Patents Examined by Harry B. Tanner
  • Patent number: 6857287
    Abstract: A refrigeration process comprising: compressing low pressure vapor refrigerant to a higher temperature and pressure vapor, compressing low pressure vapor refrigerant to a higher temperature and pressure vapor, condensing the higher pressure vapor refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant at the higher pressure, thermally isolating the higher pressure liquid, cooling the thermally isolated liquid refrigerant while remaining thermally isolated and then allowing thermal contact of the remaining low temperature and pressure liquid and a cooled substance causing the low temperature and pressure liquid to further reversibly boil to a vapor at the low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Altech Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Herman Alsenz
  • Patent number: 6848267
    Abstract: Disclosed is a packaged chilling system for providing chilled water to an air conditioning system for a building that includes: a duct system; an air handling system; and a water chilling system; wherein: the duct system is in operable communication with a building that has a plurality of rooms, at least one of the rooms having a sensor for detecting the room air temperature in the room, the duct system comprising at least one supply duct for directing low temperature air from the air handling system to the building and at least one return duct for directing high temperature air from the building to the air handling system; the air handling system includes a plurality of air handling units, each air handling unit comprising an air inlet for receiving high temperature air from the building, a cooling coil that includes at least one conduit through which chilled water flows, the cooling coil having multiple passes and positioned for heat transfer contact with the high temperature air, and a fan for increasing t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: TAS, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tom L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6848261
    Abstract: A system and method for providing conditioned air to an aircraft cabin. The system combines the benefits of a traditional 4 wheel condensing cycle and dual expansion energy recovery cycles. The energy of a heat load such as aircraft electronic or avionics can be recovered and used in a second turbine while a continuous source of cooling for the heat load is provided for high altitude operation when the first turbine is by-passed. The disclosed invention conditions inlet air using an efficient process that recaptures energy that would otherwise be wasted. Recaptured energy can come from aircraft avionics and from moisture in inlet and cabin air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Henry M. Claeys
  • Patent number: 6845627
    Abstract: An aircraft galley air cooling system utilizes a controller having software for regulating the temperature within food carts within a galley air cooling unit. The cooling unit includes supply air and return air temperature sensors which measure the temperature of the air entering and exiting the food cart. The return air temperature is regulated by controlling the amount of a liquid refrigerant that flows through a heat exchanger within the cooling unit. If the return air temperature sensor fails, then the controller regulates the supply air temperature. The controller also regulates defrosting of the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert W. Buck
  • Patent number: 6845628
    Abstract: A temperature control device including a temperature sensor which senses a temperature at a specified location within the refrigeration apparatus. The temperature control device has first flow valve that is operable to selectively increase or decrease the flow of refrigerant in response to the temperature sensed by the sensor. In addition, the device has a second flow valve that is operable to selectively increase or decrease hot gas flow in response to the temperature sensed by the sensor. The temperature control device also contains a controller which controls the above mentioned valves in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, LP
    Inventor: Chuan Weng
  • Patent number: 6845918
    Abstract: An air conditioner control assembly for use with a room air conditioner having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical socket in order to supply electrical power to the air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner control assembly includes a control unit having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical power socket in a home, an electrical socket adapted to receive the electrical plug of the air conditioner, and a relay electrically connected between the two to selectively relay electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to the air conditioner in response to a control signal. A thermostat located remotely from the control unit and from the air conditioner is electrically connected to the control unit, the thermostat generating the control signals to which the relay is responsive as a function of temperature sensed by the thermostat and time of day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: John A. Rotondo
  • Patent number: 6843069
    Abstract: An etching apparatus of the present invention has a processing device having a reaction chamber in which an electrode provided with a built-in refrigerant-circulating path is installed, a refrigerator for cooling the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant-circulating path at a predetermined flow rate, a controlling device for controlling the temperature or flow rate of the refrigerant, a status monitor for monitoring an operational status, and a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the electrode by controlling the temperature or flow rate of the refrigerant on the basis of information about the operational status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Harano, Hirofumi Seo
  • Patent number: 6840052
    Abstract: An air conditioning system cools air within an area. An air conditioner controller defines information based on input data from door and window open status sensors and a return air monitor sensing the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature or relative humidity of the air within the area being cooled by the air conditioning system and shuts down the system when specific conditions exist. The defined information is transmitted to a remote host device which retains and presents the transmitted information or information derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventors: Wade W. Smith, David A. Saar
  • Patent number: 6840268
    Abstract: A high-pressure connector for a fuel injection system including an elongated body having an inlet that is in fluid communication with a source of high-pressure fuel, an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of a fuel injector and a fuel passage extending therebetween. A filter is supported within the fuel passage and acts to filter particulates from the high-pressure fuel. A fuel flow limiter is supported within the fuel passage and is operable to provide predetermined quantities of fuel to pass between the inlet and the outlet at each injection event during normal operation of the combustion chamber serviced by the injector and to automatically terminate fuel flow through the connector in the event of a malfunction at the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Charles Kennedy, Ronald Michael Tkac, Haoran Hu
  • Patent number: 6840053
    Abstract: A system and method for sensing and controlling the temperature of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system utilizes an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor is used to detect temperature over several different areas on an evaporator surface on which a cold spot may occur. More preferably, the infrared sensor continuously scans the whole surface on the air outlet side of the evaporator. The sensed temperature is used to detect any cold spots that may dynamically form on the evaporator surface. The system is controlled in response to the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Behr America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bjoern Lindner, Thien D. Ta
  • Patent number: 6840051
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying condensate from the heat exchanger of a vehicle's air conditioning system after operation in order to thwart odor buildup is provided. The apparatus and method operate regardless of whether the system's blower control circuit is positively or negatively switched. The apparatus includes relays that bypass the normal operating electrical routing to the air conditioning system's blower motor to operate the blower directly. The method comprises determining that the engine of the vehicle has been switched off and that the air conditioning system of the vehicle was in operation prior to the engine being switched off. If the conditions are met, the air conditioning system's blower is operated on a predetermined time schedule to circulate air in the air conditioning system to dry condensate therefrom. In this way, growth of odor-causing fungus and bacteria is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: AirSept, Inc.
    Inventor: Myron Stein
  • Patent number: 6837442
    Abstract: An expansion valve 1 comprises a square-column-shaped valve body 10, and a spherical valve means 30 housed within a valve chamber 20 opposing against a valve seat 22. A working shaft 50 coming into contact with said valves means 30 connects to a stopper member 60, thereby transmitting to the valve means 30 the movement of a diaphragm 230 being displaced by the pressure change in a pressure chamber 240 of a power element 200. A lower housing 220 of the power element 200 is provided with an opening portion and claws, which enable the power element to be coupled to a mounting unit 100 formed to the top portion of the valve body 10. An elastic packing member 150 enables the element to be securely and airtightly coupled to the body. According to the present invention, the assembling of the valve is simplified and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Masamichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6834513
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a heater associated with the crankcase of a compressor senses electrical current flowing through the heater. The sensing is preferably accomplished by a transformer in combination with an amplifier providing a feedback signal to the controller. The transformer is installed in the line which carries the electrical current flowing through the heater. The controller checks for the presence of an appropriate voltage level from the amplifier. In the event that the voltage level is not above a threshold level, the controller sends an alarm signal indicating that the heater is not operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, George C. Yang, Michael Collins
  • Patent number: 6832732
    Abstract: A holding cabinet with closed-loop humidity control system and method for controlling humidity in a holding cabinet are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method comprises determining a relative humidity set point; activating a heater in a fluid pan; determining if a fluid is present in the fluid pan; measuring the relative humidity in the cabinet; and maintaining the relative humidity within a predetermined range. According to another embodiment, a holding cabinet with a closed-loop humidity control system includes a holding cabinet; an air temperature probe for measuring an air temperature within the holding cabinet; a humidity sensor for measuring a humidity within the holding cabinet; a heater for heating air within the holding cabinet to a predetermined temperature; an air fan for circulating the air and for introducing air from outside the holding cabinet; and a water pan for holding water within the holding cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, James W. Meeks, Gary L. Mercer, Craig J. Vagedes
  • Patent number: 6827284
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner controls the air-conditioning automatically based on a control characteristic. The control characteristic, such as a blower voltage calculation map, is selected from plural control characteristics, or obtained by a calculation based on the personal information of the passenger or the manual operation for the air conditioner by the passenger. The control characteristic is selected or calculated as the one which is supposed to be suitable for the passenger's preference. The control characteristic can be used as a basis, or a specific characteristic for learning the passenger's preference after the control characteristic is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Akira Ohga, Takayoshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6826919
    Abstract: A vapor-compression refrigerant cycle includes a variable displacement compressor for compressing refrigerant, a control unit for controlling the displacement of the compressor. The control unit includes a lock determining means for determining a lock of a sliding portion of the compressor, and the lock determining means determines that the sliding portion of the compressor is locked, when a control signal where the displacement of the compressor is equal to or larger than a predetermined value is output from the control unit, and when an absolute value of a temperature difference between an air temperature before being heat-exchanged in a low-pressure heat exchanger of the vapor-compression refrigerant cycle and the air temperature after being heat-exchanged in the low-pressure heat exchanger is equal to or smaller than a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the lock of the compressor can be accurately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Tanihata
  • Patent number: 6823680
    Abstract: A data acquisition system and method includes monitoring a cooling system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condensor, and employs a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of the system. A database stores predefined operating parameters for a plurality of cooling systems. The operating parameters are provided to a computer, which compares the provided operating parameters of the monitored cooling system with the predefined operating parameters to provide diagnostic results for the monitored cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventor: Nagaraj Jayanth
  • Patent number: 6823690
    Abstract: An integrated electrical generator/starter and air conditioning compressor device driven by a common drive shaft, or other direct linkage. The device includes an electrical generator/starter and a compressor. The electrical generator/starter is coupled to the drive shaft. The compressor is coupled to the electrical generator/starter and to the drive shaft and acts to pressurize a flow of refrigerant in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The electrical generator/starter is operable in first and second states. In the first state, the electrical generator/starter generates electricity in response to rotation of the drive shaft. In the second state, the electrical generator/starter utilizes electrical power from a battery to rotate the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Runk, John F. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6823894
    Abstract: Splay nozzle apparatus attached to the outlet end of a lateral spout, to splay the water laterally from the outlet to overcome the problem of erosion of the ground as had on direct flow from a lateral spout onto the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventors: James A. Koller, Lee A. Roehrig
  • Patent number: 6824525
    Abstract: A surgical cassette for use in a combined anterior segment and posterior segment ophthalmic surgical procedure is disclosed. The surgical cassette includes an irrigation inlet for receiving irrigation fluid from a source, a first irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a first ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, a first manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the first irrigation outlet, a second irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a second ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, and a second manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the second irrigation outlet. The surgical cassette greatly simplifies the combined procedure by eliminating the need for separate anterior segment and posterior segment cassettes for the combined procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Alcon Universal Ltd.
    Inventors: Nader Nazarifar, Dennis L. Steppe