Patents Examined by Alexis K Cox
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Patent number: 10802515Abstract: An HVAC controller includes (1) an interface coupled to an air quality sensor proximate to the premises and coupled to a data source external to the HVAC system, the interface configured to receive environmental data from both the air quality sensor and the external data source and (2) a processor configured to automatically operate a demand unit of the HVAC system based on the environmental data.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Al Mirza, Darko Hadzidedic, Wojciech Grohman, Timothy H. Thorson, Ammar Kailani, Timothy E. Wallaert
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Patent number: 10746448Abstract: A system includes a refrigerant compressor, an electric motor and configured to drive the refrigerant compressor, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the compressor in a liquid clearing start mode where electrical current through the motor is prevented from exceeding a predetermined current limit for a period of time not to exceed a predetermined period of time, and is configured to operate the compressor in a run mode in response to determining the motor exceeds a predetermined speed threshold at or before expiration of the predetermined period of time, wherein the run mode does not prevent electrical current through the motor from exceeding said predetermined current limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Benjamin James Sykora, Nathan Thomas West, David Marshall Foye, Dennis Myron Beekman, Korwin Jay Anderson, Robert Bakkestuen
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Patent number: 10712029Abstract: An evaporative air cooler for cooling ambient air includes a housing, a tank, a misting structure, a filter structure, and a fan. The housing includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and side panels defining an interior of the evaporative air cooler. The tank is positioned adjacent to the top panel and at least one of the side panels. The tank receives, stores, and releases liquid. The misting structure comprises a mister and a misting structure coupling and creates a mist within the evaporative air cooler. The filter structure has a plurality of filters for absorbing the mist. The fan draws the ambient air into the evaporative air cooler and directs the ambient air through the filter structure and out of the evaporative air cooler. The evaporative air cooler cools the ambient air by at least one of the mist and the filter structure before exiting the evaporative air cooler.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Scott Barlettano
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Patent number: 10670162Abstract: A fluid bypass valve includes a valve member disposed within a valve chamber of a housing. A temperature based actuating mechanism moves the valve member between a first position and a second position in response to a temperature change. A temporary flow control device undergoes a one-time only shape change between a first shape and a second shape. The temporary flow control device enables fluid communication between a first port and a second port when exhibiting the first shape, and does not enable fluid communication between the first port and the second port when exhibiting the second shape. The temporary flow control device exhibits the first shape when having an initial temperature less than or equal to a second pre-defined temperature, and exhibits the second shape in response to a first heating of the temporary flow control device to a temperature that is greater than the second pre-defined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xiujie Gao, Nicholas W. Pinto, Scott R. Webb, Nilesh D. Mankame, Richard J. Skurkis
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Patent number: 10670289Abstract: An HVAC controller controllable in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat and may include a housing that at least partially houses a control module, a microphone, a speaker, a display, and a voice recognition module. The voice recognition module recognizes a predetermined audible trigger from a recorded voice message or streamed voice message, and in response, provide one or more audio clips via the speaker and/or video clips via the display to assist users in operating the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the thermostat and/or via a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: ADEMCO INC.Inventors: Jay Nelson, Hari Thiruvengada, Preston Gilmer, Thomas Gessner, Martin Adamek, Martin Skala, Juraj Buno, Soumitri Kolavennu, Max Peterschmidt, Libor Horky
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Patent number: 10669921Abstract: A thermostat valve includes a thermostat housing having engine-side and radiator-side coolant inlets that are opposed each other, a lateral coolant outlet leading to an internal combustion engine, and a valve disk. The valve disk has an end face that interacts with and faces a valve seat of the radiator-side coolant inlet. The valve disk lies between the radiator-side coolant inlet and a thermostat element arranged in the thermostat housing. The valve disk has, at the outer edge, a guiding element that includes a deflecting surface on the exterior side of the guiding element.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Werner Mietschnig
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Patent number: 10655868Abstract: A controller for controlling a number of operating heat sources is provided. The controller detects a change in a number of secondary pumps that supply a heat transfer medium to a load device, determines the number of operating heat sources that changes as a load demand of the state of a load device changes, and switches the number of operating heat sources. The controller determines the number of operating heat sources when the change in the number of secondary pumps due to the change in the load demand is detected, and changes the number of heat sources for as long as at least one of a prescribed period has passed from a time when the change in the number of secondary pumps is detected or a prescribed condition with respect to a value that varies due to the change in the number of secondary pumps is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Koki Tateishi, Satoshi Nikaido, Minoru Matsuo, Toshiaki Ouchi
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Patent number: 10648721Abstract: A household cooling appliance has an ice maker unit, a container for storing ice produced by the ice maker, a weight detection unit for capturing the weight of the ice in the container, and a display unit with a display field for displaying the weight of the ice made.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventor: Senol Temizkan
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Patent number: 10648715Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger includes a passage of a refrigerant that has a length varied depending on an operational mode. The outdoor heat exchanger is included in an air conditioner and configured to operate as a condenser in a cooling operation of the air conditioner and as an evaporator in a heating operation of the air conditioner. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates, a plurality of first refrigerant tubes, a plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the cooling operation, a condensed refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes, the plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the heating operation, an evaporated refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes, but does not flow in the plurality of second refrigerant tubes.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Hojong Jeong, Jeongseob Shin
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Patent number: 10633098Abstract: An environmental control system includes a turbo-compressor assembly and a ram air system. The turbo-compressor assembly includes a first turbine, a first compressor, and a first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger has a first heat exchanger first side in fluid communication a first turbine outlet, a first heat exchanger second side, a first heat exchanger inlet in fluid communication a first compressor outlet, and a first heat exchanger outlet. The ram air system has a first ram air inlet in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger second side, and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first ram air inlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Brian R. Shea
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Patent number: 10638645Abstract: An assembly for containing and detecting leaks from a coolant line includes a basin with side and end walls, and at least one U-shaped cavity in an end wall for receiving a coolant line of a liquid cooling system. A bottom of the basin includes at least one sloped interior surface arranged to divert water in the basin to a local low point, where a sensor is positioned and operable to detect liquid in the collection basin. A leak detection system can employ a leak detection assembly to detect and/or locate a leak.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Jon Moen, Vijay Patel, Felipe Enrique Ortega Gutierrez, Yaotsung Lee
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Patent number: 10634369Abstract: The dual-cycle and dual-outlet air conditioner includes two separate condensation-evaporation cycles that operate independently with respect to one another, but are contained within the same housing. Each cycle includes its own evaporator and condenser, but with a common return air intake/evaporator blower and a common condenser/exhaust fan. Two separate streams of cooled air are produced by the two separate evaporators, which may then be transferred through two separate ducts to supply cooled air to different zones within a building. The two separate condensation-evaporation cycles may be independently controlled by separate thermostats in the different zones of the building.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Inventor: Waleed KH. A. KH. Al-Deraiei
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Patent number: 10627145Abstract: A vector control system is used to control a vapor compression circuit that includes a compressor motor. The vector control system is used to monitor the vapor compression circuit and adjust the speed of one or more motors within the vapor compression circuit to increase efficiency of the system by taking into account the torque forces placed on the compressor motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Rocky ResearchInventors: Kaveh Khalili, Uwe Rockenfeller
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Patent number: 10624363Abstract: An apparatus for freezing products including an ejector venture system having a housing, an interior cavity, at least one port with a valve for releasing pressurized fluid into the interior cavity, at least one channel with a valve for introducing liquid product into the interior cavity, freezing liquid product by mixing it with expanding pressurized fluid.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITYInventors: Syed S. H. Rizvi, Michael E. Wagner
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Patent number: 10627123Abstract: A thermostat for a building space includes a communication interface and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to communicate with one or more user devices and a master device. The processing circuit is configured to determine a master temperature setpoint based on input received from the master device via the communications interface and determine a non-master temperature setpoint based on input received from the one or more user devices via the communications interface. The processing circuit is configured to select one of the master temperature setpoint and the non-master temperature setpoint based on an operating mode of the thermostat. Based on the selected temperature setpoint, the processing circuit is configured to generate and provide control signals for building equipment. The control signals cause the building equipment to control an ambient temperature of the building space to the selected setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: William P. Alberth, Jr.
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Patent number: 10619876Abstract: A device includes a memory configured to store a preexisting schedule and one or more processors configured to perform operations including controlling a temperature within an enclosure according to a first setpoint, wherein the first setpoint is from the preexisting schedule and represents a temperature for when the enclosure is occupied. The operations also include accessing occupancy data indicating occupancy within the enclosure and automatically changing the first setpoint to a second setpoint upon expiration of a predetermined time interval during which no occupancy has been detected. The second setpoint requires less energy to maintain than the first setpoint, and the predetermined time interval is modified based at least in part on received manual settings that indicate occupancy following the changing to the second setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Frank E. Astier, Rangoli Sharan, Anthony Michael Fadell
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Patent number: 10619877Abstract: A portable dehumidifier includes a plurality of microchannel condenser coils, a fan, and a control panel. The fan is located adjacent to an airflow outlet and is configured to generate an airflow that flows into the portable dehumidifier through an airflow inlet and out of the portable dehumidifier through the airflow outlet. The airflow flows through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow. The control panel includes a status bar that is configured to light up in a plurality of colors to permit an operator to view an operational status of the portable dehumidifier.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Therma-Stor LLCInventors: Todd R. DeMonte, Steven S. Dingle, Joshua William Henry, James A. Scharping, Jr., Jerome Verhoeven
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Patent number: 10619875Abstract: A controller of an indoor unit included in an air-conditioning system determines whether or not a communication error with the outdoor unit is an energization error that only occurs during an energization time in which electric power is fed from a commercial power supply to the outdoor unit. The controller can also determine whether or not the communication error is a connection establishment error that occurs at a time of establishing a connection with the outdoor unit. Based on determining the cause of the communication error with the outdoor unit, the controller can drive a fan by electric power fed from an emergency power supply.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Chika Tanabe, Yasuyuki Takai
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Patent number: 10612826Abstract: An HVAC system includes, an electronic expansion valve (EEV), and a controller in communication with the EEV. The controller determines a minimum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a superheat error value to a setpoint error threshold. The controller determines a maximum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a second superheat error value to a second setpoint error threshold. The controller calculates an average setpoint value based on the maximum EEV setpoint position value and the minimum EEV setpoint position value. The controller configures the EEV to a position corresponding to the average setpoint value and operate the EEV for a predetermined amount of time. The controller operates the EEV according to a PID algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Shawn A. Hern, Brian D. Rigg, Tom R. Tasker, Elton D. Ray
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Patent number: 10589593Abstract: A parking cooler which is capable of battery powered operation during engine off operation. The parking cooler or air conditioning system may vary in cooling capacities to maximize cooling or maximize battery life. The parking cooler includes one or more condensers and a housing to accommodate such variation of cooling capacity.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Dometic Sweden ABInventors: Daniel Fedor Westendarp, Thorsten Wichert, Michael Dunkel