Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Abstract: An apparatus may comprise a heater, a brewer, a chiller, and a heat exchanger. The heater may be configured to heat water to produce heated water. The brewer may be configured to brew a beverage using the heated water. The chiller may be configured to chill the beverage to produce a chilled beverage. The heat exchanger may have a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path in thermal communication with the first fluid flow path. An input to the first fluid flow path may be configured to receive source water and an output of the first fluid flow path may be configured to provide the water to the heater. An input to the second fluid flow path may be configured to receive the beverage from the brewer and an output of the second fluid flow path may be configured to provide the beverage to the chiller.

Abstract: A coffee appliance includes a powered cooling system integrated with and matched to a hot coffee brewer, configured to cool freshly-brewed coffee by thermal contact to chill a small batch of fresh-brewed coffee in a cooled receiving vessel. The vessel has an evaporator coil to ice the beverage. The cooling system is a robust system, a phase change refrigerant compression-type system employing a positive-displacement compressor, sized in relation to its rate of thermal cooling and the temperature of the beverage and the thermal mass and conductivity of the fluid-contacting assembly, bringing hot coffee to an ice-cold temperature, 2-5° C., on demand and quickly. The fresh brewed, flash-cooled coffee has undiluted and undegraded flavor. An integrated appliance includes a coffee brewer and cooler in a single device, and a slide switch or valve allows the user to select hot or iced coffee.

Abstract: A coffee appliance includes a powered cooling system integrated with and matched to a hot coffee brewer, configured to cool freshly-brewed coffee by thermal contact to chill a small batch of fresh-brewed coffee in a cooled receiving vessel. The vessel has an evaporator coil to ice the beverage. The cooling system is a robust system, a phase change refrigerant compression-type system employing a positive-displacement compressor, sized in relation to its rate of thermal cooling and the temperature of the beverage and the thermal mass and conductivity of the fluid-contacting assembly, bringing hot coffee to an ice-cold temperature, 2-5° C., on demand and quickly. The fresh brewed, flash-cooled coffee has undiluted and undegraded flavor. An integrated appliance includes a coffee brewer and cooler in a single device, and a slide switch or valve allows the user to select hot or iced coffee.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beverage chiller having a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion includes a perimeter wall defining a receiving vessel for receiving a beverage to be chilled. The top portion includes at least first and second cooling tubes. The bottom and top portions interfit such that the cooling tubes extend vertically down into the beverage and chill the beverage to a desired temperature by thermal contact with said cooling tubes when the top portion is positioned on the bottom portion. The first and second cooling tubes have first and second perimeters, respectively, within a horizontal cross-section of the top portion, and the first and second perimeters have substantially a same size and shape.

Abstract: A water distiller provides distilled water from an input water supply for domestic, clinic, studio, hospital or factory applications with greatly improved energy efficiency. Stages of the distiller may employ under pressure conditions and/or various vapor compression, heat pump or intermediate process arrangements to provide efficient heat transfer and heating, without requiring boiling of the full input water volume. Enhanced mixing and/or heat transfer may be effected by passing water vapor through the water heating pool and result in clean, efficient distillation in a unit designed for a defined rate or volume of distillate or small system. Embodiments of the invention require less energy than required for comparably-sized direct boiling systems, and may be configured to purge gases or impurities to attain, or maintain, clean heat transfer surfaces and a desired level of product purity.

Abstract: A water distiller provides distilled water from an input water supply for domestic, clinic, studio, hospital or factory applications with greatly improved energy efficiency. Stages of the distiller may employ under pressure conditions and/or various vapor compression, heat pump or intermediate process arrangements to provide efficient heat transfer and heating, without requiring boiling of the full input water volume. Enhanced mixing and/or heat transfer may be effected by passing water vapor through the water heating pool and result in clean, efficient distillation in a unit designed for a defined rate or volume of distillate or small system. Embodiments of the invention require less energy than required for comparably-sized direct boiling systems, and may be configured to purge gases or impurities to attain, or maintain, clean heat transfer surfaces and a desired level of product purity.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a lighting apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes a primary light generating device configured to generate a primary light beam, a phosphor body configured to at least partly convert the primary light beam into secondary light, and a shell-shaped reflector situated in a primary light path between the primary light generating device and the phosphor body. The reflector has in at least one part of its reflection surface a plurality of grooves which run openly in their longitudinal extent and which are arranged parallel to one another.

Abstract: A coffee appliance includes a powered cooling system integrated with and matched to a hot coffee brewer, configured to cool freshly-brewed coffee by thermal contact to chill a small batch of fresh-brewed coffee in a cooled receiving vessel. The vessel has an evaporator coil to ice the beverage. The cooling system is a robust system, a phase change refrigerant compression-type system employing a positive-displacement compressor, sized in relation to its rate of thermal cooling and the temperature of the beverage and the thermal mass and conductivity of the fluid-contacting assembly, bringing hot coffee to an ice-cold temperature, 2-5° C., on demand and quickly. The fresh brewed, flash-cooled coffee has undiluted and undegraded flavor. An integrated appliance includes a coffee brewer and cooler in a single device, and a slide switch or valve allows the user to select hot or iced coffee.

Abstract: Various embodiment may relate to a lighting device, including a light mixing element having a light entry surface and a light exit surface, multiple light sources, the primary light of which can be is radiated onto the light entry surface, a wavelength conversion unit having a carrier, on which a luminescent volume is arranged, which luminescent volume can be is illuminated by means of the primary light emitted by the light exit surface, and at least one decoupling optical unit for forming useful light emitted by the wavelength conversion unit, which has at least one non-imaging safety region. The multiple light sources radiate the primary light thereof at an angle onto the light entry surface. The at least one safety region occupies a position on the decoupling optical unit which corresponds to a region of high intensity of the primary light in the case of remote luminescent volume.

Abstract: A beverage chiller assembly has a bottom vessel portion and a top portion comprising a plurality of extruded tubes arranged in an array. The bottom and top portions fit together to receive and expeditiously chill a beverage, such as an individual portion of hot coffee, to produce ice coffee, or a bottle of white wine, or a serving of another beverage. The tubes are pre-cooled and extend vertically down into the beverage or fluid volume, and are arranged and dimensioned to provide effective, fast and substantially uniform cooling of the intended beverage volume to a specified serving temperature. Embodiments quickly convert hot coffee to iced coffee, or chill white wine to a proper temperature for serving. Specific embodiments may attain a stable final temperature and also function as serving vessels at table.

Abstract: Various embodiment may relate to a lighting device, including a light mixing element having a light entry surface and a light exit surface, multiple light sources, the primary light of which can be is radiated onto the light entry surface, a wavelength conversion unit having a carrier, on which a luminescent volume is arranged, which luminescent volume can be is illuminated by means of the primary light emitted by the light exit surface, and at least one decoupling optical unit for forming useful light emitted by the wavelength conversion unit, which has at least one non-imaging safety region. The multiple light sources radiate the primary light thereof at an angle onto the light entry surface. The at least one safety region occupies a position on the decoupling optical unit which corresponds to a region of high intensity of the primary light in the case of remote luminescent volume.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a lighting apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes a primary light generating device configured to generate a primary light beam, a phosphor body configured to at least partly convert the primary light beam into secondary light, and a shell-shaped reflector situated in a primary light path between the primary light generating device and the phosphor body. The reflector has in at least one part of its reflection surface a plurality of grooves which run openly in their longitudinal extent and which are arranged parallel to one another.

Abstract: A fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion can have a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps therebetween to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities.

Abstract: A lighting module (1; 7; 11; 31; 41; 61; 71; 81; 91; 97; 109; 115), comprising: a circuit board (2), on which are mounted at least one component (3; 12; 22; 32; 42; L; 92; 99; 108; 116; 119) and at least one attachment element; (5; 98), wherein the at least one attachment element (5; 98) is fastened on the at least one component (3; 12; 22; 32; 42; L; 92; 99; 108; 116; 119) mounted on the circuit board (2) in a locking manner.

Abstract: A lighting arrangement is disclosed with a light module (2) that has at least one first group (22, 22?) of light sources (221, 222, 223) and one second group (22, 22?) of light sources that are arranged spaced apart from each other on a flexible circuit board (21), and with a carrier (1) on which the light module is mounted, and a buffer zone (12) that laterally overlaps with the light module between the first and the second group of light sources. Furthermore, a backlighting device and a display device are disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion can have a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps therebetween to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities.