Patents Examined by Cassey D Bauer
  • Patent number: 10247452
    Abstract: A device for supporting a person may include a thermoelectric generator configured to receive heat provided from the person. The device may further include a first heat conductor overlapping the first thermoelectric generator and configured to conduct the heat to the thermoelectric generator. The device may further include a second heat conductor overlapping the first heat conductor and configured to conduct the heat to the first heat conductor. The first heat conductor may be disposed between the first thermoelectric generator and the second heat conductor. The second heat conductor may be softer than the first heat conductor. The device may further include a heat sink thermally connected to the first thermoelectric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Inventor: Yi-Ming Tseng
  • Patent number: 10244781
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a flexible cooling blanket including a cooling layer assembly and a heat dissipating layer assembly. The cooling layer assembly includes a first set of rigid cooling coils connected to a second set of rigid cooling coils using a first flexible tube. The heat dissipating layer assembly includes a first set of rigid heat dissipating coils and a second set of rigid heat dissipating coils connected with a second flexible tube. The first and second flexible tubes extend across the folding seams of the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cantrell, Michael Dean Atchley
  • Patent number: 10234182
    Abstract: Provided are a flash tank and an air conditioner having the same. The flash tank includes a flash tank liquid inlet (11) and a flash tank liquid outlet (12). The flash tank further includes: a plurality of flash chambers, wherein the flash chambers are arranged in sequence, every two adjacent flash chambers communicating; and a plurality of air replenishment openings (14), the air replenishment openings (14) and the flash chambers corresponding one to one and communicating with each other. The flash tank liquid inlet (11) communicates with the first flash chamber of the flash chambers, and the flash tank liquid outlet (12) communicates with the last flash chamber of the flash chambers. The flash tank may meet an air replenishment demand of a multi-stage compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Tang Zhou, Yu Zhou, Chenguang Wang, Juan Wang, Xianquan Liu, Cui Pan, Liang Wan, Chengzhao Jin
  • Patent number: 10232948
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for an aircraft is provided. The air conditioning system includes a first rotating component and a second rotating component. The first rotating component includes a compressor and a turbine. The compressor pressurizes a first medium. The first turbine receives a mixture of a second medium and a pressurized form of the first medium. The second rotating component includes a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 10234152
    Abstract: An air conditioner disclosed herein includes a cooling/heating module including a thermoelastic material and an actuator applying tension to the thermoelastic material and a switching control section selectively applying or removing tension to/from the thermoelastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Ikegami, Yukihiro Makino, Kouichi Yasuo, Hyunyoung Kim, Makoto Kojima, Mamoru Okumoto, Chuncheng Piao, Lan Jiang
  • Patent number: 10227897
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to enhanced dry-cooling systems and methods. More specifically, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to enhanced dry-cooling systems for increasing power plant efficiency and output. One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to dry-cooling system for increasing power plant efficiency and output. The dry-cooling system comprises an air-cooled condenser and an air cooling system in fluid communication with the air-cooled condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventor: Raj M. Manglik
  • Patent number: 10215482
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door opening or closing the storage chamber, and a dispenser provided at the door. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing that is recessed backward into the door to define a container accommodation space. A control panel unit includes a display part and a dispensing mode selection part. An image corresponding to the dispensing mode selected through the dispensing mode selection part is displayed on the display part as a moving picture by a control from a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jungyeon Hwang, Jiyoung Park, Eunjoo Lee, Kyukwan Choi, Boram Lee
  • Patent number: 10215465
    Abstract: The present application provides a low load operating system for a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The low load operating system may include a hot gas bypass line extending from a discharge side of the compressor to a suction side of the compressor and a desuperheat line extending from upstream of the expansion valve to the suction side of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Zhang, Yang Xie, Hongxiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10189330
    Abstract: An auxiliary alternating current air conditioning system for a sleeper cab of a truck which is driven by the truck direct current battery system. The auxiliary alternating current air conditioning system is functional only when the truck engine is not running. The auxiliary alternating current air conditioning system will shut down when the voltage of the direct current battery system of the truck reaches a predetermined level. A second embodiment of the auxiliary air conditioning system is disclosed wherein the auxiliary air conditioning system is direct current driven rather than alternating current driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventors: Adam J. Wurzer, Terry D. Wurzer, David T. Wurzer
  • Patent number: 10188223
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case having a base and a canopy at least partially defining a product display area. One or more eutectic plates are positioned in the product display area. The eutectic plates include a fluid contained in a housing. A heat exchanger including a coil is positioned in the housing to cool the fluid. The coil has an inlet, an outlet spaced from the inlet, a first portion, and a second portion adjacent and in thermal communication with the first portion to define a tube-to-tube heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Anand G. Rajagopalan, Jiaching Liu
  • Patent number: 10184713
    Abstract: An enclosure includes an enclosure interior and an enclosure opening through which air passes from outside the enclosure into the enclosure interior. An evaporator located at the enclosure interior is positioned so that at least some of the air that passes through the enclosure opening flows in a direct and uninterrupted path to the evaporator. A shield within the enclosure interior is interposed between the enclosure opening and the evaporator and is positioned so as to deflect at least a part of the air flowing from that direct and uninterrupted path. The shield provides a site at which moisture contained within at least some of the air passing through the enclosure opening can collect. The enclosure can comprise the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, and the enclosure opening can be in fluid communication with an interior of a fresh food compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Schenk, Fahad Vora, William Lee Moody, Edmund Richardson, Jonathan Ulsaker
  • Patent number: 10182937
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: EMBR Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Samuel Shames, Michael Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi
  • Patent number: 10180276
    Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a first compressor (110) for compressing refrigerant, a first condenser for condensing refrigerant compressed by the first compressor, a first expansion valve for lowering temperature and pressure of refrigerant condensed by the first condenser, a first evaporator for evaporating refrigerant passed through the first expansion valve, a second compressor (210) for compressing refrigerant, a second condenser for condensing refrigerant compressed by the second compressor, a second expansion valve for lowering temperature and pressure of refrigerant condensed by the second condenser, and a second evaporator for evaporating refrigerant passed through the second expansion valve. The first condenser and second condenser include refrigerant tubes arranged to hold cooling fins in common, thereby forming a common-fin-held condenser (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyeongyun Kim, Kyungseok Kim, Kiho Hong
  • Patent number: 10172372
    Abstract: A machine for making liquid and/or semi-liquid products of the ice cream sector including a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system equipped with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the container and cooling the processing container; a unit for receiving and treating a capsule containing a basic preparation for an ice cream product, configured to allow the capsule to be compressed in such a way so as to deform lateral walls of the capsule and to squeeze the basic preparation out of the capsule and transfer it to the processing container; a device for injecting a dilution liquid, associated with the processing container, for injecting the dilution liquid into the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ALI S.P.A.—CARPIGIANI GROUP
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 10161665
    Abstract: A refrigerator cooling system and method provides cooling to one or more features of a refrigerator by employing a secondary cooling loop that utilizes the excess cooling capacity of an evaporator to selectively provide supplemental cooling to the features when a thermal demand arises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Guolian L. Wu
  • Patent number: 10161687
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger can reduce thermal contact between a second fluid (water and a third fluid (low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant) to enhance thermal efficiency. A plate heat exchanger includes a heat transfer plate group that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a second fluid of a heating target fluid; and a heat transfer plate group that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of low-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant and a third fluid of low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase liquid refrigerant. The heat transfer plate group forms refrigerant channels including a stack of plates, has a configuration that a flow of the first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a flow of the second fluid are alternately aligned in the refrigerant channels, and causes the second fluid to flow in the outermost refrigerant channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Uchino
  • Patent number: 10156384
    Abstract: A climate control system is provided and may include a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a coolant flow path. The compressor may include a suction port, a first discharge port and a second discharge port. The first heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the first discharge port. The second heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the second discharge port. The coolant flow path may be in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirill Ignatiev
  • Patent number: 10156369
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems and methods. An aspect of the present disclosure is a device that includes a housing having an external surface and defining an interior volume, a heat exchanger positioned within the interior volume, a fluid line partially positioned within the interior volume, a sleeve extending from the external surface and terminating at a distal end of the sleeve, and a fluid connector. The sleeve has an outside wall spanning a length of the sleeve and defining an internal cavity, the fluid connector is positioned at or near the distal end, a portion of the fluid line is positioned within the internal cavity, and the fluid line provides a fluid connection between the heat exchanger and the fluid connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Charles William Booten, Jonathan Michael Winkler, David Ross Roberts
  • Patent number: 10145588
    Abstract: An ejector refrigeration cycle has a compressor, a radiator, an ejector, a swirl flow generator, an evaporator, and an oil separator. The compressor compresses refrigerant, mixed with refrigerant oil compatible with a liquid-phase refrigerant, and discharges the high-pressure refrigerant. The ejector has a nozzle and a body having a refrigerant suction port and a pressure increasing part. The swirl flow generator is configured to cause a decompression boiling in the refrigerant by causing the refrigerant to swirl about a center axis of the nozzle. The oil separator separates the refrigerant oil from the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor and guides the refrigerant oil to flow to a suction side of the compressor. The oil separator decreases a concentration of the refrigerant oil in the refrigerant, which is to flow into the swirl flow generator, so as to promote the decompression boiling of the refrigerant in the swirl flow generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhei Nagano, Haruyuki Nishijima, Yoshiyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10144517
    Abstract: An airplane is provided. The airplane includes a first medium at a first pressure, a second medium at a second pressure, a third medium at a third pressure; and an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first medium to the third medium, a second heat exchanger configured to reject heat from the first medium, a third heat exchanger configured to reject heat from the second medium, a first turbine configured to receive the first medium, and a second turbine configured to receive the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Harold W. Hipsky