Compensating Or Modifying Patents (Class 62/209)
  • Patent number: 11761698
    Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aniket R. Kalambe, Walter R. Lowrimore, Neil D. Hurt, Michael Andrews, Randy Foster
  • Patent number: 11441828
    Abstract: A method of operating a chiller having a closed refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The refrigerant used in the loop defining a pressure-enthalpy curve representative of different phases (vapor, liquid and vapor, and liquid) of the refrigerant at different combinations of pressure and enthalpy. The loop defining a process cycle (compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation) of the refrigerant during operation of the loop relative to the pressure-enthalpy curve of the refrigerant. The method including continuously operating the compressor when a segment of the process cycle corresponds to the refrigerant being in the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Jeb W. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 11150012
    Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigerator includes: controlling a cooling unit such that an output of the cooling unit becomes a first reference output for a first reference time previously determined; controlling the cooling unit such that the output of the cooling unit becomes a second reference output for a second reference time previously determined; calculating a representative value of a temperature of a storage compartment for an operating period, which is made by a sum of the first reference time and the second reference time, and comparing the calculated representative value with a specific temperature in a temperature satisfying range of the storage compartment; and varying, by a control unit, at least one of the first reference time and the second reference time depending on a comparison result between the specific temperature and the representative value and controlling operating of the cooling unit based on a varied reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seunguk Ahn, Sunam Chae, Kyungseok Kim
  • Patent number: 10981434
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system and a method for operating that vehicle air-conditioning system in dependence on the difference between the temperature of the engine coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and the temperature of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger are provided. The measured or estimated temperatures of the coolant at the inlet into the heating heat exchanger and of the air at the outlet out of the heating heat exchanger are checked to determine whether their values indicate fault states of components of the air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Sandra Krolewski, Dietmar Fischer, Klaus Schuermanns
  • Patent number: 10962009
    Abstract: A system and method for a compressor includes a compressor connected to a condenser, a discharge line temperature sensor that outputs a discharge line temperature signal corresponding to a discharge line temperature of refrigerant leaving the compressor, and a control module connected to the discharge line temperature sensor. The control module determines a saturated condenser temperature, calculates a discharge superheat temperature based on the saturated condenser temperature and the discharge line temperature, and monitors a flood back condition of the compressor by comparing the discharge superheat temperature with a predetermined threshold. The control module increases a speed of the compressor when the discharge superheat temperature is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M. Pham, Stephen M. Seibel
  • Patent number: 10955177
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a control method for the same, the air conditioner including an air conditioning unit including a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger; and a controller configured to obtain enthalpy of a refrigerant flowing in the air conditioning unit, obtain an air conditioning capacity using a circulation amount of the refrigerant and the obtained enthalpy of the refrigerant, obtain efficiency based on the obtained air conditioning capacity and supplied power, and control the air conditioning unit according to the obtained efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Jin Yoon, Je Hyeon Lee, Tae Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 10907635
    Abstract: An electric compressor may include: a housing part having a refrigerant inlet through which refrigerant is introduced; a boss part formed in the housing part, having a bearing installed therein to support a rotating shaft, and guiding the refrigerant to the bearing; a guide part formed in the housing part, and inducing the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant inlet toward the boss part, while delaying the movement of the refrigerant; and a heating part mounted in the housing part, and configured to provide heat to the guide part in order to heat the refrigerant moved to the boss part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hae Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 10816248
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a use-side heat exchanger are connected by pipes to allow refrigerant to be circuited as a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a controller which controls an operation of each of devices. The controller sets an operation mode to a specific operation mode for determining where abnormality occurs based on states of the compressor, the heat-source-side heat exchanger, the decompressor and the use-side heat exchanger in the case where an operating state of one of a plurality of element devices to be controlled by the controller is changed from a first state to a second state, the element devices being included in the compressor, the heat-source-side heat exchanger, the decompressor and the use-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Ochiai
  • Patent number: 10684046
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a compressor; a condenser; an expansion valve; an evaporator; and a control device. The compressor compresses refrigerant. The condenser condenses the refrigerant output from the compressor. The expansion valve decompresses the refrigerant output from the condenser. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant output from the expansion valve for output to the compressor. In the case of stopping the compressor, the control device executes control for increasing a degree of superheat of the refrigerant output from the evaporator to the compressor, and then stops the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Ishiyama, Yusuke Shimazu, Satoru Yanachi
  • Patent number: 10495351
    Abstract: A two-stage pressure buildup refrigeration cycle apparatus has a low-pressure side compressor, a high-pressure side compressor, and a controller. The controller controls, for improving a COP, the low-pressure side compressor and the high-pressure side compressor in a COP improving operation mode in which a refrigerant discharge capacity of one of the low-pressure side compressor and the high-pressure side compressor is set based on a refrigerant discharge capacity of an other of the low-pressure side compressor and the high-pressure side compressor, when a required level of a refrigeration performance is low. The controller controls the low-pressure side compressor and the high-pressure side compressor in a high performance operation mode in which a refrigerant discharge capacity of the high-pressure side compressor is increased after increasing a refrigerant discharge capacity of the low-pressure side compressor, when the required level of the refrigeration performance is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10393419
    Abstract: A controller, at least during the heating operation, controls the opening degree of a second expansion device and/or a third expansion device based on a discharge refrigerant temperature detected by a discharge refrigerant temperature detector, or a value computed using the discharge refrigerant temperature, and causes refrigerant having a quality equal to or greater than 0.9 and less than or equal to 0.99 to be suctioned into a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ishimura, Koji Yamashita, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka, Fumihiko Ishizono
  • Patent number: 9991835
    Abstract: A control device for an electric compressor, capable of successfully controlling a drive motor of the compressor in response to the load fluctuation having complicated frequency components even when the motor is controlled in a sensorless manner, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION, UTSUNOMIYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kensuke Osamura, Yousuke Ooneda, Mitsuo Hirata, Naoya Tashiro
  • Patent number: 9958916
    Abstract: A temperature management system includes: a first temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a heat generation component in an electronic device; a cooling apparatus configured to circulate air in the electronic device and to cool the heat generation component; a second temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of air flowing in the electronic device; a parameter setting unit configured to set a target value of the temperature of the heat generation component; and a control unit. The control unit calculates a predicted value of a future temperature of the heat generation component based on the outputs of the first temperature detection unit and the second temperature detection unit, and the power consumption of the electronic device, and determines a manipulated variable of the cooling apparatus based on the predicted value and the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Endo, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Masao Kondo
  • Patent number: 9869499
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting in real-time a refrigerant charge loss in a refrigerant vapor compression system. If both a sensed evaporator outlet superheat exceeds a target evaporator outlet superheat by at least a preset amount of superheat and a sensed degree of openness of an electronic expansion valve exceeds a preset degree of openness for a preset time of period, and a sensed air temperature of either a flow of supply air having traversed the evaporator or a flow of return air returning to the evaporator is changing at a rate less than preset air temperature rate of change, a service alarm is generated indicating a loss of charge warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lucy Yi Liu, Jian Sun
  • Patent number: 9827867
    Abstract: An electric powered vehicle includes: a motor; an inverter configured to convert electric power from a battery to drive the motor; a transmission configured to shift the rotation output of the motor at a variable transmission gear ratio; and a controller configured to control the inverter to control the driving of the motor and to control a change in the shift gear stage, and to perform high surge region avoidance control for changing the gear ratio of the transmission to change a motor rotation speed while maintaining a vehicle speed and changing an operation point outside a high surge region, when the operation point of the motor enters the high surge region where the inverter is controlled by a PWM overmodulation control system, and the high surge region is defined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined rotation speed and equal to or less than predetermined torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiko Miyamoto, Masaya Yamamoto, Toshinori Okochi, Takeshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9753455
    Abstract: A controller for a building management system is configured to analyze faults in the building management system. The controller detects a fault in the building management system by evaluating data of building management system using a system of rules. The controller determines a conditional probability for each of a plurality of possible fault causes given the detected fault. The controller determines the most likely fault cause by comparing the determined probabilities and electronically reports the most likely fault cause.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kirk H. Drees
  • Patent number: 9732758
    Abstract: A control device, applied to a fan, including a first temperature sensing circuit, a second temperature sensing circuit and a driving circuit. The first temperature sensing circuit is arranged to output an enable signal when the temperature is higher than a first threshold temperature. The driving circuit is enabled by the enable signal, and arranged to output a driving signal with a first driving voltage level to drive the fan. The second temperature sensing circuit is arranged to adjust the driving signal output by the driving circuit from the first driving voltage level to a second driving voltage level so as to adjust the rotation speed of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ACCTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Guo-Siang Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9714646
    Abstract: A capacity control valve includes: intake-side passages connecting an intake chamber that takes in fluid and a control chamber; a pressure-sensitive chamber formed midway along the intake-side passages; a liquid-refrigerant discharge valve that receives the pressure of the control chamber to open and close the intake-side passages; a pressure-sensitive body placed in the pressure-sensitive chamber, which extends to apply a biasing force to the liquid-refrigerant discharge valve in the direction of closing the valve, while contracting as the ambient pressure increases; and a solenoid that applies an electromagnetic drive force to control the main valve; wherein the pressure-sensitive body is supported on one side by the driving rod of the solenoid in a manner permitting relative motion, while connected on the other side to the liquid-refrigerant discharge valve, wherein the discharge valve structure and discharge flow passages for discharging liquid refrigerant are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Shirafuji, Toshinori Kanzaki, Naoki Nishimura, Hideki Higashidozono
  • Patent number: 9618247
    Abstract: A system supplies a fluid to an evaporator of a refrigeration unit and has first and second lines connected to a fluid inlet of the evaporator. The system has an expansion valve with a continuously modifiable first flow cross section, disposed in the first line, the continuously modifiable first flow cross section setting a first mass flow through the first line. A shut-off device is disposed in the second line and switchable discretely between an open position and a closed position. A throttle with a constant second flow cross section is disposed in the second line. A control unit continuously modifies the first flow cross section of the expansion valve and controls the shut-off device as a function of the first flow cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alexander Jekimow, Karl-Heinz Petry, Giuseppe Tramaglino
  • Patent number: 9541317
    Abstract: A container refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit configured to perform a refrigeration cycle and including a main circuit in which a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator are connected together in this order, and a hot gas bypass circuit in which compressed refrigerant of the compressor is supplied to the evaporator by bypassing the condenser and the expansion valve; and a compressor control section configured to, in a defrosting operation in which the compressed refrigerant of the compressor returns to the compressor through the hot gas bypass circuit and the evaporator and the evaporator is defrosted, control an operating speed of the compressor such that a pressure of the compressed refrigerant of the compressor reaches a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokohara, Yuusuke Fujimoto, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9433948
    Abstract: A centrifuge including a temperature sensor measuring ambient temperature is provided. Centrifugation operation is available or not is determined in accordance with a type of a rotor, the ambient temperature, or operation conditions set by a user. When it is inoperable, a display device displays that it is inoperable so as to invite the user to select necessity of modification of the operation conditions. Upon the display, modified operation conditions which are candidates of operable operation conditions are displayed to let the user select a candidate. To operate under the selected setting operation conditions, the display device displays that the operation is working under modified conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Kusumoto, Tatsuya Konno, Ryou Murayama, Yuki Hodotsuka, Yuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9412328
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of controls for heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a control for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system includes an alphanumeric display and one or more input device. A processor of the control is configured to receive a user input through the input device(s), and in response to the user input, reorient a display of a message relative to the alphanumeric display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: David L. Vie, Michael J. Moran, John J. Heller
  • Patent number: 9340090
    Abstract: An air conditioning control apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle having a travel battery that supplies an electric power to a travel driving source, a battery charger that charges the travel battery with a power supply, and an air conditioner that conducts air conditioning in a vehicle interior, controls the air conditioner. When pre-air conditioning is implemented in a state where the battery charger is connected to the power supply, an inrush current generated in a short time when an operation of the air conditioner starts is absorbed by both of power feeding from the power supply and power feeding from the travel battery, and after the inrush current has been absorbed, the air conditioner operates by only the power feeding from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 9316423
    Abstract: A container refrigeration apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which performs a refrigeration cycle, and includes a main circuit sequentially connecting a compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve and an evaporator, and a hot gas bypass circuit through which a refrigerant compressed in the compressor bypasses the condenser and the main expansion valve to flow into the evaporator; and a compressor control section which controls operating speed of rotation of the compressor during heating operation for heating inside of a container by the evaporator while returning the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the compressor through the hot gas bypass circuit and the evaporator so that a temperature inside the container reaches a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokohara, Yuusuke Fujimoto, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9259992
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner control system has an air conditioning device has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, a compressor running rate control device, a deceleration fuel cutoff executing device, and a fuel supply recovery executing device that cancels cutoff of fuel supply and recovers fuel supply at a higher vehicle speed during vehicle deceleration fuel cutoff period with air-conditioner ON than during vehicle deceleration fuel cutoff period with air-conditioner OFF. The compressor running rate control device increases the compressor running rate for a predetermined period just before a fuel supply recovery time with air-condition ON during the deceleration fuel cutoff period more than during non-execution of the deceleration fuel cutoff, and subsequently decreases the compressor running rate at or just before the fuel supply recovery time with air-condition ON equal to or less than during non-practice of the deceleration fuel cutoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yugo Motegi, Tadashi Iwamoto, Takashi Watanabe, Tetsuya Fuke, Tetsuya Furumaya
  • Patent number: 9127875
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a storage compartment. An evaporator cools the storage compartment. A defrost heater is associated with the evaporator. A temperature sensor senses an evaporator temperature and generates a temperature signal based on the evaporator temperature. A controller receives the temperature signal and generates a defrost heater power control signal. A power supply receives the defrost heater power control signal and controls a power level supplied to the defrost heater based on the defrost heater power control signal. A first power level is supplied to the defrost heater during a first heating interval of a defrosting operation, and, based on an evaporator temperature rise occurring during the first heating interval, the controller adjusts the defrost heater power control signal such that an adjusted power level is supplied to the defrost heater during a second heating interval of the defrosting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: David L. Hall
  • Patent number: 9029015
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode. The anode includes a capacitive material as a majority component, and further includes an electrochemically active material as a minority component, such that an operating potential of the anode is configured according to a reaction potential of the electrochemically active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Mauro Pasta, Colin Wessells, Robert A. Huggins, Yi Cui
  • Patent number: 8569989
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) fan controller is used for an electronic device. The PWM fan controller includes a number of PWM signal generators, a number of PWM signal output elements, and a control unit. The control unit includes a number of outputs. An input of each PWM signal generator is electrically connected to a corresponding output of the control unit. An input of each PWM signal output element is electrically connected to an output of a corresponding PWM signal generator. An output of each PWM signal output element is electrically connected to a corresponding fan of the electronic device. The control unit is configured to control the PWM signal generators to sequentially generate a PWM signal to drive a corresponding fan to rotate in a preset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 8463441
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a refrigeration system having an operating point, comprising: a memory configured to store a relationship of at least an evaporator efficiency, an evaporator heat load, a refrigerant amount in the evaporator, and a variable dependent on a non-volatile liquid mixed with refrigerant in the evaporator an input port configured to receive a signal corresponding to at least a measured evaporator heat load during operation; an output port configured to present an output to selectively alter an operating point of the evaporator, by altering the refrigerant amount in the evaporator and thereby changing the variable; and a processor, configured to receive the signal, access the memory; and generate the output to selectively move toward an optimum operating point. A corresponding method and refrigeration system are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hudson Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Zugibe, Riyaz Papar
  • Patent number: 8387890
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus to provide thermal management control. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by a control mechanism, a plurality of temperature representative signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, receiving a command signal from the control mechanism by an output weighting matrix mechanism, and controlling at least one thermal cooling device with at least one weighted output signal from the output weighting matrix mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Crocker, Tod Byquist
  • Patent number: 8336324
    Abstract: A turbo chiller equipped with a high-efficiency two-stage turbo compressor is provided. In a turbo chiller including a control unit for controlling the degrees of opening of first inlet guide vanes of a first impeller and second inlet guide vanes of a second impeller, the control unit has a slave mode in which the second inlet guide vanes are operated so as to be dependent on the first inlet guide vanes in a slave-mode priority region, and an independent mode in which the degree of opening of the second inlet guide vanes is increased independently of the first inlet guide vanes in an independent-mode priority region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ueda, Yoshinori Shirakata
  • Patent number: 8322155
    Abstract: A method of calculating net sensible cooling capacity of a cooling unit includes measuring a discharge pressure from of fluid from a compressor and a suction pressure from an evaporator, calculating a condensing temperature of fluid flowing from the compressor and an evaporating temperature of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing from the compressor, calculating enthalpy of fluid flowing from the compressor, of fluid flowing from the thermal expansion valve, and of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing through the hot gas bypass valve, and calculating net sensible cooling capacity. Embodiments of cooling units and other methods are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Ozan Tutunoglu, John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8316926
    Abstract: An arrangement for use in connection with an air handling unit includes a controller and a processing circuit. The controller is configured to control a device within an air handler unit, which includes at least a first coil. The processing circuit is configured to receive first information representative of a maximum liquid flow rate through the first coil and second information representative of a maximum air flow rate of the first coil. The processing circuit is further configured to generate a time constant estimate, based on the first information and second information, for use in the controller in performing control of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Cybernation Group Inc.
    Inventors: George Shu-Xing Cheng, Osman Ahmed, William Thomas Pienta
  • Patent number: 8191793
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus to provide thermal management control. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by a control mechanism, a plurality of temperature representative signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, receiving a command signal from the control mechanism by an output weighting matrix mechanism, and controlling at least one thermal cooling device with at least one weighted output signal from the output weighting matrix mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tod A. Byquist, Michael T. Crocker
  • Patent number: 8156757
    Abstract: A high efficiency, low maintenance single stage or multi-stage centrifugal compressor assembly for large cooling installations. The assembly is highly efficient by virtue of a variable frequency drive (VFD) that drives a permanent magnet motor and matches compressor speed with compressor load, a direct drive impeller that eliminates gearing losses, and magnetic bearings that reduce frictional losses. The back-emf produced by the motor provides an intermediate power source for the magnetic bearings in the event of a loss of electrical power. A cooling system provides direct cooling of the rotor with gas refrigerant, and cooling of the stator with liquid refrigerant. Modular construction allows the compressor to be retrofit with upgrades. An inlet guide vane system operates without need for oil lubrication. The use of light metal castings and elimination of gearing reduces the weight to one-third or less of comparably powered conventional units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: AFF-McQuay Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Doty, Earl A. Campaigne, Jr., Thomas E. Watson, Paul K. Butler, Quentin E. Cline, Samuel J. Showalter
  • Patent number: 8132421
    Abstract: There is provided a turbo chiller that can be operated at high efficiency within an adequate chilling capacity range even when the cooling water temperature changes during the operation. The adequate chilling capacity range is obtained by using a flow coefficient and a pressure coefficient at a specific operating point of a turbo compressor as well as a predetermined coefficient to determine an arithmetic expression representing the relationship between a head and a chilling capacity, using a chilling capacity that can lead to a substantially highest coefficient of performance at a single head to obtain the predetermined coefficient as an optimum coefficient, computing an adequate operation coefficient range having a predetermined range and including the optimum coefficient, and substituting the adequate operation coefficient range and a head at the time of operation into the arithmetic expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 8087258
    Abstract: An air conditioner is arranged so as to be able to accurately judge a refrigerant filling state within the air conditioner regardless of environmental and installation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Toyoshima, Kousuke Tanaka, Kouji Yamashita, Osamu Morimoto, Fumitake Unezaki
  • Patent number: 8046107
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing refrigerant to a liquid, an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant from the condenser to a gas, an inner control loop for optimizing a supply of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, and an outer control loop for optimizing a level of refrigerant in the evaporator, said outer control loop defining a supply rate for said inner control loop based on an optimization including measurement of evaporator performance, and said inner control loop optimizing liquid refrigerant supply based on said defined supply rate. Independent variables, such as proportion of oil in refrigerant, amount of refrigerant, contaminants, non-condensibles, scale and other deposits on heat transfer surfaces, may be estimated or measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hudson Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Zugibe, Riyaz Papar
  • Patent number: 8042348
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided in which an integrated controller 10 controls the compressor for compressing a refrigerant and at least one constituent device which is a separate device from the compressor and that constitutes a refrigerant circulation circuit together with the compressor. The integrated controller 10 has a control data generation unit 16 that controls the compressor using a compressor sensor for detecting a first physical value, which is a physical value of the refrigerant at the time of normal operations, and an abnormality detection unit 13 for detecting an abnormality of the compressor sensor. The control data generation unit 16 controls the compressor using a constituent device sensor for detecting a second physical value that is a physical value having a close correlation with the first physical value in place of the compressor sensor when the abnormality was detected by the abnormality detection unit 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Nishikawa, Atsushi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8011597
    Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC system to more effectively cool a vehicle cabin when the solar azimuth is large. A solar azimuth, an outside air temperature, a set temperature, a cabin temperature, and an ignition time are communicated to a controller that determines how to best operate the HVAC system. When the vehicle has only been running for a short period of time, the cabin temperature is elevated, and the solar azimuth is large, the measured solar azimuth is corrected to a corrected solar azimuth. The corrected solar azimuth is smaller than the measured solar azimuth and yields a large sun temperature. The controller then calculates a TAO based upon the large sun temperature and the TAO is used to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: John Phillippo
  • Patent number: 7987679
    Abstract: By studying or storing refrigerating cycle characteristics of an air conditioning apparatus at the normal time and comparing them with refrigerating cycle characteristics acquired from the air conditioning apparatus at the time of operation, it becomes possible to exactly and accurately diagnose normality or abnormality of the air conditioning apparatus under any installation conditions and environmental conditions, which eliminates operations of inputting a difference between apparatus model names, a piping length, a height difference, etc at the time of apparatus installation. Accordingly, it aims at shortening the time of judging normality or abnormality, and improving the operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Tanaka, Kouji Yamashita, Yasunori Shida, Masahumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 7866172
    Abstract: Vapor compression air conditioning systems are provided with a flow restrictor for transferring working fluid to and from at least one of the compressor low pressure inlet conduit and compressor high pressure outlet conduit to provide for accurate charge adjustment to achieve predetermined fluid sub-cooling. Pressure and temperature measurements are taken at a condenser fluid outlet conduit and provided to a microcontroller for determining fluid sub-cooling and comparing sub-cooling with a predetermined target sub-cooling. A charge addition or recovery apparatus may include a solenoid valve controlled by the microcontroller to more accurately control the addition or recovery of refrigerant fluid charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan David Douglas, James Thomas Schaefer, Jr., Gregory F. Walters
  • Patent number: 7849703
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, when a passenger set temperature of a vehicle compartment is changed through an operation portion by a passenger, a storage portion updates a value of a control set temperature corresponding to a predetermined point of a detection area at a time of the changing operation to a value of the changed passenger set temperature, and stores therein the value of the updated temperature. Furthermore, when the detection point is not any one of the predetermined points, a control portion interpolates and calculates a control set temperature corresponding to the detection point from the control set temperature stored in the predetermined point of the detection area and the control set temperature stored in the predetermined point of a surrounding area around the detection area, and then controls the air-conditioning state in the vehicle compartment based on the interpolated and calculated control set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroyuki Tomita, Yasufumi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7845183
    Abstract: A controller includes a first input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a compressor, a second input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a variable speed condenser fan, a third input that receives a signal indicating an ambient temperature, a fourth input that receives a signal indicating a condenser temperature, an output that provides a control signal to the variable speed condenser fan, a memory that stores a temperature difference set-point, and a processor in communication with the inputs, the output and the memory. The processor calculates a difference between the ambient temperature and the condenser temperature, compares the difference with the temperature difference set-point, controls the variable speed condenser fan based on the comparison, monitors the energy consumption values, and modulates the temperature difference set-point to minimize energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Frank C. Brown, III, Ozgur Y. Gurkan
  • Patent number: 7832221
    Abstract: A vehicle compressor is controlled based on an environment parameter and a vehicle status parameter. In at least one embodiment, a temperature control system for a vehicle including an engine is provided. The system includes a compressor having a target operating speed. The system also includes an environment sensor arrangement configured to sense an environment parameter and a vehicle status sensor arrangement configured to sense a vehicle status parameter. The system further includes a control module that determines a maximum operating speed of the compressor as a function of both the environment parameter and the vehicle status parameter. The control module limits an operating speed of the compressor to the maximum operating speed if the target operating speed is greater than the maximum operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Halim Wijaya, Gary Dage, Wayne Buescher, Christopher Greiner, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 7788938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating a coolant circuit (2) of a vehicle air conditioning system (4). According to said method, a target value (SW(VT)) for an evaporator temperature (VT) is predetermined in a base control circuit. Said value is used to determine a control value (U) for controlling the evaporator temperature (VT) by means of an evaporator temperature regulator (16). Said control value is also fed to a ventilator fan controller (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Baruschke, Armin Britsch-Laudwein, Karl Lochmahr
  • Patent number: 7762093
    Abstract: A variable capacity air conditioner compressor is controlled by setting a car target indoor temperature; sensing car indoor and outdoor temperatures and solar radiation with sensors at predetermined car positions; calculating a vent target discharge temperature using the target temperature, sensed car temperatures and solar radiation; calculating a target evaporator temperature and blower voltage based on target discharge temperature; calculating a control duty based on the target evaporator temperature; calculating target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; determining whether or not the compressor conies under a sudden variable condition based on the control duty, and target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; and setting a control duty change rate maximum value to an accelerative slew rate greater than and equal to a basic slew rate when sudden and not sudden variable conditions are respectively determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hoon Lee, Young-Kil Kim, Tae-Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7735329
    Abstract: A control device for an air-conditioning system of a vehicle comprises an evaporator, a compressor with externally controlled variable displacement, and an expansion valve. The control device comprises a control block that receives a reference temperature indicating a desired temperature of the air downstream of the evaporator, and an effective temperature of the air present downstream of the evaporator. The control device-supplies a control signal for the compressor to bring the effective temperature substantially equal to the reference temperature. An observer module receives the control signal and supplies a temperature disturbance indicating an estimate of the oscillatory effect generated by an expansion valve on the temperature of air downstream of the evaporator when a compressor is driven by the control signal. An adder block removes from the effective temperature the temperature disturbance so as to eliminate the oscillatory effect on the effective temperature downstream of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefania Martini, Maria Laura Parodi, Carloandrea Malvicino
  • Patent number: 7490479
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus to provide thermal management control. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by a control mechanism, a plurality of temperature representative signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, receiving a command signal from the control mechanism by an output weighting matrix mechanism, and controlling at least one thermal cooling device with at least one weighted output signal from the output weighting matrix mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tod A. Byquist, Michael T. Crocker
  • Patent number: 7448226
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigerating cycle sequentially connecting a compressor, a condenser, a drawing mechanism, and evaporator, an accumulator, an inlet temperature sensor and an outlet temperature sensor for detecting the temperatures of the inlet and outlet of the evaporator, and a cooling fan for cooling the compressor. When the difference between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is a predetermined value or more, the cooling fan is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Yamashita, Yasushi Takagi, Susumu Saruta, Munehiro Horie, Tsutomu Sakuma