Whirlpool Corporation

Thomas R MacFarlane

Frank R Skinner, Ii

Richard G Sickert

John A Nelson

A method and apparatus for bonding two tubes in a refrigeration sealed system by soldering. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws which are spring biased in the closed position and a pair of handles for opening the jaws against the spring bias force. The jaws include electrodes having arcuate recesses therein which are arranged in opposed facing aligned relationship so that a pair of tubes may be held between the electrodes. One of the pair of tubers to which the method is applied has a flared end with a larger diameter than the other tube. The ends of the tubes are first cleaned by mechanical means and flux is then applied to the end of the smaller tube. The end of the smaller tube is then slid into the flared end of the other tube in telescoping registry and the telescoped ends are clamped between the electrodes. A solder ring is then positioned around the smaller tube into abutting relationship with the flared end of the other tube. Electric current is supplied to the electrodes to heat the telescoped tube ends so that the flux will melt and cause it to further clean the tube ends. The heat will also melt the solder which is then drawn into the interface area between the telescoped tube ends.

Method for repairing a refrigeration sealed system

An improved control for use in a hand washing and drying apparatus including a first manually operable control device for causing operation of a solenoid-operated valve causing delivery of hand washing water directly to a bowl of the device for a preselected period of time. A second manually operable control device is provided for causing operation of a forced air drying structure of the device to provide hand drying air to the bowl. The control is arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the solenoid and air moving device. The control is further arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the electric heater of the water supply and the blower motor. Still further, the control is arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the solenoid valve of the water supply and the blower motor. The control is arranged to limit usage of electrical power so that a single conventional branch circuit can provide sufficient power to operate the device. The control provides an improved short delivery of the washing water so as to effectively require a number of manipulations of the manually operable control to effect a complete hand washing operation while continuously maintaining an adequate supply of warm water for subsequent users. The device is arranged to permit substantially continuous sequential use thereof by a number of users as in a public restroom in effecting a series of hand washing and drying operations while providing the hand washing water in sufficient volume and at the desired hand washing temperature to accommodate a series of users.

Automatic hand washing and drying apparatus

An improved control for use in a hand washing and drying apparatus including a first manually operable control device for causing operation of a solenoid-operated valve causing delivery of hand washing water directly to a bowl of the device for a preselected period of time. A second manually operable control device is provided for causing operation of a forced air drying structure of the device to provide hand drying air to the bowl. The control is arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the solenoid and air moving device. The control is further arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the electric heater of the water supply and the blower motor. Still further, the control is arranged to prevent concurrent operation of the solenoid valve of the water supply and the blower motor. The control is arranged to limit usage of electrical power so that a single conventional branch circuit can provide sufficient power to operate the device. The control provides an improved short delivery of the washing water so as to effectively require a number of manipulations of the manually operable control to effect a complete hand washing operation while continually maintaining an adequate supply of warm water for subsequent users. The device is arranged to permit substantially continuous sequential use thereof by a number of users as in a public restroom in effecting a series of hand washing and drying operations while providing the hand washing water in sufficient volume at the desired hand washing temperature to accommodate a series of users.

Water supply control for automatic hand washing and drying apparatus

A method of transferring an article carried by a first moving conveyor to a second moving conveyor and apparatus for effecting the same. The transfer is effected by lifting the article from the first conveyor, transporting it to adjacent the second conveyor, and permitting the second conveyor to receive the transported article for further conveying thereof by the second conveyor. The transferring apparatus may be provided at its distal end with a pickup device. To assure positive acquisition of the article by the transferring apparatus pickup device, the pickup device may be incrementally adjusted substantially perpendicular to and across the path of movement of the article at the pickup position, while at the same time moving along the path of movement of the article to be captured and picked up.

Conveyor transfer apparatus pickup means reach-retract control

A method of transferring an article carried by a first moving conveyor to a second moving conveyor and apparatus for effecting the same. The transfer is effected by a pickup device lifting the article from the first conveyor, transporting it to adjacent the second conveyor, and permitting the second conveyor to receive the transported article for further conveying thereof by the second conveyor. The article may be suspended from a hanger removably supported on a hook of the first conveyor. A sensor is provided for sensing proximity of the hanger to the pickup device for controlling initiation of the raising of the hanger from the hook to pick up the article and free it from the hook for delivery of the lifted article to the second conveyor. Upon delivery of the article to the second conveyor, the transfer is sensed by the proximity sensor when the hanger is removed from the pickup device and in response thereto, the transferring apparatus is returned to a start position for effecting transfer of a subsequent article from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

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St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Thomas R MacFarlane