Patents Examined by Henry T Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 12264861
    Abstract: Provided is a controller, an air conditioner, and a high-pressure protection circuit. The controller includes a first rectifier unit, a power conversion unit, a high pressure switch (HPS) wiring terminal, a low-voltage control unit, and a high-voltage operating unit. An input end of the first rectifier unit is capable of being electrically connected to an input power supply. An output end of the first rectifier unit is electrically connected to an input end of the power conversion unit. An output end of the power conversion unit is electrically connected to a power supply end of the low-voltage control unit. The HPS wiring terminal is connected to the front end of the power supply end of the low-voltage control. The controller has a function of high-pressure protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: HANGZHOU LEADERWAY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yongsong Lv, Guojian Qiu, Lusi Zhang
  • Patent number: 12264860
    Abstract: A water chiller, a water output adjustment method, and an air conditioning system. The water chiller includes: at least two cooling towers used in parallel, a water pressure balance adjustment circuit, and a main control hoard, where each of the at least two cooling towers includes a water pressure pre-adjustment circuit, the main control board is configured to control the water pressure pre-adjustment circuit to realize real-time water output adjustment of the each of the at least two cooling towers, and control the water pressure balance adjustment circuit to achieve a water output balance adjustment among-multiple cooling towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Jiang Hu, Lifeng Shen, Pei Qian, Baolin Zhou
  • Patent number: 12264838
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, multiple indoor units, and an intermediate unit. The indoor units each include a flow control device and an indoor controller. The intermediate unit includes an intermediate heat exchanger, a circulation device, and an intermediate controller. When at least one indoor unit starts operating, the intermediate controller determines whether a flow rate of a heat medium flowing into the intermediate heat exchanger is greater than or equal to a minimum flow rate. In response to determining that the flow rate is less than the minimum flow rate, the intermediate controller transmits an open instruction signal, representing an instruction to increase the opening degree of the flow control device, to the indoor controller of the indoor unit that is in a non-operation state. The indoor controller increases the opening degree of the flow control device in response to the received open instruction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Furuya, Naofumi Takenaka, Yuji Motomura, Hiroki Washiyama
  • Patent number: 12259163
    Abstract: A climate-control system may include a compressor, a thermal storage device, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion device, and a second expansion device. The compressor may include an intermediate-pressure inlet, an intermediate-pressure outlet, a discharge outlet, a suction-pressure pocket, and a plurality of compression pockets. The thermal storage device may include a conduit and a phase-change material surrounding the conduit. The first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger, and the thermal storage device may be in fluid communication with the compressor. The climate-control system is operable in a charging mode and a discharging mode, and is operable in a cooling mode and a heating mode. The thermal storage device may be configured to absorb heat from a working fluid or to transfer heat to the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Copeland LP
    Inventors: Brian R. Butler, Andrew M. Welch
  • Patent number: 12253313
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device for a multipoint heat source includes an evaporator unit and a condenser unit. The evaporator unit includes a multi-channel duct. At least one narrow side of the multi-channel duct has a communication opening in communication with the bottom side of at least one tube of the condenser unit, and a wide side of the multi-channel duct is attached to the multipoint heat source so that a heat conduction medium can be circulated through the evaporator unit and the condenser unit while alternating between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: MAN ZAI INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chien Wan, Cheng-Rui Wan, Chun-Hsien Su, Hui-Fen Huang, Fong Jou Tu, Chi Cheng Chen, Chuan Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 12251985
    Abstract: A system for controlling an internal temperature of a vehicle when an engine is turned off includes a temperature sensor configured to measure an internal temperature (Ti) of a vehicle; a first blower configured to discharge cooled air when an electric power is supplied to the first blower; a battery; and a control unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the first blower and configured to receive the internal temperature (Ti) of the vehicle from the temperature sensor, and to operate the first blower, in which the control unit electrically connected to the battery is configured to control an electric power of the battery to be applied to the first blower when the internal temperature (Ti) of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference temperature (Tr) in a state where an engine of the vehicle is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Byung-Moon Kim, Kyoung-Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 12253288
    Abstract: A safety valve includes a secondary-side refrigerant circuit that includes a secondary-side receiver that reserves a refrigerant, a flow path switching portion that includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a third connecting portion connected to the secondary-side receiver, the flow path switching portion (96) that switches between a first state in which the third connecting portion communicates with the first connecting portion and a second state in which the third connecting portion communicates with the second connecting portion, and a safety valve that includes a safety valve connecting portion connected to the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion, and releases the refrigerant to outside when a refrigerant pressure in the secondary-side receiver satisfies a predetermined condition, in which at least the safety valve connecting portion is made of stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kumiko Saeki, Yuta Iyoshi, Yoshiki Yamanoi
  • Patent number: 12253274
    Abstract: In some examples, a device controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system within a building. The device includes an analog display including a set of markers. Additionally, the devices includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether one or both of a cooling set point mode and a heating set point mode is activated and cause a set point to change from a first set point value to a second set point value in response to receiving a first rotation input to a dial. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to control a set of LEDs to transition from illuminating a first marker of the set of markers to illuminating a second marker of the set of markers, wherein the first marker corresponds to the first set point value and the second marker corresponds to the second set point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: RESIDEO LLC
    Inventors: Christopher R. Jones, Jaymeson Tucker, Michael Crites, Christopher Heintzelman
  • Patent number: 12247757
    Abstract: A door unit for an air conditioning system includes a stationary inner screen part, an outer casing part rotatable between different operational positions in relation to the inner screen part, and a flap member attached to the outer casing part. The outer casing part includes first and second inlet openings. The door unit directs a first flow of air in a first air flow channel and a second flow of air in a second air flow channel to a third air flow channel or to the third air flow channel and a fourth air flow channel. The flap member blocks the first air flow channel or the second air flow channel, wherein an internal volume of the door unit enclosed by the inner screen part and the outer casing part forms the fourth air flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Dev. Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Emil Frykberg, Mikael Jönsson, Kristian Nicklasson, Henrik Fellbom
  • Patent number: 12247771
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a HVAC system operable to use a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit to heat or cool an indoor space and includes a defrost circuit connected to the refrigerant circuit. The defrost circuit includes a first three-way valve, a defrost line, a defrost passage in an outdoor heat exchanger, and a defrost return line. When the HVAC system is in a defrost mode, a four-way valve is operable to direct the refrigerant flow in a second direction through the outdoor heat exchanger. The first three-way valve is operable to divert some or all of the refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit and through the defrost circuit to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger. The defrost return line returns the diverted refrigerant to the refrigerant circuit upstream of an expansion device and downstream of the indoor heat exchange with respect to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Daikin Comfort Technologies Manufacturing, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael F. Taras
  • Patent number: 12241664
    Abstract: A blower and heat exchanger component of a heat pump, includes physically moveable interface blocks located at the corners. The blocks are relocatable to different corner locations on the unit, to allow a same blower/heat exchanger component to adapt to an existing duct being located on either side (e.g., by installing the component rotated within the installation space as appropriate). Active interface block(s) moveable to different corners afford access to power connection and/or data connections and status display features. Blank blocks occupy the corner locations left vacant by relocation of active blocks to the side of the unit serving as the front for a particular installation. The moveable corner blocks afford access to the unit for power and data connection, and status display, irrespective of orientation as installed relative to an existing ducting layout of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: DANDELION ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Dunn, Kathleen Hannun, Dung Duc Nguyen, Paul Ingemi
  • Patent number: 12241694
    Abstract: A heat exchange member including: a honeycomb structure body including: partition walls extending from a first end surface to a second end surface to define cells forming flow passages for a first fluid; and an outer peripheral wall; and a covering member configured to cover the outer peripheral wall of the honeycomb structure body. The partition walls and the outer peripheral wall contain ceramic as a main component, and the outer peripheral wall surface has a peak count RPc according to JIS B 0601:2013 set to 55 pks/cm or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Kuno, Satoshi Nagamoto
  • Patent number: 12225921
    Abstract: A method and associated equipment for obtaining a product in the form of deep-frozen, dissolved-gas-rich granules, particles or beads from a liquid, semi-liquid or pasty matrix, comprises the following steps: gasification of the matrix by incorporating a gas; dispensing the matrix in the form of drops; and cryogenically freezing the matrix drops by immersion in a cryogenic fluid. The step of gasification of the matrix involves dissolving a large amount of the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic fluid in the drops by increasing the number of gas molecules in a high gas density zone, called high molecular density zone, located above the surface of the cryogenic fluid and on the path of the matrix drops before they are immersed in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: GENIALIS
    Inventor: Guillaume Gillet
  • Patent number: 12227923
    Abstract: Provided herein are refrigerator systems integrated with an atmospheric water harvesting unit, as well as methods using such systems. The atmospheric water harvesting unit serves as a water supply for the refrigerator system by capturing water from surrounding air. For example, the water capture materials may be metal organic frameworks. The systems and methods desorb this water in the form of water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed into liquid water and collected. The liquid water is suitable for use as drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Water Harvesting, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Kuo, Bruno Marchon, Ievgen Kapustin
  • Patent number: 12220969
    Abstract: A cooling system with a heat pump function for a motor vehicle is described, includes a base system with a refrigerant compressor. A directly or indirectly working external heat exchanger which is arranged downstream of the refrigerant compressor. A directly or indirectly working first evaporator as part of an air conditioning device for the interior air conditioning of the motor vehicle, arranged down-stream of the external heat exchanger and preceded by a first expansion element. At least one second evaporator as part of a cooling device of an electric drive or storage unit, which evaporator is arranged fluidically parallel to the first evaporator, and which is preceded by a second expansion element. At least one low-pressure side collector arranged downstream of the first and second evaporators, or at least one high-pressure side collector arranged downstream of the external heat exchanger and upstream of the first and second evaporators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Rebinger, Dirk Schroeder
  • Patent number: 12222117
    Abstract: An analysis device is configured to operate a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and to receive an audio signal from a sound sensor, wherein the audio signal is associated with a condensing unit of the HVAC system. The device is configured to determine an audio signature from the audio signal and to determine whether a motor of the condensing unit is operating within a mode of operation based on the audio signature. The device is further configured to determine a fault type that is associated with the audio signature and to output a recommendation based on the determined fault type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Ian Burmania, Fnu Aishwarya Mukunda
  • Patent number: 12222144
    Abstract: A method of performing a defrost operation in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the method including determining that the defrost operation is needed; determining a capacity for the defrost operation in response to one or more prior defrost operations; beginning the defrost operation at the determined capacity; monitoring a defrost parameter; determining if the defrost parameter indicates a need for increased capacity; and increasing the capacity of the defrost operation when the defrost parameter indicates the need for increased capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Charles A. Cluff
  • Patent number: 12209782
    Abstract: An abnormality determination device (60) includes a calculator (66) calculating a deviation degree of a compressor (11) from a normal state based on data related to operation of a refrigeration apparatus (1) and a determination unit (62) determining whether the compressor (11) has an abnormality or estimating an abnormality occurrence time based on a calculation result of the calculator (66). The calculator (66) calculates a first index value from data related to operation of the refrigeration apparatus (1) in a first period and a second index value from data related to operation of the refrigeration apparatus (1) in a second period that differs in length from the first period. The calculator (66) calculates the deviation degree of the compressor (11) from the normal state based on the first index value and the second index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Satou, Masataka Nakano
  • Patent number: 12201938
    Abstract: An atmospheric water generator (AWG) includes a defrost or reversing valve embedded on the refrigeration cycle of the AWG. The defrost or reversing valve enables, when activated, hot compressed refrigerant gas to flow from the condenser to the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle for melting frost buildup on the evaporator. In one embodiment, a defrost valve is connected, to the refrigerant line connecting the compressor to the condenser and to one of (i) the refrigerant line connecting the expansion means to the evaporator or (ii) the refrigerant line connecting the evaporator to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: WATERGEN LTD.
    Inventors: Sharon Dulberg, Moshe Goldberg
  • Patent number: 12203711
    Abstract: A heat exchanger core includes: a first passage row which is formed by a plurality of first passages; a plurality of first dividing walls separating the plurality of first passages from each other; a second passage row which is disposed adjacent to the first passage row and is formed by a plurality of second passages; a plurality of second dividing walls separating the plurality of second passages from each other; and a partition wall located between the first passage row and the second passage row, and separating the plurality of first passages and the plurality of second passages. (a) The partition wall has a greater section modulus in an orthogonal direction than either the first dividing wall or the second partition, or (b) a constituent material of the partition wall has a greater breaking strength than a constituent material of either the first dividing wall or the second dividing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Tanimoto, Nobuhide Hara, Hiroyuki Nakaharai, Yoichi Uefuji, Takuo Oda, Shunsaku Eguchi, Masaya Hatanaka, Tatsuya Kameyama