Patents Examined by Judy Swann
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Patent number: 8276401Abstract: An evaporator includes a refrigerant inlet header section, a refrigerant outlet header section, and a refrigerant circulation path connecting the two header sections. A refrigerant inlet-outlet member composed of a first plate, a second plate, and an intermediate plate is joined to the two header sections. The refrigerant inlet-outlet member has an inflow channel whose one end communicates with the refrigerant inlet of the refrigerant inlet header section and whose other end is opened to a rear edge of the refrigerant inlet-outlet member, and an outflow channel whose one end communicates with the refrigerant outlet of the refrigerant outlet header section and whose other end is opened to the rear edge. The first and second plates each have inflow-channel-forming and outflow-channel-forming outward swelled portions. Cutouts and a through hole are formed in the intermediate plate such that the inflow channel and the outflow channel cross each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Hokuto Mine, Motoyuki Takagi
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Patent number: 8272225Abstract: An apparatus for cooling cassette magazines containing tissue samples is described. The apparatus comprises a housing, a cooling device, and a transport apparatus for transporting one or more cassette magazines within the housing. The cassette magazines are introduced into the apparatus via an input chute and can be removed via an output chute.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventor: Roland Walter
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Patent number: 8256231Abstract: A cryostat includes a rotatable mounting arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, the mounting extending substantially in a first plane, a sample plate arranged in use to support a sample, located on the rotatable mounting, and a heat sink located adjacent the side of the mounting distant from the sample plate. A thermal conductor extends between the sample plate and the heat sink. The conductor extends through an aperture in the rotatable mounting. A rotatable sample holder for a cryostat includes a sample plate having a first side arranged in use to support a sample, a drive gear arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, and a driven gear arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis, engaged with the drive gear and coupled to the sample plate such that rotation of the drive gear causes the driven gear and sample holder to rotate. The first rotational axis does not intersect the second rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research CouncilsInventor: David Teehan
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Patent number: 8176973Abstract: A heat sink assembly in accordance with the present invention increases heat dissipation area, improves heat dissipation efficiency and comprises a base, a core pipe, an outer pipe, a top cover and a working fluid. The base has a top surface. The core pipe is mounted securely on and protrudes from the top surface with an air-tight fit and comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a wick, multiple holes and a top. The wick is formed on the inner and outer surface. The outer pipe is mounted securely on and protrudes from the base concentrically around the core pipe and comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a wick and a top. The wick is formed on the inner surface. The holes are formed around the core pipe away from the base. The top cover closes the top of the core pipe and the top of the outer pipe.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Inventor: Wen-Chih Liao
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Patent number: 8141619Abstract: A fin inspection method comprising a step of having an imaging device capture an image of the core and inputting into an image processing device the image data for storage, a step of setting a first region in the image data in which an image of the entire core is captured and setting a second region in which an image of at least a portion of all of the tubes is captured so as to identify position information of the tubes, a step of setting a third region for fin detection between adjacent tubes based on the identified position information of the tubes, a step of performing binarization and noise removal in the third region to obtain an image of the fins and identifying from the image of the fins the edge position information of the fins along a long direction of the tubes, and a step of performing statistical processing of the pitch intervals based on the edge position information of the fins and judging fin defects.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Akihiro Daito, Kaoru Okazoe, Atsushi Fukumoto, Tomoaki Yoshimori, Saburou Nagaino
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Patent number: 8136367Abstract: A hinge assembly and a refrigerator using the assembly are disclosed. The assembly rotatably mounts an access door for a compartment of the refrigerator to part of refrigerator that defines the compartment. The hinge assembly has a body coupled to the part and a hinge manifold supported by the body and slidably received in the access door. The manifold has a first supply conduit for supplying a working medium to an icemaker disposed in the access door and a first return conduit for returning the working medium from the icemaker. The hinge assembly can be manufactured as a separate module to be assembled with the refrigerator or retrofit into an existing refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steve B. Froelicher, Matthew William Davis, Jeffrey Lynn Jessie, Amit Kurhekar, Joseph Murphy Miller, John Joseph Roetker, Ronald Scott Tarr, Derek Lee Watkins
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Patent number: 8132418Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for cooling an environment using a low temperature heat source. A cooling apparatus is provided. A refrigerant is vaporized from a refrigeration solution using the low temperature heat source. The vaporized refrigerant with part of the refrigeration solution is channeled to a separator. The vaporized refrigerant is separated from the channeled refrigeration solution. The refrigerant is further vaporized from the separated refrigeration solution leaving behind a dilute refrigeration solution. The refrigerant is condensed. A part of the condensed refrigerant is fed to the first vaporizer leaving behind a residual part of the condensed refrigerant. The residual part of the condensed refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from the environment thereby cooling the environment. The evaporated refrigerant is absorbed by the dilute refrigeration solution to produce a concentrated refrigeration solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Inventors: Robert Albion Hall, Jr., Emmett H. Ammons, Jr., Connelly Kendrick Hayward
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Patent number: 8117852Abstract: LNG from a carrier is unloaded to an LNG storage tank in configurations and methods in which expansion of compressed and condensed boil-off vapors from the LNG storage tank provide refrigeration to subcool the LNG that is being unloaded. Most advantageously, such configuration and methods reduce the amount of boil-off vapors and eliminate the need for a vapor return line and associated compressor.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Fluor Technologies CorporationInventor: John Mak
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Patent number: 8109322Abstract: A heat plate type cooler module includes a heat plate, which is formed of a bottom cover plate and a top cover plate and having a working fluid filled in a vacuum chamber between the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate; heat pipes each having a cold end and a top end; a locating plate covered on the heat plate to hold the hot end of each heat pipe in contact with the heat plate; and radiation fins fastened to the cold ends of the heat pipe by press-fitting.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Huang
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Patent number: 8109116Abstract: A refrigeration air conditioner includes a first equalizer pipe connecting a bottom portion of a first hermetic vessel, which contains a main compression mechanism and lubricating oil, to a bottom portion of a second hermetic vessel, which contains an expansion mechanism, a sub-compression mechanism, and lubricating oil. A second equalizer pipe connects a side of the second hermetic vessel at a position higher than a minimum oil level to a suction side of the main compression mechanism. The space within the second hermetic vessel is isolated from the expansion mechanism and the sub-compression mechanism, and the pressure within the second hermetic vessel is not dependent upon the pressure within the expansion mechanism and the pressure within the sub-compression mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shin Sekiya, Masayuki Kakuda, Toshihide Koda, Masahiro Sugihara
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Patent number: 8109327Abstract: A temperature control system for a container includes a refrigeration circuit having a primary fluid circulating therein and a secondary fluid circuit in communication with a first compartment of the container and a second compartment of the container. The secondary fluid circuit has a secondary fluid separate from the primary fluid circulating therein. The secondary fluid circuit includes a first heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the first compartment and a second heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the second compartment. Each of the first and second heat exchange modules includes a pump, a heater, a heat exchanger, and a three-way valve. A heat exchange interface between the refrigeration circuit and the secondary fluid circuit is operable to transfer heat from the secondary fluid to the primary fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Vladimir Sulc, Panayu Robert Srichai, Michal Hegar
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Patent number: 8104532Abstract: A heat exchanger placed underneath an elevated tub or shower stall or under the bathroom floor includes a flat top heat conductive plate. The top plate is fastened to a flat lower plate, having a serpentine pattern with a shallow depth embedded into the top surface. When the top plate is fastened and sealed to the lower plate, the flow of the incoming cold water is contained within the confines of the serpentine lower plate of the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred from the grey waste water falling onto the top plate to preheat the incoming cold water flowing underneath the top plate in the serpentine conduit chamber of the lower plate in contact with a bottom surface of the top plate. The cold water is thereby preheated and used as a substitute for the incoming cold water that would be normally plumbed to the discharge shower head.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Inventor: Jeremiah Cardone
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Patent number: 8099964Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: a magnetic refrigerating unit including a magnetic material “A” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “A” is increased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “A” is decreased by the removal of a magnetic field, a magnetic material “B” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “B” is decreased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “B” is increased by the removal of a magnetic field, a heat conductive material “a” exhibiting higher heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and lower heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, and a heat conductive material “b” exhibiting lower heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and higher heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic refrigerating unit is configured so as to include at least one layered structureType: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji, Hideo Iwasaki, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akihiro Kasahara, Takuya Takahashi
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Patent number: 8091375Abstract: In an air conditioning system for circulating cooled air to an enclosed space, a controller including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and a microcontroller for controlling the indoor fan or blower to prevent operation of same if a fan run-on mode is selected or continuous fan operation is selected and the humidity sensed in the enclosed space is greater than a predetermined amount. Continuous fan operation is allowed unless the humidity exceeds a user defined setpoint during an air cooling operating mode. If the humidity sensed is greater than the predetermined amount, the fan is operated only when the system is providing cooled air, such as when the system compressor is energized.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Roy R. Crawford
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Patent number: 8082750Abstract: A device for automatic processing of contaminated refrigerant from an air conditioning system, said device comprising a compressor for compressing refrigerant. Said device further comprising an oil separator, said oil separator receiving compressed refrigerant from said compressor; said oil separator further including means for draining oil separated from said compressed refrigerant. Said device further comprising a storage tank, said storage tank receiving and temporarily containing said compressed refrigerant from said oil separator. Said storage tank including a vapor port and a liquid port. Said device further comprising a vacuum pump for creating low pressure within said device during evacuation of refrigerant. Said device further comprising a low pressure service hose for connecting said device to said air conditioning system. Said device further comprising a high pressure service hose for connecting said device to said air conditioning system.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: CPS Products, Inc.Inventors: Edward Jeffers, Richard Koldewey, Jose Sacerio
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Patent number: 8079227Abstract: A method of controlling the frequency of a compressor in a chiller system is disclosed. The method includes determining a nominal minimum frequency of a compressor, and providing a control algorithm for controlling the period of time and the deviation of the actual operating frequency below the nominal minimal frequency that the compressor may operate without shutting down the chiller system. The time period of operation below nominal minimum frequency may be predetermined as a fixed time period of operation below nominal minimum frequency, or as a variable time period based on the amount by which the frequency deviates below nominal minimum frequency. Also, an absolute minimum operating frequency is provided that results in the control algorithm shutting down the chiller system and the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Curtis Christian Crane
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Patent number: 8069908Abstract: An exemplary heat dissipation device includes a heat sink, a fan holder, and a fan secured on a front side of the fan holder. The heat sink includes a base having two first fixing ears at its two lateral sides, and fins on the base. An engaging notch is defined in a top end of four of the fins. The fan holder includes a top panel, and two sidewalls extending downwardly from two lateral edges of the top panel. The top panel has a pair of inserting protrusions at a bottom surface thereof. The two sidewalls have two fixing flanges at lower ends thereof. The top panel is partially placed on the front portion of the top ends of the fins, and the inserting protrusions are inserted into the engaging notches of the fins. The two sidewalls abut against two lateral sides of the heat sink, and the two fixing flanges are disposed on the two first fixing ears.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Chi Chen, Hong-Cheng Yang, He-Ping Liu
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Patent number: 8069909Abstract: A heat dissipation device includes a first heat sink thermally contacting an electronic component, a second heat sink connecting to the first heat sink, and a heat pipe thermally connecting the first heat sink with the second heat sink. The first heat sink has a first base which defines a cutout at a lateral side thereof. The second heat sink has a second base. The heat pipe includes an evaporating portion disposed on the base, a condensing portion disposed on the second base and a connecting portion interconnecting the evaporating portion with the condensing portion. An insert portion protrudes from the second base and is engagingly inserted into the cutout. The connecting portion of the heat pipe extends through the insert portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ji-Yun Qin, Zhi-Yong Zhou
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Patent number: 8061157Abstract: A refrigerator is shown having a dosing unit for dispensing ice pieces one by one from an icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Arcelik A.S.Inventor: Cumhur Ayvazoglu
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Patent number: 8056355Abstract: The invention relates to a HVAC drainage system. There is a need for an HVAC drainage system which operates well in a vehicle which moves over rough terrain. An HVAC unit is mounted at a central portion of an inner roof panel over an air inlet opening. A collection recess is formed by the panel and surrounds the air inlet opening. Concentric walls formed by the inner roof panel in the collection recess surrounding the HVAC unit. Each wall has one or more gaps formed therein. The gaps in adjacent walls are mis-aligned with respect to each other so that fluid is prevented from flowing in a straight line through gaps in adjacent walls. Drainage ports are formed in the inner roof panel. Drainage grooves formed in the inner roof panel communicate the collection recess with corresponding drainage ports.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Paul Thomas Bruss, Kyle D. Seibold