Preventing, Removing Or Handling Atmospheric Condensate Patents (Class 62/150)
  • Patent number: 11821640
    Abstract: A drain pump clog prediction device predicts the clogging of a drain pump, which is configured to drain water out of a drain pan of an air conditioner. The drain pump clog prediction device includes an obtaining portion that obtains information related to an object in the drain pan and a prediction portion calculates at least one of an object amount, an object size, and an object inflow amount based on information obtained by the obtaining portion and predicts occurrence of the clogging of the drain pump based on at least one of the object amount, the object size, and the object inflow amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taro Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11473831
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit between which refrigerant is circulated. The indoor unit includes a body casing that forms an outer shell, a heat exchanger provided in the body casing, a drain pan provided below the heat exchanger, a water-level detecting unit that detects the level of condensate water that has flowed into the drain pan, and a refrigerant-gas detecting unit that is provided in the drain pan and at a higher level than the water-level detecting unit, and detects refrigerant gas that has leaked from the heat exchanger. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller that performs control to stop a cooling operation when the water-level detecting unit detects the condensate water that collects in the drain pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 11378326
    Abstract: There is provided a sublimation defrosting method for removing a frost layer adhering to a cooling surface for cooling a to-be-cooled gas, including a heating/temperature-rising step of heating an adhesion portion of the cooling surface, to which the frost layer adheres, to rise a temperature of the adhesion portion by a heat source located on an adhesion portion side with respect to the frost layer, under a temperature condition below a melting point of the frost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAYEKAWA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Kato, Kosaku Nishida
  • Patent number: 11339980
    Abstract: A dehumidifier has a main body and a main tank. The main body has a secondary tank, a pump, and a retracting mechanism. A conduit portion of the retracting mechanism is mounted through and into the main tank, so the pump can draw water from the secondary tank and into the main tank. The main tank is mounted beside the main body and can be drawn upward to separate from the main body. The main tank has a first inclined surface. When the main tank is moved upward, the first inclined surface pushes the retracting mechanism, so the conduit portion retracts and is moved away from a moving path of the main tank when the main tank is being drawn upward. With the main tank mounted beside the main body, the main tank facilitates water pouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: New Widetech Industries Co., LTD
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Chiu
  • Patent number: 11320172
    Abstract: An air conditioner shut-off system includes an overflow conduit that is coupled, at one end, to the drainage system of an air handler unit of the air conditioner system. The opposite end of the overflow conduit is positioned over an overflow container, which is suspended by a harness at the lower end of the harness. The upper end of the harness being operably coupled to the breaker throw of the main breaker, which is provided on or proximate to the air handler unit. If the drainage system becomes obstructed, water will flow into the overflow container through the conduit, and eventually the mass of the water accumulated in the overflow container will produce enough force acting on the breaker throw through the harness to flip the breaker throw to the OFF position and shut off the air conditioner system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: David Todd Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11320184
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is disclosed. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A purge circuit is fluidly connected to the condenser. The purge circuit is configured to receive a purge stream from the condenser. The purge stream is a mixture including a refrigerant and non-condensables. The purge circuit includes a plurality of heat exchangers for condensing the purge stream such that the non-condensables and the refrigerant in the purge stream are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Marcos Eric Perez-Blanco
  • Patent number: 11254586
    Abstract: A method for making a customized beverages in a beverage maker is provided using a filtered water system for processing pressurized potable water. The filter system is monitored to allow for certification of a filter system performance for a claimed contaminant reduction up through 320 gallons of use while providing NSF/ANSI Standard 42 or NSF/ANSI Standard 53 health claims when operated at a flow rate of at least 0.50 gallons per minute (gpm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Carl V. Santoiemmo
  • Patent number: 11231301
    Abstract: A sensor device includes a housing and a sensor component mounted in the housing. The housing has two or more vents. The sensor component is located on a path connecting two of the vents. The sensor component may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a microphone. The sensor component may be located on a path connecting two vents in substantially facing surfaces of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Naotsugu Ueda, Kayo Nakamura, Ryusuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 11226116
    Abstract: An air conditioning appliance may have a telescoping plenum attached to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The telescoping plenum may be receivable within a wall channel defined by a structure wall along an axial direction. The telescoping plenum may include an interior portion and an exterior portion. The interior portion may include a duct wall and an outer flange extending radially outward from the duct wall to contact an internal surface of a structure wall. The telescoping plenum may further include a divider wall defining an upper passage and a lower passage within the telescoping plenum. The divider wall includes an interior divider panel fixed to the interior portion and an exterior divider panel fixed to the exterior portion. Each of the interior divider panel and the exterior divider panel is axially slidable along the other of the interior divider panel and the exterior divider panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Michael Phillips, Stephen D. Hatcher, Christopher Raymond Geisen
  • Patent number: 11084497
    Abstract: The vehicle control device according to the present invention is a device that automatically controls the travel of a vehicle at least partially, the vehicle control device comprising: a traveling environment acquisition unit that acquires a traveling environment of the vehicle when the travel control is performed; and a vehicle control unit that performs state change control to change a state of the vehicle on the basis of the traveling environment acquired by the traveling environment acquisition unit, when the travel control is transitioned from automatic to manual or when such a transition is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ibuka, Jun Tanaka, Takuyuki Mukai, Shigehiro Honda, Riho Harada
  • Patent number: 11033038
    Abstract: Atmospheric control valve device, part of an atmospheric control system built into a refrigerated container, whose installation requires minimal intervention and is self-sufficient, compact and reusable due to its long, cylindrical body that includes a battery compartment. The body also has a compartment for the electrical, electronic and sensor elements; a handling compartment for the elements that handle the device; a cover area to cover the container after removing the device; and a gas exchange compartment for two-way gas exchanges, controlled by a solenoid valve and by the differences in pressure that occur naturally within the refrigerated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Liventus S.A.
    Inventors: Claudia Alejandra Mardones Soto, Francisco Javier Valenzuela Rollán, Mariano Pola Matte
  • Patent number: 11021042
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control system includes: a weather information providing system and an air-conditioning control apparatus that controls an air conditioner installed in a vehicle. The air-conditioning control apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives, from the weather information providing system, first weather information indicating an estimated weather condition predicted at the vehicle; a measurement unit that performs measurements concerning second weather information indicating an actual weather condition at the position of the vehicle; a judgment unit that judges whether or not a reliability level of the first weather information is below a first threshold value by comparing the first weather information and the second weather information or by detecting a change per unit time of the second weather information; and a transmission unit that transmits, to the weather information providing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kan Saito
  • Patent number: 10994586
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning device is a heat pump type vehicle air-conditioning device including an external heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between refrigerant flowing the inside thereof and outside air. With the vehicle air-conditioning device, a controller functions as a temperature-difference calculation unit that calculates the temperature difference ?T between the refrigerant in a refrigerant flow path on the exit side of the external heat exchanger and the outside air, and in addition, the controller functions as a frost formation determination unit that determines that frost formation is caused on the external heat exchanger on the basis of the elapsed time to of a state in which the temperature difference ?T is equal to or larger than a frost-formation temperature difference at which the frost formation may be caused on the external heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MARELLI CABIN COMFORT JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Ishikawa, Yunhan Ri, Koujirou Nakamura, Tomohiro Maeda, Shuuji Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 10761578
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device for electronic device, a heat dissipation assembly, an air pipe assembly and a table. The heat dissipation device includes a refrigerator, an air pipe assembly and a heat dissipation assembly. The refrigerator has a cool air opening. The air pipe assembly has a first and second end portions, the first end portion detachably connects to the cool air opening. The heat dissipation assembly has a base body detachably connected to the refrigerator and a supporting plate pivoted to the base body. When the supporting plate is in a first position, the supporting plate has a first angle with a bottom plate of the base body. When the supporting plate is in a second position, the supporting plate has a second angle with the bottom plate. The second end portion is detachably connected to the supporting plate and is movably disposed in the air permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 10677480
    Abstract: A portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet, an evaporator, a condenser, a drain pan, multiple support legs, a compressor, and a fan. The cabinet includes an airflow inlet, an airflow outlet, and at least two wheels. The evaporator is located adjacent to the airflow inlet. The condenser is located adjacent to the evaporator and on a side of the evaporator opposite the airflow inlet. The drain pan is located at least partially below the evaporator and the condenser. The support legs extend from a bottom side of the drain pan towards the bottom side of the cabinet. The compressor is located below the drain pan. The fan is located adjacent to the condenser and on a side of the condenser opposite the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle R. Williams, Steven S. Dingle, Dominic M. Moore, James A. Scharping, Jerome Verhoeven, Diane K. Bustamante, Conor DuBois
  • Patent number: 10627157
    Abstract: A climate controlled smartbox includes a battery, a sensor configured to detect a property of a medium of the smartbox, a climate control interface configured to change the property, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first indication of a charge of the battery, receive from the sensor a second indication of the property, and determine a control input for the climate control interface based on the first indication and the second indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MOTOGO, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Ruth, Yuan-Chang Lo
  • Patent number: 10458694
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for sensing and removing dew on a refrigerator. The apparatus may include a heater disposed at a refrigerator body or inside a surface of a door, and a sensor disposed in close proximity to the heater. The sensor may be configured to sense dew formed on a prescribed surface at the refrigerator body or the door. The sensor may be disposed physically separate from the prescribed surface to sense formation of dew on the prescribed surface. The heater is controlled to generate heat that removes the sensed dew on the prescribed surface based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Seunguk Ahn
  • Patent number: 10415877
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a water-conducting conduit system which has a connector for connecting to a domestic water supply system. A monitoring device is configured to detect water leaks in the water-conducting conduit system of the refrigeration appliance. A monitoring device for installation into a refrigeration appliance and a monitoring device housing for such a monitoring device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Faehnle, Eugen Gaplikow, Michael Krapp
  • Patent number: 10401054
    Abstract: An air handling unit has an interior wall configured to selectively retain a removable component of the air handling unit. An air handling unit has an interior wall configured as a drain pan. An air handling unit has an outer skin joined to the interior wall, an insulator disposed between the interior wall and the outer skin, and the interior wall has a mounting channel configured to selectively retain a removable component of the air handling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Stewart, Mark Hudgins, Richard Lee Jameson, Keith Adam Novak, Leslie Zinger
  • Patent number: 10240848
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a moisture absorbing unit configured to absorb moisture in the cold air surrounding the evaporator. The moisture absorbing unit includes a moisture absorbing material. Therefore, undesirable frosting on the evaporator can be effectively prevented. The moisture absorbing unit can be heated by a defrosting heater disposed proximate to the evaporator and the moisture absorbing unit. Thus moisture in the moisture absorbing material can be removed and the moisture absorbing material can be repeatedly used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Won Moon
  • Patent number: 10190813
    Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and a method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment, a door selectively opening or closing the storage compartment, a heater disposed in the cabinet or door to prevent dew from being formed on a surface of the cabinet or door, a refrigerator temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the storage compartment of the refrigerator, and a control unit adjusting an operation factor or output of the heater on the basis of a temperature value detected by the refrigerator temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myungjin Chung, Namsoo Cho, Kyongbae Park, Jangseok Lee
  • Patent number: 10132564
    Abstract: A plant dryer with improved convection flow is provided. The plant dryer has minimal corners in the drying vessel to promote efficient distribution of heated air through the device and to eliminate dead spots within the unit. The plant dryer has additional safety features where, unlike a conventional oven configuration, the unit may not be operated without the drying bowl properly placed within the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Harvey Romanek
  • Patent number: 9915464
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a door for opening or closing the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, a filter unit disposed within the refrigerating compartment for purifying water supplied from a water supply source outside the main body, water tank for receiving the purified water from the filter unit and to cool the received water by using cool air within the refrigerating compartment, and a dispenser disposed in the door to dispense the cooled water stored in the tube tank assembly. The tube tank assembly includes a tube defining a cold water passage that can allow the cooled water to flow therethrough, and a tube support around which the tube is wound multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongbeen Tae, Kyunghoon Koak, Siyeon An
  • Patent number: 9821632
    Abstract: A method of controlling the refrigerant pressure in an ambient heat exchanger of a refrigerant circuit, particularly a heat pump circuit, for vehicles, in which the current temperature and the current humidity of the ambient air is measured, the current dew point temperature of the ambient air is determined from the measured temperature and humidity, and if the ambient air temperature is below 0° C. the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant circuit is controlled by adjusting the rotational speed of a refrigerant compressor of the refrigerant circuit, the flow cross-section of a controllable expansion element of the refrigerant circuit and/or the ambient air volume flow flowing around or through the ambient heat exchanger, such that the temperature of the ambient heat exchanger is greater than the dew point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Wiedemann, Oliver Horn, Martin Knott
  • Patent number: 9796243
    Abstract: An automatic climate controller device identifies an operating zone of the climate control system according to at least two input factors, and identifies a discharge temperature of the climate control system. Based on the operating zone and the discharge temperature, the automatic climate controller device determines whether to perform at least one override action to override a climate control system setting to reduce the possibility of evaporator core icing. The automatic climate controller device also adjusts an evaporator set point according to the at least one override action to reduce the discharge temperature. The input factors may include evaporator temperature and cabin relative humidity. The actions may include one or more of increasing blower speed or increasing use of recirculated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Dage, Steven L. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9772124
    Abstract: A heat pump system for conditioning regeneration air from a space is provided. The heat pump system is operable in a winter mode and/or a summer mode, and may be selectively operated in a defrost mode or cycle. During a defrost mode, hot refrigerant may be used to directly and sequentially defrost the regeneration air heat exchanger. A compressor may be configured to be overdriven during a defrost cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: David Martin Wintemute, Mathieu Philippe Beliveau
  • Patent number: 9726387
    Abstract: A stepped approach to cooling capacity control and the HGRH status logic to achieve the requisite control of humidity and temperature provided to an interior area or building space receiving conditioned air. The system includes at least two independent circuits, each circuit having at least one compressor. At least one of the independent circuits includes hot gas reheat hardware thereby providing HGRH capability. The logic provides an efficient method for maintaining both humidity and temperature in the interior area comfortable for occupants within limits as determined by psychrometrics. The system and method match the sensible capacity and latent capacity of the system match to the sensible and latent loads of the conditioned space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Rajiv Karkhanis, Curtis Wayne Caskey
  • Patent number: 9638367
    Abstract: A saturator includes: a flow path inside of which a first fluid flows; a first heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between the first fluid and a second fluid; a second heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between a third fluid and the first fluid after the first fluid has passed through the first heat exchange unit; a humidifying unit that adds water to the first fluid upstream from the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit; and a conveyance path that conveys the third fluid after heat exchange from the second heat exchange unit to the upstream side of the first heat exchange unit and causes said third fluid to flow into the flow path as the first fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Masato Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9492035
    Abstract: A catering box with active climate control is configured to transport “delicate” foods, such as grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers, without inducing substantial sogginess in the bread of those food items. The catering box includes a heat mass configured to retain heat generated by a hot plate and to then radiate that heat, during transport, after the hot plate has been disconnected from a power source. In addition, the catering box includes an exhaust fan that actively controls internal specific humidity levels in order to prevent moisture from settling within the bread of stored food items. A microcontroller within the catering box monitors temperature and absolute humidity levels, computes the current specific humidity level, and then selectively engages or disengages the exhaust fan in response. With his approach, the catering box may limit the degree to which humidity settles within the bread of delicate food items stored within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: FISHSIX RC THE MELT
    Inventors: Michael Pavel, Jonathan Kaplan, Will Tammen, Michael J. Strasser, Kyle Lamson, Curtis Chow, Carrie Eaton
  • Patent number: 9242734
    Abstract: A device for distributing air in a cargo aircraft includes using an air distribution system which is connected to a cargo deck. The air distribution system includes a source for bleed air, at least one air conditioning unit for treating the bleed air, a mixing unit which receives an air supply of recirculation air exiting the cargo deck and treated bleed air from the air conditioning unit, and at least one shut-off valve between the mixing unit and the cargo deck in order to interrupt or completely release the air supply to the cargo deck. A control unit establishes a desired air volume balance for the current operating state of the air distribution system and adjusts the flow volume through the at least one air conditioning unit such that the pressure prevailing in the mixing unit remains at a constant, predetermined value for all operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Gumm, Manuela Horl, Dariusz Krakowski, Steffen Kalsow
  • Patent number: 9222689
    Abstract: An Air conditioning and potable water generating system in which a cooling element condenses water from atmospheric air is operable two switch between an air conditioning mode, in which cooled atmospheric air from which water has been extracted is supplied to a building's interior environment, and a water generating mode, in which communication of such supply air into the building interior is closed off. The system can thus be operated to collect water regardless of whether cooling of the building interior is required at a particular point in time. Use of the same cooling element in each mode provides and use of return air from the building to mix with incoming fresh air and cool the heat dissipating element of the cooling system make for efficient operation. Controls of the system are operable to change a mixture ratio of the fresh atmospheric air and circulating return air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Abdulrahman Abdulkader Mohammed Fakieh
  • Patent number: 9182166
    Abstract: A climate controller device may be configured to perform operations including comparing an outside air temperature to a threshold temperature; selecting, based on the comparison, one of a function to determine target compressor off setpoint values for relatively lower temperatures and a function to determine target compressor off setpoint values for relatively higher temperatures; retrieving a value according to the selection function to determine target compressor off setpoint values, the value specifying a compressor off setpoint value corresponding to airflow configuration settings; and determining a target compressor off setpoint value based at least in part on the retrieved value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Alan Wong, Debasish Dhar, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Tina Maurer
  • Patent number: 9038405
    Abstract: A control system to selectively control the operation of the compressor of a mini-split air conditioning system including at least one remote evaporator operatively coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant therethrough, a sensor to monitor the operation of the evaporator and to generate an operating control signal to turn-off the compressor when a predetermined operating condition is sensed at the evaporator and a condensate drain pan to receive or catch condensate from the evaporator, the control system comprising a condensate sensor disposed to sense condensate in the condensate drain pan at a predetermined level and to generate a condensate level signal fed to a battery powered control device including an isolated solid state relay coupled to the sensor by a control coupling device to generate a condensate level control signal fed to the sensor causing the sensor to generate the operating control signal fed to turn off the compressor when condensate within the condensate drain pan reaches the prede
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: THE RECTORSEAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Cantolino, Mark Oudshoorn, Robert Dean Sells
  • Patent number: 9021818
    Abstract: Device for cool drying comprising a heat exchanger (2) whose primary part is the vaporizer (3) of a cooling circuit (4) which also includes a compressor (6) driven by a motor (5), a control device (16) for this motor (5) and measuring device (17) for the lowest air temperature (LAT), measuring device (18) for the ambient temperature (Tamb) and a flow meter (19), whereby this control device (16) can be at least switched in a first user mode in which the cooling circuit (4) is only activated when the gas flow exceeds a preset value and a second user mode in which the lowest air temperature (LAT) is maintained within a certain range by controlling the cooling circuit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventors: Monica Dalla Valle, Wouter Denis Ann Van Dijck
  • Patent number: 8997507
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a low energy defrost system and method for melting frost formed on an evaporator of a cooling system for the refrigerator. The low energy defrost system includes using air from the refrigerator compartment or external air adjacent the refrigerator to be directed to the evaporator and passed adjacent the evaporator coils to melt any frost formed thereon. As the air is above freezing temperature, it will melt any frost formed on the coils without the need of use an electrical heater. Re-cooled air from the melted frost may then be directed back into the refrigerator compartment to be used to aid in cooling the refrigerator compartment or keeping the refrigerator compartment at the programmed or predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick J. Boarman
  • Patent number: 8984902
    Abstract: A cooling system for an appliance includes an evaporator stage, a compressor stage coupled to the evaporator stage and a condenser stage coupled to the compressor stage. The condenser stage includes a condenser and a condenser cooling fan for cooling the condenser, and a condenser loop coupled between the condenser stage and the evaporator stage. A humidity sensor is configured to detect a humidity level in an area of the cooling system and a controller is configured to cycle an operating state of the condenser cooling fan from ON to a low speed or OFF prior to an end of a cooling cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Eric Paez, Joseph Thomas Waugh, Kristin Marie Weirich
  • Patent number: 8973381
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to manage operation of the compressor during a cooling operation that provides temperature reduction of air flowing across heat transferring portions of the evaporator. The controller further manages operation of the compressor in a moisture releasing operation in response to termination of the cooling operation. The moisture releasing operation includes, for example, finite operation of the compressor that retards release of moisture from the heat transferring portions of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 8961708
    Abstract: A condensate management system for an air conditioning condensate drainage system is provided. The condensate management system may comprise an inlet and an outlet; a primary condensate flow path from the inlet to the outlet; a check valve disposed along the primary condensate flow path; a flush path from the inlet to the outlet; a pump coupled to the flush path; and a logic panel configured to actuate the pump to a flushing mode. The check valve may be configured to allow fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. When the logic panel is configured to actuate the pump to the flushing mode, the pump is configured to exert a negative pressure at the inlet and a positive pressure at the outlet. Other system and methods to flush a condensate drain system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Plexaire, LLC
    Inventors: Stewart Kaiser, William G. Williams
  • Patent number: 8959934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supercooling system and a method for displaying a supercooled state which can accurately display a supercooled state of a stored object in spite of the external influence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Won-Young Chung
  • Patent number: 8875528
    Abstract: A test chamber that is capable of operating in a mode where the temperature of the chamber is efficiently cooled without removing a substantial amount of moisture from the air. In one aspect, the test chamber includes a structure defining a work space having air, and a temperature control system (e.g., a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator valve). The temperature control system includes a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) positioned to communicate with the air in the work space, a source of cold fluid (e.g., a compressed, condensed, and throttled refrigerant) coupled to the heat exchanger, a source of hot fluid (e.g., compressed refrigerant gas) coupled to the heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling a mixture of cold fluid and hot fluid entering the heat exchanger (e.g., by adjusting a cold fluid valve and/or a hot fluid valve).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: Darin E. Immink, Clinton A. Peterson, Andrew R. Veldt
  • Publication number: 20140298837
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus which can ensure a dehumidifying ability even during an intermediate thermal load time where an outside air temperature becomes high during a dehumidifying heating operation time. In a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus, at least a compressor 6, a first heat exchanger 2, a first refrigerant control part 9 which is formed by connecting a first expansion device 7 and a first open/close valve 8 in parallel to each other, a vehicle exterior heat exchanger 4, a second refrigerant control part 13 which is formed by connecting a second expansion device 12 and a second open/close valve 11 in series, and a second heat exchanger 3 are connected in the preceding order in a loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tanda, Hiroyuki Ida
  • Patent number: 8840729
    Abstract: An air conditioning drain cleaning system with an automated blow-out cycle to clean out an evaporator pan drain pipe. The system has a pneumatic valve assembly, a controller, a float level switch assembly and a plurality of air lines in a manifold for actuating the pneumatic valve assembly and blowing out the drain pipe. The controller directs the system to initiate or repeat a blow-out cycle until the drain pipe is clear. The pneumatic valve assembly bisects the drain pipe to selectively close the pipe for cleaning with a pair of high pressure air shots, one shot toward each pipe end to dislodge a clog. The float level switch assembly signals the controller if the condensate level in the drain pan drops. If the condensate level does not drop, the controller initiates a further blow-out cycle at increased pressures until the line is clear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Herren, Douglas Comeaux
  • Publication number: 20140260360
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a sensor coupled to a case adjacent an air inlet. The sensor is in communication with a portion of a refrigerated airflow passing through the air inlet to sense a temperature of the airflow and to generate a signal indicative of an air return temperature. The merchandiser also includes a controller in communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the air return temperature, the controller further in communication with a conductive film on a door and programmed to initiate a clearing interval to clear condensation from the door in response to the signal indicative of the air return temperature reaching a first predetermined temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventor: John M. Rasch
  • Patent number: 8813510
    Abstract: A freezer with an outer and inner housing, wherein the inner housing has a cooling space and a trough-shaped configuration on its bottom. There is a channel in the trough-shaped configuration to capture dew water and/or condensation water. A refrigerant circuit including a compressor and evaporator lines is operably connected to the cooling space of the inner housing. The evaporator lines of the refrigerant circuit run around the cooling space and are attached to at least one sidewall of the inner housing. The evaporator lines are located in the space between the inner and outer housing with the lowermost evaporation line adjacent to the lowermost portion of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: AHT Cooling Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhold Resch
  • Patent number: 8806878
    Abstract: An insulator includes a step portion in a region where a sealing material support portion of a first division part comes into contact with a sealing material support portion of a second division part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Shintaro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20140216705
    Abstract: An automatic climate controller device may be configured to perform operations including identifying, by an automatic climate controller device, an operating zone of the climate control system according to at least two input factors; identifying a discharge temperature of the climate control system; determining, based on the operating zone and the discharge temperature, whether to perform at least one override action to override a climate control system setting to reduce the possibility of evaporator core icing; and adjusting an evaporator set point according to the at least one override action to reduce the discharge temperature. The input factors may include evaporator temperature and cabin relative humidity. The actions may include to increase blower speed and to increase use of recirculated air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Dage, Steven L. Lambert
  • Patent number: 8794018
    Abstract: A system for preventing icing in a conduit, as can occur in an aircraft's air conditioning system, includes at least one sensor for acquiring mechanical oscillations of the conduits, an electronic evaluation unit and an electronic control unit. The sensor is connected to the electronic evaluation unit, which knows characteristics relating to the oscillation behavior of the conduit and is equipped to compare the measured conduit oscillations with these characteristics, and through correlation to interpret them as conduit icing, and in the case of conduit icing to emit a signal to the control unit. If the operation-associated oscillations are inadequate, oscillations can be generated or amplified through an actuator. With this system an icing state within the conduit can be detected without the use of sensors located in the interior cross section of the conduit, which itself serves as a sensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Gleine
  • Patent number: 8798449
    Abstract: A conduit (51) for a condensate removal pump is disclosed comprising a tubular member (47) having a profiled rim (53, 54) at a distal end, profiled such that only a portion of the rim lies in a plane located at the extreme distal end of the tubular member perpendicular to the axis of the tubular. A resilient membrane (52) which has a slit extends across the interior of the tubular member and is arranged to open, to allow water to pass, when water is drawn through the conduit. A combined sensor and suction tube assembly (50) is also disclosed comprising a tube (55), a self heating thermistor (56) coupled to the tube, and a relay means (69) to relay an operational parameter of the self heating thermistor, indicative of the presence of water, to a condensate removal pump. The combined sensor and suction tube assembly is sized to fit within a pipe having an inner diameter of 20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Charles Austen Pumps Limited
    Inventor: Brian Howard Glover
  • Patent number: 8783049
    Abstract: A cooling system for a data center in which equipment racks are disposed has a cooling unit and a controller coupled to the cooling unit. The cooling system includes temperature sensors at or near the cooling unit's air return inlet, at or near the cooling unit's air supply outlet, and at or near the equipment racks air inlet(s). The controller measures these temperatures. A relative humidity sensor is located at or near the air return inlet of the cooling unit. The relative humidity where the relative humidity sensor is located is measured by the controller using the relative humidity sensor. The controller calculates the dew point temperature from the temperature sensor and relative humidity. Using this dew point, which is essentially constant throughout the space being conditioned, and the temperatures from the other locations, the controller then calculates the relative humidity at each location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Jason Gloeckner, David V. Larson
  • Patent number: 8783054
    Abstract: A counter flow indirect evaporative heat exchanger (10) having vertically stacked alternate counter flow wet (14) and dry (12) passages where the wet passages are wetted during operation of the heat exchanger by wetting means (50, 52, 53, 54, 70, 72, 74, 76) travelling vertically of the stack. Elongately wetting of a small plurality of the total number of passages (14, 12) of the heat exchanger (10) occurs at a time during vertical travel of the wetting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: F.F. Seeley Nominees Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert William Gilbert