Patents Examined by Frances F Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10357810
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steady flow structure and a ventilation apparatus having the steady flow structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: E3 GREEN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongzheng Ruan, Guangye Tang
  • Patent number: 10314283
    Abstract: A curtain machine has a sealed control enclosure. The control enclosure, disposed in a machine interior of a machine housing, forms an enclosure interior and is configured to form a moisture impermeable seal separating the environment of the control enclosure from the environment of the machine interior and the external environment of the curtain machine. A motorized threaded member is configured to move a load block within the machine interior, for example to actuate a cable-based curtain mechanism, with both the load block and threaded member disposed outside the enclosure interior. The enclosure interior of the control enclosure includes a control circuit configured to operate the motor, and a mechanical limit switch configured to be mechanically actuated by the load block to stop the motor responsive to the load block moving along the threaded member beyond a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Hog Slat, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Glenn King
  • Patent number: 10317107
    Abstract: An airflow-direction adjustment device includes a housing in which a front end side is set as an air outlet and a back end side is set as an air inlet; a fin turnably supported inside the housing; and a gear mechanism for adjusting a direction of the fin by a rotation of an operating portion. An essential part is formed such that the fin is formed by a pair of vanes disposed on right and left or top and bottom inside the housing, and each vane is turnably supported in a front-and-back direction of the housing respectively as a supporting point on a common pivot line set in a plate width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takehiko Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10302307
    Abstract: An autonomous ventilation system includes a variable-speed exhaust fan, a controller, an exhaust hood, and an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor. The exhaust fan removes air contaminants from an area. The controller is coupled to the exhaust fan and adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan. The exhaust hood is coupled to the exhaust fan and directs air contaminants to the exhaust fan. The IR sensor is coupled to the controller, detects changes in IR index in a zone below the exhaust hood, and communicates information relating to detected changes in IR index to the controller. The controller adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan in response to information relating to detected changes in IR index. The autonomous ventilation system also includes an alignment laser to indicate a point at which the IR sensor is aimed and a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator to illuminate the zone in which the IR sensor detects changes in IR index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Oy Halton Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael P. Burdett, Daniel Reich
  • Patent number: 10301869
    Abstract: A hollow core door for preventing pressure build up in a room having a forced air system includes an outer stile and rail frame, an inside skin having an opening secured to the outer frame, an outer skin having an opening secured to the outer frame, and a core assembly, which may be prefabricated, including a core assembly frame, a center panel disposed within the core assembly frame, openings extending through the center panel adjacent to the core assembly frame, spacers adjacent to the core frame to space the core assembly apart from the inside and outside skins, and the core assembly is disposed within the outer frame, whereby air flows through the opening in the inside skin, along the center panel, through the openings in the center panel, along the center panel and outwardly through the opening in the outside skin in a non-linear manner to prevent pressure build up in a room in which the door is installed to comply with the Department of Energy maximum recommended pressure of three pascals or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry G. Crittenden
  • Patent number: 10295219
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: an air-conditioning case that includes an air passage through which air-conditioned wind flows and that is molded using a die; and an attachment part that is fixed on an outer surface of the air-conditioning case and includes a plate-shaped projection piece, which projects from a case main body part of the attachment part and includes a positioning hole passing through the projection piece. The air-conditioning case includes: a holding piece that projects from the outer surface to be engaged with the projection piece; and a positioning pin that projects from the outer surface to be inserted in the positioning hole. The holding piece includes: a leg part that projects from the outer surface and is capable of being resiliently deformed; and an engagement part that is bent and extends from an end portion of the leg part and that is engaged with a part of the projection piece on its end side of the positioning hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiichirou Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 10286097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deodorization device (1) for a vehicle, with a container (2) for a deodorant (3), wherein the container (2) for the deodorant (3) is provided with at least one opening (7, 8), and with a holding device (4) for mounting the deodorization device (1) on a ventilation slot in the interior of a vehicle, wherein the holding device (4) comprises at least one clamping part (6). The at least one clamping part (6) is made of elastic material, has an elliptical or circular cross section and is configured so as to be able to be introduced in a holding manner into a ventilation slot of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Supair-Tel AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Guggenheim, Beat Keller
  • Patent number: 10283946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combination cable and air channel for air conditioning an electrical enclosure, comprising an air channel and a cable channel which adjoins the air channel and which is led parallel to the air channel. A first longitudinal face of the air channel has at least one opening, and a longitudinal face of the cable channel manner. The invention further relates to a corresponding electrical enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Wagner, Christine Ronzheimer, Joerg Knetsch
  • Patent number: 10274224
    Abstract: A discharge plenum for use with a packaged HVAC unit has an outer enclosure with opposing side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. A planar barrier is arranged within the discharge plenum, and extends between the side walls and furthermore extends to the front wall. One air volume is arranged in a bottom portion of the discharge plenum directly below the planar barrier, and another is arranged in a top portion of the discharge plenum directly above the planar barrier, so that the planar barrier separates the two air volumes. A turning vane is provided within the discharge plenum to direct a flow of air received into the discharge plenum towards the air volume in the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Erik Hansen, Jacob Pachniak, Roy Turtenwald
  • Patent number: 10266032
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a wing knob for a vehicle air vent includes a plurality of vanes, an upper knob and a lower knob encompassing one of the vanes, a rubber member for reducing friction noise between the upper and lower knobs, and a decoration member coupled between the upper and lower knobs to add decorative esthetic sense. The upper knob has a holding piece at a lower portion of an opening of the upper knob. The rubber member has a stepped shoulder portion. The decoration member has a fitting groove. The lower knob is integrally provided with a hook to be held by the holding piece, a holding projection held by the shoulder portion, and a hook piece fitted into the fitting groove of the decoration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventor: Yang Mook Lim
  • Patent number: 10256514
    Abstract: Systems are disclosed for battery modules/systems with cooling systems. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, the cooling system may be disposed against an external surface of a housing of the battery system. The cooling system may utilize air as a coolant to remove heat generated by cells within the battery module, to prevent the cells from aging prematurely. Embodiments of the cooling system may include manifolds, channels, fins, or a combination thereof, which may route the cooling air along the surface of the battery module housing. Such features may create an isothermal temperature distribution within the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kem M. Obasih, Richard M. DeKeuster
  • Patent number: 10240805
    Abstract: A grille is provided at a lower end portion of an air inlet, and covers a central portion of the air inlet to form an inlet opening between an outer peripheral edge of the grille and an opening edge of the air inlet in plan view. A plate member extends along an inner surface of the air inlet, and provided inside the air inlet such that an upper edge of the plate member is located more inward than a lower edge of the plate member. The upper edge of the plate member is located above the lower end of the air inlet. The lower edge of the plate member surrounds an outer periphery of the grille in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Nouchi, Nobuyuki Kojima
  • Patent number: 10233650
    Abstract: A vent for a roof or other structure, comprising a cavity housing portion and an outside-housing extension portion including an extension footing extending from a lower edge of a louvered ventilation side. The extension footing includes footing sub-portions to obstruct gaps between the extension footing and the structure, such as a plurality of tabs extending from the extension footing corner-edge biasing the free edge of the tab downwardly below the extension footing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lomanco, Inc.
    Inventor: Jakob D Fiser
  • Patent number: 10226991
    Abstract: An apparatus provides an air shield over a portal access opening between a vehicle access member and a stationary vehicle trim member. An air supply device disposed within the vehicle. The air supply device includes an active material creating the burst of air. The air supply device produces a burst of air that discharges upon opening of the vehicle access member. At least one output port outputs the burst of air. The burst of air forms the air shield in a direction substantially transverse to the portal opening. The air shield is formed across at least a portion of a perimeter of the portal access opening between the vehicle access member and the stationary vehicle trim member. The air shield inhibits precipitation from entering the compartment of the vehicle during a pressure equalization phase that occurs in response to the opening of the vehicle access member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louise E. Stauffer, Alan L. Browne
  • Patent number: 10220668
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for an HVAC assembly. A first flue can be configured to fluidly couple a first heat exchanger to a mixing flue. A second flue can be configured to fluidly couple a second heat exchanger to the mixing flue. A door can inhibit fluid communication through the second flue when in a first position. The door can inhibit fluid communication through the first flue when in a second position. The door can permit fluid communication through the first and second flues when in a third position. The third flue can be configured to fluidly couple the first heat exchanger to a portion of the second flue downstream of the second heat exchanger and upstream of the mixing flue when the door is in the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Mazzocco, Daniel Okray, Ryan Rosenburg
  • Patent number: 10207132
    Abstract: Self-closing vent assemblies configured to provide ventilation during normal ambient conditions and to close during a fire are provided. In one embodiment, the self-closing vent assembly includes a base vent plate having a plurality of apertures and a floating vent plate having a plurality of apertures offset from the apertures in the base vent plate. The floating vent plate is configured to move between a first position spaced apart by a distance from the base vent plate and a second position abutting the base vent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FLANNERY, INC.
    Inventor: Barry Rutherford
  • Patent number: 10203703
    Abstract: An automatic airflow balancing valve (10), including: a housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16) and defining a flow path (18) there through; a valve disc (30) operatively connected to the housing and disposed within the flow path; and an airflow volume calibrating assembly (92) disposed in the flow path and operatively connected to the valve disc and the housing to pivot the valve disc to a home position associated with a desired constant airflow volume. The airflow volume calibrating assembly includes an adjustment element that extends toward at least one of the inlet or the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MI VALVE, LLC
    Inventors: James P. Ashton, Scott D. Madden
  • Patent number: 10196823
    Abstract: A roof ridge vent system for roofs which includes a vent slot located through the roof structure along the roof ridge. A vent strip is provided that has a sufficient width to extend over the vent slot and partially over the shingles on each side of the vent slot. The vent strip has a longitudinal groove on an upper side located in a medial position that extends the length of the vent strip. The longitudinal groove forms a fold line to define a ridge line of the roof. Longitudinally extending glue strips are provided on a lower side of the vent strip adjacent to each of the longitudinal sides, which are adapted to contact the roofing on either side of the vent slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Martin J. Rotter
  • Patent number: 10190360
    Abstract: A hollow core door apparatus for preventing the build up of pressure in a room includes an inside door skin and an outside door skin, and the door skins include openings through which air flows. A center panel is disposed between and spaced apart from the skins. The center panel has an outer perimeter defined by notches through which air flows. Tabs between the notches are used to secure the center panel to the inside and outside door skins. Air flow from the room is through the opening in the inside skin, around the outer perimeter of the panel, and outwardly from the door and room through the outside skin in a non-linear manner. Air flow is controlled by a plurality of movable panels disposed adjacent to the outer perimeter of the center panel. Sensor elements for sensing desired information and for providing output signals, including signals for actuating the movable panels, are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry G. Crittenden
  • Patent number: 10190361
    Abstract: Hollow core door apparatus for preventing the build up of pressure in a room includes an inside door skin and an outside door skin, and the door skins include openings through which air flows. A center panel is disposed between and spaced apart from the skins. The center panel has an outer perimeter defined by notches through which air flows. Tabs between the notches are used to secure the center panel to the inside and outside door skins. Air flow from the room is through the opening in the inside skin, around the outer perimeter of the panel, and outwardly from the door and room through the outside skin in a non-linear manner. Air flow is controlled by a plurality of movable panels disposed adjacent to the outer perimeter of the center panel. Sensor elements for detecting aspects of the indoor environment and for providing output signals, including signals for actuating the movable panels, are included. A method of making the door follows the structural elements defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry G. Crittenden