Abstract: A condensate pump for an HVAC system includes a reservoir for collecting condensate water, a pump motor connected to an impeller pump for pumping the condensate water out of the reservoir, and a floatless pump control module. The floatless pump's microcontroller detects the water level in the reservoir and, based on the water level in the reservoir, controls the operation of the pump motor, and if necessary, sounds an alarm and shuts down the HVAC system. The floatless pump microcontroller may employ an ultrasonic transducer or capacitance sensors to detect the level of condensate water in the reservoir. The microcontroller implements a variable water lift feature to pump the water using the lowest possible speed for the pump. The microcontroller implements a self-cleaning feature to pump stagnant water out of the reservoir and to pulse water in the drain line and the agitation of the water in the reservoir.

Abstract: A noninvasive security device for detection of blocked fluid flow within a conduit includes clamping body that may be affixed to the conduit and a safety overflow circuit mounted to the clamping body. The safety overflow circuit includes first and second sensor pads that act as the metal plates of a capacitor. The sensor pads are connected to the clamping body and positioned proximate the conduit to measure the capacitance within the conduit. The capacitance will be low when water is freely flowing through the conduit, since the dielectric constant will be similar to that of air. However, when the water level increases in the conduit, the dielectric constant will increase as will the capacitance, such that a pulse signal is generated to notify the user of the occlusion and to further disable the source of the water to the conduit.

Abstract: A two-piece plastic equipment pad with a top portion and an identical bottom portion. Each portion has a base with an underlying grid structure comprising cells formed by perpendicular ribs. The top portion and the bottom portion are aligned and connected together by connector strips that slots formed in the perpendicular ribs of the grid structure of the top portion and the bottom portion.

Abstract: A service gauge for determining refrigerant pressure and the saturated vapor equivalent temperature, or other parameters, for a refrigerant in an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the service gauge employs a bourdon tube with at least one attached strain gauge to sense the refrigerant pressure and produce an electronic pressure signal. In another embodiment, a magnet and rotary position sensor produces an electronic signal proportional to the refrigerant pressure. The electronic pressure signal from the output of the strain gauge or the rotary position sensor is connected to a microprocessor, which calculates and displays the refrigerant pressure, the saturated vapor equivalent temperature for a variety of refrigerants, produces instantaneous and time lapsed representations of those parameters, and other parameters of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for determining refrigerant pressure and the saturated vapor equivalent temperature for a refrigerant in an HVAC system. The pressure gauge employs a bourdon tube with at least one attached strain gauge to sense the refrigerant pressure and produce an electronic pressure signal. The electronic pressure signal from the output of the strain gauge is attached to a microprocessor, which calculates and displays the refrigerant pressure, the saturated vapor equivalent temperature for a variety of refrigerants, and produces instantaneous and time lapsed representations of those parameters.

Abstract: A condensate pump for an HVAC system includes a reservoir, a solenoid pump assembly with a solenoid pump, and a solenoid pump electronic control module for limiting the amount of energy delivered to the solenoid pump during one half cycle from an AC current source. The solenoid pump is mounted in the solenoid pump assembly by means of shock absorbing material, and the solenoid pump assembly is mounted on a support member with shock absorbing material interposed between the solenoid pump assembly and the support member.

Abstract: A tie for insulated concrete forms that has a Z-bend configuration so that the tie is nestable with similar Z-bend ties in order to optimize the cubic volume and the weight of a container of nested ties for shipment.

Abstract: A cooler having an integrated seat assembly, includes a cooler body which can have one or more compartments. The cooler body is coupled with a seat assembly bracket by a coupling means, such as a hinge. Seat backs are integrally formed in one sidewall of the cooler body and seat bottoms are formed on the bracket, such that when the bracket is opened, it forms a seat with the seat backs. The bracket can be folded up flat against the cooler in a closed and locked position, for easy storage or transportation.

Abstract: A safety switch for sensing the level of water in a condensate pan has a molded plastic body with an attachment section and a float probe. The attachment section includes a collar that fits over and connects to the side edge of the condensate pan. The float probe comprises a hollow elongated housing with a grille opening to allow entry of water. A float, position within the hollow elongated housing, moves in response to entry of water into the elongated housing. The float includes a magnet that activates a reed switch mounted in a watertight compartment extending along one wall of the elongated housing. The float probe may be fixedly or adjustably attached to the molded body of the safety switch. For adjustable attachment, the float probe is snugly fit into the opening of a yoke so that the float probe can be raised or lowered or inclined with respect to the yoke.

Abstract: A multi-value capacitor with a safety disconnect mechanism has a capacitive element with six capacitive sections, a common wire, and six section wires enclosed in a cylindrical metal can with a metal lid that normally has a concave configuration. The wires are soldered to contacts extending through the concave metal lid. The safety disconnect mechanism includes an external insulator disk with terminals. The terminals in the insulator disk align with the contacts in the metal lid. The center common terminal of the insulator disk is fixedly riveted to the center common contact of the metal lid. Spring elements form the electrical connection between the section terminals of the insulator disk and the section contacts in the metal lid.

Abstract: A condensate pump for an HVAC system includes a reservoir, a unitary top support plate, and a cover. A pump motor, an impeller pump, a float, and control electronics are mounted on the unitary top support plate. The transition from the cylindrical volute chamber to the tangential output port of the impeller pump has a swept diagonal surface that creates a gradual transition from the cylindrical volute chamber to the tangential output port. The gradual transition minimizes the pulsing. An intake profile with a concave surface extends from the center of the impeller and matches a complementary intake profile extending from the bottom of the reservoir. Vortex inhibiting vanes are molded into the bottom of the reservoir adjacent the central intake port of the impeller pump to break up any induced vortex within the reservoir.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for determining refrigerant pressure and refrigerant saturated vapor equivalent temperature for a refrigerant in an HVAC system.

Abstract: A multi value capacitor is constructed in a single can having a core with three capacitor elements. The capacitor elements are chosen to provide a selectable range of discrete capacitance values when connected in various combinations. The capacitor elements are each connected to a common terminal. The first capacitor element is connected to a first cam contact, the second capacitor element is connected to a second cam contact, and the third capacitor element is connected to a third cam contact. A dial switch mechanism is mounted to the can and connected to a switched terminal, and includes a dial shaft and a rotating contact connected thereto. Rotating the dial switch mechanism will cause the rotating contact, which has three wiper contacts, to engage raised portions of the various cam contacts in various combinations to create various capacitance values between the switched terminal and the common terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forwarding of packets with controlled delay. In one embodiment, the invention includes controlled delay queuing logic to hold a packet in a first class for a queuing time of at least a controlled delay value, and scheduling logic to determine whether to delay transmission of a packet in a second class to allow the transmission of the packet in the first class when the queuing time reaches the controlled delay value.

Abstract: A method and structure for the distribution and utilization of synchronization within an asynchronous network is described herein. Synchronization is distributed through an asynchronous network via a synchronization symbol periodically inserted on the MAC layer. The priority of this symbol ensures that this symbol is inserted in the MAC layer data stream ahead of all other types of symbols. The insertion of the synchronization symbol in the middle of an ongoing data frame is supported. In addition, a method for synchronization symbol distribution throughout an asynchronous network is presented, along with a method for switching to a new synchronization path (in the event of loss of original synchronization path) based on minimum number of hops from the synchronization source.

Abstract: One or more computer systems, a carrier medium, and a method are provided for backing up data using a backup server. The user may instruct backup software on a backup server to identify a second computer system (other than the backup server) as the parent computer system of the backed-up files. The backup software may receive the name of this second computer system as input, and the backup software may then output the name to a catalog during the backup process. When the backed-up data is restored, the catalog may be used to identify the parent of the backed-up data as the second computer system. In one embodiment, the data to be backed up may be part of a mirror which comprises substantially the same data as an original data volume. A carrier medium may include program instructions which, when executed, cause the above operations on one or more computer systems.

Abstract: A motor starting device employs a relay to connect and disconnect an auxiliary start capacitor in parallel with the existing start capacitor of a single-phase split-capacitor induction motor. The relay is normally closed and in the initial state connects the auxiliary start capacitor in parallel with the existing start capacitor. After a source of alternating current voltage is connected to the motor, a control circuit energizes the relay to disconnect the auxiliary start capacitor after a delay time. When the source of alternating current voltage is disconnected from the motor, a relay protection circuit maintains the relay switch open until the charge has dissipated from both the existing start capacitor and the auxiliary start capacitor.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing work load in a cluster of at least two service resources. Depending upon the configuration, a service resource may be an individual process, such as a single instance of a computer game, or a node on which multiple processes are executing, such as a Server. Initial connection requests from new clients are directed to a single entry-point service resource in the cluster, called an intake. A separate intake is designated for each type of service provided by the cluster. The clients are processed in a group at the service resource currently designated as the intake to which clients initially connected, for the duration of the session. Based upon its loading, the current intake service resource determines that another service resource in the cluster should become a new intake for subsequent connection requests received from new clients. Selection of another service resource to become the new intake is based on the current work load of each resource in the cluster.