Patents Examined by Denise L. Esquivel
  • Patent number: 7201013
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning apparatus with two adsorption elements (81, 82). The air conditioning apparatus repeatedly alternately performs a first operation in which air is dehumidified by the first adsorption element (81) simultaneously with regeneration of the second adsorption element (82) and a second operation in which air is dehumidified by the second adsorption element (82) simultaneously with regeneration of the first adsorption element (81). At the time of switching between these operations, only the flow path of air is changed, with the adsorption elements (81, 82) remaining stationary. The air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a refrigeration cycle in which a regenerative heat exchanger (92) operates as a condenser and either one of first and second cooling heat exchangers (93, 94) operates as an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7201002
    Abstract: In combination, pressurized fluid contained in a storage vessel, in both liquid and vapor regions, a heat exchanger in the vapor region of the vessel, and a first pressure regulator having an inlet side in communication with liquid in the vessel, and having an outlet side in communication with the heat exchanger, whereby if pressure in the vessel rises to the setting of the regulator, it opens and admits liquid from the vessel to the heat exchanger, to vaporize in that exchanger causing vapor in the vessel to condense, and reducing pressure in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Cryogenic Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross M. Brown
  • Patent number: 7131276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pulse tube refrigerators for recondensing cryogenic liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to the same for magnetic resonance imaging systems. In many cryogenic applications components, e.g. superconducting coils for magnetic resonance imaging (mri), superconducting transformers, generators, electronics, are cooled by keeping them in contact with a volume of liquified gases (e.g. helium, neon, nitrogen, argon, methane). In a first aspect, the present invention provides a pulse tube refrigerator PTR pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) arrangement within a cryogenic apparatus, wherein a regenerator tube of the PTR is finned. In this configuration the fins or baffles, are believed to increase the surface area available for distributed heat transfer from the helium atmosphere to the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Oxford Magnet Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaiyu Pan, Timothy Hughes, Keith White
  • Patent number: 7100394
    Abstract: An adaptor enables a convective treatment system to be modified for cooling by providing a bath of pressurized, cooled air intended to lower the body core temperature of a person. The adaptor may be constructed for being coupled between a blower assembly that provides a stream of pressurized air and a convective treatment device that receives the stream of pressurized air, distributes it, and provides it for bathing the body of a person in a general bath of cooled air in order to produce a desired clinical effect such as prevention or alleviation of hyperthermia or for thermal comfort. Such an adaptor may be embodied as an enclosure having a shaped internal cavity. The shape is useful for effectively and efficiently distributing a flow of pressurized over, around and through a bed of ice disposed in the cavity. Ports are provided in the enclosure for introducing a flow of pressurized air into, and receiving a flow of pressurized air from, the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Arizant HealthCare Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Bieberich, Ryan S. Augustine, Scott D. Augustine, Mark Christopher Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7100380
    Abstract: A method of operating an organic rankine cycle system wherein a liquid refrigerant is circulated to an evaporator where heat is introduced to the refrigerant to convert it to vapor. The vapor is then passed through a turbine, with the resulting cooled vapor then passing through a condenser for condensing the vapor to a liquid. The refrigerant is one of CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2, (CF3)2 CFC(O)CF(CF3)2, CF3(CF2)2C(O)CF(CF3)2, CF3(CF2)3C(O)CF(CG3)2, CF3(CF2)5C(O)CF3, CF3CF2C(O)CF2CF2CF3, CF3C(O)CF(CF3)2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joost J. Brasz, Ulf J. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 7082786
    Abstract: The scroll compressor includes a scroll compression mechanism portion in combination of an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll, a frame for supporting the compression portion, a rotary shaft fitted in the orbiting scroll, a motor portion coupled to the rotary shaft, and a hermetic chamber incorporating the above-mentioned components. Windings of a stator of a motor in the motor portion are formed of aluminum wires which are coated with fluororesin compound, that is, the aluminum wires are coated with fluororesin and is molded with a resin material. Ammonia group refrigerant is used in the scroll compressor. Further, a refrigerating system using the above-mentioned scroll compressor, is incorporated therein with a circuit for injecting ammonia group refrigerant into a compression room in the compression mechanism portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.,
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasunori, Kenji Tojo, Mutsunori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6990751
    Abstract: An air knife or air nozzle manifold for drying or blowing off passing articles moved by a conveyor system is provided with a coupling that permits rotation of the air knife or air nozzle manifold relative to the air inlet duct leading from a blower. The air knife or air nozzle manifold has opposing ends located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of rotation relative to a stationary element of the coupling. Thrust nozzles are provided at each of the opposing ends of the air knife or air nozzle manifold to deflect a certain portion of the air from the plenum chamber to provide thrusting jets of air that rotate the air knife or air nozzle manifold about the longitudinal axis. The flow of air emitted from the air knife or air nozzle manifold is thereby directed onto the passing articles from different directions as the articles move by. The efficiency of drying and blowing off the articles to be processed is thereby significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sonic Air Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Riley, Daniel J. VanderPyl
  • Patent number: 6981388
    Abstract: The following invention relates to an air conditioning system, in particular for aircraft, comprising at least one heat exchanger, arranged in a ram air duct, for cooling compressed air by means of a fluid, and comprising at least a first and a second air cycle machine which at the compressed-air end are connected to the heat exchanger. A particularly compact, reliable, redundant and economical arrangement is achieved in that the heat exchanger comprises at least one first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, of which one each is connected at the compressed-air end to one of the air cycle machines, and in that ram air outlet ducts which are fluidically separate from each other are provided, of which one is connected to the first heat exchanger unit and another is connected to the second heat exchanger unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Brutscher, Joachim Haas
  • Patent number: 6971186
    Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting lint in use with a dryer having an interior compartment. The filter assembly includes a control unit, an input air pathway in communication with the interior compartment, an exhaust, and a micro-filter. The input air pathway carries air and lint from the interior compartment through the micro-filter into the exhaust. The filter assembly includes a first and second air flow sensor in the interior compartment for determining the change of air flow between the input air pathway and exhaust. The control unit is in communication with the first and second air flow sensors and an alarm. The control unit triggers the alarm when the air flow sensors detect a restricted pattern of air flow, thereby signaling a build-up of lint in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventors: TJ Chin, Patricia Farrow
  • Patent number: 6968704
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for densifying liquids, specifically the densification of cryogenic propellants. A preferred system of the present invention subcools and densifies liquid propellants by utilizing a countercurrent gas or liquid flow. The countercurrent flow preferably utilizes a gas having a lower boiling point than the propellants. A packed tower may then be used, at or above atmospheric pressure, to introduce the countercurrent flow to the propellant. This methodology avoids the costs and problems associated with subatmospheric operation. A preferred embodiment is directed toward the densification of liquid oxygen, with a similar embodiment directed toward the simultaneous densification of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Systems and methods of the present invention may also be used to densify other liquids in similar fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: PHPK Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Charles B. Hood
  • Patent number: 6968703
    Abstract: The Mechanical Freezer of this invention closely approaches an ideal freezer cycle composed of constant temperature compression, expansion, and constant volume heating (load transfer) by using power piston 106 that power input shaft 50 moves up and down and displacers 104 and 105 that are moved by cam 108. When power piston 106 moving up and additional displacer 105 moving down come together, fluid is forced through additional heat sink 41 where it is cooled as it is compressed. When additional displacer 105 and primary displacer 104 come together, fluid is forced through primary heat sink 40 where it is cooled as it is compressed. After compression, the cooled fluid is expanded by power piston 106 along with displacers 104 and 105 moving down. When displacers 104 and 105 then move up, fluid is forced through load 30 and load 30 is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Edward Lawrence Warren
  • Patent number: 6944968
    Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John C. Cleary, Michael C. Davis, Todd A. McCoy, Edgar N. Rudisill
  • Patent number: 6941677
    Abstract: A portable air heating system for use in remote areas is disclosed. The portable air heating system provides a stream heated air for use in heating the interior of a structure, such as a tent or camp trailer. The heating system generally comprises an air transfer assembly for providing a flow of air through the system, a fuel burner assembly for providing heat by combustion, and a heat transfer housing for safely transferring the heat produced by the fuel burner assembly to the air flowing through the transfer assembly. The burner assembly and the heat transfer housing are both positioned outside the area being heated. Further, the exhaust gases are completely isolated from the air heated by the system, thereby virtually eliminating the likelihood of asphyxiation by the exhaust gases from the burner. The present heating system is also highly portable and simple to use, thereby providing an efficient mechanism for providing heat where more traditional heating apparatus are not readily available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Taps, LLC
    Inventor: Trevor Adrian
  • Patent number: 6938358
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing electromagnetic drying of printed media. A resonant cavity allows support of standing waves along many radial axes throughout the resonant cavity. The electromagnetic drying unit allows forced air to be introduced into the resonant cavity, thereby reducing moisture within the resonant cavity and extending the life of the resonant cavity. Input and output openings may be arranged longitudinally along the resonant cavity and may be designed to substantially reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation emanating from them during operation. A honeycomb feature at the end of the resonant cavity may allow egress of the forced air, while substantially reducing the amount of electromagnetic radiation emanating from the end of the resonant cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruthie D. Lyle, Jennifer Q. Q. Trelewicz, Carl Robert Bildstein
  • Patent number: 6938426
    Abstract: A refrigeration generation system wherein a frequency modulating mechanical resonator is positioned between a pressure wave generator and a cryocooler and serves to reduce the frequency of the oscillating gas emanating from the pressure wave generator so that it more closely comports with a more efficient operating frequency of the cryocooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Acharya, Bayram Arman, Richard C. Fitzgerald, James Joseph Volk, John Henri Royal, Al-Khalique Shariff Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6935134
    Abstract: A method and a kit is described for cooling beverages. Each employs a naturally occurring, non-porous igneous rock material, such as granite, that may be configured in the form of a polyhedron, such as a cube. The method involves placing one or more masses of the material in a reduced temperature environment for a selected time that may be sufficient to allow the mass to reach equilibrium temperature with the reduced temperature environment. One or more masses are then placed in a vessel along with the beverage to be cooled. The kit houses the masses in a lidded container and one or more vessels are included. A correlation between the size of the masses and the vessels is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventors: Howard R. Lahti, Daniel J. Boyd
  • Patent number: 6937993
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking and processing Service Orders for a telecommunications company. Workflows are used to model business procedures used for processing Service Orders. Each Workflow comprises a plurality of Workflow steps. Business process models are depicted as Workflow diagrams. The Workflow diagrams are stored in a library in a database. Work plans comprising a plurality of Workflow steps and associated data and are derived from information found in the Workflow diagrams. Upon receipt of a Service Order, an appropriate work plan is selected based on information within the Service Order. Each Workflow step is assigned a resource and is scheduled for completion with a start and a stop date and placed in the in-boxes associated with the selected resource. Users log-on to remote workstations coupled with a company-wide Intranet or the like. From the remote workstations, users from various organizations view their in-boxes and other information about current Service Orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: MCI, Inc.
    Inventors: Swathibabu Gabbita, Brandon Goldfedder, Casey K. Hopson, Dennis Troup, Robert E. Park
  • Patent number: 6931761
    Abstract: An entrance sealing assembly for a hinged door of a laundry dryer provides a complete sealing of all gaps between the essential components of the entrance sealing assembly. The laundry dryer includes a door frame, the door frame being provided with a door glass; a frame cover having a frame cover panel in which an entrance hole is formed for receiving the door frame, the frame cover panel having an inner end surface; a front support, coupled with the frame cover, for supporting a drum, the front support having an inner end surface; and a unified sealing member having first and second ends, disposed between the frame cover and the front support, the second end of the unified sealing member providing for contact with the door glass when the hinged door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Gi Hwang
  • Patent number: 6931754
    Abstract: A drying unit for removing solvent from moist material, and a method for drying moist material with the drying unit. The unit comprises at least one drying chamber (23) having at least one stand plate (2) for holding vessels (3), which are filled with moist material, or flat layers of moist material, the drying chamber (23) being connected to a condenser (22) via a vapor passage (15), in which sublimed solvent can be separated out, the stand plates (2) being connected to a temperature-controlled heating/cooling circuit, the chamber (23) having heating/cooling plates (4) or (4?) which are connected to a second heat-transfer circuit, wherein the heating/cooling plates (4) or (4?) are substantially thermally isolated from the chamber wall (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Sennhenn, Dietrich Gehrmann, Ariane Firus
  • Patent number: 6922909
    Abstract: By providing a plurality of portals in a housing which forms a hair dryer attachment which is merely fixed to the exist portal of any conventional hair dryer, a hair dryer attachment is realized which is capable of substantially reducing the drying time required for drying the hair of any individual, while also being easily employed and comfortable. In the preferred embodiment, at least one raised, sloping panel is formed adjacent the inlet portal of the attachment with the panel sloping outwardly from the generally circular shaped inlet portal. In addition, a plurality of apertures or portals are formed in the panel for enabling ambient air to freely flow therethrough. In this way, the heated air flowing through the central portion of the attachment creates a low-pressure zone on the inside surface of the portals, drawing ambient air through the portals into the interior of the hair dryer attachment, thereby enabling the quantity of the air reaching the hair of the user is substantially increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Andrew, Gregg A. Micinilio, Richard Neil Tobin, John Wilcox