Patents Examined by Joel Attey
  • Patent number: 10399058
    Abstract: A flow reactor has a module (12) that comprises at least first (20), second (30), and third (40) parallel plates stacked temporarily or permanently together and defining a first thermal fluid layer (25) between the first (20) and second plates (30) and a process fluid layer (35) between the second (30) and third plates (40), the process fluid layer (35) comprising a process fluid passage (32) having two or more U-bends and three or more successive process fluid passage segments joined by respective U-bends, the first thermal fluid layer (25) comprising at least two open thermal fluid channels (26) in the second plate (30), the at least two open channels (26) positioned, when viewed in a plan view of the module (12), between respective adjacent process fluid passage segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Elena Daniela Lavric
  • Patent number: 10371463
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a rectangular-shaped core having a plurality of fluid passages extending in a width direction and air fins interleaved between said fluid passages. The heat exchanger has tanks that define fluid manifolds located at opposite ends of the core and fluidly connected by the plurality of fluid passages between the tanks. The tanks each include a tank section with open ends and end caps that enclose the ends of the tank section. The tanks are assembled and attached to the core such that each of the end caps is located at each of four corners of the rectangular-shaped core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Dimmer, John Kis
  • Patent number: 10371468
    Abstract: A microchannel heat pipe formed on a substrate surface using co-extruding a primary material and a secondary material such that the primary material forms side wall portions that are spaced apart by the secondary material, and an upper wall portion is formed across the upper ends of the side walls to form a composite structure. After the primary material hardens, the secondary material is removed, whereby the hardened primary material forms a pipe body having an elongated central channel defined between opposing end openings. A working fluid is then inserted into the elongated central channel, and sealing structures are then formed over both end openings to encapsulate the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: David Eric Schwartz, Ranjeet Balakrishna Rao
  • Patent number: 10371457
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device includes a first fin group, a second fin group, a heat pipe and a base. The base is in thermal contact with a heat source. The heat pipe includes a first pipe part and a second pipe part. The second pipe part is connected with the first pipe part and extended upwardly. The first pipe part is arranged between the base and the second fin group. The second pipe part is penetrated through the first fin group. The distance between a top surface of the first fin group and the base is larger than the distance between a top surface of the second fin group and the base. Since influences of the dissipating area and the wind resistance are taken into consideration, the heat dissipation device has enhanced heat dissipating efficacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AURAS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chen, Chun-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 10369865
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has a steerable outlet for directing a stream of treated air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A thermographic imager is configured to capture thermographic images covering a fixed region within the passenger compartment in which an occupant is potentially located. The HVAC control circuit is configured to a) compress a thermographic image to a temperature map representing pixels of the thermographic image falling within a predetermined temperature range corresponding to the occupant, b) filter the temperature map according to a sliding window to coalesce continuous regions of pixels on average falling within the predetermined temperature range, c) quantify an area for each continuous region, d) locate a centroid of a continuous region having a largest area, and e) aim the steerable outlet toward the centroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: William Paul Perkins
  • Patent number: 10278306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling arrangement comprising a heat spreader (2) comprising a first surface (5), a second surface (8), at least one heat absorption chamber (9) and at least one heat dissipation chamber (10), the at least one heat absorption chamber (9) being in thermal contact with the first surface (5) and the at least one heat dissipation chamber (10) being in thermal contact with the second surface (8) and hydraulically coupled to the at least one heat absorption chamber (9). A cooling fluid (13) can be driven from the heat absorption chamber (9) to the heat dissipation chamber (10) using a plurality of flow patterns for cooling the first surface (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBAL FOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Urs Kloter, Ryan Joseph Linderman, Bruno Michel, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Reto Waelchli
  • Patent number: 10267458
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage and release arrangement comprising a vessel having a first end, a second end and an interior volume. The arrangement includes a first set of tubes extending into the interior volume from the first end of the vessel. Tubes of the first set of tubes each comprise a metal hydride. The arrangement further includes a second set of tubes, where tubes of the second set of tubes each include a metal hydride. The metal hydride of the first set of tubes and the metal hydride of the second set of tubes are arranged to absorb and desorb hydrogen gas in response to temperature changes caused by heat exchange fluid. The second set of tubes extends into the interior volume from the second end of the vessel. The embodiments herein also relate to use of a hydrogen storage and release arrangement and a method for storing and releasing hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Hystorsys AS
    Inventors: Jon Eriksen, Roman Denys, Christopher Kloed
  • Patent number: 10260822
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger comprises a plate package of permanently connected heat exchanger plates that defines a surrounding wall. Two mounting plates are permanently connected to an end surface of the plate package, in spaced relation to each other. Each mounting plate comprises opposing flat engagement surfaces and a peripheral edge that forms a perimeter of the mounting plate. Each mounting plate is arranged with one of its engagement surfaces permanently connected to the end surface, such that the peripheral edge partially extends beyond the outer periphery of the end surface, to define a mounting flange, and partially extends across the end surface in contact with the same. The mounting plates have a decreasing thickness towards the peripheral edge in predefined intersection regions, which are located where the peripheral edge intersects with the perimeter of the surrounding wall as seen in a normal direction to the end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: HÃ¥kan Larsson
  • Patent number: 10247494
    Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of an operating heat exchanger is disclosed. A carrier liquid is provided to the heat exchanger. The carrier liquid contains a potential fouling agent. The potential fouling agent is entrained in the carrier liquid, dissolved in the carrier liquid, or a combination thereof. The potential fouling agent fouls the heat exchanger by condensation, crystallization, solidification, desublimation, reaction, deposition, or combinations thereof. A gas-injection device is provided on the inlet of the heat exchanger. A non-reactive gas is injected into the carrier liquid through the gas-injection device. The non-reactive gas will not foul the heat exchanger surface and will not condense into the carrier liquid. The non-reactive gas creates a disturbance by increasing flow velocity and creating a shear discontinuity, thereby breaking up crystallization and nucleation sites on the surface of the heat exchanger. In this manner, fouling of the operating heat exchanger is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, David Frankman, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10228198
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, methods, and systems for heat exchange, comprising one or more multi-disk rotors, one or more finned thermal elements, and a cover, which, even without an external fan, are combined in one apparatus to form a directed movement of fluid and heat exchange. Additional embodiments comprise an additional circulation chamber, integrated with/within said apparatus and/or external fans and/or at least one baffle in a circulation chamber for further directing and intensifying a changing of temperature of fluid passing through the apparatus. A highly efficient heat exchange is achieved by a high temperature gradient near the heat transferring surface and by a high-volume pumping capability of the multi-disk fan. The devices, methods, and systems are particularly applicable in fields that require compactness and low noise levels during operation, such as air conditioning and CPU cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Aleksandr Reshetnyak
  • Patent number: 10231363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular cooling apparatus for a high-voltage direct-current transmission system. A sub-module (10) according to the present invention comprises a power unit (12) in the front and a capacitor unit (13) in the rear, and a heat sink (30) for discharging heat generated from the interior is provided in an interior space (14?) of a power unit housing (14) forming the exterior of the power unit (12). A coolant path (31) is provided in the interior of the heat sink (30). The entrance and exit of the coolant path (31) are located adjacent to the bottom surface of the interior space (14?). Connecting couplers (20) for supplying coolant to the interior space (14?) are provided on the sloped surface (16) on the bottom end of the front surface (15) of the power unit housing (14). The sloped surface (16) is formed so as to face the ground at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: June-Sung Kim, Hong-Ju Jung, Jong-Yun Choi
  • Patent number: 10220675
    Abstract: A device and method for mitigating freezing-precipitation accumulation for a vehicle window are described. The device and method include retrieving ambient temperature data. When the ambient temperature data exceeds a temperature threshold for freezing precipitation, sensing ambient light from within a vehicle cabin to produce light magnitude sample data and comparing the light magnitude sample data with a baseline light magnitude sample data from within the vehicle cabin. When the light magnitude sample data compares unfavorably with the baseline light magnitude sample data, generating a vehicle window defroster command for transmission to activate a vehicle window defroster operable to be powered by a vehicle battery source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Frankie B. Reed
  • Patent number: 10222134
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a dual loop coolant system used to control an engine temperature. In one example, cooling capacity is transferred from a low temperature loop to a heat exchanger, and cooling capacity stored in the heat exchanger is transferred to a high temperature loop (e.g., an engine coolant loop). The flow of coolant from the dual loop coolant system to the heat exchanger may be regulated responsive to a temperature of the coolant in each of the low temperature loop and the high temperature loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ravi Gopal
  • Patent number: 10215501
    Abstract: A thermally actuated heat pipe control valve which includes a housing having a first opening for receiving a condenser portion of a heat pipe therein, a second opening for receiving an evaporator portion of the heat pipe therein and a passage extending through the housing from the first opening to the second opening. The passage is configured to receive working fluid from the heat pipe therein. A passage closing member is positioned in the housing proximate to or in the passage. The passage closing member having a surface which cooperates with a wall of the passage. At a specific temperature, the passage closing member moves into the passage to a closed position, preventing the flow of the working fluid, thereby preventing heat transfer between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion when the design temperature is reached or exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ADVANCED COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Reist, Greg Troszak, Peter Dussinger
  • Patent number: 10203164
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a system that includes a thermal valve having a first position and a second position, a heat transfer fluid, and an energy converter where, when in the first position, the thermal valve prevents the transfer of heat from the heat transfer fluid to the energy converter, and when in the second position, the thermal valve allows the transfer of heat from the heat transfer fluid to the energy converter, such that at least a portion of the heat transferred is converted to electricity by the energy converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Michele L. Olsen, Eric S. Toberer, David Samuel Ginley, Philip A. Parilla, Emily L. Warren, Aaron Daniel Martinez, Jonathan E. Rea, Corey Lee Hardin, Christopher J. Oshman, Nathan P. Siegel
  • Patent number: 10198046
    Abstract: A serial pump includes a pump body, a first impeller and a second impeller. A first rotor chamber, a second rotor chamber and a connecting channel are formed in the pump body. The first rotor chamber has a first outlet opening, the second rotor chamber has a second inlet opening, and the connecting channel is communicated between the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first impeller is pivotally arranged in the first rotor chamber, and an outer periphery of the first impeller is arranged corresponding to the first outlet opening. The second impeller is pivotally arranged in the second rotor chamber, and a center of the second impeller is arranged corresponding to the second inlet opening. Accordingly, the first impeller and the second impeller are serially arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shui-Fa Tsai
  • Patent number: 10197342
    Abstract: A method of operating a heat exchanger is disclosed in which an electric field is applied to a hydrophobic surface having condensed water droplets thereon to reduce a contact angle between the individual droplet surfaces and the hydrophobic surface, and to increase droplet surface energy to a second surface energy level. The electric field is removed to increase the contact angle between the individual droplet surfaces and the hydrophobic surface, and to reduce droplet surface energy to a third surface energy level. The third surface energy level is greater than the first surface energy level and greater than a surface energy level for a free droplet. A portion of the droplet surface energy is converted to kinetic energy to detach droplets from the hydrophobic surface. The detached droplets are removed from the heat rejection side fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Miad Yazdani, Craig R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10184735
    Abstract: The invention relates to various ways in which to integrate control valves into the structure of a heat exchanger. The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger assembly that includes a heat exchanger and a valve integration unit. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relation, and at least one inlet manifold and one outlet manifold interconnected by one of the plurality of first or second fluid passages. The valve integration unit is fixedly attached to heat exchanger and includes a fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds. A valve mechanism is mounted within the valve integration unit in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the valve mechanism controlling the flow of a heat exchange fluid through said fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Sheppard, Dario Bettio, Sachin Bhatia
  • Patent number: 10184733
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first flow passage where first liquid flows; a second flow passage where second liquid flows; and a heat exchanger main body configured to exchange heat between the first liquid and the second liquid. The heat exchanger main body includes a cross-sectional area adjuster configured to change a flow passage cross-sectional area of at least one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage by thermal deformation. The cross-sectional area adjuster adjusts a value of the flow passage cross-sectional area in a low temperature range to be larger than a value of the flow passage cross-sectional area in a high temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Tominaga, Daisuke Tokozakura, Takahiro Shiina, Kazuya Arakawa, Hitoshi Takayama, Keisuke Ichige, Masanori Iritani
  • Patent number: 10178801
    Abstract: A cabinet liquid cooling system is configured to dissipate heat of a cabinet. A flow allocation unit is installed on a single side of the cabinet, is located in space between a side wall of the cabinet and a mounting bar of the cabinet, and is provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A liquid cooling system (LCS) control unit is installed at the bottom of the cabinet and cyclically supplies liquid to the flow allocation unit using the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet. A liquid supply branch includes a liquid delivery pipe and a liquid return pipe. A node pipe includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe. Both the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are connected to the corresponding liquid delivery pipe and liquid return pipe using the quick male connector and the quick female connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lianjun Liu, Yao Li