Patents Examined by Eric S Ruppert
  • Heat exchanger comprising a stack of cells
    Patent number: 11614284
    Abstract: A heat exchanger suitable to be used as a recuperator in a micro gas turbine including a stack of cells. Each of the cells includes a pair of mutually spaced-apart plates and layers including heat exchange elements arranged at the outer surfaces of the plates and between the plates. Each of the layers including heat exchange elements can include at least one discrete spatial component incorporating a number of elements. Both a supply header and a discharge header of the heat exchanger can be made of only two components at the position of the stack of cells. Compensating for heat expansion effects can be via a bellows-shaped pipe portion of a supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Turbine Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Viktor Kornilov, Paulus Maria Smeets, Luuk Verbakel
  • Beverage cooler
    Patent number: 11614279
    Abstract: Beverage coolers for storing and cooling bottled beverages. A beverage cooler may include a cooling chamber cooled by a refrigeration system, and openings in the cooling chamber for receiving bottled beverages to be chilled. The openings may have doors and/or seals to minimize heat exchange between the cooling chamber and the environment with or without bottles disposed in the openings. Each of the openings may have a visual indicator, such as a plurality of LEDs, configured to indicate the temperature of the bottle disposed in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Emad Jafa, Eleonor Dorin Stoenescu, Thomas Henry Hellier, James Simon Oliver
  • Icemaking system and a method of controlling evaporation temperature referred to by the icemaking system
    Patent number: 11614264
    Abstract: An icemaking system includes: a refrigerant circuit that executes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle; a circulation circuit that circulates solution as a cooling target of the refrigerant circuit; and a control device that controls refrigerant evaporation temperature at the refrigerant circuit. The circulation circuit includes a solution flow path of: an ice generator; a solution tank that stores the solution; and a pump that pressure feeds the solution to the solution flow path. The refrigerant circuit includes: an evaporator of the ice generator; a compressor; a condenser; and an expansion valve. The control device includes a central processing unit (CPU) that adjusts to lower evaporation temperature at the evaporator as the solution has higher solute concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Azuma Kondou, Takeo Ueno, Shouhei Yasuda, Takahito Nakayama, Satoru Sakae
  • Ice cutting tray
    Patent number: 11614265
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice making unit and an ice storage bin. A frame is positioned between the ice making unit and the storage bin. An ice making tray is coupled with the frame, including a base defining a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. A plurality of ice forming features is positioned proximate the first plurality of apertures. The ice forming features are coupled to and extend away from the base. A heating element is in thermal communication with the ice forming features. A wastewater disposal assembly is coupled with the ice making tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Binglai Chen, Alexander Edward Caine, Abigail Jean Livingston, Darby Marie Spiegel, Morgan Aileen Weber, Abigail Caroline Wulf
  • Continuous cooling assembly
    Patent number: 11602985
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a cooling assembly for a vehicle. In one example, the cooling assembly may be a non-rectangular cooler positioned in a front end of the vehicle with an entry duct continuous with the non-rectangular cooler and arranged upstream of the non-rectangular cooler and an exit duct also continuous with the non-rectangular cooler and arranged downstream of the non-rectangular cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Matthew Arthur Titus, Trenton Lee Mcmillion, Ryan Orourke, Joshua Walters
  • Cleaning apparatus for cooling tube array
    Patent number: 11604040
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a cooling tube array (15) of a heat exchanger has a nozzle carriage (16) movably held on a truss beam, and a plurality of cleaning nozzles (40) mounted to the nozzle carriage. A truss beam has two parallel C-channel rails (20) having back sides that face each other, a tube (22) arranged separate and distant from the C-channel rails and at a different height than the C-channel rails in a cross-sectional plane of the truss beam, and truss supports (24) connecting the rails and the tube; the nozzle carriage has rollers (48) that are arranged for travelling in the C-channel rails. A water intake (82) is coupled to the nozzle manifold (42) and to a hydraulic drive (80) having a mechanical power take-off member (96) that is operably coupled to the nozzle carriage (16) for moving the nozzle carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Johannes Stickling
  • Shell-and-tube heat exchanger and air conditioning system
    Patent number: 11598582
    Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an air conditioning system. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes: a shell provided with a liquid inlet and an vapor outlet, the vapor outlet being disposed at an top portion of the shell; and a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the shell in an axial direction of the shell; wherein the heat exchange tube bundle includes: a plurality of first heat exchange tubes located at an upper portion, the first heat exchange tubes having a first spacing therebetween; and a plurality of second heat exchange tubes located at a lower portion, the second heat exchange tubes having a second spacing therebetween; the first spacing is different from the second spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Bryce Kirk Moore, Abbas A. Alahyari, Dhruv Chanakya Hoysall, Tobias H. Sienel, Jack Leon Esformes
  • Tool-less apparatus and methods for sealing the flow of cooling fan air to a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11592881
    Abstract: Tool-less apparatus and methods are provided for sealing flow of cooling air from the outlet of a cooling fan blower to the inlet of a heat exchanger within a chassis enclosure of an information handling system. The disclosed apparatus and methods may be implemented in a tool-less manner by employing tool-less chassis mounting features that mate with tool-less cooling fan mounting features to mechanically align and secure an air outlet of a cooling fan blower in sealing relationship with an air inlet of a heat exchanger within a chassis enclosure of an information handling system by properly aligning the axes of a cooling fan in relation to the inlet of the heat exchanger so that in on embodiment no gap exists between the cooling air outlet of the cooling fan and the cooing air inlet of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiang Yang, Yi-Chang Yeh, Yu-Ming Kuo, Yan-Zih Chen
  • Refrigeration cycle apparatus
    Patent number: 11592203
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a casing; an air handling unit accommodated in the casing and including a first duct and a first outlet, a second duct and a second outlet, a first fan and a second fan; and a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit and including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuda, Shinichi Uchino, Kaoru Hayashibara, Nobu Iwata
  • Self-sustainable multiple-tank cooler with energy storage and chamber for temperature compensation
    Patent number: 11592227
    Abstract: Cooler composed by an outer tank, within which a cooling tank and a useful tank are housed, among which there is an array of thermal energy accumulators, and within the tank useful there are temperature compensation chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jose De Jesus Martinez Alcantara, Jorge Manuel Civeira Rodriguez
  • Gasket for a plate heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11592242
    Abstract: A gasket for a plate heat exchanger, wherein the gasket includes a body in the form of a loop for fitting to a plate of the plate heat exchanger. The body includes one or more peripheral connection areas spaced along at least one side of the loop, and a plurality of tabs for securing the gasket in position on the plate. Each tab is discrete from the body, and each tab includes a connection which is receivable by or engageable with one of the connection areas to connect the tabs and body together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TRP Sealing Systems Limited
    Inventor: Simon Children
  • Temperature adjusting apparatus
    Patent number: 11590821
    Abstract: A temperature adjusting apparatus is provided in a vehicle capable of performing an automatic driving. The temperature adjusting apparatus includes: an automatic driving determination unit that determines whether or not an automatic driving control is operating in the vehicle; a cabin temperature acquiring unit that acquires a cabin temperature in a vehicle cabin of the vehicle; and a cabin temperature adjusting unit that adjusts the cabin temperature. The cabin temperature adjusting unit is configured to control, when the automatic driving determination unit determines that the automatic driving control is operating in the vehicle and the cabin temperature acquired by the cabin temperature acquiring unit exceeds a predetermined range, temperature adjusting means provided in the vehicle, thereby executing a temperature adjusting control to adjust the cabin temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Higashitani, Noriaki Ikemoto, Tomomi Hase
  • Variable fin stack
    Patent number: 11592882
    Abstract: A variable fin stack for cooling components in a chassis of a portable information handling system. The variable fin stack comprises a first array of fins coupled to a first conduit and a second array of fins coupled to a second conduit. When the chassis is in a compact configuration for use in a mobile mode, fins in the second array of fins are positioned between fins in the first array of fins and the chassis maintains a form factor. When the chassis is in an expanded configuration for use in a workstation mode, the second array of fins is withdrawn from the first array of fins and the increased surface area provides increased cooling of components operating at higher power levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Nicholas, Qinghong He, Jay Matthew Zill
  • Duct heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11585611
    Abstract: A duct comprising: an inlet; an outlet; a shell having a tubular form extending between the inlet and the outlet; a main flow path (H) within the shell for conveying a main flow between the inlet and the outlet; and a heat exchange structure, wherein the heat exchange structure comprises: an intake port provided in the shell; an output port provided in the shell; and a secondary flow path (C) within the shell for conveying a secondary flow between the intake port and the output port, wherein the secondary flow path is spirally intertwined with the main flow path for a section of the duct to provide a heat exchanger within the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam Horoszczak, Rafal Lewandowski
  • System and method for installing external corrosion guards
    Patent number: 11585613
    Abstract: The system and method for installing external corrosion guards of the present disclosure comprises a method of protecting tubing in tubular heat exchangers from external corrosion that includes the installation of protective collars or guards around the tube outer diameter at the tubsheet plate, anti-vibration baffle, and/or pass partition plate levels. The external corrosion guards can be installed using a ridge method, where a ridge sits on a plate level, using a mechanical expansion method, and using a mechanical rolling method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Corrosion Monitoring Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A Turner, Alexander Turner, Ronald Charles Preston
  • Methods and system for a degas bottle
    Patent number: 11584191
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a cooling system. In one example, a system comprising a housing comprising a first chamber fluidly coupled to a first cooling circuit and a second chamber fluidly coupled to a second cooling circuit. A reservoir is arranged vertically above each of the first chamber and the second chamber within the housing. A transverse wall fluidly separates the reservoir from the first and second chambers and a dividing wall physically coupled to the transverse wall, separates the first and second chambers from one another. Each of the transverse wall, dividing wall, first chamber, and the second chamber are arranged vertically below a minimum fill line of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Potticary, Robert Gosling
  • Ice maker and refrigerator
    Patent number: 11578904
    Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a tray assembly having an upper tray that defines upper portions of a plurality of ice making chambers. Each of the plurality of ice making chambers is configured to receive water and generate an ice piece. The tray assembly also includes a lower tray that is located vertically below the upper tray, that is configured to rotate relative to the upper tray, and that defines lower portions of the plurality of ice making chambers, wherein at least one of the upper tray or the lower tray comprises a flexible tray made of a flexible material. Additionally, a case is configured to accommodate the flexible tray to restrict a deformation of the flexible tray. A heater that is located between the case and the flexible tray is configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice making chambers through the flexible tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinil Hong, Yonghyun Kim
  • Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess
    Patent number: 11573041
    Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Scalf
  • Cyclone cooler device
    Patent number: 11573053
    Abstract: A cyclone cooler device includes a housing that defines an interior channel elongated along a center axis. One or more of the fluid passage or configuration of an inlet end of the channel is shaped to induce a swirling flow of a cooling fluid within the channel while the channel is thermally coupled with one or more heat sources. The swirling flow of the cooling fluid removes thermal energy from and cools the one or more heat sources. During the swirling flow, the cooling fluid rotates around the center axis of the channel while also moving along the length of the center axis. The cooling fluid changes phases during the swirling flow to cool the heat source(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Corey Bourassa, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Ice maker and refrigerator
    Patent number: 11573042
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, an ice maker configured to make spherical ice, and an ice bin for storing the ice. The ice maker includes an upper assembly including a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers, a lower assembly disposed below and pivotably coupled to the upper assembly, wherein the lower assembly includes a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers that are configured to come in contact with the plurality of hemispherical upper chambers to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, a driver configured to pivot the lower assembly, and an ice-full state detection lever that is coupled to and configured to be pivoted by the driver, wherein the ice-full state detection lever is configured to pivot in the same direction as the lower assembly to detect whether the ice bin is in an ice-full state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park