Patents Examined by Larry L Furdge
  • Patent number: 11353252
    Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC circuit, comprises allowing refrigerant to circulate within the HVAC circuit, wherein the HVAC circuit comprises an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, at least one fan configured to provide airflow to the condenser coil, at least one expansion valve, and at least one compressor. The method continues by receiving a temperature measurement and determining based on the temperature measurement, a minimum fan speed configured to avoid pressure spikes within the condenser coil. The method concludes by sending a signal to the at the least one fan to direct the at least one fan to spin at a rate greater than or equal to the minimum fan speed when the measured temperature is less than a predetermined temperature, wherein, when the refrigerant circulates through the condenser coil, the minimum fan speed is greater than zero rotations per minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: David Mackey, Aylan Him, Zer Kai Yap
  • Patent number: 11346589
    Abstract: A refrigeration machine control device according to an embodiment of the present invention serves to control a turbo refrigeration machine and is equipped with a pressure reduction rate identification unit for identifying a pressure reduction rate at which foaming does not occur in an oil tank, and a pressure adjustment unit for adjusting the pressure of an evaporator on the basis of the identified pressure reduction rate. The pressure reduction rate identification unit is equipped with: a refrigerant precipitation gas volume calculation unit for calculating the volume of refrigerant gas precipitated from lubricating oil when the pressure is reduced at a prescribed pressure reduction rate; and a determination unit for determining whether or not foaming is permissible on the basis of a comparison between the calculated volume and the volume on the surface of the oil in the oil tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshie Togano, Yasushi Hasegawa, Ryosuke Suemitsu
  • Patent number: 11333387
    Abstract: A method for producing heat transfer between two or more media and a device or system for carry out said method, usable for air conditioning a space, or any use that requires heat transfer between two or more media to be used for domestic, commercial or industrial use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Energy Innovation Systems Limited
    Inventor: Jean Baptiste Claudio Santander Kuborn
  • Patent number: 11333410
    Abstract: The invention provides a refrigeration apparatus configured to cool the interior of a casing of a heat source unit by a refrigerant. An air conditioner includes a heat source unit, a utilization unit having a utilization heat exchanger and constituting a refrigerant circuit along with the heat source unit, and a controller. The heat source unit causes heat exchange between a refrigerant and a heat source, and cools the interior of the casing, and causes a valve to switch to supply or not to supply the cooling heat exchanger with the refrigerant. The controller assesses, before the refrigerant is supplied to the cooling heat exchanger, whether or not the refrigerant flowing from the cooling heat exchanger toward the compressor comes into a wet state when the refrigerant is supplied, and determines whether or not to open the valve in accordance with an assessment result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Akiharu Kojima
  • Patent number: 11326828
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion unit that constitute a refrigeration cycle, an evaporator that evaporates a refrigerant that has passed through the expansion unit, a heating unit that provides heat for defrosting the evaporator, and a frost sensor unit that is provided at one side of the evaporator to sense the amount of frost on the evaporator, the frost sensor unit including a sound-source transmitting unit that generates a sound-source of a first volume to the evaporator, and a sound-source receiving unit that receives a sound-source of a second volume formed after the sound-source transmitted by the sound-source transmitting unit reflects from or passes through the evaporator, and a controller that controls the heating unit to generate heat, when the difference between the first volume and the second volume reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yonghwan Eom, Hoyoun Lee, Youngjin Kim
  • Patent number: 11320184
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is disclosed. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A purge circuit is fluidly connected to the condenser. The purge circuit is configured to receive a purge stream from the condenser. The purge stream is a mixture including a refrigerant and non-condensables. The purge circuit includes a plurality of heat exchangers for condensing the purge stream such that the non-condensables and the refrigerant in the purge stream are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Marcos Eric Perez-Blanco
  • Patent number: 11313595
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a heat source side refrigerant circuit in which a heat source side heat exchanger is provided, a load side heat medium circuit in which a load side heat exchanger is provided, an intermediate heat exchanger, and a heat medium sealing. The heat medium sealing mechanism includes a supply port through which the heat medium and gas flow, the gas being more soluble in the heat medium than air, a discharge port through which the gas pushed by the heat medium is discharged, and a flow straightener that is connected to the load side heat medium circuit in such a manner that, when the gas is supplied, the gas flows from the supply port to the discharge port, and when the heat medium is supplied, the heat medium flows from the supply port to the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Yuji Motomura, Osamu Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11313607
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a duct module, wherein the duct modules include a front panel and a rear panel coupled to each other in the front-rear direction and forming a flow path, a plurality of flow path forming protrusions extending from a front surface of the front panel to form a flow path therebetween, and a sealing surface extending parallel to the rear surface of the front panel from front ends of the plurality of flow path forming protrusions and in surface contact with the rear surface of the front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Yong Lee, Sun Gi Hong, Il Sung Bae, Joo Hee Song, Byung Kwan Yang
  • Patent number: 11306926
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a housing forming an outline of the outdoor unit, a partition plate extending from a front surface toward a rear surface of the housing and partitioning an interior of the housing into an air-sending device chamber and a machine chamber, a heat exchanger disposed in the air-sending device chamber and along an end portion located at the rear surface of the housing, and a holder mounted on the heat exchanger and accommodating a temperature-measurement unit that measures an outside air temperature. The partition plate includes a first flat portion disposed with a space between a rear surface of the first flat portion and the heat exchanger and extending in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger, and a second flat portion projecting from a side edge portion of the first flat portion toward the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Kazuho Ito, Tomoya Yanase
  • Patent number: 11306951
    Abstract: A refrigeration system has: (a) a fluid tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the evaporator having at least three evaporator zones, each evaporator zone having an inlet port, the circulation loop being further configured to measure the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port; and control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator, and (b) a controller for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: PDX Technologies LLC
    Inventor: John Scherer
  • Patent number: 11306942
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater includes a tank, a first condenser, a second condenser, a heat pump, valving and a controller. The tank includes an interior cavity, an input port and an output port. The first condenser and second condenser each include an input port and an output port. The heat pump drives a fluid in a heated state through an output. A first setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the first condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the second condenser. A second setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the second condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the first condenser. The controller selectively directs the valving to the first or second setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Steffes Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Paul J. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter
  • Patent number: 11300372
    Abstract: A method may include: drawing a slip stream sample from a cooling fluid stream, the cooling fluid stream being fluidically coupled to an outlet of a heat exchanger and an inlet of a cooling tower; introducing the slip stream sample into an expansion chamber; and measuring a concentration of hydrogen gas within a headspace of the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Multi-Chem Group, LLC
    Inventor: William Robert Johnston
  • Patent number: 11293678
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a controller that is configured to perform operations including driving a refrigerator compartment compressor, determining whether a sensed temperature in the refrigerator compartment satisfies a first temperature, driving, based on the sensed temperature in the refrigerator compartment satisfying the first temperature, a freezer compartment compressor, stopping the refrigerator compartment compressor, maintaining, after stopping the refrigerator compartment compressor, operation of the freezer compartment compressor, restarting the refrigerator compartment compressor, and varying a driving frequency of the refrigerator compartment compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Namhun Kim, Buhwan Ahn
  • Patent number: 11293676
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigerant having potential for disproportionation reaction circulates a first refrigerant flow path connected between a discharge side of the compressor and the condenser; a second refrigerant flow path connected between the condenser and the expansion valve; a third refrigerant flow path connected between the expansion valve and a suction side of the compressor; a jetting unit; a pressure measuring unit; and a temperature measuring unit. The jetting unit is configured to jet the refrigerant drawn from the second refrigerant flow path or the third refrigerant flow path to at least one of the compressor, the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path when at least one of a measured value of the pressure measuring unit and a measured value of the temperature measuring unit exceeds an allowed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Nishiyama, Kosuke Tanaka, Kensaku Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11293651
    Abstract: A humidifier for use with a forced-air heating system includes a housing assembly including a mounting frame, a panel configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the mounting frame, and a cover attached to the panel. The humidifier further includes a water mist spraying unit carried by the panel. The water mist spraying unit includes at least one spray nozzle. When the panel is in the closed position, the water mist spraying unit extends through a main opening formed in the mounting frame and the at least one spray nozzle of the water mist spraying unit is viewable through at least observation windows of the cover and the panel. When the panel is in the open position, the water mist spraying unit is disposed away from the mounting frame and out of the main opening formed in the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Yong Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11293672
    Abstract: A heat-pump using apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit is capable of executing a heating operation and a cooling operation. A first expansion device is provided downstream of a reservoir, and a second expansion device is provided upstream of the reservoir, in the flow of refrigerant in the heating operation. A main circuit of the heat medium circuit includes a branching part and a joining part. An overpressure protection device is connected to a connection part which is located between a load-side heat exchanger and one of the branching part and the joining part or at the load-side heat exchanger. A refrigerant leakage detecting device is connected to the other of the branching part and the joining part, or between the other of the branching part and the joining part and the connection part, or to the connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Hirokazu Minamisako, Kazutaka Suzuki, Takafumi Mito, Taro Hattori
  • Patent number: 11293655
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes an air-to-air heat exchanger that transfers at least sensible heat between outdoor air and indoor air, an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger provided in an air supply passage to transfer heat between the outdoor air and refrigerant, and a humidifier provided in part of the air supply passage that is located downstream of the air-to-refrigerant heat exchange. The humidifier humidifies the outdoor air. A communication passage causes part of the air exhaust passage that is located upstream of the air-to-air heat exchanger and part of the air supply passage that is located downstream of the air-to-air heat exchanger to communicate with each other. An opening/closing damper opens and closes the communication passage. A controller controls a refrigerant temperature in the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger based on an indoor temperature, and controls operation of the opening/closing damper based on an indoor humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Horie, Mamoru Hamada
  • Patent number: 11293661
    Abstract: A multi-unit air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit, a second indoor unit, a third indoor unit, and a mode conversion device. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor-unit controller and a selector. The first indoor unit includes a first indoor-unit controller. The second indoor unit includes a second indoor-unit controller. The selector is configured to send a first selection signal or a second selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a first control mode according to the first selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a second control mode according to the second selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Meibing Xiong, Yongfeng Xu, Zekun Liang, Linxing Ren, Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 11287085
    Abstract: An arrangement (400) for removing condensate from a heat exchanger (208) is provided. The arrangement (400) facilitates removal of a condensate from the heat exchanger (208) even when the pressure inside the heat exchanger drops below pressure of a condensate discharge pipe (220). The arrangement (400) operates in a first configuration when the pressure in the heat exchanger (208) is higher than the pressure in the condensate discharge pipe (220), and in a second configuration when the pressure in the heat exchanger (208) is lower than the pressure in the condensate discharge pipe (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FORBES MARSHALL PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Ronnie Joseph, Milind Joshi
  • Patent number: 11287783
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for a vehicle includes a cooling system having a variable cooling capacity and which is connectable to a heat-producing system of the vehicle. A control system is configured to increase the cooling capacity of the cooling system to a first predetermined level in response to the at least one input indicating an increase in the future heat load of the heat-producing system when a temperature of the cooling system is at least a predetermined temperature and the cooling system is operating below the first predetermined level. The control system is also configured to inhibit increasing the cooling capacity of the cooling system to the first predetermined level in response to the at least one input indicating an increase in the future heat load of the heat-producing system when the temperature of the cooling system is less than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Engineered Machined Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Steinmetz, Michael P. Lasecki