the temperature of the fluid passing through it has a fluid-controlling valve member consisting of a helix of a shape memory effect material having an elastic modulus which varies significantly with temperature in a reversible manner. At relatively low fluid temperature, the turns of the helix are closely compacted and obstruct the flow, while at relatively high fluid temperature, the turns are expanded and allow flow of fluid between them.

Abstract: A high pressure steam trap is provided of the type which has at least two serially-connected and operated discharge control assemblies which are switched in series in the flow direction of the condensate, each of which includes a thermal control element which is exposed to the condensate to be discharged, a valve seat, and a throttle element which is actuated by the thermal control element for movement relative to the valve seat. Expansion capsules serve as the thermal control elements and these capsules contain an evaporation liquid, the steam pressure of which, measured at the same temperature, is higher than the steam pressure of the evaporation liquid in the successively-disposed expansion capsules downstream therefrom.

Abstract: A damper assembly for an air passage. A damper assembly includes a disk element associated with a circular orifice of an air passage, and an actuator having an associated drive element. The disk is coupled to the drive element and a fixed reference point by a linkage so that as the actuator drive element is displaced from a first limit position to a second limit position, the disk moves between a sealing position and an open position. In the sealing position, the disk perimeter is flush against the perimeter of the orifice establishing an air-tight seal between the disk and the perimeter of the orifice. In an open position, the disk is displaced from the orifice perimeter and forms an angle with a plane defined by the orifice perimeter. An array of damper assemblies may be configured with a controller for selectively controlling the position of each actuator between the respective limit positions.