Abstract: A gearing arrangement for driving at least one working unit, especially a cutter arrangement, has a support unit (6) with a connection mechanism (45) coupling to a tractor (1). A gearbox housing (7) is pivotably supported around a pivoting axis (11) in the support unit (6). The gearbox housing (7) can be directly or indirectly connected to the working unit (38, 41). An input shaft (28) is pivotably supported within the gearbox housing (7) around a rotational axis (27). A connection mechanism (33) on the input shaft connects with a drive shaft (10). The input shaft (28) drives at least one output shaft (31), which is rotationally supported in the gearbox housing (7). The output shaft (31) may be connected to intermediate shaft (34, 39) to drive at least one working tool of the working unit.

Abstract: The corn harvesting unit and the attachment modifications for connection to the threshing unit provide an improved flow of material from the row to the threshed grain in the combine. These modifications of structure and the resultant spatial changes to the variety of the conveying systems used from the row to the grain tank of the combine result in a novel and more efficient harvesting machine. The spatial relationship between the powered and the un-powered conveying systems moving in different directions permits improved flow and flow rates reducing plugging and power consumption. Material is lifted through a lesser angle of the inclined plane from the ground to thresher unit. In operation a smooth uninterrupted flow of material from the row unit to the cross auger through the dead space (energy wise) to the retrieving area of the feeder house is provided for.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic cord for reinforcing a tire moldable in a tire manufacturing step without complicating operations and keeping strength by reducing rusting and an excellent pneumatic tire employing the metallic cord. The inventive metallic cord for reinforcing a tire is formed by shaping a bundle prepared by paralleling a plurality of metallic wires having substantially circular sections in an unstranded state with a binder of a polymer material having a melting point of 50° C. to 200° C. The polymer material is preferably low-density polyethylene or medium-density polyethylene. The diameters of the metallic wires are preferably 0.15 to 0.3 mm.

Abstract: Device for reducing the fluff of a yarn comprising a longitudinal duct for the passage of the yarn, and ducts for the injection of air, tangential to the yarn, forming a vortex in accordance with the yarn twist, without the interposition of deviation and control means for generating a balloon.

Abstract: A jewelry piece made of metal and with a textured surface. The textured surface has: a first series of substantially parallel grooves made by a process of diamond-cutting the surface of the jewelry piece, the grooves having a depth, and a plurality of wells made by a second process of diamond-cutting the surface of the jewelry piece, the wells being deeper than the grooves.

Abstract: A four-stroke supercharged internal-combustion engine includes at least two cylinders with a combustion chamber (14), an air intake (16) including a pipe (20) associated with a shutoff (21), an exhaust (18) including a pipe (22) with a shutoff (23) and exhaust gas collection system including the pipes and at least one manifold (22, 24; 64,66). The engine includes a capacity and a controller for increasing the collected exhaust gas volume during high-speed running of the engine.

Abstract: This feature of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus to retard the spark time. As a result, the catalyst heats up quickly during the cold start. The retard spark control method of the present invention uses a closed loop to adjust the engine retard limit during an engine cold start to retard the engine spark as much as possible without engine misfire and with minimum partial burn. The increased exhaust temperature heats up the catalyst more quickly than conventional open loop approaches, which as a result, reduces hydrocarbon emissions. The closed loop retard spark control using ionization current feedback consists of four major components or functions, an error and gain generator, a proportional and integration control processing block, a default spark timing processor, and an adaptive learning apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the exhaust emissions during the cold start of an internal combustion engine (3). According to the method, a starter motor (4) is operated in parallel with the internal combustion engine (3) until the operating temperature of an exhaust gas catalytic converter (1) is reached, to thereby relieve the power demand on the internal combustion engine and thereby to minimize the production of pollutants. The heating of catalytic converter (1) can preferably be accelerated by retarded spark timing, by a delayed shift in automatic transmission (6) and/or by an electrical heater coupled to catalytic converter (1).

Abstract: In an apparatus having a combustion engine and an emissions system including a catalytic converter and a metal oxide catalyst disposed downstream of the catalytic converter, a method of controlling a chemical transformation of hydrogen sulfide in an emissions stream to a less-noxious sulfur-containing compound is disclosed. The method includes reacting the hydrogen sulfide with the metal oxide catalyst to form a metal sulfide, monitoring a saturation of the metal oxide catalyst with the metal sulfide, and when a predetermined saturation of metal sulfide on the metal oxide is reached, changing an air/fuel ratio supplied to the combustion engine.

Abstract: A controller executes temperature rise control on a catalyst device by retarding ignition timing that is set based on engine operating conditions. The controller reaches a diagnosis that the temperature rise control is normal if an advance angle side accumulated time for which the ignition timing is set exceeding a threshold value to an advance angle side during execution of the temperature rise control is less than an accumulated time determination value. When the advance angle side accumulated time is greater than or equal to the accumulated time determination value, the controller reaches a diagnosis that the temperature rise control has an anomaly.

Abstract: An integral operation in an upstream target-value varying part is stopped in response to transition to a fuel cutoff state to maintain an integral value concerning a downstream side. Thereafter, at a time of removal of the fuel cutoff state, a cumulative-air-intake-amount detecting part detects a cumulative air amount of air taken into an engine. Then, when the cumulative air amount reaches a predetermined air amount, an integral-operation-stop/restart controlling part restarts the integral operation in the upstream target-value varying part to update integral values concerning the downstream side in a time sequence.

Abstract: A diesel engine system includes a diesel engine having a first exhaust segment and a second exhaust segment. A filter filters exhaust gas from the first and second exhaust segments. A flow control valve selectively re-circulates a portion of exhaust from the first exhaust segment back into the diesel engine. An injector system injects fuel into exhaust flowing through the second exhaust segment. The fuel is combusted to regenerate the filter.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system includes an oxygen mass flow rate detecting unit for detecting or calculating a mass flow rate of oxygen fed to a filter and a regeneration end determining unit for determining a regeneration end of the filter in accordance with information provided from the oxygen mass flow rate detecting-unit and upon arrival of an integrated value of the oxygen mass flow rate at a predetermined value during regeneration of the filter.

Abstract: A method and system providing a vehicle condition detection means (38C) for detecting the stopped and traveling state of a vehicle, and when the vehicle condition detection means (38C) detects that the vehicle has stopped during operation of an exhaust gas temperature raising means (351C), closing an exhaust gas throttling valve (16) in addition to continuing the operation of the exhaust gas temperature raising means (351C), and subsequently, when the vehicle's traveling state is detected, opening the exhaust gas throttling valve (16) and continuing the operation of the exhaust gas temperature raising means (351C).

Abstract: The invention provides an exhaust gas purification device that can prevent deterioration of the emission during a regeneration process for a particular filter for trapping particulates contained in the exhaust gas. Particulate filter regeneration timing determining unit estimates the amount of particulates trapped by the particulate filter to determine the filter regeneration timing based on the estimated particular amount. In response to the regeneration timing determination, heating unit heats the particulate filter to raise an exhaust gas temperature, so that a particulate filter regeneration process starts. At this time, intake air amount reducing unit reduces the intake air amount to raise the exhaust gas temperature while combustion maintaining unit controls the combustion in the internal-combustion engine so as to be maintained in a desired condition.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder and an integral concentric accumulator. The hydraulic cylinder has a first piston surface for extending the cylinder, a second piston surface for retracting the cylinder and a third piston surface in dedicated communication with the accumulator.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation system comprises first and second actuator arrangements (10, 12) arranged to apply first and second output loads respectively to a common element (14). A control method for controlling the operation of the hybrid actuation system includes the steps of supplying first and second demand signals to the first and second actuator arrangements (10, 12) respectively to cause movement of the common element (14) into a demanded position, monitoring the first and second output loads applied by the first and second actuator arrangements (10, 12) and generating an output signal indicative of the difference between the first and second output loads. The first and second demand signals are corrected in response to the output signal to compensate for any difference between the first and second output loads, thereby to ensure the first and second output loads applied to the common element (14) are substantially identical and synchronized.

Abstract: A system for damping the extension and retraction of a hydraulic cylinder of a work vehicle at the ends of the cylinder's stroke.

Abstract: In the pressure oscillation generator 1, self-excited vibration is generated in a work transfer tube 30 by heating a heat input section 22 and also a resonator 50 is resonated, and when a work is inputted into a heat exchanger 20, the work is amplified by the heat exchanger 20, and is transferred to the heat transfer tube 30 and is then outputted to an output section 40. Because of the configuration, an outputted work can be amplified to a work larger than the inputted work, so that, by using a portion of the outputted work as energy for driving the cylinder 10, the pressure oscillation generator 1 can continuously be driven only by heating and without using electric energy generated by a large scale solar system or the like, which enables substantial size reduction of the pressure oscillation generator 1.

Abstract: The present invention employs an optimized cross-sectional shape for a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite that is used in a spring-type actuator, an improved hybrid magnetic trigger for use in FSMA based actuators, an a FSMA composite based spring type actuator, an a FSMA based spring type actuator including a stack of triggering units and FSMA springs, a FSMA composite based torque actuator. The invention also includes a model that can be employed to evaluate different materials being considered as components a FSMA for a FSMA composite used in either a FSMA based torque actuator or a FSMA spring actuator.

Abstract: A concrete transfer system for a concrete pump car has a pair of concrete input tubes mounted in a hopper, first and second drive cylinders operating with the concrete input tubes for inputting and outputting the concrete by pressure pistons each having a driving rod, an oil pressure pump for supplying oil to the first and second drive cylinders, and a movement sensor for each of the driving rods. A control unit receives a sensing signal from each sensor and there are a plurality of logic valves operated by the control unit that are selectively opened and closed to supply oil to opposite sides of the driving rod of each of the cylinders. A high-low pressure selection valve operates to perform the concrete transfer at either high or low oil pressure.

Abstract: In a vehicle braking system, a backup piston pushes a master piston directly from behind when hydraulic pressure of a boosted hydraulic pressure chamber decreases. The backup piston has a piston body which is slidably fitted in a casing, and a pusher which is slidably fitted in the casing with a seal diameter smaller than seal diameters of the master piston and the piston body and which extends to the front end of the piston body, to push the master piston from behind. An annular input chamber communicated with a hydraulic power source is formed between the backup piston and the casing. When the pusher pushes the master piston forward, amount of volume increased in the boosted hydraulic pressure chamber is set to be substantially equal to amount of volume decreased in the input chamber. Thus, it is possible to avoid increase in the hydraulic pressure of the boosted hydraulic pressure chamber during forward movement of the backup piston, using a simple configuration with a reduced number of parts.

Abstract: A master cylinder includes a primary cup received in a groove formed in the inner wall of the cylinder body. Projections are formed on a radially inner portion of the cup so as to protrude forwardly from the front end of the radially inner portion. The projections are adapted to be pressed against the front end wall of the cup-receiving groove and elastically deformed under a pressure difference produced between the front and rear ends of the cup when the piston is returned quickly, allowing the cup to advance in the cup-receiving groove. When the cup advances in the groove, a fluid passage is defined between a base portion of the cup and the rear end wall of the groove.

Abstract: An exhaust energy recovery system for a combustion engine having an exhaust passage has a displacement expansion device and a generator. The expansion device is located in the exhaust passage. Exhaust gas is introduced into the expansion device. The expansion device has an expansion chamber the volume of which varies in accordance with the pressure of exhaust gas and generates power in accordance with the volume variation of the expansion chamber. The generator generates electricity in accordance with the power generated by the expansion device. This efficiently recovers exhaust gas and effectively uses the recovered exhaust gas.

Abstract: A fluid machine for a waste heat collecting system for an internal combustion engine has an object to make most use of the collected waste heat and an operation of a compressor, an alternator or the like by a rotational driving force from an expansion device function well even during an engine running is stopped. The fluid machine according to the present invention has a pulley connected to the engine, an expansion device for generating a rotational driving force from the collected waste heat, a compressor device driven by the pulley and the expansion device, wherein a rotating shaft is commonly used for the pulley, the expansion device and the compressor device. The expansion device is an expansion device for changing its expansion volume, so that the Rankine cycle for collecting the waste heat can be operated most effectively.

Abstract: The device comprises a first heat exchanger (22) for exchanging heat between the admission air and a heat-transfer liquid for regulating the temperature of the admission air, the heat exchanger being connected to a circuit (24) for cold heat-transfer liquid, the device further comprising a second heat exchanger (26) for exchanging heat between the admission air and a heat-transfer fluid likewise for regulating the temperature of the admission air and connected to a circuit (28) for very cold heat-transfer fluid that is colder than the heat transfer liquid of the cold heat-transfer liquid circuit (24). The cold heat-transfer liquid circuit (24) preferably comprises a heat exchanger (30) for exchanging heat between air and the cold heat-transfer liquid, e.g. carried by a front face (31) of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing mechanical energy. Said device contains an internal combustion engine and an expansion engine (20, 21) which is fed with superheated steam from a steam generator. Exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine are injected into the steam generator (24) to use the waste heat thereof. In order to eliminate pollutants and non-burned fuel in the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine in a simple and effective manner, the steam generator (24) is heated by a non-catalytic burner (16) at a burner temperature of between 1100° and 1300° C. The exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine can be combined with the combustion gases in the burner (16). The after-burning of non-burned fuel and the combustion of pollutants is thus carried out in a burner (16) in a non-catalytic manner.

Abstract: A method of operating a solar power station solar power station including a solar panel assembly having multiple towers, a solar panel pivotally mounted to an upper end of each tower, and a control system. Each of the towers has multiple floors and is individually extendable from a bottom position to an extended position. The control system includes a main routine for operating the towers comprising a normal operation subroutine for selectively positioning the towers between the bottom position and the extended position, whereby the solar power panel is positioned for maximum solar collection. A monitor parameter subroutine continually monitors the earthquake and wind sensors. A withdraw towers subroutine initiates withdrawal of the towers to the bottom position when the earthquake sensor or the wind sensor sense a seismic event or a high wind force, respectively, that is likely to damage the solar power station.

Abstract: A description is given of a damping arrangement for reducing resonant vibrations in a combustion chamber (1), with a combustion-chamber wall (2), which is of double-walled design and, with an outer wall-surface part (22) and an inner wall-surface part (21) facing the combustion chamber (1), gastightly encloses an intermediate space (3), into which cooling air can be fed for purposes of convective cooling of the combustion-chamber wall (2). The invention is distinguished by the fact that at least one third wall-surface part (4) is provided, which, with the outer wall-surface part (22), encloses a gastight volume (5), and that the gastight volume (5) is connected gastightly to the combustion chamber (1) by at least one connecting line (6).

Abstract: A unitary 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 combustor liner for a gas turbine, the combustor liner having a substantially cylindrical shape; and a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves formed in an outside surface of the combustor liner.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a system for reducing stagnation between substantially adjacent components while providing enhanced heat distribution properties in the corners and edges of the components. Each component is generally hollow and has two walls disposed substantially orthogonal to each other. Each of the two walls includes a substantially planar region, having an associated thickness, that transitions into a corner region. The two walls join in the corner region to form an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion. The interior surface of each wall in the corner region approaches the exterior surface as the interior surface advances toward the inner edge portion such that the thickness in the corner region does not exceed the thickness of the substantially planar region. The components are substantially adjacent such that the outer edge portions are disposed opposite and substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use in a gas turbine combustor is provided having the capability of injecting multiple fuel types as well as steam for NOx reduction. Combustion dynamics within a combustor due to the mal-distribution of steam are controlled by the placement of a meterplate at the steam inlet, such that the meterplate reduces steam velocity and increases steam pressure drop. A higher pressure drop reduces the sensitivity of the combustion process to upstream steam supply variations. A method for providing uniform steam flow to a plurality of fuel nozzle assemblies about a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a gas turbine having a compressor, a combustor and a turbine, a gaseous fuel supply coupled to provide gaseous fuel to the combustor, a liquid fuel supply coupled to provide liquid fuel to the combustor via nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a plurality of passageways for flowing a fluid into the combustor, one of the passageways being an atomizing air passageway conduit interconnecting the atomizing air passageway to one of the plurality of passageways to enable fluid flow therebetween, while not allowing the flow of fluid back into the atomizing air passageway. High pressure air from the atomizing air passageway is diverted into one of the plurality of passageways via the conduit to protect the nozzle from ingestion of hot combustor gases, thus eliminating a need for a dedicated air purge system for that one of the plurality of passageways.

Abstract: A gas turbine group is provided with at least one cooling apparatus for cooling the working medium before and/or during the compression. The cooling power of the cooling apparatus can be adjusted by suitable means. A controller controls the cooling power of the cooling apparatus as a function of a control deviation in the useful power of the gas turbine group. The cooling controller interacts with other controllers of the gas turbine group in such a way that the gas turbine group is itself always operated at least close to its full load operating state. In this context, it is preferable for the inlet guide vane row of the compressor to be maximally open, and for the hot-gas temperature on entry into the turbines to be controlled so that it is constantly at an upper limit value.

Abstract: A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft that combines power sources delivered by the APU so that essentially then entire power delivered by the APU for pneumatic, hydraulic and electric power is applied to corresponding starters on each propulsion engine during MES simultaneously.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle refrigerating system has a pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b, each comprising a warm head 8a and 8b of which the temperature rises as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, a cold head 7a and 7b of which the temperature falls as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, and a piston and a displacer that vibrate inside a cylinder along the axis thereof with an identical period and with a predetermined phase difference maintained. Inside a machine chamber 15, the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b is arranged coaxially with the axes thereof aligned with each other and with the cold heads 7a and 7b thereof facing away from each other, and the pistons or displacers of the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b are driven to vibrate in phase with each other.

Abstract: A system for freezing, thawing, transporting, and storing a biopharmaceutical material, which includes a container, a supporting structure, a temperature control unit, and a transportation cart. The container is adapted to receive the biopharmaceutical material therein for freezing, thawing, storing, and transporting, with the container also being receivable in the supporting structure. The temperature control unit has a cavity for receiving the supporting structure, when the supporting structure supports the container, and the transportation cart has a channel for receiving the supporting structure, when the supporting structure supports the container.

Abstract: A method and system for discharging refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, from an air conditioning system. The discharge rate of the refrigerant from the air conditioning system is controlled by a discharge rate controller, even as refrigerant pressure at the system input varies. By maintaining discharge rate at a controlled value, the discharge time of the refrigerant from the air conditioning system is reduced.

Abstract: A control algorithm is developed which takes corrective action in the event that system conditions indicate there may be an inadequate flow of lubricant in the system. In particular, if a discharge pressure is below a predetermined amount or if the suction modulation valve is throttled, there is a possibility of inadequate lubricant flow. The system control then turns off the condenser fan, and if that first step is not sufficient, may also turn on an evaporator heater and then control a suction modulation valve. A fail safe control loop also takes effect if the condition sensor appears to have failed.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus is provided with an adsorption element having a humidity adjusting side passageway configured to adsorb and desorb moisture by passage of adsorption air or regeneration air and a cooling side passageway through which cooling air passes so that the adsorption air is cooled by absorption of heat of adsorption generated during the adsorption in the humidity adjusting side passageway. In the air conditioning apparatus, air is humidified or dehumidified in the humidity adjusting side passageway of the adsorption element and is supplied to an indoor space. In order to achieve improvements in the cooling efficiency when cooling adsorption air by the use of cooling air in the cooling side passageway, room air, conditioned air, or mixed air which is a combination of room air and outdoor air is used as cooling air which is forced to flow through the adsorption element.

Abstract: A spray cooling system for transverse evaporative spray cooling in a narrow gap which may generally include a mixing zone, a converging zone, a cooling conduit, and a re-circulation conduit. The spray cooling system in some of its embodiments, provides among other things, a feed system for narrow gap evaporative spray cooling, a method for reducing the pressure gradient across the surface from which heat is to be transferred and a housing system which utilizes a baffle to separate the cooling conduit from a re-circulation conduit and to re-circulate vapor to the entry of the cooling conduit.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus that having a refrigerating cycle including a compressor, a gas cooler, a pressure reducing device and an evaporator and is designed so that water can be heated by the gas cooler. A refrigerant such as CO2 or the like working in a supercritical area is filled and used at a high-pressure side in the refrigerating cycle and a radiator is equipped between the exit of the gas cooler and the pressure reducing device. The refrigerant temperature at the exit of the radiator is kept at a substantially fixed temperature irrespective of the temperature of hot water to the gas cooler.

Abstract: A phase-change cooling system for a vehicle includes an electronic control device for receiving power from a power source and having a first temperature. The phase-change cooling system also includes a condenser of an air conditioning system of the vehicle thermally communicating with the electronic control device and having a second temperature less than the first temperature to remove heat from the electronic control device due to a phase-change of coolant in the condenser.

Abstract: System and method are provided for removing condensate from an air-to-liquid heat exchanger of a combined air/liquid enclosed apparatus for cooling rack-mounted electronic equipment. The condensate removal system includes a condensate collector for collecting liquid condensate from the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and a vaporizing chamber in fluid communication with the condensate collector for receiving collected liquid therefrom. An actively controlled vaporizer vaporizes collected liquid within the vaporizing chamber and a vapor exhaust is in communication with the vaporizing chamber for venting vapor from the vaporizing chamber outside the cabinet containing the combined air/liquid cooling apparatus and rack-mounted electronic equipment.

Abstract: A space has air humidity and temperature to be regulated. An air handler has a temperature regulation element, a fan and a housing. An inflow manifold has an intake end and an outflow end and a plurality of stubs and a plurality of dampers. An outflow manifold has an intake end and an outflow end and a plurality of stubs and a plurality of dampers. A desiccant unit has a plurality of chambers and a desiccant wheel and a plurality of blowers and a heat source and a mixing chamber and a combustible gas supply with a gas burner and an adjustable gas valve to regulate the flow of combustible gas. A plurality of ducts couple the air handler and the manifolds and the desiccant unit.

Abstract: A refrigeration system of the type having a compression stage, a condensation stage, an expansion stage and an evaporation stage, comprising a first evaporator group in the evaporation stage. The first evaporator group has two or more evaporators. A first valve is positioned upstream of the evaporators of the first evaporator group. The first valve is closeable to stop a supply of refrigerant to the evaporators of the first evaporator group simultaneously for a subsequent air defrost of the evaporators of the first evaporator group.

Abstract: A heat pump equipped with an extraction heat exchanger includes a compressor sucking low-temperature-and-low-pressure liquid refrigerant, and compressing and discharging the low-temperature-and-low-pressure liquid refrigerant into high-temperature-and-high-pressure liquid refrigerant, a condenser in which air passing therethrough absorbs heat from the liquid refrigerant to liquefy the liquid refrigerant, an evaporator in which refrigerant absorbs heat from indoor air and is evaporated to cool indoor air, a main electronic expansion valve connected between the condenser and the evaporator to decompress the liquid refrigerant liquefied in the condenser such that the decompressed refrigerant is easily evaporated in the evaporator and flows at a predetermined flow rate; and the extraction heat exchanger branching a part of the high-temperature-and-high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and performing and bypassing heat exchange between high-temperature-and-high-pressure super-cooled liquid refrigerant and high-tempera

Abstract: An ice/beverage dispenser is characterized by an ice/beverage dispensing machine having an integral ice making capacity. An icemaker of the dispenser and the ice and beverage dispensing portion share an evaporator that that is utilized both for chilling beverage water for dispensing and for making ice. The evaporator is efficiently utilized in that one side of it is used for making ice and both sides of it are used for chilling water. The present invention uses a processor based control circuit that operates the refrigeration system between ice-making and water chilling modes in such manner as to ensure that cold beverages will always be served. The ice/beverage dispenser also includes a system for quickly combining and separating the ice making and beverage dispensing water supply, water drain and electrical functions.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus is provided with a vapor compression type refrigerant circuit. With this apparatus, reliability from the standpoint of the pipe cleaning mode of the apparatus is improved. The air conditioning system has a main refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, and a user-side heat exchanger. The air conditioning system also has a contaminant collecting device provided on the intake side of the compressor (21). The contaminant collecting device is equipped with a contaminant collecting container, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a main opening/closing device. The contaminant collecting container separates contaminants from refrigerant flowing in the intake gas pipe toward the compressor when the refrigerant is directed through it. The inlet and outlet pipes are each provided with a return preventing shape for preventing contaminants that have accumulated inside the pipes from returning to the intake gas pipe.