Abstract: A vapor generating and recovery apparatus for vaporizing a liquid and condensing the vapor including at least one chamber in which vapor is generated from the liquid and recovering the vapor in liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovery portion of the chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heating and cooling to the vapor generating and recovery apparatus is a refrigerant system which includes at least one refrigerant condensing coil (heat emitting means) and at least one refrigerant evaporating coil (heat absorbing means) in heat transfer relationship with the vapor generating portion and vapor recovery portion, respectively, of the chamber, and two refrigerant heat exchanger means, one being downstream and one being upstream of the heat emitting means for removing excess heat from the refrigerant system.

Abstract: A variable fluidic time delay system for operating a plurality of pressure sensitive control switches to effect sequential operations at different pressure settings or for different components in response to the fluid pressure at a predetermined location in a refrigeration system, the time delay system including a fluid flow restrictor and unidirectional flow control in parallel by-pass relation with each other and connecting the control switches to the predetermined location of the refrigeration system for restricting pressurized fluid flow with a concomitant time delay in one direction and providing unrestricted fluid pressure equalization in the other direction, respectively.

Abstract: A desuperheater control system for use in a refrigeration apparatus includes a thermostatic expansion valve which responds to the temperature and pressure at the outlet of a desuperheater for bypassing refrigerant flow from the condenser back to the suction side of the compressor. A pressure chamber is connected to the outlet of the expansion valve to sense the pressure therein. A water regulating valve is responsive to the pressure in the pressure chamber for regulating the water flow through the desuperheater so that the superheated refrigerant gas from the compressor is cooled to a pre-selected temperature having a minimum superheat.

Abstract: An improved commercial cube/crushed ice making machine includes a refrigeration unit having a water-to-refrigerant heat exchange condenser operatively connectible to an external water supply for heating water therein. The condenser provides for improved efficiency in the refrigeration unit over a conventional air-cooled condenser. Also, the water heating capability of the ice-making machine preferably functions as a secondary heat source for the external water supply, thus providing savings in energy costs for the primary water heating source. Further, the heat exchange relation between the refrigeration unit and the external water supply is determined by an improved control system which is responsive to both a refrigerant pressure at the condenser refrigerant outlet, and the water temperature at the condenser water outlet for controlling water flow through the condenser while maintaining a pre-determined refrigerant pressure in the heat exchange means.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a cooling liquid to a condenser of a refrigeration unit. The apparatus comprises a conduit for passing the cooling liquid from a source thereof into thermal communication with the condenser, and a valve to regulate the flow of liquid through the conduit and having an open position allowing the liquid to flow through the conduit. The apparatus further comprises an electronic control for use with a source of an electronic signal, including an electronic switch having an open state in which the electronic signal does not pass through the switch, a closed state in which the electronic signal passes through the switch, and a trigger wherein, when an electronic signal having a predetermined magnitude passes to the trigger, the switch changes from the open state to the closed state.

Abstract: A combined storage tank and heat exchanger unit for heating water including a watertight tank having a water inlet in the lower portion thereof and a pair of water outlets in the upper portion thereof. The wall of the tank is in the form of a double wall jacket having a hot refrigerant inlet at the top portion thereof and a hot refrigerant outlet at the bottom portion thereof. A cylindrical heat barrier is mounted inside the tank and spaced a short distance from the inside surface of the jacket wall to thermally isolate a relatively small amount of water in the tank in direct contact with the inner surface of the jacket. A heat barrier disc is mounted in the tank and extends horizontally across the interior thereof to thermally isolate the water in the top portion of the tank from the water in the bottom portion thereof. The water outlets communicate with the interior of the tank on opposite sides of the partition to provide heated water at two distinctly different temperatures.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle of the type having an air conditioner condenser in line with shutters, a radiator and a de-energizable fan is provided with a pressure-sensing switch in the condenser to measure pressure increases in the refrigerant, a radiator coolant temperature sensor and a manual fan override switch all of which are combined to energize the shutter and fan controls so that the shutters will always be open when the fan is on, both the shutters and fan will be on during high temperature coolant conditions, and the shutter and fan will always be on during high pressure refrigerant conditions regardless of the radiator coolant temperature.

Abstract: In a bulk-milk cooling refrigeration system having an evaporator unit disposed within a bulk-milk cooling reservoir and interconnected with a water-cooled condenser unit for cooling milk in the reservoir, the hot water generated from the condenser unit during operation of the system is circulated through the evaporator unit to reduce its temperature whereby the water may be re-used in the water-cooled condenser unit, thereby conserving water and eliminating costly water storage tanks.

Abstract: Constant condenser pressure is maintained in an air-cooled condenser of a refrigeration system which operates at either full capacity or reduced capacity depending on the heat load requirements. When operating at full capacity, the condenser head pressure will be held generally constant at a relatively high control point even in the presence of wide variations in condenser cooling air temperature. On the other hand, when the heat load requirements decrease and the refrigeration system switches to its reduced capacity operating mode, the control point automatically drops to a substantially lower level, whereupon the condenser pressure is maintained relatively fixed at that lower control point despite major changes in the condenser cooling air temperature. By automatically lowering the control point at reduced system capacity, maximum efficiency and economical operation are obtained.

Abstract: The phases of a three-phase AC power supply are applied to a three-phase load, such as a motor, by respective ones of three triacs. Three alternating voltages, phase-displaced by 120.degree., appear across the triacs. When each alternating voltage is in its half cycles of one polarity, for example when the main terminal T.sub.2 is negative relative to the main terminal T.sub.1 of the triac to which the voltage is applied, the triac conducts continuously. During the half cycles of the opposite polarity, however, the conduction angle or time of each triac is varied in response to a control effect. In this way, the magnitude of the phase voltages applied to the load are varied to control the operation of the load, such as to vary the speed of the motor. No neutral point exists for the load currents so a triac, during the negative excursion of its main terminal T.sub.2, cannot conduct unless the terminals T.sub.2 of the other two triacs are in a positive excursion and have been triggered into conduction.

Abstract: In a refrigeration system having at least a condensor with a plurality of coils for passage therethrough of a refrigerant of the system and means for directing air flow in a selected path over the condensor, there is provided means for attaining a weighted average of the temperatures of at least some of the coils and the air flow. The attaining means includes means disposed across at least some of the coils and generally in the path of the air flow for heat transfer therewith, respectively.A method of attaining a weighted average temperature and a method of operating a refrigeration system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A preassembled unit for subcooling the refrigerant in existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems to a temperature less than its saturated vaporization temperature. The unit is installable in existing refrigeration systems and has the capability to increase the efficiency of such systems. A coaxial tube heat exchanger includes a refrigerant tube to be connected between the system condenser and expansion valve, and a cooling medium tube through which a flow of cooling water is provided. A thermostatically-operated control valve is utilized to adjust the flow of water in response to the refrigerant outlet temperature. The control valve ensures that only the minimum quantity of water necessary to reduce the refrigerant temperature to a selected value is used. The heat exchanger and control valve are completely enclosed in a block of plastic foam to prevent a high ambient temperature from affecting these elements.

Abstract: A control circuit for varying the speed of a dynamoelectric machine having a plurality of windings selectively energizable in different configurations for operation of the dynamoelectric machine at different speeds from an alternating current source. The control circuit has a phase control circuit for providing signals having a controllable phase relation to the alternating current source. A gate controlled full wave alternating current switch is connected in parallel with one of the windings, and the parallel combination of the one winding and the switch is connected in series with at least another of the windings whereby the switch conducts generally the full alternating current source voltage applied to the other winding. Means couples the phase control circuit to the gate of the switch to control the start of the conduction of the switch.A control circuit in a refrigeration system and a method of controlling speed of a dynamoelectric machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a refrigeration system having an air-cooled condenser and, more particularly, to maintaining high-side pressure in the condenser at normal levels at low outdoor ambient temperature by the provision of a reversible cooling fan, cooling air being directed across the condenser in the conventional direction when the high-side pressure is above a predetermined level and diminishing the volume of cooling air flow across the condenser when the high-side pressure is below a predetermined level.