Patents Examined by Larry Furdge
  • Patent number: 10168068
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a first bypass pipe connected to an inlet-side passage of an accumulator through a second expansion device, a second passage of a subcooling heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant flowing through the second passage of the subcooling heat exchanger and refrigerant flowing through a first passage of the subcooling heat exchanger, and a first opening and closing device; a second bypass pipe branched from the first bypass pipe between the subcooling heat exchanger and the first opening and closing device and connected to an injection port of a compressor through a second opening and closing device; and a third bypass pipe branched from a refrigerant pipe between a heat source-side heat exchanger and a use-side heat exchanger and connected to a refrigerant pipe between an inlet side of the compressor and an outlet side of the accumulator through a third expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10161655
    Abstract: Refrigeration apparatus R that includes a refrigerant circuit composed of compressor 11, gas cooler 28, electric expansion valve 39, and evaporator 41 includes: electric expansion valve 33; tank 36; split heat exchanger 29; electric expansion valve 43; electric expansion valve 47; auxiliary circuit 48; main circuit 38; low-pressure sensor 51; and control apparatus 57, in which control apparatus 57 regulates the pressure of the refrigerant after the refrigerant flows out of tank 36 but before flows into electric expansion valve 39 to be a first constant pressure when the pressure detected by low-pressure sensor 51 is smaller than a specified pressure, and regulates the pressure of the refrigerant to be a second constant pressure smaller than the first constant pressure when the pressure detected by low-pressure sensor 51 is larger than the specified pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kurata, Kazuhiko Mihara
  • Patent number: 10161541
    Abstract: In a throttle device, a body portion has a flat surface at a position at a predetermined distance from its center axis. Thus, when a needle member is moving, a working pressure of a refrigerant present between an inner peripheral surface of a guide tube and the flat surface acts in a radial direction of the body portion and presses part of an outer peripheral surface of the body portion located opposite from the flat surface against the inner peripheral surface of the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SAGINOMIYA SEISAKUSHO, INC.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Takada, Yuichiro Toyama, Shinpei Yagi, Junichi Yokota
  • Patent number: 10156392
    Abstract: Refrigeration apparatus R that includes a refrigerant circuit composed of compression section 11, gas cooler 28, electric expansion valve 39, and evaporator 41 includes: electric expansion valve 33; tank 36; split heat exchanger 29; electric expansion valve 43; electric expansion valves 47 and 71; auxiliary circuit 48, main circuit 38, and control apparatus 57, in which control apparatus 57 regulates the gas cooler outlet temperature based on outside air temperature when the outside air temperature is higher than a specified temperature, and regulates the gas cooler outlet temperature based on saturation temperature ST of saturated liquid of the refrigerant after the refrigerant flows out of compressor 11 but before flows into electric expansion valve 33, when the outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kurata, Kazuhiko Mihara
  • Patent number: 10151536
    Abstract: The automatic reset of an evaporative cooling water dissolved solids set point based on detection of water softener performance is provided. A controller has a sensor, or is given an input signal, which confirms that the softener is operating properly. Positive confirmation of water softener performance allows the controller to maintain a user specified high total dissolved solids set point in the evaporative cooling water. Should a failure of the softener be detected, the controller then maintains a user specified lower total dissolved solids set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick Henry Carew
  • Patent number: 10144272
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat exchange unit including a condenser that radiates heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and an evaporator that expands the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser using an expanding device and then absorbs ambient heat into the evaporator, the condenser and the evaporator being connected to each other. According to operation mode, air to be supplied to a vehicle interior selectively exchanges heat with the condenser or the evaporator, or sequentially exchanges heat with the condenser and the evaporator. A subcooler that cools the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser before the refrigerant is expanded by the expanding device is provided. The subcooler is disposed at a position below the evaporator and to which condensed water flows down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 10145595
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit connecting a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a use-side heat exchanger to each other by connecting pipes, an outside air temperature sensor configured to detect an outside air temperature, and a controller configured to operate the refrigeration cycle apparatus and to switch between a normal operation mode for controlling the refrigerant circuit based on an operation load of the use-side heat exchanger and a refrigerant amount determining mode for determining whether or not an amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is appropriate. The controller is configured to switch the normal operation mode to the refrigerant amount determining mode when the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is within a set temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Tomita, Kazuki Okada, Masanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 10146236
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a control unit, a central controller coupled to the control unit via a first two-conductor wireline structure, and a plurality of HVAC system components coupled to the central controller via a second two-conductor wireline structure. The central controller is configured to receive, via the first two-conductor wireline structure, control information corresponding to an enclosed space, generate control data, and transmit, via the first two-conductor wireline structure, the control data to at least one of the plurality of HVAC system components to regulate operations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Lazar, Jayprakash Charavda
  • Patent number: 10139143
    Abstract: In various implementations, an air conditioner may include more than one expansion device. Refrigerant flow through the expansion device(s) may be controlled based at least partially on an operational property of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Terry Jewell, Yi Qu
  • Patent number: 10137758
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a heat pump cycle and a refrigerant-circuit controller. The heat pump cycle includes an inside heat exchanger and a refrigerant-circuit switching device. The inside heat exchanger performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and a blown air that is to be blown into a vehicle compartment. The refrigerant-circuit switching device switches between a refrigerant circuit of a cooling mode and a refrigerant circuit of a non-cooling mode. The refrigerant-circuit controller selects the cooling mode or the non-cooling mode based on an air-conditioning load, the refrigerant-circuit controller controlling an operation of the refrigerant-circuit switching device. Upon selecting the non-cooling mode, the refrigerant-circuit controller starts performing a cooling-mode unallowable control in which the refrigerant circuit of the cooling mode is prohibited from being selected regardless of the air-conditioning load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yokoo, Terukazu Higuchi, Yoshinori Yanagimachi
  • Patent number: 10139149
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery operation method for use in a refrigerator in which a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber are independently cooled is disclosed. The refrigerator and the method for controlling the same provide for performing the refrigerant recovery operation not only when the compressor starts operation but also before the compressor stops operation. The refrigerator increases the refrigerant recovery amount within a predetermined pressure range in which the compressor can operate, and controls the refrigerant recovery operation time according to the outdoor air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Hak Lim, Kook Jeong Seo, Young Seok Kim, Yoon Young Kim, Won-Jae Yoon, Kyung Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 10131203
    Abstract: An ejector draws a refrigerant on a downstream side of an exterior heat exchanger serving as an evaporator, from a refrigerant suction port by a suction effect of an injection refrigerant injected from a nozzle portion for decompressing a part of the refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and mixes the injection refrigerant with the suction refrigerant to pressurize the mixed refrigerant at a diffuser. The refrigerant flowing out of the diffuser is drawn into the compressor. In this way, the density of the refrigerant drawn into the compressor can be increased, thereby suppressing reduction in flow amount of the refrigerant flowing into an interior condenser serving as a radiator. Thus, even if the temperature of the outside air (heat-absorption target fluid) is decreased, the interior condenser is prevented from degrading its heating capacity for the ventilation air (heating target fluid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Suzuki, Gouta Ogata, Yuichi Shirota
  • Patent number: 10132531
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of operating an adsorption compressor system, which system comprises a hot source and a cold source and at least a first and a second adsorption bed, wherein the first bed has an initial temperature that is lower than the initial temperature of said second bed, in which system heat is circulated using a heat transfer fluid (HTF), the method comprising the following phases: phase A) comprising the steps of: heating the first adsorption bed by feeding HTF to it, coming from said second bed, optionally via said hot source, while maintaining a thermal wave in said first bed; and cooling the second adsorption bed by feeding HTF to it, coming from said first bed, optionally via said cold source, while maintaining a thermal wave in said second bed; wherein phase A) is maintained until the exit temperature of said first bed and said second bed are essentially the same and phase B) comprising the steps of: feeding the HTF effluent of said first bed to said hot sourc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cooll Sustainable Energy Solution B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Faas Burger, Robert Jan Meijer
  • Patent number: 10113779
    Abstract: When a power element expands in a direction of a uniaxial center, a diaphragm is pressed, in the direction of the uniaxial center, against a pressing portion of a lid member fixed to a body unit. A holder member of the power element is displaced away from the pressing portion as the diaphragm further expands outward in the direction of the uniaxial center. Displacement of the holder member in the direction of the uniaxial center is transmitted to a spherical valve, thereby increasing or decreasing an opening degree of the spherical valve. Accordingly, it is not necessary to dispose a member which may cause complicated processing work for an expansion valve between the holder member and the spherical valve, e.g., a member which needs complicated welding processing work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeki Ito
  • Patent number: 10107511
    Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial cellar, including receiving actual preservation conditions of a natural cellar, the actual preservation conditions having at least one of an actual temperature and an actual humidity within the natural cellar, and adjusting preservation conditions of the artificial cellar to substantially correspond to the received actual preservation conditions of the natural cellar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cellier Domesticus Inc.
    Inventors: Franck Boulbes, Gregory Boulbes
  • Patent number: 10107536
    Abstract: In a refrigeration system having a compressor, a heat rejection heat exchanger, a heat absorption heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling the same, embodiments of a system, apparatus and methods for the same can control at least one refrigeration system component such as an expansion valve responsive to dynamic system conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond L. Senf, Jr., John R. Reason
  • Patent number: 10101059
    Abstract: A thermally driven heat pump includes a low temperature evaporator for evaporating cooling fluid to remove heat A first heat exchanger located at an outlet of a converging/diverging chamber of a first ejector receives a flow of primary fluid vapor and cooling fluid vapor ejected from the first ejector for condensing a portion of the cooling fluid vapor An absorber located in the first heat exchanger absorbs cooling fluid vapor into an absorbing fluid to reduce the pressure in the first heat exchanger A second heat exchanger located at an outlet of a converging/diverging chamber of a second ejector receives primary fluid vapor and cooling fluid vapor ejected from the second ejector for condensing the cooling fluid vapor and the primary fluid vapor A separator in communication with the second ejector, the low temperature evaporator and the primary fluid evaporator separates the primary fluid from the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri, Thermavant Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Hongbin Ma, Joseph A. Boswell, Peng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10098255
    Abstract: A ventilation closure device for a telecommunication equipment enclosure includes opposed planar panels and aligned openings through each of the panels for passage of air therethrough for ventilating ambient atmospheric air to or from an equipment enclosure. One or more closures are disposed between the opposed panels and adapted to be drawn across the aligned openings for preventing passage of air, and a pivotal attachment to the closures disposes the closure into alignment with the opening. An actuator pivots the closures between an open position for allowing air passage through the openings and a closed position for impeding airflow. The pivotal attachment counterbalances the closures for mitigating force to pivot the closures. Counterbalancing of the closures minimizes actuation force required for drawing the closures across the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Schrofftech Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard De Felice
  • Patent number: 10088218
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of control thereof, whereby after driving of a compressor and a blower fan is stopped as temperatures of a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment are in a satisfactory state, opening/closing operations of a damper are repeatedly performed, so that cold air in the freezer compartment is supplied into the refrigeration compartment. Alternatively, if the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches an upper limit temperature, the repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are started. The repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are performed until the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches a lower limit temperature, so that a cooling operation of the refrigeration compartment is performed only once while the compressor is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinseok Hu, Namhun Kim, Youngdoo Kim
  • Patent number: 10088211
    Abstract: A controller of an air-conditioning apparatus includes an operation control unit that controls operation of a compressor of a heat source unit based on target indoor temperatures of rooms, an unoccupied room detecting unit that detects an unoccupied room where no person is present among the rooms, and a correction amount setting unit that sets a temperature correction amount for correcting the target indoor temperature in a room controller of the unoccupied room detected by the unoccupied room detecting unit to reduce an air conditioning load for the unoccupied room. After the target indoor temperature is corrected by using the temperature correction amount in the room controller, when the operation capacity of the compressor controlled by the operation control unit is smaller than or equal to a preset operation capacity, the correction amount setting unit resets the temperature correction amount to be decreased by an adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Shinichi Ito