Patents Examined by Henry Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 9561703
    Abstract: In vehicle air-conditioning devices including a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger that are connected by refrigerant pipes to form a refrigeration cycle; an indoor air-sending device that supplies air to the indoor heat exchanger; and an outdoor air-sending device that supplies air to the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant circuit is installed under the floor of a vehicle and uses carbon dioxide as the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Munehisa Gunjima, Hiroki Murakami
  • Patent number: 9561451
    Abstract: Atmospheric water generators, systems and methods are presented involve user authentication, recording and tracking of water volumes dispensed by respective users over periods of various lengths, controlling component noise level and timing, and cleaning, heating and cooling the collected water more efficiently. The generators may be placed in network communication with other such generators to exchange water availability information therewith, or may communicate with a central server element by way of LAN, Internet, cell tower, peer-to-peer mesh or satellite. Information is conveyed to the user regarding the amount of water they consume from the water generators, and their resulting positive impact on the environment. Water dispensing data may be shared on the users' social media accounts, or used as inputs for competitions or games in order to further engage the user. User authentication may be accomplished by way of biometrics or an RFID/NFC tag embedded in the user's water vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Skywell, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald M. Dorfman
  • Patent number: 9557085
    Abstract: In a heat pump apparatus, it is aimed to enhance efficiency of a defrost operation by reducing a loss of heat radiation during the defrost operation and reducing a compressor input during the defrost operation. The heat pump apparatus includes a main refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a second heat exchanger are connected sequentially, and also includes a bypass circuit including an on-off valve and providing a connection by bypassing the expansion mechanism. The main refrigerant circuit includes a four-way valve that switches between a heating operation and the defrost operation by switching an order in which the refrigerant circulates through the main refrigerant circuit. The main refrigerant circuit also includes a first temperature detection unit and a second temperature detection unit. Based on values detected by these temperature detection units, a degree of superheat of the first heat exchanger during the defrost operation is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Fumitake Unezaki, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Kengo Takahashi, Kazuki Okada, Hirokazu Minamisako, Shinichi Uchino
  • Patent number: 9555893
    Abstract: An aircraft air provision system includes a power turbine that receives bleed air at a first pressure and provides rotational energy to a shaft and outputs output air at an intermediate pressure. The system also includes a compressor coupled to the shaft that receives input air at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and outputs compressed air having a pressure equal to the intermediate pressure and a mix chamber coupled to outputs of both the power turbine and the compressor where the output air and the compressed air are mixed. The system also includes a cooling turbine coupled to the shaft and that is in fluid communication with an output of the mix chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven E. Squier
  • Patent number: 9551495
    Abstract: A first tracking module increments a first period of time when a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is ON during a predetermined period of time. A second tracking module increments a second period of time when, during the predetermined period of time: (i) the HVAC system is ON and (ii) a split temperature of the HVAC system is outside of a temperature range of the HVAC system. A grade determination module determines a grade of the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time based on both the first period of time and the second period of time. A reporting module generates a displayable report for the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time. The report includes the grade of the HVAC system for the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Priotomo Abiprojo
  • Patent number: 9551357
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising: an oil temperature sensor; a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor; and a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor and the heater, the controller arranged to control operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature within a range Tmax?R?Tmin where Tmax>Tmin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Barry Granville Waller
  • Patent number: 9541311
    Abstract: A cascade refrigeration system includes an upper portion having at least one modular chiller unit that provides cooling to at least one of a low temperature subsystem having a plurality of low temperature loads, and a medium temperature subsystem having a plurality of medium temperature loads. The modular chiller unit includes a refrigerant circuit having at least a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. An ammonia refrigerant mixed with a soluble oil circulates within the refrigerant circuit. A control device may be programmed to modulate the position of the expansion device so that a superheat temperature of the ammonia refrigerant near an outlet of the evaporator fluctuates within a substantially predetermined superheat temperature range to positively return soluble oil from the evaporator to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hinde, John D. Bittner, Shitong Zha, Joseph R. Poland
  • Patent number: 9534821
    Abstract: A control method of a refrigerator including a compressor to supply refrigerant to an evaporator to cool a storage compartment, a valve to adjust flow of the refrigerant, a fan to blow air heat-exchanged by the evaporator, and a heater to remove frost from the evaporator. The control method includes, upon receiving a power-saving signal, determining whether the received power-saving signal is a first or second power-saving mode signal, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the first power-saving mode signal, performing at least one selected from among resetting of target temperature of the storage compartment, adjustment of an operation rate of the compressor, and adjustment of operation time of the heater to execute a first power-saving mode, and, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the second power-saving mode signal, controlling the compressor, the fan, and the heater to be off to execute a second power-saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sinn Bong Yoon, Eui Young Chang, Jong Chul Choi, Yong Han Kim, Won Je Lee, Jong Eon Si
  • Patent number: 9523525
    Abstract: A refrigerating device includes a refrigerant circuit, a temperature detecting unit, a protection control section, and a determination temperature modifying section. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor to compress a refrigerant. The temperature detecting section detects a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor on an outside of the compressor. The protection control section performs protection control of the compressor in a case where a detection temperature detected by the temperature detecting section exceeds a determination temperature. The determination temperature modifying section modifies the determination temperature according to at least one of information on an outside air temperature and information on a type of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Nakai, Daisuke Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9518765
    Abstract: A branch controller operates with a system for temperature and humidity control. The branch controller includes a fluid control system for controlling a flow of the liquid desiccant in an arrangement of channels forming a first path for exchanging the liquid desiccant between a liquid desiccant conditioning unit and at least a first space conditioning unit and a second path for directing the liquid desiccant received from the first space conditioning unit to a second space conditioning unit. The branch controller includes a processor for comparing operational conditions of the first space conditioning unit and the second space conditioning unit. The processor selects between the first path and the second path based on the comparison and commands the fluid control system to control the flow of the liquid desiccant according to the selected path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Laughman, Daniel J Burns, Scott A. Bortoff, Richard C. Waters
  • Patent number: 9506681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for generating a positive pressure in a tank for liquefied gas on a refrigerated vehicle with an evaporator for the liquefied gas, in conjunction with which the evaporator is connected in a fluid-conducting fashion to the tank via a line for liquefied gas, and in conjunction with which a valve is arranged in the line, comprising the following method steps: opening the valve so that liquefied gas exits from the tank and into the line; closing the valve in such a way that a quantity of the liquefied gas remains in the line and is able to flow back into the tank; heating the quantity in the line. The invention also relates to a method for the supply of liquefied gas, and a device for generating a positive pressure in a tank for liquefied gas in a cooling system, in conjunction with which the method according to the invention for generating a pressure is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Franz Lürken, Helmut Henrich, Reinhard Kost
  • Patent number: 9500397
    Abstract: A refrigerant system according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a outdoor heat exchanger performing heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant; a compressor compressing the refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger performing heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant; an expansion portion expanding the refrigerant; and a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor heat exchanger, the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger and the expansion portion to form a refrigerant cycle, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger includes a refrigerant storage portion storing the refrigerant to control flowing refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hojong Jeong, Baikyoung Chung, Jaehwa Jung, Yongcheol Sa, Byungsoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9499027
    Abstract: The performance of a transport refrigeration system (12) having a transport refrigeration unit powered by a diesel engine is optimized by matching a capacity output of the transport refrigeration unit to an available shaft power of the diesel engine. The power consumption of the transport refrigeration may be controlled by selectively limiting refrigerant mass flow through the refrigerant circuit of the transport refrigeration unit in response to an operating engine load and an operating speed of the diesel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: John T. Steele, John R. Reason, Michael Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 9488399
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus has a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are interconnected. The outdoor heat exchanger uses multi-hole flat tubes as heat transfer tubes. When stopping a heating operation, the air conditioning apparatus performs pressure equalization control that switches the four-way switching valve from a heating cycle state to a cooling cycle state, thereafter stops the compressor, and equalizes the pressure in the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukako Kanazawa, Junichi Shimoda, Tatsuya Makino
  • Patent number: 9453670
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a parallel-type chiller provided with multiple shell-and-tube-type heat exchangers and multiple compressors, the control apparatus having an estimation section which estimates a terminal temperature difference in an upstream-side space on the basis of a terminal temperature difference between a saturation temperature of a second fluid and a measured exit temperature value, the saturation temperature being estimated on the basis of a pressure value of the second fluid in a downstream-side space, the measured exit temperature value being a temperature of the first fluid measured at an exit of the heat exchanger, and estimates a temperature of the first fluid in the vicinity of an exit of the upstream-side space on the basis of the terminal temperature difference in the upstream-side space and the saturation temperature of the second fluid in the upstream-side space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Takemoto, Kazuki Wajima, Yasushi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9453667
    Abstract: A heat pump air-conditioning system includes a four-way valve provided with a first opening, a second opening, a third opening and a fourth opening communicated with each other. The first opening, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion device and the second opening are sequentially connected in series. The third opening, a second heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third heat exchanger and the fourth opening are sequentially connected in series. A first bypass valve is connected in parallel with the first expansion device and is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second opening. A second bypass valve is connected in parallel with the second expansion device and the third heat exchanger and is connected between the third heat exchanger and the fourth opening. A liquid supply system is connected to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shy-Her Nian, Ling-Yu Chao
  • Patent number: 9453661
    Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system with dual evaporators is provided. In one embodiment, a control system for a dual evaporator refrigeration system is provided where the evaporators are operated simultaneously to provide for improved temperature and humidity control in a refrigerator appliance. In another embodiment, the control system can also use a linear model that is designed to minimize or remove excess enthalpy from one or more compartments and/or features of the appliance. The control system can also be configured with at least one variable speed compressor that is operated at a speed that will remove excess enthalpy within a desired time period while also operating at an optimized speed for energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Keith Wesley Wait, Bahman Abbasi
  • Patent number: 9452661
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes a compressor configured to compress refrigerant, a condenser, an evaporator, a temperature sensor and a controller. The condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor and the evaporator receives the refrigerant from the condenser. The temperature sensor is positioned proximate the evaporator to measure a temperature of air passing through the evaporator prior to entering a vehicle passenger compartment. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to cycle the compressor on and off based upon the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and correlation data stored in the controller that correlates temperatures at the evaporator to estimated moisture densities at the evaporator to maintain the moisture density of the air in the vehicle passenger compartment below a predetermined moisture density threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 9453668
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle apparatus, a compressor, a condenser, a first flow control valve, a refrigerant storage container, a second flow control valve, and a first evaporator are connected in this order, and a third flow control valve, an ejector, a second evaporator, and the compressor are connected in this order so as to branch from an outlet of the condenser. A driving refrigerant inlet of the ejector is connected to the third flow control valve, a suction refrigerant inlet of the ejector is connected to an outlet of the first evaporator, and a mixed refrigerant outlet of the ejector is connected to a refrigerant inlet of the second evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus has a bypass circuit which branches from a refrigerant pipe connecting the condenser and the second flow control valve and is connected to the mixed refrigerant outlet of the ejector via a fourth flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Higashiiue, So Nomoto
  • Patent number: 9423036
    Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve insert may be installed into an existing valve body within a fluid system. The insert may include an actuator that can be connected to a sensor, a thermostatic element or other controller, and may replace components of a manually operable valve. By removing the internal components of a manually operable valve from a valve body and installing a thermostatic radiator valve insert of the present invention therein, automatic control features may be implemented in a fluid system without requiring a full replacement of the manually operated valve or any associated piping. The insert may operate using some of the original components of the manually operated valve, and may also include replacement parts such as seating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Fester Kresten Garm, Soeren Holm Soerensen