Patents Examined by Christopher B. Kilmer
  • Patent number: 5220811
    Abstract: A muffler tube for use in a hermetically sealed compressor is disclosed. The muffler tube of the present invention has a roughened outer finish, and has a protuberance extending radially outwardly therefrom, which protuberance is received in a recess in the inner wall of the muffler. The combination of the roughened outer finish and the protuberance connection assist in preventing the muffler from turning on the tube, and from moving vertically on the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Harold M. Harper, Ronald K. Harper, Tara C. Kandpal
  • Patent number: 5174130
    Abstract: A compression-evaporation refrigeration system, wherein gaseous compression of the refrigerant is provided by a standing wave compressor. The standing wave compressor is modified so as to provide a separate subcooling system for the refrigerant, so that efficiency losses due to flashing are reduced. Subcooling occurs when heat exchange is provided between the refrigerant and a heat pumping surface, which is exposed to the standing acoustic wave within the standing wave compressor. A variable capacity and variable discharge pressure for the standing wave compressor is provided. A control circuit simultaneously varies the capacity and discharge pressure in response to changing operating conditions, thereby maintaining the minimum discharge pressure needed for condensation to occur at any time. Thus, the power consumption of the standing wave compressor is reduced and system efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Sonic Compressor Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5159820
    Abstract: An oil separator used in a refrigerating system. The oil separator comprises a body for forming a centrifugal oil separating chamber and an oil storage chamber, with a separating plate dividing the chambers. An inlet passage is connected tangentially to the oil separating chamber, to cause a swirl in the chamber, and a medium outlet passage extends inwardly from an end wall into the oil separating chamber. An oil outlet passage(s) is provided in the separating plate at a position near a periphery thereof. The oil separator body is formed integrally with the compressor housing and a ring member is fitted in an inner surface of the oil storage chamber, and a helically shaped narrow groove is provided on the outer surface thereof to form an oil returning passage. Also, the oil outlet passage can be provided in the separating plate at a position lower than a highest level of the oil storage chamber, thereby allowing the chambers to be arranged in a horizontal side by side relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeji Ohishi, Shin Honda, Hisayoshi Sakakibara, Kenichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5150585
    Abstract: Energy recovery systems for cold storage warehouses refrigerated by mechanical refrigeration apparatus coacting with a energy recovery unit including a turbine driving an electromotive generator. The cogenerator turbine is driven by the kinetic energy extracted from refrigerant flowing through a first conduit system connecting the compressor, evaporators and condenser of the refrigeration or by the kinetic energy extracted from a coolant being pumped through a second conduit system independent of the first conduit system to cool the compressor as it becomes heated during compression of refrigerant from a vapor phase to a liquid phase during the refrigeration cycle. The extraction of the kinetic energy of the refrigerant flow or coolant flow and the heat generated by the compressor during the refrigerant compression phase represents useful work obtained from the energy recovery system from available surplus energy that otherwise would be wasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Stanley Markiewicz
  • Patent number: 5123261
    Abstract: A cooling tunnel for baked tortillas and the like, the tunnel having a housing defining a cooling space, an aperatured product conveyor for moving the product to be cooled through the cooling space, means for moving cooling gas over the tortillas in the cooling space, closed loop flexible hold down chains, supports for positioning the hold down chains in the cooling space for resting on the conveyor, and a drive for moving the hold down chains through the cooling space along with the conveyor with the tortillas between the hold down chains and the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Valley Grain Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Cope
  • Patent number: 5113671
    Abstract: A device for separating oil from a gas is provided which includes a housing forming a peripheral wall with an inlet at a top end of the housing for receiving an oil/gas mixture, a gas outlet formed by a conduit extending through the top end of the housing and an oil outlet at a bottom end of the housing. Within the housing there is a helical wall extending between the gas outlet conduit and the peripheral wall to cause the oil/gas mixture to flow in a largely circumferential path along the peripheral wall. Between the helical wall and the peripheral wall there is provided a mesh screen for collecting and separating the oil from the oil/gas mixture. The collected oil drips from the screen to a baffle with apertures therein which directs the oil therethrough for receipt in an oil collection zone below the baffle. The gas outlet conduit has an opening above the baffle for permitting relatively oil-free gas to exit the oil separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: AC&R Components Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5097678
    Abstract: For protection of the condenser unit of a split system residential air conditioner of the top-discharge type, a ventilating cover has an impervious top panel and substantially impervious skirt, while the lower edge of the skirt may substantially coincide extending downward therefrom with the downward extent of the motor and fan inside the condenser unit, since the lower part of the unit remains uncovered and corrosion-avoiding ventilation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Steven L. Aubuchon