Patents Examined by Albert W. Davis
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Patent number: 5482113Abstract: A heat exchanger, especially for use in conjunction with a wide range of computer systems ranging from work stations to massively parallel processors is employable with both air and water cooling systems. In particular, a heat exchanger is provided which is convertible from a heat sink modality to an air cooling modality and finally to a liquid cooling modality in response to either increased performance demands or an increase in the number of processors or circuit components employed. The conversion may be carried out in the field and provides a flexible and less costly upgradeability path for data processing customers.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1993Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dereje Agonafer, Timothy M. Anderson, Gregory M. Chrysler, Richard C. Chu, Robert E. Simons, David T. Vader
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Patent number: 5417277Abstract: A heat exchanger, such as a condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning installation, has a fluid manifold comprising a tubular wall having a number of through apertures in which the ends of fluid flow tubes of the heat exchanger are fitted. These apertures are aligned in the axial direction. In the region of the tubular wall lying between two consecutive ones of the said apertures, the tubular wall is formed with a concavity or a flat extending in the circumferential direction. The tubular wall can thus be immobilized against rotation by applying it against a flat surface so that the flow tubes can be correctly introduced into the apertures.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1992Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Valeo Thermique MoteurInventor: Philippe Le Gauyer
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Patent number: 5404938Abstract: A single assembly heat transfer device installed in an environmental control apparatus having a primary evaporator, a two-section heat pipe having an evaporator section and a condenser section, and an end plate. The primary evaporator, the evaporator section and the condenser section are mounted on the end plate, thereby forming a single assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1992Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Heat Pipe Technology, Inc.Inventor: Khanh Dinh
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Patent number: 5398519Abstract: A thermal control system in which a boiling liquid refrigerant is vaporized by heat addition from the system electronics. The pressure on the boiling liquid refrigerant and the vaporized refrigerant thereover is maintained constant so that the temperature of vaporization is maintained constant. For this reason, the boiling liquid refrigerant rapidly vaporizes and concomitantly removes from the system the very large amount of heat required for the refrigerant to pass from the liquid to the gaseous phase. The heat transfer rates under these conditions are extremely high. In addition to heat addition to the liquid before vaporization, the mass of liquid vaporized absorbs heat during vaporization of the liquid. The transition from liquid to vapor occurs at a constant temperature which is controlled by controlling the pressure at which the vaporization takes place.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1992Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Richard Weber, Donald C. Price
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Patent number: 5398747Abstract: A method and system for preheating one or more auxiliary components of an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine or other means for producing hot exhaust gases. The method and system use waste thermal energy extracted from engine exhaust gases produced when the engine is running. This thermal energy is stored in a special thermal storage material in the form of chemical potential by a direct dehydration/hydration process. The thermal energy is released during a cold start and used to warm ambient air, which may then be conveyed to one or more desired auxiliary components, such as the catalytic converter, the passenger cabin or the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1992Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Tufts UniversityInventor: Ioannis N. Miaoulis
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Patent number: 5390729Abstract: Cooling liquid flowing through cooling-liquid passages cools in heat-transmission manner an inner layer on an inner surface of an impermeable intermediate layer and is directed through a piping to an interface between the intermediate and outer layers, whereby the porous outer layer is cooled by latent heat generated by evaporation of the cooling liquid infiltrated into the porous outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Sakurai, Masahiro Shiotsu, Toshikazu Yano, Masao Ochi, Toshihiro Sugawara
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Patent number: 5390730Abstract: A vessel-type fluid cooling system includes an upper mixing chamber and a lower holding chamber, the chambers being separated by a transverse separating wall. One or more cooling tubes extend between the mixing chamber and the holding chamber, and cooling elements, such as fluid-cooled tubes, are located within each cooling tube. A heated fluid inlet provides heated fluid to the mixing chamber, and a cooled fluid outlet discharges cooled fluid from the holding chamber. Each cooling tube includes one or more inlets toward its upper end, and fluid is supplied from the mixing through the inlets to passages defined by the cooling tubes for cooling the fluid as the fluid flows downwardly through the cooling tubes. The cooled fluid is discharged into the holding chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Sterling, Inc.Inventor: John V. Goelzer
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Patent number: 5388415Abstract: A system for a cooler comprises: a heat exchange tube receiving a supply of pressurized gas, a gas escape aperture communicating with the interior of the heat exchange tube for permitting escape of the pressurized gas and expansion thereof during cooling mode, and a bypass assembly associated with said heat exchange tube and located after said gas escape aperture which during a cleaning mode enables most of the pressurized gas to exit the heat exchange tube without flowing through said gas escape aperture. The bypass assembly comprises a flush valve which is closed during said cooling mode and which is opened during said cleaning mode. According to a preferred embodiment, the heat exchange tube is helically wound over a cylindrical core and installed inside an insulated housing. The system may also be utilized as a gas purity tester, optionally with an additional gas pressure regulator, wherein a sensor will indicate the extent of the gas purity.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1994Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: State of Israel - Ministry of Defence Armament Development Authority, RafaelInventors: Ofer Glinka, Shmuel Segev, Ariel Trau
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Patent number: 5388637Abstract: An integral adsorbent-heat exchanger apparatus for use in ammonia refrigerant heat pump systems. The apparatus has a finned tube heat exchange member. A bonded, pyrolyzed activated carbon adsorbent matrix, formed from a mixture of activated carbon particles and resol bonder, is tightly adjoined to the fins and the tube to form an integral apparatus. The integral apparatus is capable of withstanding repetitive adsorption and desorption cycles without the matrix becoming unbonded and without the matrix becoming unadjoined from the fins and tube. The apparatus permits very high rates of adsorption and desorption of refrigerant and very high rates of heat transfer between the refrigerant and the heat transfer fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1992Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jack A. Jones, Andre H. Yavrouian
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Patent number: 5385203Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a small-sized thermosiphon free from deterioration in its cooling efficiency caused by pressure loss of a refrigerant and in which a two-phase flow of a fluid to be cooled is sure to be distributed uniformly. The thermosiphon includes a cooling cylinder 1 having a plurality of independent refrigerant tanks 2 formed by partition walls 1c which are disposed between fluid inlet port 1a and outlet port 1b inside the cylinder, and a plate fin type heat exchanger 50 extending inside the cylinder through the partition walls 1c hermetically sealably. Under this construction, it is not necessary to use pipes for the circulation of refrigerant C between the refrigerant tanks 2 and refrigerant circulation paths 54 in the heat exchanger 50, thus preventing the deterioration of the cooling efficiency caused by pressure loss of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1994Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko ShoInventors: Ken-ichiro Mitsuhashi, Koichi Ueno, Shin-ichiro Kashihara
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Patent number: 5381860Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a narrow thermocline in a thermal energy liquid storage tank in a cooling system for a commercial building in which the tank provides cooling liquid, e.g., water, during a peak electricity demand period to allow the building system to reduce its electric demand during such period. The tank incorporates a water distribution system including a generally centrally positioned, vertically oriented pipe extending from a bottom of the tank to about a top of the tank. A flange is positioned about mid-way of the pipe for separating an upper section of the pipe from a lower section. A water return line is coupled to the pipe above the flange and a water extraction line is connected to the pipe below the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced cool water conduits are connected to the pipe generally adjacent the bottom of the tank and a plurality of circumferentially spaced warm water conduits are connected to the pipe generally adjacent the top of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1993Date of Patent: January 17, 1995Assignee: Dirrecktor TES Systems, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Mather
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Patent number: 5379610Abstract: Cooling liquid flowing through cooling-liquid passages cools in heat-transmission manner an inner layer on an inner surface of an impermeable intermediate layer and is directed through a piping to an interface between the intermediate and outer layers, whereby the porous outer layer is cooled by latent heat generated by evaporation of the cooling liquid infiltrated into the porous outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Sakurai, Masahiro Shiotsu, Toshikazu Yano, Masao Ochi, Toshihiro Sugawara
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Patent number: 5379833Abstract: A heat exchanger for a refrigeration circuit for condensing gaseous refrigerant and incorporating an integral refrigerant subcooler. The heat exchanger utilizes an oversized header communicating with the heat exchanger coils of sufficient volume to serve as a reservoir for condensed refrigerant eliminating the need for a separate receiver receptacle. Refrigerant subcooling occurs at the lower region of the receiver whereby the subcooler is automatically provided with liquified refrigerant from the condensing portion of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Koolant Koolers, Inc.Inventor: Douglas H. Mathews
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Patent number: 5379832Abstract: The heat exchanger is made up of a shell having a coaxial tubular outer and inner wall with end plates attached thereto to enclose a tubular shell cavity provided with an inlet and outlet for a first fluid. Within the shell cavity is a spiral coil of tubing through which flows a second fluid. The coil is wound helically about the axis of the shell and sized to fit the inner and outer walls with limited radial clearance. The coils are axially spaced from one another to define a spiral flow path within the shell cavity for the fluids to first flow. The radial and axial clearance establish a spiral flow path and an axial flow path which are relatively sized to cause the first fluid to travel in a spiral motion, thereby enhancing heat transfer between the first and second fluids. Also, an enclosed central receiver, include communication with the shell cavity, may be formed within the inner tubular wall which serves as a fluid accumulator or reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Aqua Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jack C. Dempsey
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Patent number: 5379830Abstract: A heat pipe includes a pipe, a bottom plate, and a cap plate. The cap plate includes a vertical aperture extending so as to be penetrated vertically and a horizontal aperture extending from the side surface to the vertical aperture. A sleeve having a through hole extending vertically is attached to the vertical aperture of the cap plate. A working fluid serving as heat carrier repeating evaporation and condensation is introduced into the pipe from the through hole of the sleeve. The sleeve is deformed by impact externally applied through the horizontal aperture, so that the through hole is closed. A radiating device includes a base block having a plurality of guide grooves on the upper surface, and a plurality of heat pipes having the bottom portions fitted to be secured into the guide groove. The structure of the heat pipes is the same as that of the above-described heat pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Itoh Research & Development Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Itoh
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Patent number: 5377489Abstract: A steam turbine system including a low pressure (LP) turbine has a plurality of moisture extraction points at which a steam-water mixture is extracted and passed through a respective one of a corresponding plurality of heat exchangers. Each exchanger passes the steam-water mixture in heat exchange relationship with feedwater in a feedwater conduit. A low pressure and low temperature final stage extraction point on the steam turbine is coupled to a condenser, and water collected at the condenser is directed into the feedwater conduit. The system separates at least some of the steam in the steam-water mixture from the final stage extraction point and passes this steam in heat exchange relationship with water in the feedwater conduit.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1992Date of Patent: January 3, 1995Assignee: Westinghouse Electric CorporationInventors: George J. Silvestri, Jr., Paul W. Viscovich
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Patent number: 5377745Abstract: A cooling device includes a fin unit with an upper side to which a fan unit is mounted and an underside to which a central processing unit is mounted. The fin unit includes a base plate and a plurality of fins projecting upwardly from an upper side of the base plate and extending parallel to a perimeter of the base plate thereby forming a frame-like structure with a second perimeter and defining a space therein. Four ledges are defined between the perimeter of the base plate and the perimeter of the fins. At least one hook member is formed on each of two opposed ledges and a slot is formed in the ledge adjacent to each hook member. A plurality of second fins project upwardly from the upper side of the base plate in the space defined by the first-mentioned fins, each second fin having a height less than that of the first fin for mounting the fan unit in the space above the second fins.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1993Date of Patent: January 3, 1995Inventor: Hsin M. Hsieh
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Patent number: 5375649Abstract: Ventilation device with a heat exchange element, preferably for arrangement in an outer wall (13) of premises which are to be ventilated with balanced volumes of ambient air (15). The ventilation device comprises a pair of air flow passages (23A,23B) each including two separate ventilation tubes (16,19) aligned in the direction of air flow, with generally identical heat exchange elements (18,22) at the ends thereof. A fan (24A,24B) is located centrally between the two heat exchange elements in each passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1993Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Inventors: Trond Nilsen, Erling Normann
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Patent number: 5372016Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary or branch conduits. The use of multiple parallel secondary conduits significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the system. Because of the increased efficiency of such a system, less piping is required, which in turn reduces the cost of labor and materials to install such a system and the area of land mass required to contain it. Moreover, because the heat exchange units are modular, they can be prefabricated at a remote site and then conveniently transported to construction site and installed much more quickly than the extended lengths of conventional piping.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Climate Master, Inc.Inventor: John P. Rawlings
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Patent number: 5372188Abstract: An improved heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the ambient and a refrigerant that may be in a liquid or vapor phase. The same includes a pair of spaced headers with one of the headers having a refrigerant inlet and the other of the headers having a refrigerant outlet. A heat exchanger tube extends between the headers and is in fluid communication with each of the headers. The tube defines a plurality of hydraulically parallel refrigerant flow paths between the headers and each of the refrigerant flow paths has a hydraulic diameter in the range of about 0.015 to about 0.07 inches.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1992Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Jack C. Dudley, Leon A. Guntly, Michael J. Reinke