Patents Examined by Frantz Jules
  • Patent number: 10107545
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes a refrigerant heater 41 that is provided between an internal evaporator 8 and a suction side of an electric compressor 20 to be in parallel with an external evaporator 32, and heats a refrigerant which is suctioned into the electric compressor 20; and an air conditioning control apparatus 50 that determines whether the external evaporator 32 is frosted. While the air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle operates in a heating mode, when the air conditioning control apparatus 50 determines that the external evaporator 32 is frosted, a supply of the refrigerant subject to the heat exchange in an internal condenser 9 to the external evaporator 32 is stopped, and the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant heater 41, is heated and then, is suctioned into the electric compressor 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Morishita, Toshihisa Kondo, Akira Katayama
  • Patent number: 10101074
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment for storing food items. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment and includes a removable ice bin having an internal cavity. A front cover closes a front open end of the ice bin. The front cover includes a front face oriented toward a front of the freezer compartment, a rear face, and a recess formed in the rear face. The rear face of the front cover is disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge portion of the ice maker when the removable ice bin is disposed within the ice maker wherein the recess defines a gap between the front cover and the horizontal edge portion that fluidly communicates with the internal cavity of the removable ice bin. A plurality of ribs is disposed within the gap for directing air exiting the internal cavity of the removable ice bin into a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Morgan, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez, Thomas McCollough
  • Patent number: 10101096
    Abstract: Provided is heat exchanger in which a rib of a core plate has a shape that is recessed from a flat surface of a flat body portion, and the rib is provided with: a rib bottom part including a bottom line that is recessed from and parallel to the flat surface of the flat body portion; and a rib inclination part that is positioned between the rib bottom part and a flat part. The rib is positioned so that the rib inclination part overlaps, in the tube stacking direction, the edge of the tube in the tube width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Honma, Manabu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10101064
    Abstract: The air conditioner 1 includes an outdoor unit 10 and an indoor unit 30. The outdoor unit 10 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 16, a compressor 12, an outdoor fan 15, a temperature detector 23 for detecting a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 16, and a temperature detector 27 for detecting an outdoor temperature. The indoor unit 30 includes an indoor heat exchanger 33 and an indoor fan 32. The air conditioner 1 has a heating operation mode: that is, when the outdoor temperature reaches a predetermined first specified temperature or lower during a heating operation, the air conditioner 1 stops the heating operation and goes to standby, and thereafter, when the outdoor temperature reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second specified temperature higher than the first specified temperature, the air conditioner 1 executes a defrosting operation and subsequently resumes the heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tohru Ariga
  • Patent number: 10101071
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator with an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice tray formed of a metal material, the ice tray providing an ice making space in which water for making an ice is supplied to make the ice and a resin layer formed of a plastic resin, the resin layer defining at least portion of the ice making space to smoothly convey the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seunghwan Oh, Moongyo Jung, Bongjin Kim, Seongjae Kim
  • Patent number: 10094605
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant, a heat exchanger unit accommodating a heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit, and a controller configured to control the heat exchanger unit, in which the heat exchanger unit includes an air-sending fan, and an electric refrigerant detection unit, the controller is configured to operate the air-sending fan when the controller detects leakage of the refrigerant on the basis of a detection signal from the electric refrigerant detection unit, and the controller is configured to stop electric supply to the electric refrigerant detection unit when a rotation speed of the air-sending fan becomes equal to or larger than a first threshold value under a state in which the electric refrigerant detection unit is supplied with electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenyu Tanaka, Masahiko Takagi, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10094219
    Abstract: Efficient energy storage is provided by using a working fluid flowing in a closed cycle including a ganged compressor and turbine, and capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. This system can operate as a heat engine by transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side to mechanically drive the turbine. The system can also operate as a refrigerator by mechanically driving the compressor to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. Heat exchange between the working fluid of the system and the heat storage fluids occurs in counter-flow heat exchangers. In a preferred approach, molten salt is the hot side heat storage fluid and water is the cold side heat storage fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Robert B. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 10094579
    Abstract: An evaporative HVAC apparatus is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides an at least one housing having an inner surface that defines a substantially tubular-shaped air passage extending therethrough. An absorbent wicking layer is formed immediately adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing, and a thermal layer is formed immediately adjacent to an inner surface of the wicking layer. The housing also provides an at least one fluid inlet aperture through which a fluid line extends a distance into the housing so as to be in fluid communication with the wicking layer. Thus, a fluid is selectively delivered to the wicking layer through the fluid line which, in turn, permeates the thermal layer and evaporates into the air located immediately adjacent an exposed inner surface of the thermal layer, thereby affecting the temperature of the air moving through the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Aermist LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Harms
  • Patent number: 10094607
    Abstract: A sump for use in an ice maker, the sump adapted to hold a mass of water, wherein the ice maker freezes some or all of the mass of water into ice. The sump includes a recirculation area and one or more additional areas separated from the recirculation area. The recirculation area and the one or more additional areas are in fluid communication via one or more passageways. The recirculation area is adapted to hold and receive a first portion of the mass of water having a first mass. The one or more additional areas are adapted to hold a second portion of the mass of water having a second mass. Thus, if the first portion of water forms into slush, the second portion of water can be recirculated to melt the slush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: John Broadbent
  • Patent number: 10094623
    Abstract: Arrangement comprising a sealing element and a heat exchanger, in an air channel, wherein the heat exchanger has a plurality of pipes which carry a first fluid and are defined in their end regions by collection vessels and can have a second fluid flowing around them. The arrangement is characterized in that the air channel has a first guide groove on an inner surface, which guide groove is formed by a first web and a second web, and a second guide groove which is formed by a third web and a fourth web, the third web and the fourth web being disposed between the first web and the second web and the sealing element enveloping the heat exchanger along the collecting vessels and its short sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Ralf Berndt
  • Patent number: 10093146
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant can flow and which is configured as a heat pump circuit and as a cooling system circuit, and associated with these, a compressor, at least one external heat exchanger, at least one internal heat exchanger that is associated with an internal heating condenser, whereby a device is provided for generating an air stream that can be thermally coupled to the internal heat exchanger and to the internal heating condenser, as well as a metering device that can meter the flow of at least a partial stream of the thermally coupled air stream through the internal heating condenser is provided, wherein in the heat pump mode of operation, the refrigerant can be or is conveyed from the high-pressure side of the compressor into the internal heating condenser, can be or is conveyed from the internal heating condenser via a first expansion valve to the internal heat exchanger, can be or is conveyed from the internal heat ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Fürll, Stefan Schmitt, Horst Achim Schröter, Stefan Brück, Gregor Homann
  • Patent number: 10088228
    Abstract: The apparatus for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant refrigeration cycle loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Michael A. Turney, Yasser Jebbari
  • Patent number: 10088203
    Abstract: A method of removing heat due to compression of a working gas from a linear cryocooler is disclosed. The cryocooler includes a sealed housing, a displacer including a displacer piston and a displacer cylinder, and a compressor all arranged within the housing. The compressor includes a compressor piston that is movable within a compression chamber. The method includes providing a port in the compression chamber to remove heat from the compression chamber due to the compression of the working gas to the housing prior to entering the displacer piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Carl S. Kirkconnell, Michael C. Barr, Lowell A. Bellis
  • Patent number: 10082323
    Abstract: An air conditioner of the present invention includes: an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger and a compressor installed therein; a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit and having an indoor heat exchanger installed therein; a four-way valve provided on a discharge part side of the compressor; a refrigerant tube having first to third refrigerant tubes and connecting the four-way valve and the indoor heat exchanger, in which the first refrigerant tube is branched from between the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchanger such that some of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor is fed into the indoor heat exchanger while bypassing the outdoor heat exchanger, the second refrigerant tube is connected to the four-way valve to feed all of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the indoor heat exchanger, and the third refrigerant tube is connected to the second refrigerant tube in parallel; and a heat pump valve provided at the third refrigerant tube to selectively c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Seok Bae, Hyung Mo Koo, Jin Young Ahn, Hyun Jin Yoon, Il Yong Cho, Young Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 10077937
    Abstract: A method to produce LNG at straddle plants. In contrast to known methods, there is provided a slipstream of a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream to a straddle LNG plant section. The slipstream is further cooled, and processed in a high pressure column to a methane content of 85% or 85 plus by mole. The processed stream is further treated to remove carbon dioxide. The de-carbonated high pressure stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger by a counter-current vapor fraction of the expanded gas before entering an expander apparatus. The processed, treated and cooled gas is expanded into a separator. The produced LNG fraction is pumped to storage. A portion of the LNG fraction is used as a reflux stream to the high pressure column. The cold vapor fraction from the separator flows through counter-current heat exchangers, giving up its coolth energy before being re-compressed into the high pressure transmission gas pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: MacKenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10077943
    Abstract: A booster unit and method increase the performance of an air source heat pump system at low ambient air temperatures, the air source heat pump system including a conduit system for forwarding a refrigerant through an external circuit exposed to ambient air. A tubular system is immersed in a liquid heat exchange medium, such as water or antifreeze, within a booster chamber having chamber walls exposure to ambient air. An internal circuit of the tubular system receives refrigerant from the conduit system for advancement through the tubular system and delivery back to the conduit system so that heat passing from ambient air through the chamber walls and into the liquid heat exchange medium in the booster chamber is transferred from the liquid heat exchange medium to the refrigerant in the tubular system, to increase the temperature of the refrigerant being delivered from the tubular system and forwarded to the external circuit, thereby reducing or eliminating frosting at the external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: SaeHeum Song
  • Patent number: 10076987
    Abstract: A heating and cooling cup holder may include an inner holder having an air hole, a heat exchanging unit covering the air hole and having an intake port at a first side so that air flowing inside through the intake port exchanges heat through heat transfer fins in the heat exchanging unit and flows into the inner holder through the air hole, a peltier element having a front coupled to a rear of the heat exchanging unit, a heat dissipation module including a heat sink and a heat dissipating fan coupled to the rear of the peltier element, an outer holder surrounding the side of the inner holder and defining a ventilation space together with the inner holder therebetween, and a blower disposed in the ventilation space and having a discharge port connected to the intake port of the heat exchanging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KBAUTOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park, Jae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10071612
    Abstract: A seat thermal conditioning device includes a seat portion having a vent configured to provide conditioned air to a seat occupant neck area. A thermoelectric module is arranged in the seat portion. The thermoelectric module is configured to both heat and cool an air supply to provide the conditioned air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Gentherm Inc.
    Inventor: David Scott Thomas
  • Patent number: 10071019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable apparatus for regulating the temperature of medicaments in solid or liquid form. A temperature-regulating apparatus according to the invention comprises a housing with at least one accommodating chamber, with at least one temperature-regulating device for regulating the temperature of the accommodating chamber, in particular a thermoelectric temperature-regulating device, with at least one inputting means capable of registering an insertion of a medicament container into the accommodating chamber or an immediately imminent insertion, and of controlling the temperature-regulation of the accommodating chamber depending thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Lüpges
  • Patent number: 10072882
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a solar powered thermally conditioned space, which, in an embodiment, may be used to provide a cold storage arrangement for preservation of perishable commodities over an extended time period. The cold storage arrangement (10) includes a refrigeration unit mounted within a non-insulated compartment for circulating refrigerated de-humidified air to an insulated compartment. A chamber (12) defines the insulated compartment and the non-insulated compartment. The cold storage arrangement (10) is operated by a powering system powered by solar energy from solar panels mounted over a roof of the chamber (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SOLERCOOL LTD
    Inventors: John Borchers, Mohsen Rezayat, Phil Baker