Abstract:
Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.
Abstract:
A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the refrigerator in one of plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively schedule, delay, adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the refrigerator in the energy savings mode.
Abstract:
A drawbar having a boom with at least two pivotally connected sections which in a field position extend generally transversely of the direction in which the draw is drawn. Each section carries at least one first soil working device and at least one other second soil working device is trailed behind said first soil working device. The sections are pivotable in unison, about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction in which the drawbar is drawn, from said field position to a non-working position. In the non-working position the soil working devices are raised in order that the sections can be pivoted relatively to each other to a folded, transport position.
Abstract:
An energy management system for altering power consuming functions on an electrical device during specified periods of time, e.g., peak energy demand periods. The system includes an electrical device having one or more power consuming functions, a memory for storing power consuming function profiles corresponding to the one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to access the power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device, identify the one or more power consuming functions configured to be changed during a specified period of time, output the identified one or more power consuming functions, receive a request to not change at least one of the identified one or more power consuming functions, and prevent the requested one or more power consuming functions from being changed.
Abstract:
A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller adjusts the temperature of the refrigerator and/or freezer from a normal setting to a higher point during an energy saving mode and then back to a normal temperature. The transition between low and high is controlled to reduce energy consumption.
Abstract:
An energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period. The controller is configured to at least one of communicate to, control and operate one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The one or more appliances operate in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operate in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period. The controller is configured to control the return of the one or more appliances to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility.
Abstract:
This disclosure is related to software that responds to consumer usage patterns in order to create more ice. The developed software monitors ice dispenses rather they are crushed or cubed. When a threshold of the number of dispenses within the preset time period has been met, the freezer enters a high demand mode. During high demand mode, the freezer is commanded to run at a colder temperature for a preset period of time. The method described in this disclosure includes setting a threshold for the number of dispenses within a time interval and detecting the number of dispenses that are related to a trigger's activation. The method continues with sending a signal when the number of dispenses surpasses the threshold within the time interval and taking a corrective action that increases the production of ice when the signal is received.
Abstract:
An energy management system for altering power consuming functions on an electrical device during specified periods of time, e.g., peak energy demand periods. The system includes an electrical device having one or more power consuming functions, a memory for storing power consuming function profiles corresponding to the one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to access the power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device, identify the one or more power consuming functions configured to be changed during a specified period of time, output the identified one or more power consuming functions, receive a request to not change at least one of the identified one or more power consuming functions, and prevent the requested one or more power consuming functions from being changed.
Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a housing defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, a fan configured to provide airflow through the compartments, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an airflow passage configured to allow cold air to flow from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment, a damper configured to be in an open position under the pressure of airflow flowing through the airflow passage and in a closed position due to a weight of the damper when cold air is flowing through the fresh food compartment. The damper assembly also includes a solenoid element configured to maintain the damper in the closed position regardless of airflow.
Abstract:
An aluminum alloy sheet and a method for producing an aluminum alloy sheet. The aluminum alloy sheet is useful for forming into drawn and ironed container bodies. The sheet preferably has an after-bake yield strength of at least about 37 ksi and an elongation of at least about 2 percent. Preferably the sheet also has earing of less than about 2 percent.