Patents Examined by Chen Wen Jiang
  • Patent number: 8161770
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle air conditioning system including not less than two evaporators 3, 4, in which internal heat exchangers 5, 6 are provided to the respective evaporator 3, 4, a first evaporator 3 is placed in a front part of a compartment 8A whereas a second evaporator 4 is placed in a rear part of the compartment 8B; and the second evaporator 4 is connected to the internal heat exchanger 6 extended from the engine room 7 to the compartment 8. The internal heat exchanger 6 has a triple tube structure in which a heat insulator 15 is provided between a high-pressure medium passage 13 and a low-pressure medium passage 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Torahide Takahashi, Yoshitomo Fukutomi, Yukitoshi Kobori
  • Patent number: 8161769
    Abstract: The cooling chest for rapidly quenching beverages includes a quench tray for holding containers of beverage. The quench tray is lowered into salt-water or other cooling liquid which is cooled by a refrigeration unit. A processing device determines the temperature of the beverages within the containers within the quench tray and further activates a mechanism for removing the quench tray from the water or cooling liquid when the desired temperature is reached. The processing device can also activate the mechanism for removing the quench tray from the water or cooling liquid when the upper lid or access doors are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: John C. Lauchnor
  • Patent number: 8156756
    Abstract: A fluid machine includes a casing, a compression mechanism for compressing refrigerant, an expansion mechanism for expanding refrigerant, and a rotary shaft connecting the compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism. The compression mechanism, the expansion mechanism and the rotary shaft are disposed in the casing. A heat insulator partitions an internal space of the casing into a first space with the expansion mechanism disposed therein and a second space with the compression mechanism disposed therein. The rotary shaft passes through the heat insulator. An elastically deformable seal element seals a clearance between an outer periphery of the heat insulator and an inner periphery of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kamakura, Katsumi Sakitani
  • Patent number: 8156749
    Abstract: A portable sprinkler system for an air conditioner cooling system includes a fluid source coupled to the sprinkler system, a plurality of spray nozzles fluidly connected by conduit, a step-down transformer, a solenoid, and an in-line filter connected in series, a protective cover enclosing the sprinkler system, and an electricity source providing electricity to the system. A plurality of shields are coupled to the housing of the air conditioner cooling system, the shields arranged to deflect air turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Philip A. Orten
  • Patent number: 8156751
    Abstract: A system includes a power source, a compressor that operates in a reduced-capacity mode and a full-capacity mode, and an actuation assembly that modulates the compressor between the reduced-capacity mode and the full-capacity mode. A controller reduces the power source to a predetermined level prior to the power source being supplied to the actuation assembly for use by the actuation assembly in controlling the compressor between the reduced-capacity mode and the full-capacity mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nagaraj Jayanth
  • Patent number: 8151582
    Abstract: The liquid galley refrigeration system for cooling food carts for aircraft employs an intermediate working fluid to transfer heat from one or more food carts to one or more remote chillers, allowing the carts and chillers to be advantageously distributed in the aircraft. A plurality of heat exchanges effect a cooling of the carts wherein heat from the food cart is first transferred to a first airflow; heat from the first airflow is then transferred to an intermediate working fluid that is circulated between a location immediately adjacent the food carts and a remote chiller; heat from the intermediate working fluid is subsequently transferred to the chiller working fluid; and finally, heat from the chiller working fluid is expelled. While the chiller working fluid undergoes a phase change in order to transfer heat from the intermediate working fluid to the cooling air, the intermediate working fluid remains in its liquid phase throughout its circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: George Simadiris, Ian Douglas Oswald
  • Patent number: 8151575
    Abstract: The invention discloses a temperature variation apparatus for varying the temperature of a liquid. The temperature variation apparatus includes a metal tube, a power supply, a heat conductor, and a thermo-electric cooler (TEC). The liquid is poured into the metal tube. The power supply has an anode and a cathode respectively connected to two ends of the metal tube, so that the metal tube can be electrified to generate heat. The heat conductor encircles and contacts with the metal tube, and the thermo-electric cooler contacts with the heat conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Min Wu, Yi-Chin Tsai, Kwan-Chiao Liao
  • Patent number: 8151588
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products is provided, comprising a chill cabinet inside which is situated an insulated container equipped with passive cooling means, and which contains one or more frozen edible products. A method for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products from the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Hale, Daniel Matthew Mayes
  • Patent number: 8151581
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control an engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system having a desired temperature are provided. A time until a threshold is reached is determined based on an environment condition and a vehicle interior condition. A request for the engine to run is removed if the time is greater than a minimum time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, William Treharne, Wayne Buescher, Thomas Fox, Shailesh Kozarekar
  • Patent number: 8151590
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, at least one compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a door for providing access to one or more of the at least one compartment, an ice container at the door, an LED housing proximate the ice container, and at least one LED disposed within the LED housing for providing illumination of the ice container. In addition to providing lighting, the at least one LED may used to indicate status information associated with the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Laura Esther Flores, Bruce A. Kopf
  • Patent number: 8151594
    Abstract: Provided is an ice bank joint. The ice bank joint swiftly delivers rotational force from a motor to a transferring shaft installed inside an ice bank performing a function of transferring ice received inside the ice bank. The ice bank joint includes a plate portion and a reinforcing member. The plate portion has a driving part bent on at least one position, and the reinforcing member has a support part protruding from a position corresponding to the driving part to contact the driving part, thereby reinforcing the plate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8146377
    Abstract: A zone-control unit adapted for facile inclusion in a building's ductwork includes a mechanical terminal unit, inlet and outlet piping assemblies that are mechanically coupled together. The structure also includes at least one handle so the zone-control unit may be conveniently and safely handled both during shipping, and during installation into a HVAC system. Prior to installation into a HVAC system the fully-functional zone-control unit also includes a pair of caps respectively sealing the ends of the piping assemblies, and a pressure gauge for sensing pressurization of the piping assemblies and coil which the caps seal. Sealed in this way a pressure gauge permits testing to assure that the piping assemblies and coil are leak free, and readily assessing that zone-control units remain leak free until they are about to be installed into a building's HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: John C. Karamanos
  • Patent number: 8141374
    Abstract: A air channeling sub-system may include a mechanical cooling section and a direct evaporative cooling section. The direct evaporative cooling section may be downstream from the mechanical cooling section. Cooling air is channeled through the air channeling sub-system and into the room. If a first set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-systems is operated in an adiabatic mode. The adiabatic mode includes channeling cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air. If a second set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-system is operated in a hybrid mode. The hybrid mode includes channeling cooling air through the mechanical cooling section to remove heat from the cooling air and channeling the cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan David Hay
  • Patent number: 8141381
    Abstract: The vapor compression refrigerating apparatus of the invention comprises a compressor 2, a condenser 4, a regeneration heat exchanger 6, an expansion means 8, and an evaporator 10 connected in series. The vapor compression refrigerating cycle is based on a cycle corresponding to a reversed Ericsson cycle in which isothermal heat dissipation process and isothermal heat absorption process occur overstriding a saturated vapor line and saturated liquid line respectively and heat exchange is carried out between isobaric heat dissipation process in a liquid zone and isobaric heat absorption process in a superheated vapor zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumi Ino, Takayuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 8141373
    Abstract: Adaptive intelligent circulation control methods and systems are used to help increase the comfort and/or reduce energy usage and equipment wear. In one illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is adjusted based on one or more environmental conditions inside or outside the building structure. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time may be adjusted based on the current time of day, current time of year, and/or the current schedule period. In another illustrative embodiment, the circulation and/or ventilation time is randomized over time. The start time, end time, and/or length of a circulation and/or ventilation cycle may be randomly set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Peterson, Robert J. Schnell, Brent D. Vick
  • Patent number: 8136366
    Abstract: The invention provides a temperature control method, system and hardware device, wherein, the method comprising: after the system logs in operation system, a temperature control function module obtains a temperature-control control right, and controls the system temperature based on predefined first temperature control strategy; if it is determined that the temperature control function module is at fault and stops working, a temperature control hardware device obtains the temperature-control control right, and controls the system temperature based on predefined second temperature control strategy. The system comprises a temperature control hardware device and a temperature control function module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd., Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
    Inventors: Gaoqiang Li, Chizhou Ma, Xiaosong Liu
  • Patent number: 8132421
    Abstract: There is provided a turbo chiller that can be operated at high efficiency within an adequate chilling capacity range even when the cooling water temperature changes during the operation. The adequate chilling capacity range is obtained by using a flow coefficient and a pressure coefficient at a specific operating point of a turbo compressor as well as a predetermined coefficient to determine an arithmetic expression representing the relationship between a head and a chilling capacity, using a chilling capacity that can lead to a substantially highest coefficient of performance at a single head to obtain the predetermined coefficient as an optimum coefficient, computing an adequate operation coefficient range having a predetermined range and including the optimum coefficient, and substituting the adequate operation coefficient range and a head at the time of operation into the arithmetic expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 8127564
    Abstract: A cooling system has a configuration in which a cooling system for an inverter device and a motor generator also serves as a cooling system for a battery. In this configuration, a control device performs temperature-raising control of the battery when a battery temperature is below a prescribed temperature lower limit value. The control device controls an operation of a switching valve such that cooling water from a cooling medium path is outputted to a bypass path. Further, if a cooling water temperature is lower than a prescribed temperature, the control device controls the inverter device such that a power loss during a switching operation in a switching element included in the inverter device becomes larger than a power loss during normal control. As a result, the cooling system having a small-sized, low-cost configuration rapidly recovers capacity decline of the battery, which occurs at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Takeshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8122730
    Abstract: A method and device for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator unit using a single sensor are disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining a sensor temperature of a refrigerator unit, determining to which a plurality of disjoint temperatures regions the temperature lies within and setting an operating condition of each of a plurality of components of the refrigerator unit based on the determined temperature region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur Wilson Scrivener, Joshua Blake Huff
  • Patent number: 8122732
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a noise reduction structure. According to the refrigerator, a branch pipe for reducing the intensive noise occurring from an impeller part is provided to a discharge pipe connected so that the refrigerant is discharged in a direction of a condenser from the impeller part. Therefore, the traveling sound wave of the noise traveling along the discharge pipe and the reverse sound wave traveling toward the branch pipe provided to the outer periphery of the discharge pipe meet each other, so that the both sound waves are cancelled to reduce the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joon Keun Lee, Jeong Ho Kim, Won Ki Park