Patents Examined by Daniel C Comings
  • Patent number: 11796509
    Abstract: A humidity sensor includes a sound wave element configured to transmit a sound wave and receive the sound wave reflected by a reflector, a reception circuit configured to obtain an arrival time of the reflected wave received by the sound wave element, and a humidity analysis circuit configured to calculate humidity by using the arrival time, a distance from the sound wave element to the reflector, and a temperature of a space from the sound wave element to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jini Hon, Akira Morikawa, Noriaki Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11788781
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus (1) includes a heat-source-side unit (10) using a refrigerant that works in a supercritical region. The heat-source-side unit (10) includes a compression element (20) configured to compress the refrigerant, a heat-source-side heat exchanger (24), an expansion valve (26) provided downstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger (24), a receiver (25) provided downstream of the expansion valve (26), and a control unit (101). The control unit (101) performs a first operation for evaluating the amount of the refrigerant based on a high-pressure-side pressure, on a first condition that the internal pressure of the receiver (25) be equal to or less than a supercritical pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Taguchi, Masaaki Takegami
  • Patent number: 11781793
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of preventing evaporator coil freeze in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is performed by a controller in the HVAC system. The method includes determining a reference saturated suction temperature (SST) via a sensor disposed in relation to an evaporator coil in the HVAC system. The method also includes determining whether the reference SST is below a minimum SST threshold. The method also includes, responsive to a determination that the reference SST is below the minimum SST threshold, increasing a discharge air temperature (DAT) setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Siddarth Rajan
  • Patent number: 11774116
    Abstract: An evaporative air cooling tower is described. The evaporative air cooling tower includes a housing defining an interior of the evaporative air cooling tower; a grill coupled to the housing and defining openings; a tank positioned adjacent to a bottom portion of the housing, wherein the tank is configured to receive and store liquid; a tray positioned adjacent to a top portion of the housing, wherein the tray is configured to receive and release the liquid; a hose in fluid communication with the tank and the tray; a pump configured to pump the liquid from the tank to the tray through the hose; a filter structure comprising a filter configured to receive the liquid from the tray; and a fan configured to draw air into the interior, wherein the air is cooled by the filter and directed out of the interior through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott Barlettano
  • Patent number: 11761676
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a terminal unit that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of a compressor, and electrically connects components provided in the compressor and outside the compressor; a side soundproof cover that covers the outer peripheral surface of the compressor except for the terminal unit; and a terminal cover that covers the terminal unit exposed from the side soundproof cover to the outside of the side soundproof cover, and soundproofs the terminal unit. The terminal cover is attached to the side soundproof cover such that the state of the terminal cover can be changed between a state in which the terminal cover covers the terminal unit and a state in which the terminal cover does not cover the terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Otsuka, Noka Sakabe, Mizuo Sakai, Tetsuya Yamashita, Masafumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 11747075
    Abstract: A portable refrigerator includes a main housing, a refrigerator cover, a cooling mechanism, a rechargeable battery pack and a control unit. The cooling mechanism includes heat exchanging tubes, a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser connected to the evaporator and the compressor. The rechargeable battery pack is detachably attached on a power compartment of the main housing. The control unit is supported in the main housing and electrically connected to the rechargeable battery pack and the cooling mechanism for centrally controlling an operation of the cooling mechanism. A predetermined amount of refrigerant is arranged to controllably pass through the heat exchanging tubes, the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor for extracting heat from the accommodating cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Longhua Tang, Zhizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11732948
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator comprises: as a first refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a first storage chamber is operated, operating a compressor and operating a first cold air supply; when the first refrigeration cycle has been operated for a first run time, converting to a second refrigeration cycle for refrigeration of a second storage chamber, and operating a second cold air supply; and if the second refrigeration cycle has been operated for a second run time, stopping the second refrigeration cycle. A first reference time is determined using a representative value obtained based on the temperature of the first storage chamber during a single run cycle, which includes a previous first refrigeration cycle and a previous second refrigeration cycle. A second reference time period is determined using a representative value obtained on the basis of the temperature of the second storage chamber during the single run cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seunguk Ahn, Kyunghun Cha, Sunam Chae
  • Patent number: 11725919
    Abstract: A system for cooling a missile includes an assembly of Peltier tiles configured to be reversibly attached to the skin of the missile with the cold sides of the Peltier tiles against the skin. The Peltier tiles are electrically powered to cool a portion of the missile skin. A thermally conductive paste or sheets of a heat conductive material may be placed between the Peltier tiles and missile skin. When the missile is launched, the assembly of Peltier tiles detach from the missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Herbert U. Fluhler
  • Patent number: 11719474
    Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet includes a freezing compartment, a first evaporator and a second evaporator. The freezing compartment includes a freezing compartment door, and the first evaporator and the second evaporator are both equipped in the freezing compartment. The first evaporator is turned off and a second evaporator is working while the freezing compartment door is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee-Long Chen, Chun-Yang Hung, Chia-Wei Chen, Yi-Chung Chou
  • Patent number: 11709004
    Abstract: A method includes measuring a saturated suction temperature, receiving actual temperature value reflective of the measured saturated suction temperature, and determining whether the actual temperature value is less than a first pre-determined minimum threshold temperature value. If the actual temperature value is less than the first pre-determined minimum threshold temperature value, initiating a timer to operate for a pre-determined time interval. Determining whether the actual temperature value is less than a second pre-determined minimum threshold temperature value and if the actual temperature value is less the second pre-determined minimum threshold temperature value, initiating the timer to operate for a modified time interval. If the timer has expired, the operation of the compressor is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Siddarth Rajan
  • Patent number: 11686520
    Abstract: An example transport refrigeration system includes first and second refrigeration circuits configured to cool first and second transport compartments, respectively. An electric machine powers the first and second refrigeration circuits. A controller is configured to monitor a temperature of the electric machine, and reduce a cooling capacity of a selected one of the first and second refrigeration circuits based on the temperature exceeding a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Jason R. Kondrk
  • Patent number: 11686518
    Abstract: The heat source controller transmits the drive permission signal (SE) to the utilization controller when the compression element is drivable. The utilization controller opens a utilization expansion valve when heat exchange in a utilization heat exchanger is required, on condition that the utilization controller receive the drive permission signal (SE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Takegami, Shuichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11674705
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a display, a storage configured to store power consumption information and time information which are required to increase or decrease an indoor temperature by a unit temperature according to an outdoor temperature, a sensor, and a processor configured to predict, based on a desired temperature being input, at least one of a power consumption or a required time for the indoor temperature to reach the desired temperature by the sensor based on information stored in the storage, and provide at least one of the predicted power consumption or the required time through the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngju Joo, Jun Hwang, Heechan Kang, Minkyong Kim, Kwangil Nam, Jeonguk Park, Hyeongjoon Seo, Hyunwoo Ock, Sangwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11674728
    Abstract: Described are a compressor driving apparatus and a refrigerator including the same. The compressor driving apparatus includes: switching elements; an inverter; an output current detector for detecting an output current flowing through a motor; and an inverter controller for controlling the inverter. The inverter controller controls the piston so that one end of the piston is fixed at a first position spaced apart from the discharge unit at stroke of the piston during a first period, controls the piston to collide with the discharge unit when a change rate in an operation rate or a position error of the compressor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and controls the piston so that the one end of the piston is fixed at a second position spaced apart from the discharge unit at stroke of the piston during a second period after the collision of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Nayi Ryu
  • Patent number: 11668504
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a storage medium and an air conditioning system, for a three-pipe air conditioning system, the three-pipe air conditioning system includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a gas-liquid separator, a first pipeline, a second pipeline and a third pipeline; the oil return control method comprises the following steps: controlling the compressor to operate at a first frequency in a refrigerating mode; judging whether the operation duration of the refrigerating mode reaches a first preset time or not; if so, the air conditioning system enters an oil return state, and the compressor, the third pipeline, the second pipeline and the gas-liquid separator are controlled to be communicated in sequence to form a refrigerant circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: HEFEI MIDEA HEATING AND VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., GD MIDEA HEATING AND VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinli Wang, Meibing Xiong, Mingkun Feng, Haowei Zhao, Jiajin Liu
  • Patent number: 11656016
    Abstract: A cooling system includes: a first cooling apparatus electrically driven to supply a first heat transfer medium cooled to a first set temperature or lower; a plurality of second cooling apparatuses each of which includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first heat transfer medium supplied from the first cooling apparatus and a second heat transfer medium, and is electrically driven to supply a third heat transfer medium cooled to a second set temperature or lower, the second set temperature being changed individually with lapse of time; and a processor that obtains second set temperatures of the second cooling apparatuses and sets the first set temperature based on the obtained second set temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Norio Kokubo, Masayuki Kouketsu, Isahiro Hasegawa, Toshiharu Nakazawa, Keisuke Takanashi, Yukihiro Fukusumi
  • Patent number: 11639820
    Abstract: Multi-compressor chiller systems can be efficiently operated by determining real time efficiency curves for the compressors currently in operation, along with any compressors that may be added to address demand, and using these efficiency curves to determine changes to compressor operation to improve efficiency in meeting chiller demand. The efficiency curves can be parabolic curves. The data used to determine the efficiency curves can be obtained through operation at a variety of lift points and a variety of load points within those lift points. The efficiency curves can be solved to find intersections where there may be staging points for adding or subtracting compressors from operation to efficiently meet demand. This operation can be automated through a controller of a control system for the multi-compressor chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Kirkman, Lee R. Cline
  • Patent number: 11635243
    Abstract: A plurality of scroll compressors with different fixed volume indexes are connected in fluid parallel circuit and configured to selectively operate to maximize isentropic efficiency at different condensing temperatures. Different quantities of scroll compressors of different volume indexes may be selected based upon typical climate or geographic location environmental conditions to attempt to maximize efficiency. A controller may selectively operate different combinations of the compressors of different volume indexes bases up load demands and condensing temperature conditions, which may be determined in a variety of ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BITZER Kuehlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Francesco Galante, Richard G. Kobor
  • Patent number: 11604019
    Abstract: A system for charging an outdoor unit with refrigerant includes a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration and a user device configured to receive the measured refrigerant concentration. The system includes that the user device is configured to, in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding a threshold, generate and display an alert on a user interface of the user device indicating the measured refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Alfano, Winfield S. Morter, Brian R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11598565
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a compressor, a first flow path and a second flow path branched from a branch point, a condenser disposed downstream of the branch point in the first flow path, a first decompressor disposed downstream of the condenser, a plurality of evaporators disposed downstream of the first decompressor and connected in series, a second decompressor disposed downstream of the branch point in the second flow path, a detection unit, and a control unit. The second flow path includes a hot-gas flow path configured to connect an outlet of the second decompressor and a meeting point with the first flow path. The control unit controls a degree of opening of the second decompressor depending on the temperature detected by the first temperature-detection unit and controls a degree of opening of the first decompressor depending on the temperature and/or the pressure detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT INC.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishihama, Masakazu Nagata, Yuusuke Suzuki