Patents Examined by Jianying Atkisson
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Patent number: 9719719Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances are disclosed. In one embodiment, a refrigerator appliance may comprise a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein and a plurality of electrical connectors disposed at a plurality of shelf mounting positions within the temperature-controlled compartment. The refrigerator appliance may also comprise a plurality of adjustable shelves each carrying at least one light emitting diode (LED), where each of the plurality of adjustable shelves may be removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the at least one LED is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of electrical connectors. The refrigerator appliance may further comprise a power supply circuit that is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical connectors and that is configured to selectively supply power to only a subset of the plurality of electrical connectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James Kerner
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Patent number: 9709336Abstract: To cool a digestion vessel (2) of a calorimeter (3) by means of a liquid coolant, a recess (4) over which the digestion vessel (2) is invented during the cooling possess and which has one or more ports (10) for a cooling liquid by means of which the inside of the digestion vessel (2) is wetted in such a way that the coolant runs down over part or the entireties of this inside of the digestion vessel (2) so as to remove the heat thereof is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Hubert Pinhack
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Patent number: 9709310Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit performing an air-warming operation by circulating refrigerant through the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, and outdoor heat exchanger in order. The outdoor heat exchanger has flat perforated tubes arrayed vertically in multiple levels. The heat transfer tubes are sectioned into main and subordinate heat exchange parts. Upper and lower exit-entry spaces are formed in the outdoor heat exchanger. When an oil-accumulation-resolving criterion is met during the air-warming operation, low-refrigerant-circulation control, in which the refrigerant is circulated through the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, expansion valve, and outdoor heat exchanger in order, is performed for a predetermined time with an operating capacity of the compressor having been lowered to a predetermined capacity.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Makino, Yoshiaki Yumoto, Shouhei Miyatani, Tsuyoshi Yamada
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Patent number: 9696075Abstract: A container refrigeration device includes: a fan controller which reduces a rotation speed of an inside fan when a temperature inside a container is stabilized; and a rotation speed controller which reduces an operational rotation speed N of a compressor such that the temperature inside the container becomes equal to a target temperature as the fan controller reduces the rotation speed of the inside fan.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yuusuke Fujimoto, Kazuma Yokohara, Atsushi Okamoto
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Patent number: 9696099Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core portion, a pair of header tanks, and an elastically-deformable sealing member. The header tanks are arranged on both end sides of the core portion. The header tank includes a core plate and a resin tank body, which define a tank space. The sealing member is disposed at an end part of the tank body located adjacent to the core plate. The sealing member has a loop shape to enclose the tank space when viewed from the core portion and is formed integrally with the end part of the tank body. The end part of the tank body includes a protrusion portion at least one of inward and outward of the sealing member. The protrusion portion encloses the tank space when viewed from the core portion and projects from the end part of the tank body toward the core plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Osamu Hakamata, Yoshinori Ishihara, Hirotaka Ishikawa
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Patent number: 9696045Abstract: An air conditioner including: a converter circuit that is on an electronic substrate and converts an alternating current to a direct current; an inverter circuit that is on the electronic substrate and converts a direct current converted by the converter circuit to an alternating current to operate a motor that drives a compressor; an inverter control circuit that is on the electronic substrate and drives the inverter circuit; and a temperature detector that detects an outside air temperature input to the inverter control circuit, wherein the inverter control circuit includes a locked energization control unit, and the locked energization control unit performs AC locked energization or DC locked energization on the motor in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the temperature detector.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventor: Satoru Ichiki
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Patent number: 9689589Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit connecting heat-source units in parallel with usage units. First and second heat-source units have first and second compressors, first and second heat-source-side heat exchangers, first and second high-pressure receivers, first and second detecting elements detecting whether the receivers are near flooding, first and second bypass channels returning refrigerant in top parts of the receivers to intake sides of the compressors, and first and second motor-operated valves on the bypass channels, respectively. A controller performs excess refrigerant distribution control in which an opening degree of the first valve is controlled to be greater than an opening degree of the second valve when the second detecting element detects a nearly flooded state, and the opening degree of the second valve is controlled to be greater than the opening degree of the first valve when the first detecting element detects a nearly flooded state.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Junya Minami, Masahiro Oka, Mari Susaki
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Patent number: 9689594Abstract: An evaporator includes an inlet manifold, an outlet parallel to the inlet manifold, and a collection manifold parallel and adjacent to the outlet manifold. First flow conduits extend from the inlet manifold to the collection manifold, and at least one second flow conduit extends from the collection manifold to the outlet manifold. The evaporator can be housed within an enclosure to provide a cased evaporator. Air is conditioned by transferring heat from the air to refrigerant as the air passes through the evaporator. The refrigerant is received from outside the enclosure into the inlet manifold, and is directed through first and second refrigerant passes to receive heat from the air. The flow of refrigerant is received from the second pass into a collection manifold, is transferred to an outlet manifold, and is removed from the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Modine Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Mark W. Johnson, Eric P. Steinbach, George A. Baker, Bradley C. Engel, Gregory T. Kohler
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Patent number: 9689583Abstract: A method for occupancy based energy optimization can include determining a size and speed of a number of objects within an area, determining a number of human occupants within the area based on the size and speed of the number of objects within the area, and altering a number of environmental settings for the area based on the determined number of human occupants.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: SrinivasaRao Katuri, Steve Huseth, Amit Kulkarni
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Patent number: 9683768Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger configured to function as a condenser or an evaporator, indoor heat exchanges each configured to function as a condenser or an evaporator, a plurality of expansion valves each provided for a corresponding one of the indoor heat exchangers each configured to adjust a flow rate of a refrigerant that flows through the corresponding indoor heat exchanger, and a controller configured to control an operation capacity of the compressor and opening degrees of a plurality of expansion devices. When increasing heat exchange performance of the indoor heat exchanger, the controller increases the operation capacity of the compressor and controls the opening degree of the expansion valve corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger to decrease the flow rate of the refrigerant that flows through the indoor heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Keisuke Takayama, Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto, So Nomoto, Kosuke Tanaka
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Patent number: 9682607Abstract: Disclosed therein is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which includes an evaporator and a heater core mounted inside an air-conditioning case along an air flow direction in order; and a storage tank on which the evaporator is mounted, wherein the storage tank has a surface contact part carrying out heat exchange of the heat carrier, wherein the evaporator is in surface contact with the storage tank at the surface contact part. The air conditioner further includes a heat-exchanger mounted inside the storage tank exchanging heat between refrigerant circulating the evaporator and the heat carrier (cooling water) stored in the storage tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: HANON SYSTEMSInventors: Seong Seok Han, Seong Hyun Kim, Dong Gyun Kim, Hyung Joo Kim
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Patent number: 9683751Abstract: An outdoor unit for a multi-type air conditioner includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor expansion valve, a liquid tank, an accumulator, a shutoff valve provided for the refrigerant pipe between a liquid refrigerant inlet/outlet port and the liquid tank in the outdoor unit, and a first bypass circuit provided in the refrigerant pipe for bypassing the shutoff valve through a capillary tube to connect a liquid refrigerant inlet/outlet port side to an upper side of the refrigerant pipe in a gravity direction. The outdoor unit further includes a second bypass circuit for connecting a bottom portion of the liquid tank to an inlet side of the accumulator via an electromagnetic valve.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: TOSHIBA CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Yuji Inada, Yukio Kiguchi, Kiyotaka Ueno
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Patent number: 9683763Abstract: A compressor includes: a heat exchanger configured to discharge heat generated during compression outside the compressor; a cooling liquid inlet port through which cooling liquid flowing from outside the compressor into the compressor passes; and a cooling liquid outlet port through which the cooling liquid flowing out of the compressor from inside the compressor passes. The compressor is configured such that an operation mode is switchable between a first mode in which the cooling liquid passing through the cooling liquid inlet port flows in the heat exchanger in a predetermined first direction and passes through the cooling liquid outlet port, and a second mode in which the cooling liquid passing through the cooling liquid inlet port flows in the heat exchanger in a second direction opposite to the first direction and passes through the cooling liquid outlet port.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Toru Maruyama
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Patent number: 9677828Abstract: An apparatus includes an inlet, an outlet, and a sheet disposed proximate a heat transfer surface, wherein the sheet is oriented in a sheet plane that is displaced from a plane of the heat transfer surface by an angle of at least 10 degrees. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tabs attached to the sheet, the tabs lying in respective tab planes, wherein the tab planes and the sheet plane intersect forming respective intersections. The intersections of the tab planes and the sheet plane are substantially parallel. The intersections of the tab planes and the sheet plane are at an angle of less than 88° to the heat transfer surface, and the plurality of tabs collectively form channels directing a fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet to impinge the heat transfer surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ZONEFLOW REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES, LLPInventor: Jonathan Jay Feinstein
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Patent number: 9675186Abstract: A pan apparatus for a merchandiser including a case having a platform defining an opening. The pan apparatus includes a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls cooperating with the bottom wall to define a space for supporting product in the pan. At least two of the sidewalls each includes a frame engagement member adjacent a top of the pan. The pan apparatus also includes a frame positioned adjacent a top of the sidewalls and coupled to the frame engagement members. The frame extends along at least two sidewalls of the pan and is configured to engage the platform adjacent the opening to suspend the pan. The frame defines a plurality of holes spaced along at least a portion of the perimeter such that an airflow from below the pan is directed upward along the sidewalls and discharged through the frame via the holes to condition the product.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Hussmann CorporationInventor: Andrew R. McGowan
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Patent number: 9671146Abstract: Generally, apparatuses, systems, and methods are described to vent refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant pump line using a vent line, such as during priming of the pump and/or during a startup of the compressor, directed to a relatively reduced volute casing mass of the refrigerant pump, and/or directed to returning refrigerant to an economizer or chiller component other than the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Daoud Ali Jandal, Brian Thomas Sullivan, Steven Erwin Meloling, Reginald Loyd Berry, Ronald Allen Boldt, Matthew Aron Witt, Damion Scott Plymesser
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Patent number: 9664406Abstract: A refrigeration unit is provided for conditioning air within a refrigerated chamber for housing perishable goods having an improved air exchange device for selectively admitting fresh air into the refrigerated chamber while simultaneously venting air from within the refrigerated chamber. The air exchange device includes a tubular member having a first chamber and a second chamber isolated from first chamber, the first chamber having an inlet in flow communication with a fresh air source and an outlet opening in flow communication with the refrigerated chamber on a suction side of the evaporator, and the second chamber having an inlet in flow communication with the refrigerated chamber in a discharge side of evaporator fan and an outlet opening in flow communication with a space exterior of the refrigerated chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventor: Harold P. Hill, Jr.
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Patent number: 9664398Abstract: The present development is a building air cooling system using cool ground water, e.g. well water. Building air is cooled by coming into direct contact with cool ground water in a compact chamber using PVC packing for maximizing heat transfer efficiency, conserving space and reducing the required ground water pumping power consumption without requiring expensive compression and expansion cycles of the traditional air conditioning systems. If additional cooling is desirable, a second stage traditional air conditioning or heat pump system may also be used.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Inventor: Clyde Wesley DeVore
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Patent number: 9664428Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice container is provided, and more particularly, a refrigerator with an ice container, in which ice stored in an ice container may be transferred by gravity, and the ice thus transferred may be discharged in a cubic ice state or a broken ice state.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Sungsik Kang
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Patent number: 9657970Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a compressor, an expansion space where a high-pressure working gas discharged from a discharge side of the compressor is caused to expand, and a valve. The valve includes a first member including a first channel connecting to the discharge side and a second member including a second channel connecting to the expansion space. The first and second members are configured to rotate relative to and in contact with each other to connect or disconnect the first and second channels. In a plane where the first and second members are in contact, a first distance that is a distance of closest approach between the first channel and a valve circumference defined by a circumference of one of the first and second members having a smaller diameter is greater than a second distance that is a distance of closest approach between the second channel and the valve circumference.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takaaki Morie, Mingyao Xu