Patents Issued in January 6, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110000201
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine having a first exhaust tract assigned to a first group of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and a second exhaust tract assigned to a second group of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the first exhaust tract and the second exhaust tract being coupled to one another by a connecting line. A common bypass line branches off from the connecting line coupling the exhaust tracts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas LAUBE, Erwin Rutschmann
  • Publication number: 20110000202
    Abstract: A hydraulic system including a hydraulic power source (102) having an output and a directional control valve (106) coupled to the output of the hydraulic power source. The system also includes a hydraulic cylinder (108) coupled to the directional control valve that receives hydraulic fluid at a first port and expels it at a second port as it moves a load (114) at a movement rate, a fixed displacement motor (150) coupled the directional control valve and receiving hydraulic fluid expelled by the hydraulic cylinder and a variable displacement pump (154) attached to a drive arm (152) of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy D. Gronli
  • Publication number: 20110000203
    Abstract: A hydraulic system, and associated method of control, includes an operator input device, a source of hydraulic fluid flow, and a plurality of actuators. At least one valve associated with each actuator for controlling a flow of fluid to and from the actuator. A controller is responsive to a signal from the operator input device to calculate a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to each of the actuators. The controller controls the source of hydraulic fluid flow and the valves for powering the actuators with the calculated hydraulic pressure. The controller also monitors a sensed parameter to determine whether the actuators can be powered with the calculated hydraulic pressure, and in response to a determination that the actuators cannot be powered with the calculated hydraulic pressure, calculates a discrepancy ratio and modifies actuation of the actuators with the discrepancy ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Ray Riedel, Amir Shenouda
  • Publication number: 20110000204
    Abstract: A hydraulic torque converter for a vehicle, that comprises an impeller (I), a turbine (T) and a reactor (R) with a coaxial axis (A), and respectively fitted with impeller (1), turbine (2) and reactor (3) vanes, each defined by an inner side edge (11;21;31), an outer side edge (12;22;32), a trailing edge (13;23;33) and a leading edge (14;24;34), wherein the trailing edge (13) of the impeller is separated by an axial distance d1 from the leading edge of the turbine, and the trailing edge of the turbine is separated by an axial distance d2 from the leading edge of the reactor, the d2/d1 ration being equal to or lower than 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Emmanuel Lecocq
  • Publication number: 20110000205
    Abstract: When converting thermal into mechanical energy by a working medium containing a mixture of at least two materials having different boiling and condensation points, which is fed to a condenser, and is condensed therein, the condenser condensation pressure may increase and the efficiency for generating the mechanical energy thus decreases because the mixture of materials is separated into a liquid phase and a vapor phase upstream of the condenser. To prevent this, the liquid phase of the working medium is mixed with the vapor phase of the working medium before or while the working medium is condensed, thus once again creating a homogeneous mixture of materials which condenses at a lower pressure than the separated working medium, thereby preventing loss of efficiency. This can be applied to the use of thermal energy from low-temperature sources such as geothermal fluids, industrial waste heat, or waste heat from internal combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Hauer, Jörg Lengert, Markus Neefischer, Reinhold Striegel
  • Publication number: 20110000206
    Abstract: The invention refers to a thermo dynamic system able to capture heat from the surrounding environment and transform it in mechanical energy which is to be used partially for self functioning while the rest is saved for a consumer. The system can work with any heat source, but is also designed for very small temperature differences between the warm and the cold source, which makes it fit for working with non-conventional energy, especially solar energy. The system can be used to provide heat, mechanical energy or electrical energy to both small and large consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Torok Aprad
  • Publication number: 20110000207
    Abstract: In a driving module and an electronic apparatus provided with the driving module, assembly is simplified and a driving operation can be stabilized. For this purpose, a driving module 1 includes a lens frame 4, a module frame 5, an upper plate spring 6 and a lower plate spring 7 that are stacked and placed on the module frame 5 and the lens frame 4 and provide a biasing force in a predetermined direction to the lens frame 4, an SMA wire 10 that is held by wire holding members 15A, 15B driving the lens frame 4 against the biasing force of the upper plate spring 6 and the lower plate spring 7, a module lower plate 8 stacked and placed on the module frame 5, and a feeding member 9 which is electrically connected to the wire holding members 15A, 15B, has electrodes 9a, 9b with heat capacities equal to each other, and is stacked and placed on the module lower plate 8 while a lower-side fixing pin 14B inserted in the module lower plate 8 is inserted in the feeding member 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Akira Kume
  • Publication number: 20110000208
    Abstract: A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small turbocharger and a second relatively large turbocharger connected in series and an exhaust gas flow control valve. The exhaust control valve has an inlet port communicating with the exhaust gas flow upstream of the first turbine a first outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said first turbine but upstream of said second turbine, and a second outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said second turbine. The valve is operable to selectively permit or block flow through the first and second outlet ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Lee J. Robinson, James A. McEwen
  • Publication number: 20110000209
    Abstract: A turbocharger has a wastegate duct that can be opened and closed by way of an actuator. The actuator encompasses a closing element that can be pivoted into the wastegate duct to close the same. This allows the required closing force, and hence also the size of the required actuator, to be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Boening, Hartmut Claus, Dirk Frankenstein, Holger Faeth, Markus Heldmann, Stefan Krauss
  • Publication number: 20110000210
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for using heat to perform work, comprising: operating a first thermodynamic cycle wherein heat for a first working fluid is provided by combustion of a fuel-based (FB) energy source; operating a second thermodynamic cycle wherein heat for a second working fluid is from a combination of a non-fuel-based (NFB) energy source and waste heat from the first thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Publication number: 20110000211
    Abstract: A fluid-displacer engine which utilizes the thermodynamic Stirling cycle to extract energy from an external thermal gradient is disclosed. A working gas is disposed in each of two adjacent cylinders and is cycled from a hot region to a cold region of the respective cylinders by movement of a hot displacer fluid and a cold displacer fluid. Alternate heating and cooling of the working gas in each chamber causes the displacer fluid to flow from one cylinder to the other which, in turn allows one of the working gasses to expand and compresses the other. The flow of displacer fluids can be optimally controlled by the use of control valves. Energy can be extracted from the flow of the displacer fluids by the use of turbines in the displacer fluid flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Benik
  • Publication number: 20110000212
    Abstract: A non-gaseous carrier medium is converted into a gaseous carrier medium by means of introduced heat energy, so that the gaseous carrier medium rises to a predefined height. The gaseous carrier medium is compressed. The compressed gaseous carrier medium is reconverted at the predefined height into a non-gaseous carrier medium by means of a cooling circuit receiving heat of the carrier medium. The heat received by the cooling circuit is then returned to be used for heating the carrier medium at any desired suitable location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Klaus Wolter
  • Publication number: 20110000213
    Abstract: A method to integrate collected solar thermal energy into the feedwater system of a Rankine cycle power plant is disclosed. This novelty uses a closed loop, single phase fluid system to collect both the solar heat and to provide the heat input into the feedwater stream of a regenerative Rankine cycle. One embodiment of this method of integrating solar energy into a regenerative Rankine power plant cycle, such as a coal power plant, allows for automatic balancing of the steam extraction flows and does not change the temperature of the feedwater to the boiler. The concept, depending on the application, allows for the spare turbine capacity normally available in a coal plant to be used to produce incremental capacity and energy that is powered by solar thermal energy. By “piggybacking” on the available components and infrastructure of the host Rankine cycle power plant, considerable cost savings are achieved resulting in lower solar produced electricity costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MARKRON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Skowronski, Ronald Farris Kincaid
  • Publication number: 20110000214
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes coupling a combustor in flow communication with a compressor such that the combustor receives at least some of the air discharged by the compressor. A fuel nozzle assembly is coupled to the combustor and includes at least one fuel nozzle that includes a plurality of interior surfaces, wherein a thermal barrier coating is applied across at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces to facilitate shielding the interior surfaces from combustion gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: David Andrew Helmick, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Publication number: 20110000215
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a combustor can with a number of nozzles therein and a flow conditioner positioned around the combustor can. The flow conditioner may include a number of apertures therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Lacy, Thomas Johnson, Christian Stevenson, William York, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20110000216
    Abstract: This invention provides a gas turbine combustor, which can enable only a swirler and a heat shield to be readily taken out from the combustor upon the exchange the swirler and the heat shield. The gas turbine combustor (1) includes: a combustion cylinder (8) constituting a combustion chamber (11); a fuel injection unit (12) adapted for supplying fuel (F) to a head portion of the combustion cylinder (8); a support member (27) configured for allowing the fuel injection unit (12) to be supported by the combustion cylinder (8); and a heat shield (28) adapted for heat-insulating the support member (27) from combustion gas in the combustion chamber (11), wherein the fuel injection unit (12) includes a fuel injection valve (13) adapted for injecting the fuel (F), and a swirler (14) adapted for supplying compressed air (CA) to the fuel (F) injected from the fuel injection valve (13) while swirling the compressed air (CA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tohru Imamura, Hideki Ogata, Kunio Hidani
  • Publication number: 20110000217
    Abstract: A turbine engine provides a spool supporting a turbine. The spool is arranged in a core nacelle and includes a thrust bearing. A fan is arranged upstream from the core nacelle and is coupled to the spool. A fan nacelle surrounds the fan and core nacelle and provides a bypass flow path that includes a fan nozzle exit area. A flow control device is adapted to effectively change the fan nozzle exit area. A controller is programmed to monitor the thrust bearing and command the flow control device in response to an undesired load on the thrust bearing. Effectively changing the fan nozzle exit area with the flow control device actively manages the bearing thrust load to desired levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Zbigniew M. Grabowski, Michael Winter
  • Publication number: 20110000218
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a combustor chamber that houses a combustor unit configured to include a combustor that burns fuel to generate combustion gas for rotating a rotor, a turbine unit chamber that houses a turbine-unit rotor blade and a disk that rotate upon reception of the combustion gas, a combustor casing that forms the combustor chamber, and a casing that is configured to include the combustor casing in which a divided portion on a surface orthogonal to a rotation axis of the rotor is not formed in the combustor casing, but is formed in a portion on a downstream side of flow of the combustion gas lower than the combustor casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Arase, Eigo Katou, Masato Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20110000219
    Abstract: An apparatus for actively controlling fuel flow from a fuel pump to a mixer assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, where the mixer assembly includes a pilot mixer and a main mixer. The pilot mixer further includes an annular pilot housing having a hollow interior, a primary fuel injector mounted in the pilot housing and adapted for dispensing droplets of fuel to the hollow interior of the pilot housing, a plurality of axial swirlers positioned upstream from the primary fuel injector. The fuel flow control apparatus further includes: at least one sensor for detecting dynamic pressure in the combustor; a fuel nozzle; and, a system for controlling fuel flow supplied by the fuel nozzle through the valves. The fuel nozzle includes: a feed strip with a plurality of circuits for providing fuel to the pilot mixer and the main mixer; and, a plurality of valves associated with the fuel nozzle and in flow communication with the feed strip thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: WILLIAM JOSEPH MYERS, JR., Alfred Albert Mancini, George Chia-Chun Hsiao, Shui-Chi Li, Shih-Yang Hsieh, Hukam Chand Mongia
  • Publication number: 20110000220
    Abstract: A power generation system having an exhaust gas attemperating device and method for controlling a temperature of exhaust gases is provided. The exhaust gas attemperating device includes a first conduit and a venturi member. The first conduit is configured to receive at least a portion of exhaust gases from a gas turbine. The venturi member is disposed in the first conduit and defines a flow path therethrough for receiving the exhaust gases in the first conduit. The first conduit and the venturi member have an aperture extending therethrough communicating with the flow path, such that the exhaust gases flowing through the flow path draws ambient air through the aperture into the flow path for reducing a temperature of the exhaust gases flowing through the first conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Joell Randolph Hibshman, II
  • Publication number: 20110000221
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes integrated pressure maintenance and miscible flood systems with low emission power generation. An alternative system provides for low emission power generation, carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or carbon dioxide sales using a hot gas expander and external combustor. Another alternative system provides for low emission power generation using a gas power turbine to compress air in the inlet compressor and generate power using hot carbon dioxide laden gas in the expander. Other efficiencies may be gained by incorporating heat cross-exchange, a desalination plant, co-generation, and other features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Peter Rasmussen, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, James T. Wilkins, Richard W. Meidel Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110000222
    Abstract: A system to support a rotor and a stator of a rotating machine disposed upon a support base, the system including at least one support leg in operable communication with a bearing of the rotor and with the support base; and at least one strut in operable communication with the at least one support leg and with the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Damon Black, Ian David Wilson, Bradley James Miller, Henry Grady Ballard, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110000223
    Abstract: A gas turbine component includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts which are rigidly connected to the inner ring and the outer ring forming a load-carrying structure. The component includes at least one fairing connected to two adjacent struts defining a gas channel between the struts and the fairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: David Russberg
  • Publication number: 20110000224
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the present invention, a thermoelectric device is provided. The thermoelectric device includes one or more thermoelements provided for transferring heat across the ends of the thermoelectric device. A method for making the thermoelectric device includes forming a metal substrate, and depositing one or more thermoelectric films on the metal substrate. Thereafter, one or more bumps are provided on one of the one or more thermoelectric films. Deposition of the one or more thermoelectric films on the metal substrate and the provision of the one or more bumps on the thermoelectric film result in the formation of a thermoelement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Uttam Ghoshal, Ayan Guha
  • Publication number: 20110000225
    Abstract: A double inlet type pulse tube refrigerator includes a regenerator having a high temperature end and a low temperature end; a pulse tube having a high temperature end and a low temperature end connected to the low temperature end of the regenerator; a compressor having a high pressure supplying side and low pressure receiving side for a coolant, a bypass pipe having a double inlet valve, the bypass pipe being configured to connect the high temperature end of the pulse tube and the high temperature end of the regenerator; a buffer tank connected to the high temperature end of the pulse tube via a first pipe having a first flow path resistance member; and a second pipe having a second flow path resistance member including a third opening and closing valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: MingYao XU
  • Publication number: 20110000226
    Abstract: A 4-valve pulse tube cryocooler has, on a high-pressure end of a compressor, first and second coolant supply channels respectively connected to high-temperature ends of a regenerator and a pulse tube. The cryocooler further has, on a low-pressure end of the compressor, a first coolant recovery channel connected to the high-temperature end of the regenerator, a second coolant recovery channel connected to the high-temperature end of the pulse tube, and a third coolant recovery channel connected to the high-temperature end of the pulse tube via a common pipe and including a flow resistance member interposed between a flow control valve and the high-temperature end of the pulse tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: MINGYAO XU, Hirokazu Takayama, Kyosuke Nakano
  • Publication number: 20110000227
    Abstract: To improve the exhaust heat recovery efficiency, a compressor includes a heat exchanger for cooling a gas, coolant, water, or oil heated by the compressor during compressor operation by heat exchange with a working fluid, for circulating the working fluid of a Rankine cycle. The Rankine cycle is implemented by the heat exchanger, an expander, a condenser, and a circulating pump to circulate the working fluid through the cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Yuji KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20110000228
    Abstract: A multi-stage cryocooler has three or more stages, including an active first stage and passive second and third stages. The active stage may include a Stirling expander, and the passive second and third stages may be pulse tube coolers. The cryocooler may provide cooling at three different temperatures. The coldest cooling temperature may be at or below 10 K, and may be at or below 5 K. The system may provide cooling at such low temperatures while still operating at a relatively high frequency, for example, at a frequency of at least about 20 Hertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy P. Harvey, Carl S. Kirkconnell, Melina M. Pillar, Robert C. Hon
  • Publication number: 20110000229
    Abstract: Device for cooling drinks with a drink supply container (30a, 30b) for a water-comprising drink, a cooling medium supply container (22) for holding at least one cooling medium, —dosing means adapted to dose a quantity of drink and a quantity of cooling medium required for cooling the dosed quantity of drink, a mixing chamber (36) for successively collecting a quantity of drink and a quantity of cooling medium respectively dosed by the dosing means, and—at least one stirring element (39), which stirring element is positioned relative to the mixing chamber (36) such that the stirring (39) element is adapted to generate a vortex in the drink present in the mixing chamber, wherein the stirring element (39) is also adapted to mix together drink present in the mixing chamber (36) and cooling medium present in the mixing chamber (36), wherein the cooling medium in the mixing chamber (36) undergoes a phase change to the gaseous state and/or an adiabatic expansion while cooling the drink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TOECA INTERNATIONAL COMPANY B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Martinus Jacobus Johannes Boekhoorn, Maarten Arns, Harry Schippers
  • Publication number: 20110000230
    Abstract: A method for preparing a hydrous, cryopreserved sample that is enclosed in a sample container (1, 1a, 1b, 1c), in the case of which, at least sample material is introduced into the sample container; this is then sealed pressure-tight and subsequently cooled by a cryogen (8) in a temporal and spatial sequence, a sacrificial region (4) of the container contents (2) initially solidifying and, only subsequently thereto, the entire container contents solidifying. A sample container (1a) that may be preferably used in this case is designed to be tubular, sealed at both ends thereof, and to essentially have a U-shaped form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA MIKROSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Paul WURZINGER, Johannes LEUNISSEN
  • Publication number: 20110000231
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a temperature of a product includes a housing in which cryogenic fluid is provided for being exposed to the product, and at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly disposed in the housing for generating ultrasonic energy to contact the cryogenic fluid and a surface of the product to facilitate heat transfer at the surface of the product. The cryogenic fluid can be selected from nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCORMICK, Suling ZHAI
  • Publication number: 20110000232
    Abstract: Disclosed are load lock apparatuses configured to cool a substrate efficiently. The load lock apparatus includes a container configured to change the pressure between an atmospheric pressure and a pressure corresponding to a transfer chamber which is in a vacuum state, a pressure adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the pressure in container to the pressure corresponding to transfer chamber and an atmospheric pressure. The load lock apparatus further includes an upper cooling plate and a lower cooling plate provided opposed to each other inside container and each configured to cool the wafer at a position adjacent to the wafer or in touch with the wafer, and a wafer elevating pin and a driving mechanism that transfer the wafer to the cooling position of lower cooling plate. The load lock apparatus also includes a wafer supporting member and driving mechanism that transfer the wafer W to the cooling position of upper cooling plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Ryoji Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20110000233
    Abstract: A control module for a refrigerator/freezer wherein the control module drives a rotatable ice ejector for removing ice bodies from a mold of an automatic ice maker in the freezer section of the refrigerator/freezer. The control module has a motor which drives a cam gear which drives the ice ejector. The cam gear comprises a circular gear with a first face and a second face. Once or more cam projections on at least one of the first and second faces are positioned to selectively interact with one or more switches fixedly supported within the control module housing to activate at least one feature of the control module or automatic ice maker rotation of the cam gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Hankscraft Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Rybaski, Ryan M. Subera
  • Publication number: 20110000234
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and a refrigerant quantity determination method are provided, whereby a refrigerant quantity can be determined in a simple and accurate manner without compromising the reliability of a compressor. A refrigerant circuit (10) has a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (23) that functions as a condenser, an indoor expansion valve (41, 51), an indoor heat exchanger (42, 52) that functions as an evaporator, an indoor unit interconnection pipe (4b, 5b), a liquid refrigerant connection pipe (6), a gas refrigerant connection pipe (7), and an outdoor unit interconnection pipe (8). A controller (9) performs liquefaction control for liquefying refrigerant and placing the refrigerant in a portion extending from the indoor expansion valve (41, 51) to the outdoor heat exchanger (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Takahiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110000235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator or freezer having a cabinet forming at least 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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: DIEGO BARONE, ENRICA MONTICELLI, LORENZO BIANCHI, GIULIANO ROSI, LUCA NARDI
  • Publication number: 20110000236
    Abstract: To absorb a volatile substance from a gas phase in a liquid absorbent, the gas phase is brought into contact with a film of an absorbent which comprises an ionic liquid and a wetting-promoting additive. The process can be used in absorption refrigerating machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Seiler, Bernd Glockler, Peter Schwab, Stefan Kempka
  • Publication number: 20110000237
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT L. WETEKAMP, KYLE B. VAN METER, ALAN G. TARRANT, RYAN D. SCHUCHART, MAURO M. OLIVEIRA, ALVIN V. MILLER, BRENT A. KOPPENHAVER, CARL J. FRANKEN, NELSON J. FERRAGUT, II, TIM L. COULTER, GREG BERARDI, THOMAS CARL ANELL
  • Publication number: 20110000238
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT L. WETEKAMP, KYLE B. VAN METER, ALAN G. TARRANT, RYAN D. SCHUCHART, MAURO M. OLIVEIRA, ALVIN V. MILLER, BRENT A. KOPPENHAVER, CARL J. FRANKEN, NELSON J. FERRAGUT, II, TIM L. COULTER, GREG BERARDI, THOMAS CARL ANELL
  • Publication number: 20110000239
    Abstract: An air conditioner (1) includes a refrigerant circuit (10) configured to perform a supercritical refrigeration cycle and including: an outdoor circuit (21) including a compressor (22), an outdoor heat exchanger (23), and an outdoor expansion valve (24); and two indoor circuits (31a, 31b) including indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b) and indoor expansion valves (34a, 34b). The air conditioner (1) further includes a controller (50) configured to control outlet refrigerant temperatures of the indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Tetsuya Okamoto, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20110000240
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takurou Yamada, Masato Kotake, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadafumi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20110000241
    Abstract: An electric traction vehicle having: at least one pair of driving wheels; at least one reversible electric machine which can be mechanically connected to the driving wheels; an electronic power converter which pilots the electric machine; a storage system, which is aimed at storing electric energy, is connected to the electronic power converter and comprises at least one storage device; a passenger compartment; an air conditioning system of the passenger compartment which fulfills the function of regulating the temperature inside the passenger compartment; and a cooling system, which is completely independent and separate from the air conditioning system of the passenger compartment and uses a compression refrigeration cycle to cool at least one of the electric components, i.e. the electric machine, the electronic power converter and the storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Publication number: 20110000242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit comprising at least one operating and/or control unit for the operation and/or control of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and/or comprising at least one evaporator module for the cooling of the inner space of the unit as well as comprising illumination means by means of which the inner space of the unit and/or the region located in front of the inner space of the unit from the viewpoint of the user can be illuminated at least partly, wherein the illumination means are arranged in or at the operating and/or control unit and/or in or at the evaporator module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Arnulf Probst, Bernd Brussing
  • Publication number: 20110000243
    Abstract: A discharge pipe for connecting a compressor with a condenser in a vapor-compression system comprises an intake segment, a muffler, a splitter segment and first and second discharge segments. The intake segment is configured to connect to a discharge port of the compressor and receive compressed refrigerant flow. The muffler is connected to the intake segment for attenuating pulsations within the compressed refrigerant flow. The splitter segment is connected to the muffler and configured to divide the compressed refrigerant flow into first and second branches. The first discharge segment connects to the splitter to receive the first branch and is configured to connect to the condenser at a first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tony Jabbour, Xavier Girod, Emmanuel Chulio
  • Publication number: 20110000244
    Abstract: A series hybrid power supply system for a trailer box refrigeration system is disclosed. The trailer box refrigeration system may use either a DC or an ac motor to power the compressor. The power system alternator produces power to power refrigeration system loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: John R. Reason, Nader S. Awwad
  • Publication number: 20110000245
    Abstract: In a chemical heat pump using a hybrid substance (2) and a volatile liquid, layers (3) of a matrix material are provided for binding or containing the substance and/or the condensed volatile liquid. These matrix layers are placed sot that transport of heat to or from an external medium at at least the free surfaces of the matrix layers is obtained and preferably also at their opposite surfaces. Therefor, pipe conduits (9) are provided, in which the external medium flows and which are placed at the surfaces of the matrix layers, such as both beneath supporting plates (4) and directly on top of the matrix layers. By using pipe conduits at the free surfaces of the matrix layers, i.e. the surfaces which are not located at the supporting plates, it is achieved that the free surfaces of the matrix layers still are permeable to the vapour of the volatile liquid in both the evaporation stage and the condensing stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Climatewell AB (Publ)
    Inventor: Goran Bolin
  • Publication number: 20110000246
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, an intercooler, an intercooler bypass tube and an intake return tube. The compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements configured so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube configured to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element to cool the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler bypass tube is connected to the intermediate refrigerant tube so as to bypass the intercooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Fujimoto, Atsushi Yoshimi
  • Publication number: 20110000247
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to a single phase system such as a glycol system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Ice Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Publication number: 20110000248
    Abstract: An icemaker unit and a refrigerator having the same. A drainage duct is provided to the icemaker unit, including a longitudinally inclined structure, a laterally inclined structure, and drainage holes to enhance drainage of the water. An upper part of the drainage duct is formed of a high heat-conductivity material and a lower part of the drainage duct of a low heat-conductivity material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Young Shik Shin, Sang Hyun Park, Quasim Khan
  • Publication number: 20110000249
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body which forms an external appearance and has a storage chamber to be opened at a front side, and an ice making device which is disposed in the storage chamber to make ice. The ice making device includes an ice making tray which has ice making grooves for making ice, an ejector which rotates and separates the ice made in the ice making grooves, blocking members which are disposed at an upper portion of one side of the ice making grooves to prevent the ice separated from the ice making grooves through the other side of the ice making grooves from returning to the ice making grooves, and a guide member which is disposed above the other side of the ice making tray to guide the ice separated from the other side of the ice making grooves by the ejector toward the blocking members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon LIM, Dong Nyeol Ryu, Jong Dal Lee, Ji Hoon Kim, Myung Hoon Cho
  • Publication number: 20110000250
    Abstract: A preservation and dispensing apparatus integrated within a refrigerator door includes a wine preservation and dispensing apparatus and a door of a refrigerator within which the wine preservation and dispensing apparatus is integrated. The wine preservation and dispensing apparatus includes a housing framework composed of a rigid frame secured to the refrigerator door along an opening cut into the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew A. Sommerfield, Steven DiDonato