Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus containing a thermostat, adapted for use in a food storage compartment potentially containing a flammable gas, includes a thermostat and an enclosure forming a chamber configured to house the thermostat. The enclosure has two umbrella-type check valves configured to permit gas to pass into the chamber or out of the chamber when a predetermined pressure differential exists between the chamber and the food storage compartment. The enclosure forms a seal with the thermostat so that gas only passes through the check valves.

Abstract: The temperature of air to heat or cool a product (16, 18) is maintained constant at levels which respectively are substantially higher or lower than the goal temperatures at which the respective products are to be stressed. Controllers (68, 70)having temperature/time profiles (72, 74) control the velocity of this higher or lower temperature air, as supplied by closed loops (20, 22) from high and low temperature sources (24, 26) to the products in their environmental stress chambers (12, 14), or bypassed through bypass conduits (50, 52) to maintain or change the temperatures of the products. High and low temperature sources (24, 26) and the product stress chambers (12, 14) may be interconnected by a cross-over arrangement of branches (80, 82, 84 and 86) to economize energy for heating or cooling the air, and to enable both environmental chambers (12, 14) to be interchangeably used for stress heating or cooling and, thus, to avoid movement of a product for the same purpose.

Abstract: A cooling system comprising an airtight box which accommodates a cooling module and an electronic device which is cooled by the cooling module and has a door which is opened when attending to maintenance of parts within the airtight box, a dew condensation preventing unit for absorbing humidity within the airtight box and/or replacing air or gas within said airtight box when operated, a coolant supply unit for recirculating a coolant between the coolant supply unit and the cooling module, and a controller for operating the coolant supply unit and the dew condensation preventing unit in response to a first instruction signal which instructs a cooling operation, and for heating the electronic device in response to a second instruction signal which instructs the maintenance of the parts within the airtight box, where only one of the first and second instruction signals exists at one time.

Abstract: A thermal reactor, and a method of operating the thermal reactor, in which the thermal reactor includes: a chamber which is thermally isolated by refrigerated air circulating in the walls of the chamber, and which holds a tray of sample vials; means for supplying air to the chamber and for exhausting air from the chamber; heaters for heating the air supplied to the chamber; sensors for sensing the temperature of the air supplied to the chamber and of the sample vials, and a computer which pulses the heaters according to the measured temperatures of the vials and the air in the chamber to maintain the temperature of the vials at a desired level.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the temperature of a sample in a thermal analysis system according to a temperature-control program in order to facilitate the production of rising and falling temperatures. The apparatus includes a first heater, a thermally insulating container having an opening and containing a mass of liquified coolant, a coolant vapor flow pipe, a sample chamber for containing the sample, a second heater, a sample chamber temperature detector, a temperature-control program setting circuit, a first power supply regulator and a second power supply regulator.

Abstract: A compact attic mounted solar heating pack assembly includes an enclosed sheet metal plenum fixedly hung by straps from the attic rafters at the apex of north and south facing roofing sections. An electric powered blower fixed to the plenum has an air inlet open to the attic interior below the south facing roof section. An air outlet of the blower opens directly to the plenum interior. A plurality of flexible ducts are coupled to respective air outlets within the plenum at one end with their opposite ends terminating in diffusers mountable within holes formed within the underlying ceiling for delivering air from the plenum chamber directly to the building interior below the attic floor. A first normally open cooling thermostat is mounted within the attic at the apex, beneath the south facing roof section. A plastic heat barrier is hung from the ridge pole and extends well below the plenum chamber to trap heated air within the section of the attic beneath the south facing wall.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the cooling of a hermetic type control box accommodating therein electronic apparatus by means of a cooling system. A cooling member of the cooling system is disposed at an upper portion of a hermetically closed chamber in which the electronic apparatus is housed. On the basis of measurements of intra-box temperature and extra-box temperature, control is so performed that the intra-box temperature is maintained higher than the extra-box temperature by a predetermined value when the cooling is being effected within the control box by means of the cooling system.

Abstract: For solar heating (with cooperating cooling) both simplification and automatic control are needed. In the present invention solar heating and air conditioning apparatus is improved in various ways. For example, the furnace for auxiliary heat is eliminated. Operation of the solar heat collecting apparatus may be made automatic, or manual selective collection of solar heat may be obtained, for cold or cool weather conditions. A solar heat collector coating is provided that is changeable in absorption characteristics, so as to collect more heat when operating in winter and to reject heat when not operating during hot summer weather. An improved heat collector trough is provided for the solar heat collector.

Abstract: A flue gas heat recovery system for dwelling hot water heating system boilers is disclosed. The system comprises a heat exchanger disposed in a flue for exhausting combustion products from the boiler and a circulating pump for circulating cooled water from the heating system through the exchanger to be warmed by the combustion products. The system includes a by-pass line for by-passing the heat exchanger, and control valves for varying the amount of cooled water diverted around the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A temperature control system, shown as a differential temperature control system, uses a special temperature sensor means. The temperature sensor means includes a resistance temperature responsive element that is paralleled by one or more temperature responsive switches that act as a limit, or are connected in series with an additional temperature responsive switch that also acts as a limit.

Abstract: Detecting the temperature of water moving from a solar collector to a hot water storage and detecting the temperature of the water in the hot water storage by thermistor devices, comparing the resistance differences of the thermistor devices and providing a voltage proportional to the differences and comparing the voltage with a reference voltage providing a first output difference signal. Comparing the first output signal in a differential amplifier device with a second reference voltage providing an output for opening and closing a switch circuit to a pump when the temperature differential exceeds or is less than a given amount. Also detecting by a third thermistor the temperature of the water in the solar collector and then comparing the resistance of the third thermistor relative to a standard resistance providing a control voltage to the second differential amplifier.

Abstract: A solar heated building including a thermal collector means which is carried in the attic of the building for absorbing energy and heating the air within the attic. Duct means are connected between the attic and a thermal storage chamber carried below the bottom floor of the building. The thermal storage includes a rock bed extending substantially under the entire area of the house with the joists which support the bottom floor of the building resting on top of the thermal storage chamber. Registers are carried in the floor extending between the space provided between a pair of adjacent joists so that conditioned air can be fed between the joists to the registers for either heating or cooling the house. Control means which are activated by strategically located sensors are utilized for opening and closing dampers for controlling the flow of air through the building.

Abstract: What follows is a description of a system for heating a building by solar energy, and providing heated water for domestic use. A roof-mounted solar heating panel, which includes a clear specially shaped covering panel to intensify the solar energy striking the elements of the heating panel, heats a circulating liquid, which in turn heats air circulated within the building. Surplus heat is stored for a limited time by heating additional quantities of liquid. Also, solar heat is stored for an indefinite time by using a roof-mounted solar battery to power an electrolytic cell used to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water. The hydrogen and oxygen is stored and used as fuel in a furnace which heats the heat transfer liquid in the system as required.

Abstract: Heat pipes are employed to capture energy normally lost in the form of heat in the gases in flue-stacks and to transfer the captured heat to water in a water jacket. The heated water is pumped from the water jacket to a storage tank where it is kept until needed. Control of the system is governed by heat sensors in the flue-stack and in the storage tank which provide control signals to a pump, or pumps, used in controlling the flow of water through the pipes between the water jacket and the storage tank.

Abstract: A metal collector plate with black paint on its face is mounted in a heat insulated space with a dual pane transparent member transmitting solar rays to the face of the plate. The front face of the plate is spaced from the transparent member providing a passage for free flow of air upwardly along the painted surface. The back side of the plate is divided transversely for exposure to two air chambers, the lower air chamber receiving incoming cool air which becomes pre-heated by contact with the back side and then flows through suitable passages through the lower edge of the plate into the free flow passage, and the upper air chamber receiving heated air from the free flow passage through slots at the upper edge of the plate and additionally providing for contact between the heated air and the back side of the plate. A differential thermostat control for flow of air through the collector unit is operated by heat sensor probes in the cold air intake and hot air chamber.

Abstract: A compact attic mounted solar heating pack assembly includes an enclosed sheet metal plenum fixedly hung by straps from the attic rafters at the apex of north and south facing roofing sections. An electric powered blower fixed to the plenum has an air inlet open to the attic interior below the south facing roof section. An air outlet of the blower opens directly to the plenum interior. A plurality of flexible ducts are coupled to respective air outlets within the plenum at one end with their opposite ends terminating in diffusers mountable within holes formed within the underlying ceiling for delivering air from the plenum chamber directly to the building interior below the attic floor. A first normally open cooling thermostat is mounted within the attic at the apex, beneath the south facing roof section. A plastic heat barrier is hung from the ridge pole and extends well elbow the plenum chamber to trap heated air within the section of the attic beneath the south facing wall.