Patents Examined by Henry Crenshaw
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Patent number: 9988151Abstract: A dehumidification system for use in a vehicle is provided. The system includes a thermally conductive member coupled to an outer skin of the vehicle, and a duct at least partially circumscribing the thermally conductive member such that an air flow passage is defined between the duct and the thermally conductive member. The thermally conductive member is configured to transmit a temperature of the outer skin to moisture-laden air channeled through the air flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Fue Chue Vue
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Patent number: 9976781Abstract: A tunnel air-conditioning and heating apparatus is provided. the tunnel air-conditioning and heating apparatus may include a condenser provided at a rotunda; a compressor provided at the rotunda and connected to the condenser; an evaporator provided at a movable tunnel and connected to each of the condenser and the compressor; and a condenser connection pipe configured to connect the condenser with the evaporator and a compressor connection pipe configured to the compressor with the evaporator each of which is formed into a flexible coil.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: KOREA AIRPORTS CORPORATIONInventors: Hee Hyeong Cho, Dong Soo Kim, Won Lae Lim, Sang Ju Roh
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Patent number: 9964350Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area supporting product and an evaporator disposed in an air passageway in fluid communication with the product display area via an outlet to direct a refrigerated airflow into the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a control system in communication with and programmed to control the refrigeration system so that the product display area is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. The control system also varies the temperature of the refrigerated airflow through the outlet above an airflow temperature threshold between about 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 41 degrees Fahrenheit at least once during a predetermined time period to avoid formation of frost on the evaporator while maintaining the product display area within the predetermined temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Hussmann CorporationInventors: Brian J. Rees, Simon A. Johnston, Derek R. Lea
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Patent number: 9964323Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for operating an HVAC control network includes a first control unit communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units and a first interactive display, the first control unit further comprising a software access point (softAP). A second control unit, the second control unit communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units and a second interactive display. The second control unit may include a push button. The second control unit may connect to the first control unit to create an HVAC control network using a Wi-Fi direct protocol by invoking a Wi-Fi direct, push button configuration protocol in response to detecting that the push button has been depressed. The first control unit may control the second plurality of HVAC units over the HVAC control network in response to the second control unit connecting to the first control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Daniel A. Castillo, Jayprakash Charavda, Nguyen T. Ho, Sunil K. Khiani
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Patent number: 9958881Abstract: A cartridge with a controller for controlling cold and hot fluid flows to form a mixture, a slide valve for controlling a mixture temperature, a thermostatic element that controls a position of the slide valve along an axis, and a single handle for controlling the mixture flow and temperature, which is movably mounted to actuate and drive the controller and move the thermostatic element along the axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: VERNETInventors: Matthieu Draber, William Da Silva
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Patent number: 9958191Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses R32 as a refrigerant, and includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, an evaporator, an intermediate injection channel and a suction injection channel. The intermediate injection channel guides a part of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser toward the evaporator to the compressor, causing the refrigerant to merge with intermediate-pressure refrigerant of the compressor. The suction injection channel guides a part of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser toward the evaporator to the suction passage, causing the refrigerant to merge with low-pressure refrigerant sucked into the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2013Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Shinya Matsuoka, Masahiro Oka
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Patent number: 9951983Abstract: An outdoor unit control unit 200 has a defrosting operation condition table 300a that defines an activation rotational speed Cr in accordance with a total sum of flow rate coefficients Cva that is a total sum of flow rate coefficients Cv representing capacities of indoor expansion valves 52a to 52c. The outdoor unit control unit 200 calculates the total sum of the flow rate coefficients Cva by adding the flow rate coefficient Cv of each of the indoor expansion valves 52a to 52c, and refers to the defrosting operation condition table 300a, so as to determine the activation rotational speed Cr. Then, the outdoor unit control unit 200 activates a compressor 21 at the determined activation rotational speed Cr when starting a defrosting operation, maintains this activation rotational speed Cr for a predetermined time from the start of the defrosting operation, and drives the compressor 21.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITEDInventors: Takashi Kimura, Kuniko Hayashi
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Patent number: 9951858Abstract: A transmission fluid circuit for regulating the flow of a fluid includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a spool, and an actuator including a smart material. The spool is movable inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The smart material is configured to be in an activated state in response to the fluid exhibiting at least a first temperature and to be in a deactivated state in response to the fluid being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature. The fluid flows from the housing to the transmission and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler, from the cooler to the transmission, and from the transmission to the housing when the spool is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, INC.Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Ronald R. Semel, James Holbrook Brown
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Patent number: 9951663Abstract: A multistage bypass valve includes a housing having a plurality of chambers therein, wherein expansive waxes that change volume according to temperature changes are provided in the chambers, a spool inserted into the housing and moved by one or more volume changes of the expansive waxes, and a piston that opens and closes an oil cooler passage as the spool is moved.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: One Vai Kim, Hong Youl Lee
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Patent number: 9945599Abstract: An air conditioner, having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, to perform a heating operation and a defrosting operation, the air conditioner including a detection unit to detect a state of at least one selected between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and to output the detected value, a controller to determine whether the air conditioner is in a stable state when the defrosting operation is completed and, upon determining that the air conditioner is in the stable state, to control the detected value output from the detection unit to determine entry time of the next defrosting operation, and a storage unit to store a value detected in the stable state. The entry time of the defrosting operation is accurately determined, thereby minimizing the number of times of the defrosting operation during the heating operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Suk Ho Lee, Il Yong Cho, Hyung Mo Koo, Chang Yong Lee, Joon Hwan Lee, Byoung Guk Lim
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Patent number: 9939184Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a radiator, an evaporator, a compressor, a heater and a control device. The radiator causes a refrigerant to radiate heat. The evaporator causes the refrigerant to evaporate. The compressor compresses the refrigerant circulating between the radiator and the evaporator. The heater heats lubricating oil in the compressor. The control device controls the heater so that an oil temperature of the lubricating oil in the compressor reaches an oil temperature target value obtained by adding a predetermined temperature to saturation temperature of the refrigerant in the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Yura, Shinichi Kasahara, Kousuke Kibo
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Patent number: 9939824Abstract: A local thermostat for controlling an HVAC unit may include a controller programmed to execute a remote access function for remotely accessing and communicating with at least one remote thermostat over a communication channel. The remote access application may be configured to display at least one thermostat setting of at least one of the remote thermostats on the display of the user interface of the local thermostat. In some cases, the remote access application may allow a user to change one or more thermostat settings of at least one remote thermostat using the user interface of the local thermostat.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Jay Nelson, Nicholas Dalsin, Amy L. Anderson, Shilpa Anand
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Patent number: 9933794Abstract: A thermostat is configured for automated compatibility with HVAC systems that are either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The compatibility is automated in that a manual jumper installation is not required for adaptation to either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The thermostat has a plurality of HVAC wire connectors including a first call relay wire connector, a first power return wire connector, a second call relay wire connector, and a second power return wire connector. The thermostat is configured such that if the first and second external wires have been inserted into the first and second power return wire connectors, respectively, then the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically isolated from each other. Otherwise, the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically connected.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Daniel Adam Warren, Hugo Fiennes, Jonathan Alan Dutra, David Bell, Anthony Michael Fadell, Matthew Lee Rogers
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Patent number: 9933200Abstract: In various implementations, defrost operations may be managed. A change in the temperature of a heat exchanger may be determined. A determination whether to allow a defrost operation may be at least partially based on the determined change in the temperature of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Yi Qu, Pete Hrejsa
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Patent number: 9927159Abstract: A method for operating a system for a thermodynamic cycle with a multi-flow evaporator having at least two evaporator flow channels, wherein the evaporator flow channels are made to approximate each other with respect to at least one operating parameter of the individual evaporator flow channels, and/or wherein a pressure drop across the evaporator is automatically controlled.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBHInventors: Niklas Waibel, Daniel Stecher, Gerald Fast, Tim Horbach, Jens Niemeyer, Max Lorenz, Mathias Müller
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Patent number: 9920971Abstract: In an approach, a processor predicts a thermal load caused by a door opening event in at least part of a cargo space of a refrigerated transport vehicle based on, at least, an external ambient condition, environmental factors within the cargo space, and a duration of the door opening event. A processor obtains pre-cooling profile information describing cargo space temperature performance with a pre-cooling operation under conditions corresponding to, at least, the predicted thermal load caused by the door opening event. A processor determines a distribution path for the refrigerated transport vehicle based on the predicted thermal load caused by the door opening event and the obtained pre-cooling profile information, wherein the distribution path is associated with the pre-cooling operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Feng Jin, Bin Li, Qi Ming Tian, Lei Ye, Li Zhang, Gang Zhou
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Patent number: 9918767Abstract: A method of regulating a setting time of a bone filler material, the method comprising: (a) combining at least two filler material components to form a biocompatible mixture; (b) choosing a setting time for the mixture; and (c) regulating a temperature of the mixture to influence reaction kinetics so that the mixture does not set before the chosen setting time.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2006Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.Inventors: Oren Globerman, Mordechay Beyar
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Patent number: 9920969Abstract: Provided is an oil level detection device to be mounted on a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, the oil level detection device being configured to detect an oil level of oil accumulated inside a compressor forming the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus. The oil level detection device includes an oil level detection unit installed on an outer surface of the compressor and configured to detect a temperature of an installation position, a sensor output unit configured to output, to the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, a signal for changing an operation state of the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, and a determination unit configured to determine depletion of the oil accumulated inside the compressor based on measurement values obtained by the oil level detection unit at least after an output of the signal to be output from the sensor output unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yasutaka Ochiai, Fumitake Unezaki
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Patent number: 9915457Abstract: A temperature-controlled beverage dispenser is disclosed, which provides a cold plate having disposed therein beverage lines and refrigerant lines. The refrigerant lines may be connected to a cooling system, such as a heat exchanger, which is configured to remove heat from the cold plate. The beverage lines may be connected to a beverage supply for dispensing a desired beverage. Valves and a pressure sensor in the refrigerant line are connected to a microprocessor. At regular intervals, the microprocessor closes the valves, waits a short time, and then takes a pressure reading, which corresponds to a temperature. If the temperature falls below a desired value, then the cooling system is shut off. This permits the microprocessor to closely control the temperature of the beverage being dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Cleland Sales CorporationInventor: James M. Cleland
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Patent number: 9915462Abstract: A system and method for controlling a current draw in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) including an electronically controlled engine having an engine control unit (ECU) are disclosed. The method includes disabling the ECU in response to the electronically controlled engine entering an operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is not running. The TRS controller determines an ambient temperature based on a temperature outside an internal space of the refrigerated transport unit. The TRS controller initializes an ECU off timer when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to an ambient temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Ashok Muralidhar, Titilope Z. Sule, Nathan Patrick Longen