Abstract: A dual firmness vehicle seat and a method of forming the same is provided. In an embodiment, a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom, and a seatback disposed on the seat bottom. At least one of the seat bottom and seatback includes a first cushion region having a first initial load deflection value, and a second cushion region having a second initial load deflection value different from the first initial load deflection value. The seat assembly further includes a non-continuous trench defined by and between the first cushion region and the second cushion region and having a base forming a cavity therebetween, and connecting regions disposed within the cavity above the base extending between the first and second cushion regions to inhibit flexing between the first and second cushion regions.

Abstract: A scent absorber/dispenser is disclosed. The scent dispenser/absorber has a housing having a base and a cover that cooperate to form an interior chamber of the housing. The dispenser can take the form of an individual dispenser/absorber housing, or a dual dispenser absorber made of two housings are arranged in piggyback (i.e., back-to-back) fashion. The interior chamber of each scent dispenser/absorber is configured to receive scent means adapted to perform either a scent-absorbing function or a scent-emitting function. To use the scent dispenser/absorber, the cover of one or more housings can be moved away from its respective base to expose diffusion ports in a sidewall of the base, thereby permitting desirable scents to flow from the corresponding scent means of the one or more housings to the surrounding environment, or undesirable odors in the surrounding environment to flow into the aforesaid scent means.

Abstract: An air conditioning pack of a cooling system includes an air cycle machine assembly, a cabin air compressor assembly, and a mixing duct. The air cycle machine assembly includes a compressor configured to receive an air stream that includes bleed air to generate a compressed air stream. The air cycle machine assembly utilizes a first portion of the compressed air stream to power the compressor. The cabin air compressor assembly receives a second portion of the compressed air stream, and utilizes the second portion to generate compressed ram air. The mixing duct receives the compressed ram air and allows the compressed ram air to mix with one or more of the air stream upstream of the compressor or the compressed air stream downstream of the compressor to generate a hybrid air stream that is used for cooling at least a portion of a vehicle.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one vapor control system (VCS) that is configured to cool portions of the vehicle. The VCS circulates a fluid therethrough to cool the portions of the vehicle through heat exchange. At least one reverse air cycle machine (RACM) couples to VCS through a first heat exchanger. The RACM is configured to receive ram air. The RACM expands the ram air. Heat from the fluid circulating through the VCS is transferred to the expanded ram air through the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air conditioning pack includes an air cycle assembly, a vapor cycle system, and a mixing duct. The air cycle assembly is configured to receive bleed air and utilize the bleed air to compress ram air. The vapor cycle system is configured to receive the compressed ram air and to reduce an operating temperature of the compressed ram air. The mixing duct is configured to receive the compressed ram air and mix the compressed ram air with the bleed air to generate a hybrid air stream that is used for cooling at least a portion of a vehicle.

Abstract: A scent dispenser/absorber includes a pair of cylindrical housing members arranged coaxially about a common longitudinal axis such that the inner housing member is rotatably received in an interior chamber of the outer housing member. Each housing member has a peripheral sidewall provided with a set of radially extending apertures. A scent cartridge is removably disposed within an interior chamber of the inner housing member to absorb undesirable odors, or to emit desirable scents. By manually controlling the relative rotational positions of the housing members, a user can align or misalign the two sets of apertures, thereby enabling or disabling the transfer of scents or odors between the scent cartridge and the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a thermal management system that is configured to cool portions of the aircraft. The thermal management system includes at least one reverse air cycle machine (RACM) mounted on an engine of the aircraft, and a vapor cycle system (VCS) that is configured to cool the portions of the aircraft. The VCS circulates a refrigerant therethrough. A condenser couples the RACM(s) to the VCS. The RACM(s) coupled to the condenser provides a heat sink for the VCS.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom having a seat frame. An air bladder is mounted to the frame. A seat cushion is spaced vertically from the seat frame by the air bladder at height-adjustment distance being variable. The cushion defines a seating surface. A height-adjustment distance between the frame and the seating surface is increased as the air bladder is inflated, thereby adjusting a height of the seating surface without adjusting the frame.

Abstract: A dual firmness vehicle seat and a method of forming the same is provided. In an embodiment, a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom, and a seatback disposed on the seat bottom. At least one of the seat bottom and seatback includes a first cushion region having a first initial load deflection value, and a second cushion region having a second initial load deflection value different from the first initial load deflection value. The seat assembly further includes a non-continuous trench defined by and between the first cushion region and the second cushion region and having a base forming a cavity therebetween, and connecting regions disposed within the cavity above the base extending between the first and second cushion regions to inhibit flexing between the first and second cushion regions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to cool a vehicle heat source are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first tank and a second tank. The first tank and the second tank are disposed on a vehicle. The second tank is in fluid communication with the first tank. An engine of the vehicle is to be supplied with fuel from at least one of the first tank or the second tank. The example apparatus also includes a cooling system disposed on the vehicle to cool the fuel flowing from the first tank to the second tank. The example apparatus further includes a heat exchanger operatively coupled to a heat source disposed on the vehicle. The fuel from the second tank is to flow to the first tank via the heat exchanger to cool the heat source.

Abstract: A cold drink pack that provides consumers with an independent plastic drink container that they take with them anywhere on the go. The cold drink pack includes a drinking container containing a cold drink, one or more cold chemical icepacks disposed on each one or more interior walls of the drinking container, a drinking stem extending from a top middle portion of the drinking container to prevent spilling the cold drink contained within the drinking container while drinking the cold drink, a vent stem and a cap adapted to be placed over the drinking stem to contain the cold drink within the drinking container. The cold drink pack has one or more cold chemical icepacks that each have an insulated outer wall to retain cold within the drinking container and a non-insulated inner wall to promote chilling the cold drink contained within the drinking container.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a thermal management system that is configured to cool portions of the aircraft. The thermal management system includes at least one reverse air cycle machine (RACM) mounted on an engine of the aircraft, and a vapor cycle system (VCS) that is configured to cool the portions of the aircraft. The VCS circulates a refrigerant therethrough. A condenser couples the RACM(s) to the VCS. The RACM(s) coupled to the condenser provides a heat sink for the VCS.

Abstract: An electronics equipment cabinet includes a plurality of walls defining a first space and a second space adjacent the first space. A wall of the plurality of walls separates the first space and the second space and includes an opening. The cabinet further includes a heat generating module having an inlet side, an outlet side opposing the inlet side, a heat generating component between the inlet side and the outlet side, and an internal fan for directing air heated by the heat generating component into the second space via the opening of the wall. One or more walls of the plurality of walls defining the second space includes a thermally conductive material for transferring heat from the second space to a surrounding environment external to the cabinet to reduce a temperature in the cabinet. Other example cabinets and methods for reducing temperature in cabinets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one vapor compression system (VCS) that is configured to cool portions of the vehicle. The VCS circulates a fluid therethrough to cool the portions of the vehicle through heat exchange. At least one reverse air cycle machine (RACM) couples to VCS through a first heat exchanger. The RACM is configured to receive ram air. The RACM expands the ram air. Heat from the fluid circulating through the VCS is transferred to the expanded ram air through the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to cool a vehicle heat source are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first tank and a second tank. The first tank and the second tank are disposed on a vehicle. The second tank is in fluid communication with the first tank. An engine of the vehicle is to be supplied with fuel from at least one of the first tank or the second tank. The example apparatus also includes a cooling system disposed on the vehicle to cool the fuel flowing from the first tank to the second tank. The example apparatus further includes a heat exchanger operatively coupled to a heat source disposed on the vehicle. The fuel from the second tank is to flow to the first tank via the heat exchanger to cool the heat source.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom having a seat frame. An air bladder is mounted to the frame. A seat cushion is spaced vertically from the seat frame by the air bladder at height-adjustment distance being variable. The cushion defines a seating surface. A height-adjustment distance between the frame and the seating surface is increased as the air bladder is inflated, thereby adjusting a height of the seating surface without adjusting the frame.

Abstract: A scent dispenser is provided which comprises a cylinder having a cylinder chamber for receiving a hollow piston which includes a piston body that is closely fitted to the cylinder chamber and is slideable therein, upward to a fully extended position and downward to a fully compressed position. The piston body also includes a cylindrical piston chamber having an opening at a bottom end of the piston body, which body is sized and shaped to receive a scent cell therein. The piston further includes a cover attached to or integral with an upper end of the piston body. The scent cell may be in the form of a substrate of nonwoven fibrous material capable of allowing air to flow readily through the scent cell and through a volatile scented substance contained therein. The scent cell may further comprise a coating material capable of reversibly absorbing or adsorbing the volatile scented substance, while allowing air to flow readily through the scent cell.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one vapor compression system (VCS) that is configured to cool portions of the vehicle. The VCS circulates a fluid therethrough to cool the portions of the vehicle through heat exchange. At least one reverse air cycle machine (RACM) couples to VCS through a first heat exchanger. The RACM is configured to receive ram air. The RACM expands the ram air. Heat from the fluid circulating through the VCS is transferred to the expanded ram air through the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one vapor control system (VCS) that is configured to cool portions of the vehicle. The VCS circulates a fluid therethrough to cool the portions of the vehicle through heat exchange. At least one reverse air control machine (RACM) couples to VCS through a first heat exchanger. The RACM is configured to receive ram air. The RACM expands the ram air. Heat from the fluid circulating through the VCS is transferred to the expanded ram air through the first heat exchanger.