Abstract: An appliance seal-break apparatus and method for assisting opening of an appliance door having a recessed handle. The seal-break apparatus includes an activation assembly having a paddle disposed within a recessed handle of the door. The paddle is coupled to a rotatable shaft. A cam is directly coupled to the shaft and rotates as the paddle is rotated by a user. A slider is translatably coupled to the cam and movable from a first position to a second position as a result of the cam moving from its first orientation to its second orientation. As the paddle is rotated to its second orientation, the cam translates the slider to its second position in which the slider has contacted a chassis of the appliance and has pushed the door away from the chassis.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing system, including a reservoir tank in fluid communication with a tank port; a reservoir tube having a first end in fluid communication with the reservoir tank; a tank dispense valve in fluid communication with the second end of the reservoir tube; a plumbing tube; and a connector having a first input defining a first channel, a second input defining a second channel, and an outlet. The first input is in fluid communication with the tank dispense valve, the second input is in fluid communication with the plumbing tube, and the outlet is positioned proximate the second channel at an output point. The first channel and the second channel are sized to provide a first fluid flow rate from the tank dispense valve to the output point that is greater than a second fluid flow rate from the plumbing tube to the output point.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing system, including a reservoir tank in fluid communication with a tank port; a reservoir tube having a first end in fluid communication with the reservoir tank; a tank dispense valve in fluid communication with the second end of the reservoir tube; a plumbing tube; and a connector having a first input defining a first channel, a second input defining a second channel, and an outlet. The first input is in fluid communication with the tank dispense valve, the second input is in fluid communication with the plumbing tube, and the outlet is positioned proximate the second channel at an output point. The first channel and the second channel are sized to provide a first fluid flow rate from the tank dispense valve to the output point that is greater than a second fluid flow rate from the plumbing tube to the output point.

Abstract: A refrigerator dispenser may include a dispenser control that includes an integrated dispense level input sensor through which a user can indicate a desired dispense level for an automatic dispense operation performed with the refrigerator dispenser. With such a dispenser control, a user may, for example, direct user input to the dispense level input sensor to select a selected position along a substantially vertical direction, such that an automatic dispense operation may dispense a controlled level of dispense product corresponding to the selected position into a container.

Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

Abstract: A method of forming an internally-arranged laser-beam weld from within a composite structure. The method includes arranging a welding apparatus within an internal passage of the composite structure, and emitting a laser beam from the welding apparatus to form the internally-arranged laser-beam weld between layers of the composite structure.

Abstract: A system includes at least one tube forming a portion of a transportation path, wherein the tube is maintained as a low-pressure environment, a propulsion system configured to propel at least one capsule through the tube, a levitation system configured to levitate the capsule within the tube, and at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube.

Abstract: A method of forming an internally-arranged laser-beam weld from within a composite structure. The method includes arranging a welding apparatus within an internal passage of the composite structure, and emitting a laser beam from the welding apparatus to form the internally-arranged laser-beam weld between layers of the composite structure.

Abstract: A system includes at least one tube forming a portion of a transportation path, wherein the tube is maintained as a low-pressure environment, a propulsion system configured to propel at least one capsule through the tube, a levitation system configured to levitate the capsule within the tube, and at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to selectively create an airlock in the at least one tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic device (15; 55) for an evaporative system (11), comprising at least one pump (22; 62) and a housing (16; 56) with a water inlet (17; 57) and one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump (22; 62) is mounted on the housing (16; 56) and a water tank (20; 60) is provided by the housing (16; 56), the water tank (20; 60) being arranged between the water inlet (17; 57) and the one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump is provided for pumping water through the one or more water outlets. The invention furthermore relates to an evaporative system (11) with such a hydraulic device (15; 55).

Abstract: A high-speed transportation system, the system including at least one transportation tube having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube; a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube, and at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to create an airlock in the at least one tube. In embodiments, the tube sealer may include a gate valve and/or an airbag.

Abstract: A high-speed transportation system, the system including at least one transportation tube having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube between stations, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the tube; a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the tube, and at least one tube sealer arranged along the at least one tube and configured to create an airlock in the at least one tube. In embodiments, the tube sealer may include a gate valve and/or an airbag.

Abstract: A tubular structure stability system includes at least one tube having tube sections and at least one pillar supporting the tube. A tube movement structure is also provided and configured to enable relative movement of the tube sections and/or movement of the tube relative to the at least one pillar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic device (15; 55) for an evaporative system (11), comprising at least one pump (22; 62) and a housing (16; 56) with a water inlet (17; 57) and one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump (22; 62) is mounted on the housing (16; 56) and a water tank (20; 60) is provided by the housing (16; 56), the water tank (20; 60) being arranged between the water inlet (17; 57) and the one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump is provided for pumping water through the one or more water outlets. The invention furthermore relates to an evaporative system (11) with such a hydraulic device (15; 55).

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system as described herein leverages a real-time onboard vehicle mass estimate to determine whether tire pressure is appropriate for the current loading conditions. The system is suitable for use with vehicles having two or more placard tire pressures (with two or more corresponding tire loading capacities). The system can notify the driver to adjust the tire pressure to the proper placard tire pressure for the given load conditions, and/or initiate automatic inflation or deflation by an onboard tire inflation system.