Patents Examined by Elizabeth J Martin
  • Patent number: 11828518
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment fluidly coupled to an ice maker compartment via an ice maker return duct. An internal sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and configured to sense a first condition within the freezer compartment. An external sensor is coupled to said refrigeration appliance and configured to sense a second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. A return fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct. A controller is operably coupled to the internal and external sensors to receive sensed first and second conditions. The controller is configured to determine a differential between the sensed first condition within the freezer compartment and the sensed second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. The controller activates the return fan to blow air from the ice maker compartment into the freezer compartment in response to the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Gary, Keeley Kabala, Raghu Muddasani, Jeremiah S. Papke, Kyle Van Meter, Scott M. Wesbrook
  • Patent number: 11827080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas detector system for a refrigerated interior volume of a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the system having: a gas detector that defines an enclosure, the enclosure defines a chamber therein, the cover including a chamber opening, and an infrared (IR) sensor within the chamber; and a heater adjacent to or within the enclosure, the heater configured to reduce moisture within the chamber and/or prevent moisture from accumulating from within the chamber during a refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason R. Kondrk, Stella M. Oggianu
  • Patent number: 11828047
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises an air duct with a first opening and a second opening. In the air duct, a main cooler and a first block of exchangers with at least one first sorption exchanger with an integrated heating and/or an upstream device for heating the incoming air, are positioned. The first block of exchangers is connected to the first opening. It comprises a suction unit for drawing air into the air duct and an element for collecting condensed water. The suction unit is adapted to switch between two different suction directions. The apparatus also comprises a second block of exchangers with at least one second sorption exchanger positioned in the air duct and air-interconnected to the second opening. A main cooler is positioned in the air flow path between the first block of exchangers and the second block of exchangers. The second sorption exchangers comprise integrated heating and/or are preceded upstream by at least one device for heating the entering air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Czech Technical University in Prague
    Inventors: Nikola Pokorný, Viacheslav Shemelin, Tomá{hacek over (s)} Matu{hacek over (s)}ka
  • Patent number: 11827075
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided employing a thermoelectric cooler, a power supply, and a control module incorporated into an insulated cargo container. The temperature-controlled container provides a length of time available to ship a cargo at temperature that is extended over existing methods and devices. This allows the temperature-controlled container to be shipped using transport modalities and routes requiring shipping times that are longer than acceptable for cargo requiring refrigeration. Thus, embodiments may be used to ship temperature-sensitive cargo as if it were a dry good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Artyc PBC
    Inventors: Hannah Sieber, Sandor Mark Langer, Amir Arjomand-Kermani
  • Patent number: 11828520
    Abstract: A fan assembly including an air duct; an evaporator coil cover; a radial fan mounted onto the evaporator coil cover and disposed between the air duct and the evaporator coil cover; wherein the air duct includes a ring portion which interlocks with the evaporator coil cover around the radial fan; wherein the evaporator coil cover comprises three darts positioned substantially uniformly around the radial fan position; three grommets, each grommet having a central opening configured to fit over a dart, each grommet having a circumferential ridge configured to interlock with a lower rim or the radial fan is provided. Further provided is a method of reducing noise in a refrigeration appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Boiter, Gary Doyon, Kevin Cobb, William Rabon
  • Patent number: 11828514
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, and an evaporator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first ice maker provided in the door, a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured to be covered by the door when the door is closed, a first cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the first ice maker, and a second cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the second ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinil Hong, Nayoung Kim, Ayoung Choo
  • Patent number: 11821672
    Abstract: A mobile cooling box has a box main body and at least one lid for opening the mobile cooling box and providing access to the inside of the mobile cooling box. The mobile cooling box further has at least one air vent 400 located on at least one side wall of the box main body, the at least one air vent comprises at least one opening, preferably in form of an essentially horizontal slot, allowing air flow through the respective side wall of the mobile cooling box. The at least one opening or slot comprises one or more shielding elements that are designed in such a way that the one or more shielding elements at least partly block the view into the inside of the mobile cooling box from the outside of the mobile cooling box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Peng Wang, Feng Wang, Wenmin Tan, Weixian Guan
  • Patent number: 11821681
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for cooling fluids, for example beverages or beverage components, are presented. A cooling system or device includes a cold plate of bulk material (e.g., material of high thermal conductivity). A first sensor (preferably temperature sensor) is positioned within the bulk material and communicatively coupled to a processor. A first fluid line is at least partially disposed within the cold plate, having a first inlet entering and a first outlet exiting the cold plate. A second sensor (preferably temperature sensor) is positioned at the first fluid line proximal to the first outlet and communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor compares a sensor reading from the first sensor with a sensor reading from the second sensor, and issues an error report when the difference between the readings is above a threshold, or an individual reading from a sensor is outside of an operational parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cleland Sales Corporation
    Inventors: James Cleland, Adam Cleland
  • Patent number: 11821669
    Abstract: An ice maker evaporator assembly having an evaporator pan with a back wall and left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the back wall, and a freeze plate located within the evaporator pan. Refrigerant tubing is thermally coupled to the back wall of the evaporator pan opposite the left, right, top and bottom sidewalls. A first layer of insulation is formed on the refrigerant tubing. An evaporator housing having a housing back wall and housing left, right, top and bottom sidewalls extending from the housing back wall is attached to the evaporator pan and covers refrigerant tubing. A second layer of insulation is formed on top of the first layer of insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Knatt, Edward Hartman
  • Patent number: 11821673
    Abstract: A storage system includes a grid structure of storage cells. Each storage cell is arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins and having a top level. The grid structure includes a plurality of vertical aluminum columns interconnected by top rails. The columns form adjacent rows of storage cells. The storage system includes at least one remotely operated vehicle arranged to move on the top rails and receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the grid structure. The storage system includes an insulated cover covering at least one of the storage cells at the top level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Ingvar Hognaland
  • Patent number: 11815226
    Abstract: Systems and methods to create and store a liquid phase mix of natural gas absorbed in light-hydrocarbon solvents under temperatures and pressures that facilitate improved volumetric ratios of the stored natural gas as compared to CNG and PLNG at the same temperatures and pressures of less than ?80° to about ?120° F. and about 300 psig to about 900 psig. Preferred solvents include ethane, propane and butane, and natural gas liquid (NGL) and liquid pressurized gas (LPG) solvents. Systems and methods for receiving raw production or semi-conditioned natural gas, conditioning the gas, producing a liquid phase mix of natural gas absorbed in a light-hydrocarbon solvent, and transporting the mix to a market where pipeline quality gas or fractionated products are delivered in a manner utilizing less energy than CNG, PLNG or LNG systems with better cargo-mass to containment-mass ratio for the natural gas component than CNG systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SEAONE HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Morris, Bruce Hall, Tolulope O. Okikiolu
  • Patent number: 11808512
    Abstract: In order to prevent condensation from forming on a surface of an outer gasket surrounding a rear surface of an outdoor side door of an entrance refrigerator, the entrance refrigerator has a flow passage structure in which a portion of indoor air, whose temperature is increased by heat exchange with a heat sink, flows along the surface of the outer gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Minkyu Oh, Yanghwan No, Kiyeal Seo, Insun Yeo, Kyukwan Choi, Yezo Yun
  • Patent number: 11808510
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body in which a storage compartment is formed, a door to open and close the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided on the door to generate ice, wherein the ice maker includes a frame having a water container mounting part, an ice making tray provided on the frame and in which ice is generated, and a water container detachably mounted on the frame to supply water to the ice making tray, and wherein the water container is configured such that at least a portion of the water container is opened when mounted on the water container mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeon Woo Cho, Jin Jeong, Kook Jeong Seo
  • Patent number: 11808505
    Abstract: Ice making appliances and methods for making ice using a machine-readable ice cube mold are provided herein. The ice making appliances and methods of making ice may include obtaining ice mold identifier data from the ice mold. Ice mold identifier may be used to acquire operating parameters of the ice making appliance specific to that ice mold from an external communication network. The operating parameters may be used to adjust operation of the appliance, such as the volume of water to dispense for that particular mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb Farrel, Todd Charles Hansen, Joshua Adam Mayne, Daniel Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 11808516
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a display module that is movable upward and downward and rotatable. The refrigerator includes a main body forming a storage compartment, a door configured to open and close the storage compartment, a display module coupled to the door, and a sliding plate disposed between the door and display module and coupled to be slidable in upper side and lower side directions with respect to the door and configured to allow the display module to be rotatably coupled thereto. The display module is provided to, when the sliding plate slides in the upper side and lower side directions, slide in the upper side and lower side directions with respect to the door together with the sliding plate, and rotate with respect to the door as the display module rotates with respect to the sliding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Honguk Lee, Simon Ireland, Anthony O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11808482
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture that is configured for operably releasing condensate received from a condensate-producing unit toward a drain without allowing a substantial quantity of gas to flow through the system, machine, device, and/or manufacture, those embodiments including a valve, a spring, and/or a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DES CHAMPS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Howard Des Champs, Leonardo Brito Manes
  • Patent number: 11796240
    Abstract: A cooler reduces size increase. The cooler includes a main container including a refrigeration compartment, and a battery mount set including a first battery mount to which a first battery is attachable and a second battery mount to which a second battery different from the first battery is attachable. The first battery mount and the second battery mount are positioned relative to each other to cause the second battery to be unattachable to the second battery mount when the first battery is attached to the first battery mount and to cause the first battery to be unattachable to the first battery mount when the second battery is attached to the second battery mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Hori
  • Patent number: 11796239
    Abstract: An ice making appliance includes an ice maker for producing ice, an ice bin defining a bottom trough that extends between a rear end and a dispensing chute, wherein the ice is supplied at the rear end and is collected in the ice bin, an auger rotatably mounted within the bottom trough of the ice bin, and a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the auger for selectively rotating the auger. A controller is configured to rotate the auger in an advancing direction to urge the ice toward the dispensing chute and periodically rotate the auger in a reverse direction to redistribute the ice proximate the rear end of the ice bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Vincent DuPlessis, Rachel Winckler
  • Patent number: 11788792
    Abstract: A 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Patent number: 11787258
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle device, in an operation mode in which a refrigerant does not flows into a cooling evaporator, a throttle opening degree characteristic of a heat absorption valve disposed upstream of a heat absorption evaporator is set to cause the refrigerant on the outlet side of the heat absorption evaporator to be in a gas-liquid two-phase state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Makimoto, Yoshiki Kato