Abstract: A thermoscopic unit such as for use in a thermostat of a fluid mixing valve comprising a hollow body in which a cylindrical convoluted bellows unit is located and sealed to the body to define an expansion chamber in which a thermally responsive material, such as wax, is contained. Temperature changes resulting in a change of volume of the material in the expansion chamber apply an external pressure to change the axial length of the bellows unit, and this may be operably connected to an actuator for a valve assembly. Preferably, there is a reservoir of the material constituted by a tubular coil encircling the hollow body, or a hollow cone extending therefrom. Such reservoir is filled with the material and is in communication with the expansion chamber and provides additional heat transfer surfaces to give fast response to temperature changes.

Abstract: An improved upright open front refrigerated display cabinet having primary and secondary air flow conduits, in which air flow directing means are provided for selectively drawing ambient air into the secondary air band conduit during a defrost cycle and for substantially preventing ambient air from entering the secondary conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for directing the flow of air through the secondary conduit in a first direction during the refrigeration cycle and in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, during the defrost cycle. Fans are provided in each of the primary and secondary conduits; the direction of air flow in the primary conduit remains constant at all times, during both refrigeration and defrost cycles.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system for at least two duct sections each with an associated damper comprises at least one master controller for a first pneumatic actuator for one damper and at least one tracking controller for a second pneumatic actuator for the other damper. The master controller comprises a first flow sensor producing a first flow variable signal in response to a sensed flow in the duct section associated with the said one damper. An adjustable reference or bias signal means is provided and a temperature signal is combined therewith to provide a composite signal for comparison with the flow variable signal. A resultant signal after comparison operates the first pneumatic actuator for the said one damper. A tracking controller comprises a second flow sensor producing a second flow variable signal in response to sensed flow in the duct section associated with the other damper.

Abstract: Combustion apparatus having a vent with a damper actuated by an element comprised of a material having a shape memory effect. The element is heated and cooled above and below the deformation temperature for causing the element to deform between its different shapes for changing the position of the damper within the vent. Control means is provided in one embodiment for heating the shape memory element so that it deforms for moving the damper closed during a shutdown mode of the combustion apparatus, and in another embodiment the shape memory element is heated so that it deforms to a shape for holding the damper open during the heating mode of the apparatus.

Abstract: A closed chamber is provided for containing evaporative liquid fuel for a combustion engine and fuel supply structure is operatively associated with the chamber for maintaining a predetermined general level of liquid fuel in the chamber. The chamber includes engine induction air inlet structure opening thereinto below the aforementioned liquid level and a vaporized fuel and air outlet opening outwardly of the chamber from a level above the predetermined liquid fuel level. Duct structure is provided including an inlet portion communicated with the vaporized fuel and air outlet and an outlet end for communication with the induction passags of a combustion engine. Further, an air conditioner evaporator-type heat exchanger is provided and liquid fuel conduit and pump structure is operatively associated with the chamber and heat exchanger for circulating fuel within the chamber through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid-operated clutch. Specifically, the control valve controls fluid to the fluid-operated clutch of a vehicle cooling fan. The control valve disengages the clutch to disconnect the fan from an internal combustion engine of the vehicle when coolant temperature is low and engages the clutch to operate the fan when the coolant temperature rises to a predetermined value. The control valve has a central passage with three bores and a valve spool with three sealing members associated with the bores. Fluid is supplied under pressure to the valve and always acts in opposite directions on two of the sealing members to provide a balanced condition for the valve spool even with fluctuations in the inlet pressure of the fluid. The control valve utilizes a temperature-responsive device to move the valve spool, with the device being readily adjustable to achieve operation at desired coolant temperatures.

Abstract: In an embodiment thereof, the closure device comprises a leaf-type, planar, closure element pivotally coupled to a supporting shaft. The shaft is fixed in traverse of a fluid conduit, and the closure element is rotatable therewithin for opening and closing the conduit to fluid flow. Shape-memory alloy components are engaged with the element, and a bearing surface, to cause the element to move from an opened or closed position to the other thereof, or to some intermediate positioning for metered or damping fluid flow, in response to prescribed temperatures.

Abstract: A mixed air conditioning controller is formed as a factory assembled and adjusted unit in a compact housing, with simple and direct input/output field connectors. Various temperature and humidity input devices are field connected to produce a sequenced control of the air dampers and mechanical cooling and heating devices, as well as auxiliary devices. The controller includes a primary input related to room demand, an outside air temperature input, with an interlocked control to the damper, a fan status input, a minimum air supply control and a by-pass switch having a low limit input. The logic network connecting the input/output includes pneumatic switching, pressure selecting and comparing devices of a diaphragm-controlled-orifice construction connected to function as fluidic repeaters, pressure regulating valves and pressure isolating and switching devices. The controller includes a conditioning channel and a damper channel.

Abstract: A motor means controlled three way butterfly valve is disclosed for regulating the flow of liquids, as in internal combustion engine cooling system and passenger compartment heating and air conditioning systems. The valve plate includes two flat parallel surfaces which engage two corresponding flat parallel surfaces formed on the cylindrical passage in the valve body to reduce valve plate binding or sticking against the inner surface of the flow passage when the valve plate is rotated.

Abstract: An icebank system is provided for refrigerating produce areas and providing air conditioning in supermarkets. The system is adapted to handle all refrigerating and cooling requirements of supermarkets including produce cases, beverage coolers, food preparation areas, and air conditioning. The icebank system allows a supply of ice to be built up in an icebank storage tank in off-peak hours when the cost of electrical power is lowest. Cold water is circulated from the icebank storage tank to the various produce areas where cooling is required. Each produce area is provided with a heat exchanger which receives cold water from the icebank storage tank to maintain a low refrigeration temperature in the produce area. Each produce area is tapped into a main water conduit extending from the icebank storage tank. The spent water from each produce area is returned to the icebank storage tank via a return conduit.

Abstract: An automotive thermostatic valve which comprises a stationary portion and a movable portion. The stationary portion comprises a rigid frame member which includes a central portion and an outer annular portion. The outer annular portion is joined to the central portion by radially extending spokes. The outer annular portion of the rigid frame member is covered with a body of elastomeric material which is shaped to provide a valve seat surface for engagement by the movable portion of the valve and is also shaped to provide a securing region which is clamped within a fluid conduit within which the valve is positioned. The outer annular portion of the rigid frame member has a radial portion adjacent the valve seat surface of the body of elastomeric material for support thereof and a cylindrical portion adjacent the securing region of the body of elastomeric material for support and reinformcement thereof during clamping thereof within a fluid conduit within which the valve is positioned.

Abstract: A thermostat construction having an annular flange secured between an engine block and a water outlet housing with the flange having an annular sealing member that is provided with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration disposed about the peripheral end of the flange and with the peripheral end received in the bight of the U-shape to seal the flange to the block and to the housing. The annular sealing member initially has its bight facing at an angle to its assembled bight in order to facilitate the making of such annular sealing member and/or to facilitate the assembly of the annular sealing member to the thermostat flange by turning the bight from its initial facing direction to face and receive the peripheral end of the flange therein.

Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed. The lighting fixture comprises a top and side and end walls, means for supporting a light source in the fixture to emit light from a light-emitting side thereof, and conduit means operatively associated with the fixture so that a heat transfer fluid circulated therethrough is in heat transfer relationship with the fixture. The fixture has a path including at least one opening therein through which air can flow from the exterior on the light-emitting side to the interior, and to the exterior opposite the light-emitting side, and a damper movable between an open position and a closed position, and effective in the closed position, but ineffective in the open position, to prevent the flow of air from the interior of the fixture to the exterior opposite the light-emitting side.

Abstract: An automatic ice making machine employing a compression refrigeration system permitting utilization of a single compressor and condenser coil to provide cooled liquid refrigerant for one or more remote evaporator coils, each evaporator coil arranged in heat exchange relationship with a separate group of ice forming cells. A pressure responsive timer terminated control system is employed to control the cycle of operation of the ice making machine. The control system is relatively inexpensive in production and maintenance and acts to implement the operation of the evaporators in a desired flooded condition insuring the attainment of a relatively uniform cooling gradient across the ice forming cells.

Abstract: A flake ice vending machine for vending disposable receptacles filled with a mixture of flake ice and a flavored syrup, and including an auger type ice maker, a storage bin for storing the ice formed by the ice maker, an ice slicer for slicing the ice formed by the ice maker, and a discharge chute for discharging the flake ice formed by the ice slicer. Additional mechanisms are provided for dispensing a flavored syrup into the disposable receptacle and mechanisms for washing the area in which the disposable filled receptacles are provided so as to wash away the surplus syrup and ice.

Abstract: A novel fluid-flow control damper is disclosed. The damper comprises a freely pivotable closure situated in a fluid-flow conduit, such as an air duct. The closure is maintained in a closed position by a simple latching means, and may be maintained in an open condition by means of fluid flow through the conduit. Several of these dampers may be used in combination with a single fluid temperature control device, resulting in a simple, low-cost multizone heating or cooling system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a semi-frozen product dispensing machine. The control system includes a viscosity sensing mechanism for sensing the viscosity of the product in the freezing chamber and for shutting off flow of refrigerant to the freezing chamber evaporator when the product reaches the desired viscosity. The control system also includes a refrigerant pressure sensing mechanism for sensing the pressure on the refrigerant in the freezing chamber evaporator when the supply of refrigerant is shut off and for restarting the refrigerating mechanism when the refrigerant pressure in the evaporator rises to a preselected value. The control system also includes circuitry for restarting the refrigerating mechanism when the dispensing valve is opened.

Abstract: A temperature controlled dough mixer having a bowl which is provided with a cooled sheet panel, a pair of cooled end panels and a cooled breaker tube extending between the end panels. A cooled agitator may be rotatably mounted between the end panels of the bowl. Cooling of the sheet panel is effected by a series of internal, side-by-side flow channels which are interconnected at alternate ends to define a plurality of segregated serpentine flow paths for an appropriate cooling fluid. The mixer also includes temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature within the bowl and control means responsive to the temperature sensing means for controlling the flow of cooling fluid through the cooled portions of the mixer.

Abstract: A continuously refrigerated, automatically ejected block ice machine having means to measure and supply a specified amount of water to a water distributor which appropriately directs each measured amount of water to each of a plurality of product cells in which the ice is formed, the product cells, being an integral part of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The water which is permitted to enter the bottom of the product cell forcing up the frozen block of ice where it is harvested. Upon the completion of the water entering the product cell, means are provided to remove water proximate the cell to prevent freezing. The operation is automated through each of the product cells, each cell filled with new water and ejecting the frozen ice block, the new water permitted to be frozen and the operation repeated.

Abstract: A vacuum controlled three way butterfly valve for regulating the flow of fluids, as in internal combustion engine cooling systems and automotive heater systems, wherein a valve body includes a bypass port located in spaced relationship to the valve plate. In one position, the valve plate stops the flow of fluid through the valve body and permits the flow of fluid to return to the engine water pump. In the other position, the valve plate blocks off the bypass port, permits the flow of fluid through the valve body then restricts the throughput of fluid by means of a resilient orifice to protect the heater downstream of the valve core from excessive fluid pressure developed by the engine water pump and then to return the flow of fluid to the engine water pump.