Patents Examined by Eric S Ruppert
  • Patent number: 11703284
    Abstract: A temperature control system is used for controlling a temperature of a control target. The system includes: a first circulation circuit through which a first heat transfer medium circulates; a second circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and through which a second heat transfer medium circulates; and a third circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and the second circulation circuit and through which a third heat transfer medium circulates. The third heat transfer medium has a usable temperature range wider than usable temperature ranges of the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: CKD CORPORATION, EBARA CORPORATION, EBARA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ito, Norio Kokubo, Masayuki Kouketsu, Isahiro Hasegawa, Toshiharu Nakazawa, Keisuke Takanashi, Yukihiro Fukusumi
  • Patent number: 11703232
    Abstract: A heating panel includes a lower panel mounted on the floor and an upper panel serving as a cover of the lower panel. The lower panel includes: a plurality of first guides protruding upward from the bottom surface to guide installation of a heating hose; and a first air passage formed as a groove on the bottom surface and the surface of the first guide, and further includes a plurality of second guides protruding upward from the bottom surface, having the first air passage on the surface thereof, and disposed between the plurality of first guides to guide installation of the heating hose. The upper panel is coupled to the lower panel and includes: a second air passage formed on the bottom surface in a groove form; and a second fastening member coupled with the first fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HOYAHOMETECH CO., LTD
    Inventors: Soo-hwan Kwak, Jin-chul Park, Hae-sung Hwang
  • Patent number: 11703286
    Abstract: Heat exchangers include at least one looped tube having at least one section that is laterally offset from another section of the looped tube. Fluid cooling systems and seal systems may include such heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FLOWSERVE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ronald van Noesel, Dennis van Graefschepe, Frank Oomen
  • Patent number: 11698234
    Abstract: An air conditioner including a distributor configured to distribute a fluid to a heat exchanger. The distributor comprises a main pipe; a partition defining a plurality of distribution paths in the main pipe; a first branched pipe inserted into the main pipe as much as first length, linked to a first distribution path of the plurality of distribution paths, connected to a first portion of the heat exchanger; and a second branched pipe inserted into the main pipe as much as second length different from the first length, linked to the first distribution path, connected to a second portion of the heat exchanger. A flow velocity of air exchanging heat at the first portion of the heat exchanger is faster than a flow velocity of air exchanging heat at the second portion of the heat exchanger. The first length is shorter than the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co.. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangmu Lee, Hyun Young Kim, Masaki Saito, Masatoshi Takahashi, Takeshi Takahara, Kangtae Seo, Kazushige Tajima, Ryo Inoha, Tsutomu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11698227
    Abstract: An eddy fluid heat exchange device comprises a compound tube assembly mounted with an eddy guiding structure. The compound tube assembly comprises an outer tube mounted with an inner tube. The outer tube and the inner tube have an eddy passage along an axis of the inner tube formed therebetween. The outer tube has a guiding exit at one end of the eddy passage. The eddy guiding structure is mounted at another end of the eddy passage, having a guiding entrance. Entering from the guiding entrance, high pressure fluid forms eddies surrounding the inner tube when flowing through the eddy guiding structure. A flowing path of the high pressure fluid in the eddy passage extends, simplifying structures and lowering costs of production and maintenance. Besides, increasing a heat transfer area between the high pressure fluid and the outer tube or the inner tube improves the heat transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Hung-Sen Chang, Yu-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 11698232
    Abstract: System and method utilizing thermochemical energy storage for abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are provided. The system includes a thermochemical energy storage module cyclically operable in a discharging cycle and in a charging cycle. Abatement of VOCs may be performed in either cycle. Disclosed embodiments are expected to provide a zero-added carbon VOC abatement system that in certain situations can operate uninterruptedly 24/7 with the flexibility to facilitate consumption of energy during periods of inexpensive rates for electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Wiederien, Joseph T. Williams, Enrique J. Mora
  • Patent number: 11698198
    Abstract: This invention provides an isothermal turbo-compressor-expander-condenser-evaporator in a single integral arrangement that is suitable for a variety of compact arrangements, such as a window air-conditioner and/or automotive-based unit. This arrangement avoids the use of rotary fluid joints and maintains the entire fluid cycle, including compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation within a single rotating shaft-based structure, with the compressor/condenser section and the expansion/evaporator section separated from each other in separate spaces and/or plena by a rotating, insulated barrier disc and associated seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Appollo Wind Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Peter A. Swett
  • Patent number: 11686535
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a shell housing a plurality of tubes and defining an exhaust fluid flow path within a first volume enclosed by the shell. The outer surfaces of the plurality of tubes are in fluid communication with the exhaust fluid flow path. The heat exchanger includes a cap attached to a first end of the shell and defining a second volume. A header is configured to separate the first volume from the second volume, flex with thermal expansion, and define tube inlet and outlet positions. The tube inlets and outlets are in fluid communication with a source fluid flow path, and each tube is substantially U-shaped and defines a flow path of the source fluid within the exhaust fluid flow path. The heat exchanger includes at least one longitudinal flow baffle within the shell configured to reduce an amount of exhaust fluid that may bypass the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Borghese, Quang Do, David Berukhim, Rafael Maldonado
  • Patent number: 11686531
    Abstract: The device comprises: a shell defining an interior volume to receive the first fluid extending along a longitudinal axis; a tube bundle arranged inside the shell, the tube bundle extending longitudinally in the interior volume to receive the second fluid; a disengagement member, able to perform liquid vapor separation in the fluid carried from the interior volume, the disengagement member being arranged above the tube bundle. In at least one plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the disengagement member includes at least two separate fluid passage regions and at least one intermediate region preventing fluid from passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Technip Energies France
    Inventor: Nicolas Rambure
  • Patent number: 11679339
    Abstract: An atmospheric water generator (AWG) may be used to extract water from ambient air. A compact screw compressor of the AWG may be used to compress refrigerant, a condenser of the AWG may be used to condense refrigerant, an expansion device, and an evaporator of the AWG may be used to transfer heat from ambient air to refrigerant, causing moisture in the air to condense. The condensed moisture may be collected in a water collection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Plug Power Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Van de Mortel
  • Patent number: 11680391
    Abstract: Omniphilic and superomniphilic surfaces for simultaneous vapor condensation and airborne liquid droplet collection are provided. Also provided are methods for using the surfaces to condense liquid vapor and/or capture airborne liquid droplets, such as water droplets found in mist and fog. The surfaces provide enhanced capture and transport efficiency based on preferential capillary condensation on high surface energy surfaces, thin film dynamics, and force convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Natalia Alvarez, Neelesh A. Patankar, Kyoo-Chul Park, Youhua Jiang
  • Patent number: 11680754
    Abstract: Heat exchangers for thermal storage systems include a valve that can direct process fluid passing through the heat exchanger through supplemental heat exchanger tubing based on a temperature of the process fluid. The supplemental heat exchanger tubing can be located in areas where ice formation can occur during freezing of the storage fluid of the thermal storage system, but apart from the standard flow path for the heat exchanger. The valve can be a thermally-actuated valve. The thermally actuated valve can be set to divert flow of the process fluid to the supplemental tubing when the process fluid is at or above a melting temperature of the storage fluid. Methods can include selectively flowing process fluid through supplemental heat exchange tubing when it is at a temperature greater than the melting point of a storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian Silvetti, Mark Mitchell MacCracken
  • Patent number: 11680756
    Abstract: A hierarchical heat exchanger manifold includes: first and second fluid passages respectively open to an inlet and an outlet in a first level of the heat exchanger manifold; a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a second level of the heat exchanger manifold; and a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a third level of the heat exchanger manifold. A number of the first fluid passages in the third level is greater than a number of the first fluid passages in the second level. Each of the first fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the inlet and at least one of the first fluid passages in the third level, and each of the second fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the outlet and at least one of the second fluid passages in the third level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Roper, John Martin, Randall Schubert
  • Patent number: 11674700
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a container for containing a fluid; a cartridge for nebulizing the fluid, the cartridge configured to be fixed inside the container, the cartridge including a cartridge housing including a bottom side that is configured to contact a bottom of the container, a top side opposite to the bottom side; a back side; a front side; a left side; and a right side; and a handle on the top side of the cartridge housing, the handle projecting upward and away from the cartridge housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Vandenbussche, Tarik Khoury, Steven L Wolff, Pavel Marak, Jonathan Erbacher
  • Patent number: 11674759
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a multi-mode heat transfer system. The heat transfer system includes an emitter device. The emitter device includes an inner core surrounded by an outer core having a thickness and an outer surface. A composite material pattern extends through at least a portion of the outer surface and at least a portion of the thickness of the outer core and is thermally coupled to the inner core. The composite material pattern in combination with an optimized emissivity surface coating/paint profile directs a heat from the inner core to an object other than the emitter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tovota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Hideo Iizuka, Ziqi Yu
  • Patent number: 11673110
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-mode heat transfer device includes forming a thermal metamaterial composite structure that includes an inner core to radiate heat and an outer core that at least partially surrounds the inner core. The outer core includes a high thermally conductive material inlay and a low thermally conductive material matrix that form a composite material pattern to thermally concentrate and direct heat radiated by the inner core to an area outside of the multi-mode heat transfer device, while also thermally cloaking heat radiated by the inner core. A plurality of thermal metamaterial composite structures are then stacked in a stacked formation to form a thermal metamaterial composite assembly. The method includes manipulating the emissivity of the thermal metamaterial composite assembly by selectively applying a coating or a plating to one or more outer surface regions of the outer core to enhance the transfer of heat by the composite material pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 11673673
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air supply line having a first end connected to an ambient air inlet and a second end connected to a mixer of the aircraft air conditioning system so as to supply ambient air to the mixer. A first compressor is arranged in the ambient air supply line and is configured to compress the ambient air flowing through the ambient air supply line. A bleed air supply line allows a flow of bleed air bled off from an engine or an auxiliary power unit therethrough. A bleed air turbine is driven by the bleed air flowing through the bleed air supply line and is coupled to the first compressor so as to drive the first compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel, Hans Brunswig
  • Patent number: 11667174
    Abstract: A smart electric temperature-controlled system connected to a vehicle, such as a vehicle-transported refrigeration system, includes a power management system and an energy storage module. The power management system and energy storage module can manage power delivered to the temperature-controlled system components by monitoring temperatures and voltages (and possibly other factors) and by delivering power as a function of the things monitored. In a typical implementation the power management system and an energy storage module can supply power to a vehicle-transported refrigeration system when the vehicle is stopped and/or power from the vehicle electrical system is electrically isolated or otherwise unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Saeed Zaeri, Peter Timothy Johnston
  • Patent number: 11668536
    Abstract: The following provides a system and method to predict an indicator of tube fouling in a fired apparatus such as a boiler. Historical data can be collected when the tubing is still considered to be clean, and used to build a first model between an indicator of fouling, such as tube skin temperature, and boiler load. The actual measurement of that indicator of fouling can then be compared against the model output, such that the error between the model and measurement is considered an indication of the tube fouling. Moreover, the rate of change of the model error can be used to measure the fouling rate. Next, historical data on the fluid feed quality can be collected and together with the historical error rate change data can be combined to develop a second model. This second model reflects how fluid feed quality variables may affect the fouling rate over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Qi, Mathew Walker
  • Patent number: 11668535
    Abstract: A method of controlling cooling water treatment may involve measuring operating data of one or more downstream heat exchangers that receive cooling water from the cooling tower. For example, the inlet and outlet temperatures of both the hot and cold streams of a downstream heat exchanger may be measured. Data from the streams passing through the heat exchanger may be used to determine a heat transfer efficiency for the heat exchanger. The heat transfer efficiency can be trended over a period of time and changes in the trend detected to identify cooling waterfouling issues. Multiple potential causes of the perceived fouling issues can be evaluated to determine a predicted cause. A chemical additive selected to reduce, eliminate, or otherwise control the cooling water fouling can be controlled based on the predicted cause of the fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Myers, Anupam Prakash, Ravindra Raghavapudi, Steven Kramarczyk, Stephen J. Hinterlong, Daniel Meier, Jorvic Vital