Abstract: A refrigerator has a cold storage and freezer zones with individual fans and evaporators, a switching valve that allows refrigerant to flow simultaneously through each zone or through only one of the zones and a control which when power is supplied causes simultaneous flow, starting the compressor and a condenser fan while driving the cold storage fan at a high speed and the freezing zone fan at a low speed until such time that a set point time has been exceeded or the temperature set points of the zones has been reached by cooling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the cooling efficacy of air comprising coupling a resistive element to a temperature sensing element, applying a voltage across the resistive element, adjusting the voltage across the resistive element so that the temperature indicated by the temperature sensing element is nearly proportional to the temperature of a locally disposed heat sensitive component for a change in environmental parameters, and coupling the output of the temperature sensing element to a control circuit wherein the control circuit controls a space cooling element.

Abstract: An air curtain providing an air stream across a doorway between areas of relatively cool and warm air masses and continuously monitoring the condition, e.g., temperature, pressure and flow rate, of one or both air masses and the air stream. The air curtain has a control system including an electronic controller operating a heater and fan and receiving air characteristic inputs from temperature, pressure and flow rate sensors. The controller monitors these inputs continuously and processes them to operate the heater and fan according to algorithms designed to minimize air cross-filtration and energy consumption while maintaining the temperature and humidity of the air stream at a point substantially along a line representing the mixing of anteroom air and the air stream that is substantially tangent to the psychrometric saturation curve.

Abstract: A plug or grommet fits into the opening in the back plate of a thermostat and blocks or diverts intrusion air from entering the interior of the thermostat housing from the wall penetration for the thermostat wires. The thermostat wires are fed through the grommet, which is a soft rubbery material that closes over the wires and blocks the intrusion air. Alternatively, a wall plate can be used between the back plate of the thermostat and the wall where the thermostat is mounted.

Abstract: A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.

Abstract: The air conditioning system 100 may include a compressor 101, a heating circuit 152, and a capacity controller 181. The compressor 101 has a suction port 116, a discharge port 120, a driving unit 130 provided within a driving chamber 110, a first passage 201 and a second passage 105. The driving unit 130 may decrease compressor output discharge capacity when the pressure within the driving chamber 110 increases. The first passage 201 may connect the discharge port 120 to the driving chamber 110 and the second passage 105 may connect the driving chamber 110 to the suction port 116. The capacity controller 181 may open the first passage 201 when the refrigerant discharge pressure results predetermined pressure. By opening the first passage 201, the high-pressure refrigerant may be released from the discharge port 120 to the driving chamber 110 through the first passage 201.

Abstract: In heating and cooling apparatus, molecules of working gas are excited by light irradiation and thereby cooled as the gas flows through a mirrored cooling cell. In a closed loop embodiment, the gas then flows by means of a fan or compressor to a first heat exchanger where heat from the matter being cooled is transferred to the gas; and, then to a second heat exchanger where heat is transferred from the gas to a heat sink. The apparatus may be used either like a heat pump or air conditioner. In an open-end cooling apparatus embodiment, the gas flows from the cooling cell, through the first heat exchanger, and to atmosphere. The light source may be a 10.6 micron laser; or a 9-11 micron electric arc, a hot filament or the Sun. Working gases comprise N2 and C02; exhaust gases of engines or fuel cells; and gases which comprise different molecular composition gases or different isotopic species of the same molecular composition gas.

Abstract: A two stage reciprocating compressor and associated HVAC systems and methods are disclosed. The reciprocating compressor includes a crankshaft having an eccentric crankpin, a reversible motor for rotating the crankshaft in a forward and a reverse direction, and an eccentric, two position cam rotatably mounted over the crankpin. The crankshaft and cam combine to cause the piston to have a first stroke when the motor operates in the forward direction and a second stroke when the motor operates in the reverse direction. The cam and crankpin also include stabilization means to restrict the relative rotation of the cam about the crankpin. A lubrication system is provided to lubricate the engaging surfaces of the crankshaft and cam and between the cam and the bearing surface of the connecting rod. There is also provided a control for selectively operating the motor either in the forward direction at a first power load or in the reverse direction at a reduced second power load.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has an air conditioning installation which also serves for heating the cabin of the vehicle. In the heating mode, the refrigerant fluid in the air conditioning circuit flows in a bypass branch which bypasses the condenser. The evaporator therefore receives the fluid in the gaseous state, and acts as a heat exchanger for dissipating the heat produced by the compressor. The heat dissipated by the evaporator can be used for heating the cabin when the heat produced by the engine of the vehicle is insufficient, and means are provided for adjusting, according to demand, the quantity of fluid contained in the heating loop of the circuit, by drawing fluid from, or passing fluid into, the branch (2) of the circuit which contains the condenser.

Abstract: A compressor-pump unit for use in a vapor-compression refrigeration system is provided. The compressor-pump unit comprises a driving device including a rotatable shaft. A compressor is coupled with a first portion of the shaft for compressing gaseous refrigerant within the vapor-compression refrigeration system. A liquid pump is coupled with a second portion of the shaft for receiving liquid refrigerant having a first pressure and for discharging the received liquid refrigerant at a second pressure with the second pressure being higher than the first pressure by a predetermined amount such that the discharged liquid refrigerant is subcooled. A pre-cooling circuit is connected to the liquid pump with the pre-cooling circuit being exposed to the gaseous refrigerant whereby the gaseous refrigerant absorbs heat from the liquid refrigerant, prior to the liquid refrigerant entering the liquid pump.

Abstract: A thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment includes a temperature sensor for providing an electrical signal indicative of the temperature of a conditioned space and a processor having a central processing unit, a memory for storing program and data information and an input/output unit. The input/output unit has a temperature sensor input, a control output sending control signals to the space conditioning equipment and also an electrical device interface adapted to establish communications between the processor and a plurality of addressable electrical devices. In operation, when the system is in a vacation mode the processor issues a pattern of commands to the devices to provide the illusion of ongoing occupancy. In one preferred embodiment, communications between the processor and the devices takes place over the local line power system.

Abstract: An adaptive control device (77) and method (102-108) for control of the operation of an actuator (72), and particularly thermally-powered actuator (72) of the type used in a variable-air-volume diffuser (71). The preferred adaptive control device is an expert system circuit which controls a heater (74) provided on a thermally-powered actuator (72) to implement an adaptive process (102-108) in which a sensed variable, such as room air temperature, is driven toward a target temperature control range (±0.25° F.). Most preferably, the process steps (106) include driving the room air temperature toward a gross (broader) temperature control range (±1.0° F.) by moving a diffuser damper assembly (80) to a substantially fully open or substantially fully closed position.

Abstract: A refrigerated soda vending machine includes sensors for monitoring various parameters such as temperature within its refrigerated chamber and for monitoring occupancy in the chamber vicinity. Sensor data is used to determine when to switch between normal and power-conservation modes of operation. In either mode, a cooling system is regulated so that a compressor goes on when an upper internal temperature threshold is reached and off when a lower internal temperature threshold is reached. In normal mode, fans circulate air to maintain a relatively uniform temperature throughout the chamber. During power-conservation mode, the fans are mostly off when the compressor is off. In the absence of circulation, the temperature within the refrigerated chamber stratifies so that a lower cool zone and an upper warm zone can be differentiated. Soda cans are held in vertical stacks so that the lowest cans are located in the cool zone.

Abstract: A floodback detector for refrigerant systems employing any of: minimum suction temperature, temperature rate of change and duration thereof; minimum superheat, superheat rate of change and duration thereof.

Abstract: The performance of mobile air conditioning systems is improved with the use of a pressure sensing valve to control refrigerant flow in the system. The pressure sensing valve is connected between the condenser and the evaporator. The control valve senses the refrigerant pressure adjacent the evaporator, ie. the input, or output, or the combination of both, to control the refrigerant flow through the evaporator in a manner to improve the performance of the system. The reference pressure for the valve can be the atmosphere or a fixed or variable source. Various other operating variables can be sensed to control the variable source in a manner to interact with the sensed pressure to provide added control of system performance.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a control valve for controlling the displacement of the compressor. When the pressure in a discharge chamber of the compressor (discharge pressure) is equal to or higher than a first threshold value, a controller sets a duty ratio, which is sent to the control valve, to zero % to limit the discharge pressure. As a result, the compressor displacement is minimized and the discharge pressure is lowered. Therefore, the pipes of an external refrigerant circuit does not receive excessive load based on high discharge pressure. When the displacement of the compressor is minimized, circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is stopped and refrigerant containing lubricant circulates within the compressor.

Abstract: The air conditioning controller for controlling a vehicle air conditioner provided for a vehicle equipped with a navigation system includes a solar radiation sensor disposed in a front part of the vehicle, the solar-radiation direction calculating means which computes presence or absence of solar radiation entering the vehicle and an entering direction on the basis of solar position information determined from a solar position retrieval map and road information including information of structures around the road, and the solar-radiation amount calculating means for determining the solar radiation amount on based on the calculation results of the solar-radiation direction calculating means and the detected value of the solar radiation sensor. Further, the solar-radiation amount calculating means determines the solar radiation amount by correcting the detected value of the solar radiation sensor.

Abstract: In an air conditioner using a flammable refrigerant of the present invention, an inner diameter of a liquid-side connecting pipe is reduced to less than 42.5% of that of a gas-side connecting pipe. By reducing the inner diameter of the pipe in which a liquid refrigerant of the air conditioner is reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant to be charged into the system without decreasing the capacity and the efficiency.

Abstract: A refrigeration system including a pair of heat exchangers, a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid, fluid conveying lines and a flow restriction device forming a working refrigerant system, an evacuation volume having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state, a control valve located between the working refrigeration system and the evacuation volume and having an initial, closed position and an open position, and at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of the working refrigeration system and in communication with the control valve. The evacuation volume is fluidly isolated from the working refrigeration system in the valve closed position and in fluid communication with the working refrigeration system in the valve open position.

Abstract: The high side pressure of a vapor compression system is selected to optimize the coefficient of performance by measuring the heat sink inlet temperature with a temperature sensor. For any heat sink inlet temperature, a single optimal high side pressure is selected which optimizes the coefficient of performance. The optimal high side pressure for each heat sink inlet temperature is preset into a control and is based on data obtained by previous testing. A pressure sensor continually measures the high side pressure. If the high side pressure is not at the optimal value, the expansion device setting is adjusted to alter the high side pressure to the optimal value.