Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John W. Morrison
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Patent number: 8048510Abstract: A liner for an appliance is formed by a plastic sheet formed into a three dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of a compartment of the appliance. A plurality of electrically conductive ink pathways are applied on a surface of the plastic sheet, and a sealer material is applied to the plastic sheet to cover said pathways.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Martin Shawn Egan, Michael E. Stagg, Jr.
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Patent number: 8042355Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nihat O. Cur, Steven John Kuehl, John Joseph Vonderhaar, Diego Barone, Lorenzo Bianchi
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Patent number: 7980093Abstract: A compressor for a refrigerant is integrally contained in a housing with a positive displacement pump for a secondary coolant. Both the compressor and pump are driven by a common motor. In one embodiment, a linear compressor includes a reciprocating piston rod coupled at one end to a refrigerant compressor and at an opposite end to a positive displacement liquid pump. The pump circulates a secondary coolant through a thermal storage unit and heat exchanger associated with an evaporator. The evaporator is coupled to a condenser, in turn, coupled to the compressor. A conventional rotary compressor may also have a positive displacement pump coupled to the motor to provide circulation for a secondary coolant circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven J. Kuehl, Guolian Wu
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Patent number: 7946125Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis, Kevin M. Chase
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Patent number: 7913510Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis
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Patent number: 7913514Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Guolian Wu, Marcus R. Fischer, Michele E. Wilcox, Martin D. Lewis
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Patent number: 7849707Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Guolian Wu
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Patent number: 6746059Abstract: A latch assembly for a removable dirt separation system is disclosed. The latch assembly includes an actuator having an latch opening defined therethrough pivotally mounted to a lid of the dirt separation system. The latch assembly further includes a latch positioned beneath the actuator and having a latching surface which is operable to engage a catch on a vacuum cleaner housing. A latching surface of the latch extends through the latch opening. Moving the actuator in a first direction causes the actuator to disengage the latching surface of the latch from the catch and place the latch assembly in a disengaged position. Moving the latch in the first direction causes the latching surface of the latch to pass through a latch opening defined in the actuator to place the latch assembly in a return position. A method of operating a latch assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventor: Leron R. Thomas
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Patent number: 6485110Abstract: An apparatus for determining the amount of lubricant within a housing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shaft driving the housing about an axis, a number of interior components positioned within the housing, and an opening defined in the housing and centered on the axis. The distance between the a lower edge of the opening and the lowest portion of the housing is proportional to the amount of lubricant displaced by the components. The level of the lubricant within the housing determined relative to the lower edge. A work machine and method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Caterpiller IncInventors: Rick T. Lasko, Frank Moeller
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Patent number: 6457382Abstract: A transmission assembly having a variable displacement hydraulic device which controls a ratio of an input speed to an output speed of the hydrostatic transmission is disclosed. The transmission assembly further includes a torque reversing mechanical transmission coupled to the hydrostatic transmission and having a first range and a second range. The transmission assembly further includes an output shaft driven by one or more of the hydrostatic transmission and the mechanical transmission which causes a work machine to move at a travel speed and a controller. The controller is operable to determine a transmission load and an equal displacement travel speed ratio based on the transmission load. A shift from the first gear range to the second gear range is based on the equal displacement travel speed ratio. A method of operating a transmission assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Cronin, Brian D. Kuras
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Patent number: 6447423Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) an input shaft driven by an engine, (ii) an output shaft, (iii) an operator input for generating speed commands, and (iv) a controller operable to receive said speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. An upper transmission ratio limit is defined by first engine speed and a lower transmission ratio limit is defined by a second engine speed. When the speed command requires a transmission ratio command greater than the upper transmission ratio limit, the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the upper transmission ratio limit, whereas when the speed command requires a transmission ratio command less than the lower transmission ratio limit the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the lower transmission ratio limit.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Howard N. Cannon, Larry E. Kendrick
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Patent number: 6409628Abstract: A transmission assembly is disclosed. The transmission assembly includes a continuously variable transmission driven by an input shaft at an input speed, a mechanical transmission coupled to the continuously variable transmission for selecting a first gear range and a second gear range, an output shaft driven by the mechanical transmission at an output speed, and controller operable to receive a speed command and generate a transmission ratio is command which control a ratio of the output speed to the input speed, and generate a shift command which causes the mechanical transmission to shift from the first gear range to the second gear range. An upper transmission ratio limit defined by an engine lug limit. A lower transmission ratio limit is defined by an engine overspeed limit. The controller causes the transmission to execute a shift from the first gear range to the second gear range which causes an instantaneous change in output speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Brian D. Kuras
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Patent number: 6402660Abstract: A transmission assembly driven by an engine is disclosed. The transmission assembly includes a hydrostatic transmission having a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a mechanical transmission coupled to the hydrostatic transmission for selecting a first gear range and a second gear range, and a controller for receiving operator inputs and generating a displacement command operable to control a displacement of the variable displacement pump. The controller determines the actual displacement. The controller determines a displacement shift level from the actual displacement. The controller executes a shift from the first gear range to the second gear range when the actual displacement reaches displacement shift level. A method of controlling a transmission assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Cronin, Brian D. Kuras
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Patent number: D473983Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Matthew J. Archer, Shai Abramson, Shalom Levin, Oded Davidovitch, Yoav Tikochinksy
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Patent number: D473984Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Matthew J. Archer, Shai Abramson, Shalom Levin, Oded Davidovitch, Yoav Tikochinksy
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Patent number: D473986Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight, Matthew J. Archer
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Patent number: D474312Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Matthew J. Archer, Shai Abramson, Shalom Levin, Oded Davidovitch, Yoav Tikochinsky
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Patent number: D474868Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Matthew J. Archer, Shai Abramson, Shalom Levin, Oded Davidovitch, Yoav Tikochinksy
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Patent number: D485028Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight
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Patent number: D497694Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: The Hoover CompanyInventors: Richard A. Wareham, Peter Ho Ka Nam