Patents Examined by Kenneth Rinehart
  • Patent number: 10136793
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub having an air outlet, an airflow conduit fluidly coupling the tub air outlet to ambient air, a blower assembly forcing air to flow from the tub and through the tub air outlet into the airflow conduit, a first reservoir associated with the airflow conduit and collecting liquid condensed from the air forced through the airflow conduit, the first reservoir fluidly coupled to the tub for draining the collected liquid into the tub, and a second reservoir associated with the airflow conduit downstream of the first reservoir and collecting liquid condensed from the air prior to the exhaustion of the air to the ambient air, wherein any liquid not collected by the first reservoir is collected by the second reservoir for evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Delellis, Mark S. Feddema, Alvaro Vallejo Noriega
  • Patent number: 10131199
    Abstract: A guide groove is provided on both sides in a door width direction of a plate-like portion of a door. A radius of curvature of the plate-like portion in a single non-mounted state is set more than that of the guide groove, to thereby support both end portions in the door width direction of the plate-like portion respectively at three abutment points P1 to P3. A rib is provided in the plate-like portion to extend from one end portion in the door width direction of the plate-like portion to the other end portion thereof, so that force generated from both end portions in the door width direction of the plate-like portion is transferred to a center portion in the door width direction of the plate-like portion via the rib. Therefore, it can prevent the center portion and vicinity of the plate-like portion from being deformed in the direction away from a seal surface of the air conditioning case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuichi Nakao
  • Patent number: 10132506
    Abstract: A collecting hood for capturing exhaust air above cooking areas, production devices and the like is provided. The collecting hood includes a vapor chamber, an extraction chamber and an air supply chamber. The vapor chamber is downwardly open and tapers upward. The extraction chamber is separated from the vapor chamber by a filter or a separator. The filter or separator forms an inclined boundary of the upwardly tapering vapor chamber. The air supply chamber tapers downward and merges at its bottom end into a curved deflection region which opens out into a discharge opening which is arranged at a bottom end of the vapor chamber. Supply air, which is blown into the air supply chamber, emerges from the discharge opening horizontally or upwardly at an angle in the direction of the filter or separator. A negative pressure chamber is arranged between the vapor chamber and the air supply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rentschler Reven GmbH
    Inventor: Sven Rentschler
  • Patent number: 10124650
    Abstract: An automobile air conditioner allows two types of heating devices for air heating (a heater core 14 and a PTC heater 15) to be selectively mounted therein. A housing 2 of a HVAC unit 1 defines therein an air feed passage 3. Either of the heater core 14 and the PTC heater 15 is selectively mounted in the housing 2 through an insertion/ejection slot 32, which formed in a side surface the housing 2. The insertion/ejection slot 32 is formed so as to fit the heater core 14. The PTC heater 15 is housed in a frame 33 having an external dimension to fit into the insertion/ejection slot 32, and mounted in the housing 2 with the frame 33 interposed therebetween. The frame 33 has temperature sensor holders 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: Sanden Holdings Corporation, Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Watanabe, Takahiro Seto
  • Patent number: 10126017
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure provides a heating chamber for a gas furnace that comprises opposing halves joined together. The joined opposing halves form a clamshell panel having at least one truncated corner located adjacent a curve located at a back end of a chamber path of the one or more clamshell heating chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Shiblee S. M. Noman, John W. Whitesitt
  • Patent number: 10118461
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for an electrically-powered vehicle (EV) having an electric motor powered by at least one battery is described. The HVAC system may comprise a blower, a conduit configured to carry air from the blower to vents leading to a passenger cabin of the EV, and an electric heater positioned in the conduit and configured to heat the air. The HVAC system may further comprise a thermal reservoir heater positioned in the conduit and including a thermal storage component configured to heat the air without using power from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Sutherland, Steven M. Myers
  • Patent number: 10119721
    Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade, a damper actuator, and a standoff, where the standoff may be configured for use with an insulated duct having an outer surface of the duct, an insulating layer around the outer surface of the duct, and an outer surface of the insulating layer. Illustratively, the standoff may include a body, a mounting mechanism including a first flange, and a second flange spaced from the first flange, where the body, the first flange and the second flange may form an opening or space configured to receive the insulating layer. In some cases, the standoff may include one or more ribs extending between the body and the first and second flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Marak, Eric Barton, Bin Wang, David James Emmons, Thomas Andrew Sweet
  • Patent number: 10101023
    Abstract: Heating devices and methods for mitigating heating device pollution are generally described. In an example embodiment, a heating device includes a primary combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel. A first and a second secondary combustion chamber are in fluid communication with the primary combustion chamber for receiving an exhaust flow of combustion products from the primary combustion chamber and are configured for combustion of one or more combustion products received from the primary combustion chamber. The first and second secondary combustion chambers may provide parallel fluid paths from the primary combustion chamber. A secondary combustion selector is provided for selectively allowing the exhaust flow through the first and second secondary combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Incendia IP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Ferguson, Derik K. Andors, Stephen F. Richardson
  • Patent number: 10101040
    Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a bulkhead positioned between an interior coil and an exterior coil within a casing. A vent assembly of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a base received within an opening of the bulkhead. The bulkhead is positioned between a plurality of projections and a frame of the vent assembly. A door of the vent assembly is pivotally mounted to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Michael Phillips, Wilbur Carl Bewley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10094593
    Abstract: A furnace includes a combustion blower and one or more pressure switches. In some cases, the one or more pressure switches may be used to calculate one or more operating points for the combustion blower. Additional operating points may be calculated by interpolation and/or extrapolation, as appropriate. The furnace may temporarily alter these operating points as necessary to keep the furnace safely operating in response to minor and/or transient changes in the operating conditions of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Chian, Timothy J. Nordberg
  • Patent number: 10094612
    Abstract: A coat drying device dries a wet-coated film that is coated on a continuously transported coating object having first and second parts, where the second part has a greater heat capacity than the first part. The coat drying device includes a heat source and a heat source moving device. The heat source provides thermal energy primarily to a coating surface of a second part. The heat source moving device moves the heat source to the second part such that a spacing between the second part and the heat source is maintained within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Natsume
  • Patent number: 10094615
    Abstract: A bin and method of use for containment and delivery of particulate materials has: a) a housing; b) a particulate materials support plate within the housing, the support plate having a porous structure allowing air flow therethrough; c) the support plate having a central area elevated away from the bottom of the housing and surrounding sides; d) an air flow area between the bottom of the housing and the support plate; e) a particle drop region surrounding the sides of the support plate; and f) a sealing and opening component within the particle drop region that seals and opens a particle drop path between the support plate and the side walls of the housing. The sealing and opening component has an expanded position when sealing the particle drop region and is in a retracted position when opening the particle drop region to particulate material passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: Gregory Howard O'Gary
  • Patent number: 10088190
    Abstract: In a central air-conditioning system and method, a distribution mechanism distributes warm air or cool air generated by an air-conditioning unit to a plurality of rooms in a house. A control device controls the distribution mechanism to adjust a temperature of each room. A plurality of room terminals are provided as a device each dedicated to a room. Each room terminal receives an input of a preset temperature for the room and detects temperature of the room, and outputs the received preset temperature and the detected room temperature to the control device. The control device judges whether or not a specified room terminal is mounted in a specified room, based on a transition of control of the distribution mechanism in the specified room and a change in the detected temperature. The control device stops air-conditioning the specified room when judged that the specified room terminal is not mounted in the specified room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10087571
    Abstract: Dryer appliances and methods are provided. A method includes receiving during rotation of a drum of the dryer appliance a voltage signal which corresponds to a moisture level within a chamber of the drum, and determining whether the voltage signal corresponds to a predetermined drying profile of a plurality of predetermined drying profiles. The method further includes applying a drying sequence which corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined drying profiles when the voltage signal corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined drying profiles. The method further includes determining whether the voltage signal corresponds to a wet patch indicator, and reversing a direction of rotation of the drum when the voltage signal corresponds to the wet patch indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashutosh Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10088233
    Abstract: A vibratory dryer includes a conveying surface over which a bed of materials to be dried is conveyed, the surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, and passages through which air passes through the conveying surface to pass through the bed of materials on the conveying surface, a source of heated air coupled to the passages to supply heated air to the bed through the passages, and a vibration generator coupled to the conveying surface. The dryer also includes at least one rotary mixer having an impeller spaced from the conveying surface at a distance so as to be disposed within the bed, the at least one rotary mixer disposed along the length of the conveying surface between the inlet end and the outlet end. The at least one rotary mixer is adapted to provide uplift within the bed without de-densification of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Oscar L. Mathis, Jr., Tobin Lane Imes
  • Patent number: 10072375
    Abstract: The power P of the heater of a dryer is regulated in order to heat up the air used to dry washed articles placed in the drying chamber to a temperature close to a set point temperature TSET. The output signal of the regulator of the heater is used to estimate the moisture content of the fabrics and to terminate the drying cycle when a predefined moisture level is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Colombo, Daniele Martinello
  • Patent number: 10060633
    Abstract: A cooking hob, or a ceramic hob, for a fixed or mobile cooking appliance, the hob including at least one cooking area and at least one control and/or information area, the control and/or information area being formed by a window separated from the cooking area by at least one joint made of synthetic material. The joint includes a mechanism for fixing a control and/or display screen under the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: EUROKERA S.N.C.
    Inventors: Claire Mallet, Adele Verrat-Debailleul, Beatrice Mottelet, Franck Demol, Gerard Huchet
  • Patent number: 10047756
    Abstract: A ventilating fan includes a sirocco fan disposed in a box-shaped body and an adapter connected to an air outlet of the sirocco fan. The sirocco fan is composed of two opposite scroll plates with scroll shapes and a casing plate sandwiched between the two scroll plates. An overall air inlet of the sirocco fan is disposed on the first scroll plate and a central line of the air outlet of the adapter is offset towards the second scroll plate. The present invention is advantageous in that no turbulence is generated at the adapter and the wind amount of the ventilating fan is thus ensured and noise is reduced. Therefore, the present invention can provide a small air blowing device with high efficiency and improve stability of performance of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenjian Yang, Shouyong Gao, Jingtao Yang, Min Long, Zewei Rao, Jianrong Zhu
  • Patent number: 10041684
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas safety ignition switch, comprising components of a gas switch body, a closer unit, a rotary knob unit, a presser, a micro switch and an electronic ignition device, characterized in that: one side of the gas switch body is configured with an opening, the opening being corresponding to an actuation point of the micro switch and the spindle, an actuator, configured inside the opening in a movable manner, including an contacting end and a pushing end, the pushing end being corresponding to the actuation point of the micro switch; the edge of the driving diaphragm is also configured with an indentation corresponding to one end of the actuator; thus, when pressing the spindle of the rotary knob unit, the driving diaphragm can move so that the contacting end of the actuator will be right inside the indentation, and when turning the spindle, the driving diaphragm will turn synchronously to tightly push against the contacting end, and will push the actuator to further drive the mic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SEVEN UNIVERSE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sen-Yu Wu, Shu-Mei Liu
  • Patent number: 10036591
    Abstract: A temperature controlling equipment includes a connection head of a fluid output device, an isolation hood, a drying chamber and a dry air source. The connection head of the fluid output device has an output nozzle and a first fluid output pipe. The isolation hood has a hood body and a second fluid output pipe. The hood body defines a working space. The output nozzle is communicated with the working space. The second fluid output pipe is communicated with the working space and the first fluid output pipe. The first fluid output pipe and the second fluid output pipe have a connection interface in between. The connection interface is at least partially located in the drying chamber. The dry air source is communicated with the drying chamber and is configured to provide a dry air to the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: MPI Corporation
    Inventors: Yueh-Ying Lee, Helge Jacob Krystad, Ying-Chiao Chang