Patents Examined by Elizabeth Martin
  • Patent number: 9885486
    Abstract: A heat pump system for conditioning air supplied to a space is provided. The system includes a pre-processing module that pre-conditions supply air. A supply air heat exchanger is in flow communication with the pre-processing module. The supply air heat exchanger receives air from the pre-processing module and at least one of heats or cools the air from the pre-processing module. A processing module is in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger. The processing module receiving and conditioning air from the supply air heat exchanger. A regeneration air heat exchanger is provided to at least one of heat or cool regeneration air. The regeneration air heat exchanger and the supply air heat exchanger are fluidly coupled by a refrigerant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: David Martin Wintemute
  • Patent number: 9879898
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan G. Tarrant, Ryan D. Schuchart, Mauro M. Oliveira, Alvin V. Miller, Brent A. Koppenhaver, Carl J. Franken, Nelson J. Ferragut, II, Tim L. Coulter, Greg Berardi, Thomas Carl Anell
  • Patent number: 9874382
    Abstract: The present application provides a refrigeration system with full oil recovery for removing oil from a flow of a refrigerant. The refrigeration system may include a compressor, an oil separator positioned downstream of the compressor to remove most of the oil from the flow of the refrigerant, a condenser positioned downstream of the oil separator, and a receiver positioned downstream of the condenser. The receiver may include a barrier to separate the oil on a first side from the refrigerant on a second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventor: Masood Ali
  • Patent number: 9874403
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with an evaporator assembly located in a compartment. The evaporator assembly includes a pipe, a fan assembly, a plurality of fins, a first and second bracket. The pipe is configured to transport a refrigerant that exchanges heat with an air stream from the compartment. The plurality of fins is inserted on the pipe. The brackets each include apertures to receive bent end portions of the pipe. The brackets are configured to hold the pipe and the fins in a specific position, to mount the evaporator assembly within the compartment, and restrict the air stream exiting the evaporator assembly from mixing with the air stream entering the evaporator assembly. The fins include end fins that are placed in direct contact with the first end bracket and are configured to further restrict the air stream from flowing through the plurality of apertures of the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcelo Candeo
  • Patent number: 9874377
    Abstract: An active temperature controlled container is configured to be portable so as to safely transport temperature sensitive and perishable goods (such as biological material): within a vessel that is thermally coupled to a thermoelectric assembly disposed within the container, where the thermoelectric assembly is powered by a battery. The battery is secured within a compartment in an outer portion of the housing of the container in a way that the battery may be removed to be recharged, inspected, swapped out for another battery or power source, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ambassador Asset Management Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Alp Ilercil
  • Patent number: 9869487
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with stacked coil sections. Each of the stacked coil sections is configured to circulate a fluid independent from the other coil section. An air moving device is used to circulate air through both of the stacked coil sections. The stacked coil sections are positioned to have the air exiting the one coil section entering the other coil section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Glenn Eugene Nickey, Ian Michael Casper, William L. Kopko, Michael Lee Buckley, Mustafa Kemal Yanik
  • Patent number: 9863689
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage chamber; an evaporator; an evaporator receiving portion and a defrost water tray slantingly arranged at a lower side of the evaporator receiving portion; a machinery chamber having an evaporation tray; an upper hose communicated with the defrost water tray; a lower hose connected to the upper hose while extending to the evaporation tray, the lower hose being provided, at one side thereof, with an air inlet hole to introduce outside air. The air inlet hole is formed at a slanted mounting surface protruding inside of a vertically-extending portion of the lower hose while being slanted downward. An opening and closing unit is provided in the vertically-extending portion of the lower hose that is configured to open the air inlet hole by an internal pressure of the storage chamber during opening of the door, and to close the air inlet hole by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Nam Lee, Sang Soo Kim, Sang Gyu Jung, Mu Yeol Sun, Sang Hyeok Park
  • Patent number: 9863682
    Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: True Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
  • Patent number: 9855818
    Abstract: A cool storage material container of an evaporator with a cool storage function includes a container main body portion located within the range of a heat exchange core section in the air-passing direction and an outward projecting portion projecting from the container main body portion. A cool storage material containing portion provided in the cool storage material container has a first containing portion which is present in a region where only the container main body portion is provided, and a second containing portion which extends upward from the first containing portion and is present in a region where the container main body portion and the outward projecting portion are provided. The level of a cool storage material is located within the vertical range of the second containing portion in the case where the cool storage material is in liquid phase at ordinary temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Osamu Kamoshida
  • Patent number: 9857110
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, an expansion device, and circulating refrigerant is provided. The apparatus comprises a chamber positioned between the condenser and the evaporator. According to an embodiment of the invention, the chamber comprises a down tube with holes for the passage of refrigerant from the chamber and a top inlet port comprising a vapor expansion screen. The suction of the refrigerant through the holes draws refrigerant towards the top inlet port past the vapor expansion screen, allowing for further cooling within the chamber. When the refrigerant eventually exits the chamber, it is considerably cooler than when it entered the vessel, making the entire refrigeration system more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Cass Khoo
  • Patent number: 9853335
    Abstract: An energy storage thermal management system includes an energy storage compartment including a liquid coolant bath portion and a vapor portion. A plurality of energy storage cells are positioned within the energy storage compartment and submerged within the liquid coolant bath. A compressor is in communication with the vapor portion to remove vapor. A condenser is in communication with the compressor and returns liquid coolant to the energy storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Blackwelder, Rigoberto J. Rodriguez, Steve T. Gagne
  • Patent number: 9848717
    Abstract: A refrigerating cabinet (1) comprises at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), a refrigeration cycle for cooling the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), and at least one drain conduit (36; 42) configured for draining condensed water, which is produced when the refrigeration circuit is operating, from the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2). At least a portion of the at least one drain conduit (36; 42) is filled with a granulate material (34) or provided with a movable flap (48) allowing water to pass through the drain conduit (36; 42) and blocking air from passing through the drain conduit (36; 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sri Nugroho, Markus Schu
  • Patent number: 9851134
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting a compressor that discharges a zeotropic refrigerant, an outdoor-side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between outside air and the refrigerant, a first expansion device that regulates the pressure of the refrigerant, and a load-side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the air in an air-conditioning target space and the refrigerant. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller that has a composition computing function unit and a composition determining function unit The composition determining function unit is configured to adopt a predetermined value set in advance and related to composition as a circulating composition if the computation result is determined as incorrect, and adopt the computation result as the circulating composition if the computation result is determined as correct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ishimura, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9841215
    Abstract: An absorption heat pump apparatus absorbing refrigerant vapor using absorption liquid includes a container having a liquid storage portion storing a solution made of absorption liquid or a refrigerant; a heat exchanger installed in the container, and through which a heat exchange fluid flows; a pumping member pumping the solution in the liquid storage portion upward using the rotation thereof; and a coating member rotating integrally with the pumping member, and provided so as to radially extend outward from the center of rotation of the pumping member, and coating an outer surface of the heat exchanger with the solution pumped upward, wherein while the solution pumped upward moves to the center of rotation due to the rotation of the pumping member, and then radially moves outward from the center of rotation, the outer surface of the heat exchanger is coated with the solution through the coating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 9835370
    Abstract: An ultra-low temperature freezer comprising an interior and a housing surrounding the interior and having an outer door. The interior comprises several cooling compartments in a stacked arrangement, each cooling compartment having an inner door. At least one upper cooling compartment has a supplementary seal for sealing its inner door compared to at least one lower cooling compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: EPPENDORF AG
    Inventors: Sung-Han Jung, Erik Zamirowski
  • Patent number: 9829240
    Abstract: A domestic refrigeration device includes a heat-insulated inner container having an inner space; a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the interior space; a door leaf for opening and closing the interior space; and a base on which the inner container is arranged and in which at least part of the refrigerant circuit is arranged. At least part of the front of said base is open to allow an exchange of air from the interior of the base with the surroundings of the domestic appliance. An air guiding element is mounted in front of the base and has a continuous front wall covering the front of the base and is spaced apart from the floor on which the base stands. The air guiding element is open downwards in the direction of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan August Staedel, Zeki Asan, Alexander Görz, Cemalettin Hastürk
  • Patent number: 9828536
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing heating comprising condensing a vapor working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a heat pump apparatus containing a working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a method for raising the maximum feasible condenser operating temperature in a heat pump apparatus suitable for use with HFC-134a, comprising charging the heat pump with a working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a method for replacing HFC-134a refrigerant in a heat pump designed for HFC-134a comprising providing a replacement working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Patent number: 9823006
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a water tray member receiving raw water for ice-making from a water tank, an ice making unit cooling the raw water received in the water tray member and forming ice, a heating unit heating the raw water received in the water tray member, and a control unit controlling an operation of the heating unit such that the raw water received in the water tray member is heated before the ice making unit cools the raw water in the water tray member. According to the ice maker, the temperature of the raw water received in an ice-making water tray is raised to a preset temperature at the initial stage of an ice making process, thereby preventing the formation of an opaque layer in the central portion of ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Conway Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Se-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9822999
    Abstract: Features for distributing a sorber gas in cooling, heating or refrigeration systems with sorbers are disclosed. The sorbers may adsorb gas onto a sorbent material and desorb gas therefrom. Distribution of the gas to and from the sorber may be done with porous, rigid tubes. The tubes may be formed of composite material having pores. The pores may be implemented by flowing fluids through the composite material while the material cures. The sorbers may be reinforced with rods to provide greater strength and stability in load-inducing environments. The tubes may extend through the sorbent and thereby provide a channel for the gas to flow to and from the sorbent and the rest of the cooling, heating or refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Kaveh Khalili
  • Patent number: 9816736
    Abstract: When a first temperature difference is the difference between an inlet temperature of a first refrigerant and an outlet temperature of the first refrigerant in the heat exchanger for heating, and a second temperature difference is the difference between an inlet temperature of a second refrigerant and an outlet temperature of the second refrigerant in the heat exchanger for heating, the difference between the first temperature difference and the second temperature difference is held in a predetermined value or less by controlling the opening degree of a second expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mistubishi Electric Company
    Inventor: Koji Yamashita