Patents Examined by Azim Rahim
  • Patent number: 8024936
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to actively cool an electronic device using a first heat removing cooling element, and to induce a thermal gradient in a heat pipe by conducting heat from a hot side of the first heat removing cooling element to a cold side of a second heat removing cooling element using the heat pipe. The heat pipe may comprise a variable conductance heat pipe. The apparatus and system may operate in a downhole environment, including logging and drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H Storm, Dingding Chen, Haoshi Song
  • Patent number: 8020408
    Abstract: Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb
  • Patent number: 7987679
    Abstract: By studying or storing refrigerating cycle characteristics of an air conditioning apparatus at the normal time and comparing them with refrigerating cycle characteristics acquired from the air conditioning apparatus at the time of operation, it becomes possible to exactly and accurately diagnose normality or abnormality of the air conditioning apparatus under any installation conditions and environmental conditions, which eliminates operations of inputting a difference between apparatus model names, a piping length, a height difference, etc at the time of apparatus installation. Accordingly, it aims at shortening the time of judging normality or abnormality, and improving the operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Tanaka, Kouji Yamashita, Yasunori Shida, Masahumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 7971442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle air-conditioner, which can prevent undershoot of an evaporator by performing a maximum capacity control or controlling an discharge capacity of a compressor through the outputting of an discharge capacity control value of the compressor directly before the stop of the air conditioner, and can improve the pleasant feelings of the passengers by preventing delay of response, which converges into the target temperature of the evaporator due to the delay of the decrease of the temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Jeonghoon Lee, Saewon Oh
  • Patent number: 7966839
    Abstract: A system for controlling a heating and cooling system for use on a machine includes a condenser, an evaporator assembly, an electric motor driven compressor, and a master controller operable to determine and regulate an operational speed of the compressor. The master controller includes a plurality of control algorithms each receiving respective dynamic input information and outputting a respective controller speed request based upon the respective dynamic input information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Patrick McEnaney, Brian Todd Morrical, John Jay Bernardi, Timothy Allen Goldammer
  • Patent number: 7954334
    Abstract: An inverter system having a semiconductor device, and a railway vehicle using this inverter, provide a more accurate determination of whether an abnormal heat generation from the inverter is associated with an error of the inverter system or is due to other causes, by use of a plurality of temperature detecting elements at a plurality of sites associated with the semiconductor device. An error detection section applies inputs from the temperature detecting elements, captures a trend of the differential value based on the plurality of temperature inputs using period sampling wherein an error associated with the semiconductor device, and not from some other condition such as outside environment temperature, is determined based on differences from, or a change in, the initial trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Sasaki, Hideki Miyazaki, Katsumi Ishikawa, Keiji Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7950249
    Abstract: A portable insulated cooler has a bottom space adapted to hold ice cubes. A removable perforated panel suspended over the bottom space separates the bottom space from a central cooled storage area. A removable frame suspended above the central cooled areas holds ice cube containing flasks. Each flask has a large closable opening in its upper broad flat face to easily receive ice cubes. The lower broad face of the flask forms a cooling upper margin of the central cooled area so that the contents of the area are cooled from both top and bottom. The flasks have a flange around the upper face to rest upon the frame, while most of the flask is below the frame. This enables the insulated cooler top to close. By cooling from both top and bottom, the central area is more uniformly cooled. Opening the cooler top to access the central area creates less heat gain than with prior art devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Robert J. White, Richard W. White
  • Patent number: 7921661
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle is provided with a multi-port compressor or compressor stages connected in series, and multiple condensers. A single evaporator communicates with the plurality of condensers. At least one of the plurality of condensers receives fully compressed refrigerant while the other condensers receive refrigerant at intermediate pressure. A control can optionally direct refrigerant to the condensers to achieve desired system heat rejection characteristics and operating conditions. One or multiple reheat coils may be associated with the evaporator and are arranged either in series or in parallel to provide a desired dehumidification function and reheat stages. One or several of the intermediate pressure condensers may be utilized for the reheat function as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Patent number: 7918101
    Abstract: A front panel constituted by a synthetic resin molded product is used with respect to a base panel, side panels, and a top panel which are formed of a metal, first retaining means for the side panels and second retaining means for the top panel are provided on the front panel to effect fixation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Akihiko Nojima, Ryohei Kondo, Makoto Kamata, Ritsushi Taira
  • Patent number: 7895850
    Abstract: A method of operating a reversible heat pump system includes steps of sensing an outdoor air temperature with a first sensor and sensing at least one condition of an outdoor heat exchanger coil with a second sensor. Input from the first and second sensors is then electronically analyzed to predict when frosting may occur on an outdoor heat exchanger coil. A proportioning reversing valve is modulated in response to this analysis in order to direct a controlled proportional backpressure flow of pressurized refrigerant from a pressure side of a compressor into the outdoor heat exchanger coil while pressurized refrigerant is continued to be supplied to an indoor heat exchanger coil. As a result, the pressure and temperature of refrigerant within the outdoor heat exchanger coil is raised to at least an extent necessary to prevent frosting on the outdoor heat exchanger coil. The steps are preferably performed continuously in a feedback control loop during operation of the reversible heat pump system as a heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Comforture, L.P.
    Inventor: William J. Kitsch
  • Patent number: 7878006
    Abstract: A system and method includes a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor detecting current supplied to the motor, a discharge line temperature sensor detecting discharge line temperature of the compressor, and processing circuitry receiving current data from the current sensor and discharge line temperature data from the discharge line temperature sensor and processing the current data and the discharge line temperature data to determine a capacity of the refrigeration circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung M. Pham
  • Patent number: 7870758
    Abstract: In an ejector cycle with an ejector including a nozzle for decompressing refrigerant, a control unit controls an air blowing amount of an evaporator fan so that a flow speed of refrigerant flowing in an evaporator becomes in a predetermined flow speed range. Therefore, it can prevent a large amount of lubrication oil from staying in the evaporator, and thereby the lubrication oil can sufficiently returns to a compressor. For example, the control unit includes a determining means for determining the predetermined flow speed range based on at least one of an atmosphere temperature of a condenser, a temperature of air supplied to the evaporator and a flow amount of refrigerant discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nishijima, Hisatsugu Matsunaga, Tooru Ikemoto, Hirotsugu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7870759
    Abstract: In a process for supplying a pressurized gas, a pressurized gas at a high production pressure is produced as an end product by separating a gaseous mixture in a separator apparatus (3, 5), a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a store (9), storing liquid is tapped, and it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is sprayed in a sprayer (27) to produce the pressurized backup gas (29) having substantially the same pressure or a pressure higher than the pressurized gas to be produced, liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical duct (13), optionally within the cold box (33) of the separator apparatus, and at least part of the duct length is at a level above the sprayer and before and/or after starting up the pump (11), liquid is sent from the duct to the sprayer where the liquid is sprayed to provide pressurized backup gas having substantially the same purity or a purity higher than the pressurized gas to be produced (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Patent number: 7854140
    Abstract: A refrigerant system is provided with a reheat function selectively utilizing the heat rejected by the variable speed drive controller and electronics that are often employed in known refrigerant cycles. By placing at least one of these variable speed drives in the path of air being delivered to an environment to be conditioned, the air is reheated to a desired temperature, after it has been overcooled in the evaporator to provide a desired humidity level. In this manner, the variable speed drive is cooled, and the reheat function is provided, without the requirement of any additional flow structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Patent number: 7845574
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises two ceramic disks (20, 24) for regulating the temperature and flow of a mixture (M) of two entering fluids. In order to ensure that the temperature of the mixture remains lower than a predetermined value, the cartridge comprises thermostatic means (16) designed for, in the event of a high-temperature mixture, automatically shutting off, upstream from these disks, the circulation of the entering fluid (C) of the highest temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Vernet
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 7845185
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator arrangement connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The evaporator arrangement includes a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes at least one distributor configured to distribute and deliver refrigerant to each circuit of the plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are arranged into a first and second set of circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes a valve configured and disposed to isolate the first set of circuits from refrigerant flow from the condenser and provide flow of refrigerant from the compressor in a dehumidification operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Anthony William Landers, Patrick Gordon Gavula, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Patent number: 7841197
    Abstract: A variable capacitance compressor is provided in a refrigeration cycle of a vehicular air conditioning system. The variable capacitance compressor controls discharge capacity of refrigerant by an external control pulse signal, and can substantially estimate compressor suction side pressure by the external control pulse signal and compressor discharge side pressure. A compressor torque calculator is provided to calculate torque based on evaporator upstream and downstream temperature difference data ?t, which is a temperature difference between inlet side air temperature of an evaporator and outlet side air temperature of the evaporator, compressor discharge side pressure data Pd, duty ratio data of a control pulse signal, and compressor's number of revolution data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 7836715
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a controller that controls the operation of a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve or orifice tube, and an evaporator. The condenser receives a compressed refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to either a liquid phase or a saturated liquid-vapor phase. The condensed refrigerant is then passed through the expansion valve or orifice tube to expand the refrigerant and to delivery the refrigerant to the evaporator. When the compressor is first started, various sounds and vibrations are created that may be unpleasant to humans. Also, if the engine is cold, then the compressor may have liquid refrigerant that can increase the torque needed to start the compressor. The controller pulses the compressor between ON and OFF operating states to reduce or eliminate these sounds and/or manage the start up torque of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 7832652
    Abstract: An HVAC controller includes an HVAC controller housing having an aperture and a removable battery tray disposed within the aperture. The removable battery tray includes a pivot point for rotating the battery tray into and out of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Barton, Arnie P. Kalla, Paul Meyers, Cary Leen
  • Patent number: 7819171
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for providing air conditioning to the interior of an automotive vehicle with a mixing chamber designed to create, by controlled mixing of a warm and of a cool partial air flow, at least one warmer and one cooler air-conditionable air flow. The flow paths of the warm partial air flow and of the cool partial air flow intersect in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alberternst, Michael Fietz, Graham R. Johnstone, Andrew William Rowntree, Graham Kirby