Abstract: A refrigerant system is operable in either heating mode or cooling mode. The system is also provided with an economizer cycle that will function in either heating mode or cooling mode. A four-way valve assembly selectively communicates refrigerant from either an indoor heat exchanger or outdoor heat exchanger to an economizer heat exchanger. The valve assembly further includes a restriction for restricting a refrigerant flow downstream of the economizer heat exchanger. The valve assembly provides two distinct restrictions such that a different size restriction is presented to the flow in cooling and heating modes. In this way, a single valve assembly can provide both the required routing for the alternative heating and cooling modes, and at the same time allow for distinct restriction sizes for the two modes without the necessity of separate expansion devices, also improving overall system cost and reliability.

Abstract: An air conditioning or refrigeration system includes an expansion device that has a plurality of operating positions. When the expansion device is in a fully open position, the expansion device provides an indication to a system controller regarding that position. The controller responsively determines if the fully open position of the expansion device is caused by an undesirably low amount of refrigerant charge in the system. In one example, the controller rules out other possible reasons for the expansion device being in the fully open position. In one example, the controller automatically shuts down appropriate portions of the system to avoid any component damage that may result from having too low refrigerant amount in the system.

Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with a control that monitors system conditions such as current, voltage or temperature at a compressor motor or refrigerant state conditions at compressor ports. A protection switch on the motor is operable to stop operation of the compressor should a system condition exceed a predetermined maximum. The control monitors a system condition, and determines that the system condition indicates the protection switch may be actuated as the condition is moving toward the predetermined limit. Under such conditions, the control moves the compressor to a less loaded mode of operation such that it is less likely that the protection switch will actuate.

Abstract: A multiple circuit refrigerant system includes a single economizer heat exchanger utilized for each of at least two circuits. The use of the single economizer heat exchanger reduces the cost of adding an economizer cycle, and further reduces other associated costs. Additionally, heat exchanger and overall system performance is enhanced further. Embodiments show the inclusion of two, three and four circuits, although greater numbers may also benefit from this invention.

Abstract: A refrigerant system is operable in either a heating mode or cooling mode. The system is also provided with an economizer cycle that will function in either heating mode or cooling mode. A pair of economizer heat exchangers are positioned adjacent to an air conditioning economizer expansion device, and a heat pump economizer expansion device, respectively. A control for the system will control the opening either the air conditioning economizer expansion device or the heat pump economizer expansion device, dependent on whether economized operation is desired, and whether the system is in cooling or heating mode. Thus, a pair of heat exchangers are utilized, with one being selected for economizer operation dependent on whether the system is in cooling or heating mode.

Abstract: A hole (3) formed in a superalloy turbine blade (12) is sealed by providing a superalloy plug (4), machining the hole to be of a configuration can receive the plug therein, and bonding the plug to the turbine blade. The plug can be of a threaded or unthreaded configuration and can be of a tapered or straight configuration. The plug is bonded to the hole by applying a bonding catalyst to one or both of the plug and the hole or by positioning the bonding catalyst therebetween, and providing appropriate treatment to the bonding catalyst, such as heating or other treatment, to cause the bonding catalyst to form a bond between the plug and the turbine blade to form a joint therebetween. Any of a variety of known bonds can be employed to form the joint. The plug additionally may be pre-cooled prior to insertion thereof into the hole in the turbine blade, or alternatively may be of a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the turbine blade.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact carrier for carrying shoes and large boots, particularly in-line skates, in a side-by-side relation. The carrier may be selectively hung from the shoulder of a person when holding boots, skates or shoes or it can be worn about the waist of the person when carrying shoes. The carrier includes a strap assembly which wraps around the footwear in connection with a large strap which serves as a shoulder strap/waist belt. The footwear strap assembly is composed of a thin strap arranged in a figure eight with the center of the figure eight running through a patch with four cut slots. This patch is attached to the large strap. One of the loops of the figure eight is a closed loop that wraps around a toe portion of the footwear and the other loop of the figure eight includes free ends of the strap assembly defining an open loop that wraps around the ankle portion of the footwear wherein the free ends include an adjustable fastener, preferably a friction buckle fastener.

Abstract: A flexible hollow fishing rod shaft of improved strength to weight ratio with respect to both bending and crushing strength, having an outer layer of longitudinally extending fiber glass filaments bonded together with a flexible plastic resin, and an inner layer of graphite filaments wound in a tight helix and impregnated with a plastic resin bonding agent.