Patents Examined by Derek S. Boles
  • Patent number: 6321996
    Abstract: A supplementary heating system for open motor vehicles, such as convertibles or roadsters, supplies warm air to shoulder and neck areas of vehicle occupants sitting in the vehicle seats. For preventing comfort-reducing draft phenomena when driving slowly and when stopped in front of a traffic light in the open vehicle, each heating module assigned to a vehicle seat has a heat exchanger, an air outlet nozzle arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and having an outflow direction into the shoulder and neck area, as well as an airstream inflow opening with an inflow funnel and a fan air inflow opening which are both arranged upstream of the heat exchanger and are separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Odebrecht, Gunter Siegel
  • Patent number: 6322442
    Abstract: An air duct has a rectilinear face plate with an internal face and an external face. The face plate has a rectangular, central opening with a height and width less than the lengths of the edges to form a solid periphery of between about 1.0 and 2.0 inches around the edges of the face plate. The central opening has a series of air directing grates creating a plurality of rectangular shaped slots. A rectilinear housing has two parallel long side walls and two parallel short end walls oriented perpendicular to the internal face and have external edges coupled to the interior face of the face plate adjacent to the opening. Each end plate contains two large bores and one small bore. A pair of similarly configured rectangular flappers, slightly wider than 50 percent of the height of the opening and slightly shorter than the width of the opening, have a formed cylindrical extension rotatably received within the large bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Cecil Cordell
  • Patent number: 6319112
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air flap for a ventilation, heating or air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The flap has a shut-off surface extending between two outer edges, each having a curved or vaulted profile. End sections of the first edge adjoin the end sections of the second edge, and the end sections are joined to a pivot axis. In order, in particular, to obtain a compact construction for the air conditioning system, the air flap preferably has a shape in which a first area (A) enclosed by the first, outer edge and the pivot axis is larger than a second area (B) enclosed by the second, outer edge and the pivot axis. An air flap of this type is used, in particular, as a fresh-air/circulating-air flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Michael Komowski
  • Patent number: 6319117
    Abstract: The scent dispenser includes a scent adapter assembly mounted in a heating and air conditioning duct adjacent to a register. A scent dispenser housing is supported in the air duct by the adapter assembly. A scent rotor is rotatably journaled in the scent dispenser housing. A scent block is mounted in a scent holder chamber in the scent rotor. A plurality of adjustable radial apertures in the scent rotor control the passage of air through the scent rotor chamber. A housing upstream end wall of the scent dispenser housing directs air moving in the air duct toward fins on the scent rotor to rotate the scent rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: James M. Moore
  • Patent number: 6319116
    Abstract: A hard disk drive docking adapter includes a rack and a slide with fans, a hinged door, a door-mounted air filter, and a hinged air filter cover. The door locks the slide to the rack and the air filter cover hinges to hold the air filter the door. The hinges of the cover oppose the hinges of the door to prevent the door from opening when the cover is removed for air filter replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Inclose Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Sunny Behl
  • Patent number: 6315656
    Abstract: A fan with an input mounting plane and an output mounting plane. The fan is adapted to be mounted on a control cabinet wall member with an aeration passage. This invention produces an air flow which is as dust-free and turbulence-free as possible. For this purpose, the input mounting plane and the output mounting plane form an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Adam Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 6308896
    Abstract: A heat generator comprises a partitioning wall 34 in opposed relation to a rotor in a heat generating area, in which the partitioning wall is formed with a supply groove 38 for introducing the viscous fluid to the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area from a storage area, and a recovery groove 39 for leading out the viscous fluid to the storage area from the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area. The shape, position and the mounting angle of the supply groove 38 and the recovery groove 39 are designed to set the outflow ratio &agr; to not more than 0.92. The outflow ratio &agr; is defined as the ratio (&agr;=Qout1/Qin) of the amount Qout1 of the viscous fluid flowing out from the heat generating area due to the forcible transfer function of the recovery groove 39 to the total amount Qin of the viscous fluid flowing from the storage area into the heat generating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takahiro Moroi, Shigeru Suzuki, Masami Niwa, Tatsuyuki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6309296
    Abstract: A double-walled housing 1 for the accommodation of electrical and electronic components possesses on its inner wall 2 a ventilation opening 11. In the gap 4 between inner wall 2 and external wall 3 sits an air filter 12 with a cylindrical filter cartridge 13. This air filter is drawn up on a supporting lattice 14, which is fastened to a removable assembly ring 15. A closeable service opening 20 with a cover 21 is in the external wall 3 and aligns with the ventilation opening 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Schroff GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Schwenk, Heinz Kempf, Peter Takats
  • Patent number: 6308895
    Abstract: Gas flow regulation valve (1) for a heater appliance, comprising a valve body (2) with two axial valves (7,9) arranged in series, whose valve sealing members (7′,8′) are the lift type by means of a central valve stem (10), whose forward movement (e) is actuated by a stepped motor (3), a motor control unit (C) for its power supply, and a remote control (RC) provided with a room temperature sensor (16), which houses a number of valve operating programs (P), each of them containing four positions relative to the forward movement of the valve stem, in accordance with the fuel gas family and the type of heating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fagor, S. Coop.
    Inventors: Maite Amozarrain Atxa, José J. Antxia Uribetxebarria
  • Patent number: 6306032
    Abstract: An aircraft air-conditioning system provides ventilation, air-conditioning and fire protection for a below-deck stairwell and cargo hold that may be equipped with passenger sleeping compartment containers. An air mixing unit mixes fresh air and recycled air to supply mixed air through a first supply air main line (31) and a supply air unit (21) into the freight hold (4), and through a second supply air main line (32) into the stairwell (5). A trimming air unit (7A) provides hot bleed air from the aircraft engines into the mixed air supplied through the first and second supply air main lines (31, 32). An exhaust air line (11) extracts exhaust air from the freight hold (4), while an exhaust air supplemental line (15) extracts exhaust air from the stairwell (5), both of which are connected to an exhaust air main line with an exhaust air ventilator (16) that blows the exhaust air overboard. A bypass line (8) provides bypass air if needed for the demands of the ventilator (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Scheffler, Michael Markwart, Uwe Buchholz
  • Patent number: 6305612
    Abstract: A compact fuel fired steam generating type humidifier. The apparatus uses a gaseous fuel as the source of heat to generate steam used to humidify air in heating, ventilation and air conditioning of buildings. The humidifier may be a stand alone unit that disperses the steam into the space, or the steam generated by the apparatus may be dispersed in forced air flow of the building heating system. The steam generating unit includes an insulated casing housing a dry firebox combustion chamber with the boiler immersed in the firebox chamber. The boiler has a high rate internal recirculation of the boiling water and is spaced from the interior walls of the firebox chamber providing an effective passage and contact of the hot combustion products with the vertical heat transfer surfaces of the boiler. The production of the steam from feed water is controlled by a humidistat and is maintained by automatic periodic intake of the feed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Ferdinand K. Besik
  • Patent number: 6306030
    Abstract: A solar-powered ventilation system for a building structure for ventilating building structures even during no wind days. The solar-powered ventilation system for a building structure includes a building structure having a roof and a conduit member extending through the roof inside the building structure; and also includes a turbine member being securely mounted to the building structure over the conduit member and having a centrally-rotating spindle and a plurality of curved vanes securely attached to and spaced about the spindle; and further includes solar panels securely mounted to a top of the conduit member and upon which the turbine member is rotatably mounted, a motor connected to the spindle for the rotation thereof, and a battery connected to the motor and to the solar panels for storing electrical energy and for energizing the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Glen H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6302787
    Abstract: A roof vent for obstructing snow from entry into a vented space of a structure or dwelling. The vent has a cover, support, and base. The base is adapted to form a passageway which connects the vented space to the environment. A barrier is also provided which is located within the passageway. The barrier permits air movement but causes snow to accumulate thereon which prevents accumulation in the vented space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Michael J. Graft, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6302788
    Abstract: A clothes dryer exhaust vent comprises a vent hood and a detachable grill. The detachable grill fits within the vent hood opening. A snap-fit system is provided which allows one to grasp the exposed edges of the grill, squeeze inwardly and readily disengage the grill from the vent hood. This system avoids having to unscrew the grill, remove the clips or the like to provide for grill service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Imperial Sheet Metal, Ltd.
    Inventor: Francois Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6302779
    Abstract: A regulator is provided for maintaining a preset air velocity through the work chamber of a fume hood. The regulator compares a measured air velocity at the inlet into the chamber with a preset air velocity and adjusts air velocity in response to differences in measured and preset values. Air velocity is measured with a high sensitivity pitot with an exterior end to be positioned outside the fume hood, and an interior end to be positioned inside the fume hood. The pitot includes spaced parallel plates with front and rear ends, an exterior air pressure sensor positioned at the front end of the plates, and an interior air pressure sensor positioned at the rear end of the plates. The interior air pressure sensor includes openings substantially equidistant between the plates that are toward the rear of the pitot when the pitot is mounted on a fume hood. The exterior end of the pitot preferably curves below horizontal to minimize the effect of transient air currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Flow Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond F. Ryan, Robert J. Oppel
  • Patent number: 6302786
    Abstract: A vented laboratory cabinet from which vapors and fumes may be effectively exhausted from all parts of the cabinet includes an interior storage space defined by a plurality of panels that are accessible through a closeable door, at least one shelf carried within the cabinet interior, and a vent pipe extending downwardly from an exhaust opening toward a lower part of the cabinet. Improved venting is achieved with a vent pipe having at least two vertically spaced apart vent openings for passage of gases from the cabinet into the vent pipe, wherein at least one of the vent openings is located above the shelf and at least one other vent opening is located below the shelf. The improved vented laboratory cabinet provides effective evacuation of fumes from both sides of the shelf, whereby accumulation of chemical vapors is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Case Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Bauer, Michael R. Lee
  • Patent number: 6302780
    Abstract: A ceiling grille for directing conditioned air from an air conditioning unit mounted upon the roof of a motor vehicle wherein comfort air is delivered into a plenum located inside the vehicle. The plenum has front and rear deflector vanes rotatably mounted therein for directing comfort air into the passenger compartment. Each vane has a rocker arm that is connected through suitable linkage to a cam follower. Each cam follower, in turn, rides on the cam face of a motor driven cam. The profile of the cam face is contoured to position the two vanes to control the direction of comfort air flow into the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Young Kill Ahn, Jeong-Un Lyu, Jong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6302784
    Abstract: A modular air vent assembly kit can be used to cover duct openings that supply a flow of heated or cooled air to a room in addition to covering duct openings that receive return air from a room. The modular air vent assembly kit is comprised of a base, a damper mechanism, and two different faceplates where the damper mechanism can be selectively assembled into the base depending on whether control through the air vent by operation of a damper is needed in the particular duct opening and where either of the two faceplates may be selectively connected with the base where one faceplate has a lattice and is used in combination with the damping mechanism and the other faceplate has a series of louvers and is used when the damping mechanism is not used in the vent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Innovative Vent Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian K. Berger
  • Patent number: 6299529
    Abstract: A dryer exhaust hood that prevents birds and other creatures from entering a dryer ventilating system. The guard includes an air-pervious panel sized to fit over the exhaust opening of the exhaust hood, a pair of spaced guard flanges that overlie the flanges on opposing sides of the exhaust hood, and a pair of resilient clips that frictionally engage and releasably secure the guard flanges to the hood flanges. The guard also includes alignment tabs that extend from the air-pervious panel to engage portions of the exhaust hood adjacent the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Helen J. Preston
  • Patent number: 6299071
    Abstract: In a hydronic heating system having a boiler hot supply water line and boiler return water line, a main hot supply water circulation loop from the boiler supply water line to the boiler return water line and one or more satellite stations in series along the main loop, for a satellite station: a satellite injection water connection and a satellite return water connection along the main loop; a satellite distribution station including one or more satellite heating loops; a satellite supply header and satellite return header at opposite ends of the satellite heating loops; a satellite station pump having an input and an output for pumping satellite water from the satellite return header to the satellite supply header so that satellite water flows through the satellite heating loop(s); a satellite injection water line from the satellite injection connection to the satellite pump input; a satellite return water line from the satellite pump output to the satellite return connection along the main loop; and a therm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Stadler Viega, LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Fiedrich