Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure optimize energy usage of an HVAC system. For example, some embodiments include a method comprising: generating a flow through a heat exchanger; determining a return temperature of fluid having passed through heat exchanger; determining a current flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger; and controlling the flow of the fluid based on a comparison of the determined return temperature with a threshold temperature, wherein the threshold temperature is dependent on the current flow.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a valve comprising: a first port; a second port; a fluid path extending between the first port and the second port; a valve member situated in the fluid path, the valve member selectively moveable between a closed position, blocking the fluid path, and an open position; an armature coupled to the valve member and having a surface; and a solenoid forming a linear actuator with the armature. At least a portion of the surface of the armature directly faces the solenoid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a valve comprising: determining a nonlinear characteristic curve function indicating a required relationship between a valve opening position and flow of a fluid; storing the function in an ECU; and using the function to set the valve opening position with a control signal indicating a target flow. The function is calculated automatically using a parameter value, with an analytic function, or by interpolation with specified supporting values by a user. The function comprises an inverse function based on a characteristic curve for a heat exchanger and a target function. The curve for the heat exchanger indicates a relationship between a heating power or a cooling power and the flow of a fluid. The target function indicates a relationship between the heating power or the cooling power of the heat exchanger based on the valve opening position.

Abstract: Maximum flow setting. A method of limiting flow through a valve (1) comprising: reading a time series of signals from a flow sensor (5a, 5b); producing a time series of flow rates from the time series of signals; producing an averaged series of values; producing a first bounded series of values by replacing values that are below a lower threshold (13) with the lower threshold (13); producing a second bounded series of values by replacing values that exceed an upper threshold (15) with values that equal the upper threshold (15); producing a maximum flow rate by applying a moving maximum filter (17) to the second bounded series; reading a set point signal (9); limiting the set point signal (9) to the maximum flow rate; producing an actuation signal from the limited set point signal; transmitting the actuation signal to an actuator (7).

Abstract: Maximum flow setting. A method of limiting flow through a valve (1) comprising: reading a time series of signals from a flow sensor (5a, 5b); producing a time series of flow rates from the time series of signals; producing an averaged series of values; producing a first bounded series of values by replacing values that are below a lower threshold (13) with the lower threshold (13); producing a second bounded series of values by replacing values that exceed an upper threshold (15) with values that equal the upper threshold (15); producing a maximum flow rate by applying a moving maximum filter (17) to the second bounded series; reading a set point signal (9); limiting the set point signal (9) to the maximum flow rate; producing an actuation signal from the limited set point signal; transmitting the actuation signal to an actuator (7).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a valve comprising: determining a nonlinear characteristic curve function indicating a required relationship between a valve opening position and flow of a fluid; storing the function in an ECU; and using the function to set the valve opening position with a control signal indicating a target flow. The function is calculated automatically using a parameter value, with an analytic function, or by interpolation with specified supporting values by a user. The function comprises an inverse function based on a characteristic curve for a heat exchanger and a target function. The curve for the heat exchanger indicates a relationship between a heating power or a cooling power and the flow of a fluid. The target function indicates a relationship between the heating power or the cooling power of the heat exchanger based on the valve opening position.

Abstract: A valve assembly may include: a valve body with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; a valve member with a closed position blocking the fluid path and an open position; a sensor the fluid flow; an actuator coupled to the valve member; and a controller for the actuator with a set point value and a default flow rate indicative of nominal flow through the fluid path. The controller may: read the sensor; calculate a flow rate; compare the flow rate to a threshold value indicative of substantially zero flow rate; and if the measure of flow rate is below the threshold value, calculate a position of the valve member directly from the set point value and the default flow rate, produce a control signal from the calculated position, and communicate the control signal to the actuator.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a valve comprising: a first port; a second port; a fluid path extending between the first port and the second port; a valve member situated in the fluid path, the valve member selectively moveable between a closed position, blocking the fluid path, and an open position; an armature coupled to the valve member and having a surface; and a solenoid forming a linear actuator with the armature. At least a portion of the surface of the armature directly faces the solenoid.

Abstract: Device for determining the mixing ratio of a mixture of at least two different fluids, the device comprising: a pipe section with a measuring region; wherein the mixture flows through the measuring region; a radar sensor system with a radar sensor chip arranged on an outer wall of the pipe section. The radar sensor system is configured to: irradiate frequency-modulated millimeter-radar waves (fS) in a specified frequency range (?f) into the measuring region; receive millimeter-radar waves (fR) backscattered by the mixture; determine a frequency-dependent reflection coefficient (?f) for the specified frequency range (?f) using the backscattered millimeter-radar waves (fR); and calculate or allocate the mixing ratio from the determined frequency-dependent reflection coefficient (?f).

Abstract: A valve assembly may include: a valve body with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; a valve member with a closed position blocking the fluid path and an open position; a sensor the fluid flow; an actuator coupled to the valve member; and a controller for the actuator with a set point value and a default flow rate indicative of nominal flow through the fluid path. The controller may: read the sensor; calculate a flow rate; compare the flow rate to a threshold value indicative of substantially zero flow rate; and if the measure of flow rate is below the threshold value, calculate a position of the valve member directly from the set point value and the default flow rate, produce a control signal from the calculated position, and communicate the control signal to the actuator.

Abstract: A system supplies a fluid to an evaporator of a refrigeration unit and has first and second lines connected to a fluid inlet of the evaporator. The system has an expansion valve with a continuously modifiable first flow cross section, disposed in the first line, the continuously modifiable first flow cross section setting a first mass flow through the first line. A shut-off device is disposed in the second line and switchable discretely between an open position and a closed position. A throttle with a constant second flow cross section is disposed in the second line. A control unit continuously modifies the first flow cross section of the expansion valve and controls the shut-off device as a function of the first flow cross section.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a radiant heater (11) for a glass ceramic cooking area (25) is created. The radiant heater comprises a carrier shell (12) carrying a flat insulator (14), on which is placed a heating means (16). A thermal relay (18) projects with its tube-like sensor (19) into the central area of the radiant heater (11) and the sensor can rest on an elevation (23) of the insulator (14). By means of a holder (45) the sensor (19) can be fixed to the carrier shell (12). The holder does not project over the underside of the carrier shell (12). In one embodiment the holder with barb-like ends reaches into an opening in the carrier shell and is fixed to locking edges of the carrier shell.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a radiant heater (11) for a glass ceramic cooking area (25) is created. The radiant heater comprises a carrier shell (12) carrying a flat insulator (14), on which is placed a heating means (16). A thermal relay (18) projects with its tube-like sensor (19) into the central area of the radiant heater (11) and the sensor can rest on an elevation (23) of the insulator (14). By means of a holder (45) the sensor (19) can be fixed to the carrier shell (12). The holder does not project over the underside of the carrier shell (12). In one embodiment the holder with barb-like ends reaches into an opening in the carrier shell and is fixed to locking edges of the carrier shell.

Abstract: According to the invention a switching device (11) for an electric heating device is provided with a rod-shaped temperature sensor (15) formed by a ceramic rod (17) and an extension tube (16). The temperature sensor (16) operates a snap-action switch (22) located in a base (12) by means of an actuator separate from the said switch, which has at least one actuating part (41), which is loaded in the actuating direction by a leaf spring (34), the actuating part (41) and leaf spring (34) being in one piece. In a further development of the invention the leaf spring (34) or actuating part (41) can be a receptacle for an adjusting device, preferably an adjusting screw (38).

Abstract: A casing (11) of a thermostat (12), which is to be fixed to the rim (17) of a reception container (16) for a heating device, is substantially inserted in a recess (23) of the rim (17). The recess (23) is open to the outer edge of the rim (17) and has two lateral boundaries (24). In the fitted state the casing (11) forms a mechanical connection between the lateral boundaries (24) and closes the transmission of forces in the course of the rim (17) and in particular clamps together the rim in the circumferential direction. The fastening of the casing (11) and the bracing takes place by means of at least partly bent round and/or bend roundable fastening tongues (25) and/or clamping tongues (27), preferably emanating from the lateral boundaries (24). The invention inter alia leads to a positionally reliable positioning of the thermostat (12) on the reception container (16).

Abstract: A device (1f), which is e.g. provided as an overheating protection means for detecting the temperature on a heating device (4f), apart from a temperature sensor (3f), also has an insulating connecting piece (20f) with all the connecting elements (23f) necessary for the electrical connection of the heating device (4f), in such a way that these connecting elements (23f), following the fastening of the device (1f) to the heating device (4f), are accessible directly adjacent to the outer circumference thereof and to the associated face (31f) of a device base (19f), so as to produce the necessary connections.

Abstract: A rod sensor (1) has in the vicinity of a sliding guide (17) of an outer tube (2) a bolt-like, smooth abutment (4) for an inner rod (3), which prior to the insertion of the inner rod (3) and prior to the constructional joining of the temperature sensor (1) to a switch base (10) is adjusted with a measuring screw (36) against the tension of a spring (39) to a predetermined adjusting amount (30) and is firmly connected to the outer tube (2) by a welding mechanism (40) or the like. Thus, a very accurate adjustment is obtained in the case of a simple construction.

Abstract: For recombining a message transmitted by a frequency hopping transmitter at a fast changing transmitting frequency, there are used a digital FFT search receiver for cyclically evaluating the frequency band occupied by the frequency hopping transmitter, at least one interception receiver capable of being switched by the FFT search receiver to the respective instantaneously used transmitting frequency of the frequency hopping transmitter, and a digital storage in which the stream of digital output data from the output of the permanently operative analog-to-digital converter of the FFT search receiver is temporarily stored, the delayed stream of output data from the storage being supplied to the input of the interception receiver.

Abstract: In a temperature limiter (1) with a rod-like temperature sensor (6), the outer tube is formed by a continuously tensile-stressed insulating tube (7) extending into a base (2). An inner rod (8), optionally articulated two or more times in the longitudinal direction, is constructed as a continuously pressure-loaded rod, characterized by temperature-dependent length expansion. The temperature limiter (1), e.g., for a glass ceramic unit, may have a circuit breaker (5) closer to the temperature sensor, and a more-remote signal switch (4). In that case, for operating the remote signal switch, a flat bar-like transfer member (9) traverses both switches through openings (54). The transfer member is coupled at the associated end and in adjustable manner with an operating member (30) for the signal switch (4), receiving the adjustment member (34). The parts are constantly held together in clearance-free manner by the tension of a restoring spring (40).

Abstract: In a thermal cut-out for a heating means, e.g. a glass ceramic cooking unit, a signal switch and a circuit breaker are operated by means of a temperature sensor via a transfer member externally surrounding the switches and whereof the actuating member thereof located further from the temperature sensor is formed by an adjusting member, so that with the latter and also an adjusting member directly associated with the temperature sensor, a very precise setting is made possible. The transfer member is suspended in contact-free manner between oppositely acting springs and is therefore mounted in a substantially frictionless manner.