Air Compressor, Cooler And Expander Type Patents (Class 62/401)
-
Patent number: 6594917Abstract: A shoe (1) having an active air-conditioning device (2) for maintaining the temperature inside the shoe (1) at a value selectively above or below the temperature of the outside environment. The air-conditioning device(20) is integrated in the sole (3) of the shoe (1), and comprises a main heat exchanger (4) for exchanging heat with the inside of the shoe (1), and air compressing device (5) for feeding a pressurized air stream to the main heat exchanger (4), an auxiliary heat exchanger (10) located between the air compressing device (5) and the main heat exchanger (4) to reduce the temperature of the pressurized air stream, an expansion valve (11) located immediately downstream from the auxiliary heat exchanger (10) to rapidly expand and so cool the pressurized air stream, and a bypass conduit (12) with a relative on-off valve (13), for connecting the main heat exchanger (4) directly to the air compressing device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Inventors: Bruno Ricco′, Domenico Valori
-
Publication number: 20030126879Abstract: A cabin air temperature control system includes cooling recirculated air. A first air circuit includes an intake that receives air from outside the cabin and then conditions the air to bring it closer to a desired cabin temperature before the air is introduced into the cabin. A second air circuit recirculates air from the cabin and then reintroduces it back into the cabin. The second circuit includes an air cooling assembly, comprising a heat exchanger, that is selectively used to cool the recirculated air before it is reintroduced into the cabin. A bypass flow arrangement is provided to selectively direct the recirculated air through the air cooling assembly or to simply recirculate it back into the cabin depending on the current temperature adjustment needs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Gregory Defrancesco, Thomas Zywiak
-
Publication number: 20030110782Abstract: A system for providing refrigeration to a chemical processing operation wherein a refrigerant fluid is compressed and cooled, and a portion turboexpanded prior to being passed to a chemical processing operation for direct contact or indirect heat exchange.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: M. Mushtaq. Ahmed, Theodore Fringelin Fisher
-
Patent number: 6526775Abstract: An all electric air conditioning system for an aircraft, wherein the aircraft defines an interior volume having conditioned air at a first pressure. A compressor is provided and is operable to compress supply air to a second pressure. The compressor being operated in response to an electrical drive motor. A passage fluidly couples the compressor and the interior volume of the aircraft. A heat dissipating device, such as a heat exchanger, is positioned in the passage to extract heat energy from the supply air. This arrangement permits conditioning of air within the aircraft without using bleed air from the engines. The use of bleed air results in a significant amount of fuel burn. An optional conditioned air recovery system may be coupled to the interior volume of the fuselage to direct at least a portion of the conditioned air from the interior volume back for further conditioning and use.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Julie F. Asfia, Kenneth R. Williams, Warren A. Atkey, Charles J. Fiterman, Steven M. Loukusa, Casey Y. Ng
-
Patent number: 6519969Abstract: An air-conditioning system for airplanes is proposed in which a portion of the fresh airflow to be prepared is tapped at high pressure from a power unit and another portion is sucked in from the surroundings. The energy potential of the tapped airflow is utilized to compress the ambient air. The compressed ambient air and the tapped air are mixed into a mixed airflow before the mixed airflow's pressure is expanded in one or more turbine stages (T1, T2). Water is separated from the mixed airflow between the mixing point (X) and the first turbine stage 1 (T1). In order to cool down the tapped airflow to a temperature at which water can be separated at all, the tapped airflow is guided past the entire cooler mixed airflow, preferably in two steps (REH, CON), namely once before the pressure expansion and another time after the pressure expansion of the mixed airflow in the first turbine stage (T1) .Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbHInventor: Alfred Sauterleute
-
Patent number: 6516873Abstract: A heat exchanger for a multi-stage air compressor. The heat exchanger includes several cooling chambers. Each cooling chamber is configured to receive compressed air from one of the compressor stages. A cooling tube is positioned to carry cooling fluid through each of the cooling chamber sequentially. The cooling chambers are also positioned in series so that heated fluid leaving the outlet of a first cooling chamber enters the inlet of a second cooling chamber after passing through an additional compressor stage.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand CompanyInventor: Ronald L. Haugen
-
Patent number: 6484516Abstract: A cryocooler system comprising a heat exchanger for cooling a compressed returning warmed cryogenic fluid stream, the heat exchanger having a bypass loop to produce a major stream and a minor stream exiting the heat exchanger. The minor stream is further cooled by expansion and used as a heat exchange medium for an external heat load after which it is compressed and returned to the heat exchanger for heat exchange with the compressed return warmed cryogenic fluid stream. The major stream is further cooled by expansion and recirculated to the heat exchanger to cool the compressed returning warmed cryogenic fluid stream. The major stream and minor stream are combined either inside or outside of said heat exchanger to form the warmed cryogenic fluid inlet stream for compression.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Zbigniew Tadeusz Fidowski, Donn Michael Herron, William Curtis Kottke
-
Publication number: 20020152765Abstract: The invention relates to a ram air duct for an aeroplane air conditioning system having an inlet channel which can be closed by an inlet valve and in which at least one heat exchanger is arranged, having a blower arranged in a blower chamber and an outlet passage closable by an outlet valve. In accordance with the invention, the outlet passage is divided into two separately extending passages of which one is guided as a blower outlet passage up to the blower into the blower chamber and the other is designed as a bypass passage. The outlet valve only closes the bypass passage in the closed state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Applicant: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbhInventors: Alfred Sauterleute, Joachim Haas, Norbert Brutscher, Stefan Hofer
-
Publication number: 20020112485Abstract: A heat pump system 160 contains a hydristor pump/motor 162 in fluid and thermodynamic communication with a first heat exchanger 172 communicating with a relatively warm reservoir 174, and a second heat exchanger 176 thermodynamically communicating with a relatively cold reservoir 178, whereby the hydristor 162 and the first and second heat exchangers 172 and 176 are integral to and in fluid communication with a closed compressible fluid loop 164.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2002Publication date: August 22, 2002Inventor: Thomas E. Kasmer
-
Patent number: 6434968Abstract: A cooling air arrangement for an aircraft air conditioning unit includes an air inlet, a heat exchanger, an outlet plenum, first and second air outlet channels branching from the plenum, and a fan arranged in the first outlet channel. During flight of the aircraft, external ram air driven into the air inlet flows primarily through the second outlet channel. During ground operation, the fan primarily sucks cooling air through the first outlet channel, which merges back into the second outlet channel at an air mixing junction that functions as an injector nozzle and a non-return flap valve. The first outlet channel is provided in a spiral housing of the fan, or in a smooth curved duct. The air inlet and outlet of the cooling air arrangement, and the air outlet of the air cycle machine, are oriented in the same direction, e.g. the flight forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventors: Uwe Albert Buchholz, Juergen Kelnhofer
-
Patent number: 6408641Abstract: Air is extracted from a pressurized air source. An air-to-air heat exchanger (115) receives and cools the extracted pressurized air. Further, an expansion turbine (130) receives at least a portion of the cooled pressurized air from the air-to-air heat exchanger and expands the cooled pressurized air into chilled air while extracting work. An air-to-coolant heat exchanger (120) receives the chilled air from the expansion turbine which is used to chill refrigerant coolant. The air-to-air heat exchanger (115) also receives the chilled air reclaimed from the air-to-coolant heat exchanger (120), subsequent to chilling the refrigerant coolant, to cool the air extracted from the pressurized air source. In one embodiment, the extracted work is used to drive a generator (135) to supply electricity to a distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Anthony I. Skur, III
-
Patent number: 6401473Abstract: An air conditioning system and method are provided for use in an aircraft having a pressurized area and an unpressurized area. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioning pack located in the unpressurized area of the aircraft that conditions fresh air. The air conditioning system also includes a first air duct for directing a flow of recirculation air from the pressurized area, through a pressure bulkhead, and into the unpressurized area. A mixer is also provided and advantageously positioned in the unpressurized area for mixing the conditioned air from the air conditioning pack and the recirculation air from the pressurized area. Advantageously, the mixer obviates the need for a mix manifold and saves valuable space for passengers, cargo, and other aircraft equipment. The air conditioning system also includes a second air duct that directs the mixture of conditioned air and recirculation air from the mixer to the pressurized area of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Casey Y. K. Ng, Warren Andrew Atkey, Gregg Grant LaVoy, Leigh M. Sedgwick
-
Patent number: 6402812Abstract: An integrated environmental control (IEC) system includes a decontamination Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) system in which a contaminated decontamination bed is purged through a purge exhaust duct and subsequently dumped overboard through a purge ejector. The energy from a high pressure drain duct serves as the primary motive force for the purge ejector to create a sub-atmospheric region therein and reduce back pressure upon the PSA filtration system. The reduced back pressure creates additional pressure drop across the PSA filtration system which improves performance. Risk of the purge exhaust duct and the purge ejector freezing in a low temperature environment is further minimized by mixing the purge exhaust with the relatively warmer high pressure drains.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationInventors: Thomas Perrotta, Clement I. Anekwe
-
Patent number: 6360557Abstract: An air cycle air conditioning system is provided that utilizes the compartment to be cooled as a heat storage chamber within the system. In an automobile environment, the use of the enclosed passenger compartment as a heat storage chamber within the air cycle system enables the construction and implementation of a compact low energy consumption air conditioning system within the automobile. Through the use of valves within the system, the air cycle air conditioner is easily converted into a heat pump for the passenger compartment. The system of the present invention can be implemented in industrial, commercial, residential and/or automobile applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Inventor: Igor Reznik
-
Patent number: 6331195Abstract: A water extractor of an environmental control system includes a swirl section and a water collector downstream the swirl section. The water collector includes an upstream sump having an inlet positioned to capture the bulk of water droplets leaving the swirl section. The water collector further includes a downstream sump for capturing water droplets that were not captured by the first sump.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1999Date of Patent: December 18, 2001Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.Inventors: Michael B. Faust, Faress H. Rahman, Philippe H. Adam
-
Publication number: 20010025506Abstract: A cooling air arrangement for an aircraft air conditioning unit includes an air inlet, a heat exchanger, an outlet plenum, first and second air outlet channels branching from the plenum, and a fan arranged in the first outlet channel. During flight of the aircraft, external ram air driven into the air inlet flows primarily through the second outlet channel. During ground operation, the fan primarily sucks cooling air through the first outlet channel, which merges back into the second outlet channel at an air mixing junction that functions as an injector nozzle and a non-return flap valve. The first outlet channel is provided in a spiral housing of the fan, or in a smooth curved duct. The air inlet and outlet of the cooling air arrangement, and the air outlet of the air cycle machine, are oriented in the same direction, e.g. the flight forward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Inventors: Uwe Albert Buchholz, Juergen Kelnhofer
-
Patent number: 6286333Abstract: In a method of generating a third gas flow of medium pressure and medium temperature, which can be particularly employed as cooling air for a gas turbine, from a first gas flow of high-pressure and high temperature, a high effectiveness with simultaneous simple process control is achieved in an arrangement wherein the reduction is undertaken by stepwise energy exchange between the first gas flow and a second gas flow of low pressure and low temperature in a cascade consisting of a plurality of energy exchangers connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AGInventors: Gustav Hagström, Jakob Keller
-
Patent number: 6250096Abstract: A method for generating refrigeration for application to a heat load, especially at very cold temperatures, using an environmentally benign working gas such as air and using an upstream precooling circuit to reduce or eliminate inefficiencies stemming from warm end pinch.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Harry Cheung, Arun Acharya
-
Patent number: 6138471Abstract: An air conditioning device has two compression and expansion units connected with one another through a heat exchanger, and a mixing device arranged before the object to be air conditioned, wherein the units for expansion and compression are used at a first stage and a second stage, or for a first airstream portion and a second airstream portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Phoenix Environmental Asset Corp.Inventors: Vjacheajav Ersmambetov, Arkady Beleski
-
Patent number: 6082116Abstract: A vortex heater to transfer a vortex flow's heat flux to a separate gas flow in a system including a vortex tube having a slender tube plugged at the far end, fins attached to the slender tube's outer side and a shell which includes enclosing the finned vortex slender tube with the shell, thus forming an outer wall of the heat exchanger, connecting a vortex tube's inlet with a source of compressed gas and then discharging the gas flow through vortex tube's diaphragm to provide for the gas flow to undergo an energy separation in the vortex tube, connecting a separate gas flow with the heat exchanger inlet, and discharging this flow from the heat exchanger outlet, to provide for the vortex flow to cool down and for the heat exchanger's flow to heat up.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1998Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Universal Vortex, Inc.Inventors: Lev Tunkel, Boris Krasovitski
-
Patent number: 6070418Abstract: An environmental control system includes a single heat exchanger, a single water separator and two air cycle machines on separate spools. Cooling turbines of the air cycle machines are cascaded. Air flows through both air cycle machines during normal operation of the environmental control system. If one of the air cycle machines fails, air can be bypassed around the failed air cycle machine. Cascading allows water separation to be performed by a mid-pressure water separator located between the air cycle machines.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1997Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.Inventors: Ronald E Crabtree, Peter C. Collins, Stanley C. Pollitt, Roger R. Sanger, Michel A. Jonqueres, Thomas J. Kazan
-
Patent number: 6050103Abstract: An air conditioning system including a compressor for compressing high temperature air supplied by an engine, a turbine for cooling the compressed air by expanding the compressed air, a condenser which is connected to the turbine and condenses air, and an axially hollow rotation shaft coaxially coupling the compressor and the turbine, the shaft allowing a portion of the high temperature air flowing in the compressor to pass through the shaft toward the turbine for mixing with the air cooled in the turbine and supplied to the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Jin-ho Ko
-
Patent number: 6006537Abstract: A method of air cooling supplied from atmosphere has the steps of subdividing an airstream into a first airstream portion and the second airstream portion, compressing the first airstream portion by compression waves to a required pressure, compressing the second airstream portion in a compressor to the pressure equal the pressure of first airstream portion, uniting both airstream portions to form a joint stream, and expanding the united stream by rarification waves.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Inventors: Vjecheaiav Ersmambetov, Arkady Beleski
-
Patent number: 5993522Abstract: A compressed air strainer and drying treatment is provided in which a filter core of the strainer can be used successively without replacement. The strainer includes a strainer main trunk, an admitting pipe stretching into the inside of the main trunk, a water intake apparatus on one side of the top end of the main trunk, and an escape pipe set on the other side of the top end connecting a heat exchanger. An automatic drainer and a manual drainer are coupled to one side of the main trunk. On another side of the main trunk, a check valve is provided and a U-shaped pipeline connects the strainer to the evaporator. The drying treatment is accomplished by splitting the inlet compressed air into many fine streams by filter baffle plates to generate innumerable small bubbles and thereby increase the contacting area between the air and the water. Oil, dirt and contaminants are carried into the air bubble and then are filtered therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Inventor: Chin-Fu Huang
-
Patent number: 5931002Abstract: The invention provides an air cooling duct and a cooling apparatus which can effect ventilation and cooling with certainty while suppressing noise. The cooling air duct is provided on a wall of a housing, in which a heat source is accommodated, and inducts external air into the housing or vents air in the housing to the outside of the housing in order to cool the inside of the housing. The cooling air duct defines an air path for communicating the inside and the outside of the housing with each other and further defines an expansion chamber formed on the air path. The cooling apparatus includes the cooling air duct. The cooling air duct and the cooling apparatus can be used principally to cool the inside of a housing of an electronic apparatus such as a computer or a communication apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Tetsuro Nagashima
-
Patent number: 5911740Abstract: A method of heat transfer enhancement in the vortex tube harnessed in a system including a vortex tube with its slender tube plugged at the far end, fins attached to the slender tube's outer side and a shell and comprising the steps of: enclosing the finned vortex slender tube with the shell, thus forming an outer wall of the heat exchanger; connecting a vortex tube's inlet with the source of compressed gas and then discharging the gas flow through vortex tube's diaphragm, thus providing for the gas flow to undergo an energy separation in the vortex tube; and connecting a separate gas flow with the heat exchanger inlet and then discharging this flow from the heat exchanger outlet, thus providing for the vortex flow to cool down and for the heat exchanger's flow to heat up.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1997Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Universal Vortex, Inc.Inventors: Lev Tunkel, Boris Krasovitski
-
Patent number: 5911388Abstract: The bleed air requirements for a pressurization and environmental control system for the cabin (10) of an aircraft may be reduced by a system that includes a turbomachine (20) having a rotary compressor (22) driven by a turbine wheel (26). A ram air inlet (16) is connected to the compressor inlet (28) and the aircraft is provided with a cabin air exhaust port (18) which is connected to the outlet (34) of the turbine wheel (26). A heat exchanger (40) has a cabin inlet air flow path (42) and a cabin outlet air flow path (44) in heat exchange with one another. The cabin inlet air flow path (42) is connected to the outlet (30) of the compressor (22) and to the cabin (10) of the aircraft. The cabin outlet air flow path (44) is connected to the cabin (10) as well as to the inlet (32) of the turbine (26).Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1997Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Mark Hamilton Severson, Steven Eric Squier
-
Patent number: 5823005Abstract: A cooling system for cooling computer components generating thermal energy. The cooling system includes a high efficiency heat exchanger attached to the heat producing component and an evaporator. The heat exchanger comprises a hollow body formed of a thermally conductive material having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. A periodically lanced metal fin is located within the hollow body and is oriented between the inlet and outlet to provide maximum contact of the coolant along the surface area of the metal fin. An evaporator is attached to the inlet of the heat exchanger to pre-cool the air flow delivered to the heat exchanger and thus the heat generating component.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Arthur Ray Alexander, Warren W. Porter, deceased
-
Patent number: 5823008Abstract: A mobile cold air supply unit which comprises, as housed in a single casing, an air compressor-expander constituted of an integral combination of a motor, an air compressor and an air expander, an air-to-water heat exchanger and an air-to-air heat exchanger, is furnished in the casing with air tubing for interconnecting the aforesaid components at an air pressure not higher than 5 kg/cm.sup.2, and is provided with a cold air discharge connection, a return air intake connection, a cooling water outlet connection and a cooling water intake connection.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignees: Kajima Corporation, NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isao Nikai, Motohisa Uda, Naoki Shindo, Takeshi Fuse
-
Patent number: 5814133Abstract: A closed hollow filter canister having gas-impermeable end walls (94, 96) and a gas-permeable side wall (100). Gas contaminated with liquid is sprayed under pressure through line (90) and flow-restricting orifice (80) into the interior space of the canister where the contaminants become atomized and are retained by the side wall (100). Gas free of liquid contaminants passes into the atmosphere. In a preferred embodiment the gas is air contaminated with water, and the wall (100) is of cellulosic material which becomes wetted with water which gradually volatilizes. The filter canister may be used to treat streams (90a, 90b) from a gas compressor (50) and an associated reservoir tank (125).Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Process Scientific Innovations LimitedInventors: Alex G. Hunter, John L. Oakton
-
Patent number: 5765387Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating a thermal difference in a working medium between an inlet and an outlet of an enclosure and transferring the thermal difference to a region being cooled. The working medium is drawn into the enclosure (45) through the inlet (76). A force is applied to compress the working medium in the enclosure with decreasing entropy in the working medium and with an input of work to the working medium. The working medium is allowed to expand through the outlet (56) with a change in entropy between zero and no greater than the magnitude of the decrease in entropy during the step of compression and with an output of work from the working medium equal to or greater than the work input to the working medium in the step of compression. Thereby, a thermal difference is caused in the working medium between the inlet and the outlet. The thermal difference is transferred to the region being cooled.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Entropy Systems, Inc.Inventor: Sanjaykumar Amin
-
Patent number: 5732766Abstract: Gas at elevated temperature from a compressor (50) is fed to a first cooling coil (14) and thence to a second cooling coil (18) in chamber (16). The cooled gas at line (20) enters a chamber (22) where water and oil (if present) separate. A contaminant-free stream of compressed gas is further purified at filter chambers (28, 34). A portion of the gas flow, carrying the liquefied water or water/oil mixture is returned via reducing valve (44) to the interior of chamber (16) where it travels up riser pipe (46) in heat-exchanging relationship with the gas in coil (18) and emerges through port (48) as a condensate-free gas stream, the condensate having re-volatilized after passage through the reducing valve (44). The described arrangement minimizes or eliminates watery waste and cools the gas stream without the need for a powered cooler or supply of cooling water.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1994Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Process Scientific Innovations LimitedInventors: George Sherwood Hunter, John Leslie Oakton, Alex George Hunter
-
Patent number: 5713212Abstract: An apparatus for generating an air stream that is substantially-columnated about a given axis includes a converging-diverging nozzle, a manifold in fluid communication with the nozzle, and a compressor supplying a quantity of compressed air to the manifold to induce a first air flow through the nozzle. The first air flow is characterized by sonic flow at the nozzle throat and supersonic flow at the nozzle exit. The supersonic first air flow exiting the nozzle is directed into one end of an elongate tube. The thus-directed first air flow induces a second flow of ambient air into the one end of the tube. The first air flow mixes with the second air flow within the tube and exits as an air stream that is substantially columnated about the axis of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1997Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: McDonnell Douglas CorporationInventors: Gregory H. Barnett, David V. Algas, Franklin D. Farrington
-
Patent number: 5711164Abstract: A portable cooler is provided including a plastic bag or container with inflatable sidewalls into which are placed items for cooling, such as infant feeding bottles, food, soft drinks, etc. Prior to using these items, the sidewalls of the bag are inflated with CO.sub.2 gas, which upon expansion, sufficiently cools the interior of the bag, and chills the food. The plastic bag may also contain a frozen gel package to provide temporary cooling prior to use, and augment cooling by the CO.sub.2. In a similar manner, cooling may be provided using a relatively stiff container having hollow sidewalls and/or a bottom into which may be expanded CO.sub.2 gas to provide cooling prior to use. A frozen gel package may be placed inside the container or in the top portion of the container to augment CO.sub.2 gas cooling. The same technique of cooling may also be accomplished using the expansion of CO.sub.2 gas into the sidewalls of a thermos container.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Inventor: Patricia M. Slack
-
Patent number: 5690135Abstract: A diverter valve with a shutoff feature for usage in an aircraft environmental control system is disclosed. The valve has a housing that includes an inlet connected with a source of air, and first and second outlets spaced 90.degree. apart. The first outlet is connected with the ECS refrigeration pack, while the second outlet, which is at a 90.degree. angle with respect to both the inlet and the first outlet, is connected with a bypass line that bypasses the refrigeration pack and is connected with a heater inside the ECS. A gate internal to the valve housing is rotatable over a 90.degree. range of motion to connect the air from the source to either solely the first outlet, to both the first and second outlets, to solely the second outlet, or to neither the first nor second outlets, depending upon a desired temperature of the air provided to the cockpit or cabin of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1996Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: John M. Dehais
-
Patent number: 5642629Abstract: A cooled air cycle system having a compressor (1) for compressing air, heat exchangers (3,4,5) for cooling the compressed air, a water separator (6) for withdrawing water from the compressed air, and an expander (2) for expanding the air back to substantially compressor inlet pressure, which air is cooled and can be used, for example, for air-conditioning. A regenerative dryer (7) is provided in conduits between the compressor (1) and the expander (2). The dryer (7) includes a water adsorbing section (18), which alternatingly is brought into contact with the compressed air at at least two locations (A,B,C). In one location (B), which is after the first heat exchanger (3) and the water separator (6), water is adsorbed from the air by the adsorbing section (18), and in another location (A), which is before the first heat exchanger (3) and the water separator (6), the adsorbing section (18) is regenerated in that the adsorbed water is brought away by the air.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1995Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Svenska Rotor Maskiner ABInventor: Henrik Ohman
-
Patent number: 5628203Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and process operating on an air-standard cycle either to cool or heat a room. The system may be advantageously employed to cool or heat relatively small areas or rooms, particularly driver's cabins in locomotives and the like. In cooling operation, outside air is expanded in a turbine, cooled below ambient, and introducted into a heat exchanger. Air from the room to be cooled is introduced into the heat exchanger and heat is removed therefrom. Suitable valves are provided to change the operation of the heat exchanger to that of a regenerator and to direct the flow of air accordingly. Specifically, air heated by compression in the compressor is directly introduced into the room and air leaving the room is passed through the regenerator/heat exchanger and released into the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1994Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignees: Hagenuk Fahrzeugklima GmbH, Normalair Garrett Ltd.Inventors: Ulrich Adolph, Stefan Eichholz, George R. Giles, Donald J. Richards
-
Patent number: 5600965Abstract: The present air conditioning system bleeds high pressure, hot, compressed air from the compressor section of a gas turbine engine and passes the high pressure flow of air directly through a single heat exchanger, through a flow control valve, is used to drive a supersonic turbine device, exits the supersonic turbine device as a low pressure, cooled flow of air and passes through a water separator prior to being used to cool the cabin zone. The primary advantages of the improved air conditioning system includes the elimination of the necessity for pressure regulation and only one heat exchanger is required. Furthermore, the improved air conditioning system is modulely designed and allows for a more flexibility, enabling the components to be more selectively located. Furthermore, the system is considerably smaller and lighter in weight.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1996Date of Patent: February 11, 1997Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Shihming N. Jan, Dave J. White
-
Patent number: 5595067Abstract: A rotary vane/expansion device having a housing, a rotor with a shaft having an axis, a plurality of telescoping vanes extending radially outwardly from the axis to rotationally contact the inner wall of the housing. There is a movable housing which rests on a track. There are two sets of drive pistons. One drives the piston (and housing) in one direction which is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The second drive piston drives the housing along the track in the opposite direction so that the amount of compression can be controlled. The outer edges of the vanes are provided with pin rollers to reduce wear. Telescoping vanes are also disclosed. The cross-section of the housing in a plane perpendicular to the axis has an ovoidal shape. This can also be used to obtain fresh water from salt water. Salt water is placed in a tank with heating coils in it. The tank has an overhead dome with a trough to catch condensed water.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Inventor: James E. Maness
-
Patent number: 5555745Abstract: A refrigeration system employing a motor driven compressor with an associated turboexpander coupled to the motor of the compressor. The compressor draws incoming air through a heat exchanger and a dehydrator. The compressor discharges compressed air through a high temperature heat exchanger and the other side of the heat exchanger on the inlet side of the compressor. The compressed air is then expanded through the turboexpander and used for cooling. The high temperature heat exchanger is employed for hot water generation.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1995Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Rotoflow CorporationInventors: Reza R. Agahi, Behrooz Ershagi
-
Patent number: 5540199Abstract: A radial vane rotary engine comprises an outer housing having a inner cam surface, and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing and having a outer cam surface. There is a substantially constant radial distance between the inner and outer cam surfaces. A rotatable rotor is disposed between the inner and outer housings. The rotor is generally cylindrical having an outer surface, an inner surface, a plurality of axial slots opening between the outer and inner surfaces, and an output shaft extending axially from an end portion of the rotor. A plurality of vanes extend radially through the slots between the inner and outer cam surfaces, providing a plurality of outer chambers between the adjacent vanes, the inner cam surface and the outer surface of the rotor. Similarly, a plurality of inner chambers are provided between the adjacent vanes, the inner cam surface and the inner surface of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1994Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Inventor: Jay P. Penn
-
Patent number: 5524442Abstract: A cooling system includes a unit for processing product to be cooled or frozen. A secondary refrigeration loop is connected to this unit and introduces a refrigerant at or near atmospheric pressure into the unit. The secondary refrigeration loop may be open or closed. The secondary loop includes a secondary heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant. A primary, closed refrigeration loop, operating at a pressure of not less than 2 atmospheres, includes a forward flow path which comprises a primary refrigerant compressor for producing compressed primary refrigerant, a primary heat exchanger for receiving and cooling the compressed primary refrigerant and an expander for further cooling and transferring the compressed refrigerant to the secondary heat exchanger to enable cooling of the secondary refrigerant. The primary loop further includes a return flow path from the secondary heat exchanger to the primary refrigerant compressor and to the primary heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bergman, Jr., Mark J. Roberts, Arun Acharya, Carl J. Heim, Alfred M. Czikk
-
Patent number: 5462110Abstract: A closed air cycle system for heating and cooling the interior of a structure is provided. The air cycle system includes a compressor to compress and to heat the air. A louver is provided which is movable between a first heating position wherein a heat exchange is effected between the compressed air and a radiator system, and a second cooling position wherein a heat exchange is effected between the compressed air and the air outside the structure. After the initial heat exchange, a second heat exchanger intakes the compressed air. The second heat exchanger is also coupled to the input end of the compressor to provide air to the compressor. The second heat exchanger effects a heat exchange between the compressed air and the air provided to the compressor. After exiting the second heat exchanger, the compressed air rotates a turbine so as to generate power to partially power the compressor. As a result of driving the turbine, the air is decompressed.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1993Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Inventor: Donald L. Sarver
-
Patent number: 5461882Abstract: An air cycle environmental control system for an aircraft cabin is disclosed which utilizes cabin exhaust air to power a first stage turbine. This provides a significant increase in compressor power which increases the turbine cooling available in a second stage turbine. The ram air consumption is also reduced due to the cabin exhaust air being ported to the ram air inlet where it merges with the ram air prior to cooling of the bleed air supply in a dual heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1994Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Thomas M. Zywiak
-
Patent number: 5442934Abstract: Gas compression and chilling systems, particularly adapted for compressing and chilling gas for transmission through arctic pipelines are provided with a cross heat exchanger for transferring heat from gas compressed to the inlet gas to the compressor. The heat exchanger is disposed upstream of an expander which may comprise a mechanical expander or a throttling valve, or both, to achieve a predetermined final output pressure and temperature. An aerial heat exchanger is interposed between the compression and expansion stages upstream of the inlet gas heat exchanger. One embodiment of the system uses two stages of compression, aerial cooling and expansion to the final temperature and pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1994Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Assignee: Atlantic Richfield CompanyInventor: John R. Wolflick
-
Patent number: 5415224Abstract: Apparatus for cold drying or cold-condensing of gas comprises a heat exchange device and drying device through which a cold-carrying medium flows and which is cooled to such an extent that moisture contained in the gas under treatment is condensed out, frosted out, frozen out and/or liquefied. The heat exchange device and the drying device comprise an integral unit. At least one discharge pipe drains away the liquid condensate, the frost or ice and/or the liquid which are separated from the gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1994Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Inventors: Berthold Koch, Wolfram Seiler
-
Patent number: 5408846Abstract: There is provided a cooling device for lowering the temperature of rubber or polystyrene materials for recycling purposes. The cooling device has an input feeder which inputs the material to be treated into a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is an elongated chamber. The cooling chamber receives cold air from an external air refrigeration unit and circulates that air within the chamber. The material input into the cooling chamber is circulated therein by a circulating shaft. After 15-20 minutes, the input material is discharged through an output on the opposite end of the cooling chamber. The temperature of the material discharged is -80.degree. C. or lower.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1994Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Crumbrubber Technology Company, Inc.Inventors: Angelo Reali, Igor Reznik, Iosif Khais
-
Patent number: 5373707Abstract: An air cycle air conditioning system including an air-air heat exchanger defining a first air flow path for air to be cooled and a second air flow path for air to pass therethrough and absorb heat from the air to be cooled and apparatus for supplying air to the second air flow path at sub-atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1992Date of Patent: December 20, 1994Assignee: TAT Aero Equipment Industries Ltd.Inventors: Shlomo Ostersetzer, David Lior
-
Patent number: 5327744Abstract: A compact, lightweight integrated environmental control (IEC) system for a helicopter incorporates in operative combination an environmental control system (ECS) and a nuclear/biological/chemical life support system (NBC LSS). The IEC system includes a refrigerant subsystem, a regenerative heat exchange apparatus, a decontamination subsystem, and an airflow distribution network, and is operative to provide super-cooled, super-dry, decontaminated airflow, in seriatim, directly to left and right mission equipment package bays and the cockpit for cooling of avionics/electronic modules and crew comfort. The IEC system is further operative to directly provide cooled, super-dry, decontaminated airflow for cooling of avionics/electronic modules of the mid mission equipment package bay and for over pressurizing the left and right mission equipment package bays to preclude contaminant infiltration thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1992Date of Patent: July 12, 1994Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert C. Frawley, Thomas Perrotta, Richard S. Barnard
-
Patent number: 5323624Abstract: An air conditioning system (10), being powered by a supply of compressed air, includes an air cycle machine (12) and incorporates a pair of regenerable bed filters (44,46). In operation, the filters are alternately cycled in and out of service with one of the filters receiving pressurized air for filtration from the air cycle machine compressor (30), while a backflow of purge air is passed through the other filter to remove accumulated contaminants from the bed thereof, thereby regenerating the filter. The purge air comprises conditioned air from the air cycle machine turbine (32). The contaminant laden purge air discharging from the filter being cleansed, is passed to a subatmospheric pressure region (77) in the ram air duct (20) upstream of the air cycle machine fan (28) and downstream of the heat exchangers (22, 24) for venting therefrom to the atmosphere via the fan (28).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1992Date of Patent: June 28, 1994Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Gregory K. Schwalm