Abstract: In a refrigerator having a fluorescent lamp for illuminating a fresh food compartment in which the fluorescent lamp is installed in the fresh food compartment, and is turned on and off according to the opening and closing of a door for opening and closing the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator includes a heater which is installed adjacent to the fluorescent lamp to heat the peripheral portion of the fluorescent lamp. The refrigerator maintains a peripheral temperature of a fluorescent lamp at an appropriate temperature for lighting up the fluorescent lamp, to thereby prevent failure in the light-up of the fluorescent lamp and the reduction of illumination after lighting up the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A power supply for vibrating compressors having an inverter for converting direct current (d-c) into alternating current (a-c). The power supply includes a d-c power source section for applying d-c voltage to the inverter, a current detecting apparatures for detecting a current flowing in the vibrating compressor, a control section having a frequency following circuit for generating a frequency following the resonance frequency of the vibrating compressor on the basis of a current detected by the current detecting apparatures, and an inverter control circuit for controlling the inverter with the frequency generated by the frequency following circuit. The vibrating compressor is driven by an a-c voltage of the frequency agreeing with the resonance frequency of the vibrating compressor.

Abstract: A circuit for regulating the air conditioning of premises that are stationary or mobile, the premises being air conditioned by means of a conditioning unit controlled by a corrector that receives on its inputs both a reference temperature magnitude and a magnitude representative of the temperature of the premises, the circuit including a member for non-linear and non-stationary simulation of the assembly constituted by the conditioning unit and by the premises, and wherein the corrector comprises means for handling saturation in such a manner as to take account of amplitude limitation in the signal for controlling the process and the model of the process. The invention is particularly applicable to regulating the air conditioning of rail vehicles.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for checking communications that a controller receives from elements in an HVAC system. The process includes storing the communications and thereafter checking each stored communication against a range of permitted values for that particular communication. The thus checked communication is made available for use by the controller only if it is within the range of permitted values. A count of times that a particular element does not comply with the check is maintained with a warning being generated in the event that the element continues to communicate unacceptable signal values.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature regenerative type refrigerator installed in a low temperature environment, in which a cooling water flow rate controller for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water automatically in accordance with the temperature of gas fed to an expansion unit from a compressor, is provided in a water cooling type cooler for cooling the compressor, to keep the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor high to the extent of not deteriorating the function of a seal due to shrinkage or not causing convection or deflecting flow in a regenerator, whereby it is made possible to prevent the deterioration in the cooling efficiency of the regenerator which is caused by a lowering of the ambient temperature in the refrigerator installed place, and hence possible to prevent the deterioration of the refrigerating capacity as the entire refrigerator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature regenerative type refrigerator installed in a low temperature environment, in which a cooling water flow rate controller for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water automatically in accordance with the temperature of gas fed to an expansion unit from a compressor, is provided in a water cooling type cooler for cooling the compressor, to keep the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor high to the extent of not deteriorating the function of a seal due to shrinkage or not causing convection or deflecting flow in a regenerator, whereby it is made possible to prevent the deterioration in the cooling efficiency of the regenerator which is caused by a lowering of the ambient temperature in the refrigerator installed place, and hence possible to prevent the deterioration of the refrigerating capacity as the entire refrigerator.

Abstract: In a dual-purpose cooling/heating air conditioner, refrigerant is conducted from an evaporator to an accumulator and then into a compressor. The accumulator includes an electric heater for heating the refrigerant to a desired minimum superheat level in order to promote the evaporation of liquid refrigerant.

Abstract: A heat pump or air conditioning system includes a process for calculating on a real time basis the capacity contribution of each of a number of heating or cooling stages. The calculated contribution is utilized to determine the number of stages that need to be activated at any point in time in the heat pump or air conditioning system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature regenerative type refrigerator installed in a low temperature environment, in which a cooling water flow rate controller for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water automatically in accordance with the temperature of gas fed to an expansion unit from a compressor, is provided in a water cooling type cooler for cooling the compressor, to keep the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor high to the extent of not deteriorating the function of a seal due to shrinkage or not causing convection or deflecting flow in a regenerator, whereby it is made possible to prevent the deterioration in the cooling efficiency of the regenerator which is caused by a lowering of the ambient temperature in the refrigerator installed place, and hence possible to prevent the deterioration of the refrigerating capacity as the entire refrigerator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a small-sized refrigerator comprising an evaporator being of a plate shape to provide an increased cold air producing area, and a defrosted water drain pan formed with a plurality of cold air passage openings to allow smooth convention of cold air in a refrigerating chamber, thereby enabling a proper temperature in the chamber to be achieved promptly and the temperature differences between the respective areas of the chamber to be minimized. To this end, the evaporator of a plate shape is mounted horizontally at the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber, and the defrosted water drain pan having a plurality of the cold air passage openings, overflow prevention walls and guide members for preventing defrosted water from passing through the openings is detachably disposed below the evaporator to collect the defrosted water dropping from the evaporator.

Abstract: A heated accumulator for a refrigeration system includes a cylindrical tank closed by upper and lower tank caps. The tank is divided into upper and lower chambers by a plate disposed near the upper tank cap, with the lower chamber defining a sump. The plate includes a central opening surrounded by smaller openings. An outlet U-tube has a first end disposed within the central opening of the plate, a second end which extends through the upper tank cap, and a central portion which extends into the sump. A refrigerant inlet tube includes swirl ports which direct refrigerant into a vortex against the inner surface of an upper portion of the tank. Heat is applied to this same upper tank portion, introducing heat directly into the swirling liquid refrigerant. Refrigerant vaporized by the heat rises into the upper tank chamber where it is drawn by compressor suction into the outlet U-tube.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus comprises a sample accommodating region, a refrigerator for keeping cool a long test film containing a reagent which reacts with a liquid sample to give rise to a change in optical density, and a test film conveyor for sequentially pulling out the long test film from the refrigerator. A sample applicator takes up the liquid sample from the sample accommodating region and applies it to the long test film at the position to which the long test film has been pulled out of the refrigerator. An incubator maintains the sample-applied portion of the long test film at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. A detector irradiates light to the sample-applied portion of the long test film, and measures the optical density given rise to by the reaction during or after the passage of the predetermined time.

Abstract: Start-up problems in an intermittently operated evaporative cooling system to low temperature environments is avoided by the provision of one or more heaters 62, 64, 66 in the system. Typically the system will include an evaporator 10, a compressor 24, a condenser 42, a receiver 62 and an expansion valve 56. When low ambient temperatures reduce internal pressure within the system to a value below which it can be started through operation of the compressor 24, the heaters 62, 64, 66 may be energized to vaporize refrigerant and thus generate a pressure of sufficient magnitude so as to allow starting.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted refrigerator includes an apparatus for levelling the condenser coils including a support frame mounted in a generally horizontal plane and pivotable about generally orthogonal axis with electrically powered levelling support jacks activated by level sensing switches for levelling the frame on which the condenser coils of the refrigerator are mounted. An alternate embodiment includes hand operated jacks for levelling the condenser coils.

Abstract: An electronic temperature control having a temperature sensor (10) and a user-adjustable temperature range control (12). A difference amplifier (14) amplifies the difference between the signals from the temperature sensor and range control. A hysteresis comparator (16) then accepts the signal from the difference amplifier and uses it to control a transistor relay driver (18), which in turn controls the clutch coil (20) of the air conditioning system controlled by the temperature control. The transistor relay driver is disabled by an evaporator fan sensor (22) to avoid freeze-up of the evaporator when the fan is turned off. Since auto air conditioning systems rob the car's engine of power, an acceleration cut-out (24) is provided to disable the transistor relay driver when other power demands on the car's engine are great, such as on hard acceleration.

Abstract: A vapor compression cycle device with variable thermal capacity is provided with a means and a method for controlling device capacity modulation and evaporator superheat. Multi-component working fluid liquid flow from each of a pair of accumulators in a closed circuit device is regulated either in response to sensed thermal demand or in response to sensed working fluid vapor superheat.

Abstract: A selectively mountable cold control device of the type utilized by servicemen for effectuating temporary repairs wherein the device employs alternative mounting means. In the first instance, where the cold control service is to be of a temporary nature, a pair of suction cup mounting members are utilized so as to retain the cold control device in operative relationship with the appliance with which it is used. Alternatively, where the replacement is to be of a permanent or quasipermanent nature, a singular grappling hook mounting member is utilized instead of the suction cup members. The housing of the cold control device is so configured so as to allow selection of either mode of mounting the cold control device with refrigerators, coolers and similar such appliances.

Abstract: The steps of handling ice cans in an ice making plant, such as placing the ice cans in alignment within one or more ice tanks, transferring ice cans each containing formed ice block to a stripping-off area, and placing and separating of the cover lid relative to ice can units, are automatically performed by an overhead travelling crane.Particularly, several ice can units are placed in the ice tank such that pairs of lugs provided on each ice can unit are arrayed in two straight lines to enable the overhead crane to selectively lift the ice cans.In order to produce high-quality ice blocks which are completely transparent through to the core portion thereof, each ice can is correlated with means for agitating ice making water contained therein and is connected with a piping for exchanging core water, in which impurities or foreign particles are likely to gather, with fresh water.The stripping-off of the ice blocks from the ice cans is also performed by an automatic system.

Abstract: A pressure regulator especially suited for cryogenic fluid and two-phase (gas and liquid mixture) flow application such as an aircraft fuel tank inerting system wherein the regulator controls the pressure and rate of flow of inerting fluid, e.g. nitrogen, into the fuel tank to pressurize the tank and to inert the tank ullage gases to render them noncombustible, said regulator being characterized in that the flow control valve has large and small variable area orifices which operate in sequence to minimize overshoot and undershoot, in that resonant oscillation is predictably damped and the damping remains substantially constant despite wear or change in clearances of the parts, and in that the valve actuator is thermally isolated from the cryogenic fluid flow path.

Abstract: A power-operated vertically adjustable shelf is supported by shelf arms in cantilevered fashion at the rear of an appliance cabinet by a gear and roller on each shelf arm, with each gear and roller vertically offset engaging a vertically extending toothed rack and a roller track. Electric drive means, carried by the cabinet, powers a vertically extending drive shaft of which the torque is transmitted to the shelf operating gear through a normally disengaged clutch which is engaged by user operating means adjacent the front of each shelf whereby powered vertical movement of the shelves is achieved. A dual position selector shelf switch is operable upon opening the door to permit the user to select up or down power shelf movement with the shelf switch being neutralized upon closing of the cabinet door.