Abstract: An edible soft robot system may be used to display and/or interact with edible inflatable objects. In an embodiment, the edible inflatable object is configured to receive a fluid in an internal compartment. The edible inflatable object may be reversibly coupled to a container, wherein coupling the edible inflatable object to the container comprises aligning a port of the edible inflatable object to a fluid conduit to fluidically couple the internal compartment to the fluid conduit. A control system of the edible soft robot system is configured to receive instructions to adjust inflation of the internal compartment by activating fluid flow into or out of the internal compartment via the fluid conduit, wherein adjusting inflation of the internal compartment causes the edible inflatable object to actuate on or within the container.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the output water temperature of a water heater are disclosed herein. The water heater preferably has a water inlet, heating unit, and water output. The system comprises a proportional flow restrictor placed near the water output and a controller which is configured to direct the heating unit to heat the water and the proportional flow restrictor to produce a flow rate of the output water. Temperature sensors may be used to control the proportional flow restrictor. The proportional flow restrictor can also be controlled based on the amount of heat energy applied to the heating unit.

Abstract: An adaptive heating system using both AC and DC power includes an AC and DC switching device connected to an AC source and at least one DC source; a device to be heated having an AC heating device and at least one DC heating device and a detector for detecting at least one state therein; the AC heating device being connected to the AC source and the DC heating device being connected the DC source; and a controller connected to the AC and DC switching device and the detector for receiving signals from the detector and for adjusting outputs of the AC and DC switching device based on detection results from the detector. The AC source is used in high power consumption state and the DC source is used in lower power consumption state. When power consumption is very high, both AC source and the DC source are used simultaneously.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus, including an electric motor driven blower for circulating air through a cabinet, also includes one or more electric heating elements and a system controller operable to control energization of the heating elements and the blower motor at predetermined operating conditions by way of suitable relay or control elements. The system includes a heating interlock relay to prevent energization of the one or more heating elements if the blower motor is inoperable, operating at other than a predetermined range of speeds or the system controller detects a malfunctioning heating element control relay or the like.

Abstract: An ice protection system comprises deicing zones each including an envelope defining an ice-protection area. Adjacent envelopes have spanwise edge regions flanking shared interzone borders. The edge regions are provided with nonlinear contours having features which project-and-recess in a direction generally parallel to the airstream direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for making the sheet-shaped heat and light source. An array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate is provided. A carbon nanotube film is formed by pressing the array of carbon nanotubes. A first electrode and a second electrode are electrically connected with the carbon nanotube film. Furthermore, a method for heating an object is related.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating a substrate. The substrate is positioned on a support in a thermal treatment chamber. Electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to anneal a portion of the substrate. Other electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to preheat a portion of the substrate. The preheating reduces thermal stresses at the boundary between the preheat region and the anneal region. Any number of anneal and preheat regions are contemplated, with varying shapes and temperature profiles, as needed for specific embodiments. Any convenient source of electromagnetic radiation may be used, such as lasers, heat lamps, white light lamps, or flash lamps.

Abstract: In a method for temperature and time control of electrical heating devices installed at an end user to optimize energy consumption and energy costs, where a dedicated control system is employed for the control, a local control unit is connected to an electrical heating device for control thereof. The end user supplies a desired user profile for the heating device to the control system which optimizes energy and power consumption on the basis of both the user profile and the operating and capacity conditions in the power supply network. The control commands are transferred to the local control unit. In addition to a dedicated control system for implementation of the method, a control and communication structure includes local control units installed at end users and one or more communication interfaces.

Abstract: A conductive warmer for flexible plastic bags containing foam precursor chemicals includes a heat-conducting member of thermally conductive material having a plurality of fins which are parallel and spaced apart to define a plurality of spaced-apart bag-receiving compartments. The fins are connected to a back portion of the heat-conducting member, to which a heating element is attached in heat-exchanging relationship. Operation of the heating element conducts heat through the back portion and the fins of the heat-conducting member to the bags. The heat-conducting member is contained within a housing having an opening providing access to the open side of the compartments. The housing preferably is formed in two portions, a first portion containing the heat-conducting member and a second portion supporting the first portion, the first and second portions being pivotally interconnected to allow selective variation of the angular orientation of the first portion with respect to the second portion.

Abstract: An apparatus accurately controls output water temperature of an instantaneous water heater to maintain a desired outlet temperature. A first electronic sensing device senses a flow of water through the heater, and an ignition sequence commences when flow has been detected. A second electronic sensing device senses an outlet water temperature of the heater, and a third electronic sensing device senses a midway water temperature of the heater. The burner output or outputs are controlled to maintain the desired outlet temperature, based on changes in water flow and incoming water temperature. With multiple burners, the burner outputs are staged to accurately control the output water temperature of the instantaneous water heater to maintain the desired outlet temperature.

Abstract: A compact low power water heater and food product warming unit especially designed for military vehicles which includes a sturdy and selectively sealed tank having uninsulated thermally conductive in which water may be heated by conduction by way of a heating element secured exteriorly of the tank. The tank is enclosed by a thermally insulated cover in such a manner that a plurality readily accessible pockets are provided between the cover and tank walls into which a plurality of field ration (MRE) or food packets may be inserted to thereby utilize the hot water in the tank as a source of heat for heating the packets.

Abstract: A portable cooking appliance for the main purpose of cooking food in an oven or grilling food on a hotplate (4) includes a chamber (1) having an oven in which extends an electric resistance-heating element (14). There is placed at the top of the oven chamber (1) a cooking hotplate (4) beneath which extends an electric resistance-heating element (5). The element (5) is located within a compartment (6) which is separated from the oven chamber by a metal plate (7). The resistance-heating element (5) is connected to an adjustable thermostat (9) associated with a temperature probe (13). The electric resistance-heating element (14) is connected directly to the line supply by a switch (16) for interrupting the supply of current to the element (14) independently of the current supply to the resistance-heating element (5).

Abstract: The culinary appliance for preparing "hamburgers" comprises a heating resistor, a hotplate which is mounted above the resistor and on which the portion of meat to be cooked is placed, a pressure member which is applied against the portion of meat and forms a meat-cooking enclosure in conjunction with the hotplate, a bread-heating enclosure for receiving at least one piece of bread, and a base for supporting the heating resistor, the hotplate and the pressure member. The meat-cooking enclosure and the bread-heating enclosure are juxtaposed and heated simultaneously by the resistor, at least one metallic wall being placed between the bread-heating enclosure and the resistor in order to limit the heating temperature within the bread enclosure to the value required for the piece of bread.

Abstract: A materials heating device includes rod-shaped electrical heating element which serves both to heat a thermoconductive receptacle containing the material to be heated as well as tools and instruments for working with the material. The heating element is mounted in spaced relationship to the receptacle by a thermoconductive bracket through which heat is conducted to the receptacle to heat the contents thereof. The end of the heating element protrudes from the bracket, whereby tools and instruments to be heated can be held in direct contact with the exposed end portion of the heating element until sufficient heat is transferred thereto. An adjustable heat dissipator can be provided on the receptacle to regulate the temperature of the receptacle.

Abstract: A cooking assembly includes a heating plate and two identical outer plates each fabricated of heat conductive material and each including a handle. The outer plates and the heating plate each include a hinge to allow the outer plates to be coupled to opposite sides of the heating plate. Each of the first and second outer plates when coupled to the heating plate define a cooking chamber within which food may be cooked. The assembly further includes an insulating drip tray for insulating the cooking assembly from means upon which it is supported and for catching drippings from the food being cooked by the heating plate. The tray includes means for supporting the cooking plate and the first and second outer plates in either a horizontal or a vertical position relative to the bottom of the tray to permit different selective cooking operations depending upon the nature of the material cooked.

Abstract: A jacket of rigid thermal insulation, containing a thermally reflective coating on its inner surface, is movably mounted on a hot water tank (gas-, electric-, oil-, etc- fired, of either standard or special design) mounted in a sauna room and selectively covers the top and sides of the tank and extends to the supporting surface of the tank. The jacket is selectively movable to a closed position completely enclosing the tank and to an open position exposing part of the top, sides and bottom of the tank and part of the area between the supporting surface and the bottom of the tank. A perforated housing is provided in the area between the supporting surface and the bottom of the tank. Sauna rocks and electric heating elements are provided in the perforated housing. An electric fan is mounted in the area for directing hot air from the housing upward around the tank.

Abstract: A sculpturing kit and method for producing dehydrated sculptured forms from hydrated articles, such as apples or other fruits and vegetables. The sculpture kit includes a transparent heating chamber for mounting an article on a base which includes an incandescent heating source mounted therein. A plurality of templates are provided for use by the sculptor to shape an apple, for instance, into a facial or other form prior to the dehydration process within the heating compartment. The kit also includes a heat drip shield which prevents liquid extracted from the article from contacting the light source, as well as a plurality of sculpturing tools.