With Adjustable Gas Flow Controller Patents (Class 62/408)
  • Patent number: 7900465
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan G. Tarrant, Ryan D. Schuchart, Mauro M. Oliveira, Alvin V. Miller, Brent A. Koppenhaver, Carl J. Franken, Nelson J. Ferragut, II, Tim L. Coulter, Greg Berardi, Thomas Carl Anell
  • Publication number: 20110048057
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a grill unit for an air conditioner with a filter main body that filters impurities from air passing through airflow openings and is integrated with the grill unit, and a manufacturing method for the same. In a grill unit for an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, the grill unit defines airflow openings and includes a filter main body formed of a processed filter sheet and inserted and injection molded, and the filter main body includes folds having pluralities of peaks and valleys formed through folding and bending the filter sheet. Also, the folds include a plurality of fold supports provided at a side thereof to continuously support the folds therealong.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Junsuk Lee, Changhoon Jeong, Hwanyong Nho, Sunhyeong Lee
  • Publication number: 20110041538
    Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerator including an outer casing, an inner casing mounted inside the outer casing to define a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, an evaporator installed between the outer casing and the inner casing to supply cool air, a separate room positioned in any one of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and a passage for gliding the cool air generated by the evaporator directly to the separate room. In this configuration, the cooling efficiency of the separate room can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Chan-Mun Yoon
  • Patent number: 7874172
    Abstract: An air flow control mechanism for a refrigerator or freezer is disclosed comprising at least one knob to regulate by its adjustment, air flow within a compartment, the knob including at least one end, and wherein said knob is configured to rotate, a cam including a base, a groove and a receiving end, wherein the cam base includes the groove, wherein the groove is a semi-circular shape and is un-centered with regards to the cam base and wherein said receiving end receives said knob end, a crank having a first end a second end, wherein said first end is inserted in the semi-circular groove of said cam base and is configured to run said groove when the user adjusts the knob, a rod having a front end and a back end, wherein said front end is connected to said crank second end, and an obturator connected with said rod back end. Said cam base has the same rotation degree than the knob and wherein the rotational movement of said knob is transformed and transmitted to the crank and consequently the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: MABE, Mexico S. DE R.L. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Solis Cruz, Victor Hugo Miranda Razo
  • Patent number: 7870756
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an evaporator zone and a cooling zone separated from each other in a refrigerator housing. A fan drives a cold air flow from the evaporator zone into the cooling zone via a central inlet port that is arranged next to a heat-insulating partition located between the evaporator zone and the cooling zone. A distributing device that diverts a partial air flow into a distributor pipe that extends along a wall of the cooling zone is mounted upstream of the central inlet port in the direction of flow of the cold air. The distributor pipe is provided with holes that are distributed along the height of the wall and extend into the cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Görz, Hans Ihle, Ralf Spiller
  • Publication number: 20110000237
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT L. WETEKAMP, KYLE B. VAN METER, ALAN G. TARRANT, RYAN D. SCHUCHART, MAURO M. OLIVEIRA, ALVIN V. MILLER, BRENT A. KOPPENHAVER, CARL J. FRANKEN, NELSON J. FERRAGUT, II, TIM L. COULTER, GREG BERARDI, THOMAS CARL ANELL
  • Publication number: 20100332048
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerating apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The method includes lowering a temperature in a storage chamber to a freezing point temperature zone by adjusting cold air supplied to the storage chamber, and lowering the temperature in the storage chamber to a temperature below a freezing point by increasing an amount of the cold air supplied to the storage chamber, when it is determined that a temperature of articles stored in the storage chamber is stabilized in the freezing point temperature zone by the cold air. When the surface temperature and the center temperature of the stored articles are cooled close to the freezing point and are then cooled again to the freezing temperature below the freezing point, super-cooling of the stored articles is carried out for a short time, the surfaces and the centers of the stored articles start to freeze simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Ji Young Lee, Masatoshi Inatani
  • Patent number: 7856844
    Abstract: A cooling air supply apparatus of a refrigerator that is capable of uniformly supplying cooling air to all food received in a receiving box is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment for storing food at low temperature, a barrier for partitioning the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment from each other, and a receiving box mounted in the refrigerating compartment for receiving food. The cooling air supply apparatus includes a communication port formed through the barrier for guiding cooling air from the freezing compartment into the refrigerating compartment, and a hollow box-shaped cover mounted at the top part of the receiving box. The cover is provided at one side thereof with an introduction port, which communicates with the communication port. The cover is provided at the lower part thereof with at least one cooling air supplying hole, which communicates with the interior of the receiving box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Bae Kim, Tae Ho Park, Jeong Youl Lee, Deok Eun Kang
  • Publication number: 20100300131
    Abstract: The cooling system supplements the cooling of a walk-in cooler by injecting outside cold air via an outside air intake. The system includes air intake ductwork adapted to vent cold outside air into the walk-in cooler and air return ductwork that circulates the air to provide cross-flow of the injected cold air. Inline fans are connected to an interior thermostat. Motorized dampers are connected to a thermostat with an exterior temperature probe. The system thermostats are set slightly cooler than any pre-existing thermostat operating the pre-existing refrigeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Urs Clavadetscher
  • Patent number: 7841206
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber provided for storing foods. A cool air-generating device provided in the body generates cool air and a cool air-supplying device including at least one opening for discharging the cool air, is used to circulate the cool air through the freezing chamber, the refrigerating chamber, and the cool air-generating device. A separator provided adjacent to the opening acts to uniformly diffuse the cool air in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The separator acts to separate two flows that are then brought back together. The collision and mixing of the two flows create a turbulent flow of air that is directed into the refrigerating and freezing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bong Jun Choi, Jong Min Sin, Jae Seong Sim, Young Jeong, Young Hwan Ko, Jun Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 7823401
    Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle device having an ejector, a branch portion for branching a flow of refrigerant flowing out of the ejector into at least a first refrigerant stream and a second refrigerant stream is located. A first evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant of the first refrigerant stream is located to allow the refrigerant to flow to a suction side of the compressor, and a second evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant of the second refrigerant stream is located to allow the refrigerant to flow to an upstream side of a refrigerant suction port of the ejector. In addition, the branch portion is located to maintain a dynamic pressure of the refrigerant flowing out of the ejector, and the second evaporator is connected to the branch portion in a range where the dynamic pressure can be applied to an inside of the second evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Makoto Ikegami, Haruyuki Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20100263391
    Abstract: A process for controlling operation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system broadly comprises providing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one flow control device; measuring a performance parameter of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; determining a performance parameter measurement of the flow indicative of onset of surge; determining a surge line of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system based upon the performance parameter measurement; and independently controlling the at least one flow control device based upon the performance parameter to mitigate an onset of the surge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee G. Tetu, Joost Brasz
  • Publication number: 20100263401
    Abstract: There is provided an air conditioning register which can prevent or effectively suppress a reduction in an effective opening surface area at an air-conditioned air blow-out portion, and which has good blow-out efficiency of air-conditioned air. A first flow path 42 and a second flow path 44, whose directions toward a blow-out bezel 26 differ, are formed within a retainer 12 of an air conditioning register 10. A first damper 52 and plural second dampers 58, which are interlocked with one another, are provided at the retainer 12. The first damper 52 opens and closes the first flow path 42, and the second dampers 58 open and close the second flow path 44. The first damper 52 and the second dampers 58 are operated such that either one of the first flow path 42 and the second flow path 44 is opened and the other is closed, and the flow path of the air-conditioned air is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Kimio Sakakibara, Michiyo Nonoyama, Keiko Tanaka, Makoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 7810340
    Abstract: To provide a quick freezing apparatus and method making it possible to prevent a subtle reaction between an object-to-be-preserved and a gas inside its freezing store to prevent deformation and deterioration of the object-to-be-preserved as much as possible and freeze-preserve the object maintaining its freshness and quality at a high standard for a long term, and thereby applicable to a long-term preservation of a living tissue. A quick freezing apparatus includes a freezing store 11 including a door for bringing in or taking out an object-to-be-frozen 3, a freezer 17 capable of lowering a temperature inside the freezing store to a temperature equal to or less than approximately ?30 degrees C., a pressure regulator 60 capable of adjusting a gas pressure inside the freezing store, and a ventilator 31 for sending cold air at a wind velocity of 1 to 5 m/sec toward the object-to-be-frozen placed inside the freezing store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventors: Norio Owada, Shobu Saito
  • Publication number: 20100242509
    Abstract: In an enclosed space which requires refrigeration or cooling at the same time when the heating of air is required, provision is made to divert at least a portion of the flow of heated air from the air conditioning/refrigeration heat rejection heat exchanger to the climate-controlled zone which requires heating. An airflow control device, such as one or more dampers, is provided for controlling the amount of heated air delivered to the climate-controlled-zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Publication number: 20100199702
    Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul LEE, Seong Jae KIM, Chang Ho SEO, Sung Hoon CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20100192611
    Abstract: An air passage has a blow-out side opening opposed to a position other than the longitudinal ends of a blow-out port of a decorative panel. The width of a louver, as determined in an air-blowing direction, decreases from a longitudinal center of the louver to the ends of the louver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TOSHIBA CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi YAMAGUCHI, Hidekazu Nakano, Takahiko Mukai
  • Publication number: 20100192616
    Abstract: An air guiding element (10) for an aircraft air conditioning system comprises a housing base body (12), in which an air inlet opening (14) and an air outlet opening (16) are constructed. A first flow control element (28) is arranged in the housing base body (12), relative to the direction of the air flow through the air guiding element (10), upstream of the air outlet opening (16). The first flow control element (28) comprises a plurality of air guiding channels (30) which are surrounded by a noise-absorbing material (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Ingo Gores, Andreas Edom, Thorsten Raible
  • Patent number: 7757501
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having at least two compartments and actuators adapted to maintain temperatures of said compartments close to predetermined set values comprises a comparison between a signal (CCR) indicative of the cooling request of each compartment and a signal variable according to a predetermined carrier function. This comparison is carried out in a predetermined time interval (TW), said actuators being activated or deactivated on the basis of such comparison that is repeated for each subsequent time interval (TW).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Boer, Raffaele Paganini
  • Patent number: 7757507
    Abstract: Air conditioner including a cabinet having room air inlets in at least one of side surfaces and a top surface, and a room air outlet in a front surface, and a front panel in front of the cabinet, thereby cooling/heating a room quickly, and improving thermal efficiency by preventing discharged air from re-entering into the air conditioner, directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seok Hun Kim, Dong Joo Han, Youg Won Jung
  • Publication number: 20100175402
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided having a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, an evaporator, a variable speed evaporator fan. The refrigerator further includes multiple temperature sensors that communicate with an electronic microprocessor-based control system that in turn controls the operation of the refrigerator system based on the information provided by the multiple temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis Schenk, Karl M. Truitt
  • Publication number: 20100175397
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a cabinet positioned on an indoor ceiling. The air conditioner also includes a front panel that is coupled to the cabinet and has an air inlet. The air conditioner further includes a suction panel coupled to the front panel and configured to move to open or close the inlet. In addition, the air conditioner includes a sensor unit positioned on the suction panel, configured to detect a position of an indoor person, and configured to move downward with respect to the suction panel in response to an operation instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: In Ho Choi, Jong Chan Park, Han Lim Choi, Dong Whan Choi, Nam Sik Yim
  • Publication number: 20100175399
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner includes a cabinet that is configured to mount on an indoor ceiling. The air conditioner also include a front panel that is coupled to the cabinet and having an air inlet and outlet. The air conditioner further include a suction panel that is coupled to the front panel and configured to move between an open positione in which air is able to circulate through the air conditioner and a closed position in which air is blocked from circulating through the air conditioner. The air conditioner further include a sensor unit that is mounted on the suction panel, that is configured to move together with the suction panel and that is configured to detect a position of a person in the indoor place. In addition, the air conditioner also include a controller adjusting a direction of air flow from the outlet based on the deteded position of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: In Ho CHOI, Jong Chan PARK, Han Lim CHOI, Dong Whan CHOI, Nam Sik YIM
  • Patent number: 7748234
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for enhancing airflow through a vertically oriented spiral freezer or oven stack used for freezing or heating food product. At least one high-static fan assembly is mounted above a spiral stack assembly of the system to accelerate and direct air vertically through the spiral stack assembly. Air is directed through a heat exchanger via at least one circulation fan, cooling or heating the air via the heat exchanger. The cooled or heated air is vertically accelerated through the vertically oriented spiral stack assembly via at least one high-static fan assembly mounted above the spiral stack assembly. A method is also disclosed to retrofit a system having a vertically oriented spiral freezer or oven stack to enhance airflow through the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: MP Equipment
    Inventor: Frank P. Rhein
  • Publication number: 20100162746
    Abstract: An air-flap device for a refrigerator and/or freezer for equipping a kitchen comprises an air flap (18) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a first axis of rotation (20) between an open position and a closing position and which, in the open position, unblocks an air-passage aperture (16) for the passage of air and, in the closing position, blocks said air-passage aperture, at least substantially, against the passage of air, and said air-flap device also comprises a motorized flap-actuating mechanism for displacing the air flap in a pivoting manner. According to the invention, the flap-actuating mechanism comprises a movably disposed flap-actuating element (26) having a flap-engaging section (32) which can be moved, as a result of movement of said flap-actuating element, from outside the pivoting space of the air flap into said pivoting space in order, in doing so, to pass into engagement with the air flap and lift the latter out of one of the two flap positions towards the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Georg Spiessl, Anthony Durfee
  • Publication number: 20100147002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a defroster, and more particularly, to a defroster in a refrigerator in which a damper mounted to an inlet to a circulating duct (60) controls air to flow in a reverse direction toward an evaporator (20) for maximizing defrosting efficiency by using not only radiant heat but also convective heat. For this, the defroster in a refrigerator includes an evaporator (20), a heater (10) for defrosting the evaporator (20) by radiation, and flow control means (50) for controlling air circulated by a fan (30) to flow in a reverse direction toward the evaporator (20) in the defrosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Kyeong Yun Kim, Nam Soo Cho, Su Nam Chae, Jang Seok Lee, Youn Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20100139308
    Abstract: Provided are a damper in which strange sound (whistling sound) generated when the damper has a small opening degree is suppressed, an air conditioning unit, and an air conditioner for vehicle. The damper has a wall surface (33) for forming a channel for allowing air to flow in it, a stationary portion (35) extending from the wall surface (33) toward the center of the channel (23), and a rotation portion (25) rotatably placed in the channel (23) and having one end (29) in contact with a portion of the stationary portion (35), which portion is on the downstream side of air flow in the channel (23). A curved wall portion (45) curved and projected toward the center of the channel (23) is formed at that position on the wall surface (33) with which the air flow passed between one end (29) and the stationary portion (35) collides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Eguchi, Atsushi Suzuki, Tetsuo Tominaga, Mitsuhiro Nakao, Hajime Izumi, Jun Ito, Satoshi Kominami
  • Publication number: 20100132383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for dispersing the air flowing out of air conditioning systems and mixing it with the ambient air of the enclosure to be conditioned. The quick mixing of the conditioned air jets will create better comfortable feeling of people in front of the conditioned air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: AirGreen Ltd.
    Inventor: Gedalyahu Manor
  • Patent number: 7726149
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can perform direct cooling of circulating cool air by natural convection in a freezing chamber (F) and a refrigerating chamber (R), and which can selectively perform indirect cooling of circulating cool air by forcible convection in the refrigerating chamber. It is like that, frost or condensed water formed in the refrigerating chamber (R) of the direct cooling type refrigerator does not Influence the inside of the refrigerating chamber. In addition, the refrigerator efficiently performs a defrosting operation of the refrigerating chamber (R), sanitarily performs a cooling operation, and maintains uniform cooling performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Hee Kang, Deok-Hyun Youn, Su-Won Lee, Jong-Min Shin, Jung-Wook Bae
  • Publication number: 20100126205
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a cold air generation chamber provided in a body of the refrigerator, the cold air generation chamber having an evaporator installed therein. A cold air duct may form a path through which cold air generated in the cold air generation chamber is circulated to a freezer compartment, and a quick freezer compartment. The quick freezer compartment may be connected with the cold air duct, and may be positioned substantially nearer to the evaporator than the freezer compartment. A damper may be installed in the cold air duct to selectively shut off the flow of cold air to the freezer compartment. The quick freezer compartment may be quickly cooled using cold air directly supplied from the cold air generation chamber. Furthermore, cold air may be directed into the quick freezer compartment by selectively shutting off the supply of cold air into the freezer or refrigerator compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Min Kyu OH, Kyeong Yun Kim, Jang Seok Lee, Youn Seok Lee, Su Nam Chae
  • Publication number: 20100126197
    Abstract: To provide a more comfortable vehicle cabin space for a passenger. In a vehicle humidifying/dehumidifying device 10, when a control unit 26 is switched to an “intermittent operation mode”, a pair of heat exchange elements 28A and 28B are heated simultaneously and intermittently. Additionally, this allows humidified air to be generated by both of the pair of heat exchange elements 28A and 28B when the pair of heat exchange elements 28A and 28B are being heated simultaneously by a heater 30. Consequently, in comparison to a case where the humidified air is generated alternately by the heat exchange elements 28A and 28B, the humidifying amount imparted to the humidified air when the humidified air is generated by a humidifying/dehumidifying unit 16 can be increased. Thus, it becomes possible to perform humidifying amount control corresponding to various situations in a vehicle cabin, and it becomes possible to provide a more comfortable vehicle cabin space for a passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Takanobu Nakaguro
  • Publication number: 20100107673
    Abstract: In a dehumidification/humidification device, a blower (2) and an adsorbent module (3) are contained in a casing. In other embodiment, the blower (2), the adsorbent module (3), and a flow passage-changing device (4) are contained in the casing. The adsorbent module (3) comprises an adsorbing element (30) formed by carrying an adsorbent on a permeable element and a heater (31) directly disposed on the adsorbing element. The state of the electrification of the heater (31) is changed and an air-blowing direction or a flow passage is changed, whereby a dehumidified air is discharged from a first suction/discharge port (or discharge port), and a humidified air is discharged from a second suction/discharge port (or discharge port).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanobu Nakaguro, Toshihiro Tsuemoto, Hiroyuki Kakiuchi, Hideto Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20100107681
    Abstract: Heat exchangers 40, 40a, 40b for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and air include fins 45, 45a, 45b for heat transfer, each of which has fine pores each having a diameter ranging from 1 to 3.5 nm for adsorbing water contained in the air by a capillary condensation phenomenon. Preferably, the fine pores are distributed having a different diameter in accordance with the position of the fins 45, 45a, 45b on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Takeshi Sugimoto, Fumio Matsuoka, Koji Yamashita, Tetsuya Yamashita, Takeyuki Maegawa
  • Publication number: 20100101264
    Abstract: An air conditioning blow-out panel is configured to be attached/detached to/from a main body of an air conditioning indoor unit. The air conditioning blow-out panel includes an airflow regulation mechanism, a driving unit, a control unit and a network connection unit. The airflow regulation mechanism is configured to regulate at least one of the airflow volume and the airflow direction. The driving unit is configured to drive the airflow regulation mechanism. The control unit is configured to control the driving unit. The network connection unit is connected to a network connection to obtain sensor information. The network connection unit is configured to receive a control command generated based on the sensor information and to transmit it to the control unit. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to control the driving unit based on the control command generated based on the sensor information obtained through the network connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nishino, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7685837
    Abstract: A storage assembly for a refrigerator having a freezer storage compartment includes a second storage compartment positioned within the freezer storage compartment, and a cooling plate positioned within the second storage compartment. The cooling plate is configured to support a food item and transfer thermal energy between the food item and the cooling plate through conduction. The storage assembly also includes a fan positioned at a first end of the second storage compartment. The fan is configured to draw cool air into the second storage compartment and direct the cool air across the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sheena Leigh Ritchie, Mark W. Wilson, Arunkumar Pappusamy
  • Publication number: 20100071402
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a function of carrying a mist of charged minute water particles on a ventilated air being blown into a room. The air conditioner includes a blower blowing the ventilated air and an atomizing unit configured to be supplied with water and to electrostatically atomize it into the mist of minute charged water particles. A housing of the air conditioner is divided by a partition into a flow channel leading from an air inlet to an air outlet and a compartment accommodating therein the atomizing unit. A feed conduit extends from a feed port of the atomizing unit into a flow channel through the partition to feed the mist to the air being blown out through the air outlet, while the atomizing unit is isolated from the flow channel to minimize flow resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Fumio Mihara, Akihide Sugawa
  • Publication number: 20100050665
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes an air chiller including a fan, a storage enclosure defining a compartment, and a duct system. The air chiller blows chilled air into the duct system. The compartment has first and second openings, each of which is coupled to the duct system. Chilled air enters the first opening and exits the second opening, and vice versa. In one implementation, the first opening is at the top of the compartment and the second opening is at the bottom of the compartment. A control circuit may periodically cause the fan to change the direction of the chilled air flow. This effectively maintains a relatively uniform temperature throughout the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Oswald, Qiao Lu
  • Publication number: 20100043482
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air cooling device of an integrated thermo-hygrostat, which is advantageous over known integrated thermo-hygrostats in that it is possible to prevent indoor air from being mixed with cold outdoor air when cooling an indoor space using the cold outdoor air in winter by installing an indoor air control damper which can control the flow of the indoor air in front of an evaporator installed in an inner portion of a main body. The air cooling device can rapidly lower the temperature of the indoor space to the intended temperature, increase cooling efficiency, and prevent power from being unnecessarily consumed by being capable of suspending the cooling function thereof when cooling is performed using outdoor air having a temperature below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Jae Gon Kim
  • Patent number: 7665327
    Abstract: An appliance with a separately chilled storage area is disclosed. The appliance comprises a refrigerated compartment; a refrigeration system for cooling air; an air circulation system for circulating the cooled air about the refrigerated compartment; and a secondary air circulation system for circulating a portion of the cooled air in the storage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sub-Zero, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20100030383
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including adjusting cut-in and cut-out temperatures of the cooling system to control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT L. WETEKAMP, KYLE B. VAN METER, ALAN G. TARRANT, RYAN D. SCHUCHART, MAURO M. OLIVEIRA, ALVIN V. MILLER, BRENT A. KOPPENHAVER, CARL J. FRANKEN, NELSON J. FERRAGUT, II, TIM L. COULTER, GREG BERARDI, THOMAS CARL ANELL
  • Patent number: 7654106
    Abstract: A no-frost refrigerator having an opening in a separating wall for the through passage of air between a storage chamber and an evaporation chamber. A control element is arranged in the opening and can be displaced or shifted between positions in which the control element covers the opening to different extents. The control element can be rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to an axis or plane of the air passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Kordon, Renate Pradel
  • Patent number: 7624593
    Abstract: A vegetable room for a refrigerator is provided. The vegetable room includes a vegetable box disposed inside a refrigerator in which a cooling air supply unit is provided to circulate cooling air therein and a plurality of shelves is provided, and having a receptacle space that receives food items therein opened upwardly, a box cover that covers an opening side of the vegetable box to close the receptacle space of the vegetable box and having a plurality of cooling air ventilating holes formed at one side thereof to introduce cooling air into the vegetable box, a cover support unit interposed between the box cover and the shelf to support the box cover at the shelf, a plurality of opening and closing members that open and close the cooling air ventilating holes of the box cover, and an operating unit that operates the opening and closing members simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Ik Lee, Eun-Jeong Kim, Yeon-Yi Hwang
  • Publication number: 20090277204
    Abstract: An adjustable orifice (10) for use in an air conditioning system, in particular an aircraft air conditioning system, comprises a first orifice element (18) which has an orifice frame (20) as well as a first orifice area (22), wherein when the orifice (10) is assembled at a duct (12) of the air conditioning system the first orifice area (22) of the first orifice element (18) leaves open a part of a cross section of the duct (12) The orifice (10) also comprises a second orifice element (32) with a second orifice area (34), wherein when the orifice (10) is assembled at the duct (12) the second is orifice area (34) of the second orifice element (32) leaves open a part of the cross section of the duct (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Gunnar Heuer, Birgit Meiser
  • Publication number: 20090249795
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit (40) having a defroster (30) has a refrigeration compartment (44), an evaporator coil (26) having an amount of crystallized water being aggregated thereon from air and a thermo-electric module (32, 46, 48, 50) having a semiconductor material. The thermo-electric module (32, 46, 48, 50) provides heating from a first location of the thermoelectric module (32, 46, 48, 50) and cooling from a second location of the thermo-electric module (32, 46, 48, 50) based on a Peltier effect when a current from a power supply is traversed through the thermo-electric module (32, 46, 48, 50). The heating from a first location heats the evaporator coil (26) to defrost the aggregated amount of crystallized water thereon. The cooling from the second location is communicated to the refrigeration compartment (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Lei Chen
  • Publication number: 20090241574
    Abstract: A portion of a draft duct in an air conditioning unit upstream from a heater core is divided into three passages. Each of the divided passages is provided with air mix doors 9a, 9b, and 9c that distribute air into a warm air passage and a cool air passage at a predetermined ratio. The air mix doors 9a and 9b are driven by first slide systems 34a and 34b having drive gears 21a and 21b that mesh with racks 20a and 20b of the air mix doors 9a and 9b, and support shafts 22a and 22b that support the drive gears 21a and 21b. The air mix door 9c is driven by a second slide system 35c having a drive gear 21c that meshes with a rack 20c of the air mix door 9c and that is supported by a support shaft 22c, and a second auxiliary gear 24a that meshes with a first auxiliary gear 24b supported by the support shaft 22c and that is supported by an auxiliary support shaft 25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yukio Ozeki, Toshio Ohashi, Masato Ono, Akihiro Tsurushima
  • Publication number: 20090235684
    Abstract: A refrigerator (1) having a temperature switchable compartment (3) whose interior temperature can be switched among more than one alternatives is provided with: a cooling device (17) for producing cold air; a blower (14) for sending out the cold air produced by the cooling device (17) into the temperature switchable compartment (3); a temperature switchable compartment discharge damper (13) for opening and closing an air introduction path (12) through which the cooling device (17) communicates with the blower (14); and a temperature switchable compartment return damper (20) for opening and closing an air return path (19) through which an outlet port (33b), from which air in the temperature switchable compartment (3) flows out, communicates with the cooling device (17) and opens and closes a communication path (36) through which the outlet port (33b) communicates with the inlet side of the blower (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Satoru HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 7559211
    Abstract: An air tower is provided for a refrigeration appliance that has a first cooled compartment and a second cooled compartment. The air tower has a diffuser section with a plurality of vent outlets to communicate with the first cooled compartment. A central duct section is defined by walls extending away from the diffuser section. An outlet is located at an end of the central section opposite the diffuser section to communicate with the second cooled compartment. A heat trap compartment is formed along one of the walls defining the central duct section. The heat trap compartment may communicate with a defrost heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny R. Revlett, Matthew P. Deig, Daryl L. Reuter, Matthew W. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 7540169
    Abstract: A cold air supply and control device for a refrigerator is provided. The cold air supply and control device includes a cylindrical, duct main body having an inlet that allows cold air generated in a heat exchange chamber to be introduced thereinto and an outlet that supplies the cold air introduced through the inlet to a refrigerating chamber. The duct main body is pivotably installed to at least one of both side surfaces of the refrigerating chamber. An opening and closing piece is fixed to the side surface of the refrigerating chamber and selectively opens and closes the outlet according to a rotation of the duct main body. An interlocking plate formed below the outlet of the duct main body rotates the duct main body by a load of a shelf so as to open the outlet. In addition, a torsion spring is installed between a surface of the refrigerating chamber and a front or rear surface of the duct main body, and elastically supports the duct main body in a direction in which the outlet is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Chol Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090113923
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a control method for the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes a convertible storage room capable of performing a refrigerating function and a freezing function selectively or simultaneously, so as to allow a user to conveniently store a variety of food. More particularly, the refrigerator includes a body including a refrigerating storage room and a freezing storage room, a convertible storage room located between the refrigerating storage room and the freezing storage room, to selectively perform one of a freezing function and a refrigerating function, a first evaporator that cools the refrigerating storage room and a second evaporator that cools the freezing storage room and the convertible storage room selectively or simultaneously, and a cold air supply device that selectively supplies the cold air generated from the second evaporator into the freezing storage room and the convertible storage room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Song Gye Young
  • Publication number: 20080307807
    Abstract: An air damper unit for a refrigerator includes a printed circuit board, a sliding door movably mounted to the printed circuit board, a damper position sensor for detecting the position of the sliding door, and a driving mechanism. The sliding door regulates the air flow from a freezer compartment into a refrigerator compartment. A microcontroller is mounted on the printed circuit board for controlling the operation of the sliding door. The microcontroller controls the driving mechanism according to a signal corresponding to a position of the sliding door from the damper position sensor. The continuous feedback from the damper position sensor enables the microcontroller to more effectively control the operation of the sliding door and maintain the temperature setting of the refrigerator compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Graff, Steven J. Vornsand