Patents Examined by Kirstin U Oswald
  • Patent number: 10845102
    Abstract: The integrated solar absorption heat pump system includes an absorption heat pump assembly (AHPA) having a generator, a condenser in fluid communication with the generator, an evaporator/absorber in fluid communication with the condenser and the generator, and a heat exchanger in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber; a solar collector in fluid communication with the generator of the AHPA; a photovoltaic thermal collector in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber of the AHPA; a plurality of pumps configured for pumping a fluid throughout the system to provide the desired heating or cooling; a power storage source, e.g., a solar battery, in communicating relation with the photovoltaic thermal collector; and a coil unit in communicating relation to the evaporator/absorber for receiving an air-stream. The absorption heat pump assembly can include an absorber and a solution heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Nasiru I. Ibrahim, Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman, Palanichamy Gandhidasan
  • Patent number: 10837695
    Abstract: A refrigerator assembly includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment and a door for providing selective access to the storage compartment. The refrigerator assembly further includes a mullion assembly having a hinge coupled to the door and a flipper mullion pivotally attached to the hinge. The flipper mullion is rotatable between a first position, a second position, and an intermediate position that is intermediate the first and second positions. The mullion assembly further includes a spring configured to bias the flipper mullion toward the first position when the flipper mullion is between the first position and the intermediate position. The spring is further configured to bias the flipper mullion toward the second position when the flipper mullion is between the second position and the intermediate position. The mullion assembly further includes a magnetic assembly configured to bias the flipper mullion toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Baum, Anthony Jenkins, Lori Burgener, Rodrigo Panozzi, Manjunath Shivamurty, Cristela Siebert, Ivo Torres, Charles Gascoyne
  • Patent number: 10837690
    Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Scalf
  • Patent number: 10823464
    Abstract: A caloric heat pump includes a plurality of elasto-caloric stages. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is distributed between along an axial direction within a chamber of a housing. Each elasto-caloric stage includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes. The plurality of elasto-caloric spokes extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Michael Alexander Benedict
  • Patent number: 10808995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plate freezer comprising a stack of freezer plates (1), each freezer plate having a first and a second surface (2,3), surrounding a hollow interior through which a coolant may be circulated, where each freezer plate is provided with one or more apertures (10,11), where one or more continuous rods (12,13) is/are inserted through overlapping apertures in the stack of freezer plates, where each rod in a first end is provided with actuator means (20,21), and where engagement members (14) are arranged in communication with one or more rods, where said engagement members may be in a locked position with the rod such that the rod and engagement members move at the same time or an unlocked position where the rod moves relative to the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: A/S DYBVAD STâ„«LINDUSTRI
    Inventor: Thomas Buss Møller
  • Patent number: 10808982
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a housing, a liner within the housing, a first door attached to the housing and pivotable about a vertical axis on one side of an opening to the compartment, and a second door attached to the housing and pivotable about a second vertical axis on an opposite side of the opening to the compartment. One of the first door and the second door includes a moveable mullion for sealing a gap between the first door and the second door when the first door and the second door are in a closed position. The moveable mullion includes a guide protrusion extending from one end thereof. The liner is configured to selectively receive one of a first guide plate and a second guide plate. Both the first guide plate and the second guide plate include a guide slot for receiving the guide protrusion of the moveable mullion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Josh Hanson
  • Patent number: 10808999
    Abstract: A process for recovery of C2 and C3 components in an on-purpose propylene production system includes utilizing a packed rectifier with a countercurrent stream to strip C2 and C3 components from a combined de-ethanizer overhead lights vapor and cracked gas vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Isa K. Mbaraka, William L. Jackson, Jr., Martin A. Cogswell, Mark Siddoway, Brien A. Stears
  • Patent number: 10801768
    Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Justin Tyler Brown
  • Patent number: 10801771
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a fan mounting assembly for use in refrigeration system includes a mounting body having a first side and a second side with a fan opening. The mounting body includes a collar extending from the second side of the mounting body around the fan opening, a flange extending outboard of the collar, and a plurality of retainers extending from the second side of the mounting body outward from the fan opening. Each retainer has a fastener opening extending therethrough. The fan mounting assembly further includes a motor mount and guard that includes a plurality of rings and a plurality of legs extending radially from a center portion. Each leg has a proximal end with a proximal eyelet formed thereon and a distal end with a distal eyelet formed thereon. The distal eyelet is configured to align with the fastener opening of a corresponding retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventor: Albert Stephen Troutman
  • Patent number: 10775086
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vapour compression system having an ejector includes, in the case that a pressure difference between a pressure prevailing in the receiver and a pressure of refrigerant leaving the evaporator decreases below a first lower threshold value, the pressure of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger is kept at a level which is slightly higher than the pressure level providing optimal coefficient of performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: Jan Prins, Frede Schmidt, Kenneth Bank Madsen, Kristian Fredslund
  • Patent number: 10752092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicular heat pump system and, more specifically, to a vehicular heat pump system having a chiller for heat exchanging cooling water circulating through vehicle electrical equipment (200), a refrigerant discharged from an outdoor heat exchanger so as to flow through a first bypass line (R1), and a refrigerant discharged from an indoor heat exchanger, thereby: in the air conditioner mode, increasing sub-cool while the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is first cooled at the chiller and then is second cooled at the outdoor heat exchanger such that the flow rate of refrigerants increases and cooling performance is improved; in the heat pump mode, allowing the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger to ensure sub-cool in the chiller so as to increase the flow rate of refrigerants, and allowing the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger to receive an additional heating source from the chiller so as to improve heating performance;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Young Ho Choi, Chan Joo Maeng, Seung Ho Lee, Jung Jae Lee, Hak Kyu Kim, Sung Ho Kang, Jae Min Lee
  • Patent number: 10739028
    Abstract: A thermostat for transmitting data wirelessly to a controller in a building includes a temperature sensor, a processing circuit, and a wireless radio. The processing circuit is configured to receive a measured temperature value from the temperature sensor, determine a current temperature error based on the current measured temperature value and a setpoint temperature, and determine whether a difference between the current temperature error and a previous temperature error is greater than an error threshold. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether a minimum amount of time has passed since transmitting a previous measured temperature value and transmit the current measured temperature value to the controller via the wireless transmitter in response to determining that both the difference between the current temperature error and the previous temperature error is greater than the error threshold and the minimum amount of time has passed since transmitting a temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Homero L. Noboa
  • Patent number: 10723463
    Abstract: A method for efficient operation of an environmental control system having a plurality of air cycle machines includes disabling operation of a first air cycle machine from the plurality of air cycle machines, enabling operation of one or more additional air cycle machines from the plurality of air cycle machines, monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the environmental control system, and resuming operation of the first air cycle machine upon determining that a condition has been satisfied based on the at least one operating characteristic of the environmental control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: Wesley M. Plattner
  • Patent number: 10634372
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a burner for burning fuel within a water tank for generating steam, a primary heat exchanger within the water tank for transferring heat from products of combustion of the fuel to the water within the water tank, and a secondary heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger includes a combusted gas section for receiving the cooled products of combustion from the primary heat exchanger and a water section for transferring additional heat from the cooled products of combustion to water flowing within the secondary heat exchanger. The humidifier further includes a secondary fill valve which is pulsed to provide cool water for transferring additional heat from the cooled products of combustion to water flowing within the secondary heat exchanger. The water from a primary fill valve is fed directly into the water tank. An outlet of the secondary heat exchanger is fed directly into the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Condair Group AG
    Inventors: Scott Couperthwaite, Shahram Lotfi
  • Patent number: 10627142
    Abstract: An air conditioning service unit and method of using same provide increased accuracy in determining respective amounts of refrigerant and oil recovered during service of an air conditioning system by taking into account the quantity of dissolved refrigerant in oil recovered from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: William Brown, Mark McMasters, Mahendra Hospet Basavapura Srinivasa
  • Patent number: 10619908
    Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet has an insulated body comprising a rectangular base with an upstanding front wall, rear wall and end walls interconnecting the front wall and rear wall. The body forms an open-topped product chamber. A clear glass or clear plastics lid is mounted by hinges at a top of the rear wall to close the product chamber whilst at the same time allow customers to view chilled or frozen merchandise on display within the product chamber. At one end of the body a refrigeration unit is provided for generating a climate control cold air stream for circulation through the product chamber in order to maintain the merchandise in the product chamber in a chilled or frozen condition as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Orrell Limited
    Inventor: Eoin Lennon
  • Patent number: 10613558
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a first load, a second load, a first plurality of lights, a second plurality of lights, a third plurality of lights, and a controller. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The first load uses the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the first load. The second load uses the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the second load. The first plurality of lights is coupled to the high side heat exchanger. The second plurality of lights is coupled to the first load. The third plurality of lights is coupled to the second load. The controller receives an indication of a detected malfunction in at least one of the high side heat exchanger, the first load, the second load, and in response to the indication, activates the first, second, and third plurality of lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventors: Shashwat Nath, Chris Tracy
  • Patent number: 10605501
    Abstract: An absorption heat pump having a generator, a heat source to heat the generator to drive coolant vapor out of solution, a condenser for cooling the coolant vapor and an expansion valve that expand the coolant fluid as well as an evaporator for at least partial evaporation of the expanded coolant fluid against a medium which is connected to at least one absorber which absorbs the expanded coolant fluid. A hot gas line which branches off from a line for coolant vapor upstream of the condenser and is fluid-connected to the evaporator such that it bypasses the condenser and the expansion valve, a defrosting valve being provided in the hot gas line, by means of which the flow of coolant vapor through the hot gas line can be controlled. The absorption heat pump is operated in a cyclic circulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Andreas Bangheri
  • Patent number: 10563931
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cooling system includes an evaporator, which further includes an evaporator tube, a first mechanical wave emitter, and a control system communicatively coupled to the first mechanical wave emitter. The cooling system is configured to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator tube to facilitate heat exchange between the refrigerant and fluid surrounding the evaporator tube. The first mechanical wave emitter is configured to output first mechanical waves to the evaporator tube, and the control system is configured to instruct the first mechanical wave emitter to output the first mechanical waves to enhance nucleation of the refrigerant in the evaporator tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Mislak, Douglas A. Kester, Curtis W. Caskey
  • Patent number: 10551081
    Abstract: An air conditioning appliance having a safety device. The safety device preferably communicates with at least one sensor that is configured to detect an undesirable condition. If an undesirable condition is detected, then the operation of the air conditioning appliance can be modified as needed for safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: John Miller-Russell