Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including an exhaust gas purifier, and a control unit programmed to selectively implement a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode, the second combustion mode providing main combustion and preliminary combustion at or near compression top dead center prior to the main combustion, and starting the main combustion after the preliminary combustion is completed. The control unit is programmed to switch from the first combustion mode to the second combustion mode when a request to switch from the first combustion mode to the second combustion mode is made based on a condition of the exhaust gas purifier, and the engine continues to operate for a predetermined time or longer under condition enabling the second combustion mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus comprising; a plasma-assist PM purifying reactor; a detecting device for detecting an amount of PM accumulated in the PM purifying reactor; a power supply for the PM purifying reactor; and a controlling device for controlling the power supply on the basis of signals from the detecting device. The controlling device controls the power supply to start supplying the electric power to the PM purifying reactor, or to increase the amount of electric power which is supplied to the PM purifying reactor, when the amount of accumulated PM detected by the detecting device exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas purifier in an exhaust passage, includes a controller that controls supply of fuel and air to the engine. The controller is configured to produce preliminary combustion at or near compression top dead center and main combustion after an end of the preliminary combustion under a predetermined condition based on a condition of the exhaust gas purifier. The controller is further configured to determine a target intake air quantity by adding an increase correction to the target intake air quantity based on a torque correction value and determine a target fuel injection quantity by calculating the target fuel injection quantity from an actual air quantity and a target air/fuel ratio. A combustion control method is also provided.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus operates an internal combustion engine in a split retard combustion mode during regenerating an exhaust purifier such as a NOx trap. In the split retard combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus controls a first fuel injection to cause preliminary combustion at or near top dead center, and controls a second fuel injection to cause main combustion after an end of the preliminary combustion. In this manner, the combustion control apparatus controls an exhaust gas temperature, or an exhaust air-fuel ratio, without increasing exhaust smoke. During the split retard combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus controls a quantity of the first fuel injection, in accordance with an ignition lag of the preliminary combustion.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus operates an internal combustion engine in a split retard combustion mode during regenerating an exhaust purifier such as a NOx trap. In the split retard combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus controls a first fuel injection to cause preliminary combustion at or near top dead center, and controls a second fuel injection to cause main combustion after an end of the preliminary combustion. In this manner, the combustion control apparatus controls an exhaust gas temperature, or an exhaust air-fuel ratio, without increasing exhaust smoke. During the split retard combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus controls the excess air ratio to vary the exhaust gas temperature, if there is a request for shifting the exhaust gas temperature. The combustion control apparatus adjusts the second fuel injection timing in accordance with the excess air ratio.

Abstract: A method for controlling the amount of secondary air of a motor vehicle, which has a device for injecting secondary air. The increase in the injected amount of secondary air is carried out as a function of the starting conditions of the motor vehicle and the heating progression of the catalytic converter determined by modeling and/or measurement, and is variable over time.

Abstract: In an apparatus for purifying exhaust gas of an engine, both upstream and downstream catalysts are disposed in an exhaust pipe in series. The upstream catalyst is divided into upstream and downstream catalyst blocks to form a space portion therebetween, so that an exhaust pulsation generated by an exhaust manifold is transmitted to the space portion. By the exhaust pulsation, exhaust gas in the space portion flows repeatedly into a downstream part of the upstream catalyst block and an upstream part of the downstream catalyst block. Therefore, when an amount of a precious metal carried by at least one of the downstream part of the upstream catalyst block and the upstream part of the downstream catalyst block is increased, exhaust gas can be effectively purified. Accordingly, a purifying ratio of exhaust gas can be increased effectively using the exhaust pulsation.

Abstract: A structure of engine exhauster includes a front case, a board and a rear case. The front case has an opening and the rear case has a hole. Exhaust gas passes through the board combined between the front case and the rear case. A bending part is disposed in the board. An opening is disposed on the bending part. A beehive portion is disposed above the bending part for exhausting the exhaust gas. A check valve is disposed in the front case for entering unidirectional secondary air. Whereby, the exhaust gas from the front case is mixed up with the secondary air from the check valve of the front case, and then is exhausted from the hole of the rear case via the beehive portion of the board for further reducing air pollution.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a multi-cylinder engine can include a plurality of exhaust pipes with first upstream ends connected to exhaust openings of a multi-cylinder engine, and a collecting pipe connected to the second downstream ends of the exhaust pipes for collecting exhaust introduced from the exhaust pipes and directing it to a silencer. The collecting pipe has a front-end portion communicated to exhaust passages of the exhaust pipes, a middle portion for collecting the exhaust introduced from the front-end portion, and a rear-end portion for further collecting the exhaust introduced from the middle portion. The middle portion is provided with exhaust control means for controlling the area of the exhaust passages in accordance with engine speed.

Abstract: An inventive power generating apparatus includes: a rotator 1 in which liquid is enclosed; two or more actuators 3 provided at equal intervals around the periphery of the rotator 1; and a guide rail 41 on which rollers 11 are rolled. A vacuum is produced within a cylinder 7 of at least one of the actuators located at an upper part of the rotator 1 such that a pressure difference between the resulting vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure acts upon a piston of the actuator 3, and the rollers 11 of the actuator 3 are engaged with the guide rail 41, thus providing torque to the rotator 1.

Abstract: For a hydraulic servo-assisted steering system for motor vehicles, classifying storage of the respectively measured, actual valve characteristic curves is provided and, corresponding to this, energization characteristic curves for the magnetic actuator of the converter are provided, which may be paired in a classified manner in order to compensate for deviations from a predefined set valve characteristic curve, and a testing method for such a hydraulic servo-assisted steering system is provided, in which the loading pressure of the servo actuator is influenced as a function of an input steering torque and in a speed-dependent manner, the speed-dependent influence being effected via the electro-hydraulic converter, whose energization may be set in a manner superimposed on the speed-dependent definition with regard to the correction of tolerances.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission for vehicle interposed in a drive-power transmission path between a driving power source and a driving axle for non-stepwisely changing the speed of the vehicle includes an HST housing; a hydraulic pump unit having a pump shaft with first and second ends extending in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle away from each other; a hydraulic motor unit having a motor shaft for outputting the drive power from the motor shaft whose speed is non-stepwisely varied in cooperation with the hydraulic pump unit; a PTO unit having a PTO shaft extending in the fore-aft direction of the vehicle, the PTO shaft being operatively connected to the pump shaft; a charge pump unit for replenishing pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit hydraulically connecting the hydraulic pump unit with the hydraulic motor unit, the charge pump unit including a charge pump body, and a charge pump case connected to the HST housing through its wall closer to the driving axle for supportin

Abstract: A solid state thermal engine has two drums, each drum having two pulleys positioned thereon. Each pulley on the one drum is coupled to its counterpart pulley on the other drum via a belt, chain or other connector. One of the belts, referred to as the active belt, is heated which causes the active belt to expand. The expansion decreases the tension on the active belt, and further causes the active belt and the pulleys on which it is positioned to rotate. In a preferred embodiment, the active belt is manufactured out of a memory metal such as NITINOL. In another embodiment, a system of several drums and pulleys are used to implement a chain fall device.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical actuator includes a substrate. An elongate actuator arm has a fixed end portion that is fast with the substrate and a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate. The elongate actuator arm incorporates a heating circuit that is connectable to a power supply to heat the actuator arm. At least a portion of the actuator arm is of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is such that the material is capable of thermal expansion to do work. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and subsequently cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator arm. Control logic circuitry is positioned on the substrate along an elongate region defined on the substrate and interposed between the actuator arm and the substrate.

Abstract: Through stroke control whereby the stroke of a piston 1 is detected and controlled to be equal to a target stroke, the piston 1 is prevented from colliding with a displacer 2, and the refrigerating performance of a Stirling refrigerator 40 is enhanced. Different target strokes corresponding to different operation conditions of the Stirling refrigerator 40 are stored in a storage portion 111 in a control box 30, so that a linear motor 13 can be driven with a target stroke that suits the current operation condition. Thus, the piston 1 is prevented from colliding with a displacer 2, and the refrigerating performance of a Stirling refrigerator 40 is further enhanced.

Abstract: Up to now, conventional wind power rotors, which have a horizontal shaft and are mounted on high self-supporting poles, serve to utilize wind energy. These installations are confined to designated installation sites and, due to economical reasons, have a certain minimum size that often causes them to considerably detract from the natural scenery. The inventive method provides that the movement which is induced by changes in mechanical load, in at least one direction of displaceably mounted or elastically moving structures or parts of structures is converted into electric energy by means of mechanical/electrical energy converters situated between moving and stationary parts of structures or at selected points of elastic motion of the structures or parts of structures. This results in wind ene eing utilized over a large area.

Abstract: A fuel/air premixer for use in a gas turbine improves the atomization performance and mixing performance of the fuel by guiding an air so as to flow in an outward radial direction. A flow-deflecting tubular body having an annular cross section is disposed on the inside of and coaxially with a liquid film-forming body of an airblast atomizer nozzle disposed at the inlet portion of a premixing tube. The outer peripheral surface of the flow-deflecting tubular body has a wall surface which increases in outer diameter toward the tip end of a first annular passage. The inner peripheral surface of the flow-deflecting tubular body has a form in which the inner diameter has a minimum to form a contracted portion, and then increases dramatically toward the tip end.

Abstract: A turbine fuel ring assembly includes a fuel distribution ring, at least one fuel supply tube attached to the fuel distribution ring and at least one attachment leg connected to the fuel distribution ring. The fuel ring has a hollow interior and a plurality of apertures for expelling a fluid. The attachment leg is configured to allow flexibility due to thermal expansion induced under certain load conditions such as during engine start-up or shut-down. Further, the configuration of the attachment legs provides improved stress distribution characteristics. The fuel supply tube includes a rectangular passage and a round passage that are disposed substantially transverse to each other and in fluid communication with each other and with the hollow interior of the fuel distribution ring. The rectangular passage and the round passage have substantially identical cross-sectional areas. The fuel supply tube is configured to avoid structural interferences with neighboring components.

Abstract: Aunitary swirler assembly that provides improved service life, having a ferrule body and a unitary swirler body. The unitary swirler body has oppositely-directed primary swirler passages and secondary swirler passages. A pair of rails formed on the unitary swirler body engage the ferrule body to limit relative movement, and prevent relative rotation, of the ferrule body and the unitary swirler body.

Abstract: A high temperature splash plate for use in the combustor of a gas turbine engine that also is a specular optical reflector. A thin layer of a high temperature reflector is applied to the surface of the splash plate of the component that forms a boundary for hot combustion gases. The component typically includes a thermal barrier coating overlying the high temperature metallic component that permits the component to operate at elevated temperatures. The thermal barrier coating must be polished in order to provide a surface that can suitably reflect the radiation into the gas flow path. A thin layer of the high temperature reflector then is applied over the polished thermal barrier coating by a process that can adequately adhere the reflector to the polished surface without increasing the roughness of the surface. The surface reflects radiation in the direction of the turbine back into the hot gas flow path. The reflected radiation is not focused onto any other hardware component.

Abstract: A pilot fuel nozzle configuration for use in a combustor is disclosed having a natural frequency outside the range of the operating frequencies of a gas turbine engine. Multiple embodiments are disclosed for the improved pilot fuel nozzle including configurations for newly manufactured nozzles, repair to existing pilot nozzles, as well as multiple natural frequency levels for the improved pilot fuel nozzle. The pilot fuel nozzle comprises an elongated housing, first and second flanges, and a nozzle tip, with the first flange fixed to the elongated housing at a first end and the nozzle tip fixed to the second end, opposite of the first end. The second flange is fixed along the elongated housing and is used for attaching the pilot fuel nozzle to a combustor. The present invention incorporates an increased wall thickness along at least a mid-span portion of the pilot nozzle to increase the stiffness and change the natural frequency.

Abstract: A method according to the invention and a corresponding device (1) designed to cool the exhaust gas (15) of a gas turbine to below its dew point. Water (25) accumulating hereby can be used for the power plant operation, so that the provision of (make-up) water for the power plant operation can be dispensed with or at least reduced, especially in areas ill-supplied with water.

Abstract: A combustion turbine power plant (10) incorporating a desiccating scrubber (140) for simultaneously removing water and sulfur from a flue gas (20) of the power plant (10). The desiccating scrubber (140) may include an inlet nozzle (145) for spraying an aqueous solution (142) containing a desiccant and a base into flue gas (20) so the aqueous solution (142) makes direct contact with flue gas (20). A filter (162) may be provided to collect sulfur compounds downstream of the desiccating scrubber (140) and a regenerator (164) may be provided for recovering water. A controller (148) may control a base supply (170) and a desiccant supply (172) to regulate the respective amounts of each introduced into the aqueous solution (142). Controller (148) may be responsive to sensors (142) measuring the water and sulfur content of flue gas (20) exhausted to atmosphere (144). The desiccating scrubber (140) may include a demister (160) to entrain carryover droplets from a sprayed aqueous solution (142).

Abstract: A radially-extending arm is adapted to rotate within a stream of first fluid flowing thereacross. In one embodiment, the arm comprises a plurality of lands located at different radial distances from the axis of rotation, and a port located on each land is operatively coupled to a source of a second fluid. The second fluid is sprayed from the rotating arm into the stream of first fluid that flows across the lands, and is thereby atomized. In another embodiment, the arm comprises a land stepped into the trailing edge thereof, and a port for injecting the second fluid is located on the land. In another embodiment, the land comprises a groove located between the port and an associated riser surface stepped into the trailing edge. In another embodiment, the arm comprises a port in the trailing edge thereof from which the second fluid is injected, and a groove is located on the trailing edge in a radially increasing direction from the port.

Abstract: In a burner arrangement for the annular combustion chamber of a gas turbine, a plurality of burners are arranged above one another, in each case in pairs in the radial direction, on concentric rings. In a burner arrangement of this type, the mechanical integrity of the turbine casing is increased and operation of the combustion chamber is optimized by virtue of the two burners in a pair of burners being oriented out of the parallel position, in such a manner that their burner axes converge in the direction of flow.

Abstract: A cooling system for audio equipment uses a temperature sensor and Peltier effect module in a feedback control loop. The cooling system reads the temperature sensor to obtain the temperature of an audio component of the equipment, and adjusts the drive for the Peltier effect module that cools the audio component, to prevent overheating of the component. The cooling system may include an autonomous power supply that generates electric power from the audio signal driving a loudspeaker of the audio system. In another embodiment, the cooling system cools an audio component installed in a vehicle, even when the vehicle is unattended. To prevent discharge of the vehicle's battery, the cooling system employs a battery supervisor for turning the cooling system off when the battery has discharged down to a predetermined state.

Abstract: The Mechanical Freezer of this invention closely approaches an ideal freezer cycle composed of constant temperature compression, expansion, and constant volume heating (load transfer) by using power piston 106 that power input shaft 50 moves up and down and displacers 104 and 105 that are moved by cam 108. When power piston 106 moving up and additional displacer 105 moving down come together, fluid is forced through additional heat sink 41 where it is cooled as it is compressed. When additional displacer 105 and primary displacer 104 come together, fluid is forced through primary heat sink 40 where it is cooled as it is compressed. After compression, the cooled fluid is expanded by power piston 106 along with displacers 104 and 105 moving down. When displacers 104 and 105 then move up, fluid is forced through load 30 and load 30 is cooled.

Abstract: There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a heater for heating a liquid, (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from the liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas, and (c) a membrane permeator for removing the vapor from the vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the heater to the resultant vapor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioner, in particular for use in motor vehicles, with a cooling circuit and a ventilation system, wherein the cooling circuit features an evaporator/heat exchanger (12) that is arranged in the ventilation system, and wherein a gas sensor (30) is provided in the ventilation system downstream from the evaporator/heat exchanger (12) to detect the rates of a refrigerant of the evaporator/heat exchanger (12) of the air conditioner in the conveyed air-conditioned air. It is provided that the gas sensor (30) is arranged at a narrow point (32) and/or in an area of turbulent flow of an air guidance channel (10) of the ventilation system. The invention also relates to a method to operate such an air conditioner.

Abstract: A refrigerator of the present invention includes a refrigerating cycle including a compressor (24), a condenser (25), an expander (30, 31) and an evaporator (16, 20) and filled with a flammable refrigerant, a load detector (41) detecting a change in load of the compressor (25), and a control device (43) detecting a damage which is a cause for leak of the refrigerant from the refrigerating cycle, based on a detection output of the load detector (41).

Abstract: A check device for an air conditioning system of an automobile and an air conditioner compressor includes a first path for containing coolant flowing therein. An air conditioner compressor, a condenser, an inflate valve and an evaporator are sequentially mounted to the first path to divided the first path. Two opposite ends of the first path respectively connected to a high-pressure outlet and a low-pressure inlet of the air conditioner compressor. Two pressure gauges are respectively mounted to the first path, one before the air conditioner compressor and the other after the air conditioner compressor relative to the flowing direction of the coolant in the first path for showing the difference of the pressure value of the coolant between passing before the air conditioner compressor and passing after the air conditioner compressor.

Abstract: A system and process for loading control software into the control panel of a liquid chiller system is provided. A PCMCIA card socket is installed on a circuit board of a liquid chiller control system and is in direct connection with microprocessor data and address buses. A linear flash PCMCIA card having new control software for the control panel is inserted into the PCMCIA card socket when the control panel is de-energized. The control software from the PCMCIA card is loaded into a flash memory of the control system by software executed directly from the PCMCIA card. The software in the PCMCIA card erases the flash memory of the control system, copies the control software from the PCMCIA card to the flash memory and then confirms that the copy of the control software was successful. After the control software has been copied, the control panel is de-energized, the PCMCIA card is removed and the chiller system is restarted and executes the new control software stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: A damper apparatus for controlling airflow between compartments in a two compartment refrigerator having a door includes a controller for controlling opening and closing of a damper; and a door sensor connected to the controller for detecting when the door is open. If the controller determines that the door has remained closed for a set period, the controller maintains the damper in the closed position. A method for cleaning a damper in a refrigerator includes a steps of defrosting a refrigeration apparatus of the refrigerator, at least partially opening the damper, followed by waiting for a set period and then at least partially closing the damper. The steps of at least partially opening and waiting are repeated a set number of times and then a cooling operation of the refrigeration apparatus is commenced.

Abstract: Refrigerant is circulated through a vapor compression system including a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. When a sensor detects that frozen water droplets form on the evaporator, a valve positioned between the discharge of the compression and inlet of expansion device is opened. Refrigerant from the discharge of the compressor bypasses the gas cooler and enters the inlet of the expansion device. The high temperature refrigerant melts the frost on the evaporator. As the frost melts, the passage of the evaporator is opened to allow air to flow through the evaporator.

Abstract: The present invention is an integral heating, ventilation, and cooling ducting that is formed in the bulkheads and overheads of a boat or ship. The ducting is custom designed for each boat or ship and is made of a hard material such as plastic, fiberglass, hard insulation board, etc., which will maintain its integrity and cannot be restricted in size or get crimped. The ducting is formed by attaching opposing sidewalls made from the ducting material to the underside of the deck to so that three sides of the duct are formed. The duct is completed when the interior overhead is put into place. Ducts are also formed in bulkheads wherein opposing bulkhead sidewalls form two opposing sidewalls of the duct and ducting material form the remaining two opposing sidewalls of the duct. In this manner, ducting systems can be designed utilizing the small space between the deckplate and the interior headliner which most commonly have a height of approximately 2½? or less.

Abstract: Each blow-off valve includes a valve body with a first movable wall defining a portion of the liquid fluid passage therein and a second movable wall defining a portion of the suction fluid passage therein. An actuator interconnects the movable walls for simultaneously moving the walls and opening the fluid passages in response to the electrical leakage-warning signal. In the species of FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable walls are integrally united with the valve body and include frangible sections that are fractured by an explosive squib to separate the movable walls from the body to simultaneously open the liquid and suction fluid passages. In the species of FIG. 5, the movable walls are separate valve elements disposed in a circular bore that opens the passages to the ambient surroundings. The actuator includes a spring, for biasing each of the valve elements out of its respective bore, and a holding device that weakens in response to the electrical leakage-warning signal.

Abstract: A method for providing a cryogenic applicator, which applicator (1) comprises at least one plastic foam part (2), wherein the foam part (2) is at least partly compressed to a particular treatment shape and simultaneously cooled, such that the foam part (2) is stiffened in the treatment shape for a particular treatment period. In addition, the invention provides an assembly of at least one applicator and a cooling device, wherein the applicator (1) comprises at least one plastic foam part (2), the device (11) being provided with a cooling chamber to cool the foam part (2) of the applicator (1), at least when the foam part (2) has been placed in a cooling position in the cooling chamber, the cooling chamber comprising a shaping cavity (12) to compress the foam part (2) at the cooling position at least partly to a particular treatment shape.

Abstract: An integrated air conditioner, including a condenser casing to house a condenser and a condenser fan therein, the condenser casing including a front plate, an upper cover extending from an upper edge of the front plate, and a plurality of hinges integrally provided between the front plate and the upper cover, spaced apart from at regular intervals, wherein the upper cover rotates around the hinges be perpendicular to the front plate.

Abstract: An air conditioner including a cabinet, a partition plate provided in the cabinet to partition an internal space of the cabinet, and an air inlet port and an air outlet port provided on the cabinet to draw and discharge indoor air into and from the cabinet, respectively. The air conditioner further has an evaporator placed adjacent to the air inlet port, a fan to draw the indoor air into the cabinet through the air inlet port, an air guide duct to guide the indoor, and an air discharging duct supported on the partition plate adjacent to the air guide duct. Because the air discharging duct is supported on the partition plate, the air conditioner prevents the air discharging duct from being displaced from a desired position regardless of a vibration or impact applied to the air discharging duct. Thus, the assembling process of the air conditioner is simplified.

Abstract: An integrated air conditioner having a condenser casing, prevents noise from being generated and prevents a condenser fan from being damaged or broken, due to contact between the condenser casing and the condenser fan. The condenser casing includes a front plate, an upper cover, and a plurality of coupling ribs between the front plate and the upper cover, to be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. The condenser casing further includes a plurality of locking projections projected from a front edge of the upper cover toward the front plate, and a plurality of locking holes provided along an upper edge of the front plate. The locking projections are inserted into the corresponding locking holes after the coupling ribs are cut to separate the upper cover from the front plate, so that the upper cover is assembled with the front plate. The condenser fan is placed under the upper cover at a position in back of the locking projections.

Abstract: A front panel for an integral type air conditioner is provided. The front panel of the integral type air conditioner has a side intake formed at a side portion thereof such that desired air is introduced. The front panel also includes a discharge hole through which the intake air into the air conditioner is discharged.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a cabin of a motorized vehicle comprising of an evaporator and desiccant, where said desiccant is downstream of evaporator, and said desiccant is a rotor that uses nearby excess heat to regenerate the desiccant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser for a refrigerator, which enables an effective usage of the inner space of the refrigerator and enables to always provide fresh water to a user. The dispenser (50) includes: a first pipe (51) connected with a water supply source; a reservoir (52) installed inside a door of the refrigerator and connected with the first pipe (51), for temporarily storing water supplied from the water supply source; a second pipe (53) connected with the reservoir (52); and a discharging part (54) installed in the door of the refrigerator and connected with the second pipe (53), for discharging the water supplied from the reservoir (52) depending on a user's necessity.

Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a cabinet providing a refrigerating compartment and a machine compartment isolated from the refrigerating compartment, said cabinet installed with a door for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment; and a refrigerating unit detachably installed in the machine compartment, for supplying cool air into the refrigerating compartment, and including mechanisms performing a refrigerating cycle of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, said mechanisms integrally installed in the machine compartment. Accordingly, a fabrication process of a refrigerator is simplified and cost and operating time for installation, maintenance and repair of the refrigerating unit can be reduced.

Abstract: The Invention is an apparatus which may be a drinking vessel to contain dry ice submerged within a beverage to create a visual effect. A partition has a first side and a second side and is adapted to contain dry ice on the first side. The partition is adapted to allow the beverage to flow from the second side of said partition to said first side of said partition when said partition is immersed in the beverage, exposing the beverage to the dry ice, creating a visual effect and chilling the beverage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a liquid comprising a cavity (2) containing a refrigerating liquid capable of evaporation under the effect of a depression maintained by a pump. The cavity includes at least a first wall (21) in contact with the liquid to be cooled, the first wall (21) being substantially conical such that its cross-sectional surface tapers from the base towards the top, and at least a second wall (22) forming the base of the conical shape and incorporating communication (30) between the cavity (2) of the exchanger and the pump.

Abstract: The invention provides a submerged evaporator (14) with integrated plate heat ex-changer (4) that may operate with markedly increased capacity, where the evaporator (14) does not require more space than other known types and have a smaller filling volume of refrigerant (10) than prior art units. The integrated plate heat exchanger (4) is built up with an outer contour that substantially follow the lower contour of the casing (6) and the liquid level, where the integrated heat exchanger (4) has at least one inlet connection (24.1) and at least one outlet connection (24.2) for secondary refrigerant (26), and where the upper volume of the casing acts as a liquid separator. With such design, much less space is occupied than with prior art types of submerged evaporators. The reason is that the internal volume is better utilised.

Abstract: A jewelry clasp supports a plurality of strands of jewelry each with opposite ends having terminal fasteners. The jewelry clasp includes selectively connectable first and second segments. Each of the segments includes a spanner portion having opposite ends and a strand retainer bar extending from at least one of the ends. The strand retainer bars are adapted to selectively couple with the opposite ends of each strand of jewelry for maintaining a desired positional relationship between the plurality of strands of jewelry.

Abstract: An article of jewelry includes at least one body having a top and bottom face. The body is constructed of a precious or semi-precious metal. In one embodiment, the metal is titanium. A magnetic element is connected to the body. In one embodiment, the magnetic element has a face or surface which comprises at least 50%, and preferably 75% to 90%, of the total area of the bottom face of the body. In one embodiment, the body comprises a link, and a plurality of the links are connected to form a bracelet. In one embodiment, the magnetic element is generally oval in shape and is inset into the body so that the face of the magnetic element is co-planar with the rear of the body.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a device for facilitating the setting of the ear attachment method on earrings. The device is comprised of a universal female clipping connector and a variety of male clipping connectors. The universal female connector is attached to the back of the earrings, then the user selects what kind of ear attachment method is desired and chooses a male clipping connector that will provide this method and such male connector is attached to the universal female connector creating earrings which can be then used by the method provided by the male connector.