Patents Examined by Chang H Park
  • Patent number: 11029066
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a capillary tube, and an expansion device. The compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser. The capillary tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser. The expansion device is configured to receive the refrigerant from the capillary tube and provide the refrigerant to the evaporator. The expansion device is adjustable to control a flow of the refrigerant through the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Roy Bates
  • Patent number: 11022345
    Abstract: A heat pump, heat pump exchanger component, and method of using a heat exchanger, the heat pump exchanger has long pipes arranged in at least one layer in fluid communication with one another, and spaced a minimum of about two (2) feet apart. Shorter pipes may be disposed between long pipes. A cylindrical HDPE insert is placed between adjacent pipes to permit socket or butt fusing. The long pipes are composed of high thermal conductive materials, such as aluminum, while the short pipes and/or connectors may be composed of flexible lower thermal conductive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Roy Dan Halloran, Don Rhule Richardson
  • Patent number: 10989454
    Abstract: An expansion valve includes a valve element, a valve seat as well as a biasing member. The valve element and the valve seat are arranged in a first fluid passage of the expansion valve. The expansion valve further includes a shape memory alloy actuator that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current. An expansion valve for a vapour compression system of the above type may be controlled externally but also be self-regulating. The shape memory alloy actuator is arranged in a second fluid passage of the expansion valve and the shape memory alloy actuator is in thermal contact with fluid in the second fluid passage, such that the shape memory alloy actuator actuates the valve element towards a closed valve position when the shape memory actuator is cooled by the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Sergio Uribe, Johannes Cornelius Jacobus Van Beek
  • Patent number: 10948224
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to cooling, heating, and refrigeration cycles using, for example, phase transitions to pump heat. Embodiments of the present invention may comprise systems, methods, or processes for liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycles pumping heat across temperature differences greater than the adiabatic temperature change of a liquid-liquid phase transition within said liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle. Embodiments of the present invention also may comprise powering said liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle using electricity, heat, ‘cold’, the mixing of a saltwater and freshwater, the mixing of high osmotic pressure liquid and low osmotic pressure liquid, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Innovator Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Ethan J. Novek
  • Patent number: 10941992
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core having a plurality of first layers for receiving a first fluid and at least one header arranged in fluid communication with the plurality of first layers. The at least one header is integrally formed ith the core via an additive manufacturing process. The header has a first microstructure and the core has a second, different microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sergey Mironets, Vijay Narayan Jagdale, Colette O. Fennessy
  • Patent number: 10928102
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration device, such as a household refrigeration device, has the following connected in series between a pressure connection and a suction connection of a compressor: a condenser, a first throttle point, a first evaporator for cooling a first storage chamber, a second throttle point. At least one of the first and second throttle points are adjusted to control the pressure in the first evaporator. The refrigerant circuit has a first branch with the first throttle point, the first evaporator and the second throttle point, and at least one second branch, parallel to the first branch, in which a third throttle point, a second evaporator arranged in thermal contact with a second storage chamber and a fourth throttle point are connected in series. At least one of the third and fourth throttle points can be adjusted to control the pressure in the second evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Niels Liengaard, Vitali Ulrich, Alexander Foeldi
  • Patent number: 10907859
    Abstract: The present subject matter includes: a heat exchange part having heating medium channels, through which heating medium flows, and combustion gas channels, through which combustion gas burned in a burner flows, adjacently disposed in alternation in the spaces between the plurality of plates; a first welding part in which the outer edges of a pair of plates forming the heating medium channel are welded together; a second welding part in which the plates forming the combustion gas channel, between the plates forming the heating medium channel, are welded to the outer edges of the plates forming the heating medium channel to form; and a guide part for guiding the welding material molten solution of the first welding part into moving to the second welding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Inchul Jeong, Tae Hyun Hwnag
  • Patent number: 10876762
    Abstract: The present subject matter includes: heating medium channels, in the space in between a pair of plates facing each other, through which the heating medium flows; combustion gas channels, on the outer sides of the heating medium channels, through which combustion gas burned in a burner flows; and heating medium dispersion parts, having an opening part and a shutting part, on an inlet, through which the heating medium flows into the heating medium channel, and an outlet, through which the heating medium flows out from the heating medium channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Inchul Jeong, Jung Yul Bae
  • Patent number: 10871098
    Abstract: Disclosed are a thermoelectric generation apparatus, a heat generation apparatus for fuel storage tanks, and a waste heat recovery system. The thermoelectric generation apparatus according to an embodiment of this disclosure includes a first piping through which a fluid flows, a second piping through which a cooling medium of a lower temperature than the fluid flows so as to radiate the heat of the fluid, a plurality of first radiating fins having one side in contact with air of a lower temperature than the fluid so as to radiate the heat of the fluid and the other side in contact with the second piping, and a thermoelectric generation module provided between the first piping and the second piping to produce electricity through a temperature difference between the first piping and the second piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG HEAVY IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Gwan Kim, Yong-Kyu Kim, Dong-Kil Lee, Ho-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 10816251
    Abstract: An exemplary heat pump includes: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger configured to condense the compressed refrigerant; a flow rate adjustment valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the condensed refrigerant; an expansion valve having an adjustable opening and configured to decompress the refrigerant having passed the flow rate adjustment valve; a second heat exchanger configured to cool a temperature control target by using the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve; and a control device configured to control the opening of the expansion valve based on a difference between the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the second heat exchanger, and to control the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve based on the flow rate of the refrigerant to be supplied to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Okuda, Hirotoshi Kihara, Keisuke Ota, Terunori Aikawa
  • Patent number: 10808985
    Abstract: A sensing module according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a sensing electrode formed on a first surface of the substrate; a reaction layer formed on the first surface of the substrate and burying an upper surface of the substrate and the sensing electrode; a driving unit electrically connected to the sensing electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate and processing a sensing signal transmitted through the sensing electrode; and a protective layer formed surrounding the driving unit, wherein an impedance value of the reaction layer is changed by an external contact material, and the sensing electrode transmits the sensing signal with respect to the impedance value of the reaction layer to the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chil Young Ji, Jeong Gi Seo
  • Patent number: 10760807
    Abstract: An air conditioner according to the present invention has a structure driving a compressor and a pump, simultaneously, in a low-temperature cooling environment in which the outdoor temperature is lower than the indoor temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Hee Jang, Hyung Mo Koo, Byoung Guk Lim, Il Yong Cho
  • Patent number: 10724766
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant is circulated, a heat exchanger unit that accommodates a heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit and a fan, a temperature sensor disposed in an area of the refrigerant circuit adjacent to a brazed connection or in an area of the refrigerant circuit adjacent to a joint between refrigerant pipes, and a controller configured to determine the presence of refrigerant leakage based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is covered by a heat insulation material together with the brazed connection or the joint. The controller activates the fan upon determining that refrigerant leakage is present, and is triggered to deactivate the fan in response to the time variation of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becoming positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Masahiko Takagi, Kenyu Tanaka, Kazuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10712106
    Abstract: A cooling tower controlling system includes a plurality of cooling towers, a plurality of pumps, a circulation line through which circulating cooling water flows, a temperature measuring unit, a first load controlling unit, and a second load controlling unit. The temperature measuring unit measures a temperature TE1 of the circulating cooling water at a position upstream of a heat exchange unit and downstream of a storage unit. The first load controlling unit controls a rotational speed of the cooling fans so that an absolute value ?TE of the difference between the temperature TE1 and an outside air wet-bulb temperature TE0 comes within a first approach temperature AP1 corresponding to a first load in a first load period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Takuya Kaneda
  • Patent number: 10704814
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigeration system having a compressor, heat rejecting heat exchanger, expansion valve and heat absorbing heat exchanger circulating a refrigerant in series flow, the heat absorbing heat exchanger in thermal communication with working fluid, the method includes obtaining an expansion valve position set point; using a feedback control loop to generate a controlled expansion valve position; obtaining a rate of change of an operating parameter of the system; using the rate of change of the operating parameter to generate an adjustment; modifying the controlled expansion valve position using the adjustment; and controlling the expansion valve using the modified controlled expansion valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tathagata De
  • Patent number: 10696128
    Abstract: A cold storage heat exchanger includes: a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed at intervals, each of the refrigerant tubes including a refrigerant passage that allows a refrigerant to flow therethrough; a cold storage material adjacent to the refrigerant tubes; and a heat transfer suppressor that suppresses heat transfer from the refrigerant tubes to the cold storage material in an overheated area of the refrigerant formed in the refrigerant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Abei, Toshiya Nagasawa, Eiichi Torigoe, Naohisa Ishizaka, Norihide Kawachi, Yuusuke Kitou, Ken Nishimura, Masakazu Nagaya
  • Patent number: 10690373
    Abstract: A total heat exchange device includes: a fan for the exhaust air path which directs air from an indoor exhaust port to an outdoor discharge port through an exhaust air path; another fan for intake air path which directs air from an outdoor suction port to an indoor intake port through an intake air path; and a heat exchange element for exchanging heat between air passing through the exhaust air path and air passing through the intake air path. Also included is a temperature detector for detecting an outdoor temperature and a controller configured to perform a heat exchange mode in which heat is exchanged between air passing through the exhaust air path and air passing through the intake air path or a defrosting mode in which frost on the heat exchange element is thawed, in accordance with the outdoor temperature detected by the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: Panasonic Ecology Systems Guangdong Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Liu, Houfu Lin, Simei Huang, Daisuke Hashino, Taketo Yamamoto, Kouji Iio
  • Patent number: 10684051
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit that includes a condenser, multiple temperature sensors that are disposed in line in a direction in which refrigerant flows in the condenser and detect refrigerant temperature of the condenser, a memory unit that stores positional information of the multiple temperature sensors, and a refrigerant amount calculation unit that calculates a refrigerant amount of the condenser based on the positional information of the multiple temperature sensors, detected temperatures of the multiple temperature sensors and a saturated liquid temperature of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 10663190
    Abstract: A determination assistance device includes an infrared image acquirer that acquires an infrared image by imaging an area including an air outlet of an air conditioner, a communicator that communicates with the air conditioner, an inputter that accepts data inputs, imaging switch operations, and the like performed by user, a display that displays image data and the like, a controller that controls overall operations of the determination assistance, and a storage that stores various data, a program, and the like. A display controller of the controller displays on the display the infrared image and whether or not abnormality, determined by the infrared image, is present in the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takeru Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 10660239
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided which includes, for instance, a coolant circulation loop, one or more primary coolant pumps, and a fill and drain pump. The primary coolant pump(s) is coupled to facilitate circulating coolant through the coolant circulation loop, and the fill and drain pump facilitates selective filling of the cooling system with the coolant, or draining of the coolant from the cooling system. The fill and drain pump is integrated with the cooling system as a backup coolant pump to the primary coolant pump(s), and circulates the coolant through the coolant circulation loop responsive to an error in the primary coolant pump(s). The primary coolant pump(s) and fill and drain pumps may be different types of pumps, and the cooling system further includes a control system for automatically activating the fill and drain pump upon detection of an error in the primary coolant pump(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David L. Edwards, Gary F. Goth, Daniel J. Kearney, Peter W. Kelly, Francis R. Krug, Jr., Robert K. Mullady, Donald W. Porter, Allan C. VanDeventer, Randy J. Zoodsma