Abstract: An air conditioner and a method for controlling the same for securing reliability and increasing efficiency are provided. The air conditioner and the method of controlling the same detect freezing occurring in the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, determine a time of the defrosting operation according to a freezing degree such that the defrosting operation is performed, thereby preventing cooling/heating operation efficiency and capability due to a frequent defrosting operation from being deteriorated. The air conditioner and the method of controlling the same according to the present invention provide comfort of a predetermined level to the user to solve deterioration of convenience, and remove freezing due to a defrosting operation to thereby improve efficiency during cooling/heating operations.

Abstract: A microfluidic bubble fuse is formed from a hermetically sealed reservoir containing an electrically conductive liquid. The reservoir is interposed between a pair of electrodes such that each electrode is in electrical contact with the fluid within the reservoir, and such that the fluid within the reservoir provides electrical interconnectivity between the electrodes. The reservoir may be implemented on a substrate, in a tube, or in another manner. When the current or voltage across the electrodes increases beyond a threshold, the excess current or voltage will cause a bubble to be created within the fluid to reduce or inhibit the flow of electricity between the electrodes. When the current/voltage is reduced, the bubble will collapse to restore the flow of electricity between the electrodes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermostat controlled apparatus which controls the operation of a heating system and a cooling system in response to temperature variations in a given environment. The thermostat has a three-electrode mercury switch which is coupled to a single bimetallic element which rotates the switch in response to temperature variations. The switch has a housing containing a pool of mercury and three electrodes extending within. A common electrode is connected to a voltage source. A second electrode is connected to the cooling system. A third electrode is connected to the heating system. Tilting the switch clockwise causes the mercury to connect the second and common electrodes, thereby energizing the cooling system; tilting the switch counterclockwise causes the mercury to connect the third electrode and common electrode, thereby energizing the heating system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mercury switch for use in thermostat applications. The switch has a hollow housing fabricated from glass and is positioned in the horizontal plane when in an operating orientation. The switch has a first common electrode within said housing and extending parallel to the horizontal plane with a terminal end extending from the housing. Positioned above the first electrode is a second shorter electrode with a third longer electrode positioned above said second electrode said third electrode being longer than said second but shorter than said first. Positioned above the third electrode is a longer fourth electrode. Essentially, major portions of the electrodes within the housing are parallel to each other. A charge of mercury is in the housing and operates to make contact between the electrodes in four operating modes indicative of thermostat operation for control of a heat pump, furnace and air conditioner.

Abstract: An adjustable temperature sensor control device wherein mercury in a well is displaced upwards in a capillary with one electrical contact within the well and another electrical contact positioned within the capillary. The displacement of the mercury is accomplished by rotating a knob which is screw thread connected to a stem. The stem moves within the well to displace mercury through the capillary.

Abstract: High voltage control devices are provided comprising a housing, an aprotic liquid contained within said housing, means for effecting heat exchange with said liquid, at least two spaced electrodes contained within said liquid and each of said electrodes extending from said housing. These devices find utility as variable resistors, circuit breakers, thermostats, optical triggering devices, acoustic pulse generators and the like.

Abstract: If one of a series string of battery cells fails on open circuit, the circuit through all of the cells is broken. An automatic means for by-passing the failed cell maintains the circuit and allows operation of the string to continue (at a lower no-lead voltage). The potential difference across the failed cell is utilized to heat a body of a conductive liquid so that it expands, ruptures the ampoule containing it and fills the gap between two conductors, thereby completing a shunt circuit.

Abstract: High voltage control devices are provided comprising a housing, an aprotic liquid contained within said housing, means for effecting heat exchange with said liquid, at least two spaced electrodes contained within said liquid and each of said electrodes extending from said housing. These devices find utility as variable resistors, circuit breakers, thermostats, optical triggering devices, acoustic pulse generators and the like.

Abstract: A thermostat for regulating temperature of a space. The thermostat has a pair of means selectively manually movable therein within a predetermined range of temperature settings for setting a selected temperature of the space. Means mounted in lost motion engagement between the setting means is operable generally in response to the selective manual movement of one of the setting means toward a temperature setting defining the selected temperature for driving the other of the setting means toward a temperature setting predeterminately displaced from that of the one setting means within the predetermined temperature range.A method of operating a thermostat is also disclosed.

Abstract: A timer controlled space thermostat includes a timer, a rechargeable battery for providing the electrical power to operate the timer, circuit means for recharging the battery, and two single-pole, double-throw temperature responsive switches. One conductive position of each switch enables the energizing of space conditioning apparatus control means, the other conductive position of each switch enables the energizing of the recharging circuit means, and the short timer period incidental to the movement of the switch between the conductive positions provides a sufficient time to ensure de-energizing of the space conditioning apparatus control means prior to the energizing of the recharging circuit means.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker having a motor starting circuit that is unaffected by barometric pressure changes thus obviating the need for altitude adjustment of the ice maker. A mercury column thermostatic sensor is used to provide control that will be accurate regardless of the ambient or altitude pressure while also having the ability to rapidly reset, thus eliminating the need for a back contact thermostat. The sensor, upon sensing the last ice cube to freeze in the ice tray, opens so that a rectifier SCR will be switched to conducting, shorting out a diode bridge circuit and energizing the ice maker motor after which the basic ice maker circuits lock the motor in its running mode for one cycle of ice harvesting.

Abstract: A space thermostat for controlling the two-stage operation of both heating and cooling apparatus includes two single-pole, double-throw mercury type switches operatively connected to a single bimetallic coil. One switch energizes stage one of the heating apparatus when tilted in one direction and energizes stage two of the cooling apparatus when tilted in the other direction. The other switch energizes stage two of the heating apparatus when tilted more in the direction which effected the energizing of stage one of the heating apparatus and energizes stage one of the cooling apparatus when tilted less in the direction which effected the energizing of stage two of the cooling apparatus. The switches are adjustably mounted with respect to each other so that the differential between stages can be adjusted to be the same as the differential of each switch.

Abstract: A temperature-sensitive tipswitch includes a pair of normally closed flexible conductive arms. A temperature responsive actuating arm is mounted adjacent the conductive arms and insulation discs separate all three. A bracket is connected into the stack formed by the arms and insulation discs and the bracket mounts a mercury tipswitch. There are one or more terminals extending out from the stack and in electrical contact with one of the conductive arms and a second terminal connected to the tipswitch.