Patents Examined by Cheryl Tyler
  • Patent number: 8646288
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a dispenser to extract water is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door opening and closing the storage chamber, and a dispenser disposed to discharge water, the dispenser including a button installed to be movable in a backward and forward moving direction, a switch pressed to cause water to be discharged, and a lever rotatably installed sideward with respect to the forward/backward moving direction of the button having one end disposed at a rear side of the button and an other end disposed on the switch and performing a seesaw movement sideward as the button moves in the forward/backward moving direction to press the switch. Thus, the dispenser can be formed to have a small thickness in a forward/backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Sung Il Park
  • Patent number: 8539787
    Abstract: An aircraft air-conditioning system is disclosed, which includes at least one heat exchanger to which coolant circulating in a cooling circuit of a cooling system and air are fed. The coolant cools the fed air in the heat exchanger, and the air leaving the heat exchanger enters the aircraft cabin. The coolant of the cooling system is always in the liquid state in the cooling circuit. The liquid coolant can also cool an aircraft seat or a sitting area of the aircraft seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ebigt, Stefan Repp, Andreas Frey
  • Patent number: 8540013
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a plurality of heat transfer plates between a frame and a movable plate employs hydraulic rams connected above and below the heat transfer plates to move the movable plate toward or away from the frame in a releasable clamping action against the heat transfer plates. A positive lock maintains the movable plate in its operational position. Supports above and below the heat transfer plates support and guide the movable plate and heat transfer plates. Thus, the heat transfer plates are removable from between the stationary and follower plates for replacement and maintenance when the movable plate is moved away from the frame without further reconfiguration or dismantling of the plate heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Leon Sanders
  • Patent number: 7441414
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Ziehr, Gregory A. Major, Mark D. Nemesh, George M. Claypole
  • Patent number: 7398841
    Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus and method using recovered energy sources including motor vehicle kinetic energy (deceleration and shock) and wind resistance, supplemented by liquefied air transferred to the vehicle and by solar radiation thereto. The energy sources are combined, as available, to drive a compressor for supplying intake working fluid of a motor vehicle prime mover, wherein liquefied air provides pre-compression cooling of an atmospheric air portion of the working fluid. The liquefied air is made by recovered energy, stored and transferred between vehicles and between vehicles and stationary sites. In a hybrid version of the vehicle, exhaust heat from a combustion engine part of the prime mover increases working fluid temperature in a gas expander part, thereof; the engine and expander operating independently or together for improved vehicle propulsion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Jay Stephen Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7389649
    Abstract: A control system for a cooling system includes a first sensor for sensing a property indicative of demand for cooling and a controller coupled to the sensor. The controller produces the variable duty cycle control signal in response to the property and causes the compressor and valve to vary a cooling capacity of the cooling system in response to the variable duty cycle control signal. The sensor may sense the pressure, temperature, or both. The valve may be a suction-side pressure regulator or a liquid-side expansion valve of the solenoid or stepper type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M Pham, Abtar Singh, Jean-Luc Caillat, Mark Bass
  • Patent number: 7377127
    Abstract: An NGL recovery plant includes a demethanizer (7) in which internally generated and subcooled lean oil absorbs CO2 and C2 from a gas stream (11), thereby preventing build-up and freezing problems associated with CO2, especially where the feed gas has a CO2 treatment at ethane recoveries above 90% and propane recoveries of at least 99%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 7377125
    Abstract: Walk-in refrigerator/freezers and walk-in refrigerator/wine coolers for home use include walk-in refrigerator sections, reach-in freezer sections, pullout pantries and pullout refrigerated drawers, and wine cooler/humidor sections that may include one or two separate interior temperature-controlled sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Cold Fusion Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Seiden, Ron Levy, Adrian E. Crisci
  • Patent number: 7360367
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transportation of a cryogenic fluid. The system includes a floating liquefaction unit receiving a gas from a source, a shuttle vessel for carrying liquefied gas away from the liquefaction unit, and a floating regasification unit for receiving the liquefied gas from the vessel, regassifying the liquefied gas and providing the gas to a distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group Advanced Parts Manufacture
    Inventors: Bradford S. Hubbard, Ned P. Baudat, W. Scott Worthington
  • Patent number: 7347062
    Abstract: An ejector cycle with an ejector includes a nozzle for decompressing refrigerant. A receiver for storing refrigerant is disposed at a refrigerant outlet side of a condenser. A bypass passage and a switching valve for opening and closing the bypass passage are provided so that high-temperature refrigerant discharged from a compressor is introduced into an evaporator while bypassing the condenser in a defrosting operation. When the defrosting operation is set, the switching valve is opened while a fan for blowing cool air to the condenser is operated. A part of refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the evaporator to remove frost on a surface of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nishijima, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Toru Ikemoto, Hisatsugu Matsunaga, Takeharu Asaoka
  • Patent number: 7340915
    Abstract: A refrigerator door having a dispenser is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an outer case forming a front appearance of the refrigerator door, an inner case forming a rear appearance of the refrigerator door, and an insulation layer disposed between the outer case and the inner case. First and second mounting frames are installed at both side ends of the refrigerator door and have first and second mounting slots longitudinally formed in the first and second mounting frames in opposition to each other. The dispenser is detachably coupled to a front surface of the outer case and includes a housing, which forms an external appearance of the dispenser and is formed with a recess section. An external plate section is coupled to the front surface of the outer case except for an area in which the dispenser is installed, forming an external appearance of the refrigerator door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7320434
    Abstract: An electronically controlled thermostat control method is obtained which makes it possible to eliminate the response delay from the time that the required cooling water temperature is set to the time that the actual cooling water temperature reaches the set water temperature by controlling the flow rate, and to realize high cooling water temperature tracking characteristics with a high degree of precision at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Suda, Hiroshi Suda, Mitsuhiro Sano, Daisuke Tsukamoto, Masahiro Aburakawa
  • Patent number: 7318319
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transportation of a cryogenic fluid. The system includes a floating liquefaction unit receiving a gas from a source, a shuttle vessel for carrying liquefied gas away from the liquefaction unit, and a floating regasification unit for receiving the liquefied gas from the vessel, regassifying the liquefied gas and providing the gas to a distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group Advanced Parts Manufacture
    Inventors: Bradford S. Hubbard, Ned P. Baudat, W. Scott Worthington
  • Patent number: 7310971
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for providing reflux to a refluxed heavies removal column of a LNG facility. The apparatus comprises stacked vertical core-in-kettle heat exchangers and an economizer disposed between the heat exchangers. The reflux stream originates from the methane-rich refrigerant of the methane refrigeration cycle. The liquid reflux stream generated by cooling the methane-rich stream in the vertical heat exchangers via indirect heat exchange with an upstream refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Anthony P. Eaton, David Messersmith
  • Patent number: 7311312
    Abstract: A chuck body is made up of axially movable plungers and jaws, in which the jaw has a master jaw body obliquely arranged with respect to an axis of the chuck body, the jaw also has a front face of the master jaw body and a rear end face of a master jaw head for restricting a position of the jaw with respect to the chuck body, a plunger receives a bushing which acts as a wedge means cooperating with the master jaw body, a driver at a rear end of the master jaw body being restricted in a backward movement within a range of a gap ?, and a wedge having a structure of canceling a moment applied to the jaw as a result of clamping, the driver providing a reactant force to the master jaw body for canceling a drawing force applied to a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kitagawa Tekkosho
    Inventors: Tamio Nishimiya, Satoshi Isohisa, Naoyuki Masatsugu, Toshihito Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7308800
    Abstract: Multi-type air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit installed in an outdoor, comprising a compressor, a refrigerant flow controlling part connected to a discharge end of the compressor for guiding the refrigerant proper to operation conditions selectively, an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant flow controlling part, a defrosting device at a side of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a piping system connected between the parts, a plurality of indoor units each installed in a room and having an indoor heat exchanger and an electronic expansion valve having one end connected to one end of the indoor heat exchanger, and a distributor between the outdoor unit and the indoor units for selectively guiding refrigerant from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units proper to operation conditions, and guiding the refrigerant passed through the indoor units to the outdoor unit again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Han Park, Young Min Park, Chang Seon Lee, Sung Oh Choi, Sung Chun Kim, Seung Yong Chang, Seok Ho Yoon, Baik Young Chung
  • Patent number: 7305836
    Abstract: A cryogenic container includes an inner vessel for containing a cryogenic fluid, and an outer vessel for insulating the cryogenic fluid from the environment. The inner vessel includes a superconductive layer formed of a material having superconducting properties at the temperature of the cryogenic fluid. The superconductive layer forms a magnetic field around the cryogenic container, that repels electromagnetic energy, including thermal energy from the environment, keeping the cryogenic fluid at low temperatures. The cryogenic container has a portability and a volume that permits its' use in applications from handheld electronics to vehicles such as alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs). A SMES storage system includes the cryogenic container, and a SMES magnet suspended within the cryogenic fluid. The SMES storage system can also include a recharger and a cryocooler configured to recharge the cryogenic container with the cryogenic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Eden Innovations Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Egan
  • Patent number: 7302807
    Abstract: In a refrigerating cycle device using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, there exists a problem that the provision of a receiver at a low-pressure side increases cost and volume due to a pressure resistance design necessary for ensuring safety. By adjusting a refrigerant holding quantity of a first heat exchanger in such a manner that a refrigerant pressure of the first heat exchanger 13 is changed by operating a first decompressor 12 and a second decompressor 15, an imbalance of a refrigerant quantity between time for space cooling and time for heating or dehumidifying can be alleviated and hence, it is possible to perform an operation of the refrigerating cycle device with high efficiency with a miniaturized receiver or without providing the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Masami Funakura, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Noriho Okaza
  • Patent number: 7296426
    Abstract: An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system is provide that comprises a thermostat for initiating the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode of operation or at least one reduced capacity mode of operation, and a controller for an outside condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, the controller being capable of operating the compressor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode. The system also comprises a controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, the controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode an at least one reduced capacity mode. The system further includes a communication means for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and at least the indoor blower controller, where the information relates to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William P. Butler, Steven L. Carey, Hung Pham, Nagaraj Jayanth
  • Patent number: RE40124
    Abstract: A process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in which the liquid products resulting from the fractionated condensation of a cracking gas for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column, called a de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels. At the top of the de-ethanizer the vapor of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor, the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column called a de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product, while the head product is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Technip
    Inventors: Victor Kaiser, Jean-Paul Laugier, Yvon Simon