Patents Examined by Albert W. Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5316078
    Abstract: A substantially planar panel heat exchanger having an elongated liquid storage vessel in the form of a closed loop that is adapted for circulation of liquid. The loop is substantially planar and adapted to be disposed substantially vertically. The elongated storage vessel has a Peltier thermoelectric device located such that one end of the Peltier device is in contact with liquid in the liquid storage vessel and disposed to heat or cool the liquid. The closed loop for the circulation of liquid is comprised of a plurality of vertical tubes formed from a thermoplastic polymer having a diameter in the range of 1.3-6.4 mm and a wall thickness of 0.13-0.76 mm. A first set of tubes is for upward movement of liquid from the Peltier device and a second set of tubes is for downward movement of liquid to the Peltier device. The first and second set of tubes are interconnected to form a closed planar loop and are in fluid flow communication with the end of the Peltier device in contact with liquid in the closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Anthony J. Cesaroni
  • Patent number: 5316075
    Abstract: The cold plate is a multiple layer structure with an inlet manifold for pressurized coolant liquid. The manifold is covered by a nozzle plate which directs liquid coolant jets against the mounting plate. The mounting plate carries the device to be cooled. The high velocity liquid jets impinge directly on the mounting plate to minimize the boundary layer to enhance heat transfer from the mounting plate to the liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: William Quon, Herbert J. Tanzer
  • Patent number: 5316072
    Abstract: A sealing member for use in a gas preheater is adapted to seal a gap between an outer peripheral portion of a rotor and a housing in the gas preheater or a gap between a side face of the rotor and a radial sealing member. At least a part of said sealing member is made of an inorganic glass and/or a wear resistive ceramic having a coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 70.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree. C. A sealing member for use in a gas preheater may comprise a heat resistive ceramic, and a corrosion resistive steel, wherein the ceramic is substantially surrounded with the corrosion resistive steel, excluding a sliding surface of the ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Seike, Keiichiro Watanabe, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 5316076
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for enforced heat transmission between a solid or liquid alimentary body and an ambient gas takes place in connection with cooling/freezing or when cooking, frying or drying the entire part or parts of the alimentary body. This method and arrangement uses a low-frequency standing sound wave. The apparatus uses a low-frequency sound generator having a pulsator part and a resonator part. The resonator part is acoustically virtually closed and is designed so that the alimentary body, which is to be exposed to enforced heat transmission, is located within a zone inside the resonator part where the standing sound wave has a particle velocity anti-node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Frigoscandia Food Process Systems AB
    Inventors: Roland Sandstrom, Ann Maxe, Tore Strandberg, Lars Lundsten, Alvar Andersson
  • Patent number: 5314006
    Abstract: A sheet metal heating package for heat exchangers including a plurality of superimposed sheets having at least a partial profiling for instance embossments leaving free flow channels in between themselves, which sheets carry a coating serving as a surface protection, for instance a layer enamel, the sheet metal heating package having a profiling of the sheets, where at least the border edges of the respectively adjoining directly superposed sheets have a minimum spacing from each other at all points or are aligned so as not to contact each other, the border zones of the sheets and possibly the process technology-wise caused material accumulations arising at the border edges of the coating are in this way protected against chipping or spalling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Apparatebau Rothemuhle Brandt & Kritler Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Simon Kaastra, Gerd Koster
  • Patent number: 5314011
    Abstract: A heat pipe is divided longitudinally by a divider wall into a vapor channel and into a liquid channel. The divider wall is provided, preferably at uniform axial spacings with bulges that form a restriction in the flow cross-sectional area of the vapor channel and an increase in the flow cross-sectional area of the liquid channel. A small diameter through bore is positioned at the peak of each bulge to connect the liquid channel with the vapor channel at this point. The reduced pressure at the restriction in the vapor channel is sufficient to suck gas or vapor bubbles collected under the bulge into the vapor channel, but insufficient to pull liquid into the vapor channel. The cross-sectional flow area of the liquid channel increases steadily toward each bulge, either from a point centrally between two bulges or from a point directly downstream of a bulge toward the next bulge as viewed in the flow direction of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Leidinger, Ruediger Meyer, Klaus P. Nickel
  • Patent number: 5314005
    Abstract: This invention discloses novel compositions of matter, in particulate forms, which function as heat transfer agents for heating or cooling applications. The particulates comprise solid carriers containing microwave responsive substances which are liquid at a predetermined elevated operating temperature. These particulate agents, preheated by microwave energy, serve as sources of dry heat or moist heat, depending on their composition. They also serve as sources of cold, when prechilled in a freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Reuven Dobry
  • Patent number: 5314007
    Abstract: The combination of a converter in which liquid petroleum gas is changed in phase from liquid to gas preparatory to fueling an internal combustion engine by adding heat from a fluid, a dual three-way valve, an air-fluid heat exchanger in a human-occupied compartment (the cab), and a fluid circulation system independent of the internal combustion engine cooling system. The dual three-way valve's position either directs engine coolant tapped from the engine through the converter and air-fluid heat exchanger, partially cooling the cab, or directs fluid from the independent fluid circulation system through the converter and air-fluid heat exchanger, fully cooling the cab. As an alternate embodiment for installations when engine coolant can become temporarily too hot to exit the inverter below ambient cab temperature, an independent bypass may be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Gary M. Christenson
  • Patent number: 5314010
    Abstract: A wick layer is attached and fixed to one surface of a metal tape without forming a gap with the metal surface, and thereafter, the tape is rolled to form a pipe, such that the surface having the wick layer serves as an inner surface of the pipe. Trapezoid-shaped projecting surface portions are formed on at least an outer surface portion of the pipe, and project in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuji Sakaya, Ryuichi Okiai, Masataka Mochizuki, Kouichi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 5311931
    Abstract: A method for the efficient cooling of a cavity-bearing surface is disclosed. The method includes the provision of an extra-fine coolant mist to the surface to be cooled wherein the surface has at least two projections and at least one cavity therebetween. The mist is deposited so as to form an ultra-thin coolant film upon the surface and at least one coolant mist vortex within the cavity. The film is evaporated from its outside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventor: Richard S. L. Lee
  • Patent number: 5309851
    Abstract: The present invention involves a regenerative thermal oxidation apparatus for purifying gases by thermal oxidation and for exchange of heat between inleting and outleting gases. The apparatus has a plurality of thermal chamber units, each such unit having a gate with at least one gate orifice movably located in a linear fashion against a base surface so as to alternatively align with various inlet and outlet openings. The improvement involves the use of a plurality of seals located between the gate and the openings with sufficient sealing capabilities between the gate and the openings to maintain each chamber at an elevated pressure, i.e. above atmospheric pressure, and so as to reduce leakage of gases from each of the chambers and reduce condensation during operation. The invention is also directed to the method utilizing this apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventors: Richard G. Reimlinger, James L. Nester
  • Patent number: 5309986
    Abstract: A heat pipe includes an air tight elongated container and a heat carrier sealed in the container. The elongated container has a flat bottom wall serving as a heat receiving portion and a top wall serving as a heat dissipating portion. A liquid passage for moving condensed heat carrier in a slanted direction and parallel directions with respect to the longitudinal axis by capillary action is provided on the inner wall surfaces of the container. The heat carrier which has been condensed into liquid flows along the liquid passage to be distributed entirely over the bottom wall surface where it efficiently absorbs heat to be evaporated again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Satomi Itoh
  • Patent number: 5309985
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for sorption heat pumping at high efficiency in a smooth and continuous manner using a multiplicity of stationary triplex sorption modules. The hermetically sealed trisorption modules, each of which contains at least two solid sorbents, are free of pumps, valves, restrictors, or any similar devices for flow control of refrigerant or sorbent. The apparatus contains no moving parts beyond a small number of control and motive devices for the heat transfer fluids. The preferred refrigerant is ammonia and the preferred sorbents are the solid type with monovariant equilibrium, e.g., BaCl.sub.2, SrCl.sub.2, CaCl.sub.2, MnCl.sub.2, FeCl.sub.2 and SrBr.sub.2.The apparatus is preferably adapted for residential or small-scale commercial space-conditioning applications, and operates at double-effect efficiency in both the heating and cooling modes without inter-module heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5307867
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising an outer tube, one or more inner tubes disposed with interstice within said outer tube, and a spiral element extending longitudinally within said inner tube(s). The spiral element is made up of a plurality of unit elements connected together with a connection angle of 0.degree.. Each of the unit elements has a twist angle of 180.degree., with the direction of twist being reversed from one to a neighboring unit element. Channeling phenomenon is effectively avoided. Heat exchange medium with Rheynolds number Re>10.sup.4 is suitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Noritake Co., Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Yasuda, Katsuhiro Kano, Tsutomu Ueda
  • Patent number: 5305821
    Abstract: In order to improve a heat storage device comprising a storage container which has an inner chamber for accommodating alkali and alkaline earth compounds, in particular alkali and alkaline earth halides, and their eutectics as storage medium such that mechanical stresses no longer occur and the behavior of the heat storage device is such that its capability for receiving and discharging energy may be calculated as far as possible, it is suggested that a substantially open-pored structure consisting of a material wettable by the storage medium be arranged in the inner chamber and that the structure be soaked with the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer-Luft und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventor: Stefan Weingartner
  • Patent number: 5303768
    Abstract: An improved capillary pumped loop evaporator includes circumferential grooves formed in the outer heat exchanger portion of the evaporator. The grooves open to the interface existing between the heat exchanger and a centrally positioned tubular wick. Axially extending vapor channels are formed in the wick and also open onto the interface. The circumferential grooves continuously communicate with the interface and provide a vapor escape to the vapor channels which direct vapor passage from the evaporator. By shortening the vapor path from the interface, a thinner vapor barrier is possible at the interface which results in more efficient heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Alario, Fred Edelstein, Robert L. Kosson, Maria Liandris
  • Patent number: 5303769
    Abstract: A thermosiphon reboiler heat exchanger which integrates multiple parallel reboilers into a single unit and a heating method are disclosed. The present heat exchanger utilizes a compartmentalized shell for vaporizing a tube-side liquid with a plurality of hot shell-side fluids. The present apparatus is particularly useful for a fractionation system in a phenol manufacture process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventor: Otto H. Hoegberg
  • Patent number: 5299633
    Abstract: A heat exchanger device for refrigeration driers in compressed-air installations is described. Such heat exchanger devices have an air/air heat exchanger (1) and a refrigerant/air heat exchanger (2). According to the invention, the air/air heat exchanger is produced as a plate heat exchanger and the refrigerant/air heat exchanger is produced as a combined tube/plate heat exchanger. The tube/plate heat exchanger has at least one unit containing a tube coil being coiled in a meandering manner and forming two spaced broad sides, and two plates, each plate being fastened at one of the two broad sides (FIG. 1 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Autokuhler GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Werner Bruggemann, Josef Gievers
  • Patent number: 5299630
    Abstract: A method of rapidly heating e.g. a vehicle engine to its operative temperature during cold starting periods. The vehicle engine is in heat exchange relationship with a section of a cooling fluid flow circuit which furthermore includes a sensible heat storage means. The heat carrier is fed into the heat storage means at the beginning of an inoperative period and is re-fed into said fluid flow circuit section in heat exchange relationship with the engine at the beginning of an operative period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventor: Oskar Schatz
  • Patent number: 5299629
    Abstract: An interlocking checker brick used to form a checkerwork for use in recovering heat in thermal regenerators and recuperators. The checker brick is made of a refractory material and comprises a rectangular top, a rectangular base, two side walls and two end walls. The end walls have a trapezoidal shape and therefore each side wall forms an acute angle with respect to the base. This provides a brick that tapers in thickness from the base to the top and is trapezoidal in cross section. Checkerworks utilizing these bricks are arranged to improve the amount of exposed brick surface that acts as a thermal surface and to increase turbulence while reducing laminar flow during alternating cycles of flowing gases and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: North American Refractories Company
    Inventor: Jack Hyde