Patents Examined by Harold Joyce
  • Patent number: 6648751
    Abstract: An airflow balancer for mounting on a ventilation outlet includes an air guider including a supporter having a bottom surface for rotatably supporting on the ventilation outlet and an airflow baffle coaxially mounted to the supporter such that the airflow baffle is suspendedly supported on the ventilation outlet. The airflow baffle has a plurality of ventilating slots for allowing an airflow passing therethrough and a rotor coaxially mounted on the air guider. The rotor is shaped and sized such that, in response to the airflow passing through the rotor, the rotor is driven to rotate, so as to drive the air guider to rotate, wherein a rotational movement of the air guider is adapted for evenly diffusing the airflow through the ventilating slots toward the ventilation outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Juni Pong
  • Patent number: 6648748
    Abstract: A vacuum conduit system for removal of fumes and air borne particulate matter includes a primary duct and a plurality of flexible secondary ducts mounted in fluid cooperation to the primary duct. The primary duct includes hollow rigid conduit sections interspersed between, and in fluid communication with, hollow flexible conduit sections. An upstream end of the primary duct is sealed substantially air-tight. An opposite downstream end of the primary duct cooperates with an air extraction means for extracting air from the primary duct. Secondary ducts may be mounted at their downstream ends to the rigid conduit sections and inclined at a first angle relative to the rigid conduit sections so that secondary airflows leaving the downstream ends of the secondary ducts are inclined into an airflow stream in the primary duct so as to be directed in a downstream direction of the airflow stream in the primary duct to generally equalize vacuum levels at the downstream ends of the secondary ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Keith Ferlin
  • Patent number: 6648750
    Abstract: A ventilation assembly (10) for a window or door assembly is provided with an anti-sound system (80). The anti-sound system may include a sound generator (82), a noise sensor (88) and an error correction noise sensor (100). A control box (86) is provided for the anti-sound system (80). A solar cell (96) may be provided on a weather canopy (14) of the ventilation assembly for providing power to the control box (86). The ventilation assembly may alternatively comprise a wall vent, chimney or stack vent ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Titon Hardware Limited
    Inventor: Julian Wiseman
  • Patent number: 6648752
    Abstract: An air diffuser for an air distribution system is disclosed comprising a first and a second border member. Plural spreaders interconnect the first and second border members thereby defining an airflow aperture therebetween. A pattern controller is slidably disposed between the plural spreaders for controlling the volume of airflow through the airflow aperture. The pattern controller is pivotable within the airflow aperture for controlling the direction of airflow through the airflow aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Metal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Vernier, II, Philippe Bernard Jean
  • Patent number: 6645065
    Abstract: An air outlet system of a sphere and socket type. The air outlet system includes a housing, a hollow sphere rotatably mounted therein, and a bearing therebetween; and pluralities of openings in respective predetermined shapes formed in oppositely disposed portions of the hollow sphere for dispersing air supplied thereto from a remote source in respective diffused or straight paths, depending upon the rotational position of the hollow sphere in the housing. An intermediate position of the sphere between the oppositely disposed openings serves to block the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventors: David A. Rooney, Dan M. Bui
  • Patent number: 6645064
    Abstract: A smoke evacuation device comprises a nozzle for connection to a source of clean air supply, the nozzle being adapted to vent clean air supply in all available directions in space therefrom to provide a volume of space with clean air in the proximity of the nozzle, thereby providing visibility and breathable air to the user. The nozzle is adapted to minimize entrainment of the surrounding smoke into the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Bertil R. L. Werjefelt
  • Patent number: 6645066
    Abstract: Cameras and image processing techniques are applied to the control of HVAC systems. Occupancy is detected using head-counting or motion detection. Activities are recognized in images and image sequences by machine-recognition techniques. The nature of activities, the intensity of activities, the number of occupants and their activities, etc. are all inferred from images and image sequences and used to predict current loads and/or required control signals for regulating an HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gutta, Miroslav Trajkovic, Antonio José Colmanarez
  • Patent number: 6638158
    Abstract: An air distribution apparatus for a vehicular heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) climate control system, includes a primary distribution arrangement reconfigurable to direct air to alternative outlet zones including two or more of a passenger footwell zone, passenger cabin vents and a vehicle windscreen. Ducting directs air flow to the alternative outlet zones. First and second rotary air distribution devices are adjustable rotationally between alternative configurations to distribute air into the ducting arrangement in alternative outlet configurations. Re-configuration of one of the devices is accompanied by complimentary re-configuration of the other device and/or air distribution devices are located immediately adjacent a cover panel or facia, the cover panel of facia including a user accessible control to control operation of the air distribution devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei UK Limited
    Inventor: Huw Walters
  • Patent number: 6634938
    Abstract: An air conditioning installation wherein longitudinal partitions (10, 11) run through by the heating radiator (5) define inside an air treatment housing (1) a median air volume (16) emerging through an outlet (40) connected to a rear zone of the vehicle passenger compartment and two lateral volumes (12, 14) emerging through outlets (27a, 27) connected to the front zone of the passenger compartment. Thus, it is possible to adjust independently air temperature in the front and rear zones, with a more compact housing at economical production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Philippe Vincent
  • Patent number: 6634939
    Abstract: A ventilation system includes one or more exhaust fans and one or more make up air fans. Each fan has is driven by a motor operating at a constant speed. Each fan and motor are coupled by a torque converter, so that the torque applied to the fan is constant. Exhaust fan speed varies according to the ideal gas law, whereby the fan speed automatically varies in response to changes in system conditions, such as temperature and the associated changes in air density and resistance to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6632132
    Abstract: A tornado type air intake and blowing device has an exhaust port communicating with an exhaust duct, an air supply chamber which is provided so as to surround the exhaust port and to which air is supplied through an air supply inlet, and air blowing ports blowing air supplied into the air supply chamber by swirling the air from the outer periphery of the exhaust port diagonally downward, the air blowing ports being provided in a side wall part of the air supply chamber, whereby the exhaust port can be formed in the entire area of the lower opening surface of the air supply chamber, the outside diameter of the air supply chamber is sufficient if it is equal to an outside diameter corresponding to the required opening diameter of the exhaust port and, accordingly, a device body can be formed compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kikuchi, Kunihiko Miyake, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Patent number: 6632133
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for a motor vehicle has a filter housing and an air filter disposed in the housing. The housing has a liquid outlet downstream of the filter and a filter bypass passageway is provided for enabling liquid entering at an air inlet to flow past the filter and exit through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Limited
    Inventors: Jaime Barber, Kevin Jones
  • Patent number: 6632134
    Abstract: A building fire extinguisher system for promptly removing smoke and flammable gases from a room upon detection of a fire. The building fire extinguisher system includes a vacuum unit, a housing having a door with a powered door latch, and an intake nozzle connected to the vacuum unit by a flexible tube. When smoke detectors detect the presence of a fire within a room, the powered door latch is opened thereby allowing the door to open. When the door is opened, the intake nozzle is dropped from the housing downwardly while the vacuum is activated. The intake end of the intake nozzle draws smoke and flammable gases from within the room into the flexible tube and out through an exhaust port externally of the building. The vacuum continues to operate until the presence of a fire is no longer detected or for a fixed period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Wallace A. DePonio
  • Patent number: 6628510
    Abstract: A computing system is proposed for installation or retrofit in homes or offices. The system easily installs in wall structures without concern for interference with load bearing structures. In its varying embodiments the system provides for audio or video entertainment, security, remote monitoring, and all forms of communications and networking with other computing systems and appliances. The system exploits a menu-driven graphical user interface, a rigid framing mechanism and special ventilation techniques to achieve an unprecedented computing system for integral incorporation within a home and office.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: First Capital International, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Genin
  • Patent number: 6626753
    Abstract: An air return bulkhead is disclosed which may be adapted to fit on differently-sized trailer walls around differently-sized trailer refrigeration units. The bulkhead includes an upper support panel with ridges or other discontinuities thereon. The discontinuities bound areas sized to accommodate standard refrigeration units, and a cutting tool may be easily guided along these discontinuities to form a space wherein the refrigerator may be fit when the bulkhead is mounted to the trailer wall. Also disclosed is a bulkhead which includes flutes and columns thereon wherein the ends of the flutes and columns may be removed by use of a cutting tool to allow the bulkhead installer to tailor the airflow into the refrigerator inlet as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventor: Gregory L. Onken
  • Patent number: 6623352
    Abstract: An air barrier system is disclosed that allows the isolation of a central volume or one volume from another without the use of physical barriers. Toroidal vortices are formed at opposing end or ends of the volume to be isolated and prevent transport inward and outward. Contemplated applications include air curtains, oxygen tents, cleanrooms and testing chamber apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Vortex Holding Company
    Inventor: Lewis Illingworth
  • Patent number: 6623350
    Abstract: An air filter apparatus filters air drawn into a vehicle. The air filter apparatus is disposed in an instrument panel in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The air filter apparatus includes an air filter housing and a filter element disposed in the housing for filtering the air that is drawn into the vehicle. The housing includes an external air side and an internal air side. A filter channel of the housing is defined between the external and internal air sides. The filter element is disposed in the filter channel. The housing further includes a filter access port defined between the external and internal air sides and that extends from the filter channel. The filter access port terminates adjacent an outer skin of the instrument panel such that the filter element can be selectively removed from the filter channel for service and/or replacement of the filter element from the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Chad S. Pinger
  • Patent number: 6619901
    Abstract: An apparatus for air guidance in a processing chamber has a housing with an entrance gate and an exit gate. Inside the housing the processing chamber is embodied for filling and sealing small bottles or ampules. The processing chamber is separated from an outside region via an intermediate region. The intermediate region having a movable door by means of which manual interventions in the processing chamber can be made. The apparatus also has a ventilation system with a blower and a clean-air filter which inside the processing chamber generates a laminar air flow. By means of special air pressure ratios in the processing chamber the intermediate region the entrance gate and the exit gate, the occurrence of contamination, or its exceeding a tolerable amount, in the processing chamber (12) and the outside region is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Duethorn, Thomas Hertfelder, Eberhard Jost, Lothar Gail
  • Patent number: 6620039
    Abstract: An air intake plenum (88)of a truck sleeper box (18) is disclosed. The plenum (88)is in fluid communication with an aperture (98) that penetrates through a peripheral wall (58) of the sleeper box (18), thereby providing fresh air (46) to the plenum (88). The plenum includes an enclosure (86) and a fresh air inlet (70) that is in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure (86) and the aperture (98). The plenum also includes a recirculated air inlet (68) in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure (86) and the air contained within the sleeper box (18). The plenum further includes an air outlet (52) in fluid communication with the inlets (68 and 70). The air outlet (52) is adaptable to be in fluid communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Additionally, a method for providing fresh air to a sleeper box is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Paccar Inc.
    Inventors: Michikazu Jody Tao, Steven L. Baker, John Sheldon
  • Patent number: 6620038
    Abstract: A suction and exhaust device wherein air is supplied as air curtain flow through air outlet (3) while the air surrounded by the air curtain flow is sucked through suction ports (2b) to be exhausted. A supply space in the device is divided into two chambers, upper and lower, by a partition plate (41): a first supply air space (4c) on the upper side into which air from the supply air duct (5) is introduced and a second supply air space (4d) which spreads in the direction of the air outlet (3). The first and second supply air spaces (4c, 4d) are communicated with each other through annular flow equalizing channel (40R, 50R) of small channel diameter vertically extending in the outer periphery of the suction duct (3). This uniformalizes the flow rate distribution of the supply air flow from the air outlet and forms a stabilized air curtain flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kikuchi, Yoshinori Narikawa