Abstract: A water-heating system, including: a controller; a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; a sensor circuit for measuring a current water temperature of water in a water heater and providing the current water temperature to the controller; a first refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from a refrigerant source to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the refrigerant source; a first water pipe for passing the water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second water pipe for passing the water from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater; and a water pump for pumping water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger via the first water pipe and from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater via the second water pipe based on a control signal.

Abstract: A supplemental heat-providing system is provided for heating a refrigerant. The system includes an outdoor unit that can act as a heat pump located outside a building and configured to use the refrigerant to condition an indoor space inside the building; a hot water heater located in the building and connected to one or more points of use in the building, the hot water heater being configured to heat water and provide the water to the one or more points of use; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger containing a refrigerant pathway and a water pathway, configured to pass the refrigerant from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pathway, to pass the water from the hot water heater through the water pathway, and to exchange heat from the water to the refrigerant; and a water pump configured to selectively pump the water from the hot water heater through water pathway.

Abstract: A water-heating system, including: a controller; a refrigerant-water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; a sensor circuit for measuring a current water temperature of water in a water heater and providing the current water temperature to the controller; a first refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from a refrigerant source to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second refrigerant pipe for passing the refrigerant from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the refrigerant source; a first water pipe for passing the water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; a second water pipe for passing the water from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater; and a water pump for pumping water from the water heater to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger via the first water pipe and from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger to the water heater via the second water pipe based on a control signal.

Abstract: A supplemental heat-providing system is provided for heating a refrigerant. The system includes an outdoor unit that can act as a heat pump located outside a building and configured to use the refrigerant to condition an indoor space inside the building; a hot water heater located in the building and connected to one or more points of use in the building, the hot water heater being configured to heat water and provide the water to the one or more points of use; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger containing a refrigerant pathway and a water pathway, configured to pass the refrigerant from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pathway, to pass the water from the hot water heater through the water pathway, and to exchange heat from the water to the refrigerant; and a water pump configured to selectively pump the water from the hot water heater through water pathway.

Abstract: An improvement in the forced air flow system for refrigerators, comprising: at least two refrigeration environments (1, 2); and a refrigeration air impelling means (10) forcing the passage of an air flow from a refrigeration environment (1, 2) through a respective evaporator portion (4, 5) and comprising only one fan (11) associated with at least two suction chambers (12), which are each opened to a respective refrigeration environment (1, 2) and to at least two discharge chambers (13), which are each opened to an inlet side (6) of a respective evaporator portion (4, 5).

Abstract: A vacuum-breaking valve for refrigeration appliances, comprising: a tubular body (10) made of a thermally conductive material and mounted through one of the walls of a cabinet (G) of the refrigeration appliance; a valve seat (30) mounted to the tubular body (10); a sealing means (40) constantly biased towards a closed position, in which it is seated on said valve seat (30), and movable towards an open position when the pressure inside cabinet (G) is lower than the pressure outside said cabinet (G); and a heat collector (20) provided with a thermal radiation collecting surface (21) mounted to the tubular body (10) and facing a heat source external to cabinet (G).

Abstract: A vacuum-breaking valve for refrigeration appliances, comprising: a tubular body (10) made of a thermally conductive material and mounted through one of the walls of a cabinet (G) of the refrigeration appliance; a valve seat (30) mounted to the tubular body (10); a sealing means (40) constantly biased towards a closed position, in which it is seated on said valve seat (30), and movable towards an open position when the pressure inside cabinet (G) is lower than the pressure outside said cabinet (G); and a heat collector (20) provided with a thermal radiation collecting surface (21) mounted to the tubular body (10) and facing a heat source external to cabinet (G).

Abstract: An automatic defrost system for a refrigerating device, comprising, in a cabinet, an evaporator and a condenser, and a defrost air circuit having: a first circuit portion; a second circuit portion receiving a certain defrost airflow from the first circuit portion and positioned adjacent to the condenser, in order to be heated by the latter; a third circuit portion, which is positioned adjacent to the evaporator, so as to selectively heat it when the heated defrost airflow passes through the second circuit portion and to conduct the defrost airflow to the first circuit portion; and a valve means, which selectively permits the passage of the defrost airflow from the second circuit portion to the third circuit portion.