Patents Examined by Elizabeth J Martin
  • Heat exchanger construction
    Patent number: 11402156
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of conduits that extend between a first endplate and a second endplate. A first manifold is coupled to the first endplate to couple the first manifold to first ends of the plurality of conduits. An inlet is coupled to the first manifold to direct a first fluid into the first manifold and at least one baffle is disposed within the first manifold to form a first cavity and a second cavity. The at least one baffle of the first manifold is configured to direct the first fluid from the inlet to a first conduit of the plurality of conduits. A second manifold is coupled to the second endplate to couple the second manifold to second ends of the plurality of conduits and at least one baffle is disposed within the second manifold to form a fourth cavity and a fifth cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Uselton
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 11402146
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body including an inner case and an outer case, a storage compartment defined by the inner case, a door configured to open and close the storage compartment, an ice making chamber disposed on a rear surface of the door, a fan configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment and the ice making chamber, and a guide passage formed by being recessed into the inner case to guide cold air supplied by the fan to the ice making chamber. The inner case includes an upper wall, and the guide passage is formed by being recessed into the upper wall of the inner case to be exposed to the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Woo Jeon, Il Sung Bae, Joo Hee Song, Ki-Hyun Kim, Byung Kwan Yang
  • Refrigeration apparatus configured to capture atmospheric water
    Patent number: 11401701
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage compartment, a compressor, a condenser coupled to the compressor, and an evaporator in communication with the condenser and the compressor. The evaporator includes a first section and a second section. The first section is disposed in the storage compartment. The second section is in communication with the first section and extends outside the storage compartment. The second section is exposed to atmospheric air proximate the refrigeration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Michael S. Seeley
  • Heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11397053
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core, an intake tank, and a flow limiting portion. The heat exchanger core includes a stacked heat exchange portion, a distribution portion, and a collection portion. The stacked heat exchange portion defines first fluid flow paths through which a first fluid flows in a first direction, and second fluid flow paths through which a second fluid flows in a third direction. The distribution portion is configured to distribute the first fluid to the first fluid flow paths. The collection portion is configured to collect the first fluid from the first fluid flow paths. The flow limiting portion is configured to suppress an inflow of the second fluid from the intake tank into the distribution portion and the collection portion. The flow limiting portion and the intake tank are provided as a single component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sakurada, Shota Terachi
  • Vapor chamber structure
    Patent number: 11397057
    Abstract: A vapor chamber structure includes a main body. The main body has a chamber. The chamber has a first side, a second side and a connection body. Two axial ends of the connection body are respectively connected with the first and second sides. A first capillary structure layer is disposed around the connection body along a periphery thereof. A working fluid is filled in the chamber. The connection body serves to prevent the main body from deforming when heated and enhance the heat conduction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventor: Sheng-Huang Lin
  • Ice maker and refrigerator
    Patent number: 11397036
    Abstract: An ice maker and a refrigerator are provided The ice maker has an ice making tray having a plurality of ice making spaces, a motor assembly for driving the ice making tray, and a bracket, the motor assembly is connected to the bracket, and the ice making tray has one end rotationally supported at the bracket; the ice maker further has a fan mounted at the bracket, the bracket has a top plate located at an upper portion of an opening of the ice making space and a side plate located at one side of the top plate, one end of the ice making tray is supported at the side plate, a supporting plate extends from a side edge of the side plate relative to the ice making tray, and the fan is connected to the supporting plate and has an air guide direction towards the ice making tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianjun Xue, Qihai Du, Yanqing Zhang, Xiaobing Zhu
  • Heat pump cycle device and valve device
    Patent number: 11391499
    Abstract: In a heat pump cycle device, a flow passage switching portion includes a flow passage switching valve body configured to open and close a cooling side flow passage. A refrigerant circulation circuit includes a low-pressure flow passage through which a low-pressure refrigerant decompressed by a first decompressor flows toward a compressor in a heating mode, and a pre-evaporator flow passage provided between the flow passage switching valve body and a refrigerant inlet of an evaporator. The flow passage switching portion causes a pre-evaporator flow passage to communicate with the low-pressure flow passage while bypassing the evaporator when a refrigerant pressure in the low-pressure flow passage is lower than a refrigerant pressure in the pre-evaporator flow passage, in the heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daiki Kato, Masaaki Kawakubo, Tetsuya Ito, Yasuhiro Kawase, Ryohei Sugimura, Hiroshi Mieda
  • Drain pan, drain pan unit, and air conditioner
    Patent number: 11384957
    Abstract: A drain pan includes a light-transmissive member forming at least part of the drain pan and is for transmitting ultraviolet light emitted from a light source. The light-transmissive member has a light-emitting surface that is exposed to the inside of the drain pan and from which ultraviolet light that has been transmitted through the light-transmissive member is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuuji Akiyama, Kei Suzumura
  • Method for controlling a heat pump system
    Patent number: 11384968
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heat pump system. The heat pump system includes a compressor for compressing a working fluid of the heat pump system and an electric motor for providing an output torque for driving the compressor. The method includes the steps of recovering heat emitted from the electric motor by heating the working fluid, providing a first control mode and a second control mode for the electric motor, and controlling the electrical motor in a way creating higher heat losses of the electric motor for a given output torque of the electric motor in the second control mode than in the first control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kristian Nicklasson, Johan Hellsing
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 11384973
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes a main body, a wall and a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a door rotatably coupled to the main body configured to open and close the storage compartment. The door includes an ice-making chamber formed in a front surface of the door. The refrigerator also includes a cooling chamber that includes a cooler is provided inside the wall and configured to generate cooling air. The refrigerator also includes a cooling air duct configured to connect the ice-making chamber and the cooling chamber to supply the cooling air generated by the cooler to the ice-making chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Kook Jeong Seo, Moo Hyung Lee
  • Heat transfer device and heat transfer method using same
    Patent number: 11377578
    Abstract: A heat transfer device that contains a circulation route enclosing a refrigerant containing a hydrohaloolefin, the heat transfer device being capable of reducing the influence of oxygen entrapped in the circulation route; and a heat transfer method using the heat transfer device. Also, a heat transfer device that contains a circulation route enclosing a refrigerant containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), hydrochlorofluoroolefins (HCFOs), and hydrochloroolefins (HCOs); and the device containing an oxygen adsorption device between an evaporator and a compressor present in the circulation route; and a heat transfer method using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsumi Tsuchiya, Kouhei Koba, Masaru Tanaka
  • Refrigerator with noise reduction
    Patent number: 11378325
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a component subassembly incorporating a plurality of refrigeration components along an airflow path that extends between an inlet for colder air and an outlet for warmer air. The refrigerator further includes a noise reduction arrangement for reducing an operating noise of the refrigerator having a plurality of walls defining the airflow path. The walls include a noise absorbing material. The plurality of walls includes a plurality of external walls and a plurality of internal walls. The plurality of external walls defines an outer perimeter of the component subassembly and are oriented generally orthogonal to one another. The internal walls of the plurality of internal walls may be skewed relative to the external walls of the plurality of external walls. At least some of the walls of the plurality walls may be load-bearing walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Thetford BV
    Inventor: Pieter Dirk Berkhout
  • Multi-mode air drying system
    Patent number: 11369920
    Abstract: A compressed air drying system is provided for removing moisture from compressed air. The dryer operates in two modes in response to the demand for compressed air. In a first mode of operation, a refrigeration compressor runs continuously and the speed of a condenser fan is varied to maintain a constant cooling temperature. In a second mode of operation, the refrigeration compressor runs intermittently between on and off periods. As result, the cooling temperature fluctuates during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S., INC.
    Inventors: Stefano Vezil, Paolo Depiero, Giovanni Battista Capellari
  • Method and apparatus to avoid LNG flash when expanding to the LNG storage facility
    Patent number: 11371775
    Abstract: Process for eliminating the evaporation of a liquefied natural gas stream during the transfer thereof into a storage facility, comprising the following steps: Step a): liquefaction, by means of a refrigeration cycle, of a natural gas stream and of a nitrogen stream in a main heat exchanger; Step b): cooling of the liquefied natural gas stream from step a) in a second heat exchanger by circulation of said liquefied natural gas stream countercurrent to a liquid nitrogen flow that is vaporized while cooling said liquefied natural gas stream; wherein the liquid nitrogen flow used in step b) is from step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Chambron, Loic Joly
  • Ice maker and a refrigerator including the same
    Patent number: 11371766
    Abstract: In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangjun Kang, Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong
  • Cryogenic fluid vaporizer
    Patent number: 11371655
    Abstract: A liquid cryogenic vaporizer and method of use are disclosed. The vaporizer includes a main tube, a cryogenic fluid inlet positioned proximate a first end of the main tube for receiving cryogenic fluid, and a second tube having a diameter smaller than the main tube, the second tube being in fluid communication with the main tube at a second end of the main tube opposite the cryogenic fluid inlet. The vaporizer further includes an outlet extending from the inner tube for expelling vaporized fluid. The second tube can be positioned within the main tube, and one or more velocity limiters are optionally included within the main tube along a fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Taylor-Wharton Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
    Inventor: Graham Ball
  • Compressor temperature control system and method
    Patent number: 11370550
    Abstract: A compressor temperature control system and method for an aircraft air cycle machine is presented. The system prevents overheating of the compressor using a low limit valve positioned between a turbine outlet and a bleed air source. The low limit valve directs the air to an air cycle machine, or bypasses the machine, in regards at least in part to the air temperature measured in the cabin supply duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Scott William Weber, Clinton Lee Thompson
  • Valve comprising a dual piston assembly and method of forming a valve
    Patent number: 11371759
    Abstract: A valve for a refrigeration system and a method of forming a valve includes a dual piston assembly having an inner piston (44) and an outer piston (42) that are moveable relative to each other to control pressure equalization flow through the valve, and an adjustable control stem (66) engageable with the outer piston that enables a low fluid equalization flow when in a first position and a variably higher fluid equalization flow when in a variable second position. The inner piston has a plurality of bleed orifices (46, 48) that are openable by movement of the outer piston relative to the inner piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Steven E. Liebold
  • Refrigeration system and throttle control method therefor
    Patent number: 11365916
    Abstract: A refrigeration system, includes a compressor, a condenser (200), a throttle flow path (100), and an evaporator (300) connected in sequence. A non-adjustable main throttle element (110,120) is disposed in the throttle flow path. A bypass flow path (500) is connected to the throttle flow path respectively at the upstream and downstream of the main throttle element, and provided with an adjustable auxiliary throttle element (510) thereon. A liquid level sensor is disposed upstream or downstream of the throttle flow path, and configured to detect the liquid level. A controller is configured to control the opening of the auxiliary throttle element according to a liquid level signal from the liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shaojuan Si, Haiping Ding, Michael Stark
  • Closed-air closed-desiccant humidifier-dehumidifier atmospheric water generator system
    Patent number: 11365894
    Abstract: An atmospheric water generator system which includes an air dryer system containing a plurality of air dryers configured to pass ambient air over a desiccant for the desiccant to absorb moisture from the air and a humidifier-dehumidifier system which is configured to humidify a gas mixture using the desiccant and dehumidify the humidified gas mixture to produce freshwater. The atmospheric water generator system includes a closed desiccant loop and a closed gas mixture loop configured such that ambient air does not enter the humidifier-dehumidifier system. The humidifier-dehumidifier system is configured such that the gas mixture passes back and forth between the humidifier and dehumidifier between two and six times in a single pass of the closed gas mixture loop. Also disclosed is a method of generating freshwater using the atmospheric water generator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Naef A. A. Qasem, Mohamed A. Ahmed, Syed M. Zubair