Pressure Regulation Patents (Class 454/70)
  • Patent number: 11834080
    Abstract: A passenger transport vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, has at least one sanitary module and at least one fan for conveying waste air from the sanitary module. A control unit controls the volumetric flow of waste air from the sanitary module. The control unit is formed for at least two volumetric flows of waste air, which differ from one another and differ from zero. The volumetric flows are conveyed by the at least one fan, at least on the basis of a state of the sanitary module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Wiegner
  • Patent number: 11485191
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning device is provided which is capable of cooling a heat medium of a battery temperature adjustment device by a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit to improve operation efficiency when a battery is to be cooled. The vehicular air conditioning device includes a battery temperature adjustment device (61) for circulating a heat medium in a battery (55) to cool the same, a refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger (64) for exchanging heat between at least part of the refrigerant flowing out from an outdoor heat exchanger (7) and the heat medium circulating in the battery temperature adjustment device, and an auxiliary expansion valve (73) for decompressing the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger. A control device controls a compressor (2) or the auxiliary expansion valve on the basis of a temperature Tw of the refrigerant of the refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger to thereby adjust a battery temperature Tb to a target battery temperature TBO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SANDEN AUTOMOTIVE CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ishizeki
  • Patent number: 11370294
    Abstract: A grille shutter includes a frame, a fin supported by the frame, and brackets that are arranged respectively on opposite sides of the frame in the vehicle right-left direction and used for attaching the frame to a vehicle body. Each of the brackets is partially provided with a fragile portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tamotsu Tsuchida, Shun Totsuka, Ken Komatsubara, Kazuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11198406
    Abstract: A fragile portion is provided at a portion of a vertical frame bar. When an impact load from under a vehicle is applied to a grille shutter, the impact can be at least partially absorbed as the fragile portion undergoes plastic deformation (including damage). Thus, the impact exerted on a portion of the vertical frame bar other than the fragile portion is mitigated, and a fin can be restrained from coming off a frame. Moreover, the fin can be restrained from coming off the frame by a compact structure, because simply providing the fragile portion at a portion of the vertical frame bar can achieve that.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun Totsuka, Kazuki Tsuboi, Ken Komatsubara
  • Patent number: 11033762
    Abstract: A method for monitoring breathing air of a person breathing via a face mask (8). In the method pressure of inhaled air and partial pressure of oxygen before oxygen enters in the face mask (8) are measured. A partial pressure of oxygen in lungs of the person is estimated on the basis of the measured pressure of inhaled air and the measured partial pressure of oxygen. Also at least one physical characteristics of lungs is taken into account. The estimated partial pressure of oxygen in lungs is compared with a threshold. An indication of impending hypoxia is provided to the person, if the comparison indicates that the estimated partial pressure of oxygen in lungs is at a level lower than the threshold. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus (6) for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Insta ILS Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Salin, Ville Tipuri, Juha Pitkänen, Sami Hakola, Ville Kettula, Ville Soininen, Jarmo Skyttä
  • Patent number: 11021036
    Abstract: A battery electric vehicle includes a passenger cabin, a refrigerant circuit adapted to cool the passenger cabin, a powertrain including a high voltage powertrain component, a coolant circuit adapted to cool the high voltage powertrain component and a control module. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser and an evaporator. The coolant circuit includes a radiator downstream from the condenser. The control module is configured to recirculate cabin air to the passenger cabin in response to data indicating temperature of the high voltage powertrain component exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature in order to reduce the air outlet temperature at the condenser and the air inlet temperature at the radiator. A related method to cool a high voltage powertrain component of a battery electric vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Bradley Szkrybalo
  • Patent number: 10960726
    Abstract: A cab for a work vehicle includes: walls enclosing a cab environment; a door coupled to one of the walls, one of the walls or the door comprising a vent opening; a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system coupled to the cab environment and configured to regulate a temperature and a pressure of the cab environment; and a pressure control flap associated with the vent opening and comprising a pressure-relief opening and a magnetic portion that is configured to hold the flap closed when the pressure of the cab environment is below a threshold pressure and allow the pressure to open the flap when the pressure exceeds the threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Samrendra K. Singh, Hesam Abbassi, Panos Tamamidis, Leonid Chernyavsky
  • Patent number: 10808157
    Abstract: A method for the heating and/or air conditioning of the passenger compartment of an automobile using a reversible cooling loop in which flows a coolant containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The method is particularly useful when outdoor temperature is lower than ?15° C. The method can be used for hybrid automobiles designed for operating alternatively with a thermal engine and an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventor: Wissam Rached
  • Patent number: 10589984
    Abstract: The application relates to MEMS microphone transducers having a vent structure provided in the membrane layer and an opening formed at the vent structure for tuning the frequency response of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Marek Sebastian Piechocinski
  • Patent number: 10525792
    Abstract: Vehicular air-conditioning device capable of inhibiting liquid return and generation of noise in an accumulator on startup of a compressor, and improving reliability and comfort. A controller lets a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 radiate heat in a radiator 4, and decompresses the refrigerant from which the heat has been radiated, to let the refrigerant absorb heat in an outdoor heat exchanger 7, thereby heating a vehicle interior. On startup of the compressor 2, the controller continues an operation at a predetermined startup number of revolution for a predetermined time, and then raises a number of revolution of the compressor 2 to a predetermined target number of revolution at a predetermined rising speed, and changes the startup number of revolution of the compressor 2 so as to lower the startup number of revolution as the outdoor air temperature is higher, on the basis of an outdoor air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SANDEN AUTOMOTIVE CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi, Kohei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10522845
    Abstract: A method of regulating thermal dissipation from a vehicle battery pack is provided in which a by-pass valve is used to control the amount of battery pack coolant either passing through, or by-passing, a heat exchanger, where the coolant passing through the heat exchanger is cooled by a refrigeration system. The vehicle's HVAC system is controlled to insure that HVAC operation does not compromise maintaining the battery pack within an acceptable range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Christoph Eisenbarth, Stefan Forrest Campbell, Jacob Edward Oberlin, Andrew David Baglino, Vincent George Johnston, Donald Paul Yuhasz
  • Patent number: 10465612
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for fluid control system for an aircraft includes an enclosure, a piston assembly, and a bellows. The enclosure has a body that extends between a first end and a second end. A first fluid line extends to the first end. The piston assembly has a piston head that is movably disposed within the enclosure and a piston rod that extends from the piston head and through the second end. The bellows is disposed within the body that extends between and is operatively connected to the piston head and the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Lubomir A. Ribarov
  • Patent number: 10024476
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and an air conditioning method for cooling a passenger space of a vehicle that accommodates a user include a tank that is capable of storing compressed air, and a control unit to release the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space. Energy that is generated without putting a workload on the power source or electric power of the vehicle is used for at least one process of compressing air in the tank, cooling the compressed air stored in the tank, and heating the compressed air stored in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Morishita, Kentaro Kamei, Kenji Furuse, Masahiko Ikeo
  • Patent number: 9854717
    Abstract: A charger cooling air source selection method includes cooling a vehicle battery charger by opening an outside air vent door in a vehicle and drawing outside air through the outside air vent door; determining whether the outside air vent door will close; and if the outside air vent door will not close, establishing and maintaining positive air pressure in a cabin of the vehicle by ensuring an open configuration of a recirculation door in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Blackburn, Monica DuBois, James George Gebbie, Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9636565
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of adjusting a room air in a first room wherein the room air is supplemented continuously or at recurring intervals of time by nitrogen or a nitrogen-bearing, carbon dioxide-poor gas mixture in such a way that the proportion of oxygen in the room air is less than 20.9% by volume and the proportion of carbon dioxide in the room air is less than 1% by volume, wherein at the same time at least a slight overpressure in relation to an outside atmosphere surrounding the room is set in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Volker Spiegel
    Inventors: Volker Spiegel, Ulrich Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9623724
    Abstract: There are provided a vehicle, a cooling apparatus, and a cooling method. The vehicle includes passenger space that accommodates a user, a tank that is capable of storing compressed air, and a control unit to release the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space. The control unit controls releasing so as to release part or the whole volume of the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Morishita, Kentaro Kamei, Kenji Furuse, Masahiko Ikeo
  • Patent number: 9308484
    Abstract: The environmental air filtration assembly includes a housing that may be coupled to the vehicle. The housing is exposed to ambient air. A filter is coupled to the housing. The filter removes pollutants from the ambient air. A processor is coupled to the housing. A motor is coupled to the housing and the processor. A fan is operationally coupled to the motor. The motor moves the fan so the fan urges the ambient air through the filter. A sensor is coupled to the housing. The sensor is operationally coupled to the processor. The sensor detects a speed of the vehicle. The sensor modifies a speed of the motor to correspond to the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Clark N. Harper
  • Patent number: 9205219
    Abstract: A gas delivery system, having a gas identification, by which a gas supplied to the gas delivery system is identified, a blender, blending oxygen and the gas to provide a gas mixture with an oxygen flow rate set up by an operator, and at least one flow sensor, to measure a flow rate of the gas mixture. The blender is driven by an actuator motor to various blender positions with the blender positions being calibrated based on the specific heat ratio and the gas constant of the gas. The flow sensor can be installed at the inspiratory circuit, the proximal circuit and the expiratory circuit of the gas delivery system. The flow sensor output is corrected based on the actual conditions, including the temperature, pressure and humidity, and characteristics of the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 202, INC.
    Inventors: Adrian D. de Silva, Samuel A. Glukhov
  • Patent number: 9151773
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a powered system includes an electric energy sensor, a rotation sensor, and a monitoring device. The electric energy sensor is coupled with a blower to measure an amount of electric energy that powers the blower to draw air through an inlet duct and over one or more bodies to cool the bodies. The rotation sensor is coupled with the blower to measure a rotation speed at which the blower operates to draw the air through the inlet duct when the blower is powered with the amount of electric energy. The monitoring device compares the rotation speed of the blower with a designated speed limit that is associated with the amount of electric energy to determine if the inlet duct is at least partially blocked. The monitoring device identifies the inlet duct as being at least partially blocked when the rotation speed exceeds the designated speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Edward Celidonia, Laura Susanne Cooper, Kiran Madduri
  • Publication number: 20150087215
    Abstract: A charger cooling air source selection method includes cooling a vehicle battery charger by opening an outside air vent door in a vehicle and drawing outside air through the outside air vent door; determining whether the outside air vent door will close; and if the outside air vent door will not close, establishing and maintaining positive air pressure in a cabin of the vehicle by ensuring an open configuration of a recirculation door in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Blackburn, Monica DuBois, James George Gebbie, Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8955803
    Abstract: A decompression assembly (10; 10?) for an aircraft comprises a first cabin lining element (12; 12?) having a boundary area (14; 14?) and a second cabin lining element (20; 20?) having a boundary area (22; 22?), wherein the boundary area (22; 22?) of the second cabin lining element (20; 20?) is disposed at a smaller distance from an aircraft outer skin (24; 24?) than the boundary area (14; 14?) of the first cabin lining element (12; 12?). An air discharge opening (28; 28?) is disposed between the boundary area (14; 14?) of the first cabin lining element (12; 12?) and the boundary area (22; 22?) of the second cabin lining element (20; 20?) for discharging air from a cabin (18; 18?) of the aircraft into an area (30; 30?) of the aircraft located between the cabin lining elements (12, 20; 12?, 20?) and the aircraft outer skin (24; 24?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Voss, Patrique Doemeland, Ingo Roth
  • Publication number: 20140378042
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle air extraction system in fluid communication with a cabin of the vehicle is provided. The extraction system may have a housing arrangement and a pair of extractors attached to the housing arrangement. A chamber may be formed between the housing arrangement and pair of extractors. An air pump may be in fluid communication with the chamber. The pair of extractors may be an inner extractor and an outer extractor. A controller may be configured to activate the air pump to supply airflow to the chamber to close the inner extractor and/or prevent inadvertent opening of the inner extractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, Paul Bryan Hoke, Steven David Errick
  • Publication number: 20140273784
    Abstract: An air extractor optimized for reducing closing efforts when closing a vehicle door is provided. The air extractor includes one or more openings that allow air flow between the passenger compartment of the vehicle and the vehicle exterior. The air extractor also includes a closure member that is movable between an open and closed position, wherein the open position allows air flow through the one or more openings and the closed position inhibits air flow through the one or more openings. The air extractor further includes an actuator that moves the closure member to the open position when one or more vehicle doors are opened and subsequently moves the closure member to the closed position once all doors have been closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Arthur Wade, Paul Repp, James Antime Marleau
  • Patent number: 8834240
    Abstract: An aerator includes a duct (50) defining a chamber in which a portion of the inner surface defines a spherical segment, a profiled body (60) with a holding device (62), and a ring (52) having an outer surface defining a portion of a sphere having the same radius as the spherical segment of the chamber and bearing the profiled body (60) in the duct (50) while allowing the rotational movement thereof relative to the duct (50) and the translation movement thereof relative to the find (22), wherein the profiled body (60) can assume a closing position when in contact with the duct. The profiled body (60) is provided with a member (70) for limiting the translation stroke when the translation axis of the body (60) is very inclined. Application in automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Loys Azzouz, Tony Ercolano, Pierre Guerreiro
  • Patent number: 8821224
    Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Mark A. Voss, Derek L. Patterson, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, James Holbrook Brown, Aragorn Zolno, John N. Owens, Alexander Millerman, Kevin B. Rober, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Publication number: 20140199929
    Abstract: A device for active regulation of the internal vehicle pressure in a rail vehicle includes an aeration device for increasing the internal pressure in the rail vehicle, a ventilation device for reducing the internal pressure in the rail vehicle, and a measuring device for measuring the internal pressure in the rail vehicle. A control device is connected for signaling purposes at least to the ventilation device in order to reduce the internal pressure and to the measuring device, and the ventilation device for reducing the internal pressure can be controlled by the control device according to the internal pressure determined by the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Timothy Ruiter
  • Patent number: 8734211
    Abstract: One embodiment of a pressure management system for an aircraft may include a cavity, an opening in a surface of the cavity, and a moveable door. An interior area within the cavity may have an interior pressure and an exterior area outside of the cavity may have an exterior pressure. The door may open to uncover the opening and may close to cover the opening in response to pressure differential between the exterior pressure and the interior pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clyde R. Tuchimaa, Susan D. Paish
  • Patent number: 8651924
    Abstract: A method for privately transferring filtered air through a partition of a compartment in an aircraft cabin to equalize a pressure difference between the inside and outside the compartment via a vent assembly comprising two substantially structurally identical vent halves joining together in a locking manner through a vent opening in the partition. Each vent half comprising integrally molded rim, frame, plurality of louvers fixed within the frame, latch, keeper, guide prong, and a installation index key; plastic injection molded from high strength unreinforced polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy M. Jones, Russell W. Keck
  • Patent number: 8633424
    Abstract: An HVAC system for a work vehicle having an operator compartment for a vehicle operator, the system including a heating system, a compartment pressurizer blower, a compartment recirculation blower, a temperature sensor, and an operating mode switch, each operably coupled to an electronic circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to reduce pressurizer blower output when the operator selects high output from the heating system under certain predetermined temperature and conditions and operating modes to improve HVAC system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Chernyavsky, William H. Adamson, Alan G. Leupold, Nicholas J. Prenger, Mark D. Klassen, Michael C. Bunnel
  • Patent number: 8571726
    Abstract: A method for calculating an aircraft fuselage leakage calculation of an aircraft is provided. The method comprises determining a calculation period for an aircraft fuselage leakage value and inputting the calculation period into a computer to obtain a first input data. The method further comprises obtaining one or more outside air inflow rates and inputting the one or more outside air inflow rates into the computer to obtain a second input data. The method further comprises obtaining one or more air outflow rates and inputting the one or more air outflow rates into the computer to obtain a third input data. The method further comprises accumulating the first input data, the second input data, and the third input data in the computer to obtain an accumulated input data. The method further comprises processing the accumulated input data with a process software to obtain an output data in the form of a calculated aircraft fuselage leakage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John C. Gray, Kyle D. Eilers, Warren A. Atkey
  • Publication number: 20130267157
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preventing an exhaust inflow, including: a measurement step of measuring a concentration of exhaust introduced into an interior of a vehicle through an exhaust detecting sensor installed in the interior of the vehicle, and comparing the concentration of the exhaust with a reference concentration; an introduction step of controlling an interior/exterior air door of an air conditioning apparatus to introduce more exterior air into the interior of the vehicle so as to increase an interior pressure when the concentration of the introduced exhaust is thicker than the reference concentration; and a blowing step of controlling a blower of the air conditioning apparatus to increase an amount of air discharged into the interior of the vehicle to increase the interior pressure when the thick concentration of the exhaust is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corp., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jun Kyu Park, Moo Yong KIM
  • Publication number: 20130180682
    Abstract: A wire harness is threaded from a cabin exterior to a cabin interior. A heat releasing hose is provided by integrally mounting a main portion in the wire harness by taping and the like. A first end portion of the heat releasing hose branches from the wire harness within an engine compartment and is connected to a second terminus of an auxiliary hose provided to a lateral surface of a housing unit so as to enable heated air in a vicinity of a heat generator to flow therethrough. A second end portion of the heat releasing hose is positioned in a location in the cabin interior where air can be expelled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunori IMADA
  • Patent number: 8480460
    Abstract: An aircraft having a user region therein within which pressurized air at selected pressures can be maintained using an environmental control system provided in the aircraft, and a utility region outside a utility boundary wall of the user region within which selected equipment for the aircraft is located. An internal combustion engine, provided as an intermittent combustion engine, is provided in the utility region having an air intake coupled to combustion chambers therein and a rotatable output shaft also coupled to those combustion chambers for generating force with an air transfer duct extends between the user region and the air intake so as to be capable of conveying pressurized air to that air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8439308
    Abstract: A pressure relief apparatus for an engine compartment having a wall and an opening in the wall is provided. The pressure relief apparatus includes a door panel arranged in blocking relationship to the opening in the wall of the engine compartment, a plurality of hinges coupling the door panel to an inner surface of the wall of the engine compartment, a spring assembly coupled between each hinge and the inner surface of the wall, wherein the spring assembly includes a canister having an open end and a spring element housed within the canister, and a support fitting mounted to the engine compartment wall and having a portion extending toward the open end of the canister for applying a compressive force on the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Armstrong, Michael D. Jones, Kent W. Dunstan
  • Patent number: 8439732
    Abstract: A passive air valve for an HVAC module allows air to flow through a conditioning passage in a single direction. The valve can be disposed on a downstream side of a heat exchanger. The valve can inhibit back airflow from one of the conditioning passages to the other one of the conditioning passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Belanger
  • Publication number: 20130084789
    Abstract: There are provided a vehicle, a cooling apparatus, and a cooling method. The vehicle includes passenger space that accommodates a user, a tank that is capable of storing compressed air, and a control unit to release the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space. The control unit controls releasing so as to release part or the whole volume of the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki MORISHITA, Kentaro KAMEI, Kenji FURUSE, Masahiko IKEO
  • Patent number: 8328609
    Abstract: A back-air blocking device to ventilate a motor vehicle's inside space includes a frame or housing made of a first plastic, and a valve flap, made of flexible material, connected in one zone to the frame and in other zones resting against a sealing surface of said frame when the flap is in its rest position. The flap detaches off the sealing surface when subjected to a pressure differential. The valve flap is a thin plate made of a closed-pore, foamed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Daniel Schneider
  • Patent number: 8258726
    Abstract: A system for cooling a battery mounted on a vehicle using air within a vehicle, independently of the travelling state of the vehicle. The air within a vehicle compartment is guided to a battery mounted on a vehicle to cool the battery. A controller determines a basic fan speed v of the cooling fan based on a battery temperature and an ambient temperature. Further, the controller calculates an increment ?v of the fan speed in accordance with the vehicle speed and the degree of window opening and determines a final fan speed V according to V=v+?v, to drive the cooling fan. By controlling the fan speed to increase, it is possible to cool the battery even when the base pressure of the inlet-side static pressure of the cooling fan becomes negative pressure compared to when the windows are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Norihito Yuno
  • Publication number: 20120003907
    Abstract: A vehicle vent valve assembly (30) is provided to prevent excessive air pressure in a passenger compartment (52) of a vehicle (36). The vent valve assembly (30) includes a vent valve (32) which is movable between a closed condition blocking fluid (air) flow from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and an open condition. An actuator assembly (34) is provided to operate the vent valve (32) from the closed condition to the open condition. The vent valve (32) is urged toward the closed condition by a closing spring (112). A damper (132) is connected with the vent valve (32) to delay closing of the vent valve. A force transmitting member (64) in the actuator assembly (34) is connected with the vent valve (32) by a slide connection (94) that enables relative movement to occur between the vent valve and the force transmitting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel D. Carlson, Michael J. Andrews
  • Patent number: 8056617
    Abstract: An HVAC system for work vehicle having an operator compartment for an operator is disclosed. The HVAC system includes a pressurizer blower and an air-conditioning system coupled to an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is configured to reduce the output of the pressurizer blower when the operator selects a high output from the air-conditioning system. The HVAC system is also configured to provide defog operation in both a manual mode and an automatic mode of operation. The HVAC system is configured to reset the defog operation when the vehicle ignition is turned off or turned back on. The HVAC system is also configured not to reset the defog operation when the operator switches rapidly between the automatic mode and the manual mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Klassen, Leonid Chernyavsky, Alan G. Leupold, Paul E. Wibbels, Michael C. Bunnell, M. Javaid Arshad
  • Patent number: 8029343
    Abstract: A battery pack cooling and body pressure relief system for a vehicle having a passenger cabin is disclosed. The system may include an intake air flow duct connected between the passenger cabin and the battery pack, and an air flow duct connected between the exhaust air outlet and the body pressure relief valve. The system may include a one-way cabin pressure relief vent connected to the air flow duct and configured to selectively allow for air flow into the air flow duct, and may include a duct pressure relief vent connected to the air flow duct and configured to selectively allow for air flow out of the air flow duct into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Christopher C. Nyeholt
  • Patent number: 8016232
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided controlling aircraft cabin pressure, and more specifically engine bleed air manifold pressure, during aircraft descent. An aircraft engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is to either a descent pressure setpoint or a cruise pressure setpoint by determining a rotational speed of an aircraft engine component, determining a component speed setpoint value, and determining aircraft vertical speed. The engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is set to the descent pressure setpoint if either the determined rotational speed of the aircraft engine component is below the component speed setpoint value or the aircraft vertical speed is less than a predetermined vertical speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mark Anderson, Karen Hosler, Greg Chapman, Wai Pak Wong
  • Patent number: 8015973
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for adjusting nitrogen and oxygen concentrations within regions of an aircraft. The method includes separating nitrogen from ambient air onboard an aircraft thereby establishing a high-concentration nitrogen supply and then dispensing high-concentration nitrogen from the supply to a fire-susceptible, non-habitable region of the aircraft where the high-concentration nitrogen is reservoired thereby decreasing the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion. Oxygen is also separated from the ambient air thereby establishing a high-concentration oxygen supply that is dispensed to an occupant cabin of the aircraft thereby increasing the level of oxygen concentration within the cabin to a level greater than the naturally occurring concentration of oxygen at the experienced internal cabin pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Geary
  • Patent number: 8001230
    Abstract: A first management apparatus that is connected to a first equipment device group including a plurality of first equipment devices centrally manages the first equipment devices. A second management apparatus connected to a second equipment device group including a plurality of second equipment devices separate from the plurality of first equipment devices centrally manages the second equipment devices. A group management apparatus connected to the first and second management apparatus centrally manages the first and second equipment device groups. The first and second management apparatus include first and second management programs to centrally manage the first and second equipment devices. The group management apparatus includes a group management program for centrally managing the first and second equipment device groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Murakami, Toshihiro Kanbara, Naotake Shimozu
  • Publication number: 20110183595
    Abstract: An aircraft includes, but is not limited to at least one fuselage with at least one pressurised fuselage region and at least one non-pressurized region and at least one air conditioning system for air conditioning the at least one pressurised fuselage region. The non-pressurized region includes, but is not limited to an air inlet and an air outlet connected to an air source from the pressurised fuselage region. Consequently it is possible to avoid the use of blowers, outlet valves and ram air flaps for ventilating non-pressurized regions of an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Martin LIEBICH
  • Publication number: 20100330894
    Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., DYNALLOY, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Mark A. Voss, Derek L. Patterson, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, James Holbrook Brown, Aragorn Zolno, John N. Owens, Alexander Millerman, Kevin B. Rober, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 7837541
    Abstract: A method for reducing outside air inflow required for aircraft passenger cabin air quality is provided. The method determines when passenger cabin air quality is the driving outside air inflow requirement and reduces the outside air inflow to that required for passenger cabin air quality. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for reducing outside air inflow required for aircraft passenger cabin air quality using a fixed minimum outflow valve open area setpoint. In another embodiment, there is provided a method for reducing outside air inflow required for aircraft passenger cabin air quality using calculations that are repeated at regular intervals and using a mathematical function relating an outside air inflow requirement to a set of independent variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John C. Gray, Kyle D. Eilers, Warren A. Atkey
  • Publication number: 20100270818
    Abstract: System and method to partition the interior of a vehicle's main crew compartment with retractable or removable walls to form a containment or isolation area at a door or hatch and to form a cab toxic free area elsewhere inside the vehicle's main crew compartment. The containment area is physically cordoned and substantially sealed off from the rest of the vehicle's main crew compartment. Independent HVAC systems controlling the pressure environment of the main crew compartment and the containment area assures that the main crew compartment is maintained at a pressure greater than the containment area as well as the outside environment, thereby isolating the main crew compartment from possible contaminated environments. The containment area's independent HVAC system is equipped with a decontamination/sterilization/filtration system to allow the purification of the air prior to removal or retraction of the removable or retractable partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventor: Shane F. Mills
  • Publication number: 20100221992
    Abstract: A method for delivering announcements via a cabin communication facility comprising at least one cabin loudspeaker and via an on-board entertainment system comprising at least one headset output comprises the steps of delivering an announcement via the at least one cabin loudspeaker, beginning at a first instant, and delivering the announcement via the at least one headset output, beginning at a second instant, which differs from the first instant, the delivering of the announcement via the at least one cabin loudspeaker and the delivering of the announcement via the at least one headset output being initiated at differing instants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Gerald Coto-Lopez
  • Publication number: 20100216384
    Abstract: An air extractor assembly for an automotive vehicle is disclosed which has first and second air extractor valves mounted in a body panel. The first air extractor valve opens when pressure within the passenger compartment at a first pressure differential and the second air extractor valve opens at a second higher pressure differential. The second flap has a weight, which by virtue of gravity, resists opening. The weight can be a magnetic strip that is attracted to a ferrometallic and/or magnetic strip applied around the second aperture. By providing air extractor valves which open at different pressure differences, only the first air extractor valve opens when the pressure difference is in a lower range thereby limiting noise transmission into the passenger compartment. When a car door is shut and/or the climate control system is operating at maximum, the pressure difference is greater causing both extractor valves to open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Lee McCarthy, Shiva Gumate