Patents Examined by Erik Mendoza-Wilkenfe
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Patent number: 9638446Abstract: A method to detect the charge level of a refrigerant within a refrigeration circuit, where the refrigeration circuit has a compressor, a sensor to detect a pressure, and a sensor to detect a temperature. The method has a key cycle that has a first part and a second part.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Aaron Kleinow, Joseph Lewis, Lawrence Wei, Ronald Goubeaux
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Patent number: 9630543Abstract: A cup holder for a vehicle may include a holder body having a thermoelectric element to perform cooling and/or heating of a cup stored in the holder body and having a blower to circulate air in the holder body to enhance heat convention, a heat exchanging part provided on a heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric element to perform heat exchange, and a moisture absorption part having one end portion disposed at a lower portion of the blower of the holder body to absorb moisture and the other end portion disposed at a side of the heat exchanging part to vaporize the moisture.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Man Ju Oh, Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park
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Patent number: 9625095Abstract: A sealed and insulating reservoir contains a pressurized cold fluid in a rigid, sealed enclosure. A fluidtight membrane is positioned to contact the cold fluid contained in the reservoir. An insulating barrier is placed between the fluidtight membrane and the internal surface of the rigid enclosure, with the insulating barrier forming a support surface to support the fluidtight membrane. A pressure balancing device is able to limit the pressure difference between a first sealed volume located inside the fluidtight membrane, and a second sealed volume located outside the fluidtight membrane. The pressure balancing device typically includes a fluid circuit having two chambers sealingly separated by a movable separator. The first chamber is linked to the first sealed volume, and the second chamber is linked to the second sealed volume. The movable separator exerts a loading force in the direction of the second chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GAZTRANSPORT ET TECHNIGAZInventors: Laurent Spittael, Bruno Deletre, David Lafare, Pierre Jolivet, David Hassler, Amaury Mange, Benoît Capitaine, Ali Abdallah
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Patent number: 9625184Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Yi Hu, Mark Eldo Groskreutz, Nicholas Shin
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Patent number: 9618217Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a frame of the indoor unit; a heat exchanger mounted on the frame and having a refrigerant pipe in which a refrigerant flows; a hanger plate mounted on a rear surface of the frame and configured to fix the frame onto a wall surface; and a holder plate mounted on a lower portion of the frame and connecting the frame and the hanger plate. An end of the refrigerant pipe is placed in a space formed by the frame, the holder plate, and the hanger plate. The holder plate is movably connected on a lower portion of the frame, so the refrigerant pipe is accessible to a user to perform an operation of connecting or separating the refrigerant pipe to or from a connection pipe connected to an outdoor unit without rotating the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sung June Cho, Jee Ho Park, Hyun Dal Kim
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Patent number: 9618250Abstract: A refrigerator includes a water storage vessel configured to be mounted to the door of the refrigerator, a supply passage configured to connect the storage space of the water storage vessel to an ice making apparatus and dispenser to supply the water in the water storage vessel to the ice making apparatus and the dispenser, a valve installed at an intersection of the supply passage and configured to perform a passage conversion, and a pump configured to pump the water in the water storage vessel so that the water flows to the supply passage, wherein the water storage vessel is provided with a water storage vessel lever capable of changing the position of at least one portion of the supply passage so that the at least one portion of the supply passage is connected to/disconnected from a remaining portion of the supply passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Sang Min Park
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Patent number: 9612062Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a superconducting device by a low-temperature fluid is provided. A flow generator for producing a flow in the low-temperature fluid is provided in the cooling system. The low-temperature fluid flowing through the superconducting device is heated. The flow generator is used to produce a flow in the heated low-temperature fluid. The low-temperature fluid is cooled and supplied to the superconducting device.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Zui Ri, Tatsuo Koizumi
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Patent number: 9612049Abstract: A refrigeration system for a mobile unit includes a refrigeration loop (32), an air duct (70), a sensor (34) and a shock absorption unit (36). The refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant regulator and an evaporator (64). The air duct directs air from an air inlet to the evaporator, which air duct is defined by first and second panels. The sensor is disposed in the air duct. The shock absorption unit mounts the sensor to and provides a limited thermal conduction path between the sensor and the first panel (22).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Zhigang Wu, Degang Fu, Yun Li, Stevo Mijanovic, Mark J. Perkovich, Thomas D. Radcliff
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Patent number: 9612061Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for storing thermal energy. The subject thermal energy storage apparatus can function as a heat absorber in a cooling system. A cooling system can incorporate a cooling cycle that utilizes thermal energy storage and has two coolant loops. The primary cooling loop acquires the waste heat from a heat source, such as an electronic device, by heat transfer to the primary coolant via, for example, a sensible heat process (where sensible heat is heat absorbed or transmitted by a substance during a change in temperature which is not accompanied by a change of state) or by evaporating the primary coolant through a latent heat phase change process. The waste heat absorbed by the primary coolant is transferred to the host material of the heat absorber.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: RINI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Daniel P. Rini, Louis Chow
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Patent number: 9581374Abstract: A method is for preconditioning at least one latent heat storage element, which is arranged in a thermally insulated, closed container having a space for accommodating goods to be transported. The latent heat storage element has a target temperature preferably slightly in excess of 0 DEG C. In such an arrangement, it is particularly practical for the accommodation space in the container to be filled with a certain amount of a coolant, particularly ice, and for the container to be closed, and therefore the latent heat storage element located in the container is cooled to the target temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: VA-Q-TEC AGInventors: Joachim Kuhn, Fabian Eschenbach, Tobias Bock
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Patent number: 9578867Abstract: A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure comprises a heat pump unit placed within an affected area and a thermostatic control. The heat pump unit is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water, the heated air being emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostatic control is configured to monitor a temperature of a flow of water as it is received by the heat pump, monitor a temperature of air, and automatically cease operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Technologies Holding Corp.Inventors: Timothy S. O'Brien, Eric P. Camenga
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Patent number: 9565875Abstract: A cigar cooler is disclosed that includes a housing having an upper surface with a pair of open channels each sized to receive a cigar. The housing includes an open central region for receiving a cooling medium such as ice or a frozen gel. During use, the cigar is placed in an open channel between inhalations to reduce the temperature of the cigar.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Inventor: Javad Ashjaee
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Patent number: 9568222Abstract: A subassembly for an adsorption chiller includes an adsorption component that includes a plurality of plates arranged in a stack. Refrigerant passages are defined between refrigerant sides of adjacent pairs of the plates in the stack. An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventor: Sean Garner
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Patent number: 9568228Abstract: There is provided an ice making method capable of forming ice to an intended level although a sensing unit configured to sense whether or not a formation of ice has reached the intended level malfunctions. The ice making method includes: an ice making initiation step S100 of forming ice by an ice formation unit; an ice release time determining step S200 of determining a point in time at which ice is to be released in consideration of a signal from a detection unit for detecting whether the formation of ice has reached an intended level and an ice making lapse time which has lapsed after the formation of ice was initiated by the ice formation unit; and an ice releasing step S300 of releasing the formed ice when a point in time at which ice is to be released is determined in the ice releasing time determining step.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., LtdInventors: Jin-Kyu Joung, You-Shin Kim, Chul-Sun Dan
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Patent number: 9561895Abstract: Production of sterile therapeutic medium such as sterile surgical slush for use in surgery. A sterile slush container with a sterile sleeve assembly so that the outside of the sterile slush container remains sterile after placement in a non-sterile slush making machine so that the sterile slush container may be returned to the sterile field after removal of the sterile slush container from the sleeve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: C° Change Surgical LLCInventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers, Philip Morrison Allred, III
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Patent number: 9556524Abstract: A temperature regulator or the like that can circulate a desired thermal medium and efficiently transfer the heat of the thermal medium is provided. The temperature regulator includes a pipe that is made of a metal or alloy with corrosion resistance to a predetermined thermal medium and that serves as a flow path for circulating the thermal medium; and a plate in which the pipe is buried, wherein the plate is formed by accelerating powder made of aluminum (Al) or alloy together with a gas and thereafter spraying the powder remaining in a solid phase toward the pipe so that the powder is deposited on the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Kayamoto, Gou Takahara
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Patent number: 9557098Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area to support product and a refrigeration system at least partially coupled to the case to condition the product display area. The case includes case structure at least partially exposed to the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a heat guide that is in communication with cold air within the product display area, and a heat source that is coupled to the case structure within the product display area. The heat source is further coupled to the heat guide by a thermal recovery device. The heat guide forms a bridge between the thermal recovery device and the cold air in the product display area such that power is generated based on a temperature difference across the thermal recovery device.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Hussmann CorporationInventor: Raymond P. Twohy
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Patent number: 9549843Abstract: Creation of surgical slush having desirable mechanical properties by chilling a closed slush container with liquid saline and an air gap. The closed slush container having interior surfaces that are smooth and hydrophobic to resist adherence of ice crystals. Moving the closed slush container so the contents move in a complex set of motions rather than constant rotation around a longitudinal centerline of the slush container as the liquid saline is converted into surgical slush with a mixture of liquid saline and ice crystals. Interior surfaces of the closed slush container move into and out of an air gap to help shed any ice crystals forming on the interior surfaces. In some instances, as the orientation of the closed slush container relative to gravity changes over time, different interior surfaces shed the ice crystals. An optional method for delivering surgical slush to the sterile field is included. The full range of the disclosure exceeds the scope of this brief abstract.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: C° Change Surgical LLCInventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers, Benjamin A. Perrot
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Patent number: 9546811Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator capable of varying a storage condition for food in accordance with a state of the food, thereby storing the food in a fresher state for a prolonged period of time. The refrigerator includes an indicating device to measure a state of food. The indicating device is provided to be portable, separately from a refrigerator body. The indicating device includes a measurement terminal, which come into contact with food, only when contact is needed. The refrigerator also includes an input unit to receive data about a state of food, a determination unit to determine a storage condition for the food, based on the input food state data, and a controller to control driving of the cooling device, based on the determined food storage condition. The indicating device includes a measurement unit to obtain food state data, and a display to display the food state data.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Myung Ju Lee, Young Yun, Sung Cheol Kang
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Patent number: 9546804Abstract: The present application provides a microchannel coil assembly. The microchannel coil assembly may include a frame, a number of microchannel coils positioned within the frame, and a microchannel coil spray system positioned about the frame and the number of microchannel coils.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventors: Stephen Troutman, Chris Jentzsch, Dustan Atkinson, Lindsay Harry