Patents Examined by Elizabeth J Martin
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Patent number: 10935301Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space, a cryogenic freezing compartment having an insulation space that is independent with respect to the storage space, an evaporator disposed inside the storage space to cool the storage space, and a thermoelectric module assembly disposed at one side of the cryogenic freezing compartment so that the cryogenic freezing compartment is cooled to a temperature less than that of the storage space. The thermoelectric module assembly includes a thermoelectric module, a cold sink coming into contact with a heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric module and disposed in the cryogenic freezing compartment, and a heat sink coming into contact with a heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module. The heat sink is cooled by introducing a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Chiun Sung
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Patent number: 10935296Abstract: An ice making machine may include an ice tray, a drive unit that turns the ice tray, a frame body supporting the ice tray and the drive unit, a cold air guide part integrally formed with the frame body, and a cold air duct connecting an opening in the frame body with a cold air supply port. The frame body includes a wall part at an end of the ice tray, the wall part is formed with the opening and the cold air guide part, and the cold air guide part flows cold air through the opening toward the ice tray. The cold air guide part is a frame body side inclined wall and the cold air duct includes a duct side inclined wall facing the frame body side inclined wall and a cold air blowing outlet includes the frame body side inclined wall and the duct side inclined wall.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignees: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION, WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Shunji Saito, Satoshi Tanimura, David Vega
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Patent number: 10935232Abstract: A vibration damping structure for a heat-transfer tube bundle including columns arranged at an interval and each composed of a plurality of heat-transfer tubes curved in a common plane and arranged in parallel to each other. The vibration damping structure includes a first vibration damping member and a second vibration damping member disposed between the columns so as to intersect the array direction of the columns. The first vibration damping member and the second vibration damping member are disposed at different positions in an axial direction of each heat-transfer tube, and thicknesses of the first vibration damping member and the second vibration damping member in the array direction are larger than an average value of a clearance between the columns under operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Masaaki Katayama, Masatsugu Monde, Kazuo Hirota, Naoki Ono
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Patent number: 10935261Abstract: A method and system for mass and heat exchange, where water is preferentially absorbed by a non-toxic, non-corrosive liquid desiccant after passing through a hydrophilic, non-porous membrane. Optionally, mixing stages are provided to reduce the surface concentration of water at the desiccant-membrane interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITYInventors: Forrest Meggers, Jovan Pantelic, Eric Teitelbaum
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Patent number: 10935295Abstract: An ice making machine may include an ice tray, a drive unit which is provided at one end of the ice tray and is structured to turn the ice tray, a frame body which supports the ice tray and the drive unit, and a cold air duct which connects an opening formed in the frame body with the cold air supply port. The frame body is provided with a wall part which faces the drive unit at the other end of the ice tray and the opening is formed in the wall part. The cold air duct is provided with an inclined flow passage part inclined with respect to a direction where an ice making recessed part in the ice tray is opened, and the inclined flow passage part is provided with a cold air blowing outlet which faces the ice making recessed part.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignees: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION, WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Shunji Saito, Satoshi Tanimura, Katsuhiko Hayashi, David Vega
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Patent number: 10928107Abstract: A method for operating a vapour compression system (1) comprising a heat recovery heat exchanger (4) is disclosed. The heat recovery system requests a required level of recovered heat to be provided by the heat recovery heat exchanger (4) to the heat recovery system, generates a signal indicating the required level of recovered heat, and supplies the generated signal to a control unit of the vapour compression system (1). A setpoint value for at least one control parameter of the vapour compression system (1) is calculated, based on the generated signal, and the vapour compression system (1) is operated in accordance with the calculated setpoint value(s).Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Danfoss A/SInventors: Frede Schmidt, Kristian Fredslund, Jan Prins
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Patent number: 10921833Abstract: A thermostat for includes a processing circuit configured to operate the building equipment to control an environmental condition within a building including a first zone and second zones and receive a first time-series data set for a parameter of a first piece of the building equipment associated with the first zone. The processing circuit is configured to receive second time-series data sets for the parameter of second pieces of building equipment associated with the second zones. The processing circuit is configured to perform a comparison including comparing the first time-series data set with the second time-series data sets and generate recommendations for improving the performance of the first piece of building equipment based on the comparison of the first time-series data set with the second time-series data sets.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Justin J. Ploegert, Joseph R. Ribbich
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Patent number: 10921039Abstract: A food storage apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The food storage apparatus includes a display; and a processor configured to control the display to display a user interface (UI) including one or more icons for controlling a execution screen of a application on a side region of the execution screen of the application while the execution screen of the application is displayed, wherein the application a view inside application providing an image obtained by photographing the inside of the food storage apparatus, and the processor controls the display to display the UI on the image obtained by photographing the inside of the food storage apparatus. Accordingly, the food storage apparatus may provide various services as compared to the conventional food storage apparatus, and may provide the UI for the service execution in the form that the user may easily and rapidly use the UI.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ji-young Woo, Eun-jae Lee, Garret Miller, Kristen Kator, Rob Thomas, Hae-ri Lee, Adnan Agboatwalla, Andy Wu, Robert Mori, Sung-youn Kim, Han-min Lee
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Patent number: 10914528Abstract: This flat tube heat exchanger encompasses a closed housing, in which two tube sheets and a tube bundle, which is arranged between the tube sheets and which is supported by the tube sheets is arranged. The tube bundle comprises at least some flat tubes, which extend in longitudinal direction of the tube bundle. At their ends, the flat tubes are round and are flat in a central section. The ends of the flat tubes, which have a round cross section, can be circular or can encompass a different round shape.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: WS-WARMEPROZESSTECHNIK GMBHInventor: Joachim A. Wunning
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Patent number: 10914207Abstract: A valve group (10) is housed in a duct (40) of a support body (4) of an oil filtering assembly or a temperature management assembly. The valve group (10) is provided with a valve body (11) fixed to the support body (4), an obturator (15) fitted axially movably on the valve body (11) and obturator positioner and mover (18). The obturator (15) is movable by the obturator positioner and mover (18) as a function of the oil temperature values respectively in a first, a second and a third operating configuration, in which the oil is cooled, heated, for example by a heat exchanger, or sent directly to the filtering device. The obturator (15) is movable by the obturator positioner and mover (18) as a function of the oil pressure values directly to the filtering device, preventing oil access to the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: UFI FILTERS S.p.A.Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
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Patent number: 10907861Abstract: A geothermal well with communicating vessels, formed of an internal piping transferring an inflow down to a level of the depth of the well, and an external piping coaxial to the internal piping and with a diameter that permits ascent of the fluid upward from the distal end of the well, wherein a flange on the internal piping engages a collar connected to the external piping via spacers, wherein detection sensors generate information on oscillations of the pipings, wherein an automatic safety valve avoids overpressures, and a driven regulation valve generates information on fluid pressure, and wherein software monitors fluid circulation within the well and operates the inlet pump and the regulation valve to dampen the oscillations and prevent microseisms.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Inventors: Aurelio Pucci, Umberto De Luca
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Patent number: 10907900Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle for delivering steam to the bottom end of the condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. Each cell of the ACC is fed by steam distribution manifold suspended from and directly below the bundle support framework.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Evapco, Inc.Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
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Patent number: 10906653Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an air conditioning unit adapted and configured to be supplied with compressed process air and to generate cold fresh air, a mixer adapted and configured to mix the cold fresh air from the air conditioning unit with recirculation air recirculated from an aircraft region to be air conditioned, an air outlet adapted and configured to direct mixed air from the mixer into the aircraft region, a first sensor adapted and configured to detect an actual temperature in the aircraft region, a second sensor adapted and configured to detect a temperature of the mixed air directed into the aircraft region, and a control unit adapted and configured to control an operation of the air conditioning unit in dependence on a difference between the temperature of the mixed air directed into the aircraft region and the actual temperature in the aircraft region.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH, AIRBUS SASInventors: Nicolas Houis, Dariusz Krakowski, Tim Giese
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Patent number: 10907845Abstract: A system and related methods for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying air is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes an indoor unit having a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly. When the system is operating in a cooling mode or a heating mode, the first coil and second coil are in parallel fluid communication. When the system is in a dehumidifying mode, the first coil and second coil are in serial fluid communication, which enables the first coil to function as a condenser and the second coil to function as an evaporator. In an embodiment, the system includes an outdoor unit, such as a heat pump or an air conditioning condensing unit. The outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger fan responsive to dehumidifying mode by reducing fan speed, or deactivating the fan entirely. The disclosed system provides negligible or no change in sensible heat while providing dehumidification.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Stephen Stewart Hancock
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Patent number: 10907855Abstract: In a related-art air-conditioning apparatus, air is conditioned while an airflow direction or an airflow is directed to a position of a human body detected by a human body detection sensor, and hence the same air-stream control is performed for both of a person who feels comfortable and a person who feels hot. An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention can adjust an angle of an airflow-direction flap in accordance with a thermal sensation level, and hence air-stream control matching thermal sensation of a human body can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Daisuke Sugiyama
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Patent number: 10900530Abstract: An expansion valve includes a valve main body having a valve chamber therein, a valve body arranged within the valve chamber, a valve body support member supporting the valve body, an urging member urging the valve body toward a valve seat, an actuating bar pressing the valve body in an opening direction of the valve against urging force generated by the urging member, and a vibration proof spring suppressing vibration of the valve body or the actuating bar. The actuating bar has an outer peripheral surface of which a part constitutes a contact surface slidably contacting with the vibration proof spring, and the contact surface has a shape by which the amount of deformation of the vibration proof spring becomes greater as the valve body goes towards a closing direction of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: FUJIKOKI CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Tomizawa, Hiroshi Yokota, Shogo Yamazaki
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Patent number: 10895408Abstract: Refrigerant compressor includes electromotive element, and compression element that is driven by electromotive element, includes a slider, and compresses a refrigerant. Freezer oil that lubricates the slider is added with fullerene having a diameter that ranges from 100 pm to 10 nm.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Ishida, Shingo Oyagi
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Patent number: 10893691Abstract: A cooler including a compartment, a conduit including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, food product at a first product temperature entering the first end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with and for supplying fluid through the fluid discharge, the fluid being at a first fluid temperature less than the first product temperature, the pressurized fluid source being operable to propel the fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion and to cool the food product to a temperature below the first product temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: David R. Zittel, Daniel D Maupin, Scott K. Weisman, Steven J. Schultz, Jeffrey S. Zittel
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Patent number: 10883767Abstract: A multi-fluid heat exchanger (100) includes a primary section (102) and a secondary section (104) arranged contiguous with the primary section (102). The multi-fluid heat exchanger (100) further includes a first heat transfer channel (106) arranged to carry a first fluid (118) and the first heat transfer channel (106) extends between the primary section (102) and the secondary section (104) and carries the first fluid (118) between the sections (102,104). The multi-fluid heat exchanger (100) also includes a second heat transfer channel (108) disposed only at the primary section (102) and arranged to carry a second fluid (114) for heat exchange between the first and second fluids (112,114) at the primary section (102) and a third heat transfer channel (110) disposed only at the secondary section (104) and arranged to carry a third fluid (116) for heat exchange between the first and third fluids (112,116) at the secondary section (104).Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPOREInventors: Poh Seng Lee, Chuan Sun
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Patent number: 10883756Abstract: An exemplary method protects a delicate device from potential damage from shock or vibration. A material in a liquid state is placed in contact with the delicate device. The liquid material is cooled causing it to transition to a solid state which stabilizes the delicate device in contact with the solid material against shock and vibration. The solid state material is heated causing it to sublimate into a gas thus releasing the delicate device for operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Jonathan W. Arenberg