Patents Examined by Daniel C Comings
  • Patent number: 12680744
    Abstract: A flash tank overflow warning system for refrigeration systems and cold climate heat pumps. Some embodiments may include heat pump systems that have a compressor, a condenser, and a flash tank. A vapor injection line may be disposed between the flash tank and the compressor to direct vapor refrigerant from the flash tank to the compressor. A warning line may be coupled to a side surface of the flash tank and may be disposed between the flash tank and the vapor injection line. The vertical attachment position of the warning line on the side surface may determine a ratio of vapor to liquid refrigerant in the flash tank. The warning line may prevent overcharging during the active charging process by an operator (e.g., an HVAC technician, etc.). For example, once the warning system triggers, the operator would stop charging and may or may not release a little bit of refrigerant to achieve an ideally charged system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John Kevin Brehm
  • Patent number: 12674609
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling compressors in a cascade vapor compression system. The process may include controlling the operation of a first compressor based on a constant band control, and controlling the operation of a second compressor based on a proportional band control. Controlling the first compressor based on the constant band control may include operating the compressor at a constant setting if first measurements are within a range associated with a first setpoint. It may also include proportionally adjusting the operation of the first compressor if the first measurements are outside the range. Further, controlling the second compressor based on the proportional band control may include operating the compressor based on one of a plurality of proportional bands, each proportional band having a different proportional factor. Controlling the second compressor operation may further include switching between these proportional bands based on a second measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: Trane Technologies Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Schoeppner, Alex Roberts, Trace A. Lydick
  • Patent number: 12669751
    Abstract: A storage system for storing photoresist coated semiconductor substrates includes a semiconductor substrate container configured to store a plurality of semiconductor substrates. The storage system further includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a sensor coupled to the gas outlet and configured to measure a humidity of a gas exiting the semiconductor substrate container through the gas outlet. The storage system also includes a source of an inert gas or an extreme clean dry air connected via a gas purifier to the gas inlet. The storage system further includes a controller configured to control the gas purifier and the sensor to purge a humidity inside the semiconductor substrate container with the inert gas or the extreme clean dry air such that a relative humidity of the gas exiting the semiconductor substrate container is below a threshold relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Wei Liao, Sheng-Wen Jiang, Jan-Liang Yang, Hui-Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 12662644
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device can include a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor. A refrigerant can be enclosed in the refrigerant circuit, particularly where the refrigerant can contain a hydrocarbon having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a sulfur-based odorant. The compressor can be filled with a refrigeration oil, where the refrigeration oil can contain a base oil, and where the ratio of the number of oxygen atoms to the number of carbon atoms in the molecular structure of the base oil is less than 0.50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Hiratsuka, Satoru Toyama, Kenji Kojima, Manami Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12656005
    Abstract: A humidity control system and method for controlling the humidity of ambient air is disclosed. The system includes a humidification and dehumidification systems to increase and/or decrease the humidity level of an indoor space and a sensor to sense ambient conditions of the space. The system further includes a controller that receives a humidity setpoint for the indoor space, determines the humidity level associated with the indoor space, compares the determined humidity level to the humidity setpoint, and causes activation of one of a humidification system or a dehumidification system. In response to causing the activation of one of the humidification or dehumidification system, the controller initiates a lockout condition during which the other of the one of the humidification or dehumidification system is prevented from activation. The controller also monitors for an override condition and enables activation of the other of the humidification system or the dehumidification system accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Research Products Corporation
    Inventors: Wade Ferkey, Tom Friederick, Chip Seidel, Sean McCarthy, Nicholas Balazs
  • Patent number: 12656044
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and an ice-making compartment. The refrigerating compartment is configured to receive cool air from a refrigerating compartment side grille fan assembly, and the ice-making compartment is configured to be located in any one refrigerating compartment door and to receive cool air from a freezing compartment side grille fan assembly with the freezing compartment. The refrigerating compartment side grille fan assembly is configured to supply a greater amount of cool air to a space at a refrigerating compartment door without the ice-making compartment than the amount of cool air supplied to other spaces, and the freezing compartment side grille fan assembly is configured to supply a greater amount of cool air to a space communicating with a recovery duct for the ice-making compartment than the amount of cool air supplied to other spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kihwang Kim, Sunghee Kang, Sangho Jung, Hojin Choi, Dong Hwi Kim
  • Patent number: 12656007
    Abstract: A wall module for a building control system includes a back plate with one or more mounting features for mounting the backplate to a wall. A main body includes one or more attachment features for removably attaching the main body to the back plate. The main body also includes a front side and a back side, wherein at least part of the front side is formed by a front plate. A display is housed by the main body in a display cavity that is defined at least in part by the front plate, and wherein at least part of the display is viewable from the front side. An antenna is housed by the main body in an antenna cavity that is defined at least in part by the front plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Chao Chen, Baofeng Dong, Ke Wei Han, Eason Zhu, Hua Tang
  • Patent number: 12654513
    Abstract: A method of controlling air recirculation via a continuous-feedback loop control system that adjusts cabin air recirculation in vehicles based on a number of different sensor inputs. The system uses a mass balance on the interior passenger compartment of the vehicle to sense and adjust the amount of dissolved water vapor in the cabin for liquid management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Edward Wolfe, George Melero, Bailey Reid
  • Patent number: 12650248
    Abstract: A cold storage and a method of operating a cold storage having first cooling unit arranged to cool a compartment and a second cooling unit arranged ensure fast freezing of a substance stored in the compartment. The second cooling unit is operable according to a first, second and third modes of operation involving no, partly, or full contribution from the second cooling unit, wherein shifting between the different modes is determined based on a transition between three different temperature profiles in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: LOWENCO A/S
    Inventors: Kim Langaas, Soren Maarsso, Marius Adrian Bararu
  • Patent number: 12638223
    Abstract: An environmental control system for a vehicle includes a source of a first medium, a cabin air compressing device including a compressor having a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, and a conduit fluidly coupling the source of the first medium to the compressor inlet. The first medium provided to the compressor inlet is output at the compressor outlet as a compressed first medium. An environmental control system pack is located downstream from and is fluidly coupled to the compressor outlet. The environmental control system pack includes a ram air circuit having at least one ram air heat exchanger. Another conduit for providing a second medium to the compressor fluidly couples an outlet of the at least one ram air heat exchanger and the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent J. Merritt, Viktor Kilchyk, Mark G. Vignali
  • Patent number: 12631381
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a refrigerated dryer of a gas compressor system. In an aspect, a control system, including a controller and a flow sensor, selectively operates in a power saving mode in which the controller shuts down a refrigerant compressor included in the dryer system when the flow sensor indicates that no compressed gas is flowing through the dryer. The control system uses input from a temperature sensor to determine whether to activate the compressor regardless of the flow of compressed gas through the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Lalitkumar Jamnadas Vaishnav
  • Patent number: 12624855
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) sensor device includes a control signal input for receiving, from an HVAC controller, a control signal for controlling a HVAC actuator, a control signal output for transmitting a control signal to the HVAC actuator; and an electronic circuit, which receives a sensor signal indicative of condensation and/or indicative of relative humidity; and passes through the control signal to the control signal output in response to the sensor signal indicative of condensation and/or indicative of relative humidity being within defined ranges, or overwrites the control signal received at the control signal input with a control reference value and outputs the overwritten control signal at the control signal output in response to the sensor signal being outside the defined ranges. The control reference value causes the HVAC actuator to move an actuated part to a safety position which reduces and/or prevents formation of condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Henri Huynh-Quan-Trung, Robert Wueest, Maik Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 12601530
    Abstract: A refrigerant system including a compressor, an oil separator, an oil solenoid valve, a condenser, an evaporator, a bypass pipe, and a bypass solenoid valve is disclosed. The oil separator is connected to an output end of the compressor. The oil solenoid valve is disposed between the oil cooler and the compressor. The condenser is connected to the oil separator. The evaporator is connected to the condenser. The bypass pipe has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is connected between the oil separator and the condenser, and the second end is connected between the evaporator and an input end of the compressor. The bypass solenoid valve is disposed on the bypass pipe. A controlling method for the refrigerant system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Hsu Lin, Yao-Chung Yu, Xuan-Fu Li, Yu-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 12595923
    Abstract: A refrigerant leak detection system includes a sensor configured to detect a leaked portion of refrigerant external to a closed-loop refrigeration circuit of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, memory circuitry having instructions stored thereon, and processing circuitry configured to execute the instructions to perform various functions. The functions include receiving, from the sensor, sensor feedback indicative of the leaked portion of the refrigerant. The functions also include transmitting, based on the sensor feedback, a notification indicative of the leaked portion of the refrigerant to a third party security server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Mason S. DeWald, Theresa Thy N. Gillette, Andrew M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 12590719
    Abstract: A method for conditioning air in a temperature-insulated test space of a test chamber and a test chamber serving for receiving test material, in which a temperature ranging from ?20° C. to +180° C. is generated within the test space. A cooling circuit has an internal heat exchanger, which is connected on a high-pressure side of the cooling circuit downstream of a gas cooler and upstream of an expansion valve, the internal heat exchanger being coupled with a medium-pressure bypass of the cooling circuit, the medium-pressure bypass being connected downstream of the internal heat exchanger or the gas cooler and upstream of the expansion valve on the high-pressure side as well as upstream of a high-pressure compressor and downstream of a low-pressure compressor on a medium-pressure side of the cooling circuit, refrigerant being dosed in the medium-pressure side from the high-pressure side via the internal heat exchanger by a second expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: WEISS TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Yannik Zahrt, Dennis Reuschel, Christian Haack
  • Patent number: 12584679
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a grille assembly having a blowing fan installed at one side of a first storage compartment to discharge air heat-exchanged with a cooling source to at least one of the first and second storage compartment. The grille assembly includes a first guide flow path for guiding air flow from the blowing fan to the first storage compartment, and a second guide flow path for guiding air flow from the blowing fan to the second storage compartment. A first damper is located at the first guide flow path and a second damper is located at the second guide flow path. A detection sensor is installed at an air discharge side of the blowing fan and installed in at least one part of the second guide flow path, and the detection sensor is installed at an air outlet side of the second damper in the second guide flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyong Bae Park, Sung Jhee, Yun Su Cho, Young Seung Song
  • Patent number: 12578134
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided that includes a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and indoor air; a sensor unit including at least one sensor; and a controller. The controller performs a primary control of the compressor, based on a first target temperature corresponding to a dew point temperature of the indoor air and a current temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, performs a secondary control of the compressor, based on a second target temperature below zero lower than the first target temperature and the current temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, and determines whether to repeatedly perform at least one of the primary control or the secondary control, based on an amount of moisture contained in the indoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Minsuk Kwak
  • Patent number: 12546490
    Abstract: A dehumidification system that can be used during emergencies. The system includes an autonomous vehicle carrying a dehumidification device. In response to information about a water-related disaster at a specific location, the system will instruct the vehicle to travel to the location, enter a building, and initiate a series of dehumidification cycles in the interior space of the building. The vehicle can navigate from room to room and determine whether moisture content levels exceed a specified threshold. In response, the vehicle can direct its dehumidification operation to these specific zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: United States Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Carlos JP Chavez, Gregory David Hansen, Bradly Jay Billman, Kristina Suniga-Cabrera, Dwayne Phillip Wilson, Timothy Benjamin Czerlinsky, David Patrick Dixon
  • Patent number: 12546502
    Abstract: An air handler assembly provides an air handler that resides completely on a drain pan, and comprises multiple panels. At least two panels join at the edges to form an enclosed chamber with central region. Two of the opposing panels are apertured to enable passage of air. Multiple coils carrying cooling fluid are disposed in a parallel relationship, and on the inner side, of the coil panels. A blower forces high velocity air through one or more opposing coil panels, and across the coils to cool the air. From the coils, cooled air flows to central region of air handler. A fan at the top of the air handler draws the cooled air from an outlet opening that forms in a top panel for dispersing through a duct or plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Inventor: Timothy Utt
  • Patent number: 12540740
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected by pipes. The air conditioner includes: an operation frequency detector configured to detect an operation frequency of the compressor; an operation time measurer configured to, based on the operation frequency, measure a continuous time for which a low frequency operation in which the operation frequency of the compressor is equal to or lower than a reference frequency is continuously performed; a stop counter configured to, based on the continuous time, count a stop number of times the compressor is stopped without the continuous time continuing longer than a reference time; and an operation controller configured to, based on the stop number of times, perform a recovery operation that recovers a concentration of a refrigerating machine oil sealed inside the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Sato, Yoshiyuki Tada