Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of electrocaloric energy conversion. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in systems and methods which employ electrocaloric materials as a source of temperature variation in electrocaloric refrigeration processes. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the application of electrocaloric materials in combination with a working fluid communicating with a heat source and a heat sink in counter flow.

Abstract: A magnetocaloric cascade containing at least three different magnetocaloric materials with different Curie temperatures, which are arranged in succession by descending Curie temperature, wherein none of the different magnetocaloric materials with different Curie temperatures has a higher layer performance Lp than the magnetocaloric material with the highest Curie temperature and wherein at least one of the different magnetocaloric materials with different Curie temperatures has as lower layer performance Lp than the magnetocaloric material with the highest Curie temperature wherein Lp of a particular magnetocaloric material being calculated according to formula (I): Lp=m*dTad,max with dTad,max: maximum adiabatic temperature change which the particular magnetocaloric material undergoes when it is magnetized from a low magnetic field to high magnetic field during magnetocaloric cycling, m: mass of the particular magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric cascade.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A refrigerator-freezer having a first compartment wherein the first compartment is accessible via a rotatable mounted door with the rotatable mounted door being operable to remain disposed within the housing of the refrigerator-freezer during movement thereof. The refrigerator-freezer further includes a second compartment adjacent to the first compartment wherein the second compartment includes a plurality of sealably mounted storage containers slidably mounted within the second compartment. A third compartment is present and is configured to be extendable outward from the housing of the refrigerator-freezer and subsequently be lifted upward via a lifting mechanism. A controller is included to facilitate operation of the refrigerator-freezer. The controller further includes a voice recorder and a printer. The first compartment has disposed therein a plurality of storage bins that are slidably mounted.

Abstract: A multi-split air or ground source heat pump system designed to provide a residential application with space heating and cooling, along with supplemental hydronic heating and potable water preheating. The supplemental hydronic heating supports applications like radiant floor heating and heating swimming pools. Commercially, the multi-split air or ground source heat pump system expands on this technology to incorporate comfort and/or process heating, cooling, and hydronic heating applications utilizing multiple types of energy sources.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) a falling film evaporator in flow communication with a condenser. The falling film evaporator includes a separator to separate vapor from liquid refrigerant and a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed. A distribution system is operably connected to the separator to distribute a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes. A primary feed conduit delivers a flow of refrigerant to the separator, and at least one secondary feed conduit is in flow communication with the primary feed conduit. At least one auxiliary valve is located at the secondary feed conduit to regulate flow into the separator from the primary feed conduit. At least one sensor senses a level of a refrigerant pool in the evaporator. The sensor is operably connected to the at least one auxiliary valve to control operation thereof.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an evaporator housing and a plurality of evaporator tubes located in the evaporator housing and arranged into one or more tube bundles. A volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed through the plurality of evaporator tubes. One or more support sheets located along a length of the plurality of evaporator tubes to position and support the plurality of evaporator tubes in the housing, the one or more support sheets including one or more vapor flow passages to allow flow of vapor refrigerant along a length of the evaporator.

Abstract: An efficient indirect building cooling system that bypasses a conventional chiller mechanism by connecting the indoor and outdoor intermediate fluid systems when conditions permit. This system includes indoor and outdoor fluid cooling circuits, each of which interfaces with the conventional chiller mechanism. The two fluid cooling circuits are connected together when weather conditions make doing so more efficient.

Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger includes a fan configured to adjust a heat transfer coefficient ao of the outside of a heat transfer tube through which a refrigerant flows, a bypass passage and flow rate control valve configured to adjust a heat transfer coefficient ?i of the inside of the heat transfer tube through which the refrigerant flows, and an on-off valve configured to adjust a heat transfer area A where the refrigerant exchanges heat with a heat medium. A controller controls the heat transfer coefficient ?o of the outside of the heat transfer tube, the heat transfer coefficient ?i of the inside thereof, and the heat transfer area A to control a heat exchange amount of the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cooling circuit is equipped with a coolant, a compressor, a condenser and evaporator expansion valve combinations, whereby the outlets of the evaporators are connected to a collection pipe connected to the compressor. The cooling circuit comprises a control unit connected to a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor affixed in the collection pipe and connected to the expansion valves for the control of them. The control unit is provided with an algorithm for controlling the expansion valves on the basis of the temperature sensor and pressure sensor to control the superheating in the collection pipe.

Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a heat exchanger having an inlet header pipe connected to a set of paths for passing refrigerant to condition a controlled zone. The inlet header pipe splits the refrigerant into different paths. An amount of the refrigerant entering the inlet header pipe is controlled by a valve. The vapor compression system also includes a set of sensors for measuring temperatures of the refrigerant in each path of the set of paths and a controller including a processor for determining a position of the valve based on the measurements of at least one sensor from the set of sensors and a thermal capacity requested for the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled beverage dispenser is disclosed, which provides a cold plate having disposed therein beverage lines and refrigerant lines. The refrigerant lines may be connected to a cooling system, such as a heat exchanger, which is configured to remove heat from the cold plate. The beverage lines may be connected to a beverage supply for dispensing a desired beverage. Valves and a pressure sensor in the refrigerant line are connected to a microprocessor. At regular intervals, the microprocessor closes the valves, waits a short time, and then takes a pressure reading, which corresponds to a temperature. If the temperature falls below a desired value, then the cooling system is shut off. This permits the microprocessor to closely control the temperature of the beverage being dispensed.

Abstract: An appliance door includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that defines an ice making receptacle. An ice maker is disposed proximate a top portion of the ice making receptacle. A sliding assembly is defined within an inward-facing surface of the ice making receptacle. An ice bin is operable between an engaged state, wherein the ice bin is fully inserted into the ice making receptacle, a disengaged state, wherein the ice bin is removed from the ice making receptacle, and a lateral sliding state, wherein the ice bin is operated laterally and free of rotation between the engaged and disengaged states. The ice bin and the ice making receptacle cooperatively define an ice delivery mechanism that selectively delivers ice pieces from an inner volume of the ice bin to an ice delivery zone proximate the outer wrapper.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ice tray comprising: a tray body configured to provide ice-making spaces configured to retain water; a plurality of partition walls extending upward from a bottom surface of the tray body to define the ice-making spaces; and a vibration-generating unit configured to vibrate the tray body. The vibration-generating unit can include a vibration-generating member configured to generate vibration and a mounting member configured to mount the vibration-generating member to a lower surface of the tray body.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice-making chamber, an ice bucket that can be slidably drawn into and out of the ice-making chamber, and a locking device that can lock the ice bucket, and the locking device may be provided in an upper wall of an inner case. Only a latch protrusion that protrudes upwardly is formed in the ice bucket so as to be coupled to the locking device, and therefore a structure of the ice bucket may be simplified, and an unnecessary opening may not be formed in the ice bucket, thereby preventing cool air of an inside of the ice bucket from leaking.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a current draw in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) including an electronically controlled engine having an engine control unit (ECU) are disclosed. The method includes disabling the ECU in response to the electronically controlled engine entering an operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is not running. The TRS controller determines an ambient temperature based on a temperature outside an internal space of the refrigerated transport unit. The TRS controller initializes an ECU off timer when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to an ambient temperature threshold.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable swing seal for a rack-aisle freezing and chilling system extends, for example, from the top horizontal frame member of a racking structure and defines an intake opening along with side seals and a bottom seal. The swing seal is positioned at a height such that a product stack having a top edge positioned at any point along the face of the swing seal creates a seal between the intake opening and the stack via the swing seal, the side seals, and the bottom seal. Thus, stacks of varying heights may automatically be accommodated. Further, the bottom edge of the swing seal may be beveled, such that if a product stack is not evenly stacked a portion of the uneven stacking will not catch against the swing seal when the stack is pulled away from the opening.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a door for opening or closing the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, a filter unit disposed within the refrigerating compartment for purifying water supplied from a water supply source outside the main body, water tank for receiving the purified water from the filter unit and to cool the received water by using cool air within the refrigerating compartment, and a dispenser disposed in the door to dispense the cooled water stored in the tube tank assembly. The tube tank assembly includes a tube defining a cold water passage that can allow the cooled water to flow therethrough, and a tube support around which the tube is wound multiple times.

Abstract: An insulating material that tends not to hydrolyze is used to thereby provide a heat pump apparatus having long-term reliability. An electric motor of a compressor is fixed to a sealed container and includes a stator around which a winding wire is wound through intermediation of an insulating material, and a rotor surrounded by the stator. The insulating material is a wholly aromatic liquid crystal polyester (LCP) having a molecular main chain constituted by a monomer including p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) as an essential monomer and a monomer solely including benzene-ring as another monomer via an ester bond. The refrigerating machine oil has a saturated water content of 2% or less at 40 degrees C., a relative humidity of 80%, for 24 Hr. To suppress the explosive decomposition reaction of ethylene-based fluorohydrocarbon, a flame retardant is used to generate chemical species that complement active radicals that cause the decomposition reaction.

Abstract: A selected temperature is stabilized within the interior of a cold compartment of a refrigerator or freezer wherein the selected temperature is effected by a refrigeration system operated in cycles of operation comprised of ON periods and OFF periods. A lining is extended along the perimeter of the interior of the compartment, exposed to the interior, the lining being constructed of a material having a combination of thermal conductivity and thermal mass enabling the conduct of heat into the interior of the compartment during the ON periods and the absorption of heat from the interior of the compartment during the OFF periods, whereby the temperature within the interior of the compartment essentially is stabilized at the selected temperature during cyclical operation of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an integrated multi-speed blender including a stand alone kitchen refrigerator having a recess in a front door thereof and a continuous opening therein. A housing body, on the upper side of the recess, stores components of a motorized blender assembly adjacent to a water dispenser within the recess. The blender assembly includes a mixer shaft operationally communicating with the motor and extending into the recess opening, with blades on a distal end thereof, first and second control switches proximal and operationally controlling the motor, first and second pressure control buttons on a forward side of the housing body, which when pushed along with an activation switch, activate the motor and operate the motor at a first speed and at a faster second speed, respectively. An activation button movable between an initial lower position to a second upper position activates the activation switch in the second upper position.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a water tank supporter arranged in a cabinet, a water tank that is connected to the water tank supporter and that defines a cavity, and a water supply platform that is movably connected to the water tank. The water supply platform includes a body portion that has a water inlet, a water outlet configured to discharge water to the cavity, and a water supply flow passage connected between the water inlet and the water outlet. The water supply platform also includes a movable portion configured to move the body portion such that the water inlet moves from an inside of the cabinet to an outside of the cabinet or vice versa.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit includes: a front portion; a rear portion distal from the front portion; a cooling table section extending from the rear portion towards the front portion; an upper portion positioned between the front portion and the rear portion, positioned above the cooling table portion, and defining a circumferential opening configured to receive a storage container; a lower region distal from and below the upper portion and at least partially separated from the upper portion by the cooling table section defining a plenum defining holes allowing passage of air from the plenum of the cooling table section to the upper portion of the refrigeration unit, the lower region configured for food storage; and an evaporator section proximate to the rear portion and configured to circulate air to the cooling table section.

Abstract: A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a basket assembly slidably coupled to a first door in a front-to-rear direction of the first door, wherein the basket assembly comprises: a basket configured to accommodate food; a first base provided to be slidable in the front direction of the first door by passing through the opening of the first door, the basket being placed on an upper surface of the first base; a second base provided to be slidable in the rear direction of the first door, the first base being slidably coupled to an upper surface of the second base; and a third base of which a front end is fixed to a rear surface of the first door, wherein the second base is slidably coupled to an upper surface of the third base.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment formed in a cabinet of the refrigerator by a fixed insulation wall, the storage compartment provided with an access opening, a door rotatably provided to the cabinet to open and close the access opening, a drawer provided in the storage compartment, a camera fixed to a ceiling of the storage compartment to photograph both a first region for storing of food arranged in an external space of the drawer in the storage compartment and a second region for storing of food arranged in an internal space of the drawer in the storage compartment, and a controller to separate, through a capturing time of a picture containing both the first region and the second region, a first region picture and a second region picture from the picture to individually divide and store the first region picture and the second region picture.

Abstract: A portable beverage cooler assembly includes a cooler that insertably receives a beverage container. The cooler includes a freezable gel. The cooler is frozen thereby facilitating the freezable gel to be frozen. The freezable gel maintains the beverage container at a cooled temperature. A lid is removably coupled to the cooler and the lid has an opening extending therethrough. The opening is aligned with an opening in the beverage container. Thus, a beverage in the beverage container may be consumed.

Abstract: Provided is a spray drying apparatus comprising a spray nozzle comprising a spray nozzle tip at the distal end of the spray nozzle, a liquid conduit for guiding a liquid to be spray-dried out through the spray nozzle tip, an atomizing component for producing a spray of droplets from the liquid exiting the spray nozzle; a drying gas conduit comprising an outlet for directing a drying gas to dry the spray of droplets; and a drying gas deflector positioned so as to deflect a flow of the drying gas away from the spray nozzle tip.

Abstract: A grain dryer has a grain column configured to receive grain to be dried and ducts extending from a first wall of the grain column to a second wall of the grain column. The grain dryer is configured so that different numbers of the ducts are selectable for handling cooling air used for cooling the grain.

Abstract: A roll-to-roll reactor, which is assembled with an RTP (Rapid Thermal Process) compartment, a cooling compartment, and a series of modular heating sections, is provided. Its length is adjustable by adding or reducing numbers of the modular heating sections according to required reaction time and delivery speed of a continuous flexible workpiece. The reactor contains a reaction oven, assembled with a series of modular thermal control components, included inside a vacuum-tight reaction chamber. The oven temperature can be precisely controlled through combinations of heating elements, thermocouples and cooling tubing. The present reactor can be used for annealing and reaction of various precursor films on flexible substrates under vacuum and in inert or reactive gas ambient at temperatures ranging from room temperature to a thousand of Celsius degrees through a continuous roll-to-roll process.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: Configurations and related processing schemes of specific inter-plants and hybrid, intra- and inter-plants waste heat recovery schemes for thermal energy consumption reduction in integrated refining-petrochemical facilities synthesized for grassroots medium grade crude oil semi-conversion refineries to increase energy efficiency from specific portions of low grade waste heat sources are described. Configurations and related processing schemes of specific inter-plants and hybrid, intra- and inter-plants waste heat recovery schemes for thermal energy consumption reduction in integrated refining-petrochemical facilities synthesized for integrated medium grade crude oil semi-conversion refineries and aromatics complex for increasing energy efficiency from specific portions of low grade waste sources are also described.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for storing electric energy in the form of thermal energy. A thermoelectric energy storage system includes a working fluid circuit for circulating a working fluid through a heat exchanger, and a thermal storage medium circuit for circulating a thermal storage medium. The thermal storage medium circuit includes at least one hot storage tank, an intermediate temperature storage tank, and a cold storage tank connected together via the heat exchanger. A proportion of the storage medium is redirected to or from the intermediate storage tank from or to the hot or cold storage tank, joining another proportion which flows directly between the cold and hot storage tank.

Abstract: A heat storage type combustion system equipped with a disk type distributor having improved sealing according to the present invention, the system includes: the distributor having a rotary distribution unit, a lower distribution unit located on the underside of the rotary distribution unit, an upper distribution unit located on the top of the rotary distribution unit, and a plurality of dumb buckles disposed equally spaced apart from each other along outer circumferential rims of the lower distribution unit and the upper distribution unit to fix the lower distribution unit and the upper distribution unit to each other. Each dumb buckle includes a left-handed screw and a right-handed screw formed on both end portions around the body thereof in such a manner as to be tightened or loosened repeatedly if necessary, and the number of dumb buckles is 4 to 12 in accordance with the sizes of the distributor.

Abstract: A tube assembly that may be for a fuel nozzle of a fuel system of a gas turbine engine may have a first tube defining a first flowpath along a centerline, a second tube generally spaced radially outward from the first tube with a first void located between and defined by the first and second tubes, and a support structure located in the first void and extending between the first and second tubes. The support structure is constructed and arranged to minimize or eliminate thermal conduction between the tubes. The entire assembly may be additive manufactured as one unitary piece. One example of a method of operation may include designed-for breakage of the structural support due to then al stresses thereby further minimizing thermal conduction between tubes.

Abstract: A fin for a heat exchanger is joined to an outer surface of a tube, and facilitates a heat exchange between the tube and an air flowing around the tube. A sectional surface of the fin perpendicular to a flowing direction of an air has a corrugated shape that includes multiple flat portions substantially parallel to a flowing direction of the air, and a ridge portion connecting the adjacent flat portions. Multiple louvers cut in and raised from each of the flat portions at a predetermined cut-and-raised angle are disposed on the flat portion along a flowing direction of the air. A thickness of each flat portion is defined as t, a louver pitch of the louvers is defined as PL, and the thickness of each flat portion and the louver pitch satisfy a relationship of 0.035?t/PL?0.29.

Abstract: A heat sink including a base section, connection fins, and parallel fins. The base section includes: a first base plate configured to be mounted with a heat generating component on its outer surface; a second base plate disposed to face the first base plate in a parallel manner, configured to be mounted with a heat generating component on its outer surface; and a third base plate disposed perpendicular to the first base plate and the second base plate, which secures the first base plate and the second base plate along a junction line. The base section includes first and second regions arranged in the direction of the junction line. The connection fins are disposed on the first region to connect inner surfaces of the first and second base plates and to be parallel to the third base plate, and the parallel fins are disposed on the second region from an inner surface of the third base plate to be parallel to the first base plate.

Abstract: A small-sized fluid heating/cooling apparatus for heating or cooling a large amount of gas or liquid at a low cost. Structures where a flow passage for a fluid is formed in a heated or cooled base formed in a plate shape or a column shape, and a fluid which has passed through the narrowed flow passage impinges on a wall of a side face of the base vertically to perform heat exchange are connected in series. Heat exchange is instantaneously performed in a small space and manufacture of a mechanism performing such an operation is easy. A material constituting the flow passage may be a metal or ceramics, and a small-sized fluid heat exchanging apparatus can be manufactured at a low cost.

Abstract: Process for producing an element comprising a multilayer architecture, the layers of which comprise primary channels on their upper faces, said process comprising the following successive steps: (a) producing secondary channels on the lower faces of each layer, each secondary channel being intended to be facing a primary channel of the neighboring lower layer within the architecture, (b) depositing a coating that protects against oxidation at a temperature of between 500° C. and 1000° C. and against corrosion over all of the lower and upper surfaces of the layers, (c) sanding or mechanical cleaning of the surfaces intended to be assembled, and (d) assembling via superposition of the various layers so that each secondary channel of a lower face of an upper layer is facing and is centered on a primary channel of the neighboring lower layer, the width of each secondary channel being greater than the width of the primary channel which it is facing within the architecture.

Abstract: A semi-automatic pistol has a frame having a trigger guard defining a trigger finger space, a barrel connected to the frame and defining a bore axis, a slide connected to the frame and operable to reciprocate along the bore axis between a forward battery position and a rearward open position, a recoil mechanism operably connected between the slide and the frame, and operable to bias the slide to the battery position, and the recoil mechanism being entirely below the barrel axis and forward of the trigger finger space. The recoil mechanism may be a recoil spring defining a spring axis. The spring axis may be parallel to the bore axis. The recoil spring may be a helical shape defining a bore receiving a guide rod. The guide rod may be below the barrel. The trigger guard may have a downwardly facing upper surface defining the trigger finger space.

Abstract: A receptacle for collecting casings ejected from a firearm applied with a magazine includes a housing having an upper opening, a lower opening, and an interior defined within the housing between and in communication with the upper and lower openings. The upper opening is opened and can be mounted to be spaced apart from the ejection port of a firearm. A gate in the lower opening pivots between open and closed positions; the lower opening is closed when the magazine is received in the firearm and is opened when the magazine is removed from the firearm.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ammunition magazine casing and follower systems. The magazine casing may comprise a pair of spines running along a length of an interior rear wall of the magazine casing, the spines being raised in relation to other portions of the interior rear wall and stopping at a point in the magazine casing where an exterior geometry of the magazine casing changes from substantially curved to substantially straight.

Abstract: A thumb mounted ammunition loader engages a digit, preferably a thumb, of the user's hand to protect the digit while loading ammunition into a magazine. The thumb mounted ammunition loader additionally maintains traction to the pressure applied to the ammunition, as the thumb mounted ammunition loader provides a barrier to depositing skin oil onto the ammunition. The thumb mounted ammunition loader includes a digit-mounting tube, a digit-receiving opening, a distal-closed end, and at least one joint-accommodating aperture. The digit-mounting tube engages the digit. The digit-receiving opening allows the digit to be inserted into the digit-mounting tube. The distal-closed end interfaces with the ammunition as the user applies pressure to the ammunition through the distal-closed end. The at least one joint-accommodating aperture provides flexibility of the thumb mounted ammunition loader for the user to maintain range of motion of the digit.

Abstract: A bushing for mounting a grip panel to a firearm is provided. The bushing has a torquing surface distributed about the head of the bushing to provide improved torque and alignment for the bushing as it is assembled and disassembled into the firearm frame. The bushing may include an O-ring on the bushing itself and an additional O-ring fitted on the grip screws. The bushings and tools for replacing the OEM bushings may be provided as part of a kit.

Abstract: A firearm (1) comprising a firing mechanism. (600) comprising a trigger (601), a firing pin (6), a locking element (7) of the firing pin (6). The firearm comprises an arming device (10) comprising transmission means (50) connected to the trigger (601) and an arming member (100) comprising a plurality of engagement elements (151, 156, 157) suitable for engaging the transmission means (50) and/or the firing pin (6) and/or the locking element (7). The arming member (100) comprises: a) a firing pin operating body (110) for engagement with the firing pin (6); b) a lock operating body (120) for engagement with the transmission means (50) and with the locking element (7) of the firing pin (6), wherein the firing pin operating body (110) is engageable in rotation by the lock operating body (120) to be moved in rotation.

Abstract: A trigger assembly includes one or more stationary magnets and a trigger member pivotable relative to the stationary magnets. The trigger member includes a base portion with a pivot point, an actuating portion extending from the base portion in a first direction, and a magnetic trigger portion extending from the base portion in a second direction. The magnetic trigger portion operatively engages the stationary magnets in a first position. The base portion of the trigger member operatively engages a first sear element, which is operatively connected to a sear arm, which in turn operatively engages a second sear element. A spring operatively biases the first sear element. The second sear element retains a bow string in the first position. In a second position, the trigger member rotates to separate the magnetic trigger portion from the magnets, and the second sear element rotates to release the bow string.

Abstract: A recoil buffer system having a buffer element with a buffer element body portion, a buffer element knob, and a buffer element cavity; a collar; a sleeve, wherein a sleeve recess is formed so as to accept at least a portion of the buffer element body portion therein; a buffer element recoil spring, wherein the buffer element recoil spring is positioned about at least a portion of the elongate buffer element body portion, between the collar and the sleeve; and a bumper, wherein a bumper extension portion extends from a first end of the bumper to a bumper shoulder, wherein the bumper extension portion is such that at least a portion of the bumper extension portion can be fitted at least partially within the sleeve aperture.

Abstract: A concentrated mass launcher including a handle a cradle portion having a first anterior wall and a second anterior wall, the first and second anterior walls being opposed to one another and being separated from one another to form a gap, the cradle portion being positioned above the handle; an upper resilient limb extending from the cradle portion; a lower resilient limb extending downwardly from the handle; a string extending from the upper resilient limb toward the lower resilient limb; a sling being disposed about the primary string; a first resilient member being connected at a first end to the sling about a perimeter edge, and being connected to the cradle portion; and a second resilient member being connected at a first end to the sling about the perimeter edge, and being connected to the cradle portion.

Abstract: A stabilizer for an archery bow capable of being removably attached to an archery bow. The stabilizer includes one or more weights removably attached to the stabilizer which provides dampening to the archery bow when the stabilizer is attached to the bow. The stabilizer can be locked at a position offset to the longitudinal length of the bow. The stabilizer includes a handle that enables the bow to be held or transported.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus regarding collection, dissemination and display of information concerning paintball loaders and markers are disclosed. A loader includes a heads-up display, electronic devices for gathering, storing and disseminating information, and an antenna for sending and receiving data. Wireless voice communications among paintball players is possible via associated headsets. There is also disclosed paintball equipment and methods for controlling both the firing and loading mechanism of paintball equipment. Current systems or mechanisms have individual and discrete electronic control systems for firing operations, e.g. located in the paintball gun itself, and loading operations, e.g. located inside the paintball loader. The present disclosure unifies the electronic control of said firing and loader operations into a single electronic circuit board located on either the paintball gun or paintball loader.