Patents Examined by Ignacio E Landeros
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Patent number: 8602089Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus for accommodating thermal and pressure transients.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Inventors: Krishna P. Singh, Ranga Nadig
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Patent number: 8549876Abstract: Method of cooling a hydrocarbon stream (10) such as natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of (a) heat exchanging the hydrocarbon stream (10) against a first refrigerant stream (20) to provide a cooled hydrocarbon stream (30) and an at least partly evaporated refrigerant stream (40); (b) compressing the at least partly evaporated refrigerant stream (40) using one or more compressors (14, 16, 18) to provide a compressed refrigerant stream (50, 60, 70); (c) cooling the compressed refrigerant stream (50, 60, 70) after one or more of the compressors against ambient to provide a cooled compressed refrigerant stream (70a); (d) dynamically expanding the cooled compressed gaseous refrigerant stream (70a) to provide an expanded refrigerant stream (80); and (e) further cooling the expanded refrigerant stream (80) to provide an at least partially condensed refrigerant stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Sander Kaart, Mark Antonius Kevenaar
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Patent number: 8544292Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioner for a vehicle that includes a closed refrigeration loop. The closed refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another. An engine coolant outlet connector is connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant exchanger. A compartment inlet connector connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. A compartment outlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger. An engine coolant inlet connector connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: OmniTherm, Inc.Inventors: W. James Masters, Douglas W. Fugate, Edwin E. Wilson, John T. Johnson, W. Jason Masters
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Patent number: 8479535Abstract: A method and apparatus of producing high purity oxygen in connection with low purity liquid oxygen produced by a plurality of cryogenic air separation plants. The low purity liquid oxygen from the air separation plants is introduced into a distillation column of an auxiliary cryogenic rectification plant that is reboiled by nitrogen also produced by the air separation plants. Nitrogen is separated from the low purity liquid oxygen to produce high purity liquid oxygen from residual liquid located in a bottom region of the distillation column that can be taken as a product. Optionally, an argon column can be connected to the distillation column to produce a liquid argon product stream.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: David Ross Parsnick, Richard David Karp
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Patent number: 8474275Abstract: A passive heat sink for cooling an electronic component such as a high-performance processor. The heat sink includes a shell with a surface that is positionable adjacent a heat generating surface of the electronic component. The shell includes a heat exchanger portion with cooling fins extending outward and positioned in a fan-provided airflow. A generator compartment is provided within the shell with a generator vessel for containing an absorbent, and the generator compartment is maintained at a pressure lower than ambient. The generator compartment conducts heat away from the electronic component to the absorbent in the generator vessel. An absorber compartment, at a pressure lower than the generator compartment, is provided within the shell above the generator compartment, and, in use, an absorption refrigeration cycle contained within the shell is activated by heat from the electronic component. A bubble pump moves absorbent from the generator compartment to the absorber compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Ali Heydari, Kenneth C. Gross
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Patent number: 8468836Abstract: A portable cooling/heating unit for cooling/heating a product container. The unit includes a thermoelectric assembly, a housing, a front side fan, and a rear side fan. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device, a first heat sink, and a second heat sink. The housing maintains the first heat sink and front fan within a front side channel, and the second heat sink and rear fan within a rear side channel. The housing further forms a condensation passageway segment that facilitates fluid connection between the channels. During use, the unit is removably assembled to the container such that openings of the front side channel are fluidly within the container's interior region. Accumulated condensation is directed to the rear side channel and evaporated.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 8434325Abstract: A process for the recovery of heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, then expanded and supplied to a fractionation column at a first mid-column feed position. The gas stream is expanded and cooled, then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the fractionation column below the mid-column feed positions and directed in heat exchange relation with the LNG feed stream, cooling the distillation vapor stream as it supplies at least part of the heating of the LNG feed stream. The distillation vapor stream is cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation column as its top feed.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Patent number: 8429932Abstract: A method for selective extraction of natural gas liquids from “rich” natural gas. The method involves interacting a rich natural gas stream with Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) by mixing Liquid Natural Gas into the rich natural gas stream to lower the temperature of the rich natural gas stream to a selected hydrocarbon dew point, whereby a selected hydrocarbon liquid carried in the rich natural gas stream is condensed.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
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Patent number: 8307665Abstract: A sample cooling apparatus capable of cooling and holding samples or wafers at a cryogenic temperature with no vibration or drift with respect to a measurement reference surface is disclosed. In the sample cooling apparatus, a sample holder is arranged in a vacuum vessel mounted on a housing having a table for forming a measurement reference surface to be supported by a thermal insulator. A frame is disposed within the housing to be supported by a first buffer. A refrigerating machine is disposed in the frame to be supported by a second buffer and has a head directed to the vacuum vessel. The cooling head of the refrigerating machine is connected to the sample holder by way of a flexible thermal conduction member.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2007Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventor: Yasushi Nagamune
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Patent number: 8302670Abstract: An air cooled condensing tower system has a framework supporting a fan deck, a plurality of steam headers running longitudinally above the fan deck, a plurality of condensing coils extending downward and at an angle from the steam headers, and above the fan deck, a plurality of collector tubes disposed at the bottom of the condenser coils and above the fan deck. At least one substantially non-porous side wall is disposed on at least one side of the tower spanning from a height generally proximate the steam supply headers downward to a height generally proximate the fan deck. A downwardly and outwardly projecting substantially non-porous elongated upper air guide extends downwardly and outwardly from the side wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jidon Yang, Glenn S. Brenneke, Eldon F. Mockry
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Patent number: 8291721Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having a structural framework supporting a refrigeration unit including a condenser heat exchanger supported in an upper region of the framework and an engine and an electric generator powered by the engine supported by the framework in an engine compartment in a lower region of the framework, includes a pair of vertically disposed condenser fan/motor assemblies disposed aft of the condenser heat exchanger in side-by-side relationship and above the engine compartment; and a flow partition extending vertically between the pair of condenser fan/motor assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Richie C. Stauter, Peter R. Bushnell, Stephen Stopyra, Donald B. Hotaling, Jason A. Gough
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Patent number: 8276394Abstract: A passive heat sink for cooling an electronic component such as a high-performance processor. The heat sink includes a shell with a surface that is positionable adjacent a heat generating surface of the electronic component. The shell includes a heat exchanger portion with cooling fins extending outward and positioned in a fan-provided airflow. A generator compartment is provided within the shell with a generator vessel for containing an absorbent, and the generator compartment is maintained at a pressure lower than ambient. The generator compartment conducts heat away from the electronic component to the absorbent in the generator vessel. An absorber compartment, at a pressure lower than the generator compartment, is provided within the shell above the generator compartment, and, in use, an absorption refrigeration cycle contained within the shell is activated by heat from the electronic component. A bubble pump moves absorbent from the generator compartment to the absorber compartment.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventors: Ali Heydari, Kenneth C. Gross
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Patent number: 8261568Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing gas heat exchangers include a drain line connected to a collector attached to the heat exchanger. In different embodiments, the drain line, or a conduit for the drain line, may extend to the return duct opening for routing of the drain line through the return duct for disposal of the condensate, for instance, within the building, or the drain line may extend through a hole in the floor of the unit. The conduit may protect the drain line from direct heat from the heat exchanger, from freezing where the drain line passes through an outdoor section, or both. In some embodiments, air may be circulated through the conduit to prevent freezing. The conduit may guide the drain line through the unit, roof curb assembly, or roof, or the drain line may be routed through the unit by the manufacturer to the return duct opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Nordyne LLCInventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, David W. Garvin
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Patent number: 8261815Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a charge air cooler or exhaust gas cooler for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a first box (2), a second box (3) which is arranged spaced apart from this first box (2), and a plurality of pipes (12) by means of which the first box (2) and the second box (3) are fluidically connected. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a chamber (6) through which a coolant can flow and which is arranged between the two boxes (2, 3) and through which a plurality or all of these pipes (12), by means of which the two boxes (2, 3) are fluidically connected, run.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Mark Schienemann, Florian Moldovan
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Patent number: 8136367Abstract: A hinge assembly and a refrigerator using the assembly are disclosed. The assembly rotatably mounts an access door for a compartment of the refrigerator to part of refrigerator that defines the compartment. The hinge assembly has a body coupled to the part and a hinge manifold supported by the body and slidably received in the access door. The manifold has a first supply conduit for supplying a working medium to an icemaker disposed in the access door and a first return conduit for returning the working medium from the icemaker. The hinge assembly can be manufactured as a separate module to be assembled with the refrigerator or retrofit into an existing refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steve B. Froelicher, Matthew William Davis, Jeffrey Lynn Jessie, Amit Kurhekar, Joseph Murphy Miller, John Joseph Roetker, Ronald Scott Tarr, Derek Lee Watkins
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Patent number: 8109322Abstract: A heat plate type cooler module includes a heat plate, which is formed of a bottom cover plate and a top cover plate and having a working fluid filled in a vacuum chamber between the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate; heat pipes each having a cold end and a top end; a locating plate covered on the heat plate to hold the hot end of each heat pipe in contact with the heat plate; and radiation fins fastened to the cold ends of the heat pipe by press-fitting.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Huang
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Patent number: 8099964Abstract: A magnetic refrigerating device includes: a magnetic refrigerating unit including a magnetic material “A” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “A” is increased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “A” is decreased by the removal of a magnetic field, a magnetic material “B” exhibiting a magneto-caloric effect that the temperature of the material “B” is decreased by the application of a magnetic field and the temperature of the material “B” is increased by the removal of a magnetic field, a heat conductive material “a” exhibiting higher heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and lower heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, and a heat conductive material “b” exhibiting lower heat conductivity under the application of a magnetic field and higher heat conductivity under the removal of a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic refrigerating unit is configured so as to include at least one layered structureType: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Hideyuki Tsuji, Hideo Iwasaki, Katsumi Hisano, Akihiro Koga, Akihiro Kasahara, Takuya Takahashi
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Patent number: 8037711Abstract: A portable dry ice holding container for cooling water contained in an existing swimming pool may include a buoyant cartridge with open first end and closed second end. A lid may be removably connected to the first end to form a cavity between the first and second ends. A unitary outer surface may extend between the ends, preferably having apertures formed therein for permitting water to ingress and egress the cavity. A handle may be penetrated through the outer surface, traversing the cavity with opposed ends remaining situated exterior. Dry ice may be removably seated inside the cavity and may interact with and lower the temperature of the water. A mechanism may agitate the water inside the cavity through linear reciprocation of the handle to increase a flow rate through the cavity. Such a mechanism may include a plurality of curvilinear blades rotatably coupled to the handle within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Inventors: Susan Mesaros, Stanley Mesaros
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Patent number: 8037927Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an electronic component. The device has an enclosure adapted to contain a liquid coolant. The enclosure has an internal channel system comprising a cavity adjacent the electronic component, a first group of arborizing channels adapted to carry the liquid coolant away from the cavity, a second group of arborizing channels adapted to carry the liquid coolant to the cavity, and a plenum fluidically connecting the first and seconds groups of arborizing channels. Each group of arborizing channels has a parent branch and multiple successive sets of daughter branches with successively smaller cross-sectional areas, wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the daughter branches of any set is approximately the same as that of its parent branch. Distal sets of the daughter branches are most distant from the cavity, fluidically connected to the plenum, and have the smallest cross-sectional areas of the daughter branches.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: CUI Global, Inc.Inventor: Franz Michael Schuette