Abstract:
A copper or aluminum tube is cut and sealed in an ultrasonic tube sealer. A section of the tube is placed laterally in a V-shaped recess of a center member of a forming tool of an anvil of the ultrasonic tube sealer. The anvil and a horn tip are brought together with the center member received in a channel of a forming tool of the horn tip to cut the tube with the cut tube having cut ends on opposed sides of the center member. At least one of the cut ends is pinched together between the forming tool of the anvil and the forming tool of the ultrasonic horn tip and the ultrasonic horn is ultrasonically vibrated to ultrasonically weld the at least one cut end together to seal that cut end.
Abstract:
A cooling system has both pumped refrigerant economization and direct expansion cooling. When outside air temperature is low enough that pumped refrigerant economization can provide enough cooling to satisfy cooling demand, only pumped refrigerant economization cooling is used to provide cooling. When outside air temperature is low enough that pumped refrigerant economization can provide some but not all of the cooling needed to satisfy cooling demand, the pumped refrigerant economization is operated at one hundred percent capacity and the direct expansion cooling is operated at a capacity to provide any supplemental cooling that is needed. If the outside air temperature is high enough that pumped refrigerant economization cannot provide any cooling, then only direct expansion cooling is used to provide cooling.
Abstract:
A multi-flow valve has an inlet/outlet plate (208) with at least two inlet openings (210, 212) and two outlet openings (214, 216). A fluid flow selector (206) has a fluid passage (228) therein. The fluid flow selector is rotatable with respect to the inlet/outlet plate among a closed position a first open position and a second open position. When in the first open position the fluid flow passage fluidly couples the first inlet to the first outlet and when in the second open position the fluid passage fluidly couples the second inlet to the second outlet. In an aspect, when the fluid flow selector is in the closed position the fluid flow passage fluidly couples the first outlet to the second outlet. In an aspect, the fluid flow passage is an offset arcuate channel.
Abstract:
A large surface area ultrasonic block horn (201) includes one or more shaped elements (200) having a node (206) at a mid-point of the shaped element that is narrower than opposed ends of the shaped element.
Abstract:
An apparatus for determining the existence of a head-gasket failure in an engine is provided. The apparatus includes an accumulator in fluid communication with the engine, an engine coolant flow path in fluid communication with the engine and with the accumulator, and a gas flow path fluidly coupled to the accumulator. The apparatus further includes at least one gas analyzer fluidly coupled to the accumulator via the gas flow path that receives a sample gas from the accumulator via the gas flow path to allow the at least one gas analyzer to detect an amount of carbon dioxide in the sample gas.
Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively activating a food waste disposer for a sink comprises a housing (360) and an activation member (306). The housing comprises a switch (362) and a first magnet (364). The first magnet is movable relative to the housing and the switch between first and second positions whereby movement of the first magnet from the second position to the first position causes corresponding movement of the switch from an off-position in which electrical current is prevented from reaching a motor of the disposer to an on-position allowing electrical current to the motor. The activation member comprises a second magnet (324) and is received in a tubular member (308) through which waste drains and can be positioned relative to the tubular member to place the second magnet in proximity to the first magnet to generate a repulsive magnetic force that moves the first magnet between the first and second positions.
Abstract:
A voltage booster system for use, for example, in an electric vehicle places a switched capacitor voltage converter between a high voltage battery and the vehicle's electrical load, typically a traction power inverter for driving the vehicle's electric motor. The battery input to the converter is pulsed to couple a charging voltage to the converter while the converter is disconnected from the load. The converter is then coupled to the load during the period that the pulse input is disconnected.
Abstract:
An installation system (10) for attaching a transparent pane (12) to a frame (14) includes at least one support tool (16a, 16b) having a base member (28, 128) and a support member. The support member is operably coupled to the base member, and the support member is operable to support the pane in a fixed position relative to the frame. The support tool also includes a magnet (26, 126) that is fixed to at least one of the base member and the support member for magnetically and removably attaching the at least one support tool to the frame. A method of attaching the pane to the frame is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A capacitive switch assembly for controlling power windows of an automotive vehicle has a plurality of window select capacitive sensors (204) with a respective window select capacitive sensor for selecting a respective power window to be opened or closed. The capacitive switch assembly also includes a capacitive actuator (206) including gesture responsive capacitive sensors responsive to an open gesture and a close gesture made by a user with a finger on a gesture pad of the capacitive actuator. The gesture responsive capacitive sensors are located at locations on the gesture pad so that the open and close gestures mimic the way in which a user moves an actuator of a mechanical switch to open and close a window. The capacitive switch assembly may include a hot button (230) that enables and disables the power windows.
Abstract:
Parts stuck together in a stack are separated by placing the parts in a vibratory apparatus and vibrating the stack of parts with a vibratory head of the vibratory apparatus to separate them and also constrain the parts with the vibratory head as the parts are vibrated.