Patents Examined by Jerry-Daryl Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11585580
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for flushing a solvent through a line set of a condenser, compressor, and routing of heat ventilation and air-conditioning, and a high-pressure to low-pressure coupling device. The novel device is operable for joining the high-pressure and low-pressure lines and eliminates the need for having multiple technicians present for conducting a line set flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan Irons
  • Patent number: 11576391
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a controlled atmosphere (CA) system to regulate the atmosphere in a cargo storage space. The CA system comprises a gas exchange module operable to vary the level of a component gas in the cargo storage space, a control module to control operation of the gas exchange module, and at least one of an oxygen sensor and a carbon dioxide sensor, each being operable to measure a parameter indicative of a level of oxygen or carbon dioxide respectively in the cargo storage space. The method comprises: the control module determining a respiration parameter value indicative of the rate of change of oxygen level and/or the rate of change of carbon dioxide level in the cargo storage space due to respiration of goods in the cargo storage space; and the control module controlling operation of the gas exchange module based on the determined respiration parameter value to target an oxygen level setpoint and/or a carbon dioxide level setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Petra Stavova, Jiri Zita, Martin Vojik, Michal Kolda
  • Patent number: 11573020
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a drain pan that receives water, and a detector including an ultrasonic sensor that emits and receives ultrasonic waves. The detector analyzes a response signal from the ultrasonic sensor to detect a contaminant generated in the drain pan. A bottom flat surface portion that forms a bottom of the drain pan is located parallel to a flat surface portion that forms a receiving surface of the ultrasonic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi Nakai, Akira Morikawa, Isamu Hirashiki
  • Patent number: 11549732
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus, including a main circuit (1) for circulation of a main flow (90) of refrigerant, and a lubrication branch (20), comprising a lubrication inlet (21), configured to derive a lubrication flow (91) from the main flow (90) circulating through a supply part (16) of the main circuit; and a lubrication outlet (22), to feed the compressor (2) with the lubrication flow (91) for lubrication. According to the invention, the refrigeration apparatus further includes: a subcooling branch (40), comprising a subcooling inlet (41), connected to an evaporator (8) of the main circuit (1), so as to derive a subcooling flow (92), and a subcooling outlet (42), connected to the evaporator (8), for reintroducing the subcooling flow (92) into the main flow (90); and a subcooling heat exchanger (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raphael Muller, Jeremey Wallet-Laily, Charbel Rahhal, Antoine Barriere
  • Patent number: 11543160
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor for a refrigeration system comprises a common housing, a compressor unit arranged in the common housing, a mechanical compressor drive unit for the compressor unit, arranged in a drive chamber, a lubricant bath forming in the drive chamber, an intake duct that extends in a manner separated from the drive chamber and through which the compressor unit draws in by suction refrigerant that is to be compressed. The intake duct and the drive chamber are connected by a gas equaliser duct, which allows a permanent equalisation of gas, and which has on one side an opening on the drive chamber side and on the other an opening on the intake side, and of which the duct length between the openings corresponds to at least twice an equivalent duct diameter, in particular a smallest equivalent duct diameter, of the gas equaliser duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BITZER Kuehlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Mannewitz, Robin Langebach
  • Patent number: 11536495
    Abstract: An oil return control method for a multi-split air conditioner and a system accomplishing the same includes: calculating an average exhaust pressure within an oil return period Pd_AVG; determining whether the average exhaust pressure Pd_AVG?the set threshold Pdthreshold; if Pd_AVG?Pdthreshold, maintaining the multi-split air conditioner working in heating mode to ensure an acceptable oil return performance without affecting the air conditioning effect of indoor unit in heating mode; if Pd_AVG<Pdthreshold, switching the multi-split air conditioner to cooling mode, stopping a fan within those power-on indoor units and entering into a cooling oil return process and switching the multi-split air conditioner back to heating mode until the cooling oil return process ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER AIR-CONDITIONING ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Defang Guo, Baitian Zhuo, Bin Shi, Shaojiang Cheng, Ruigang Zhang, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 11499768
    Abstract: A chiller includes an evaporator, a compressor including a prime mover, a first pressure sensor that detects a first pressure in the evaporator, a second pressure sensor that detects a second pressure in a condenser, and a controller. The controller determines a predicted energy level of the compressor based on the first pressure and the second pressure, the predicted energy level associated with liquid droplet flow into the compressor, compares the predicted energy level to an operating energy level, and modifies the at least one of the input power and the input current to the prime mover based on the comparison satisfying a modification condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Shimin Sheng, Xiuping Su, Shenglong Wang, Curtis Christian Crane, Mark Robinson Bodell, II, Justin Patrick Kauffman
  • Patent number: 11493242
    Abstract: A cooling system and methods of employing the same includes a refrigerant cycle for cycling refrigerant from a compressor to a condenser and from the condenser an evaporator unit, and a lubrication cycle having at least one lubricating refrigerant supply line for providing refrigerant as lubricant to a bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Rudolf Hauleitner, Christine Matta, Guillermo Enrique Morales Espejel, Hans Wallin
  • Patent number: 11486591
    Abstract: A multi-type air conditioner is provided including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by a liquid pipe and a gas pipe. The plurality of indoor units includes a first indoor unit including first and second heat exchangers and first and second heat exchanger connecting pipes, and a second indoor unit. An indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe connects the first and second indoor units, and a liquid pipe connecting tube connects the first indoor unit and the liquid pipe. Opening amounts of a first indoor expansion valve, and first and second bypass expansion valves provided in the first indoor unit are opened selectively to operate the first heat exchanger as a condenser and the second heat exchanger as an evaporator to continuously drive a dehumidification mode while maintaining a room temperature within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Eunjun Cho, Minsoo Kim, Hyungyul Yum, Jiyoung Jang
  • Patent number: 11480389
    Abstract: A liquefaction system is capable of sequentially or simultaneously liquefying multiple feed streams of hydrocarbons having different normal bubble points with minimal flash. The liquefying heat exchanger has separate circuits for handling multiple feed streams. The feed stream with the lowest normal boiling point is sub-cooled sufficiently to suppress most of the flash. Feed streams with relatively high normal boiling points are cooled to substantially the same temperature, then blended with bypass streams to maintain each product near its normal bubble point. The system can also liquefy one stream at a time by using a dedicated circuit or by allocating the same feed to multiple circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Marc Brussol, David Joseph Holzer, Sylvain Vovard, Russell Shnitser, Adam Adrian Brostow, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 11466881
    Abstract: A control device for a refrigerator system for cooling a load by using a plurality of refrigerators, said control device comprising a unit to control the number of operating units that changes the number of operating refrigerators according to the load rate, and a cold water temperature acquisition unit that acquires, via a temperature sensor, the temperature of cold water affected by the refrigerators. After a prescribed standby time from when the number of operating refrigerators was changed has elapsed, the unit to control the number of operating units changes the number of operating units and reduces the prescribed standby time when at least one of the cold-water temperature and the rate of change in the cold-water temperature satisfies a prescribed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Hazui, Koki Tateishi, Satoshi Nikaido, Yutaka Takenaka
  • Patent number: 11460198
    Abstract: A humidifier including a humidifier housing with an adjustable backplane configured to fit to a variety of humidifier pad sizes. Different sizes of humidifier pads are available, and the choice of humidifier pad may depend on the capacity of the HVAC system. The backplane of this disclosure may be adjusted by moving to one position to accommodate a larger humidifier pad or to a second position for a smaller humidifier pad. The backplane of the humidifier housing is configured to mount over an opening of an air duct of an HVAC system such that air is directed along an air path defined by the humidifier housing, through the humidifier pad positioned in front of the air duct and into the air stream of the HVAC system. Water flows through inlet tubing to a water distributor, which may direct the water to the top of the humidifier pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Brabec, Charles N. Hoff
  • Patent number: 11454432
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus, including a main circuit for a loop circulation of a main flow of refrigerant, the main circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a lubrication branch, for deriving a lubrication flow from the main flow for feeding the compressor for lubrication. The main circuit includes a low-temperature part, consisting in the evaporator, the compressor inlet, and any part of the main circuit between the evaporator and the compressor inlet. The lubrication branch further includes a subcooling heat exchanger, which is configured for enabling an exchange of heat between the lubrication flow circulating through the lubrication branch and the main flow of refrigerant circulating through the low-temperature part, so that the lubrication flow may be cooled by the main flow of refrigerant circulating through the low-temperature part, within the subcooling heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Raphael Muller
  • Patent number: 11435116
    Abstract: An eductor system for a chiller assembly is provided. The system includes a first and a second eductor. The first eductor includes a first suction inlet that receives a first oil and refrigerant mixture from a plenum of a compressor, a first motive inlet that receives a first motive fluid from an oil sump, and a first outlet that discharges a first outlet mixture to the oil sump. The first outlet mixture includes both the first oil and refrigerant mixture and the first motive fluid. The second eductor includes a second suction inlet that receives a second oil and refrigerant mixture from an evaporator, a second motive inlet that receives a second motive fluid from a condenser, and a second outlet that discharges a second outlet mixture to the plenum of the compressor. The second outlet mixture includes both the second oil and refrigerant mixture and the second motive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Bryson L. Sheaffer, Paul W. Snell
  • Patent number: 11434126
    Abstract: A water cooling apparatus and a water purifier having a water cooling apparatus is provided. The water cooling apparatus may include a case, a water tank provided within the case, a cooling block provided to be in contact with the water tank and to cool the water tank through heat exchange, a thermoelectric element having one side in contact with the cooling block and provided so as to transfer heat from the one side to another side of the thermoelectric element when power is applied thereto, an insulator provided within the case and that covers the water tank and the cooling block, and a heat dissipation block provided outside of the case and provided to be in contact with the other side of the thermoelectric element to dissipate heat from the other side of the thermoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jintae Kim, Jinpyo Hong, Jaegeun Lee, Jisun Jung
  • Patent number: 11428430
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an air conditioning system, an operating method and an operating device of the air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes multiple outdoor units and multiple indoor units. The multiple indoor units include a first indoor unit configured to have wired communication and a second indoor unit configured to have wireless communication. The multiple outdoor units includes a first model outdoor unit connected with the first indoor unit configured to have wired communication, a second model outdoor unit corresponding to the second indoor unit, and a main outdoor unit configured to receive communication information from the first indoor unit and/or the second indoor unit, determine a target outdoor unit for communication on the basis of the communication information, and send the communication information to the target outdoor unit for communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Wencan Wang, Jie Tang, Weiyou Yu, Tieying Ye, Zhongwen Deng, Dongfeng Lai, Quanzhou Liu, Cuiming Ma, Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11428442
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a first evaporation unit, a second evaporation unit, a first condensation unit, a second condensation unit, common piping, a compressor, an expansion valve, a first valve, and a second valve. The common piping combines liquid-phase refrigerant flowing from the first condensation unit and liquid-phase refrigerant flowing from the second condensation unit. The first valve adjusts the liquid-phase refrigerant amount flowing into the first evaporation unit. The second valve adjusts the liquid-phase refrigerant amount flowing into the second evaporation unit. In addition, the pressure inside the common pipe is greater than the respective pressures inside the first evaporation unit and the second evaporation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisato Sakuma, Koichi Todoroki, Masaki Chiba, Takafumi Natsumeda, Minoru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11421902
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering circulating water includes a cooling/warming controller configured to perform heat exchange of circulating water supplied to a cooling/warming apparatus using a refrigerant; an indoor-unit controller configured to perform heat exchange of circulating water supplied to an indoor unit using the refrigerant; and a mode change unit (MCU) configured to control a flow of the refrigerant supplied to the cooling/warming controller and the indoor-unit controller according to an operation mode of the cooling/warming apparatus and the indoor unit. The cooling/warming controller and the indoor-unit controller may be configured to share a circulating water passage through which the circulating water moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Rolf Leemeijer
  • Patent number: 11416013
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in which a primary water loop is used as a heat transfer reservoir for both heating and cooling. A plurality of micro chillers are provided, with each micro chiller being connected to the primary water loop. Each micro chiller includes its own heat engine. Each micro chiller includes one or more fan control units that exchange heat between the micro chiller and the air in a building. In a first mode a micro chiller transfers heat from the air in the building to the water circulating within the primary water loop. In a second mode the micro chiller transfers heat from the water circulating in the primary water loop to the air in the building. A primary water loop regulation system is provided to control the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Conry Tech Holdings Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald David Conry
  • Patent number: 11397016
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a thermostat is configured for use in a climate control system. The thermostat is operable to use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the thermostat and at least one rooftop unit (RTU) within the climate control system. For example, the two-way communication comprises sending first operational information to the RTU and receiving second operational information from the RTU. The operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data. The thermostat is further operable to operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the thermostat and the RTU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Abrishamkar, Anna Vishinsky, Alan E. Bennett