Patents Examined by William E. Tapolcai
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Patent number: 7841206Abstract: A refrigerator having a main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber provided for storing foods. A cool air-generating device provided in the body generates cool air and a cool air-supplying device including at least one opening for discharging the cool air, is used to circulate the cool air through the freezing chamber, the refrigerating chamber, and the cool air-generating device. A separator provided adjacent to the opening acts to uniformly diffuse the cool air in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The separator acts to separate two flows that are then brought back together. The collision and mixing of the two flows create a turbulent flow of air that is directed into the refrigerating and freezing chambers.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Bong Jun Choi, Jong Min Sin, Jae Seong Sim, Young Jeong, Young Hwan Ko, Jun Hyun Hwang
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Patent number: 7832217Abstract: A control system measures the pressure/temperature of the refrigerant within a Thermal Energy Module having a heat exchanger and calculates the thickness of ice within the Thermal Energy Module. A controller calculates an integral starting from the moment when ice accumulation begins: I(t)=?Tr(?)*d? where Tr is the refrigerant saturation temperature changing with time t. The thickness of the ice on one side of the heat exchanger can be calculated using the following formula: X=?(2*I*K*Ui/?i/ci) where Ui is the thermal conductance of ice ?i is the density of the ice Ci is the latent heat of the ice K is a correction coefficient associated with the type of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventors: Daniel Reich, Michael Burdett, Vladimir Reich
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Patent number: 7832219Abstract: An ice barrier and an ice making machine having an ice barrier is provided in some embodiments, wherein the ice barrier is movable between a first orientation in which liquid water from an ice-forming surface is directed into the liquid receptacle, and a second orientation in which the ice barrier blocks access of ice from the ice-forming surface to locations in which ice is trapped between the ice barrier and an adjacent surface. Also, a method of producing ice in an ice making machine is provided in some embodiments, wherein a barrier diverts a flow of liquid water received from the ice-forming surface away from an ice collection bin, and wherein the barrier is moved to an orientation in which the barrier diverts ice toward the ice collection bin and also blocks access of ice to positions trapped between the barrier and an adjacent surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Baranowski, Lee G. Mueller, John P. Myers, Curt R. Cayemberg, Brian A Ebelt
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Patent number: 7832214Abstract: An air-conditioning device includes a pump for sending a thermal medium, a thermoelectric conversion unit for absorbing heat from the thermal medium, a target setting unit for setting a target cooling value, and a controlling unit. The controlling unit increases a flow amount of the thermal medium to be larger than a predetermined amount and stops the thermoelectric conversion unit from absorbing heat, when the target cooling value is smaller than a predetermined value. The controlling unit increases a heat-absorbing amount of the element and keeps the flow amount of the thermal medium to be larger than the predetermined amount, when the target cooling value is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yuji Ito, Shinji Aoki, Takuhiko Sawai
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Patent number: 7832227Abstract: A refrigerator having an insulated cabinet and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet having an exterior face including a dispenser cavity. An ice maker in the refrigerated storage space is arranged to make and harvest ice pieces. An ice delivery system on the inside of the door dispenses ice pieces into a dispenser cavity in the exterior face of the door. The ice delivery system can include an ice bin including a generally open top and having a bottom opening pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis below the ice maker. The ice can receive ice pieces harvested by the ice maker and discharge ice pieces through the bottom opening and the ice delivery system in a first position. The ice bin can tilt out to permit access to ice pieces, and can be removed from the ice delivery system, in a second position when the door is open.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Guolian Wu, Claiton Emilio Do Amaral, Marcus R. Fischer, Marcos Heinzle, Jean Marcelo Ferreira, Luis Fernando Welin
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Patent number: 7832228Abstract: An ice making device that is capable of more easily and conveniently separating ice from ice trays through a simple manipulation and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The ice making device includes a support frame for rotatably supporting at least one ice tray, at least one manipulation button mounted to the support frame such that the manipulation button can be moved forward and backward, and an interlocking unit for rotating the ice tray with respect to the support frame according to the movement of the manipulation button.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Moon-Won Kim
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Patent number: 7827807Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device to increase the cooling load that can be provided by a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an improved arrangement of heat exchangers. This load increase is accomplished by circulating cold water surrounding a block of ice, used as the thermal energy storage medium, through a secondary heat exchanger where it condenses refrigerant vapor returning from a load. The refrigerant is then circulated through a primary heat exchanger within the block of ice where it is further cooled and condensed. This system is known as an internal/external melt system because the thermal energy, stored in the form of ice, is melted internally by a primary heat exchanger and externally by circulating cold water from the periphery of the block through a secondary heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Robert Scott Hicks
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Patent number: 7827816Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit has a front cover that includes a grille supported by and attached to a surround assembly by means of latch members.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Shafi N. Khan, Thomas S. Visalli
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Patent number: 7823407Abstract: A water filter capable of preventing breakdown thereof due to freezing and a refrigerator having the same. The water filter includes a filter housing having entrance and exit ports to allow water to flow into and out of the filter housing, respectively, a filter member housed in the filter housing, and an expansion compensation part provided in the filter housing to compensate for expansion due to freezing of water.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung Tae Lim, Jung Rae Kim
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Patent number: 7823411Abstract: A beverage dispenser for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a beverage source into a receptacle. The dispenser includes a first housing defining an interior volume and having a first surface closer to the beverage source and a second surface further from the beverage source. The dispenser also includes a beverage cooler including a second housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and sides defining an interior volume. A first circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a first set of fluid flow paths. A second circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a second set of fluid flow paths in parallel with the first set of fluid flow paths. A third circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a third set of fluid flow paths in parallel with the first and second sets of fluid flow paths, wherein, the first, second, and third circuits defines an inlet and an outlet.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Niagara Dispensing Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Gagliano, Iver J. Phallen, Douglas Vogt
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Patent number: 7818975Abstract: An ice bank of a refrigerator is provided. The ice bank includes an ice accommodation chamber storing ice pieces made by an ice maker, and an ice pressing unit circulating the ice pieces by pressing the ice pieces for preventing sticking of the ice pieces in the ice accommodation chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sung Hoon Chung, Eui Yeop Chung, Nam Gi Lee, Wook Yong Lee
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Patent number: 7814762Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice dispenser, a discharge chute, and a cover for the discharge chute. A flat portion of the cover conforms to the discharge chute, the flat portion being flexible to a flexed position to actuate a switch and thereby operate the ice dispenser such that ice is discharged into the discharge chute.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Sub-Zero, Inc.Inventors: Ravindra S. Kavchale, Curtis L. Cruver, IV
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Patent number: 7814754Abstract: A method, a system, and a mould box for creating form-moulded items of edible ice from an ice mass. The method includes filling at least one mould created between a number of mould boxes with ice mass, and the introduction of cooling or heating medium into the mould boxes, where the flow of the cooling or heating medium is controlled by one or more control units in the mould boxes.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A.Inventor: Carsten Hermansen
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Patent number: 7810353Abstract: A multi-compressor heat pump system configured to provide heating and cooling over a range of ambient temperatures. The compressors can be operated independently and alone or together in series for maximum output. Heat exchangers are selectively fluidically connected to the compressors to enable refrigerant flow between the compressors and at least two heat exchangers in a manner that enables the heat pump system to be selectively operable in various modes. Preferred aspects include selectively operating the compressors based on the ratio of the evaporating and condensing pressures of the refrigerant within the heat pump system, a mixing chamber between the compressors, and a lubricant management system to prevent the accumulation of a lubricant in one of the compressors.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Purdue Research FoundationInventors: Eckard A. Groll, William J. Hutzel, Stefan S. Bertsch, David B. Bouffard
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Patent number: 7810345Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus, particularly a household refrigerator, has a liquid-supply system for a user device forming part of the apparatus, particularly a dispenser of a consumable product. The apparatus further comprises a protection system arranged for preventing flooding deriving from possible leakage of liquid, in particular from at least one of said supply system and said user device.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.Inventors: Fabio Nebbia, Costanzo Gadini, Giovanni Perucca, Fiorenzo Pivetta
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Patent number: 7810340Abstract: To provide a quick freezing apparatus and method making it possible to prevent a subtle reaction between an object-to-be-preserved and a gas inside its freezing store to prevent deformation and deterioration of the object-to-be-preserved as much as possible and freeze-preserve the object maintaining its freshness and quality at a high standard for a long term, and thereby applicable to a long-term preservation of a living tissue. A quick freezing apparatus includes a freezing store 11 including a door for bringing in or taking out an object-to-be-frozen 3, a freezer 17 capable of lowering a temperature inside the freezing store to a temperature equal to or less than approximately ?30 degrees C., a pressure regulator 60 capable of adjusting a gas pressure inside the freezing store, and a ventilator 31 for sending cold air at a wind velocity of 1 to 5 m/sec toward the object-to-be-frozen placed inside the freezing store.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Inventors: Norio Owada, Shobu Saito
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Patent number: 7810346Abstract: An icemaker and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. An object of the present invention is to provide an icemaker and a method for controlling the same, which has an improved structure to make a lot of ice in a short time. an icemaker includes an ice tray rotatable with at least one column of ice making chambers formed therein to make ice; an ejector rotatably provided in each ice making chamber to eject the ice formed in the ice making chamber; an operation device which rotates the ice tray; and a separation device which separates the ice from the ice tray. The separation device may be a heater which heats the ice. Preferably, the heater is operated until adhesive force which acts between the ice and the ice tray is smaller than pushing force in which the ejector pushes the ice.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Kyung Han Jeong, In Chul Jeong, Nam Gi Lee
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Patent number: 7805954Abstract: The high-frequency circuit cooling apparatus comprises a package container 14 for housing a high-frequency circuit, a tank 16 for storing a gas to be introduced into the package container 14, a cold head 12 for cooling the package container 14 and the tank 16, pipes 24, 26 connected to the tank 16, for supplying the gas into the tank 16, pipes 18, 22 detachably connected between the tank 16 and the package container 14, for introducing the gas in the tank 16 into the package container 14, and pipes 34, 36 detachably connected to the package container 14, for discharging the gas in the package container 14.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Kazunori Yamanaka, Teru Nakanishi
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Patent number: 7797963Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cabinet forming a fresh food storage compartment and a freezer compartment, at least one door for opening and closing the cabinet, and an adsorbing device containing a desiccant material for collecting moisture from air inside the cabinet, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted inside the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Diego Barone, Enrica Monticelli, Lorenzo Bianchi, Giuliano Rosi, Luca Nardi
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Patent number: 7793508Abstract: The modular arrangement of refrigerated dryers is achieved by combining refrigerated dryers in groups to produce a combined refrigerator dryer capacity. A common air inlet and/or common air outlet for the dryer is provided, along with a common controller. A cabinet to house the dryers may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Flair CorporationInventor: Ingo K. Radisch