Abstract: A transformer assembly is formed from a primary winding wound about a toroidal or other annularly shaped magnetic core. A secondary winding passes through a center of the magnetic core and about an exterior of the magnetic core. The transformer assembly is disposed within a sealed enclosure into which fluid is introduced to directly contact the magnetic core before exiting through an outlet, submerging the magnetic core, the primary winding, and the secondary winding in flowing fluid. The primary winding may be disposed within a flexible tubing through which fluid flows, or alternatively, the primary winding may be cooled via contact with the cooling fluid flowing through the sealed enclosure. The secondary winding may be either internally cooled via cooling fluid flowing therethrough, or externally cooled via the cooling fluid flowing through the sealed enclosure. In some embodiments, a separate coil cooling circuit is defined external to the sealed enclosure.

Abstract: A food preparation assembly and method with a selectable assembled tower assembly having a plurality of food mold bodies stacked together, each food mold body having an outer body and a through molding cavity with each having a different predefined molding shape, the tower assembly including a plurality of food molding plungers with each having a shape that is substantially similar to one of the predefined shapes of each molding cavity and each of the plurality of food molding plungers being selectable positioned and inserted within the correspondingly shaped molding cavity when assembled in the assembled tower assembly, the tower assembly being selectable disassembled into separately usable food mold bodies with separately usable food molding plungers.

Abstract: An awning mounted on a wall surface includes a rack, a canopy, a plurality of arms and a shoulder. The shoulder is configured to connect at least one proximal end of the arms to the rack and includes a bracket portion and a junction portion. The bracket portion includes a first curved surface. The junction portion includes a second curved surface shaped to correspond to the first curved surface. The first curved surface includes one of an elongate bead or a set of grooves. The second curved surface includes the other of the elongate bead or the set of grooves. The elongate bead is configured to fit within at least two of the grooves thereby allowing the junction portion to assume at least two orientations with respect to the bracket portion the junction portion is movably adjustable around a first axis.

Abstract: A variable speed control system is provided for use with a heat pump heating/cooling system having a variable speed compressor. The control system includes a remote transceiver, a second transceiver to communicate with the first transceiver, and an AC power module to communicate with the second transceiver. The AC power module further includes multiple current limiting devices and multiple temperature sensors and varies the output of the variable speed compressor by comparing the readings from the temperature sensors to a pre-determined temperature setting.

Abstract: Past pistons have been susceptible to reduced longevity due to increased forces of combustion thereon during operating cycles of an engine. The present two piece unitary piston increases the longevity of pistons used with increased forces of combustion. For example, a head member has a crown portion defining a ring band portion having a bottom surface and a support portion. And, a skirt member defines a ring band support surface and a mating portion. The head member and the skirt member have a preestablished material strength being generally the same. The head member and the skirt member are joined at an interface of the support portion and the mating portion by an interference fit and are joined at the interface of the bottom surface and the ring band support surface by a weld. The force of combustion acting on the crown portion is resisted by the ring band support surface being in contacting relationship with the bottom surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an engine control system, and more particularly to an engine control system that decreases the amount of waste oil that must be disposed of in an internal combustion engine by automatically burning spent oil based upon engine speed.

Abstract: A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. A valve assembly comprises a valve plunger housing and a valve plunger. The housing is mounted within the interior of the dispenser cabinet and comprises an entrance port for receiving frozen soft serve confection from the cartridge and a bore which intersects with the entrance port. The valve plunger is slideably disposed within the bore. The plunger has an elongated body with a hollow interior chamber, a rearward entrance opening and a forward exit opening. The valve plunger extends through the wall of the dispensing cabinet and the exit opening is outside of the dispensing cabinet.

Abstract: Present day diesel engines having aluminum piston assemblies are limited to combustion chamber pressures of approximately 12,410 kPa (1,800 psi) whereas the desire is to increase such pressures up to the 15,170 kPa (2,200 psi) range. To reach such levels the instant engine has a piston assembly including a steel piston member having an upper cylindrical portion of a diameter D and defining a top surface, a depending tubular wall having a top ring groove a minimal elevational distance TRH below the top surface, and an annular cooling recess located beneath the top surface and juxtaposed to the top ring groove for removing heat away therefrom in use. The piston member is preferably forged and subsequently machined to precisely controllable dimensions, and has a ratio of TRH to D of less than 0.06. Moreover, the piston assembly is preferably of the articulated type and includes a forged aluminum piston skirt connected to the piston member through a common wrist pin.

Abstract: Support apparatus for coffee maker brew baskets comprises a base, an upstanding stop wall and a support plate spaced apart above the base. A coffee grinder discharge spout empties through the support plate. A pair of support arms are pivotally mounted extending horizontally subadjacent the support plate and flanking the coffee grinder discharge spout. The support arms each have a straight portion extending from the pivot point and a curved facing portion extending to a distal end on which an inwardly protruding nib is provided. The support arms are linked for co-pivoting separational movement and are spring biased together. Brew baskets inserted between the support arms are held under the discharge spout.

Abstract: A coffee beam weigher and grinder comprises at least two storage hoppers each respectively receiving and storing a supply of coffee beans, the hoppers each defining a bottom outlet opening through which coffee beans are gravitationally flowably releasable. Sliding hopper valve plates control release of coffee beans from a selected one of the storage hoppers, and coffee beans are released into a bean bucket deployed below the hoppers. The bean bucket is mounted on a bucket arm pivotal between upper and lower positions and is releasably held in the upper position by magnetic attraction between first and second magnetic elements. The bean bucket has a bottom discharge opening which is blocked by a depending stem valve when the bucket arm is in its upward position. The second magnetic element is one of a plurality each of which provides for release when a selected amount of coffee beans are received in the bean bucket.

Abstract: A coffee grinder grinds a predetermined amount of roasted coffee beans based upon the weight of the beans. The beans fall from a hopper into a grinding head which grinds the beans in a two-stage process. The first stage includes a cracking cutter, consisting of a cone cutter and a reel cutter, which reduces the beans to an initial particle size of approximately 1/16 of an inch in cross-section. The particles are then progressed by the grinding head, for the second stage of fine grinding, to an adjustable micro grinder consisting of two opposing rings having micro teeth on their inwardly facing surfaces. The cutters and grinder rings are mounted on thermally conductive metal hubs and a fan draws air around and behind the cutting teeth to cool them and avoid heating the coffee particles during the grinding process.

Abstract: This coffee brewing apparatus includes a reservoir for fresh water, a heating chamber which is filled from the reservoir, a metering chamber which is filled from and entirely surrounded by the heating chamber, and a brewing chamber which receives the coffee to be infused. Valves between the reservoir and the heating chamber are controlled by a timing mechanism. A heater in the heating chamber is controlled by a thermostat to hold the water therein at brewing temperature. An air compressor, which delivers air to the metering chamber to force the heated water therefrom into the brewing chamber, is also controlled by the timing mechanism.

Abstract: A V-8 internal combustion engine has its two cylinder banks disposed at an included angle of 65.degree. and each adjacent pair of crankpins of a two-plane, counterweighted crankshaft displaced at an angle of 25.degree. with respect to each other. Sharp edges initially formed at diametrically opposed intersections of each pair of crankpins are ground-off to form an S-shaped blended surface area thereat for reducing stress concentrations.