Patents Examined by Filip Zec
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Patent number: 11473818Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for cycle enhancement are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Various embodiments generally pertain to refrigeration and heat pumping. Different embodiments may be applied to a variety of heat pump architectures. Some embodiments may integrate with vapor compression heat pumps in industrial, commercial, and/or residential applications. Some embodiments include a method that may include at least: removing a first heat from a vapor compression cycle; utilizing the first removed heat from the vapor compression cycle to drive a thermally driven heat pump; or removing a second heat from the vapor compression cycle utilizing the thermally driven heat pump to reduce a temperature of a refrigerant of the vapor compression cycle below an ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Rebound Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Russell Goldfarbmuren, Luke Erickson
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Patent number: 11473824Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a heat-source-tower heat pump system combined with an ice maker. The system includes a heat source tower and a heat pump unit. The system further includes an ice maker. The liquid outlet of the heat source tower is connected to the liquid inlet of the ice maker through a pipeline. The concentrated liquid outlet of the ice maker is connected to the liquid return port of the heat source tower. The cold outlet of the heat pump unit is connected to the cold inlet of the ice maker through a pipeline. The hot return port of the ice maker is connected to the hot inlet of the heat pump unit through a pipeline. The cold inlet and the hot outlet of the heat pump unit are respectively connected to corresponding outlet and inlet of an end of a user.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignees: Chongqing University, Jiangsu Simpsun Air New Energy Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Lu, Yifei Lv, Fangqi Lu, Ling Xie, Lulu Yang
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Patent number: 11466917Abstract: In an ice making device, a frame supporting an ice tray and a drive unit has a first wall at a side of an ice detection member. Supported on the first wall is a regulation member rotatable between a first rotation position not to regulate coming down of the ice detection member and a second rotation position to regulate coming down of the ice detection member. By moving the regulation member to the second rotation position, later ice making is stopped even if ice accumulating below is not much. The regulation member includes a regulator in a circular arc form and is supported rotatably around a shaft. The regulation member as a rotary member is less liable to unexpectedly move from either of the first rotation position and the second rotation position, so that movement of the regulation member to a position not intended is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventor: Akio Ishimizu
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Patent number: 11454438Abstract: An ice dispensing system is provided. The system includes multiple sidewalls forming an ice bin cavity configured to store ice. The system further includes an auger drive assembly. The auger drive assembly includes a drive assembly that is coupled to one of the multiple sidewalls and has a motor configured to rotate a drive gear. The auger drive assembly further includes an auger assembly positioned within the ice bin cavity. The auger assembly includes a helical auger coupled to an auger gear. The drive gear is configured to mate with the auger gear to drive rotation of the helical auger and cause ice to be dispensed through an ice chute. The drive assembly is additionally configured to move relative to the auger assembly between a closed position and an opened position. The opened position permits removal of the auger assembly from the ice bin cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David K. Njaastad, Andrew J. Tobler, Shishirdas K. Ravindran, E. Scott Sevcik, Carmelo Hernandez
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Patent number: 11448453Abstract: This refrigeration device, which cools by means of a refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant, is provided with: a door; a box which has a peripheral edge that is opposite of the outer peripheral portion of the door when the door is in a closed state, and which is internally cooled by the refrigerant; and multiple pipes which are arranged along the surface of the peripheral edge and which circulate a refrigerant warmed by the compression action of a compressor.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Toyooka, Tadashi Okada, Jun Yoshioka
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Patent number: 11448422Abstract: A condensate lifting device, including: a condensate receiving tank and a pump for lifting the condensates received in the tank. The pump is mounted on a first support for holding and/or guiding the tank or a second support carrying the tank, so that the tank or the second support is movable, in translation and/or in rotation, relative to the first support, so as to be able to take at least two positions: a working position, wherein the tank is connected to the pump; and a drainage position, wherein the tank is disconnected from the pump and displaced relative to the first support, so as to allow an operation of cleaning and/or draining the condensates.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: SAUERMANN INDUSTRIEInventors: Olivier De Gea, François Sardet, Laurent Guillard
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Patent number: 11448450Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator comprises a door body with an inner door and an outer door, a locking mechanism for locking the outer door, an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the outer door, and a detection unit for detecting an open state and a closed state of the inner door. The present disclosure avoids damages caused by collision between the inner door and the outer door when the outer door is opened, and also avoids simultaneous opening of the inner door and outer door and facilitates the user to use and achieves an energy-saving effect.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.Inventors: Mingyong Liu, Ning Wang, Shidong Li, Yuan Wang, Heng Zhang
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Patent number: 11441830Abstract: Solid production systems, devices, and methods utilizing oleophilic surfaces are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a water tank used to store fresh water. Some embodiments include an emulsion tank that may include a set of auxiliary components that may be utilized to create and/or to pump an emulsion. This auxiliary equipment may include suction headers, ejectors, pumps, mechanical mixers, and/or hydrodynamic mixers, for example. Some embodiments include a heat exchanger that may produce a cold surface for ice formation. This surface may include an oleophilic surface that may produce an affinity for oils and/or other non-polar materials. Some embodiments include piping that may allow for the connection of the other components such that ice may be formed from a flow of water from the emulsion and the overflow may be returned to the emulsion tank. Ice making methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Rebound Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Russell Goldfarbmuren, Luke Erickson, Josh Nelson, Chance Lord
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Patent number: 11441813Abstract: An indoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus includes: a drain pan that includes four wall surfaces including a first wall surface, and has a quadrangle shape in a plan view; a heat exchanger disposed above the drain pan and through which a combustible refrigerant, having a larger specific gravity than air, flows; a fan that generates air flow to the heat exchanger; a gas sensor that detects a refrigerant leakage; and a casing accommodating the drain pan, the heat exchanger, the fan, and the gas sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tsuji, Makoto Kojima
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Patent number: 11435127Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body and having an open front side, a storage box configured to be drawn out or put into the storage compartment and having a storage space therein, a cold air duct provided at the rear of the storage compartment and including a cold air outlet to allow cold air to be discharged into the storage space, a partition disposed in the storage box to divide the storage space into a fresh room and a vegetable room and to be movable in the left and right directions in the storage space, and a cold air adjusting member configured to be moved in the left and right directions together with the partition to adjust a size of the cold air outlet and to stay connected to the partition when the storage box is drawn out.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joohee Song, Hyejeong Oh, Sungi Hong, Kihyun Kim, Yonghan Kim, Juyoung Yoon
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Patent number: 11427459Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The controller may be configured to initiate a dispensing operation. The dispensing operation may include providing a first time, TIME-1, by which a fluid is to be ready at a first temperature, TEMP-1, within the cabinet; ascertaining a first time period, ?t1, required to heat the fluid to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; initiating detection of a container within a dispenser recess prior to the first time, TIME-1; and directing a heating element prior to the first time, TIME-1, based on initiating detection of the container.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Katherine Michelle Jansen, Ryan Joseph Thomas
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Patent number: 11421919Abstract: Thermoelectric systems employing distributed transport properties to increase cooling and heating performance are provided herein. In some examples, a thermoelectric heat pump is provided that includes a distributed transport properties (DTP) thermoelectric (TE) couple including at least one DTP TE element. The at least one DTP TE element includes a TE material with a Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, or electrical resistance varying within said DTP TE element such that when that DTP TE element is subjected to a fixed temperature differential and no current is flowing in a primary direction that produces heat pumping action, at least at one position within that DTP TE element there is a current that in steady state operation produces a lower temperature than the temperature at that position when no current is flowing.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: DTP Thermoelectrics LLCInventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
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Patent number: 11408638Abstract: A gutter for an evaporative panel of a cooling system having at least one channel with a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls ending at the top edges of the channel, at least one joint connecting one end of the channel to another component of the evaporative panel, the joint comprising, an outer part for coupling to an outer surface of the channel and having a pair of flanges to be arranged at the respective top edges of the channel, an inner part for coupling to an inner surface of the channel and having a pair of flanges to be arranged at the respective top edges of the channel, at least one gasket to be interposed between the inner part of the joint and the inner surface of the channel, and clamping to clamp the end of the channel between the inside and outside parts of the joint.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: MUNTERS ITALY S.P.A.Inventors: Andrei Pal-Calinescu, Fabrizio Trifoglio, Andrea Revetria, Fulvio Brambilla
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Patent number: 11408660Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the ice maker. An ice maker according to the present disclosure includes: an upper assembly including an upper tray forming an upper chamber, which is a portion an ice chamber, and having an upper opening, and a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the ice chamber in contact with the upper tray; and a lower assembly being rotatable with respect to the upper assembly and having a lower tray forming a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber, in which a contact portion between the temperature sensor and the upper tray is positioned closer to a contact surface of the upper tray and the lower tray than the upper opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Seungjin Choi, Seunggeun Lee
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Patent number: 11408662Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator main body having a refrigerating chamber therein, a cold air passage duct provided within the refrigerator main body and having a cold air passage therein to discharge the cold air into the refrigerating chamber, a control case attached to one surface of the cold air discharge duct and having a cold air discharge opening through which the cold air is discharged, and a knob provided between the cold air passage duct and the control case and attached to the control case to be reciprocally movable in one direction, the knob opening and closing at least part of the cold air discharge opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Sunghun Lee, Yoonseong Nam
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Patent number: 11408667Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Josh Hanson
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Patent number: 11402140Abstract: A self-enclosed modular refrigeration unit for refrigeration system comprises compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant. A heat exchanger is connected to a cooling water network to condense the refrigerant with cooling water. A suction line is connected to a suction side of the compressor and adapted to provide a feed of refrigerant to the compressor. A discharge line is connected to a discharge side of the compressor and to the heat exchanger to direct compressed refrigerant to the heat exchanger. A head pressure control valve is in the discharge line downstream of the heat exchanger to control an upstream pressure. A casing encloses the compressor, the heat exchanger, the head pressure control valve. An outlet line has an outlet end downstream of the head pressure control valve adapted to output cooling refrigerant having passed through the head pressure control valve. An inlet end is upstream of the suction line to provide a feed of refrigerant to the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: BRONSWERK MARINE INC.Inventor: Augusto San Cristobal
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Patent number: 11402122Abstract: An indoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus includes: a drain pan that includes four wall surfaces including a first wall surface, and has a quadrangle shape in a plan view; a heat exchanger disposed above the drain pan and through which a combustible refrigerant, having a larger specific gravity than air, flows; a fan that generates air flow to the heat exchanger; a gas sensor that detects a refrigerant leakage; and a casing accommodating the drain pan, the heat exchanger, the fan, and the gas sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tsuji, Makoto Kojima
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Patent number: 11397039Abstract: A cooling unit has a cold plate extending in a horizontal direction, and a tank and a pump disposed above the cold plate in a first direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The tank has a tank chamber which stores a refrigerant. The pump has a pump chamber in which a rotating body that transfers the refrigerant is accommodated, and an upper end of the tank chamber in the first direction is positioned at an upper side than an upper end of the pump chamber in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATIONInventors: Toshihiko Tokeshi, Takehito Tamaoka, Nobuya Nakae
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Patent number: 11397048Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to be formed with a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber, a second door configured to open and close the second storage chamber, a first cooler and a heater configured to adjust the temperature of the first storage chamber, a second cooler configured to adjust a temperature of the second storage chamber, and a controller configured to perform a general operation of the first storage chamber in preference to door load response operation of the second storage chamber, of the general operation of adjusting the temperature of the first storage chamber and the door load response operation of the second storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jeongwon Park, Giseok Seong, Myungjin Chung, Kyungseok Kim, Yonghun Suh