Abstract: A simple lockup device for a sign having a square tubular extrusion for a post with grooved webs extending midway up the length of the interior of T-section sidewalls of the same, one sidewall web being slotted through its groove partially down from the top of the post for receiving the flange of a sign panel installed in interlocking relation therewith. A locking key bent of a rectangular strip of sheetmetal engages a vertical slot in the top of the panel flange at its middle and at its conjugate ends engages with the grooves in the webs on adjacent sidewalls of the post. A closing cap inserts four depending lugs in four corners of the top of the post in mounting on top of the same.

Abstract: A display arrangement for a sign, such as an "Exit" sign or the like, has a bracket secured to a wall or ceiling by screws or other fasteners which pass through a base of the bracket, with a mounting flange extending perpendicularly from the base in line with and between the fasteners. A display structure extends from the mounting flange, and consists of a pair of plexiglass or other opaque plastic plates spaced apart by a pair of separator bars between them. The mounting flange of the bracket fits closely between the plates of the display structure and is secured to the plates. The spacer bars are so arranged that access is permitted to the fasteners by means of a screwdriver or other tool inserted between the plates of the display structure.

Abstract: In a crawling insect trap, an inwardly sloping decline covered with and loosely adhering particulate material, where upon crawling insect when attempting to walk up said decline, causes the loosely adhering particulate material to give way and causing the insect to fall into the interior of the trap.

Abstract: A toy figure configured in the shape of a person or animal and capable of effectively simulating a roller skating motion, is disclosed. The toy figure incorporates a chassis having a source of rotary motion such as a spring powered motor. A pair of substantially upright support members are mounted to the chassis and effectively simulate leg and foot portions of a person or of an animal. The support members are capable of a pendulum like oscillating motion relative to the chassis. A mechanism is operatively connected with the motor to move the support members in said oscillating motion.Each support member incorporates at least one roller or wheel which is continuously driven by the motor through a suitable gear train and pulley and belt assembly or the like. The continuous rotation of the rollers or wheels and the simultaneous pendulum like oscillating motion of the support members propels the toy figure along a support surface in effective simulation of a roller skating or like motion.

Abstract: An animated doll includes a hollow head and a hollow body with the head having a face on the front defining a mouth opening. The mouth opening is elongated in one direction and includes a pair of lips defined along opposite longitudinal edges. A movable tongue extends downwardly of the mouth opening between the lips and includes an outer end portion which is formed to cover over an area of one of the lips. An operator is provided for moving the tongue along the edges of the mouth between the lips and rotating the tongue about an axis extending outwardly of the mouth whereby the outer end portion of the tongue appears to smack the lips.

Abstract: A novelty toy in the shape of a skull includes a cranial shaped housing and a pivotal jaw portion. The jaw is biased to a closed position by a biasing element and includes a grip portion to be gripped by the user of the device to move the jaw to an open position. A depending handle is also defined on the skull to allow the skull to be supported by the user. A pair of lights are mounted in the eye apertures and reflectors are rotatably mounted within the apertures surrounding the lightbulbs. A gear train connects the reflectors to a manually operated gear to allow rotation of the reflectors within the housing. Each reflector includes a colored lens that may be rotated in front of the light to provide a different appearance to the toy. The lights are connected through a switch mounted within the housing to a portable power source. The switch includes a plurality of positions for producing alternate lighting or flashing effects.

Abstract: An improved method for making composts, aerating composts, growing mushroom spawn, generating methane gas and filling conveyors in the mushroom-growing industry is provided using ribbon-type mixers. The mixers may be of the double-ribbon type for purely mixing operations and of the single-ribbon type for operations wherein it is primarily desired to move the material from one place to another. All of the mixers are equipped to operate under pressure.

Abstract: A portable leaf cleaner is disclosed into which plant leaves to be cleaned or otherwise treated are introduced between rolls which apply a cleaning fluid to the leaves. Means are provided for controlling the flow of fluid to the rolls. One of the rolls is driven by a reversing motor while the other is frictionally driven by the first roll. The other roll is resiliently urged against the first roll, so as to be movable relatively to the first roll, to thereby prevent breakage or damage to the leaves as they pass between the rolls. The reversing motor is energized by a battery or cell, and the device is supported by a handle which is adapted to be grasped in one hand and has means associated therewith for controlling an electrical circuit which energizes the motor.

Abstract: A safety reverse arrangement is disclosed for reversing the direction of the powered operation of a door upon encountering an obstacle during its opening and closing movement. The arrangement includes a piston fit within a vented cylinder, which is stroked by the opening and closing movement of the door, while a pair of air flow detector switches receive the resulting air outflow developed during stroking of the piston. The air flow detector switches are integrated with a control circuit for the door powering arrangement such that, after an initial short delay period, any interruption in the flow to the flow detector results in a reversing of the direction of the door movement. Such interruption of air flow occurs upon the door encountering an obstacle during its opening or closing movement.

Abstract: A latch system for a hinged window grille that enables quick one point release near the adjacent interior floor. The system includes a latch or latches which are connected to a foot stirrup by means of cables, the stirrup being located close to the floor. Each latch includes spring loaded retention means which engage the head of a penetrator member connected to the grille to secure the side of the grille opposite the hinges.

Abstract: A connector device for attaching the tape in an automotive window regulator to the window comprising a drive block which engages the tape and snap locks to a guide block which also retains the drive block in engagement with the tape, and a sash plate which is fixable to the window and twist locks to the guide block.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in elevating the movable end of the a swinging gate and for supporting and maintaining the end of gate in a predetermined position, whereby the locking drop rod of the gate may be selectively and cooperatively received by the apparatus to thereby lock the gate from further swinging movement.

Abstract: A structural flange such as that which surrounds an automobile door is covered by a channel-shaped strip that needs no metal carrier to hold it in place on the flange. The channel-shaped strip may serve decorative, protective, or sealing functions, and may be made of either cellular or noncellular rubber, or plastic, or part of the strip may be made of cellular rubber and part of noncellular rubber or plastic. The structural flange has tabs protruding laterally from each of its sides, and the channel-shaped strip has structure that locks the strip in place over these tabs.

Abstract: An insulated door for a refrigeration vehicle includes spaced walls between which there is an insulation material. Hardware such as hinges and latches are mounted to the door by fastening the hardware to a rigid support mounted on the outside wall of the door, and providing openings in the support for accommodating fastening elements whereby the hardware is affixed to the support and the fastening elements do not thereby penetrate through the door walls.

Abstract: A fire-resistant gate is disclosed which comprises a trapezoidally profiled steel sheet with punched thorny apertures, insulating layers on both side of the profiled steel sheet, and the outer face of the insulating layers being made of thin fiber reinforced cement layers. The advantage of the gate resides not only in the fact that the profiled steel sheet for bearing the vertical load is covered by the insulating layers and thus protected from fire, but also in that bearing capacity and stiffness of the gate are improved by the combination of expanded mineral-cement layers and thin fiber reinforced cement layers.

Abstract: Interchangeable faceting apparatus comprises a reversible dual indexing mechanism consisting of a primary indexing gear with a small number of notches and an auxiliary indexing gear controlling the primary gear, and a height adjusting mechanism which permits a faceter frame to be precisely positioned with respect to the lap surface at any height of the faceter frame. The primary indexing gear with a relatively small number of notches engaged by a spring trigger provide subdivided indexes by the action of the auxiliary indexing gear.

Abstract: A wheel blank having an angled peripheral surface is mounted on a dead spindle. The angled surface is biased against a felt pad having polishing compound to shape an arcuate scoring surface on the wheel blank.

Abstract: An abrasive sheet is disclosed which can be hand held or used with known abrasive devices, has longer abrasive life than existing abrasive sheets and has a novel attachment arrangement onto an abrasive support member. The abrasive sheet has abrasive material coated on one surface and a layer of resilient open-celled flexible foam on the other surface. The abrasive sheet may be used with a support member having a support surface with a multitude of fastening protuberances projecting from the support surface. The abrasive sheet is detachably fastened to the support member by pressing the layer of resilient open-celled foam against the support surface to have the protuberances enter and grip the open-celled foam.

Abstract: A building element for use on a building having roof supporting rafters which extend outwardly from the wall alignment of the building has an eaves cover panel portion adapted to provide an eaves cover of the building and to be attached to the building and has integrally formed therewith an upstanding outer wall along one side, the outer wall being the outer wall of a channel shaped gutter section. The opposite inner wall of the gutter section is provided by a separate wall portion which is mountable during assembly on a co-operating mounting portion of the eaves cover panel portion. This arrangement permits ease of manufacture, nesting of the components for transportation and storage and easy and speedy of building operations. Preferably an integral downwardly projecting channel is provided in the eaves panel portion and the wall portion is a fit such as a press fit into the recess and maybe bonded therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a modular element for prefabricated buildings, and to buildings constructed using said elements. The modular element according to the invention is of L configuration, one leg of which being designed to constitute a wall portion having a height of one storey, and the other leg of which is designed to form a floor portion or a roof portion of the last storey. In the building according to the invention, the several L elements are disposed perpendicular to other L elements when viewed in plan, the ones being connected to the others by toothed bearings.

Abstract: A primary geodesic type building, comprising five sub-assembly units, including an uppermost regular octagonal roof unit supported on alternate edges by four identical regular hexagonal units in quadripod fashion to form a generally hemispherical space capturing structure, spaces between the hexagonal units being closed by four square panels and four isoceles trapezoids. Said structure may be supported on upstanding flat wall units, to form a building of greater height having a substantially square shape to efficiently capture space therein. Said buildings may be connected directly or by suitable connecting structures, which may include a geodesic type roof comprising fifteen identical isoceles triangular panels connected at their leg edges to form a ridged structure having an equilateral regular pentagonal base.

Abstract: An in-ground swimming pool which utilizes a relatively flexible, continuous sheet-like wall member in combination with a bottom construction which is formed from polyurethane foam. The polyurethane foam bottom is reinforced at the surfaces of concave curvature with rail-like concrete members to which the foam is bonded.Also disclosed is a method of forming the polyurethane bottom which consists of applying a relatively thin coating of polyurethane foam to the bottom excavation and immediately placing a sheet of polyethylene, 2 to 4 mils thick, over the foam before the foam has set, conforming and adhering the polyethylene sheet to the foam and earth surface. The final steps include applying a series of polyurethane foam layers by spraying over the polyethylene sheet to achieve a desired thickness. By following the procedures disclosed, the foam surface can be controlled to obtain the desired pool bottom smoothness.

Abstract: A window frame is presented which incorporates retention and locking means adapted to permit reversible installation in window frames.

Abstract: A portable acoustical panel assembly is disclosed comprising a plurality of panels each including a soundproof member having rounded vertical edges for ease in rotating. Each vertical edge has at least a partial groove in its surface for receiving a flexible member for attaching the individual panels of the assembly. A supporting frame is provided, positioned about the perimeter of the soundproof member. A decorative fabric encases each panel which is provided with members for securing each panel at the top and bottom.

Abstract: This relates to an improved foundation assembly for supporting structures. A plurality of vertical studs are positioned in upper and lower tracks. This stud and track assembly is further coupled to a joist which rests at the bottom of a foundation channel cut in the earth. A form deck is coupled to the stud and track assembly, and the channel is back-filled to provide the necessary stabilization. Floor joists are coupled to the foundation assembly which extends above the natural soil line and the back-fill grade. This creates an internal crawl space which provides insulation between the floor and the earth below.

Abstract: A roof insulation support for a building roof of the type having a parallel array of longitudinally extending roof supporting purlins, each of the purlins including a longitudinally extending upturned lip. The roof support comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinally extending hangers, each hanger including a generally vertical web and a hook disposed on the top of the vertical web for supporting the hanger from the upturned lip of the purlins. First and second lower hanger flanges depends from both sides of the bottom of the vertical web and first and second upper hanger flanges are spaced upwardly on the vertical web from the first lower flange. A plurality of transversely extending beams of roughly I-shape cross section extend between the hangers. The ends of the beams are received between the upper and lower hanger flanges of adjacent hangers.

Abstract: An accessible partition wall construction comprising in combination: Two parallel spaced-apart rows of wall panels; channel-shaped studs disposed at panel joints; stud clips engaging the studs at a flange and rib; interchangeable panel clips removably engaging the stud clips; whereby the partition wall construction allows accessibility by lifting a panel upward to slide an overlapped panel clip off a stud clip and then moving the panel horizontally away from the construction, and wherein reinstallation is accommodated by reversing the procedure, whereby said panel clips are interchangeable at either side of the joint and wherein extending projections of said panel clips are substantially identical and the panel clip is symmetric about a horizontal plane.

Abstract: Each module includes a block body and an outer wear surface joined by one or more separator webs. The block body either is massive as constructed, or receives a massive filling, such as concrete, at the job site. Provision is also made for providing a filling of thermal insulation such as foamed synthetic plastic for the module. Modules are stacked and coursed to make walls. Mortar may be used between adjacent modules, and/or the module walls may be facially coated with a substance which securely interconnects the modules. Such walls have a high interior mass, insulated on the exterior and protected exteriorly of the insulation by the wear surface. The high mass tends to assume room temperature and perform as a thermal energy flywheel. Some measures for partial prefabrication of module parts are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved machine for automatically applying transfers such as tax stamps to multiple packages contained in a carton is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveyor for advancing a carton through an opening station, where it is opened to expose the packages therein, through a stamping station, where tax stamps in the form of heat or water transfers or ink printing are applied to each of the packages by a movable platen, and through a closing station where the carton is closed and resealed. The machine is adjustable to accommodate a variety of carton and package sizes and to apply the transfers to a selected part of each package in the carton accurately, while using stock transfer sheets on which the transfers are mounted with a predetermined spacing that does not necessarily correspond to the spacing of packages within the carton.

Abstract: The meat packaging machine of the present invention is designed to vacuum pack meat products between two webs of heat sealable thermo-plastic material. One web of each package is formed with at least two pockets connected by and bounded by a sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom. The second web which closes the pockets also extends over the sealing flange and the entire interface between the two webs is heat sealed to prevent migration of meat juices. The machine includes a sealing head and a sealing die mounted one on either side of the sealing plane. Heated sealing members are located in the sealing head and in the sealing die which, when the head and die are in the closed position, are disposed to engage the first and second webs therebetween to effect a heat seal over the entire sealing interface of the webs.

Abstract: Pouches are advanced broadwise by carriers each having two laterally spaced clamps for gripping the side margins of the pouch. The clamps are supported by pivoted linkages which enable the clamps to be moved laterally toward and away from one another for the purpose of opening and closing the mouth of the pouch as the pouch is advanced through the filling and top sealing stations of a packaging machine.

Abstract: A process for making collective packing unit boxes, comprising the steps of feeding a plurality of unit boxes by a first conveyor, thrusting the unit boxes one by one from the first conveyor to a second conveyor perpendicular thereto, thereby to cause the front side of each unit box to contact with the backside of the immediately preceding unit box, respectively, collecting a predetermined number of unit boxes together when the unit boxes are thrust from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, bringing down two flaps extending from the opposite edges of the collected unit boxes inwards, daubing an adhesive on the top flaps of the unit boxes, daubing an adhesive on the upper portions of the two sides of each unit box perpendicular to the contacting sides thereof, pressing a common lid onto the top of the collected predetermined number of unit boxes so that the lid may be adhered on the top flaps of the collected unit boxes, and folding the two opposite side edges of the lid so that the side edges are adhere

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a vibration interrupting device for use with a coin wrapping machine, in which coins are conveyed, while being counted, to a piling cylinder, in which this cylinder is vibrated by a vibrator so that the coins may be regularly piled in the cylinder, and in which a preset number of coins piled are carried to wrapping rollers by a coin receiving arm so that they may be wrapped. The vibration interrupting device includes a brake circuit which is operative to control the vibrator such that the vibrations to be applied to the piling cylinder are promptly interrupted by the time when the coin receiving arm is brought to receive the preset number of the coins piled in the cylinder. Thus, the coins piled can be prevented from being destroyed to pieces or getting scattered or lost when they are to be carried by the coin receiving arm.

Abstract: A mulching mower and clean-up machine, adapted to cut and finely mulch grass, leaves and the like, is provided. A first blade member, supported on the underside of a movable housing, is adapted to cut grass and leaves on the ground and to discharge the cuttings through a discharge opening on the housing. A mulching chamber, mounted on the mower housing, includes an opening for receiving the discharged cuttings. A second blade member included in the mulching chamber, finely mulches the cuttings and discharges them through a further opening in the mulching chamber. A storage chamber is removably mounted on the mulching chamber for receiving the mulched cuttings.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester having a longitudinally extending mobile frame supported by a pair of forwardly disposed transversely spaced wheels is disclosed wherein a transfer chute having a pivotally mounted frame guides crop material from the cutterhead to the discharge blower. The cutterhead is mounted on the forward portion of the mobile frame and includes a housing having a rear crop outlet opening. A shear bar is mounted adjacent the path of a plurality of knives affixed to the rotatably mounted transversely disposed cylindrical cutterhead, the knives cooperating with the shear bar to cut crop material and throw it rearwardly through the crop outlet opening. A crop discharge blower unit having a housing with a crop inlet opening aligned with the crop outlet opening of the cutterhead housing is mounted on the frame behind the cutterhead.

Abstract: A beet topping device transportable over the ground, comprising a frame, a polygonal construction, in particular a quadrangular construction or quadrangular linkage movably connected to the frame, via at least one pivot shaft and variable in position relative thereto, a blade holder connected movably relative to the frame via a feeler arm in a first point of application to the quadrangular linkage, while furthermore the connection arm is slidable relative to the feeler arm and optionally connected therewith and the feeler and blade holder are positioned outside the quadrangular linkage.

Abstract: There is provided a haymaking machine comprising at least one rotor assembly rotatable around a generally upright axis, stationary gear means mounted coaxially with the or each rotor assembly, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on the or each rotor assembly in mesh with the stationary gear means and rotatable in unison with the associated rotor assembly and a plurality of tine assemblies pivotally mounted on the or each rotor assembly and coupled to the planetary gears eccentrically of their rotational axes so that in operation, in at least one operating condition of the machine, the tine assemblies move from extended, crop-engaging positions to retracted, crop-releasing positions and vice versa.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for splicing the ends of spun yarn includes means for inserting the yarn ends into a hole associated with a splicing nozzle having one or more air jet pipes, in which hole the ends are subjected to an air jet to join them each other. Yarn end control nozzles for the yarn on the package side and the yarn on the bobbin side are disposed at each end of the splicing nozzle to suck the yarn ends in the corresponding yarn end control nozzles, respectively and to keep the yarn ends free therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing waste of supply strands passing to a series of yarn processing units, in which a detector moves along the yarn processing units alternately in a first direction and a second direction opposite from the first direction while sensing breakage of any one of a series of strands being delivered from the processing units and also sensing the direction of movement of the detector, and in response to sensing breakage of any strand, and irrespective of the direction of movement of the detector, passage of the corresponding supply strand is interrupted in its course to the corresponding yarn processing unit by a flowing stream of air being directed from a nozzle moving with the detector into engagement with a corresponding, normally inactive, strand interrupting member for actuating the same.

Abstract: A roving formed from a first kind of staple fibers, each of which is at least 3 denier, is interposed with a randomly mixed sliver formed from a second kind of staple fibers, each of which is between 1.5 denier and 3 denier, and a third kind of staple fibers, each of which is at most 1.5 denier, the thermal shrinkage of the second kind of staple fibers being higher than that of the third kind of staple fibers. The roving and the randomly mixed sliver are twisted together so that the sliver wraps around the roving in order to form a double layered roving. After the double layered roving is subjected to fine spinning, it is then subjected to a heat treatment. As a result, a multi-layered bulky spun yarn is obtained.

Abstract: Stabilized stretch yarns of intermediate skein shrinkage and low torque which may be beamed without twisting are produced by draw texturing and stabilizing with little or no relaxation, preferably at relatively low temperatures. These yarns may be converted to wovens with adequate comfort stretch.

Abstract: A T-headed pin for use in rivetless chain, generally of the trolley conveyor type, is disclosed. The pin can entirely replace the conventional forged pin of any ordinary size and has superior design matching abilities. It is unique in that it is constructed entirely from a flat piece of sheet metal. Rectangular metal blanks with paired oppositely projecting tabs are provided. The blank is first curled to form the body of the pin with the tabs projecting endwise therefrom. In automated manufacture of chain of the type mentioned in selected lengths, the links may be readily assembled with curled pins having tabs projecting axially from both ends. The tabs may then be bent as required to complete the chain length. Alternatively, the tabs at one end only may be bent and lengths of chain may be readily assembled by inserting the other end of each pin into place and then bending the tabs at said other end.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for gas turbine engines particularly adapted to reduce emissions to meet automotive requirements. The fuel is laid on the wall of a cylindrical prechamber and evaporated from the wall by combustion air which is introduced through a swirler at the upstream end of the prechamber. The inner surface of the prechamber is artificially roughened by a grid of grooves to improve fuel evaporation. The fuel is laid on the wall from an annular manifold extending around the upstream end of the prechamber through tangential orifices leading from the manifold into the interior of the prechamber. More air enters through entrance ports distributed around the prechamber toward its downstream end. The resulting lean fuel-air mixture is delivered past an annular flow dam at the outlet of the prechamber into a domed combustor wall forming a combustion or reaction zone which is abruptly enlarged from the prechamber.

Abstract: In an integral rocket-ramjet having a combustor which initially serves as a rocket combustion chamber for booster propellant, and after the booster propellant is expended, serves as a ramjet combustor where fuel and air are burned, a fuel control system is described for the ramjet stage by which ram burner light-off is automatically initiated upon transition from rocket to ramjet propulsion. The fuel control regulates fuel flow to the combustor over the entire flight regime and responds to operating conditions to provide a light-off schedule, to stabilize the shock wave in the air inlet, to provide a maximum fuel-to-air ratio limit, to limit the maximum vehicle Mach number, and to prevent lean burner blowout by providing a minimum fuel-to-air ratio limit. Mach number limiting is performed in closed loop fashion, while the other functions are scheduled or open loop controls.

Abstract: A control system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprises a split engine control unit for operating the engine on partial cylinders when reduced engine power can adequately operate the vehicle, and first and second exhaust conduits for directing exhaust gases from first and second group cylinders respectively to a common junction to which a common exhaust conduit is connected for directing the gases to the atmosphere. A first set of an exhaust gas sensor and catalytic converter is disposed in the second conduit to be exposed to the stream of gases exhausted from the second group cylinders which are activated at all times and a second set of an exhaust gas sensor and catalytic converter is disposed in the common conduit to be exposed to the stream of gases exhausted from the first group cylinders directed through the first conduit and to the gases passed through the upstream side catalytic converter in the second conduit.

Abstract: An engine exhaust gas purification system includes an EGR line for the recirculation of exhaust gases from an engine exhaust system back into an intake system thereof. An EGR valve is provided in the EGR line to control the rate of EGR. The EGR valve is actuated by an actuator which is operated by pressurized air supplied by a diaphragm pump driven by the engine in proportion to the engine speed. The pressure of the pressurized air is substantially proportional to the engine speed, whereby the EGR rate is controlled so as to be substantially proportional to the engine speed.

Abstract: A power brake unit for automotive vehicles includes a brake valve to meter brake fluid from an auxiliary fluid source into a booster chamber to act upon a booster piston arrangement. The booster piston arrangement includes a first booster piston and a second booster piston, the latter being held in an operative position by the fluid from the auxiliary fluid source and being inoperative in the event of failure of the auxiliary fluid source. If the auxiliary fluid source fails, the brake pedal force is directly and mechanically transmitted from the brake pedal to the master cylinder piston.

Abstract: Body heat given off by cows in an enclosed barn during periods of outside temperature requiring residential heating is utilized as the heat source in a first refrigeration circuit, and heat absorbed from the milk is used as the source for a second refrigeration circuit. Water used in the residential heating system absorbs heat from the refrigerants of both circuits in a double tube condenser. One circuit may also be used as a pre-heater for domestic hot water.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin air-conditioning system, of the type that uses engine bleed air, regulates the amount of tapped bleed air so as to be just sufficient to maintain a desired cabin pressure, thus minimizing the fuel burn allocated to the aircraft's environmental control system. The air-conditioning system cools the bleed air by passing it first through a heat exchanger 50 of a circulating glycol/water coolant loop 55 for heat transfer to a coolant and then through an evaporator 60 of an electrically-driven vapor-cycle loop 56 for supplemental heat transfer to a refrigerant. The rate at which the refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator 60 is regulated to be just sufficient to provide a required supplemental cooling capacity, thereby minimizing electrical power consumed by a compressor 63 that forms part of the vapor-cycle loop 56. A subbranch of the coolant loop 55 carries the coolant through a condenser 64 of the vapor-cycle loop 56 where there is an additional transfer of heat to the coolant.

Abstract: An expansion device having a piston sliding between first and second positions within a valve body. In the first position the piston meters refrigerant flow therethrough and in the second position the piston allows refrigerant to flow unrestricted through the device. Means are disclosed for adjusting the throttling of the refrigerant through the device when it is acting as an expansion device.