3491results about "Refrigeration devices" patented technology

An energy saving control for appliances via an intelligent thermostat is provided. This intelligent thermostat provides programmatic control over the HVAC system, and provides coordinated control over the appliances. This control over the appliances is accomplished via a communications network between the intelligent thermostat and the appliances. The appliances include occupancy sensors and transmit usage and occupancy information to the intelligent thermostat. The intelligent thermostat processes this information to determine the occupancy of the dwelling. The thermostat controls the HVAC system and the appliances according to the determined occupancy of the dwelling.

A modular system comprises an appliance and an adaptive adapter configured to alternately couple two consumer electronic devices to the appliance and to supply a different electrical service between the appliance and the consumer electronic devices depending on the device selected. The adaptive adapter supplies a first category of electrical service to a first consumer electronic device and a second category of electrical service to a second consumer electronic device. The appliance may comprise a refrigeration appliance and the adaptive adapter can couple the consumer electronic devices to the appliance.

A thermostat is provided that receives one or more inputs from at least one heating system of a climate control system, and initiates an appropriate action in response to the input. The thermostat can turn off a heat pump providing substandard heat and responsively turn on a fuel-fired auxiliary furnace. The thermostat may discontinue further operation of the auxiliary furnace upon receiving an operating error signal associated with the auxiliary furnace, and responsively turn on the heat pump to provide for continued heating. The thermostat may also discontinue operation of the fuel-fired furnace and turn on a circulating fan in response to an input signal indicating a furnace high-temperature or a carbon monoxide presence.

In order to provide a modular arrangement, an inverter for an electric traction motor used to drive an automotive vehicle is positioned in proximity with the traction motor. The inverter is located within a compartment adjacent to one end of the electric traction motor and is cooled in a closed system by spraying a liquid coolant directly onto the inverter. The liquid coolant absorbs heat from the inverter and is cooled by a heat exchange arrangement comprising a reservoir with pipes carrying a second coolant from the radiator of the automotive vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the coolant is collected from the inverter in an annular reservoir that is integral with the compartment containing the inverter. In accordance with one embodiment of the cooling arrangement, heat from the inverter vaporizes the liquid coolant by absorbing heat from the inverter during a phase change from a liquid to a vapor. The vaporized coolant is condensed by a circulating second coolant in pipes connected to the vehicle's radiator through a condenser that is preferably coaxial with the motor and the annular reservoir, which annular reservoir in the second embodiment collects overspray liquid coolant. In order to avoid degrading the inverter, the coolant is a dielectric fluid.

A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and an air passage separate from the product display area. The case includes a rear wall separating in part the product display area from a vertical portion of the air passage. The rear wall includes apertures near a lower portion of the product display area. The apertures communicate between the vertical portion of the air passage and the lower portion of the product display area. The refrigerated merchandiser also includes a fan positioned in the air passage to generate an airflow through the passage and an evaporator positioned in the vertical portion of the air passage adjacent the rear wall and at an oblique angle to allow the airflow to pass through the evaporator, through the apertures, and into the lower portion of the product display area.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an open storage space and having a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. Each of the rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top wall, and bottom wall include an interior liner and an exterior wrapper. A door is disposed on the cabinet operable between an open position and a closed position. The door includes an interior liner and an exterior wrapper. At least one pocket is disposed in at least one of the rear wall, first side wall, second side wall, top wall, bottom wall, and door between the interior liner and the exterior wrapper. The at least one pocket includes an access opening. A removable insulation panel is disposed in the pocket.