Abstract: A refrigerating cycle apparatus including an inverter driven compressor with controllable speed of rotation, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, outdoor heat exchanger, a defrosting condition detector for detecting a frosting state of the outdoor heat exchanger in a heating operation, a defrosting operation controller for carrying out a defrosting operation based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector and having a minimum operable frequency controller for controlling a minimum operable frequency for the compressor on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation and/or a starting speed controller for controlling a starting speed for the compressor based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation in order to provide proper lubrication after a defrost operation.

Abstract: An improved cooking apparatus or cooker which heats and cooks food items in a cooking liquid medium by effectively controlling the temperature of the liquid medium. The cooker starts forcible combustion irrespective of the temperature of the liquid medium detected by a temperature sensor when the operator presses a forcible combustion switch. This system minimizes a time lag between placing food items into the cooking liquid medium and start of combustion, which is attributable to the uneven temperature distribution and convection of the cooking liquid medium, thus efficiently reducing undesirable temperature drop of the cooking liquid medium due to cold food items. Alternatively, the cooker determines presence of food items in the cooking liquid medium according to the downward slope in temperature instead of a press of the forcible combustion switch and automatically starts forcible combustion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved alarm device which automatically starts accumulation of a heating amount when food items are placed into a cooking liquid and outputs an end-of-cooking signal when the accumulated heating amount reaches a predetermined value. This system makes an operator free from troublesome manual operation as pressing a start pad simultaneously with placing food items into the cooking liquid. The alarm device controls a cooker to start forcible heating irrespectively of its combustion conditions simultaneously with starting accumulation of the heating amount. The system of the invention prevents an undesirable time lag between substantial drop in temperature of the cooking liquid and start of heating and efficiently reduces the temperature fall due to cold food items, thus allowing food items to be cooked desirably.