Patents Examined by Edward F Landrum
  • Patent number: 10336161
    Abstract: A method for freeze protection for a temperature control system, and a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of a temperature-controlled space at a set point temperature. The method includes monitoring a discharge air temperature, monitoring a return air temperature, setting a target temperature to equal the set point temperature, controlling the return air temperature at the target temperature, and adjusting the target temperature based on the return air temperature when the discharge air temperature drops to one of at or below freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ulrich Fink, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10337768
    Abstract: A method for controlling and adjusting the refrigeration capacities of a refrigeration system equipped with a double suction compressor, the refrigeration system including first and second compartments to be refrigerated and including first and second evaporators respectively positioned in the first and second compartments. The double suction compressor is controlled to alternate its compression capacity with high-frequency between first and second refrigerant suction lines respectively associated with the first and second evaporators such that the first and second compartments are simultaneously cooled. The compression capacity of the compressor is applied to the first and second suction lines based upon respective first and second duty cycles that together account for 100 percent of the compression capacity of the compressor. First and second temperature sensors are associated with the first and second compartments and provide temperature values that are used to select the first and second duty cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Embraco Industria de Compressores e Solucoes em Refrigeracao Ltda.
    Inventors: Gunter Johann Maass, Dietmar Erich Bernhard Lilie, Marcos Guilherme Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10330365
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit forming a refrigeration cycle by connecting together a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe; and a control unit controlling a blown-out air temperature by causing the indoor heat exchanger to exchange heat while controlling the refrigeration cycle based on one of a sensible heat capability and a latent heat capability calculated from a cooling capability of the refrigerant circuit and a cooling load of the refrigerant circuit. The control unit includes: a capability judging unit judging the cooling capability of the refrigerant circuit based on the one of the sensible heat capability and the latent heat capability; and a control selecting unit selecting one from between superheat degree control to control a degree of superheat and evaporating temperature control to control an evaporating temperature, based on a determination result obtained by the capability judging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Horie, Mamoru Hamada, Masaki Toyoshima, Hidemoto Arai, Masami Yasuda
  • Patent number: 10330376
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a biological information obtaining unit for obtaining biological information of a person upon detection of the person in the vicinity of the refrigerator. The refrigerator further includes an advice generating portion for generating advice about health care based on analysis of the biological information and a display configured to display the advice in response to a user request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Furuta, Yuuki Marutani, Takuya Mashimo
  • Patent number: 10323875
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes a cooled compartment, at least one heat source selectively activated to provide heat, at least one sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a temperature and a relative humidity of ambient air that surrounds the cooled compartment. The controller is in communication with the at least one heat source and the at least one sensor. The controller includes logic for calculating a dew point temperature based on the temperature and the relative humidity. The controller also includes logic for selecting a region of operation based on at least one of the dew point temperature and the relative humidity, where the region of operation is representative of ambient conditions that surround the cooled compartment. The controller further includes logic for determining if the at least one heat source is activated based on the region of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Sanders, Charles M. Louis, Steven T. Jackson
  • Patent number: 10323862
    Abstract: A target condensing temperature and a target evaporating temperature are changed in accordance with a load of each load side unit obtained by using load detection means, and an operating frequency of a compressor and a rotation speed of a fan are controlled such that a condensing temperature obtained by using temperature detection means coincides with the target condensing temperature and an evaporating temperature obtained by using the temperature detection means coincides with the target evaporating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Okano
  • Patent number: 10317110
    Abstract: The present invention refers to methods for controlling a double suction compressor for application in refrigeration systems, capable of meeting the different demands for cost, efficiency and control of temperatures by means of techniques of complexity levels and different configurations of the elements from the control loop (temperature sensors, actuators, controllers, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Embraco Indústria de Compressores e Soluções em Refrigeração Ltda.
    Inventors: Gunter Johann Maass, Dietmar Erich Bernhard Lilie, Marcos Guilherme Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10317120
    Abstract: An air conditioning system according to the present invention changes a target supply temperature based on a magnitude relationship between an operating frequency of a first compressor and a first frequency at which an operating efficiency of the first compressor reaches a maximum, and a magnitude relationship between an operating frequency of a second compressor and a second frequency at which an operating efficiency of the second compressor reaches a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Masaki Toyoshima, Hayato Horie
  • Patent number: 10295282
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has at least one plate pair comprising first and second plates with a fluid flow passage defined between the first plate and second plates. The inlet opening and the outlet opening in each plate pair are proximate to a first end and an elongate flow barrier separates the fluid flow passage into inlet and outlet portions, wherein a gap through and the flow barrier is provided proximate to the second end of each plate pair. A flow obstruction is located in the gap of each plate pair, the flow obstruction having first and second arcuate sides and being spaced from the terminal end of the flow barrier. The flow obstruction is substantially crescent-shaped, such that a middle portion of the flow obstruction is wider than the opposed ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Powell, Michael Bardeleben, Allan K. So, Andrew Buckrell, Benjamin A. Kenney
  • Patent number: 10274238
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes an ice maker positioned within a cabinet. A circulation conduit extends from a sump to the ice maker. A pump is connected to the circulation conduit such that the pump is operable to flow liquid water from the sump to the ice maker through the circulation conduit. A deionization filter assembly is coupled to the circulation conduit. A sensor is operable to measure a total dissolved solids value of the liquid water flowing through the circulation conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10266036
    Abstract: A method for operating a device for the thermal conditioning of a motor vehicle interior, including: a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger able to form an evaporator, the heat exchanger being able to exchange heat with a flow of air intended to be conditioned, a bypass means able to divert from the heat exchanger at least part of said air flow and which can be controlled in terms of position between the closed position in which no flow is diverted from the heat exchanger and a multitude of open positions in which part of the flow is diverted from the heat exchanger according to the position of opening, a mixing zone for mixing the flow that has passed through the evaporator and the flow of air diverted by the bypass means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Bastien Jovet, Fabrice Ailloud, Frédéric Ladrech, Philippe Pierres
  • Patent number: 8006390
    Abstract: A media cutting and ribbon curling device has opposing first and second surfaces bound by two side edges. The device includes a head comprising a cover and a guide disposed underneath the cover, the guide having an attached end and a free end and a blade disposed therein; and an elongated handle extending from the attached end of the guide, the handle comprising a ribbon curling region having (i) first and second ends, the first end disposed proximate to the attached end of the guide and (ii) a curling edge disposed on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the device, the ribbon curling region being tapered at its second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerald E. Mueller, Joy A. Packard, Scott D. Pearson