Abstract: Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary apparatus for controlling refrigerant flow comprises: at least one refrigerant inlet; at least one refrigerant outlet; a first valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; and a second valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is rotatable, and the first valve and the second valve comprise one or more cooperative openings to allow refrigerant to pass from the refrigerant inlet, through the first and second valves, and out of the refrigerant outlet.

Abstract: A conveyor belt for freezers includes at least one support member having an upper surface upon which product is supported for being conveyed, a lower surface opposed to said upper surface and at least one hole extending through the support member between the upper and lower surfaces for permitting fluid at the lower surface to pass through the at least one hole to the upper surface and contact the product thereon.

Abstract: The following paragraph is to replace the previous version of the abstract, and includes markings to show all the changes made relative to the previous version: An apparatus and method for chilling or freezing a product includes a freezer having a freezing chamber therein in which a cryogenic substance is provided, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the freezing chamber; and a plastic film belt constructed and arranged to transport the product from the inlet through the freezing chamber for exposure to the cryogenic substance to the outlet for removal of the product for further processing. The plastic film belt may be formed with one or a plurality of pockets to transport a corresponding amount of product.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a sealed system, a cooling recipient, and a heat pipe. To transport cooling capacity to the cooling recipient, evaporator in the sealed system includes a cold plate section with heat transfer surface. A cold end of the heat pipe is attached to the cold plate section of the evaporator. An internal refrigerating or freezing compartment, an external compartment, an ice maker, or an ice-making cabinet could be a recipient of cooling capacity. Air flowing around a warm end of the heat pipe brings cooling potential to the internal and/or external compartments. Icemaker and/or ice-making cabinet can be located in the freezing compartment, in the freezing compartment door, in refrigerating compartment, or in refrigerating compartment door. To facilitate heat transfer the warm end of the heat pipe is in heat transfer contact with an ice making cavity that receives and freezes water to ice.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice. The mold body has a plurality of natural frequencies of vibration. Also included is an ice discharge mechanism configured to cause the ice to be removed from the at least one cavity. Also included is a vibration source mounted to the mold body at a location which is located near a region of high deflection at one of the first five natural frequency of vibration of the mold body; the location is also not a node at that natural frequency of vibration of the mold body. A refrigerator using the apparatus, a method of using the apparatus, and a method of designing the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance such as a refrigerator receives a demand response signal indicating a peak demand period and operates the refrigerator in an energy savings mode by disabling an anti-sweat heater. Sensors monitor ambient temperature and humidity, and the dry bulb temperature of a preselected region where incipient moisture would likely form. Data from the sensors is sent to a controller which calculates ambient dew point and compares the dry bulb temperature of the preselected region with the calculated dew point to enable the anti-sweat heater during the peak demand period and prevent incipient formation of moisture.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.

Abstract: An energy saving defrost control system for reducing power consumption of an electromechanically controlled refrigerator is provided. The system includes a defrost timer adapted to control a compressor according to an established run time, a defrost heater control operatively connected to the defrost timer and configured to activate a defrost heater in response to a timeout by the defrost timer, a DSM module responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and off peak demand state, and a time delay latching relay having a timer and configured to switch to one of a low position and a high position based on the demand state signal.

Abstract: A direct cooling refrigerator having a circulation duct. The direct cooling refrigerator includes a cabinet, an inner case arranged in the cabinet and having an inlet and an outlet, a circulation duct coupled to the inner case at the outside of the inner case and having a suction port communicating with the outlet and a discharge port communicating with the inlet, and a fan to move air from the suction port to the discharge port within the circulation duct. The inlet is located at an upper wall of the inner case so as to be located closer to a front surface of the inner case than a rear wall of the inner case, and the outlet is located at the rear wall of the inner case so as to be located close to a lower wall of the inner case.

Abstract: A heat pump system for conditioning outside air supplied to a building is provided. The system includes a pre-processing module that receives and cools air when the system is operating in a summer mode. A supply air heat exchanger is in flow communication with the pre-processing module. The supply air heat exchanger receives and cools air from the pre-processing module in the summer mode. A processing module is in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger. The processing module receives and dehumidifies saturated air from the supply air heat exchanger in the summer mode.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary method relates to a method of controlling a flow of a refrigerant in an appliance comprising a refrigerant flow controller and a refrigerant flow valve, wherein the refrigerant flow controller is configured to direct the refrigerant flow valve to one of a substantially fully opened position and a substantially fully closed position. The method comprises directing the refrigerant flow valve, via the refrigerant flow controller, to at least one transition position between the substantially fully opened position and the substantially fully closed position, and operating the appliance with the refrigerant flow valve at the at least one transition position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of stabilizer that may be at least one phenol or a mixture of at least one phenol with other stabilizers. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.

Abstract: The present technology provides an illustrative hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detection device that includes a decomposition component, a charged particle filter, and a sensing component. The decomposition component is configured to irradiate a gas sample with a radioactive element to decompose HFC gas under conditions sufficient to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one or more ionized particles. The charged particle filter is configured to filter the one or more ionized particles, and the sensing component is configured to detect the HF gas.

Abstract: A control system to selectively control the operation of the compressor of a mini-split air conditioning system including at least one remote evaporator operatively coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant therethrough, a sensor to monitor the operation of the evaporator and to generate an operating control signal to turn-off the compressor when a predetermined operating condition is sensed at the evaporator and a condensate drain pan to receive or catch condensate from the evaporator, the control system comprising a condensate sensor disposed to sense condensate in the condensate drain pan at a predetermined level and to generate a condensate level signal fed to a battery powered control device including an isolated solid state relay coupled to the sensor by a control coupling device to generate a condensate level control signal fed to the sensor causing the sensor to generate the operating control signal fed to turn off the compressor when condensate within the condensate drain pan reaches the prede

Abstract: An air conditioning control apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle having a travel battery that supplies an electric power to a travel driving source, a battery charger that charges the travel battery with a power supply, and an air conditioner that conducts air conditioning in a vehicle interior, controls the air conditioner. When pre-air conditioning is implemented in a state where the battery charger is connected to the power supply, an inrush current generated in a short time when an operation of the air conditioner starts is absorbed by both of power feeding from the power supply and power feeding from the travel battery, and after the inrush current has been absorbed, the air conditioner operates by only the power feeding from the power supply.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a defrost unit for a vehicle. A prediction is performed as to whether condensation has formed against a surface of the vehicle. The defrost unit is automatically activated when it is predicted that the condensation has formed against the surface. Another prediction is made as to whether condensation has dissipated from the surface while the defrost unit is operating. The defrost unit is automatically deactivated when it is predicted that the condensation has dissipated.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus for heating water and dehumidifying air and a water heating and air processing system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor, (2) a refrigerant-water heat exchanger having a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit and (3) a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to either direct flow of the refrigerant through the first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through the second condenser during a water heating mode.

Abstract: One aspect provides an air conditioning system, comprising a compressor housing, a motor having fan blades rotatably coupled thereto and located within the compressor housing. The motor has a rotation sensor associated with it that is configured to sense a rotation of the fan blades. This embodiment further comprises a controller coupled to the motor and is configured to increase a torque of the motor when the rotation sensor indicates that the fan blades are not rotating after an on command signal is received by the motor.

Abstract: When an internal temperature of a freezing compartment becomes lower than a lower limit temperature during R-compartment F-compartment alternate cooling, starting R-individual overcool preventing control is requested. Then, the rotational speed of a compressor is decreased by one stage and, subsequently, a three-way valve enters “R-side open state”, and individual cooling of the refrigerating compartment is executed. Thereafter, every 30 seconds, the rotational speed of the compressor is decreased by one stage. When the refrigerating compartment becomes lower than a lower limit temperature, stopping R-individual overcool preventing control is requested. Then, the process shifts to individual cooling of the freezing compartment and then, after the freezing compartment to again become lower than the lower limit temperature, the compressor is stopped. When shifted to the individual cooling of the refrigerating compartment, the rotational speed of the compressor is drastically decreased in a short time.

Abstract: A pan apparatus for a merchandiser including a case having a platform defining an opening. The pan apparatus includes a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls cooperating with the bottom wall to define a space for supporting product in the pan. At least two of the sidewalls each includes a frame engagement member adjacent a top of the pan. The pan apparatus also includes a frame positioned adjacent a top of the sidewalls and coupled to the frame engagement members. The frame extends along at least two sidewalls of the pan and is configured to engage the platform adjacent the opening to suspend the pan. The frame defines a plurality of holes spaced along at least a portion of the perimeter such that an airflow from below the pan is directed upward along the sidewalls and discharged through the frame via the holes to condition the product.

Abstract: A refrigerator including support ribs provided on both side walls of storage chambers so as to support both sides of shelves, each of which includes a tempered glass panel on which food is placed, and stopper members provided at both sides of the lower surface of the tempered glass panel, each support rib including a front rib, a rear rib, and a latch groove provided between the front rib and the rear rib such that each stopper member is inserted into the latch groove, and inclination prevention ribs, each of which is provided above the rear rib and supports the upper surface of each shelf, thereby improving assembly efficiency and productivity.

Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing gas heat exchangers include a drain line connected to a collector attached to the heat exchanger. In different embodiments, the drain line, or a conduit for the drain line, may extend to the return duct opening for routing of the drain line through the return duct for disposal of the condensate, for instance, within the building, or the drain line may extend through a hole in the floor of the unit. The conduit may protect the drain line from direct heat from the heat exchanger, from freezing where the drain line passes through an outdoor section, or both. In some embodiments, air may be circulated through the conduit to prevent freezing. The conduit may guide the drain line through the unit, roof curb assembly, or roof, or the drain line may be routed through the unit by the manufacturer to the return duct opening.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a compression stage, a condenser stage, and an evaporation stage. The condenser stage includes a first condenser and a water-cooled final condenser operatively configured between the first condenser and the evaporation stage. A water source is in communication with the final condenser, which operates to reduce refrigerant temperature entering the evaporation stage to ambient temperature or lower.

Abstract: A light weight, mobile, cost effective indirect evaporative air/gas cooling system. Porous light weight high strength polypropylene plastic plates are used for dry air conduction while the spaces between neighboring plates filled with highly breathable fabric sheets or fibers are used for wet air conduction. Waters are sprayed onto the plates and the spacing fabrics. Water evaporation is accelerated by an air exhaustion facility on top of the wet air channels which exhausts the humid air from the cooling system.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus, including: a fixed cylinder; a drive shaft mounted to the fixed cylinder and rotated by a drive unit; a lower rotational plate mounted to the drive shaft; an upper rotational plate provided with an ice dropping hole and mounted to the upper end of the drive shaft; a fixed gear mounted to the outer circumference of the fixed cylinder; a rotational gear externally engaged with the fixed gear; a rotational shaft mounted to the rotational gear and extending upward through the lower rotational plate to a position above the ice dropping hole; and a rotational cutter mounted to the upper end of the rotational shaft and rotated to cut dropping ice into pieces, wherein the pieces of ice drop through the ice dropping hole and are distributed to the outside of the ice making apparatus by a centrifugal force of the lower rotational plate.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a freezer compartment and at least one position-adjustable partition located in the freezer compartment. The at least one position-adjustable partition is configured to be selectively deployed in a first position such that a space is defined in the freezer compartment that causes a reduction in an amount of inlet airflow that contacts one or more portions of the freezer compartment that are outside the defined space.

Abstract: A consumer refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a refrigeration system charged with a refrigerant and further having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. At least one of the evaporator or condenser is a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of tube. The tube has a reduced refrigerant side diameter that provides a reduced refrigerant side area defined by the tube length and refrigerant side diameter. The refrigeration system has a reduced refrigerant charge mass.

Abstract: A water recovery process for a steam assisted gravity drainage system for a heavy oil recovery facility, the process comprising a flash drum and a flash drum heat exchanger/condenser, wherein the water recovery process receives hot water produced by a facility at a temperature above the water atmospheric boiling point and cools it to a temperature below the water atmospheric boiling point before transferring it to the remaining section of the water recovery process.

Abstract: A method, system and production and storage facility is disclosed for offshore LPG and LNG processing of associated gases. The system includes a first production facility and a second production and storage facility. The first facility receives and processes produced fluids to produce crude oil, water and rich associated gases. The second facility includes a gas treatment unit for processing the rich associated gases to remove contaminants and produce a treated gas stream of hydrocarbons. The second facility also has at least one LPG and/or LNG production unit for producing one of LPG and/or LNG from the treated gas stream. At least one storage tank on the second facility stores at least one of the LPG and/or LNG. The second production facility may be a retrofit LNG or LPG carrier. The treatment unit, LPG and/or LNG production and needed offloading facilities and equipment can be added to the LNG/LPG carrier. Existing storage tanks can be modified as needed or else new storage tanks can also be added.

Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction process suited for offshore liquefaction of natural gas produced in association with oil production is described.

Abstract: A gas separation or gas transportation process forms a gas hydrate from an aqueous feed and a gas feed having a hydrate P-T stability envelope. While in the presence of the aqueous feed, the gas feed is initially pressurized to an operating pressure and cooled to an operating temperature which are inside the hydrate P-T stability envelope to form a gas hydrate from at least a portion of the gas feed and at least a portion of the aqueous feed. The resulting gas hydrate is readily separable from any remaining gas and stable for transport.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve including a circuit for a fluid conveyed into a valve body, a stopper that is movable between a rest position and an operative position from among an open position and a closed position of said circuit, and a resilient annular bellows system connecting said stopper and said body and sealingly closing said circuit in relation to a chamber, wherein the chamber is open towards the outside of the valve via a vent formed in the body, the vent being provided with means for preventing the ingress of wet gas into the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for resolving a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-containing feed fraction (1, 1?), preferably natural gas, is described, wherein the feed fraction (1, 1?) is separated by rectification (T1, T2) into a nitrogen-enriched fraction (5) and a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-depleted fraction (10), and wherein the separation by rectification proceeds in a rectification column consisting of a preseparation column (T1) and a main separation column (T2). A liquid fraction (6) is taken off from the main separation column (T2) above the feed-in site(s) of the fraction (7, 7?, 7?) that is taken off from the preseparation column (T1) and fed to the main separation column (T2), and the liquid fraction (6) is applied to the preseparation column (T1) as reflux.

Abstract: A decorative system comprising a charm mounting device wherein the charm may be removably mounted on an article, including but not limited to, a necklace, a bracelet, an anklet, an earring, an eyeglass frame, a shoelace, a rubber band, a hair band, a wire, a chain, a rope, a cord or a string. The mounting device comprises a u-shaped or p-shaped mount, which are moveable between an original position and a pressured position. When pressure is applied to the mounts the article may be inserted into an inner cavity so as to be at least partially nested, and wherein the mounts may be released to return to the original position upon release of pressure.

Abstract: A gemstone and link assembly for forming a piece of jewelry. The gemstone is cut to provide enhanced brilliance and radiance. The gemstone is securely maintained within the link. The link is fabricated of reduced metal thus providing an aesthetically pleasing assembly.

Abstract: A gemstone and link assembly for forming a piece of jewelry. The gemstone is cut to provide enhanced brilliance and radiance. The gemstone is securely maintained within the link. The link is fabricated of reduced metal thus providing an aesthetically pleasing assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the inclusion of an image embedded in or on a single crystal diamond such that the image is part of the single crystal diamond structure. The disclosed methods use a combination of gemstone deposition processes and patterning processes to create single crystal gemstones with embedded color variations that can create externally visible two-dimensional or three-dimensional images in a seamless single crystal matrix without visible internal lines/interfacial boundaries. The image embedded image is differently colored from the surrounding diamond matrix. The color variation is accomplished by a change in the diamond growth conditions or treatment of the diamond.

Abstract: A method for forming a continuous glass sheet from a tube of glass includes expanding and thinning the tube of glass by drawing the tube of glass over susceptor bearing comprising a porous sidewall defining an internal chamber. The diameter of the susceptor bearing may increase between a top portion and a bottom portion. The tube of glass may be maintained at a temperature above a softening point of the glass as the tube of glass is drawn over the susceptor bearing. The tube of glass is suspended over the susceptor bearing by blowing the tube of glass away from the susceptor bearing in a radial direction with a pressurized fluid supplied to the internal chamber and emitted from the porous sidewall as the tube of glass is drawn over the susceptor bearing. Thereafter, the tube of glass is cooled and sectioned to form a continuous glass sheet.

Abstract: A creep-resistant zircon article and a method of manufacturing the creep-resistant zircon article are described herein. In one example, the creep-resistant zircon article has the shape of a forming apparatus (e.g., isopipe) which is used in the fusion process to manufacture glass sheets.

Abstract: Refractory glass-forming tools, including glass-forming molds incorporating protective metal nitride surface coatings, with optional alumina barrier layers disposed between the mold bodies and coating for high-temperature nitride coating stability, offering particular advantages for the manufacture by direct molding of optically finished glass products such as information display cover glasses from refractory alkali aluminosilicate glasses at molding temperatures up to and above 800° C.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat treating a plurality of glass substrates. The glass substrates are supported on support platform and housed in a heat treating furnace. The substrates are supported in a substantially vertical orientation by restraining pins extending through walls of the furnace, and are separated from each other by frame-shaped spacing members. The spacing members reduce convection currents between the substrates and reduce or eliminate the post-heat treating distortion of each glass substrate to less than 100 ?m over the entire surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulling tubular glass, such as pipettes, is disclosed. The invention is generally directed apparatus and techniques for precisely scanning a laser beam on the selected surfaces of the glass tube to uniformly, controllably and programmably soften the tube prior to and during pulling. The invention has application to both vertical and horizontal pullers.

Abstract: Methods of separating a strengthened glass substrate having a compressive surface layer and an inner tension layer include translating a laser beam on a surface of the strengthened glass substrate along a line of desired separation from a first edge of the strengthened glass substrate toward a second edge of the strengthened glass substrate. Methods further include backward-propagating a controlled full-body crack within the strengthened glass substrate from the second edge toward the first edge substantially along the line of desired separation. A scribe line may be formed on a surface of the strengthened glass substrate such that the strengthened glass substrate self-separates along the scribe line. A residual stress field may be created within the strengthened glass substrate such that a full-body crack backward-propagates from an exit defect located at the second edge toward the first edge along a line of desired separation, thereby separating the strengthened glass substrate.

Abstract: Methods for cutting a fragile material are provided. The methods comprise the step of heating the fragile material along a separation path to separate the fragile material into a first portion and a second portion. At least the first portion includes a first thermal affected zone extending along the separation path. The methods further include the steps of spontaneously splitting at least part of the first thermal affected zone from the remainder of the first portion along a first split path extending a first distance from the separation path. The spontaneous splitting occurs as a consequence of the step of heating the fragile material.

Abstract: In the formation of sheet material from molten glass, molten glass is formed in a melting furnace and transported through a precious metal delivery system to the forming apparatus. Disclosed herein is a method to eliminate carbon-containing contamination of individual components of the precious metal delivery system prior to their installation and use. The method comprises one or more heat treating steps in an oxygen-containing atmosphere prior to and/or during assembly of the component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform. The apparatus has an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall surrounds the inner wall and the inner wall surrounds an inner cavity of the apparatus. A core rod is deposited in the inner cavity after which particulate glass material, such as glass soot, is deposited in the inner cavity around the core rod. The core rod has at least 10 percent of the final cladding soot already applied thereto. A radially inward pressure is applied against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the core rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible knitting loom that includes a first body and a second body that are connected via a hinge so that the bodies can rotate relative to each other and used in more than one configuration. Each body includes knitting pegs for weaving and knitting yarn. The first and second bodies are configured to be provided in at least first (closed) configuration such that the first body and the second body are parallel to each other and a second (open, linear) configuration such that the bodies are substantially linearly aligned. A removable fastener or lock pin can be used to lock the bodies of the loom in either the first or second configuration.

Abstract: A heat recovery system for use with a washing appliance having a tub includes a heat exchanger having a first tube and a second tube extending through the first tube such that the first tube and the second tube are substantially concentric. A first end connector is configured to couple to a first end portion of the first tube and a first end portion of the second tube. The first end connector is formed as one-piece and includes a first connection portion configured to couple in flow communication with the first tube, and a second connection portion configured to couple in flow communication with the second tube.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force that rotates the drum. The washing machine may also include a supporting plate to rotatably support a rotational shaft extending between the motor and the drum, and a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet. Such an arrangement may increase washing capacity by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing an external size of the cabinet.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is disclosed, in which bearings are received in the bearing housing assembly. The bearing housing assembly may include a support portion coupled to a motor, and a coupling portion connected to a damper bracket.