Patents Examined by Allen J. Flanigan
  • Patent number: 10465988
    Abstract: An apparatus with a thermal reservoir liquid that acclimates to room temperature in a building over time. A heat exchange conduit routes tap water through the reservoir liquid, cooling or warming the tap water on demand relative to water that is respectively heated or chilled in attic or exterior wall pipes by weather conditions. This provides a flow of water from a cold water tap that is tolerable for hand washing and is better for delicate clothes washing than either hot or frigid water from the supply pipes, and is done without powered refrigeration or heating. The thermal reservoir liquid is contained in a tub that can be made of a material with at least 10 or 1000 times lower thermal conductivity than that of the conduit, enabling fabrication of the container from plastic or other low-cost material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Wesley J. Aksell
  • Patent number: 10458692
    Abstract: An evaporator includes a refrigerant conduit; and front and rear plates sandwiching the refrigerant conduit, each of the front and rear plates including: a plurality of ice forming columns; a set of first protrusions and a set of second protrusions defined therein, each first protrusion on the front plate and a corresponding first protrusion on the rear plate defining a respective active cavity and each second protrusion on the front plate and a corresponding second protrusion on the rear plate defining a respective passive cavity, the refrigerant conduit extending through each of the active cavities but not any of the passive cavities; and inner flat portions of the front plate and the rear plate facing each other to define respective spaced portions, wherein the active cavities and passive cavities are interspersed and separated by respective inner flat portions so as to define a plurality of ice forming sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hoshizaki America, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn O'Neal Melton, Gregg M. Wolf, David Anglin Sellers, Jeffrey B. Tatum, Robert Amalfitano, Yasuki Mizutani, Jeffrey Bion Boggs, Milaim Hoti
  • Patent number: 10443959
    Abstract: An embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the disclosure includes a core configured to receive and place a plurality of mediums in at least one heat exchange relationship, and a first manifold connected to and in fluid communication with the core at a first manifold/core interface. The first manifold includes a first end distal from the core with at least one port adapted to receive or discharge a first medium of the plurality of mediums, and a second end joined to the core at the first manifold/core interface adapted to transfer the first medium to or from a plurality of first heat exchange passages in the core. A plurality of first guide vanes in the manifold defining individual layers for the first medium, and a plurality of second guide vanes divide ones of the individual layers into a plurality of first discrete manifold flow passages extending at least part of a distance from the first end to the second end of the first manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: James Streeter, Michael Zager, Ryan Matthew Kelley, Gabriel Ruiz
  • Patent number: 10436156
    Abstract: An air fin for a heat exchanger has air channels defined by corrugations, the corrugations having generally planar flanks joined by alternating crests and troughs. Perforations extend through portions of at least some of the flanks and are aligned within two spaced apart planes. A rectangular aperture extends through at least two consecutive ones of the corrugations, and is bounded by the two planes. A method of making the air fin includes forming perforations into a continuous strip of metal sheet at regular intervals, corrugating the strip to form crests and troughs between the perforations, and punching out a portion of the strip at regular intervals. The punching out includes shearing webs between the perforations, and results in the formation of the rectangular aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Tim Hoepfner, Niko Neub, Rifaquat Cheema, Joseph Scholzen
  • Patent number: 10436514
    Abstract: Provided is a heat exchanger, including: a first heat exchange unit, which includes a first flat tube; a second heat exchange unit, which is arranged so as to be opposed to the first heat exchange unit, and includes a second flat tube; and a tank, which connects the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit to each other. The tank has an upper wall and a lower wall defining an upper end and lower end of a tank space formed in the tank, respectively. One end of the first flat tube and one end of the second flat tube are connected to the tank space. When a height from the lower wall to the upper wall is defined as X, and a height from the lower wall to the one end of the first flat tube is defined as Y1, a relation between X and Y1 satisfies Y1<(½)X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Higashiiue, Akira Ishibashi, Daisuke Ito, Yuki Ugajin, Shin Nakamura, Ryota Akaiwa
  • Patent number: 10429137
    Abstract: A heat sink includes: a heat sink body made of a metal material which includes a plurality of heat radiating fins having a flat plate shape, the heat radiating fins being arranged parallel to each other on one surface side of a base having a flat plate shape at intervals in a direction along a surface of the base; and a bridge member made of a metal material which has a plurality of grooves parallel to each other, the grooves being formed at a pitch equal to an arrangement pitch of the heat radiating fins of the heat sink body, and the grooves accommodating distal ends of the respective heat radiating fins in a press-fitted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Okuaki, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10422589
    Abstract: A heat exchanger tube is constituted by a flat tube body 14 shaped like a plurality of cylindrical tubes arranged mutually proximally in a plane and connected together at mutually proximate portions of the tubes as communicating portions 13. Cylindrical portions 15 corresponding to the cylindrical tubes of the flat tube body 14 have inner peripheries formed with swirling-flow-forming protrusions 16 directed along spiral trajectories coaxial with central axes O of the cylindrical portions 15 so that the respective cylindrical portions 15 may have individual swirling flows of the exhaust gas 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: HINO MOTORS, LTD., SANKYO RADIATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ishimori, Amane Yamamoto, Akio Oosawa
  • Patent number: 10416008
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a monitored heat exchanger system that includes a heat exchanger unit in operable engagement with a heat generating device. The heat exchanger unit has a frame; and at least one cooler coupled with the frame, the at least one cooler having an airflow side and a service fluid side. The system includes a monitoring module coupled to the heat exchanger unit. The monitoring module an at least one sensor; and at least one controller housing. A microcontroller is disposed within the controller housing and in operable communication with the at least one sensor. The at least one sensor has a rotating member configured to generate a system signal proportional to an amount of rotation of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventors: Randy Vanberg, Hamid Reza Zareie Rajani, Seyed Reza Larimi, Morteza Abbasi
  • Patent number: 10415900
    Abstract: Methods, plate elements and heat/enthalpy exchangers. a) perforating an unformed plate element with defined outer dimensions in any desired area and in any desired dimension; b) covering at least one side of the unformed plate element with a thin polymer film with latent energy exchange characteristics and; c) forming the plate element into a desired shape and a pattern of corrugations and/or embossing. The operations b) and c) may be performed in a different order. For instance, when the plate element is made out of plastic, b) may be performed before c) whereas, when the plate element is made out of aluminum (or plastic), c) may be performed before b). Operations a) and/or b) and/or c) may also, in certain embodiments, be combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: WESTWIND LIMITED
    Inventor: Marcel Riendeau
  • Patent number: 10415866
    Abstract: In an ice maker with a tray having at least one water-receiving cavity, a wall of the cavity contains a phase change material. If an ice maker of this kind is pre-cooled, so that the phase change material is solid, a great deal of heat can be removed from water poured into the cavities in a short time by the heat causing the phase change material to melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Brabenec, Adolf Feinauer, Karl-Friedrich Laible
  • Patent number: 10408550
    Abstract: There is provided a heat exchanger and a fin material for the heat exchanger that can suppress occurrence of hollow corrosion in a fin and hold cooling performance for a long period of time under a high corrosion environment. The heat exchanger includes an aluminum tube through which a working fluid circulates and an aluminum fin which is bonded to the tube. The fin has a region B around a grain boundary, and a region A around the region B. In the region B, 5.0×104 pieces/mm2 less of Al—Fe—Mn—Si based intermetallic compound, each of which has equivalent circle diameters of 0.1 to 2.5 ?m, are present. In the region A, 5.0×104 pieces/mm2 to 1.0×107 pieces/mm2 of Al—Fe—Mn—Si based intermetallic compound, each of which has equivalent circle diameters of 0.1 to 2.5 ?m, are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: UACJ Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Murase, Kotaro Kitawaki, Tomohito Kurosaki, Junji Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 10409341
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus that includes a base plate including two heat exchange units and a cover coupled to the base plate and enclosing the two heat exchange units. A recess is defined in the base plate and between the two heat exchange units. The cover and the base plate define a heat exchange chamber that includes the two heat exchange units. The cover has a first set of openings and a second set of openings, and is coupled to the base plate such that the first set of openings is above a first heat exchange unit and the second set of openings is above a second heat exchange unit. The cooling apparatus further includes a first pumping unit on the cover and over the first set of openings and a second pumping unit on the cover and over the second set of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Cooler Master Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shui Fa Tsai
  • Patent number: 10408510
    Abstract: An evaporator includes a first descending flow tube group between a first upper header and a first lower header, and a second descending flow tube group between a second upper header and a second lower header to be located windward of the first descending flow tube group. The first upper header includes a first compartment, and the second upper header includes a third compartment. A flow distribution control section for reinforcement having a refrigerant passage section for communication between the first and third compartments is disposed between the two compartments to extend over the entire lengths and heights of the two compartments. The refrigerant passage section is composed of a plurality of through holes formed in the flow distribution control section for reinforcement. The total area of the through holes is greater than that of the refrigerant passages of the heat exchange tubes of the first descending flow tube group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Kamoshida, Naohisa Higashiyama, Motoyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 10407048
    Abstract: A vehicle utilizes an internal combustion powertrain to propel front wheels and an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) to propel rear wheels. In some circumstances, a controller may need to limit motor torque in the ERAD to avoid overheating the motor, which reduces fuel efficiency. To reduce the likelihood of needing to limit motor torque, refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system is circulated through the motor housing. In response to commands from a controller, a valve routes the refrigerant either through the air conditioning system evaporator or through the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Sheldon, Kyi Shiah
  • Patent number: 10393445
    Abstract: An evaporator includes a first descending flow tube group provided between a first upper header and a first lower header, and a second descending flow tube group provided between a second upper header and a second lower header to be located windward of the first descending flow tube group. The first upper header includes a first compartment communicating with the upper end of the first descending flow tube group, and the second upper header includes a third compartment communicating with the upper end of the second descending flow tube group. A first flow distribution control section having a first refrigerant passage section for communication between the first and third compartments is disposed between these compartments. The area of a portion of the first refrigerant passage section on the upstream side is larger than the area of a portion of the first refrigerant passage section on the downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoyuki Takagi, Naohisa Higashiyama, Osamu Kamoshida
  • Patent number: 10393449
    Abstract: A heat storage member including a substrate containing a SiC sintered body as a principal ingredient and a heat storage material configured to store and radiate heat by a reversible chemical reaction with a reaction medium or a heat storage material configured to store and radiate heat by physical adsorption to a reaction medium and physical desorption from a reaction medium. The substrate has a three-dimensional network structure including a skeleton having porosity of 1% or less. A void ratio of a void formed in the three-dimensional network structure of the substrate is ranging from 30 to 95%. The heat storage material is disposed at least in a part of a surface of the void in the three-dimensional network structure of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., NGK Adrec Co., Ltd., Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shinichi Miwa, Toshiharu Kinoshita, Iori Himoto, Yukitaka Kato, Jun Kariya
  • Patent number: 10390465
    Abstract: A knee retainer for a vehicle includes at least one dissipating device configured to dissipate air, which has been tempered by an electronic element of the vehicle and is conducted on to the knee retainer. The at least one dissipating device is configured to dissipate the tempered air in such a manner that the tempered air is conducted past a region of the vehicle to be protected against temperature effects caused by the tempered air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Bruening, Oliver Mayer, Christoph Stockert, Bernt Wallrabe
  • Patent number: 10371453
    Abstract: A double pipe heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The double pipe heat exchanger including an outer pipe and an inner pipe having a first flow channel therein and having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the outer pipe and inserted into the outer pipe to form a second flow channel between the inner pipe and the outer pipe includes a plurality of first grooves formed in a spiral shape in a lengthwise direction at an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe to enable the second flow channel to have at least partially a spiral shape and at least one second groove each formed in a portion between two first grooves adjacent to an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe and formed along the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: HS R & A CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jongkang Lee, Byeongki Kang, Deokhyun Lim, Youngjun Kim, Jaewon Sim
  • Patent number: 10371460
    Abstract: A heat storage member including: a substrate containing a SiC sintered body as a principal ingredient; a coating layer disposed at least to a part of surface of the substrate; and a heat storage material disposed at least to a part of a surface of the coating layer and configured to store and radiate heat by a reversible chemical reaction with a reaction medium or a heat storage material configured to store and radiate heat by physical adsorption to a reaction medium and by physical desorption from a reaction medium. A softening point of the coating layer is a temperature at 1000° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., NGK Adrec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Miwa, Toshiharu Kinoshita, Iori Himoto
  • Patent number: 10365051
    Abstract: This microchannel heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanger body including a channel layer stack formed in such a manner that a plurality of high-temperature channel layers provided with a channel for a high-temperature fluid and a plurality of low-temperature channels layers provided with a channel for a low-temperature fluid are alternately stacked, an inlet and an outlet for the high-temperature fluid, and an inlet and an outlet for the low-temperature fluid; and a control board that is fixed in a stacking direction of the heat exchanger body, and that at least installs a plurality of temperature sensors that are inserted in the stacking method of the heat exchanger body in such a manner that a sensing point is arranged near each of the inlet and the outlet for the high-temperature fluid and the inlet and the outlet for the low-temperature fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kaijian Wang