Patents Assigned to United Metal Products, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11435150
    Abstract: A pre-evaporative system used with an evaporative cooling apparatus is provided. The system may include a pre-evaporative media and a cooling media, each having a fiber pad with an edge coating and a distribution plate. The distribution plate operates to evenly distribute water over the entire surface. The system includes a shield with a mounting plate. The shield with the mounting plate operate to retain the pre-evaporative media and the cooling media adjacent each other; to form a seal with the distribution plate of the pre-evaporative media and with the distribution plate of the cooling media; and to shield a first water distribution pipe and a second water distribution pipe that supply water to the pre-evaporative media and the cooling media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: United Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Patent number: 10260818
    Abstract: A cooling system (20) includes a media exchanger (50), a cooling section (22), and a cooling circuit (120) for circulating a cooling fluid (130) between the media exchanger (50) and the cooling section (22). The media exchanger (50) receives outside air (38) and the cooling section (22) receives return air (32) from and interior space (34). When the cooling fluid (130) circulates into the cooling section (22) via the cooling circuit (120), the temperature of the return air (32) is reduced through indirect heat transfer between the cooling fluid (130) and the return air (32) to produce conditioned air (84). The conditioned air (84) is provided as supply air (46) into the interior space (34). When the cooling fluid circulates into the media exchanger via the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling fluid is reduced through direct heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: United Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Patent number: 10054132
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow-directing motor mount for a motor mounted within the flow stream of a moving air. A flow-directing motor mount is described. Embodiments of the flow-directing motor mount cause a change in the direction of flow of a air stream constrained by a air intake cone or baffle and flowing through a HVAC device, such as a fan of an air-handler assembly. The change in direction of flow creates an angular momentum in the air stream in the direction of rotation of a fan, increasing the overall operating efficiency of the HVAC device. By increasing the operating efficiency, the air resistance created by the flow-directing motor mount supports coupling a motor to the HVAC device is offset, enabling the HVAC device to operate at a higher efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: United Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kinkel
  • Publication number: 20170241441
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow-directing motor mount for a motor mounted within the flow stream of a moving air. A flow-directing motor mount is described. Embodiments of the flow-directing motor mount cause a change in the direction of flow of a air stream constrained by a air intake cone or baffle and flowing through a HVAC device, such as a fan of an air-handler assembly. The change in direction of flow creates an angular momentum in the air stream in the direction of rotation of a fan, increasing the overall operating efficiency of the HVAC device. By increasing the operating efficiency, the air resistance created by the flow-directing motor mount supports coupling a motor to the HVAC device is offset, enabling the HVAC device to operate at a higher efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: STEPHEN W. KINKEL
  • Patent number: 9448001
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first indirect heat exchanger configured to receive return air from an interior space and output conditioned air back into the interior space. The cooling system further includes a second indirect heat exchanger configured to receive outside air. A fluid conduit directs a flow of cooling fluid from the first indirect heat exchanger, through the second indirect heat exchanger, and back to the first indirect heat exchanger. A pump circulates the cooling fluid between the first and second indirect heat exchangers at a fluid velocity that is relatively slow. Additionally, return air and outside air flows through corresponding indirect heat exchangers at air velocities that are also relatively slow. The relatively slow fluid velocity and air velocities enhance an efficiency of heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the return air and between the cooling fluid and outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kinkel
  • Publication number: 20160102919
    Abstract: A cooling system (20) includes a media exchanger (50), a cooling section (22), and a cooling circuit (120) for circulating a cooling fluid (130) between the media exchanger (50) and the cooling section (22). The media exchanger (50) receives outside air (38) and the cooling section (22) receives return air (32) from and interior space (34). When the cooling fluid (130) circulates into the cooling section (22) via the cooling circuit (120), the temperature of the return air (32) is reduced through indirect heat transfer between the cooling fluid (130) and the return air (32) to produce conditioned air (84). The conditioned air (84) is provided as supply air (46) into the interior space (34). When the cooling fluid circulates into the media exchanger via the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling fluid is reduced through direct heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the outside air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Patent number: 9243809
    Abstract: A cooling system (20) includes a media exchanger (50), a cooling section (22), and a cooling circuit (120) for circulating a cooling fluid (130) between the media exchanger (50) and the cooling section (22). The media exchanger (50) receives outside air (38) and the cooling section (22) receives return air (32) from and interior space (34). When the cooling fluid (130) circulates into the cooling section (22) via the cooling circuit (120), the temperature of the return air (32) is reduced through indirect heat transfer between the cooling fluid (130) and the return air (32) to produce conditioned air (84). The conditioned air (84) is provided as supply air (46) into the interior space (34). When the cooling fluid circulates into the media exchanger via the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling fluid is reduced through direct heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Publication number: 20150114027
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first indirect heat exchanger configured to receive return air from an interior space and output conditioned air back into the interior space. The cooling system further includes a second indirect heat exchanger configured to receive outside air. A fluid conduit directs a flow of cooling fluid from the first indirect heat exchanger, through the second indirect heat exchanger, and back to the first indirect heat exchanger. A pump circulates the cooling fluid between the first and second indirect heat exchangers at a fluid flow rate that is relatively flow. Additionally, return air and outside air flows through corresponding indirect heat exchangers at air velocities that are also relatively slow. The relatively slow fluid flow rate and air velocities enhance an efficiency of heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the return air and between the cooling fluid and outside air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kinkel
  • Patent number: 8584739
    Abstract: An adiabatic cooling unit (20) comprising a fluid conduit (26), a cooling cell (28), and a building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is provided. A cooling fluid (24) flows from the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to the cooling cell (28) and returns to the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) through the fluid conduit (26). The cooling cell (28) transfers latent heat from the cooling fluid (24) to the air (22) flowing through the adiabatic cooler unit (20). The building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is a heat exchanger permitting the transfer of heat from a fluid (34) flowing through a building (36) and the cooling fluid (24). Additional heat exchangers (46) may be used between the cooling cell (28) and the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to further cool the cooling fluid (24) prior to the cooling fluid (24) reducing the temperature of the fluid (34) flowing through the building (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: United Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kinkel
  • Patent number: 8250878
    Abstract: A system (20) for conditioning air (30) includes conditioning circuits (26, 28). Each of the circuits (26, 28) includes a heat transfer coil (54, 60) residing in a supply section (22) of the system (20), and a heat transfer coil (56, 62) residing in a return section (24) of the system (20). A controller (50) in communication with the circuits (26, 28) determines one of a heating mode (78, 110) and a cooling mode (148, 150) for an interior space (34). The controller (50) selectively actuates the conditioning circuits (26, 28) to condition outside air (30) entering the supply section (22) to produce conditioned supply air (36) for provision into space (34) and to recover heating and cooling energy from return air (38) entering the return section (24) from the space (34) prior to its discharge from the system (20) as exhaust air (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: United Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Publication number: 20120211198
    Abstract: A cooling system (20) includes a media exchanger (50), a cooling section (22), and a cooling circuit (120) for circulating a cooling fluid (130) between the media exchanger (50) and the cooling section (22). The media exchanger (50) receives outside air (38) and the cooling section (22) receives return air (32) from and interior space (34). When the cooling fluid (130) circulates into the cooling section (22) via the cooling circuit (120), the temperature of the return air (32) is reduced through indirect heat transfer between the cooling fluid (130) and the return air (32) to produce conditioned air (84). The conditioned air (84) is provided as supply air (46) into the interior space (34). When the cooling fluid circulates into the media exchanger via the cooling circuit, the temperature of the cooling fluid is reduced through direct heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the outside air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Kinkel
  • Publication number: 20110100602
    Abstract: An adiabatic cooling unit (20) comprising a fluid conduit (26), a cooling cell (28), and a building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is provided. A cooling fluid (24) flows from the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to the cooling cell (28) and returns to the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) through the fluid conduit (26). The cooling cell (28) transfers latent heat from the cooling fluid (24) to the air (22) flowing through the adiabatic cooler unit (20). The building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) is a heat exchanger permitting the transfer of heat from a fluid (34) flowing through a building (36) and the cooling fluid (24). Additional heat exchangers (46) may be used between the cooling cell (28) and the building-cooling unit heat exchanger (30) to further cool the cooling fluid (24) prior to the cooling fluid (24) reducing the temperature of the fluid (34) flowing through the building (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Kinkel