Patents Examined by Jenna M Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11407284
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive first input to sanitize a vehicle passenger cabin via a passenger cabin heater, output one or more candidate initiation times at which to begin actuation of the heater, and, then, actuate the heater to a temperature above a specified sanitization threshold according to the initiation time identified in a second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 11407273
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle may include a cooling apparatus including a radiator, a first water pump, a first valve, and a reservoir tank which are connected through a coolant line, and configured to circulate a coolant in the coolant line to cool at least one electrical component provided in the coolant line; a battery cooling apparatus configured to include a battery coolant line connected to the reservoir tank through a second valve, and a second water pump and a battery module which are connected through the battery coolant line to circulate the coolant in the battery module; and a heating apparatus including a heating line connected to the coolant line through a third valve to heat a vehicle interior by use of a coolant and a third water pump provided on the heating line, and a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Su Whan Kim, Wan Je Cho
  • Patent number: 11408692
    Abstract: A liquid cooling device includes a liquid cooling conductor, a detecting probe, and a determining circuit. The liquid cooling conductor includes a chamber defined therein for communicating with the outside, the chamber is configured to accommodate the coolant, and the surface of the liquid cooling conductor is provided with at least one communicating port communicating with the chamber; wherein the liquid cooling conductor is formed joining at least two combination blocks, and at least one of the two combination blocks is a metal conductor. The detecting probe is disposed on the liquid cooling conductor and normally electrically disconnected from the metal conductor. The determining circuit is electrically connected to the metal conductor and the detecting probe, and generates a liquid leakage alarm signal when the metal conductor and the detecting probe are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun-Chih Huang, Tai-Chuan Mao, Ching-Yu Lu, Yi-Jhen Lin, Liang-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 11408694
    Abstract: A frame-mounted mobile cleaning system permanently positionable above or below the tube bundles of an air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE) and in fluid communication with an external source of pressurized cleaning fluid includes a mobile transverse spray head assembly formed from a plurality of separate interchangeable fluid compartments, each fluid compartment having an inlet for receiving the pressurized cleaning fluid and a fluid discharge wall having at least one nozzle aligned with the longitudinal axes of the finned heat exchange tubes below or above, or elongated slot nozzles that are transverse to the axes of the finned tubes and that are configured to discharge a predetermined pattern of pressurized cleaning fluid onto and between the surfaces of the fins of the heat exchange tubes as the assembly is moved from one end of the ACHE tube bundles to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Abdullah M. Al-Otaibi
  • Patent number: 11407330
    Abstract: A heat exchanger such as a cold plate or ICE plate has an integrated electric heating element provided on an external heater support surface of the heat exchanger. The external heater support surface is directly opposite to an internal surface of the heat exchanger which at least partly defines one or both of the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. A thermal management system for a vehicle having a plurality of rechargeable battery units includes a circulation loop for circulating a first volume of the heat transfer fluid, and a plurality of battery heat exchangers, including a first heat exchanger with an integrated electric heating element. A sub-loop of the circulation loop includes the internal fluid flow passage of the first heat exchanger, and is adapted for a second, smaller volume of the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: DANA CANADA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian E. Cheadle, Michael J. R. Bardeleben, Doug Vanderwees
  • Patent number: 11407271
    Abstract: An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle includes an air conditioning case, a blower, and a rectifying mechanism. The blower has a blower fan rotating around a fan axis and arranged in an in-case passage of the air conditioning case, and blows out air drawn from one side in an axial direction of the fan axis by rotation of the blower fan. The rectifying mechanism is arranged downstream of the blower fan in the in-case passage, and the air passes through the rectifying mechanism. The blower fan is arranged so that the other side of the fan axis that is opposite to the one side extends toward a downstream side of the in-case passage. The rectifying mechanism suppresses a swirling flow generated by the rotation of the blower fan in the air blown out from the blower fan as compared with the blown-out air prior to flowing into the rectifying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tashima, Yasue Yonezu, Ryo Kobayashi, Takahiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11407274
    Abstract: A refrigeration circuit for a vehicle system includes a compressor, an evaporator, an accumulator, an inlet tube, an outlet tube, and a bypass valve. The inlet tube is configured to deliver refrigerant from the evaporator to the accumulator. The outlet tube is configured to deliver refrigerant from the accumulator to the compressor. The bypass valve is in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet tubes. The bypass valve has an open position and a closed position. The bypass valve is configured to direct refrigerant flow from the inlet tube to the outlet tube to bypass the accumulator when in the open position. The bypass valve is configured to restrict refrigerant from flowing from the inlet tube to the outlet tube when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhiwei Shan
  • Patent number: 11407076
    Abstract: A regeneration device for regenerating a coolant dispersion with phase change material includes: a redispersion unit for redispersing the coolant dispersion, the redispersion unit including a restrictor; and a recooling unit that enables freezing of a phase change material by dissipating heat stored in the coolant dispersion. The recooling unit is arranged so that dissipated heat is at least partially recuperated in order to heat up the coolant dispersion to an inlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GF MACHINING SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Ludger Fischer, Silvan von Arx, Edwin Reinhard, Lukas Weiss
  • Patent number: 11407282
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for the thermal conditioning of a passenger compartment and/or at least one component of a motor vehicle, comprising a first circuit (1) for circulating a heat transfer fluid, a second circuit (2) for circulating a refrigerant fluid, capable of forming a heat pump type circuit, the heat transfer fluid circuit comprising heating and/or cooling means (M1, M2, M3) for at least one component of a motor vehicle, means (S1, S2) for storing calories and/or frigories, a first exchanger (E1) forming an evaporator and capable of exchanging heat with the refrigerant circuit, and means for circulating the heat transfer fluid capable of drawing the frigories and/or calories from the storage means (S1, S2) or the first exchanger (E1), so as to transfer them to the heating and/or cooling means (M1, M2, M3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Hélder Filipe De Campos Garcia, Mathieu Leborgne
  • Patent number: 11407277
    Abstract: A thermal energy control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is capable of efficiently managing thermal energy. The apparatus includes an integrated thermal management (ITM) unit that adjusts a coolant temperature by opening or closing a radiator valve and an active air flap (AAF) unit that adjusts an intake amount of ambient air by opening or closing a flap valve. A cooperative controller cooperatively operates the ITM and AFF units. The cooperative controller determines, based on a coolant temperature, whether a cooperative control mode is to be executed, adjusts an opening degree of the flap valve when the cooperative control mode is a cooperative control mode of the AFF unit, and adjusts an opening degree of the radiator valve when the cooperative control mode is a cooperative control mode of the ITM unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Hyuck Kim, Jang Hyo Lee
  • Patent number: 11408678
    Abstract: The claimed invention provides a method and an apparatus for separating hydrocarbons, wherein the method and the apparatus are used for separating a hydrocarbon having 3 or more carbon atoms including at least propane (hereinafter sometimes called “C3+ NGL”. NGL: Natural Gas Liquid) from liquefied natural gas (LNG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamamori, Xiaoxue Zhang
  • Patent number: 11407278
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin thermal management system includes a first heat exchange system adapted to operate primarily based upon a convective mode of heat transfer within a vehicle cabin, a second heat exchange system adapted to operate primary based upon a non-convective mode of heat transfer within the vehicle cabin, and a controller in communication with the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system, wherein the controller controls a thermal output of the second heat exchange system, and wherein the controller controls the first heat exchange system to reduce the operating level of the first heat exchange system in response to the controller operating the second heat exchange system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rupesh S. Kakade, Milan Prakash, Todd M. Tumas
  • Patent number: 11326844
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning heat exchangers may include a cleaning lance for cleaning a plurality of bores of the heat exchanger and an examination lance for examining a plurality of bores of the heat exchanger. The apparatus may further include a first feeder configured to extend and retract the cleaning lance and a second feeder configured to extend and retract the examination lance. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to control the first feeder to feed the cleaning lance into a first bore, to control the cleaning lance to clean the first bore, and to control the first feeder to retract the cleaning lance from the first bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Amerapex NDT LLC
    Inventors: John Ferguson, Deric Puckitt, Steven Christopher, William Parker
  • Patent number: 11320211
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device, includes a vapor chamber including a heat conduction chamber and a first wick structure, the heat conduction chamber having a recessed portion, and the first wick structure disposed in the heat conduction chamber; and a heat pipe including a pipe body and a second wick structure disposed in the pipe body, the pipe body positioned in the recessed portion of the heat conduction chamber. The first wick structure and the second wick structure are metallically bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei-Lei Liu, Xiao-Min Zhang, Jen-Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 11320213
    Abstract: A furnace of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a heat exchange tube configured to receive a working fluid from a burner and a modulating valve fluidly coupled to the burner. The modulating valve is configured to regulate an amount of fuel supplied to the burner to generate the working fluid. The furnace also includes a blower configured to draw the working fluid through the heat exchange tube, a motor drive configured to adjust a speed of the blower, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the modulating valve and to control the motor drive to adjust the speed of the blower based on a temperature of air discharged from the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, Kerry L. Shumway, William M. Harris, Randy R. Koivisto
  • Patent number: 11300337
    Abstract: An outdoor system for an air conditioner may include at least one outdoor unit, the at least one outdoor unit including a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; a pair of two-stage compression lines that extends to outside of the outdoor system; a pair of connection lines that extends to the outside of the outdoor system and communicates with an indoor unit; and multiple valves that open/close the pair of two-stage compression lines and the pair of connection lines when the outdoor system is operated in a one-stage heating mode or a two-stage heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Daehyoung Kim, Junseong Park, Pilhyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11287196
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a shell having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of baffles, such as elliptical sector-shaped baffles, each mounted in the shell at a helix angle HB to guide a fluid flow into a helical pattern through the shell. Each of the plurality of baffles includes an outer circumferential edge, a proximal radial edge, a distal radial edge, a proximal side, a distal side, and a plurality of spaced apart holes that are traversed by a plurality of axially extending tubes. Each of the first plurality of seal strips is disposed from a proximal of the plurality of baffles to a distal of the plurality of baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Eric Drew Macedo, Richard John Jibb, Sherif Elsayed, Melanie O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11284534
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a main body unit that has, on a surface thereof, a plurality of disposition regions where objects to be cooled are disposed, and a refrigerant flow passage provided in the main body unit. The refrigerant flow passage includes a first flow passage portion and a second flow passage portion. The first flow passage portion is formed at a predetermined position of overlapping a part of an inside of a predetermined disposition region to allow a refrigerant to pass therethrough more intensively than the second flow passage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Yamaguchi, Kenji Ando, Keiji Miki
  • Patent number: 11274256
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for separation and recovery of propane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG. The apparatus has, from the upstream side toward the downstream side of LNG supply, first column (3) equipped with first column overhead condenser (2), first column bottom reboiler (4) and side reboiler (5), and second column (14) equipped with second column overhead condenser (11) and second column bottom reboiler (15). The first column (3) separates methane and a part of ethane as an overhead vapor and separates remaining ethane and C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid. The second column (14) separates ethane as an overhead vapor and separates C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO ENGINEERING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamaguchi, Yasuyuki Yamamori, Xiaoxue Zhang
  • Patent number: 11260724
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning system includes: a heat pump side refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a water-cooled heat exchanger, a heat pump mode expansion valve, an air-cooled heat exchanger, an air conditioner mode expansion valve and an evaporator, the heat pump side refrigerant circulation line configured to generate cold energy in the evaporator in an air conditioner mode and to generate heat in the water-cooled heat exchanger in a heat pump mode, the air-cooled heat exchanger configured to allow a refrigerant to exchange heat with an ambient air in the air conditioner mode and the heat pump mode; and a heat exchange air switching part configured to switch the type of the air heat-exchanged in the air-cooled heat exchanger depending on the air conditioner mode or the heat pump mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Seong Hun Kim, Hae Jun Lee, Sung Je Lee