Patents Examined by Jonathan Koagel
  • Patent number: 8721274
    Abstract: A blower having a divergence guide portion to reduce flow loss and discharge noise and an air conditioner having the same are provided. The blower includes a scroll casing, suction holes provided at opposite positions of the scroll casing, a discharge hole provided at a top position of the scroll casing, a centrifugal fan received in the scroll casing, and a divergence guide portion gently diverging air to the discharge hole after passing through the centrifugal fan to diffuse the air to both sides of the discharge hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Oh Han
  • Patent number: 8695372
    Abstract: A cooler device for storing food items separately from the ice and liquid used to keep the food items cold. The cooler device has a first half housing and a second half housing, in which the bottom surface of the first half housing is removably attached to the top edge of the second half housing; a lid for attaching to the top edge of the first half housing; a plurality of vents disposed in a tray near the bottom surface of the first half housing; a sliding plate with apertures disposed in the tray near the bottom surface of the first half housing, the sliding plate can slide within the tray located near the bottom surface of the first half housing between an open position wherein the plate apertures are aligned with the vents and a closed position wherein the sliding plate covers the vents; and a sliding button disposed on the sliding plate, the sliding button provides a user a way of moving the sliding plate between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: William C. Dyal
  • Patent number: 8596552
    Abstract: A valve (4) for a refrigeration system. Comprises two diaphragms (8, 10) being operatively connected. One diaphragm (8) is in contact with the refrigerant, the other (10) is in contact with the filling fluid. The two diaphragms (8, 10) may have different active areas. In combination with the connection between the two diaphragms (8, 10) this provides a ‘pressure gearing’ between the filling fluid and the refrigerant. Allows the pressure of the filling fluid to be relatively low even when the pressure of the refrigerant is high, while ensuring that the valve (4) can function properly. Particularly suitable for high pressure refrigeration systems, such as CO2 systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Holger Nicolaisen, Jens Erik Rasmussen, Torben Funder-Kristensen, Joergen Trelle-Pedersen, Torben Matzon, Anders Vestergaard, Lars Mou Jessen
  • Patent number: 8534090
    Abstract: A system for cooling an auxiliary device having a main housing with at least one canister port, at least one fluid manifold mounted within the housing and in communication with the port, and a removable dry ice canister inserted in to the fluid manifold. Connected to the fluid manifold is a fluid line and connected to the canister is an air pressure line. Both the air pressure and fluid lines are connected to the pump. As the dry ice melts, it cools the fluid and creates pressure that activates the pump to pump fluid to the auxiliary device and back to the manifold for subsequent cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Solid Cooling, LLC
    Inventor: William E. Sowder
  • Patent number: 8511110
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooler of table-type, which can be easily kept in custody and reduce power consumption, and which can increase a cooling efficiency and provide a visual satisfaction to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Byung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8443619
    Abstract: An ice making unit and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes an ice making unit to make ice pieces. The ice making unit includes a plurality of ice making trays to form ice pieces, a lever part connected to the ice making trays to simultaneously rotate the ice making trays, and a stopper to prevent one of a pair of rotating shafts of each of the ice making trays from being rotated at a predetermined angle or more so that the ice making trays get twisted when the ice making trays are rotated. Accordingly, ice pieces can be separated from the ice making trays by operation of a single lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 8443618
    Abstract: A cooling and/or freezing device, in particular a refrigerator, upright freezer or chest freezer, includes an evaporator for cooling air, a blower for supplying the cooled air into the interior of the cooling and/or freezing device, and a first heater for de-icing the evaporator. The device also includes, a second heater, arranged such that during operation of the second heater, the temperature of the blower surface lies above the dew point of the air present in the vicinity of the blower, at least in certain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Christian Schropp
  • Patent number: 8387935
    Abstract: A furnace system is provided having a blower bracket arrangement. The blower bracket arrangement is configured to mount both a blower and electrical controls for the furnace. The bracket supports the blower for the HVAC system and provides an easy mode for moving the blower in and out of the HVAC system for maintenance and repairs. The electrical controls are easily accessible when mounted to the blower bracket arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tabraiz Ali Khan, Robert Cabrera, Bennie Dale Hoyt
  • Patent number: 8375738
    Abstract: A sprinkle guide provided above an ice making plate in a trickle ice making machine having the ice making plate on which vertically extending projecting portions are formed while spaced apart in the lateral direction and making a lump of ice from ice making water supplied to ice making surfaces provided between adjoining projecting portions, and an ice making water tank provided below the ice making plate. The ice making plate includes cover parts located above each projecting portions, guide parts provided between adjoining cover parts to face the ice making surfaces while inclining downward from the projecting end side of the projecting portions toward the ice making surfaces side and guiding the ice making water to the ice making surfaces through a slit defined between the inclination lower end and the ice making surfaces and a notch provided at the upper end of the guide parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawasumi, Yuji Wakatsuki, Seiji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8375737
    Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic appliance comprises an ice tray, a water feed line which can be used to fill the ice tray with water, a water filter which is arranged in the water feed line such that it can be replaced, and a monitoring unit for calculating a value which is representative of the degree of wear of the filter. The monitoring unit has means for changing the representative value by a first fixed step width each time the ice tray is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Hausmann, Peter Nalbach
  • Patent number: 8333082
    Abstract: An air conditioning system condensate collection pan or water leak containment pan electrical control switch includes a housing or frame for supporting a switch unit which includes an elongated actuator arm. The housing includes a slot disposed adjacent a distal end of the actuator arm for receiving a water soluble tablet engageable with the actuator arm to bias the arm into a predetermined position of the switch. Abnormal accumulation of condensate or leaking water dissolves the tablet and allows the actuator arm to move to a position to effect actuation of the switch. The switch may be connected to a control unit, a thermostat and/or to an alarm generator including a self-contained unit having battery powered audio and/or visual alarm devices, an on-off switch and a circuit test switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Joe D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8327660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermochemical device and to a method for producing refrigeration at very low temperature. The device produces refrigeration at a temperature Tf<?20° C., from an available heat source at a temperature Th of 60-80° C. and a heat sink at the ambient temperature To of 10° C.-25° C. It comprises two coupled dipoles, operating in phase opposition. The thermochemical phenomena in one of the dipoles are such that this dipole may produce refrigeration at Tf with a heat sink at the ambient temperature To. The thermochemical phenomena in the other dipole are such that this dipole may be regenerated from the heat source Th and a heat sink at the temperature To.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Driss Stitou, Nathalie Mazet, Bernard Spinner, Caroline Spinner Brossard, legal representative, Anne Christel Spinner Kohler, legal representative, Bruno Spinner, legal representative, Martin Spinner, legal representative, Camille Spinner, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8302425
    Abstract: The invention discloses a regenerative adsorption system (50). The system includes at least two reactors (60, 70) capable of operating in an adsorption mode and a desorption mode and two liquid atomization units (62, 72) respectively in fluid communication with the reactors (60, 70). The liquid atomization units (62, 72) being capable of atomizing liquid to form adsorbate vapor or to condense desorbed vapor. In operation, the reactor in the adsorption mode adsorbs the adsorbate vapor and the reactor in the desorption mode produces desorbed vapor that is condensed by the atomised liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cyclect Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8302427
    Abstract: An evaporator includes two heat exchangers including an entry-side heat exchanger and an exit-side heat exchanger which are arranged opposite each other. The entry-side heat exchanger has a first path, a second path, and a third path, and the exit-side heat exchanger has a fourth path, a fifth path, and a sixth path. The sectional area of heat exchange passages of the first path in which refrigerant from an entry firstly flows downward is set smaller than the sectional area of heat exchange passages of the fifth path in which the refrigerant lastly flows downward. The sectional area of heat exchange passages of the sixth path in which the refrigerant to an exit lastly flows upward is set smaller than the sectional area of heat exchange passages of the second path in which the refrigerant firstly flows upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8292575
    Abstract: A fan apparatus and an air conditioner employing such a fan apparatus are provided to reduce noise and enhance efficiency. The fan apparatus may be driven by a BLDC motor that stably drives the fan and increases an air flow rate. Heat exchange efficiency of an outdoor unit of a front suction/discharge type air conditioner may be improved by such a fan apparatus driven by such a BLDC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Gyu Kim, Byung Il Park, Ja Hyung Koo, Yang Ho Kim, Kyeong Wook Heo, Si Kyong Sung, Dong Hyuk Lee, Young Hwan Ko, Jun Hyeon Hwang, Ho Jin Song, Jin Seong Hwang, Young Ho Hong, Hwan Jong Choi, Geun Bae Hwang, Chun Su Kang, Tae Geun Kim
  • Patent number: 8281613
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a storage chamber, a door coupled to the refrigerator main body to be opened or closed, a cool air supplying device which generates cool air, an ice maker including an ice making tray having ice making cells to produce ice and a cool air guide member installed in the door, coupled to the ice making tray and having a cool air line that guides the cool air supplied from the cool air supplying device to flow around the ice making tray. The cool air line disposed on the cool air guide member to supply the ice making tray guides the cool air supplied from the cool air supplying device to move along the surrounding of the ice making tray, thereby uniformly cooling down the ice making tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Jae Koog An, Jung Rae Kim, Jong Yeob Kim
  • Patent number: 8250880
    Abstract: A dispenser has a dispenser cover having an accommodating space with an open front surface, a tray slidably retracted in the dispenser cover, and a protrusion elastically contacted with one of the dispenser cover and the tray to thusly be relatively moved. Accordingly, the sliding of the tray can smoothly be performed, and an unexpected tray separation due to a small external force applied thereto upon opening/closing the refrigerator door can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gi-Yong Moon
  • Patent number: 8220287
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a commodity includes a plurality of boxes arranged in two rows with a space formed therebetween. A cover is provided for sealing the two rows of boxes at least along the top surface. A plenum is formed between the two rows of boxes with the plurality of boxes being positioned side-by-side. At least one air handler is positioned to pull air through and/or around the plurality of boxes and through ventilation holes in the boxes and/or through spacers positioned between adjacent boxes and along a length of the space formed between the two rows. The air may be discharged upwardly, horizontally or downwardly therefrom. An even flow of air is achieved between adjacent boxes, through ventilation holes in the boxes and/or through spacers positioned between adjacent boxes and along the two rows of pallets for evenly treating a commodity positioned on the pallets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Family Partnership, LLP
    Inventors: Gerald P. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8220289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigeration apparatus capable of minimizing the pressure loss of a refrigerant circulated through an internal heat exchanger and capable of improving a cooling capability. A refrigeration apparatus in which a compressor, a radiator, an electronic expansion valve and an evaporator are successively annularly connected to one another to constitute a refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerator unit provided with the compressor and the radiator, and a cooling unit provided with the electronic expansion valve and the evaporator, the refrigerator unit is connected to one or a plurality of cooling units via a communication pipe to constitute the refrigerant cycle, an internal heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between a refrigerant discharged from the radiator and a refrigerant discharged from the evaporator is constituted of a double tube, and the internal heat exchanger is provided in the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Yanagi, Kazuaki Mizukami, Setsu Hasegawa, Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8220286
    Abstract: The invention concerns a storage unit that is adapted to be located in a refrigeration appliance. The storage unit includes a holding compartment for holding articles the temperature of which is to be controlled. The holding compartment is adapted to be placed in air flow communication with a source of cold air whereby the cold air may be delivered to the holding compartment. An air-flow passageway for recirculating air discharged from the holding compartment back to the holding compartment is provided along with a mixing area where the cold air and the recirculated air may be mixed in selected quantities. A user interface providing for the selection of a temperature-control procedure from a group of available temperature-control procedures for application to the interior of the holding compartment is included. The storage unit can include a controller for controlling the implementation of the temperature-control procedure selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cushman, David L. Hall, Edmund Scott Richardson