Automatic Control Patents (Class 261/26)
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Patent number: 4955585Abstract: An energy conserving highly efficient hydraulically energized cooling tower fan system is provided having a rotary fan and hydraulic motor for operation thereof located at elevation within the upper portion of a cooling tower. An axial piston, variable displacement, pressure compensation hydraulic pump and its electric motor, together with a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid filters and coolers arranged in closed loop assembly are located remotely from the hydraulic motor and fan assembly such as at ground level, to facilitate ease of maintenance and to minimized fire hazard and electrical hazard within the cooling tower itself. The rotational speed of the cooling tower fan is within a predetermined infinitely variable range and is controlled responsive to the temperature sensed in the cool water basin of the cooling tower by a temperature sensor and controller which controls the velocity of fluid output from the hydraulic pump.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1989Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Inventor: John A. Dickerson
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Patent number: 4932218Abstract: Improved means for automatically controlling an evaporative cooler having a pump and blower, said control system comprising a solid state electronic temperature sensing circuit capable of sensing temperature differences of considerably less than 0.1 degree Fahrenheit, a timer for activating the cooler pump a predetermined period prior to and following activation of the blower, logic means for controlling activation and cycling of said blower, and humidity sensing means for developing an electrical signal indicative of excessive atmospheric humidity for turning off said cooler and controlling an associated air conditioner.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1988Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Inventor: Maurice A. Robbins
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Patent number: 4879075Abstract: An evaporative cooler apparatus and method of operation are disclosed. The invention was conceived and developed to humidify and cool the attic space between the roof and the ceiling of man-made buildings or other structures. The apparatus is comprised of an induced draft fan assembly which blows air through an evaporation bundle comprised of one or more concentric cylinders of fibrous evaporation pads. The most advantageous embodiments of the invention and optimum parameters of operation result in reduced costs for installation, for evaporation water, for electrical power, and for service and maintenance as compared with devices of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1988Date of Patent: November 7, 1989Inventor: Robert A. Hinton
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Patent number: 4857240Abstract: The fragrance dispenser of this invention incorporates a service life indicator for the battery along with a fragrance pack having a service life equal to the service life of the battery, such that both the battery and fragrance pack can be easily and simultaneously maintained.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1988Date of Patent: August 15, 1989Assignee: The State Chemical Mfg. Co.Inventors: Thom Kearnes, Joel Wennerstrom, William Glover
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Patent number: 4830791Abstract: An improved odor control device including a source of deodorizing olfactory stimuli, a squirrel cage fan for circulating air carrying the stimuli, an electronic circuit providing a visual indicia relating to the status of the power source. A secondary circuit controls indicia means for indicating the elapse of a predetermined span of time from initilization of control of one such span of time for the purpose of alerting the user to examine and/or replace the olfactory stimuli.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 1988Date of Patent: May 16, 1989Assignee: Scentex, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth J. Muderlak, Patrick D. Maloney
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Patent number: 4672692Abstract: A bath 10 is provided with a plurality of air nozzles 17. Air is supplied to the nozzles to bubble through water in the bath. To ensure that water does not remain in the nozzles after use of the bath, means 83,85 responsive to the passage of water from the bath is arranged to activate the air supply means 81 after water has left the bath to blow any such water out of the nozzles 17. The responsive means may include a time delay 85 so that the air supply means is not activated until a period after the passage of water from the bath.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1986Date of Patent: June 16, 1987Inventor: Nigel C. Savage
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Patent number: 4666638Abstract: A light responsive, battery operated fragrance device is described. The device establishes an air stream over a fragrant material when an artificial light source such as a room lamp is energized. It includes a swivel light gathering body and a photo transistor mounted thereto which can be aimed at the artificial light source and provides directional discrimination and screening of other light sources. The unactuated device provides a limited flow of convection air current which maintains a relatively low level of fragrance dispersion in a room therefor. Upon actuation forced air flowing through the device causes a rapid increase in the level of fragrance dispersion in the room.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1985Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Remington Products, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Baker, Richard J. Wegrzyn, Edward Szymansky
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Patent number: 4663089Abstract: A diffused bubble aeration system for small scale water supplies includes a plurality of water holding vessels having water inlet and water outlet couplings operatively coupled in series for series flow of water through the successive vessels. The inlet and outlet openings are located substantially below the normal water level in the vessels, for example, substantially at the mid section of the respective vessels for equalization of volume and water level in the vessels. The series coupled vessels, barrels or drums comprise a first vessel having a supply water inlet coupling for coupling to a water supply and a last vessel or drum with a treated supply water outlet coupling to treated water supply water pump and pressurized treated water storage tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1986Date of Patent: May 5, 1987Inventors: Jerry D. Lowry, Sylvia B. Lowry
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Patent number: 4604245Abstract: A perfume dispenser particularly suitable for cars, is insertable in a housing provided in the front panel or dashboard of a car. It comprises a structure formed by a plate or front panel, with its perimetric border rounded. On the surface of the plate have been cut on one side orifices in which are housed respectively a switch and a pulsator, and on the opposite side, an orifice of greater diameter. From the edge of the orifice an extension forms a cylindrical housing provided with an internal wall; divided into two zones by an intermediate transversal wall provided with a broad central orifice. In the zone of the internal wall in the rear of the transversal wall have been cut two broad rectangular notches in diametrically opposite positions, so that the zone of the internal wall in front of the transversal wall has two broad rectangular notches in diametrically opposite positions. The cylindrical space defined by the transversal wall and the zone in front of the internal wall contains the perfuming product.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1985Date of Patent: August 5, 1986Inventor: D. Arturo M. Gutierrez
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Patent number: 4603030Abstract: A system for emitting, in sequence, a plurality of different scents includes a plurality of holders for scent-bearing chips; a mechanism for propelling these scents from a system; a mechanism for conveying, selectively, any desired scent holder into operative relation with the propelling mechanism; and a mechanism for actuating the propelling mechanism to propel scent from any desired scent holder in response to a programmed, predetermined sequence of scents of predetermined duration.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1984Date of Patent: July 29, 1986Inventor: Robert E. McCarthy
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Patent number: 4576013Abstract: An improved evaporative cooler contains a first pump for supplying cooling liquid to the evaporative pads and a second pump for draining liquid in the sump pan through a drain/overflow pipe. Both pumps are coupled to an electronic control mechanism which activates the first pump for a first predetermined period of time within each successive second predetermined period of time (e.g. the first 2.5 minutes of every successive 10 minute period). The control mechanism causes the second pump to drain the sump pan through the drain/overflow pipe for a third predetermined period of time following the first occurence of the first predetermined period of time (e.g. for 5.0 minutes after the first 2.5 minute wetting cycle). This draining process occurs only once each time the evaporative cooler is turned on. The drain/overflow pipe has an upper end coupled to the outlet of the second pump and also has an aperture in the wall thereof through which excess liquid in the sump pump will flow and be discharged.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1984Date of Patent: March 18, 1986Assignees: Charles J. Sperr, Douglas C. SperrInventors: Charles J. Sperr, Douglas C. Sperr, Thad J. Genrich
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Patent number: 4478767Abstract: An air cooling device including a first water spray device, an air cooling part including a filler wherein cooling water sprayed from the first water spray device is brought into direct contact with intake air so that the intake air is cooled by the sprayed water through heat exchange therebetween on the surface of the filler, a first water reservoir that receives and reserves the water dropped from the filler and a cooling tower for rapidly cooling water to be sprayed in the air cooling part to a steady state condition prior to starting of an electrical apparata coupled to the air cooling device and to be cooled thereby. In the cooling tower, water from the first reservoir is sprayed into a second filler and thereby evaporatively cooled. The cooled water is collected in a second water reservoir and circulated therefrom to the first water spray device by means of a pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1982Date of Patent: October 23, 1984Assignee: Toshiba CorporationInventors: Osamu Watanabe, Hisashi Tanaka, Hitoshi Yoshino, Toshiaki Sadamasu
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Patent number: 4475356Abstract: The invention presented herein provides an improved method for controlling the blowdown of recirculating water for an industrial cooling system or the like, in direct proportion to the heat load on refrigeration systems. A temperature probe is positioned in the recirculating water which is in communication with a blowdown valve. As the heat load on the system increases the temperature of the cooling water increases and the blowdown valve is then regulated to release more of the circulating water. Additional makeup water and chemicals may be also supplied to the cooling system to maintain a proper chemical balance.In the preferred embodiment of the invention the probe is positioned between the refrigerant condenser and the cooling tower in the circulating water system. Appropriate chemical feed systems and makeup water can be regulated to function in relation to the amount of blowdown to insure that the desired chemical balance is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1983Date of Patent: October 9, 1984Inventor: Hal B. Lewis
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Patent number: 4474027Abstract: A system for optimizing the control of the water temperature within a cooling tower is disclosed. The temperature and the relative humidity of the air outside the cooling tower are measured and are selectively utilized as inputs to a plurality of modules containing function blocks in a logic arrangement. The function blocks produce an output signal indicative of the wet bulb temperature of the outside air which is compared to the cooling tower water temperature causing the speed of the cooling tower fans to be adjusted in response to the temperature difference therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1983Date of Patent: October 2, 1984Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox CompanyInventors: Azmi Kaya, William H. Moss
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Patent number: 4457278Abstract: A fuel supply system for a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine employs a controllable differential pressure for the removal of air from a main air duct into a carrier air duct for proportioning the fuel to be used. The fuel system includes a fuel proportioning device and a vane pump for withdrawing a carrier air flow from the main air duct and for transporting the fuel through feed lines to the internal combustion engine. The pressure of the air at the fuel outlet and the differential pressure for fuel proportioning is controlled by a differential pressure valve located in the carrier air duct spaced from the main air duct. The differential pressure valve has a diaphragm dividing the interior of the valve into chambers with one side of the diaphragm acted upon by the air pressure in the carrier duct between the differential pressure valve and the main air duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1983Date of Patent: July 3, 1984Assignee: Pierburg GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Georg Habel, Rolf-Peter Heidemanns, Hans-Jurgen Muller
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Patent number: 4448734Abstract: A system for preventing percolation of fuel in a carburetor for a motor vehicle. The system is provided with air passages for communicating a float chamber of the carburetor to the air and to a canister filled with charcoal particles. Valves are provided in the passages for opening the passages, when the engine operation is stopped and the temperature of the fuel in the float chamber is high. A fan is provided for introducing the air into the float chamber and for discharging the air to the canister together with vapor of the fuel in the float chamber, thereby to promote the evaporation of the fuel to cool the fuel by the evaporative cooling.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1982Date of Patent: May 15, 1984Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Shibano
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Patent number: 4433662Abstract: a fuel system for mixture-compressing internal combustion engines controls the pressure differential of the extraction air required for proportioning the fuel. The system includes a fuel proportioning device and a vane pump for generating a carrier air stream for transporting the fuel into the suction tube of the internal combustion engine. A control valve constructed as a differential pressure valve influences the air pressure at the fuel outlet area and consequently the differential pressure for fuel proportioning. The throttle point is located in the carrier air channel upstream from the fuel proportioning area. A change in differential pressure adapts the mixture composition for various operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1982Date of Patent: February 28, 1984Assignee: Pierburg GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Hans-J/u/ rgen M/u/ ller, Karl Schmidt, Asoke Chattopadhayay, Rolf P. Heidemanns, Georg Habel, Ortwin Wittman
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Patent number: 4379712Abstract: A shroud, including a shield placed on either side of an evaporation pad, increases the length of travel air transit time within the pad. Pressurized water, emitted in jets from a plurality of orifices spaced along a manifold, is directed against a diffuser for dissipation and dissemination to the upper edge of the pad. The pad is wetted intermittently as the result of a timer controlling distribution of the water. An auxiliary reservoir, in combination with relocatable pump, inlet valve and pad frames, provide for alternate downdraft as side draft operation. An elongate, arcuate baffle downstream of the evaporative pad alters the direction of the air stream to flow in a substantially opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1981Date of Patent: April 12, 1983Inventors: Charles J. Sperr, Jr., Douglas C. Sperr
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Patent number: 4361522Abstract: Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the operational water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a special siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler so as to be normally in an unprimed non-siphoning state and when in such a state, the evaporative cooler will operate in the normal manner. When the cooler is in normal operation, its water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other contaminants, such as dirt, bacteria and the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1981Date of Patent: November 30, 1982Inventor: Adam D. Goettl
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Patent number: 4359433Abstract: In a constant-pressure carburetor having a fuel/air mixing chamber (3) which operates under reduced pressure, fuel feed means through which the fuel is drawn into the mixing chamber (3) from a float chamber (6) as required, an air inlet duct (1) having an automatically vacuum controlled air intake valve (2) upstream of the mixing chamber (3), and a suction duct having a driver actuated throttle member (4) downstream of the mixing chamber (3), the fuel feed means includes a fuel atomizer nozzle (5) having a central fuel supply passage (14) surrounded concentrically at its outer end by an annular constricting atomizing air outlet (15) whereby the velocity vectors of fuel and atomizing air at the nozzle outlet differ in magnitude and direction, and proportioning means for regulating the flow of fuel through the central passage (14) of the nozzle (5) and including a member (11) which is movable towards and away from the inlet (10) to the passage (14) by a control (12) operated in response to the output (A) from aType: GrantFiled: July 8, 1980Date of Patent: November 16, 1982Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System oHGInventor: Gunter Hartel
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Patent number: 4359432Abstract: A post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing system for use in refrigerated cabinets includes a carbonator having a refillable water reservoir, a CO.sub.2 system coupled to said carbonator, a valving system, and a disposable package for containing and dispensing the syrup of the post-mix beverage at a controlled rate of flow. The water reservoir may be manually refilled from a water pitcher. The CO.sub.2 system includes a cylinder which is also disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and is coupled to the carbonator. The valving system may include a plurality of dispensing valves and mixing nozzles for dispensing different selected beverages depending upon which of the valves is actuated. In addition, carbonated water alone may be dispensed. The disposable syrup package includes a plastic container having a flow rate control tube therein and means in said flow rate control for precluding spillage of syrup when the package temperature becomes elevated from opening and closing the refrigerator door.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1981Date of Patent: November 16, 1982Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Jason K. Sedam, William R. Fuerst
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Patent number: 4340549Abstract: An improved carburetor (20) for delivering one combustible fuel and a liquid, or two combustible fuels from separate reservoirs (50), (500), to the central portion of a hollow spray bar (98) for discharge into carburetor venturi (30) includes substantially closed metering chambers (90), (508) disposed in fuel flow communication from the reservoirs and suspended from opposite ends of spray bar (98). Fuels from metering chambers (90), (500) travel through variable width grooves (154), (548) formed in arcuate metering inserts (148), (544) into the lower end portion of corresponding metering arms (92), (540) and then into the hollow interior of spray bar (98).Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1981Date of Patent: July 20, 1982Inventor: Robert E. McKim
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Patent number: 4252751Abstract: A fan control system for cooling apparatus such as cooling tower in which water and air are brought into contact together. According to this system, the running speed of the fan is continuously and proportionally changed responsive to the temperature of the cooling water or the external atmospheric conditions, to substantially control the cooling capacity of the cooling apparatus. The control system consists of a main fan motor, an electronic adjustment circuit and a power transmission means consisting of a variable pitch diameter belt speed changing means and a constant pitch belt reduction device, whereby the speed changing ratio of the belt speed chaning means is continuously and proportionally changed depending upon the control signals from the adjustment circuit. Further, the adjustment circuit may have a soft-start control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1979Date of Patent: February 24, 1981Inventor: Naomichi Shito
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Patent number: 4127620Abstract: In a portable domestic air humidifier of the rotating drum type, the improvement wherein a fill funnel occupies a portion of the periphery of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1977Date of Patent: November 28, 1978Assignee: Canadian Appliance Manufacturing Company LimitedInventors: John A. Sherman, Peter S. Wardell
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Patent number: 4106914Abstract: Liquid fuel comprising hydrocarbon as its main component, which is in liquid state at normal temperature and pressure, is held in a container of an apparatus for vaporization of the liquid fuel to enable the fuel to be readily converted into a gaseous state for example for cooking purpose.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1977Date of Patent: August 15, 1978Inventor: Liu Kun-Ming
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Patent number: RE29782Abstract: BOD-containing water such as sewage is mixed with active biomass and a first quantity of oxygen feed gas in a first cycle for biochemical oxidation to produce oxygenated liquid-solid and unconsumed oxygen-containing gas of lower purity than the feed gas. The unconsumed oxygen is discharged and a second quantity of oxygen feed gas is introduced for mixing in a second biochemical oxygenation cycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1977Date of Patent: September 26, 1978Assignee: Union Carbide CorporationInventor: John R. McWhirter
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Patent number: RE32179Abstract: A post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing system for use in refrigerated cabinets includes a carbonator having a refillable water reservoir, a CO.sub.2 system coupled to said carbonator, a valving system, and a disposable package for containing and dispensing the syrup of the post-mix beverage at a controlled rate of flow. The water reservoir may be manually refilled from a water pitcher. The CO.sub.2 system includes a cylinder which is also disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and is coupled to the carbonator. The valving system may include a plurality of dispensing valves and mixing nozzles for dispensing different selected beverages depending upon which of the valves is actuated. In addition, carbonated water alone may be dispensed. The disposable syrup package includes a plastic container having a flow rate control tube therein and means in said flow rate control for precluding spillage of syrup when the package temperature becomes elevated from opening and closing the refrigerator door.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1984Date of Patent: June 10, 1986Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Jason K. Sedam, William R. Fuerst