Patents Examined by John K. Ford
  • Patent number: 7527091
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a cooling heat exchanger for cooling air is arranged in the air conditioning case, and a cooling/heating switching heat exchanger is arranged at a downstream air side of the cooling heat exchanger in the air conditioning case. A first bypass passage is provided at one side of the cooling heat exchanger in the air conditioning case, so that air flows through the first bypass passage while bypassing the cooling heat exchanger. A second bypass passage is provided at one side of the cooling/heating switching heat exchanger in the air conditioning case on an opposite side of the first bypass passage with respect to the first heat exchanger, so that air flows through the second bypass passage while bypassing the cooling/heating switching heat exchanger. Accordingly, a size of the air conditioner can be effectively decreased while a maximum cooling capacity can be sufficiently obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Tomohide Shindo
  • Patent number: 7520320
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system has a primary hot water circuit 11 located on a side where a vehicle installed heat generator 10 is located and a secondary hot water circuit 13 which includes a hot water type heater core 12 for heating passenger compartment outlet air, whereby when in a heating mode, in the event that a coolant temperature TW1 of the primary hot water circuit is lower than a coolant temperature TW2 of the secondary hot water circuit 13, an opening and closing valve 26 is closed, whereas an opening and closing valve 23 is opened, so that a state is created in which the hot water circuits 11, 13 are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Yoshitaka Tomatsu, Yasutaka Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7497251
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a first air-conditioning control value is calculated based on a surface temperature detected by a non-contact temperature sensor in a temperature detection area of a passenger compartment. When it is determined that an obstacle exists between the temperature detection area and the non-contact temperature sensor, a second air-conditioning control value is calculated according to a temperature information that is influenced less by the obstacle than the detected surface temperature. When it is determined that the obstacle does not exist, an air conditioning state of the passenger compartment is controlled based on the first air-conditioning control value. When it is determined that the obstacle exists, the first air-conditioning control value is corrected to approach the second air-conditioning control value to calculate a corrected air-conditioning control value, so that the air conditioning state can be controlled satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Tatsumi Kumada
  • Patent number: 7497247
    Abstract: The heat exchanger is made economically by using thermoplastic sheets with hollow tubes and spacers between the sheets and fusing the edges of the sheets together to form an integral housing. Preferably, the heat exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Klas C. Haglid, Building Performance Equipment
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 7490662
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including an inlet port, an outlet port, a header, a plurality of cooling tubes, and a thermal bypass valve integrated therein. The thermal bypass valve is located in the header and is configured to restrict the flow of fluid through the cooling tubes of the heat exchanger below a target fluid temperature. The thermal bypass valve includes a valve body that is movable between first and second operational modes to restrict and not restrict the flow of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manos Eliades, Loren J. Lohmeyer, III
  • Patent number: 7484557
    Abstract: An air conditioner housing having an evaporation device, a heating device, an air control device, an interior space in which air flow paths are formed, and having a housing which surrounds the interior space, is proposed. The air conditioner housing (1) is defined in that a first air flow path (15) and a second air flow path (17) are formed, and in that the air control device (9) has at least two mixing flaps (11, 13), a first mixing flap (11) of which is designed to the first air flow path (15), and a second mixing flap (13) of which is assigned to the second airflow path (17), and in that the mixing flaps (11, 13) each completely open the assigned air flow path (15, 17) in a first functional position and completely close it in a second functional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Behr France S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Henri Klein, Evripidis Koukouravas
  • Patent number: 7481262
    Abstract: A keel cooler having a standard header with an internal beveled bottom wall, with orifices on the inner wall of the exterior tubes extending into the header, the orifices being in the natural flow path of the coolant flow. The orifices are sufficiently large so as not to restrict the flow of coolant. A fluid flow diverter is additionally provided in the header of the keel cooler for facilitating coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey, P. Charles Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7478670
    Abstract: A modular system for a 1-to-4 zone climate control system for vehicles, which is provided with at least one housing and several air tempering and air distribution devices including a fan, optionally a filter, an evaporator, a heater and several doors arranged at a partition that is placed orthogonal to the evaporator and provided to divide the total volume flow into two partial volume flows for the left and right vehicle sides. In the first configuration the partition is provided with several blind fittings for the closing of the flow paths associated with air outlets and air channels of a second configuration. In the second configuration, the blind fittings are replaced with additional doors enabling the use of the air outlets and air channels of additional zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Richter, Thomas Ehlers
  • Patent number: 7464748
    Abstract: An intercooler system includes an air duct configured to be supplied with outside air, an evaporator, and a heater core of an air-conditioning system being disposed within the air duct. An intercooler is supplied with the outside air from the air duct and configured to cool intake air passing therethrough using the outside air. A valve unit regulates flow of the outside air such that the outside air passes at least one of the evaporator and the heater core and is then supplied to the intercooler. Also, a control unit controls operation of the air-conditioning system and the valve unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Joon Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 7461687
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger which can suitably regulate the quantity, the feeding position or the feeding order of heat exchange medium fed into tubes to adjust heat exchange performance according to cooling and heating load. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of tubes placed at least one header, each tube having both ends fixed to the header, medium-distributing means installed at the header for feeding heat exchange medium to the specific tubes, a tank placed over the medium-distributing means, the tank having a medium-inlet pipe, a medium-outlet pipe and distribution passages for feeding heat exchange medium to specific regions of the medium-distributing means, and medium-regulating means installed at the tank and operated in response to a control signal for adjusting the feed of the heat exchange medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Seongseok Han, Taeyoung Park
  • Patent number: 7458222
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus enables the temperature of a liquid located external to the apparatus in a recirculation loop to be controlled by heat transfer within the apparatus. A manifold fitting is also provided for distributing fluid from multiple conduits to a single conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Purity Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Troy J. Orr
  • Patent number: 7458414
    Abstract: Improvement, in hydraulic systems, such as for vehicle transmissions and the like, in the form of a hydraulic reservoir with integrated heat exchanger having fluid supply/return and fluid return ports, including a central section, having inner and outer shell portions with a first gap therebetween, the outer shell being provided with a plurality of radially-spaced, external cooling fins, longitudinally-directed for the length of the central section; the ends of the latter being closed off via respective bottom and top cap portions, thereby defining a central fluid cavity, the top cap portion having spaced outer and inner cap portions, with a second gap therebetween, with a fluid inlet port, in the outer cap portion, directing incoming fluid from the second gap into and through the entire length of the first gap before entering the central fluid cavity, thereby maximizing heat transfer from the fluid via the plurality of cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew H. Simon
  • Patent number: 7458418
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat accepting heat exchanger. A storage tank stores the water that cools the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. A mechanical interface plate positioned between a hot water reservoir and a cold water reservoir in the storage tank reduces heat transfer between the hot water and the cold water. During a water heating mode, cold water from the cold reservoir flows into the heat sink to cool the refrigerant in the heat rejecting heat exchanger. As the water exchanges heat with the refrigerant, the water is heated in the heat sink, exits the heat sink, and flows into the hot reservoir of the storage tank. During a water discharge mode, the hot water in the hot reservoir is removed from the storage tank and flows into a hot water discharge. Cold water from a water source flows into the cold reservoir of the storage tank to refill the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Tobias H. Sienel
  • Patent number: 7455103
    Abstract: An electronic equipment is provided, which comprises a liquid-cooling system and a cooling fan as a cooling system, efficiently cools the liquid-cooling system, and reduces fan noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sato, Hironori Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7455099
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed for evaluating and monitoring performance of a heat exchanger system. Operating parameters of the system are monitored and fouling factors for heat transfer surfaces of the exchanger are determined. Trending of fouling may be performed over time based upon the fouling factors, and a model of fouling may be selected from known sets of models, or a model may be developed or refined. Fluid treatment, such as water treatment regimes may be taken into account in evaluation of fouling. An automated knowledge based analysis algorithm may diagnose possible caused of fouling based upon sensed and observed parameters and conditions. Corrective actions may be suggested and the system controlled to reduce, avoid or correct for detected fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark David Osborn, Vijaysai Prasad, Lijie Yu, Venkatarao Ryali, Sunil Shirish Shah, Ivy Wai Man Chong, Shirley Suet-Yee Au, Nishith Pramod Vora
  • Patent number: 7455100
    Abstract: A cooling system for a work machine is disclosed. The cooling system has a heat exchanger pivotally connected along a pivot axis. The cooling system also has a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit is connected to a first end of the heat exchanger at the pivot axis. The second fluid conduit is connected to the heat exchanger at a second end opposite the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Tallon
  • Patent number: 7448435
    Abstract: A control system is provided for automatically setting up and controlling a climate control system for a building having one or more zones and one or more thermostats in communication with the associated heating or cooling components of the climate control system. In some embodiments, the climate control system comprises one or more heating or cooling systems which may be controlled by one or more thermostats. In other embodiments, the climate control system comprises a thermostat, a heating and cooling system, one or more remote temperature sensors corresponding to at least some of the one or more zones within the building, and one or more dampers corresponding to at least some of the one or more zones within the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: James P. Garozzo
  • Patent number: 7448436
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger, a core has a first core portion including first tubes and a second core portion including second tubes. The first tubes defines first passages through which an internal fluid flows and the second tubes defines second passages through which the internal fluid passed through the first passages flows. A flow direction of the internal fluid passed through a first section of the first core portion and a flow direction of the refrigerant passed through a second section of the first core portion are changed with respect to a direction that the tubes are layered, before flowing in the second core portion. Thus, the internal fluid passed through the first section of the first core portion flows into a second section of the second core portion and the internal fluid passed through the second section of the first core portion flows into a first section of the second core portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Masaaki Kawakubo, Etsuo Hasegawa, Ken Muto
  • Patent number: 7441588
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger unit that can save space, even when performing air conditioning in addition to ventilation. The heat exchanger unit performs heat exchange ventilation with a supply air channel flowing from an outdoor space to an indoor space and an exhaust air channel flowing from the indoor space to the outdoor space and includes an optical deodorization portion and a first blowing portion. The optical deodorization portion is provided so as to be linked to at least the indoor space and performs air conditioning with a circulation channel. The circulation channel is provided in the vicinity of either the supply air channel or the exhaust air channel. The first blowing portion includes a double-suction first impeller having a first suction inlet and a second suction inlet. Here, one of the supply air channel and the exhaust air channel that is provided in the vicinity of the circulation channel is provided at the first suction inlet side of the first impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsugi, Akira Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7434611
    Abstract: A roof module (10) for a motor vehicle, with an integrated climate control system (12, 14, 16, 18). Furthermore, the roof module (10) includes a fuel cell system (32, 34, 38). The roof module (10) is preferably a pre-mounted complete motor vehicle roof with bordering modules, preferably with extra integrated functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Christian Wunderlich, Michael Stelter