What is this thing?

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mykl@lemmy.world

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Found this when snorkling in Greece about 17 years ago when i was just a kid. Always wondered what it was... Anyone an idea? Almost certainly made of metal and i think it is hollow on the inside. (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago by BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

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[–] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 117 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)

Sensor/thermal bulb from a capillary tube. Likely from a refrigerator.

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 12 points 1 week ago (3 children)

What does it do?

[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

From a quick search, it is used to control the flow of refrigerant based on its temperature. The tube deforms based on how hot or cold the refrigerant is, and there are contacts on the tube to switches that permit or resrrict coolant flow

In other words, it's a simple thermostat

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Wow, that’s pretty clever.

[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

Physics, yo

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