Patents Examined by Jianying Atkisson
  • Dryer appliance and a method for operating a dryer appliance
    Patent number: 9920469
    Abstract: A dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance includes a filter assembly with a filter medium. A first portion of the filter medium is disposed within an exhaust conduit when the filter medium is in a first position. A second portion of the filter medium is disposed within the exhaust conduit when the filter medium is in a second position. A method for operating a dryer appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakkineni Venkat Ramprasad, Shree Kumar
  • Liquefied natural gas plant with ethylene independent heavies recovery system
    Patent number: 9920985
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas includes a heavies recovery system. In another aspect, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility may employ an ethylene independent heavies recovery system. The recovery system may thus operate relying only on fluid input from upstream of an ethylene refrigeration cycle. A heavies-depleted stream recovered from a liquid withdrawn from a heavies removal column in the heavies recovery system may combine at a location downstream of the heavies removal column with an overhead withdrawn from the heavies removal column for further cooling of such combined stream into liquefied natural gas product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jon M. Mock, Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio
  • Heat dissipater for main heat generating device with peripheral heat generating devices
    Patent number: 9917029
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a heat dissipater and relate to the communications field. The heat dissipater includes a sub heat dissipater, a connecting apparatus, and a shared bracket; the sub heat dissipater is connected to the shared bracket through the connecting apparatus; the sub heat dissipater includes a first heat conducting surface, and the sub heat dissipater contacts a first heat source through the first heat conducting surface to dissipate heat for the first heat source; the shared bracket includes a second heat conducting surface, and the shared bracket contacts a second heat source through the second heat conducting surface to dissipate heat for the second heat source; and the second heat conducting surface and the sub heat dissipater are disposed in different positions of the shared bracket respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenzhen Liu, Xiaojing Hou, Shanjiu Chi
  • Waste heat exchanger
    Patent number: 9915184
    Abstract: A waste heat exchanger may include an inner tube, an outer tube, a fin assembly and a plurality of heat electric modules The inner tube has a plurality of holes. Disposed inside the inner tube is a plurality of inlet channels and a plurality of outlet channels. The plurality of inlet channels and the plurality of outlet channels are disposed to correspond to each other. The plurality of inlet channels and the plurality of outlet channels are connected to the plurality of holes. A fluid flows through the plurality of inlets and the plurality of holes to get into the outlet channels. The outer tube is disposed outside the inner tube. The conductive assembly is positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube. The conductive assembly is disposed on an outside surface of the inner tube and an inside surface of the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wei-Kuo Han, Chun-Kai Liu
  • Flexible thermal ground plane and manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9909814
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed for flexible thermal ground planes. A flexible thermal ground plane may include a support member. The flexible thermal ground plane may include an evaporator region or multiple evaporator regions configured to couple with the support member. The flexible thermal ground plane may include a condenser region or multiple condenser regions configured to couple with the support member. The evaporator and condenser region may include a microwicking structure. The evaporator and condenser region may include a nanowicking structure coupled with the micro-wicking structure, where the nanowicking structure includes nanorods. The evaporator and condenser region may include a nanomesh coupled with the nanorods and/or the microwicking structure. Some embodiments may include a micromesh coupled with the nanorods and/or the microwicking structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KELVIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ronggui Yang, Yung-Cheng Lee, Victor M. Bright, Chen Li, Christopher Oshman, Bo Shi, Jen-Hau Cheng, George P. Peterson
  • Dryer for lacquering facility
    Patent number: 9909806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer for a lacquering facility: a) having a dryer housing, in which heated air is circulated, b) having an exhaust air line for a exhausting exhaust air from the dryer housing; c) having a combustion unit, which is connected to the exhaust air line, and which is used for thermal post-treatment of the exhaust air from the dryer housing and for providing hot air to a heat exchanger; d) wherein said heat exchanger is set up to supply said dryer housing with heated fresh air; and wherein e) at least one heating unit for heating the air circulated in said dryer housing is associated with said dryer housing. It is provided according to the invention that a combustion air supply of the heating unit is connected so it communicates with the dryer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: EISENMANN SE
    Inventors: Peter Schwerer, Peter Obstfelder
  • Assembling structure of heat dissipation device
    Patent number: 9909815
    Abstract: An assembling structure of heat dissipation device includes at least one heat pipe, a first and a second radiating fin assembly. The heat pipe has a heat absorption section, at least one heat releasing section and a curved section between the heat absorption section and the heat releasing section. The heat releasing section is fitted in multiple perforations of the second radiating fin assembly. The curved section is fitted in multiple notches of the first radiating fin assembly. Each notch is defined with an open side and a closed side. The closed side extends along a curved outer side of the curved section and contacts and attaches to the curved outer side of the curved section. Accordingly, the utility ratio of the heat pipe is increased. Also, the heat dissipation area of the heat pipe is increased and the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat dissipation device is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Ji Lan
  • Vehicle air conditioning system having a filter element with a moisture sensor and a method for operating a vehicle air conditioning system
    Patent number: 9902234
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system has an air filter, a moisture sensor, which is mounted on and/or at the air filter, and an electronic device, which is provided for controlling and/or regulating the air conditioning system of the vehicle. The electronic device is fed a signal, delivered by the moisture sensor. The moisture sensor is arranged upstream with respect to the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joern Hofhaus
  • Ice well diverter wedge for ice container
    Patent number: 9903632
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided including an ice making assembly. The ice making assembly includes a storage container that has a discharge zone including a crushing assembly for selectively crushing formed ice before dispensing the ice through the dispenser of the refrigerator. The crushing assembly includes both rotating and fixed crushing blades, and including crushing teeth for crushing the formed ice cubes therebetween. A diverter wedge may be positioned at or formed integrally with the fixed crushing blades such that the diverter wedge closes any gap between the rotating blades and the wall of the discharge zone. The diverter wedge can include a sloped portion to move any smaller or differently-shaped cubes from the outer edge of the discharge zone to between the crushing blades such that it is ensured that the cubes are crushed before being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Jerold M. Visin
  • Clothes treating apparatus having drying function
    Patent number: 9903652
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a drying function, and more particularly, a clothes treating apparatus having a drying function, capable of fast drying a large quantity of targets to be dried by employing a heater assembly, separate from a cabinet having a drum and the like therein. The clothes treating apparatus having a drying function comprises a cabinet to receive a rotatable drum therein, the cabinet defining an appearance of the apparatus, a module part mounted onto an outer surface of the cabinet, the module part having a heater assembly, a blower assembly, and a housing for accommodating the heater assembly and the blower assembly, and a link unit to connect the module part onto the rear side of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangik Lee
  • Vehicle air-conditioning system provided with seat air-conditioning unit
    Patent number: 9902303
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system comprising a vehicle air-conditioner which uses a target blowing-out temperature as the basis to control an air outlet temperature in a cabin and a seat air-conditioning unit which sucks recirculated air into a seat and controls at least the seat air-conditioning air flow per unit time so as to perform seat air-conditioning, wherein the air-conditioning system increases the seat air-conditioning air flow when detecting that the vehicle speed is a predetermined value or less, calculates a correction amount for the target blowing-out temperature considered neutral in warmness sense level for the increased seat air-conditioning air flow, and uses the correction amount as the basis to correct the target blowing-out temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Kawashima
  • Dishwasher with controlled dry cycle
    Patent number: 9895044
    Abstract: A method of drying dishes in a dishwasher having a condensation system for extracting liquid from air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher to control the dry cycle of the dishes in the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roger J. Bertsch, Keeley M. Kabala, Rafael C. Melo, Alvaro Vallejo Noriega
  • Cold water tank
    Patent number: 9897374
    Abstract: There is provided a cold water tank including: a first tank having an inlet pipe through which water to be cooled is introduced; and a second tank provided in the interior of the first tank such that water of the first tank can be introduced thereinto, having an evaporator included in a refrigerating cycle to cool the introduced water, and having an outlet pipe through which cooled water flows. Although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can remain in the cold water tank for a period of time required for being cooled, and although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can be in a stable state in the cold water tank. Thus, water can be cooled with its inflow pressure maintained, and the degree of freedom of a faucet or cock for allowing cold water to flow therethrough can be improved in its height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hyun-Young Kim, Woong Jung, Hyun-Hee Lee, Hwan-Seok Choi
  • Integrated power, cooling, and heating apparatus utilizing waste heat recovery
    Patent number: 9890664
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for utilizing waste heat to power a reconfigurable thermodynamic cycle that can be used to selectively cool or heat an environmentally controlled space, such as a room, building, or vehicle. The present invention also integrates an electric machine, which may operate as a motor or generator, or both, and an additional prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine. Different combinations of these components are preferable for different applications. The system provides a design which reasonably balances the need to maximize efficiency, while also keeping the design cost effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Dwayne M. Benson
  • Provisioning cooling elements for chillerless data centers
    Patent number: 9894811
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling include one or more computing structure, an inter-structure liquid cooling system that includes valves configured to selectively provide liquid coolant to the one or more computing structures; a heat rejection system that includes one or more heat rejection units configured to cool liquid coolant; and one or more liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers that include valves configured to selectively transfer heat from liquid coolant in the inter-structure liquid cooling system to liquid coolant in the heat rejection system. Each computing structure further includes one or more liquid-cooled servers; and an intra-structure liquid cooling system that has valves configured to selectively provide liquid coolant to the one or more liquid-cooled servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Pritish R. Parida
  • Air-conditioning apparatus
    Patent number: 9890974
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus achieves improvement of safety and further achieves saving of energy without allowing a refrigerant to circulate in or near an indoor unit. The air-conditioning apparatus is configured such that heat medium pipes have a larger inner cross-sectional area per unit capacity than that of refrigerant pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Clear ice maker and method for forming clear ice
    Patent number: 9890986
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly includes an ice tray having an ice forming plate with a top surface, a bottom surface and upstanding edges around a perimeter of the ice forming plate. A containment wall extends upwardly around the perimeter of the ice forming plate. The containment wall has a slot extending along a lower portion of the containment wall. The slot receives the upstanding edges of the ice forming plate to form the ice tray. A fluid line is configured to dispense water onto the top surface of the ice forming plate. A mechanical oscillating mechanism is coupled to the ice tray. The oscillating mechanism begins to rotate the tray in a rocking cycle about a transverse axis of the ice forming plate after ice has started to form along the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick J. Boarman
  • Metering system and method for cryogenic liquids
    Patent number: 9885447
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a cryogenic liquid includes a storage tank containing a supply of the cryogenic liquid and a metering chamber. A liquid inlet line is in communication with the storage tank and the metering chamber so that the metering chamber receives cryogenic liquid from the storage tank. A meter run is in communication with the metering chamber and includes a metering element, a dispensing line and a dispensing valve. A stabilizing column is positioned within the metering chamber and includes vertically spaced openings. Vertically spaced first and second pressure sensors are in communication with the interior of the stabilizing column. A controller is in communication with the metering element, the first and second pressure sensors and the dispensing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Drube, Thomas Drube
  • Tumble dryer with automatic fire extinguishing system
    Patent number: 9885142
    Abstract: A tumble dryer, in particular a household tumble dryer, includes a housing, a drum intended for laundry to be dried, which is supported rotatably in the housing, and a container positioned on an outer face of the lateral surface of the drum and holding an extinguishing agent. The container has a first temperature-activated release facility which automatically releases the extinguishing agent into a space outside the drum, in the presence of a temperature produced by a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Stegerwald
  • Indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus with grooved flow stabilizer
    Patent number: 9879868
    Abstract: A stabilizer has a tip portion at a boundary between the stabilizer and a nozzle, and a projection on the lower side of the tip portion, and a first recess is formed between the projection and the tip portion in a continuously recessed shape in the longitudinal direction of the cross flow fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Hirakawa, Takuya Niimura