Patents Examined by Patrick F. O'Reilly, III
  • Patent number: 7625277
    Abstract: An air-pressure-control system, the system comprising a system inlet, a system outlet, and a variable-speed fan configured to operate at a speed. A motor controller in communication with the fan is configured to control the speed of the fan. A differential-pressure transducer configured to monitor an air pressure at the system inlet and an air pressure at the system outlet. A closed-loop pressure controller in communication with the motor controller and differential-pressure transducer, wherein the pressure controller is configured to vary the speed of the fan based on the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the system, thereby controlling a pressure within a space. An ultraviolet kill chamber may be disposed between the inlet and outlet to expose airborne particulate to UV radiation. The system may also have a filter located within an air-flow path between the system inlet and system outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: American Innovative Research Corp.
    Inventor: David W. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7621807
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to satisfy the following: (1) it prevents the adsorption of antibacterial agent to the filter during storage, (2) for this reason, makes the container and the filter separable and furthermore makes it easy to fix the container, and (3) makes it possible to change the filter and the antibacterial agent respectively separately with simple operations. The fixing mechanism of the container in which an antibacterial agent has been sealed according to the present invention is a fixing mechanism for a container in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a vehicle air conditioning device. And, fixing means 53 are provided for removably fixing the container 31 to the lid 51 which opens and closes the inlet/outlet port 50 of the filter unit 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques S.A.S.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hara, Akihiko Yoshida, Takao Koike
  • Patent number: 7618310
    Abstract: A roof portion including solar roof panels and field vents is disclosed. The roof portion includes a sloped roof deck and a cover layer spaced above the roof deck to form a gap between the roof deck and the cover layer. The cover layer includes a layer of cover elements, and a field of one or more solar panels generally within the layer of cover elements. The cover layer also includes a first plurality of field vents positioned within the cover layer substantially immediately below the solar panel field. The cover layer further includes a second plurality of field vents positioned within the cover layer substantially immediately above the solar panel field. The field vents permit airflow between the gap and the atmosphere above the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Gregory S. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7611403
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing ventilation to a selected structure. The apparatus may include various features such as flexible portions, rigid portions, and assembly portions. Further, various steps may be used to form the structure to achieve selected results, such as monolithic formation, inclusion of various positioning members, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: CTB, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Wenger
  • Patent number: 7611402
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding air through electronic components is disclosed. The apparatus has an intake, a transition portion, and a focused egress. The transition portion is connected to the intake and defines a channel. The channel has a generally ā€˜uā€™ shaped cross-section and a first edge and a second edge configured to be positioned substantially opposing a surface. The focused egress is connected to the transition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. McClellan, Deborah H. Heller, James Xavier Torok, Dale Krisher
  • Patent number: 7604533
    Abstract: An air-conditioning register includes a cylinder-shaped retainer, a plurality of horizontal fins, a connecting rod, an actuating member, and a moving member. The cylinder-shaped retainer has opposite upper and lower walls and opposite side walls, which form an outlet opening and an air passage. The horizontal fins have a swing shaft, respectively, and are disposed pivotally about the swing shaft within the retainer. The connecting rod connects the horizontal fins. The actuating member actuates the connecting rod to swing the horizontal fins synchronously with each other. The moving member enables the swing shaft of at least one of the horizontal fins to move back and forth with respect to the retainer depending on a swing angle of the horizontal fins with respect to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Ogura, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 7604534
    Abstract: An air circulation and ventilation unit is provided including a housing configured to fit at least partially over the ceiling of an equipment cabinet including fitting over at least one vent in the ceiling of the cabinet, so that the interior of the housing is in communication with the interior of the cabinet, the housing includes a housing vent moveable between an open position in which air may flow between the outside of the housing and the inside of the housing and a closed position in which little or no air can flow between the outside of the housing and the inside of the housing, and a controller to control the position of the housing vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Rayhill Limited
    Inventor: Dennis Hill
  • Patent number: 7597617
    Abstract: A gas diffusion device used in conjunction with a flow of gas from a conduit utilizing a sheet having a peripheral edge defining a surface inwardly from the edge. The surface possesses a first zone, and a second zone between the first zone and the peripheral edge. A first plurality of apertures through the sheet lie in the first zone. A second plurality of apertures through the sheet lie in the second zone. The percentage of open area of the first plurality of apertures relative to the area of the first zone is less than the percentage of open area due to the second plurality of apertures through the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew Solberg, Keith Kibbee, Bart Naughton
  • Patent number: 7597616
    Abstract: A vent includes a vane configured for spatial movement, and at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander, James Bloomsburgh, John Czoykowski, Neal Parsons, Jason R. Spenny
  • Patent number: 7585208
    Abstract: A cargo container has a top, bottom, and sides. The cargo container includes a ventilation unit having an air outlet. The cargo container also includes a ventilated floor, which has an air channel, and a baffle plate assembly configured to direct air from the air outlet of the ventilation unit into the air channel of the ventilated floor. The baffle plate assembly includes a first plate, which is attached to the bottom of the cargo container to remain fixed, and a second plate, which is hinged to the first plate to move from an open position to a closed position. When the second plate is in the open position, a gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is exposed. When the second plate is in the closed position, the gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Dole Food Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Luis Rosales Vizueta
  • Patent number: 7585211
    Abstract: A sealed enclosure is provided. The enclosure includes a membrane vent adapted to mount through a wall of the enclosure, the membrane vent comprising an air permeable tubular membrane, a tubular structural support, wherein the tubular membrane is stretched over the tubular structural support, an air vent fitting attached to the tubular membrane at a first end, and an end cap attached to the tubular membrane at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Qualy, Carl Stegeman, Merritt Pulkrabek
  • Patent number: 7582008
    Abstract: A centralized device for the distribution and discharge of air causing the evaporation of a carrier in a number of user installations each having an intake channel and a discharge channel, comprising a single manifold for the reception, delivery and discharge of air-carrier mixture from and to the installations and a discharge fan connected to said manifold, and comprising for each installation: a device for air supply, connected to the single manifold and having a fresh air suction channel and an air supply channel, a fan connected to the air supply device, a heat exchanger connected to the fan and to the intake channel of the installation, a discharge device connected to the discharge channel of the installation and to the manifold and comprising a discharge channel, and a recirculation device comprising a recirculation channel connected to the air supply device and to the discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Bobst Group Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renzo Melotti
  • Patent number: 7578733
    Abstract: An equipment rack including front and back doors is configured with fans for air cooling enclosed electronic devices in both doors. The fans in each door are sufficient, by themselves, to provide sufficient airflow to cool the electronic devices. The two doors include switches and magnetic interlocks configured such that when one door is opened, the magnetic interlock on the other door is activated preventing both doors from being opened at the same time. This ensures that at least one door is always closed while the system is powered up, and since the fans in each door provide sufficient cooling for the equipment rack, the rack is always sufficiently cooled to prevent electronic device failure from overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7572179
    Abstract: A ventilation system includes a ventilation module having a heat exchanger module, an IAQ module for improving quality of air passing through the ventilation module, and a case for guiding the air that consecutively passes through the ventilation module and the IAQ module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hwan Choi, Kyung Hwan Kim, Nam Sik Yim, Ho Seon Choi, Keun Hyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 7572178
    Abstract: System housing, in particular for a heating, ventilating and/or air-conditioning system of a vehicle, comprising at least three housing parts, which serve for accommodating air-conditioning-system components and/or for forming air-channeling paths, one of the housing parts comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, up to which the other two housing parts can be advanced in each case parallel to a normal vector of the abutment surface which is advanced up in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Fuhrmann, Stefan Frenzel
  • Patent number: 7566261
    Abstract: In an air outlet device for a vehicle cabin, primary wind-direction adjustment plates are rotated between a parallel condition and a series condition, to thereby provide a wind distribution function of opening the outlet opening of a tubular body and adjusting the flow direction of air and a wind shutoff function of closing the outlet opening. Of the primary wind-direction adjustment plates, one primary wind-direction adjustment plate is configured such that its tip end edge gradually separates from an inner wall surface of the tubular body when the primary wind-direction adjustment plates are rotated so as to open the outlet opening. A secondary wind-direction adjustment plate is secured to the wind surface side of the primary wind-direction adjustment plate with a predetermined spacing formed therebetween. The secondary wind-direction adjustment plate rotates, together with the primary wind-direction adjustment plate, about the rotation center of the primary wind-direction adjustment plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignees: Howa Plastics Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Ono, Masahiro Endou, Keiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7566264
    Abstract: A SDHV damper assembly and methods to assemble and install the SDHV damper assembly are disclosed. The SDHV damper assembly includes a first damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The SDHV damper assembly further includes a second damper housing half comprising a substantially cylindrical tube having a first open end and a second open end. The first open end of the second damper housing half is joined to the first open end of the first damper housing half to form an assembled damper housing. A recess is formed in the damper housing either diametrically or longitudinally. The expandable damper member is received within the recess and expands to restrict flow in the damper housing and retracts to allow laminar flow through the damper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Arzel Zoning Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Votaw, Joseph Ramunni, Thomas Delp, Dennis Laughlin, Al Zelczer, Leonard Roth, Vladimir Sipershteyn, Alexander Avruschenko
  • Patent number: 7566263
    Abstract: The invention provides the combination of a grille and a connector frame for a duct outlet in a HVAC system. At least one lock element extends from one of the connector frame and the grille and releaseably engages the other of the connector frame and grille in a releasable connection to hold the grille to the connector frame. The lock element may be manipulated from the exterior of the grille to release the grille from the connector frame without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Snyder National Corporation
    Inventor: Darryl L. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7566262
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of airflow boosting devices. In particular, the invention relates to a booster fan for installation into a vent opening of a duct system in a forced air circulation and delivery system. In an embodiment, the booster fan includes a register plate for covering a vent opening. An opening or openings on the register plate provide an air outlet. A housing is secured to the register plate for enclosing a crossflow fan therein. The crossflow fan is disposed adjacent and spaced from the register plate and resiliently supported at both ends. A motor is resiliently connected to the crossflow fan. The housing also has an aperture for providing an air inlet communicating with the duct system. Preferably, two arcuate air deflection panels are provided in the housing for connecting the air inlet and air outlet to form a guided air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: North America Range Hoods Inc.
    Inventor: Sine Kon Hu
  • Patent number: 7563160
    Abstract: A ventilating apparatus is disclosed, by which an installation of the apparatus is conveniently facilitated. The present invention includes a blower device supplying an outdoor air to an indoor space and discharging an indoor air to an outdoor space, a heat exchange unit performing heat exchange between the outdoor air supplied to the indoor space and the indoor air discharged to the outdoor space, and a case having a first chamber receiving the heat exchange unit therein and a second chamber receiving the blower device therein to communicate with the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Hwan Kim, Jeong Yong Kim, Ho Seon Choi, Gi Seop Lee