Abstract: A yoghurt-making machine comprises an enclosure inside which a receptacle containing milk pots is disposed above a basin. The space between the receptacle and basis is partly filled with a fusible material, such as commercial paraffin wax which has a cooling curve exhibiting a solidification plateau at a temperature near to the optimum temperature of yoghurt formation. A heating resistor attached to the basin is immersed in the fusible material which is thereby heated. The basin has a bottom defining with the enclosure a closed chamber completely separated from the fusible material. A temperature-limiting element is connected to the resistor and disposed so as to be responsive only to the air temperature within the chamber and is operable to terminate the heating of the fusible material when the temperature in the chamber is higher than the solidification plateau of the fusible material.

Abstract: Heat storage medium is produced by heating a mix of ferric oxide and an additive comprising a calcium compound to a temperature at which the additive reacts with the ferric oxide to improve its volumetric heat capacity, reducing the reaction product to particulate form, compacting the resulting particles, and sintering the compact.

Abstract: A portable electric radiant heater comprises an insulative housing having a control area and an open front heating area. A hollow fired clay pipe system is disposed in the heating area in serpentine fashion and arranged to radiate heat through the open front. The clay pipe system comprises a plurality of hollow cylindrical pipe segments having a plurality of hollow protuberances extending therefrom. The pipe segments are interconnected together to form a continuous passage extending the length of the pipe system. An electric resistance heating wire extends centrally through the continuous passage in spaced relation to the surfaces defining the passage. The ends of the wire extend into the control area and are connected to a power supply means therein controlled by a thermostatic control having a sensing element enclosed in a clay cylinder disposed in heating area below the heat radiating pipe system.

Abstract: Heating apparatus for the heat treatment of synthetic yarns having a lower evaporator zone partially filled with a liquid, vaporizable heat transfer mechanism. The hot vapors of the medium heat a plurality of straight or convexly curved profile tubes having yarn contact surface or a plurality of thread guide tubes inside heating jacket tubes. The vapors are condensed in an upper condenser. Branch tube lines communicate the profile or jacket tubes with the evaporator and the condenser. One or more return lines return the condensate from the condenser to the evaporator. The evaporator has transverse baffle plate walls at spaced, axial intervals, which walls are at least substantially coextensive with the entire liquid-moistened portion of the evaporator zone for effectively damping any liquid pressure waves created in the evaporator. Recesses in the damper plate walls allow liquid flow between zones between respective baffle plate walls.

Abstract: A storage heater for heating a gaseous heat extraction medium is formed of a container of heat resistant material, preferably metal. At least one guide duct, in the form of a tube for carrying the gaseous heat extraction medium, extends through the container which holds a heat storage medium in the form of a pourable bulk of particulate solid material. The thermal storage medium comprises a bulk in which the product of specific heat of the solid material and the bulk density of the mass is at least 0.7 kcal/.degree. C dm.sup.3, the specific heat of the solids material being at least 0.12 kcal/.degree. C kgf and the bulk density of the solids material being at least 2.5 kgf/dm.sup.3. The thermal storage medium is a material which can be in direct contact with the air to be heated for places of human habitation.

Abstract: A heater for water beds, and a heater control system for the heater, with the control system located in the same structure envelope that houses the heater elements. The control system has temperature sensing elements packaged together with power supply circuitry and utilizes heat sinks to thermally isolate the temperature sensing elements. The control system includes circuitry to prevent the heater from overheating under any conditions, and the heater itself is a flexible pad-like structure that produces uniform heating over its surface. This integrated system heats the water in a water bed to a preselected temperature and keeps it at the selected temperature. Electrostatic shielding of circuitry components is capacitative to avoid capacitive coupling problems inherent in having electrical circuitry adjacent to a large body of water.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an automatic device for closely held temperature control of a body of liquid via an electric heater, as for example via a liquid-immersed heater element. The control device provides an enclosed air space with shared exposure to ambient air and to air that has been heated by the liquid. Thermostatic-switch means and an electrical heater element are contained within the enclosed air space and cooperate to establish an on-off supply of electrical energy to the immersed heater element.

Abstract: The disclosed invention describes an apparatus and method for bringing a system having high interactive portions to a predetermined temperature distribution. The invention includes a difference controller which provides, through two separate drivers, a fixed total amount of energy to the system being controlled. If the system being controlled also has a long cycle time, second and third temperature controllers may be used to bring the system to the equilibrium temperature with a minimum amount of overshoot. The invention is particularly advantageous when used in connection with a high pressure, high temperature vessel useful in growing quartz crystals.

Abstract: This document discloses a stator member for rollers used in the thermal treatment of elongated materials such as filaments, yarns, slivers, rovings, etc. The structure comprises a metal support, an electric insulating spray on the support, a resistor, another layer of electrical insulator spray to cover the first coating and embedded therein and a spray on layer to construct a friction surface.