Patents Examined by Gordon Jones
  • Patent number: 11644146
    Abstract: A three-dimensional multi-shell insulation configured to conform to the shape of a spacecraft component to be insulated. The insulation may have a plurality of nested shell layers that are displaceable relative to each other for providing natural separation between the shell layers when the insulation is used in low-pressure and/or low-gravity space-related applications. To establish the spacing between shell layers, an edge clamp may be operatively coupled to an edge portion on at least one side of each shell layer. The shell layers may have sufficient flexibility and/or may be sufficiently displaceable relative to each other to allow the insulation to be installed or removed from the spacecraft component. One or more restraints may be provided in the space between the shell layers for restricting the relative lateral and/or transverse movement between shell layers for preventing contact. Additive manufacturing may be employed to fabricate the insulation and integrate features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Tracy M. Fiedler, Kurt S. Ketola, Andrew Truxel
  • Patent number: 11618298
    Abstract: In the application, since the flow of air outside the vehicle compartment flowing through the upstream heat exchange part and the flow of air outside the vehicle compartment flowing through the downstream heat exchange part are opposite flows, a second heat exchanger through which the air outside the vehicle compartment flowing from the first fan through the downstream heat exchange part flows, a first heat exchanger is an orthogonal heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger that is a component of a refrigeration cycle execution system, the air in the vehicle compartment, which flows in from the inside air inlet by the rotation of the second fan and is discharged from the outlet outside the vehicle through the first heat exchanger, and the air outside the vehicle compartment, are exchanged with the first heat exchanger, it can be miniaturized along with the improvement of electricity cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Tani
  • Patent number: 11619443
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of air gases by the cryogenic separation of air with front end purification and air compression can include using an available compressed dry gas such as nitrogen, oxygen, stored purified air, or synthetic air to repressurize the adsorber without diverting any of the purified air just exiting the currently on-line adsorber or changing the flow rate of the main air compressor or air sent to the cold box. This enables the main air compressor (MAC) to operate at a relatively constant flow rate while also sending a relatively constant air flow to the cold box during this repressurization step, thereby reducing the risks of process upsets and minimizing capital expenditures related to the MAC and other warm-end equipments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Paul Kong, Minh Pham-Huy, Wendy Yip
  • Patent number: 11614256
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a blower fan. The blower fan includes a blade assembly and a motor connected to the blade assembly. The air conditioner unit also includes an inlet grille upstream of the blower fan and an outlet grille downstream of the blower fan. The air conditioner unit further includes an automatic louver assembly operatively connected to the outlet grille whereby air flowing through the outlet grille is directed in a first direction when the automatic louver assembly is in a first position and the air flowing through the outlet grille is directed in a second direction when the automatic louver assembly is in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Sainath Akella, Nitinkumar Hulsure
  • Patent number: 11609048
    Abstract: A heat dissipation module used for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a heat source. The heat dissipation module includes an evaporator, a pipe, and a working fluid. The evaporator has a recess at an exterior surface of the evaporator, and the heat source is thermally contacted with the recess to transfer a heat generated from the heat source to the recess of the evaporator. The pipe is connected to an inner space of the evaporator and forms a loop. The working fluid is filled in the loop, wherein the working fluid in liquid passing through a portion of the inner space of the evaporator corresponding to the recess absorbs the heat and is transformed into vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Yung-Chih Wang, Jau-Han Ke, Wen-Neng Liao, Cheng-Wen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11603020
    Abstract: Energy management techniques for heating or cooling a surface of a component of a vehicle comprise determining a heating lag time indicative of a lag time for a surface element of the vehicle component to heat to a first target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of a heat transfer component, determining a cooling lag time indicative of a lag time for the surface element to cool to a second target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of the heat transfer component, and controlling power-on and power-off times of the heat transfer component based on the determined heating and cooling lag times so as to not require a temperature sensor for feedback-based temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Mark J Duty, Daniel R King, Shantanu Ajankar, Yugandhara P Joshi
  • Patent number: 11598583
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger plates in a stacked arrangement. At least two counterflow sections are positioned adjacent each other. The counterflow sections comprise an intermediate section of each heat exchanger plate. The heat exchanger plates configured to transfer heat between a first fluid and a second fluid flowing in an opposite directions from the first fluid through a respective heat exchanger plate. At least one tent section is positioned on each end of each counterflow section. The tent sections are configured to angle the flow direction of the first and second fluids in the tent sections relative to the flow direction in the counterflow sections. A wall is positioned between each tent section and each counterflow section configured to provide a load path at opposite ends of the heat exchanger to oppose forces due to pressure on the tent sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory K. Schwalm
  • Patent number: 11600760
    Abstract: A solid state cooler device is disclosed that comprises a first normal metal pad, a first aluminum layer and a second aluminum layer disposed on the first normal metal pad and separated from one another by a gap, a first aluminum oxide layer formed on the first aluminum layer, and a second aluminum oxide layer formed on the second aluminum layer, and a first superconductor pad disposed on the first aluminum oxide layer and a second superconductor pad disposed on the second aluminum oxide layer. The device further comprises a first conductive pad coupled to the first superconductor pad, and a second conductive pad coupled to the second superconductor pad, wherein hot electrons are removed from the first normal metal pad when a bias voltage is applied between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron Ashley Hathaway, John X. Przybysz, Robert Miles Young, Edward R. Engbrecht
  • Patent number: 11591093
    Abstract: A variable chiller exhaust system incorporate a plurality of chillers, each chiller having an inlet receiving air from a crown in an aircraft fuselage and an outlet connected to a manifold. A plurality of check valves are connected to the manifold and configured to maintain a differential back pressure on the plurality of chillers of 2? water pressure or less. The check valves vent into the crown. An exhaust conduit is connected to direct air from the manifold to a variable speed fan. An outflow valve exhausts air from the variable speed fan to an exterior of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eric A. Hill, Brian C. Christenson, John C. Pizzichemi
  • Patent number: 11585608
    Abstract: A climate-control system may include a first working fluid circuit, a second working fluid circuit and a storage tank. The first working fluid circuit includes a first compressor and a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first compressor. The second working fluid circuit includes a second compressor and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second compressor. The storage tank contains a phase-change material. The first working fluid circuit and the second working fluid circuit are thermally coupled with the phase-change material contained in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirill M. Ignatiev, Michael M. Perevozchikov
  • Patent number: 11566830
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has at least one inlet and outlet to permit circulation of refrigerant therethrough. Each heat exchanger includes a plurality of thin sections of material arranged between a pair of thin flat outer plates. Each of the thin sections of material is comprised of parallel flow paths, allowing for the refrigerant to flow through the inlet, then from one section to the next, and finally out the outlet. The arrangement of the sections of parallel flow paths allows for the refrigerant to come into contact with the majority of the inside wall of the outer plates, allowing for maximum heat exchange. In use for cooling liquids, the heat exchangers are arranged within a frame and brought into contact with the liquid to be cooled. When the heat exchangers are used to cool liquid sufficiently to produce ice crystals, a rotating scraping device sweeps across the surface of the heat exchanger, removing any ice crystals that have formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ICEGEN PATENT CORP.
    Inventor: Mikhail Mogilevsky
  • Patent number: 11561032
    Abstract: A fluid thermal conditioning (heating/cooling) system including a housing containing a fluid holding tank and having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. A drive shaft rotatably supports either of a conductive plate or a plurality of spaced apart magnetic or electromagnetic plates positioned within the housing. The conductive plate can be reconfigured as an elongated conductive component supported within the housing and including a plurality of individual plates which alternate in arrangement with axially spaced and radially supported magnetic/electromagnetic plates. Upon rotation of the shaft, an oscillating magnetic field is generated for thermally conditioning the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Heat X, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 11561031
    Abstract: A multi-stage fluid conditioning system having a housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. A shaft extends within the housing and supports a first fan unit with a first magnet/electromagnet plate on an inlet side of said housing and a second fan unit with a second magnet/electromagnet supporting plate on an outlet side of the housing. Each of the first and second magnet/electromagnet supporting plates include at least one vane configured to direct fluid flow. The shaft rotates the plates in order to draw a fluid flow through the inlet and successively across the inlet and outlet sides for thermal conditioning resulting from creation of high frequency oscillating magnetic fields according to a succeeding conditioning operations before being outputted the conditioned fluid from the housing through the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Heat X, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 11555658
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for converting a passive cooling system into an active hydronic ground cooling system. In an aspect, an existing passive cooling device can be first discharged of working fluid. An existing pipe of the passive cooling system can then be cut to a predetermined height. A top portion of the existing pipe can be threaded and fitted with a cap base. Tubing can then be installed within the existing pipe. A cap can be attached to the cap base. The tubing can be attached to a chiller system and filled with coolant. Similar procedure can be applied to convert a thermopile or traditional pipe pile to into an active cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: University of Alaska Anchorage
    Inventors: Zhaohui Yang, Simon Evans, Gregory McConnell
  • Patent number: 11554634
    Abstract: An air handling system for distributing airflow in a vehicle is disclosed and includes a passenger compartment configured to contain one or more occupants, a cargo compartment, and a flow regulating valve configured to actuate into a commanded position to apportion airflow between the passenger and cargo compartments. The air handling system also includes one or more processors in electronic communication with the flow regulating valve and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the air handling system to receive one or more signals indicating a total available airflow rate available to the vehicle and a system configuration. The one or more processors instruct the flow regulating valve to actuate into a commanded position. The commanded position is calculated based on at least a target cargo airflow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bryce A. Tillack, Myles E. Brown, Timothy T. Hanusa, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 11542015
    Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system comprising a fresh air input and a RAM air input, heat exchanger means for receiving fresh air from the fresh air input and RAM air from the RAM air input and using the RAM air to cool the fresh air, and means for providing the cooled fresh air to a cabin of the aircraft, the system further comprising means for feeding back exhaust air emitted from the interior of the aircraft to combine with the RAM air to further cool the fresh air, whereby the heat exchanger means comprises a main heat exchanger and a primary heat exchanger; wherein the main heat exchanger comprising a main heat exchanger cooling fluid inlet, a main heat exchanger cooling fluid outlet and a main heat exchanger bleed air inlet, the cooling fluid working to cool bleed air in the main heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yonghua Zhu, Catherine Thibaud
  • Patent number: 11521910
    Abstract: A high conductance thermal link (1) includes a thermal conductive strap (2) having pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks (5) and polyimide film (6) at least partially covering each stack (5). Adhesive material is between the pyrolytic graphite layers. The thermal conductive strap (2) has two opposite ends (4) and two end fittings (3, 3?) that house the corresponding ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2). An adhesive material is in the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks (5) of pyrolytic graphite layers. At least one of the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) has a geometry including protrusions (7) separated by intermediate gaps (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SA
    Inventors: Felipe Cáceres Del Viso, Marc Perellón Marsá, María José Aparicio Ordobás, Carlos Roberto Samartín Pulián
  • Patent number: 11518524
    Abstract: An example temperature sensing device includes an air distribution inlet through which primary air is blown into via an environmental control system, a cabin air inlet through which secondary air enters from a passenger area of a fuselage and the cabin air inlet is coupled to the air distribution inlet through a duct and the secondary air is passively drawn into the cabin air inlet and to the duct due to a pressure difference present in the duct, and a temperature sensor coupled to the duct and positioned downstream of the cabin air inlet along an airflow path of the secondary air so as to be exposed to the secondary air drawn in through the cabin air inlet and flowing through the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew P. Schonhoff, Jeffrey G. Hatchel, Marcos Ubilla, Spencer L. Savage, Scott P. Ellsworth, Blake J. Burton, Jackson Poscablo
  • Patent number: 11512909
    Abstract: Heat exchanger fins and heat exchangers are disclosed. The heat exchanger fins disclosed herein comprise louvers and winglet-type vortex generators arranged to improve heat transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Govinda Mahajan, Daniel Bacellar
  • Patent number: 11504863
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device and a robot using the same are provided. The heat dissipation device comprises a porous material layer, a transporting tube and a liquid. The at least one porous material layer is disposed on a housing surface of a robot. The porous material layer has an evaporation surface and an accommodation space. The evaporation surface is disposed through and exposed from the housing surface. The evaporation surface and the accommodation space are in fluid communication with each other. The transporting tube is connected to the at least one porous material layer and in fluid communication with the accommodation space. The liquid is transported into the at least one accommodation space through the transporting tube and exposed from the evaporation surface. Thus, the liquid evaporates at the evaporation surface to reduce a temperature of the housing surface of the robot via convection and evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Huan Shao, Hung-Sheng Chang