Patents Examined by Len Tran
  • Patent number: 11428449
    Abstract: Provided are a separator with improved oil separation efficiency, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the separator. The separator includes an inflow pipe portion, an oil storage portion, an oil return pipe portion, and an outflow pipe portion. The inflow pipe portion includes a swirling portion that defines a flow direction of refrigerant so as to swirl the refrigerant. The oil storage portion is connected to the inflow pipe portion. The oil return pipe portion is connected to a vertically lower side of the oil storage portion. The outflow pipe portion includes an opening end that faces the swirling portion. The outflow pipe portion extends from a region that faces the swirling portion to the outside of the oil storage portion. The opening end is configured such that the refrigerant discharged from the swirling portion can directly flow thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Matsuda, Hiroki Ishiyama, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 11428445
    Abstract: Methods and systems for energy storage and management are provided. In various embodiments, heat pumps, heat engines and pumped heat energy storage systems and methods of operating the same are provided. In some embodiments, methods include controlling thermal properties of a working fluid by virtue of the timing of the operation of cylinder valves. Methods and systems for controlling mass flow rates and charging and discharging power independent of working fluid temperature and system state-of-charge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: GRIDWORTHY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin L. Norris
  • Patent number: 11421947
    Abstract: A laminated header includes: a first passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a first passage is formed; a second passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a plurality of second passages are formed; a third passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a plurality of third passages are formed; a first branch passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which an upstream side branch passage is formed, the upstream side branch passage branching the first passage into the plurality of second passages; and a second branch passage plate having a flat-plate shape in which a downstream side branch passage is formed, the downstream side branch passage branching one of the plurality of second passages into the plurality of third passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Matsui, Shinya Higashiiue, Takehiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11421898
    Abstract: Outdoor units for climate control systems and related methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, the outdoor unit includes a base pan including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises an aperture. Additionally, the outdoor unit includes at least one coil locator coupled to the at least one receptacle of the base pan wherein the at least one coil locator comprises a tongue which extends through the aperture and a pair of horizontally spaced feet separate and distinct from the tongue and which are received in the aperture. Further, the outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger coil, and an outdoor fan configured to produce an airflow across the heat exchanger coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Shultz, Bryan Hawkins, Eric Klauer, Jeff Cool
  • Patent number: 11415346
    Abstract: A multi-slab microchannel heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a first slab having a first inlet header and a first outlet header, a second slab including a second inlet header and a second outlet header, a first inlet connector fluidly connected to the first inlet header, a first outlet connector fluidly connected to the first outlet header, a second inlet connector fluidly connected to the second inlet header, and a second outlet connector fluidly connected to the second outlet header. The first slab and the second slab are arranged successively in a direction along a length of the heat exchanger. The first inlet connector, the first outlet connector, the second inlet connector, and the second outlet connector are disposed at a same end of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Peppard, Chad Daniel Bowers, Jennifer L. Caudill
  • Patent number: 11411268
    Abstract: A coolant supplying module of supplying a coolant stored in a reservoir tank to an electrical component cooling circuit and a battery cooling circuit may include a main body connected to the shared reservoir tank, at least one water pump mounting portion formed at the main body to mount at least one water pump provided in the electrical component cooling circuit and the battery cooling circuit, and a valve mounting portion formed at the main body such that a coolant valve for changing flow path of the coolant circulating through the electrical component cooling circuit and the battery cooling circuit is mounted, wherein a main connecting portion and a sub connection portion are respectively formed on the main body to be connected to the shared reservoir tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yeon Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11394063
    Abstract: A cooling system for temperature control may include a first cooling passage in which a plurality of first variable valves and a heat generating component are deployed; a second cooling passage in which a plurality of first variable separating pipes cross-connected to the plurality of first variable valves, respectively, a battery, a heater configured to raise a temperature of the battery, and a battery chiller configured to cool the battery are deployed; a temperature sensor configured to detect operating temperatures of the heater and the battery chiller; and a controller configured to operate the plurality of first variable valves by determining whether the operating temperatures are within a specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyo-Chan Bae, Tae Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 11371763
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigeration system is provided. The method includes activating an evaporator heater (306), monitoring a pressure differential within the refrigeration system (308), when the pressure differential reaches a predetermined value (310), deactivating the evaporator heater (312), and activating one or more evaporator fans (314), after deactivating the evaporator heater, to cause a thermostatic expansion valve to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas Auyer, Gilbert B. Hofsdal, William C. Silliman, Raymond L. Senf, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11371782
    Abstract: A cold plate heat exchanger for battery thermal management has first and second plates defining a plurality of fluid flow passages, with inlet and outlet ports proximate to a first end thereof. Each fluid flow passage has first and second ends communicating with respective inlet and outlet ports. One or more portions of each fluid flow passage are immediately adjacent to and in close proximity to a portion of another fluid flow passage or channel, such that heat energy will be transferred by conduction through the first and second plates between the fluid flow passages or channels, thereby providing enhanced heat transfer. The fluid flow passages or channels may be separated by a distance which is less than a width of one of the fluid flow passages or channels, and may be separated by a single rib which partially defines each of the fluid flow passages or channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Farbod Vakilimoghaddam, Noman Rahim, Allan K. So, Lee M. Kinder, Michael Bardeleben, Benjamin A. Kenney
  • Patent number: 11365669
    Abstract: An exhaust system component of a motor vehicle includes a gas-carrying housing, a heat shield seated on an outside of the housing, and at least one wire mesh provided at least partly between the heat shield and the housing. The wire mesh includes a first attachment point and a second attachment point. The heat shield is attached to the housing via the wire mesh, and the wire mesh is attached to both the heat shield, via the first attachment point, and to the housing via the second attachment point. The first attachment point is separate from the second attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventor: David Saurat
  • Patent number: 11346617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wick structure accommodated in a container of a heat pipe having plural foils and a structure holding portion for fixing the foils. The respective foils are held by the structure holding portion, whereby the foils are positions and arrange in parallel. The foil is connected to the other foils including the other adjacent foils via the structure holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Kaibuchi, Tomoaki Toratani
  • Patent number: 11329329
    Abstract: Various arrangements for a battery module cooling system are presented. A thermal tower may be contoured to contact one or more battery cells. The thermal tower may include a holding member and a cooling member. A hollow interior region having a top aperture may be defined by the holding member. A portion of each of the one or more battery cells may be contacted by the cooling member to provide localized cooling to each of the one or more battery cells. A seal may be formed between the holding member and the cooling member by positioning the cooling member on the top aperture of the holding member. Optionally, the portion that the cooling members may contact to provide localized cooling may include a hot region having a higher temperature than other portions of each of the one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CHONGQING JINKANG POWERTRAIN NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiaxian Wang
  • Patent number: 11320207
    Abstract: A heat transfer plate (10) for a plate heat exchanger (100) includes: a plate body (11) having a first side (111) and a second side (112) opposite to the first side (111); a gasket groove (12) formed on the plate body (11), depressed from the plate body (11) in a direction from the first side (111) towards the second side (112), and having a bottom wall (120), the bottom wall (120) having a bottom wall body (121); and a recess (20, 20?) formed on at least one segment (125, 125?) of the bottom wall body (121) in a length direction of the bottom wall body (121), depressed from the bottom wall body (121) in the direction from the first side (111) towards the second side (112), and extending along the segment (125, 125?) of the bottom wall body (121) of the gasket groove (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Benny Andersen
  • Patent number: 11320213
    Abstract: A furnace of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a heat exchange tube configured to receive a working fluid from a burner and a modulating valve fluidly coupled to the burner. The modulating valve is configured to regulate an amount of fuel supplied to the burner to generate the working fluid. The furnace also includes a blower configured to draw the working fluid through the heat exchange tube, a motor drive configured to adjust a speed of the blower, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the modulating valve and to control the motor drive to adjust the speed of the blower based on a temperature of air discharged from the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, Kerry L. Shumway, William M. Harris, Randy R. Koivisto
  • Patent number: 11316216
    Abstract: A modular heat exchanger for battery thermal management having a plurality of similarly constructed heat exchange elements affixed to a cover plate and fluidly coupled with one another via a single external manifold structure that functions as both an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for each of the heat exchange elements. Rigidity is improved with alternating tabs or overlapping tabs between adjacent elements, and/or side edges between adjacent elements having cutouts for receiving stiffening ribs formed in the cover plate. The external manifold structure provides additional stiffening for the interconnected heat exchange elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Garreth D. G. Graves, Benjamin A. Kenney, Michael A. Martin, Kenneth M. A. Abels, Lee M. Kinder
  • Patent number: 11300337
    Abstract: An outdoor system for an air conditioner may include at least one outdoor unit, the at least one outdoor unit including a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; a pair of two-stage compression lines that extends to outside of the outdoor system; a pair of connection lines that extends to the outside of the outdoor system and communicates with an indoor unit; and multiple valves that open/close the pair of two-stage compression lines and the pair of connection lines when the outdoor system is operated in a one-stage heating mode or a two-stage heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Daehyoung Kim, Junseong Park, Pilhyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11300370
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat transfer. In some embodiments, a heat transfer apparatus includes a body defining an inner volume; an inlet coupled to a vapor source; a coolant channel extending through the heat transfer apparatus; a condensing surface on which a vapor condenses, wherein the condensing surface is configured to cause the vapor to form as one or more drops on the condensing surface; and an actuator configured to excite the one or more drops at a resonant frequency of the one or more drops to remove the one or more drops from the condensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher Phillip Migliaccio, Nathan Scott Lazarus
  • Patent number: 11293700
    Abstract: A multi-thermal characteristic heat sink fin, comprising a first heat spreading plate, a second heat spreading plate, and a primary heat spreading plate is provided. A plurality of multi-thermal characteristic heat sink fins is assembled together to form a heat sink, further having at least a heat pipe assembled therethrough, and a base plate, assembled to the at least a heat pipe and in contact with a heat source. The primary heat spreading plate is sandwiched and enclosed within the first and second heat spreading plates, hindering debris, contaminants, and moisture from entering the surface interfaces therebetween. The material of the heat pipes and primary heat spreading plate is different from that of the first and second heat spreading plates. No heat treatment process of two or more different materials is required for assembly of the multi-thermal characteristic heat sink fin and at least a heat pipe assembled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cooler Master Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-han Tsai
  • Patent number: 11287196
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a shell having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of baffles, such as elliptical sector-shaped baffles, each mounted in the shell at a helix angle HB to guide a fluid flow into a helical pattern through the shell. Each of the plurality of baffles includes an outer circumferential edge, a proximal radial edge, a distal radial edge, a proximal side, a distal side, and a plurality of spaced apart holes that are traversed by a plurality of axially extending tubes. Each of the first plurality of seal strips is disposed from a proximal of the plurality of baffles to a distal of the plurality of baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Eric Drew Macedo, Richard John Jibb, Sherif Elsayed, Melanie O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11284534
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a main body unit that has, on a surface thereof, a plurality of disposition regions where objects to be cooled are disposed, and a refrigerant flow passage provided in the main body unit. The refrigerant flow passage includes a first flow passage portion and a second flow passage portion. The first flow passage portion is formed at a predetermined position of overlapping a part of an inside of a predetermined disposition region to allow a refrigerant to pass therethrough more intensively than the second flow passage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Yamaguchi, Kenji Ando, Keiji Miki