Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid cooling system (1), for use in dispensing or distributing a chilled or cooled fluid, comprising a primary heat exchanger system (2), a secondary heat exchanger system (3), a first conduit (9) through which fluid to be cooled or chilled is circulated, and a heat transfer agent (8) for transferring cooling energy to the fluid to be chilled circulating in the first conduit (9), wherein the primary and secondary heat exchanger systems (2, 3) are arranged at least partially one inside of another The invention also relates to cooled fluid dispensers incorporating the fluid cooling system and a methods for sterilization thereof.

Abstract: An improved refrigerator is provided with a freeze tolerant valve for the water tank assembly in the refrigerator. The valve includes a body with an internal plastic spool which minimizes the volume of water within the valve, and which provides a space in the valve to accommodate freezing water in the valve. The valve will not crack or fail in the event of a temperature control problem in the refrigerator which results in frozen water within the valve.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring or transporting water from a water source to a consumer can be used and performed while maintaining water quality. Containers housing or transporting the water maintain the water in an essentially liquid state at a low temperature. Consumers are connected to the water supply through taps in a larger system.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has an improved water fill tube for the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A heater is controlled by the control system to increase energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An method for converting tensile residual stress on an inner surface of a welded part of a pipe to compressive residual stress with use of ice plugs formed by cooling the pipe from the outer surface, comprises the steps of: placing refrigerant containers for forming the ice plugs in the upstream and downstream of a butt-welded part; cooling the outer surface of the pipe to form the ice plugs; and then cooling the outer surface of the pipe with use of at least one refrigerant container for expanding the pipe arranged between the refrigerant containers for forming the ice plugs. When the method is applied to a pipe with a large inside diameter, the method comprises forming the ice plugs at a curved pipe, an elbow or a branch pipe in the upstream and downstream of the butt-welded part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automatic starting and stopping of an internal combustion engine. Release of a stop mode for the internal combustion engine is enabled depending on a time period that depends on the temperature difference between the temperature prevailing in the interior of a motor vehicle and the desired temperature set by the driver.

Abstract: A displacement control mechanism for a variable displacement compressor includes a first valve hole, a first valve body, a pressure sensing means operable to sense pressures of first and second points in a discharge pressure region to adjust a position of the first valve body, and a pressure-difference-increasing means operable to increase pressure difference between the first and second points when the pressure of a suction pressure region falls below a predetermined standard pressure. The pressure sensing means displaces the first valve body to increase an opening degree of the first valve hole according to increase of the pressure difference when the first valve hole is part of a supply passage. The pressure sensing means displaces the first valve body to decrease the opening degree of the first valve hole according to the increase of the pressure difference when the first valve hole is part of a bleed passage.

Abstract: A method of fully freezing ice in a refrigerator. The method includes setting a full-frozen temperature for determining whether ice is fully frozen, and a reference ambient temperature for re-adjusting the full-frozen temperature; supplying water to the ice-making tray to thereby perform ice-making; sensing ambient temperature; sensing temperature of the ice-making tray; re-adjusting the full-frozen temperature by comparing the sensed ambient temperature with the reference ambient temperature; and if the temperature of the ice-making tray reaches the re-adjusted full-frozen temperature, driving an ice-transfer motor to transfer full-frozen ice from the ice-making tray. Thus, not fully frozen ice is prevented from being transferred, to thereby improve ice quality and avoid sticking of ice, which may occur when not fully frozen ice is broken while being transferred. A refrigerator using such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A refrigerating storage, includes a refrigerating compartment; a plurality of air inlets and air outlets formed in an inner wall of the refrigerating compartment; a duct for providing an air passage between the air inlets and the air outlets; a thermoelectric element, installed in the duct, for cooling down the air in the duct; and a blowing unit for drawing the air in the refrigerating compartment into the duct via the air inlets, and discharging the air cooled by the thermoelectric element into the refrigerating compartment via the air outlets.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: Draft beverage is cooled in a cooling water tank in a cooling unit under a drinks bar. It is then cooled in a thermoelectric cooler, and transferred to a font in pipe which is surrounded in a water jacket of cooling water from the tank. The water jacket is connected to a further water jacket for a tube of cooling water which is also supplied to the font for cooling a glass into which the beverage will be dispensed. The waterjacket keeps the beverage in the pipe cool, but above freezing point, when it is static prior to dispense.

Abstract: A water reservoir for a refrigerator having a refrigerating compartment provided with a front door having an internal panel in which shelves and a water reservoir are removably affixed. The front door having an external face carrying a dispensing valve supplied by the water reservoir. The recipient is superiorly opened and removably affixed to the internal panel of the door between the fixation positions of two consecutive shelves, and incorporates a lower outlet nozzle projecting through the door so as to be maintained in fluid communication with the dispensing valve. The reservoir including a lid removably fitted onto the recipient and provided with an opening; and an over-lid provided with a window and mounted to the lid, in order to be selectively and manually displaced in a plane parallel and adjacent to the mounting plane of the lid between an open position, in which its window is aligned with the opening of the lid and a closed position, in which the opening of the lid is blocked by the over-lid.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency, including movement of the damper between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A display device guiding apparatus includes a receiving portion in which a display device can be received and a guide unit provided between the display device and the receiving portion. The guide unit includes a hinge assembly for pivoting the display at a predetermined angle, an arm assembly having first and second ends respectively connected to the hinge assembly and the receiving portion, and a pivot control unit providing a pivotal force of the arm assembly with respect to the receiving portion.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a water dispenser for dispensing water from a source of water through a user accessible water outlet. The water dispenser can include a water valve, a dispensing actuator, and a water dispensing control connected to the water valve and to the dispensing actuator to control operation of the water valve. The water dispenser can include a microcontroller including a user operable calibration routine to determine a calibrated flow rate based on the time to dispense a standard quantity of water, and a non-volatile storage to store the calibrated flow rate. The microcontroller can store the most recent calibrated flow rate in the non-volatile storage. The water dispenser control can include a measured fill mode of operation. The microcontroller can be arranged to calculate a measured fill time to dispense a user selected amount of water based on the calibrated flow rate.

Abstract: A leg support assembly having a first pair of leg members and second pairs of leg members each having an A-line contour. The leg members of each pair are separated by an elevated crossbar of the A-line contour so that water flows thereunder. A top crossbar member of each pair serves to attach a pair to an end of the icemaker.

Abstract: According to one form of the invention, an auxiliary system is provided for supplying air conditioning to the cabin of a truck. The system includes an air conditioning compressor having a jackshaft mounted on a hub of the compressor. The system further includes an electric motor connected to the jackshaft by a belt for the motor, wherein the electric motor has a drive shaft and a pulley rigidly secured thereon, i.e., with no clutch and with no provision for slippage of the pulley relative to the drive shaft. The jackshaft has a pulley thereon for the electric motor drive. An end of the jackshaft that is not proximate to the compressor is rotatably held by a bearing and a bearing bracket in order to increase capability of the jackshaft to withstand side loading.

Abstract: A heat pump liquid heater for heating a liquid comprising: a heat pump; a liquid tank in heat communication with the heat pump, wherein the liquid tank comprises the liquid; and at least one metal condenser tube immersed into the liquid, wherein the metal condenser tube forms at least one coil. The metal condenser tube has a flattened double-tube configuration and a cross-section defined by concentric ovals such that at least a portion of the concentric ovals is in contact with one another thereby minimizing space between the flattened double-tubes. The heat pump comprises a tube-in-tube heat exchanger and a compressor, wherein the tube-in-tube heat exchanger recovers heat from refrigerant returning from the liquid tank and transfers the recovered heat to refrigerant going to the compressor thereby superheating the refrigerant.