A portable cooler includes a cooler body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section, an insulated cooler lid coupled to the cooler body, and a storage structure formed within the insulated cooler lid for storing one or more plates. The plates can be stored in a recessed portion of the insulated lid, which may include a groove or removable lip to retain the plates. A utensil storage structure is provided to store one or more utensils. Sharp utensils may include safety mechanisms to inhibit unwanted removal.

A portable cooler includes a cooler body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section, an insulated cooler lid coupled to the cooler body, and a storage structure formed within the insulated cooler lid for storing one or more plates. The plates can be stored in a recessed portion of the insulated lid, which may include a groove or removable lip to retain the plates. A utensil storage structure is provided to store one or more utensils. Sharp utensils may include safety mechanisms to inhibit unwanted removal.

A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.

A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.

An ice machine includes: an ice maker including: an ultrasonic bin sensor mounted to a body; and a controller in electrical communication with the ultrasonic bin sensor and configured to control the ultrasonic bin sensor; and a storage bin coupled to the ice maker and sized to receive a mound of ice, a lens of the ultrasonic bin sensor facing a bottom of an interior cavity of the storage bin, the controller configured to process a return signal of the ultrasonic bin sensor to control a level of ice stored inside the storage bin, the controller further configured to apply a predetermined time delay to filter out a portion of the return signal that exceeds a threshold voltage but does not exceed the time delay.

A refrigerator with a home bar. The refrigerator reuses waste heat emitted from the electrical units (e.g., compressor and condenser) to heat the home bar frame, thereby preventing or reducing dew formation thereon. An air flow path is coupled to the machine room to supply air that is heated by the waste heat from the machine room to the home bar frame.

The present invention provides a refrigerator capable of supplying hot and cold drinking water to a user. The refrigerator includes a cold water tank and a hot water tank and a Peltier effect thermoelectric element disposed between the tanks. When a unidirectional current is supplied to the thermoelectric element, its heat absorption portion can absorb heat from the cold water tank and cool down the water stored therein; and its heat generation portion can release to the hot water tank and heat up the water stored therein. The cold water tank can further be cooled by the cold air in the refrigerator; while the hot water tank can further be heated by the heat in the machine room.

Left and right edge portions of an external casing of a container refrigeration apparatus each include a column member that is continuous from the upper end to the lower end of a casing. Left and right edge portions of an internal casing each include a side plate that is continuous from the upper end to the lower end of the casing. The column members of the external casing and the associated side plates of the internal casing are fixed together, thereby increasing the strength of the casing including the external casing and the internal casing.

Left and right edge portions of an external casing of a container refrigeration apparatus each include a column member that is continuous from the upper end to the lower end of a casing. Left and right edge portions of an internal casing each include a side plate that is continuous from the upper end to the lower end of the casing. The column members of the external casing and the associated side plates of the internal casing are fixed together, thereby increasing the strength of the casing including the external casing and the internal casing.

A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) for a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is described. The TRU can be configured to have an upper compartment to accommodate a compressor and an engine, and a condenser compartment that is generally positioned below the upper comportment. The condenser compartment can include a condenser and a fan at a bottom portion of the condenser compartment. The fan can be configured to blow air out of the condenser compartment in a downward direction from the bottom portion of the condenser compartment. The TRU can also have an evaporator compartment that is generally positioned behind the condenser compartment. The evaporator compartment can accommodate an evaporator that is generally positioned below the upper compartment. The evaporator compartment can have an air inlet and an air outlet that is positioned higher than the air outlet. In operation, airflow through the evaporator compartment is directed in a downward direction.