Patents Examined by Frances H Kamps
  • Patent number: 8702481
    Abstract: A device (10) is used to maintain climate conditions within an interior space (12) of a vehicle such as an ambulance (14). The device (10) includes a blower (18) to generate an air flow and a mounting plate (20) cooperating with a cover (29) to direct the air flow across an opening (16) into the interior space to form a wall of air to prevent loss of the climate conditioned air within the interior space. The vehicle could also be a food service truck, a people transport bus and a boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Danhard, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Wilbourn, Mark A. Nation
  • Patent number: 8696329
    Abstract: An oscillating diaphragm fan having a plurality of subunits which each have an oscillating diaphragm that is excited by a magnetic system in an actuator chamber, wherein the air pulsation generated by oscillating diaphragm is discharged outwardly, the actuator chambers of the subunits are connected via means for compensating pressure and are encapsulated outwardly, and the magnetic systems of the subunits are excited out of phase with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Klaus Busch, Christian Scharf, Christoph Wiesner
  • Patent number: 8684802
    Abstract: A system that balances thermal variations within a set of computer systems in a datacenter. During operation, the system obtains a thermal flux map for the set of computer systems. The system then analyzes the thermal flux map to determine whether imbalances exist in the thermal flux across the set of computer systems. If so, the system can adjust: (1) the scheduling of loads across the set of computer systems, and/or (2) air conditioning within the datacenter, so that the thermal flux is more balanced across the set of computer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Keith A. Whisnant, Ramakrishna C. Dhanekula, Steven F. Zwinger
  • Patent number: 8672734
    Abstract: An extraction fan has a housing mounted in a wall with an outlet duct extending through the wall to an outlet opening outside the wall. A damper flap is mounted on the fan suspended by a hinge at an upper edge so as to extend in a closed position across the opening and is movable to an open position under forward air flow from the fan, and tightly closes against a resilient deformable seal when the fan is shut off. A spring biasing cam applies inwards force to the damper flap to bias the damper flap into the closed position, and an outwards force also to bias the damper flap into the fully open position. The mounting plate includes a hood having a top wall extending over the top of the damper flap and a down-turned front flange extending parallel to the damper flap to a bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Labrecque
  • Patent number: 8647183
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case, an air curtain system, and a method of providing an air curtain are provided. The air curtain is suitable for use with a refrigerated display case of the type having an open front, including those with a door selectively covering the open-front. The air curtain includes a secondary layer formed of ambient air cooled by exposure to a refrigerated primary layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Dean Swofford
  • Patent number: 8641494
    Abstract: A ventilation device comprises a body (11) having first and second ports (14, 15) and a ventilation passage (13) that extends through the body between the ports to allow airflow through the body. The ventilation device also comprises a noise attenuation device (21) arranged to attenuate noise transmission through the passage in at least one direction from the first to the second port. The noise attenuation device comprises at least one array (22, 23) of noise attenuation tubes disposed in the ventilation body. In one form, the noise attenuation device (21) include two arrays of attenuator tubes disposed on respective opposite sides of the passage (13). The tubes each have a mouth (27) that opens to the passage and a central axis that extends from the mouth in the direction of elongation of that tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Silenceair International Pty Limited
    Inventor: Christopher James Matthews
  • Patent number: 8636567
    Abstract: A damper for controlling fluid flow includes a main body, a stator and a rotor. The stator may be carried by the main body and include at least one blade having a predetermined shape. The rotor may be moveably connected to the stator and carried by the main body. The rotor may include at least one blade having a predetermined shape and may be moveable between an opened position and a closed position. The predetermined shape of the at least one stator blade and the at least one rotor blade may form a converging-diverging nozzle, and the stator and the rotor may be carried by the main body so that fluid flows through the main body substantially perpendicular thereto. The opened position may be defined as the at least one stator blade being aligned with the at least one rotor blade, and the closed position may be defined as the at least one stator blade being offset from the at least one rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Airgonomix, LLC
    Inventors: Sean J. Fitzgerald, John C. Farrar, Robert F. Keimer, David L. Huie, Allen N. Williams, Matthew S. Ikemeier, Brendan T. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 8628388
    Abstract: A laboratory bench-top fume hood comprises an enclosure containing a working chamber with a frontal opening for manual access and airflow into the chamber. A plenum behind the working chamber is connectable to an air extraction system. An apertured, curved baffle plate separates the working chamber from the plenum, and is convex from the plenum side, improving airflow and increasing usable volume of the working chamber. Slots in the baffle plate may be fitted with guide vanes extending into the plenum. A slot adjacent a roof of the working chamber is effective for creating evenly-distributed air flows. The roof may be curved to encourage an airflow to follow the roof profile to the baffle plate. Sidewalls of the working chamber may bow outwardly but converge towards the opening. The baffle plate may comprise a set of separately dismountable panels, to aid cleaning and provide access to the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: A1 Envirosciences Limited
    Inventor: Sean Patrick Codling
  • Patent number: 8596258
    Abstract: A coal-preparing device for charcoal briquettes having a base having an inner cavity, wherein a plurality of pores is disposed in a first position on the base; a canister having an inner cavity for holding charcoal briquettes, the canister is attachable to the first position on the base, wherein a plurality of air holes is disposed in a bottom surface of the canister; and a fan component disposed in the base, the fan component functions to draw air into the inner cavity in the base and through the pores and the air holes into the inner cavity of the canister, the fan component is operatively connected to a power source; wherein in some embodiments, the base is constructed in an L-shape, the L-shape having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, wherein the fan component is disposed on the vertical portion and the canister is attachable to the horizontal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Mario F. Gonzalez, John Romero, Sr., Dora A. Gonzalez, Leticia Romero
  • Patent number: 8597091
    Abstract: An electronic system has independently coolable first and second zones. The electronic system includes a first zone having a first zone fan and a plurality of first zone connectors for connecting electronic modules and a second zone having a second fan zone and a plurality of second zone connectors for connecting electronic modules. A module manager is also provided for communicating with the first and second zone connectors and with the first and second zone fans. The module manager can independently control the speed of the first and second zone fans based upon operational parameters received from the first and second zone connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ricardo Espinoza-Ibarra, Andrew H. Barr
  • Patent number: 8591299
    Abstract: An air duct system may employ an HVAC case having an exit air duct and a return air duct, a windshield with an interior surface, an approximately vertical duct, and a horizontal duct. Ducts mount to the windshield and each define an interior passageway with the interior surface of the windshield and a second, return air, passageway. The interior passageway may receive air from the exit air duct and the second passageway may return air to the return air duct. End chambers of each duct reverse air direction 180 degrees. Air of each interior passageway may warm an adjacent area of the windshield that forms part of each interior passageway and a windshield wiper. The first air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a maximum non-park wiper position and the second air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a wiper park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph DiGasbarro
  • Patent number: 8562398
    Abstract: An airflow diffuser including a blade wheel that includes blade members, spoke members and a hub member supporting the spoke members, and that is located so that air blown out from an air outlet of an air conditioner comes in contact over a path of rotation of the blade members, a shaft member forming an axis of rotation of the blade wheel. The blade wheel is capable of being freely rotated by at least just the air that is blown out from the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Toshitaka Tanaka, Yuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8550886
    Abstract: A ventilation device is for ventilating a motor vehicle interior. The ventilation device comprises an air supply channel and an outflow region. The outflow region is provided with a first component and a second component which can be brought into at least one first state of displacement and a second state of displacement in relation to each other, in order to generate a first air flow and a different second air flow. The first component and the second component have a first lamella structure and a second lamella structure, according to the state of displacement, for producing a first air flow and a second air flow with different opening angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Kogler, Younes Chlyeh
  • Patent number: 8528542
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a vacuum tube with an outer wall. An inner tube can be filled with a heat-conducting fluid. The outer wall of the inner tube is situated concentric to a wall of the vacuum tube. At least one heat-conducting film is provided that joins said wall of the vacuum tube to the fluid-conducting tube system. A means which collects and concentrates solar energy is provided on the wall on the side of the vacuum tube facing away from the heat-conducting element. In addition, each heat-conducting element, while being pretensioned, presses against the wall of the vacuum tube and against the fluid-conducting tube system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Orhan Üstün
  • Patent number: 8512110
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air distribution duct (2) integrated in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising at least one rigid hollow crossmember (1) that reinforces the structure of the vehicle, characterized in that the duct (2) is made by extrusion and is placed in the crossmember (1) at a distance from the inside wall of the crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Xavier Billard, Jeremie Coiffier
  • Patent number: 8506289
    Abstract: A candle holder apparatus for housing a candle and a method for using such a device, the candle holder apparatus comprising a body having an open top, at least one body wall, and a cavity configured to house a candle. The candle holder further comprises a heat deflecting shield and a cover having a recess configured to house the heat deflecting shield. The heat deflecting shield is seated in the cover recess such that an air gap is formed between the heat deflecting shield and an inner surface of the cover. This air gap insulates and decreases the top surface temperatures of the cover, allowing a user to touch the cover without being burned. Further, the candle holder cover is configured to fit on the open top of the candle holder body. Vent openings are disposed in the wall of the candle holder body to permit airflow between the cavity and the exterior when the cover is atop the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Bath & Body Works Brand Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. McGuigan, Thomas E. Mazurek, Heather M. Mastny
  • Patent number: 8500525
    Abstract: An elevator cab ceiling includes an upper ceiling panel and a lower ceiling panel that are vertically spaced apart from each other with an intermediate ceiling cavity between them. An inlet duct is associated with the upper ceiling panel and an outlet duct is associated with the lower ceiling panel. The inlet and outlet ducts are horizontally spaced apart from each other and are fluidly connected to each other through the intermediate ceiling cavity to form a ventilation path. This separation of inlet and outlet ducts by an intermediate ceiling cavity reduces airborne noise transmissions that enter an elevator cab through the ventilation path. In one example, at least one baffle is installed within the intermediate ceiling cavity between the inlet and outlet ducts to interrupt a flow between the inlet and outlet to further reduce any transmitted noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Daniel G. Opoku, Murllo W. Bonilha, Wenlong Li, Goldino Alves, Vijay Jayachandran
  • Patent number: 8500527
    Abstract: An air outlet structure for an air conditioner, which can provide a sufficient volume and speed of air conditioning airflow, which has excellent directivity, and which has a thin air outlet directed to the interior of a vehicle. In the air outlet structure (10) for an air conditioner, a movable flow path member (14) provided in a case (12) can be deformed to a triangle and to a pentagon according to operation of a left-right adjustment knob (44), and this changes the shape of a flow path in the case (12). Accordingly, the flow path in the case (12) does not require fins for changing the direction of the left and right. As a result, the flow path in the case (12) can have a sufficient effective cross-sectional area to provide a sufficient volume and speed of air conditioning airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimio Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8485177
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a down draft vent system comprising a vertically directed, retractable open framework, which can be moved between an extended position and a lowered position by means of a drive motor, comprising at least two switches for switching off the drive motor and at least one actuating element for actuating the switch. In this arrangement at least one switch is actuated by means of the at least one actuating element depending on a force (FW) acting externally on the open framework. In addition to an end switch-off of the drive motor, this invention provides a safety function as a result of a resistive load switch-off which is effective both in the event of a resistance from below during retraction and also in the event of a resistance from above during extension of the open framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Feisthammel, Petra Holzer, Dieter Rosmann
  • Patent number: 8480461
    Abstract: An HVAC duct system of a vehicle includes an air duct for providing a passageway for forced conditioned air. The air duct having a first imaginary axis extending substantially parallel with the passageway. An air duct register having plurality of vane-like members for directing the flow of air as it exits the register is coupled to the air duct. An opening of the air duct register defines an imaginary plane. The register has a second imaginary axis extending perpendicular to the imaginary plane of the register. An air flow straightener disposed within the air duct juxtaposed to the register and includes an air guide member. The air guide member receives the forced air flowing through the air duct in a direction substantially parallel with the first imaginary axis and redirects the forced air in a direction substantially parallel with the second imaginary axis for reducing noise as air passes the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Gruenberg