Patents Examined by Ljiljana Ciric
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Patent number: 9410715Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus has a refrigerant circuit made up of plural indoor units connected to an outdoor unit, and the air conditioning apparatus has a capacity controlling part and a target refrigerant temperature mode setting part. The capacity controlling part controls the air conditioning capacity of the outdoor unit in such a way that the evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit becomes a target evaporation temperature, or in such a way that the condensation temperature of the refrigerant becomes a target condensation temperature. The target refrigerant temperature mode setting part is configured to seta target refrigerant temperature mode to either a target refrigerant temperature changing mode or a target refrigerant temperature fixing mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.Inventors: Masahiro Honda, Shinya Matsuoka, Hideyuki Nakagawa
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Patent number: 9404692Abstract: An method of controlling thermal transfer between a first structure and a second structure may include a signal at a thermal switch. In response to receiving the signal at the thermal switch, a rotating plate may be rotated into one or more positions adjacent to a fixed plate to facilitate radiative thermal transfer between the rotating plate and the fixed plate. The rotating plate and the fixed plate may be in thermally conductive contact with respective ones of the first structure and the second structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Gary D. Grayson, Mark W. Henley
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Patent number: 9404664Abstract: The invention relates to a hydronic heating/cooling system. In the system, liquid is led along a main supply pipe (1) to a supply manifold (2) and distributed in the manifold into heating loops (3). The heating loops (3) return to return manifold (4). At least one of the manifolds (2, 4) has actuators (6) for controlling the flow in the heating loops (3). At least one loop is designated to be a bypass loop. The actuators (6) in the loops (3) are monitored and it is ensured that the actuator (6) of the bypass loop is open if all the other actuators (6) are closed.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: UPONOR INNOVATION ABInventor: Ulf Jonsson
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Patent number: 9404693Abstract: A handler includes first and second cooling channels, and first and second supply channels. The first and second cooling channels correspond to housing pockets that are respectively heated by heaters. A first throttle valve controls the flow of refrigerant such that the amount of refrigerant flowing through the second cooling channel is larger than the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the first cooling channel. Temperature sensors detect the temperature of the respective housing pockets, and a control device controls the valve and the heaters so that a target temperature is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masami Maeda, Toshioki Shimojima
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Patent number: 9398722Abstract: An apparatus for uniform cooling of a single power electronics device, an array of discrete power electronics devices or types of other heat-generating by integrating discrete thermostatic expansion devices (TXVs) and their control directly into each discrete cold plate. The thermostatic expansion device is positioned such that a sensing element is located directly within the exit refrigerant stream.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORPORATIONInventors: David M. Sykes, Joshua C. Dominico, Robert P. Scaringe, Gregory S. Cole, Daniel A. Staples
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Patent number: 9389005Abstract: In a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle device, a low-pressure side compression mechanism and a high-pressure side compression mechanism are intermittently operated to control such that the temperature of air blown into a freezer approaches a target temperature. Under the control, the high-pressure side compression mechanism is first stopped, and then the low-pressure side compression mechanism is stopped. Further, when a reference time has elapsed after driving the high-pressure side compression mechanism, then the low-pressure side compression mechanism is driven. The refrigeration cycle device can reduce a high-pressure side pressure difference upon driving the high-pressure side compression mechanism, and can also reduce a low-pressure side pressure difference upon driving the low-pressure side compression mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Ryo Takizawa, Masami Taniguchi, Jun Yamazaki
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Patent number: 9375994Abstract: A vehicle engine warm-up apparatus includes a vehicle engine, a heating system, a coolant temperature sensor, a coolant heater and a controller. The vehicle engine has a coolant passage defined therein. The heating system provides heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle using heat transferred from the vehicle engine to coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant temperature sensor measures a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage. The coolant heater is configured to heat the coolant flowing through the coolant passage of the vehicle engine. The controller is configured to operate the coolant heater with the vehicle engine running to increase a rate of heating of the coolant to more rapidly make heat available to the heating system in response to determining that the coolant temperature is below a first temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Ronald S. Eisenhour, Richard Madden
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Patent number: 9360236Abstract: A thermal energy system includes a first thermal energy system, a closed loop geothermal energy system, an intermediate heat pump thermally coupling the first thermal energy system with the geothermal energy system, and a second thermal energy system thermally connected to the geothermal energy system. The first and second thermal energy systems have opposite net thermal energy demands from the geothermal system. The geothermal energy system has first and second groups of borehole heat exchangers and each borehole heat exchanger contains a working fluid. Each borehole heat exchanger includes an elongated tube having a closed bottom end and first and second adjacent elongated conduits interconnected at the bottom end. Each group of borehole heat exchanger is selectively and alternatively connectable to the intermediate heat pump. The first thermal energy system may be a refrigeration system having condensers and the closed loop geothermal energy system may provide cooling of the condensers.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GREENFIELD MASTER IPCO LIMITEDInventors: James J. Stewart, Dmitriy I. Zaynulin, Grahame Newton
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Patent number: 9354002Abstract: An air cooled condenser (ACC) system is described having a first street having at least one air cooled condenser module and a second street having at least one air cooled condenser module. The system employs a steam inlet conduit provides steam to the first and second streets. The air cooled condenser system has a standard vacuum system for providing suction pressure to the first and second street. The air cooled condenser system also has an auxiliary vacuum system that provides suction pressure to the first and second streets.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michel Vouche, Fabien Fauconnier
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Patent number: 9353958Abstract: An apparatus including a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger and two or more heat exchangers related to heat medium. A heat medium circuit includes two heat medium loops each including a pump. A bypass piping is provided at the refrigerant circuit for bypassing the heart exchanger related to heat medium. A controller is configured to perform a defrosting operation, a heating operation, a heat recovery defrosting operation mode, and a bypass defrosting operation that melts frost attached to the heat source side heat exchanger during the heating operation mode by passing a portion or all of the heat source side refrigerant through the bypass piping.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yuji Motomura, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Jyunichi Ue
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Patent number: 9349558Abstract: A heat switch has a first contact, a plug of thermally conductive material, and a mechanical actuator attached to the plug of thermally conductive material, the mechanical actuator arranged to move the plug into contact with the first contact in a first position and to move the plug out of contact with the first contact in a second position responsive to an input signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: David Eric Schwartz, Sean Roark Garner, Dirk De Bruyker, Ricardo Santos Roque
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Patent number: 9340093Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an HVAC device for a vehicle includes a sensor unit mounted on the vehicle and configured to sense a bodily response of the user, an HVAC device control unit configured to control temperature and humidity inside the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control the HVAC device control unit based on the bodily response sensed by the sensor unit and to control temperature, direction, air volume, and speed of wind supplied inside the vehicle. The bodily response includes any one selected from the group consisting of body temperature, respiration volume, carbon dioxide amount in breath, voice, used words, facial expression of the user, and combinations thereof. The control unit is configured to calculate the discomfort index of the user based on the bodily response and to dynamically control the HVAC device control unit based on the discomfort index.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: TINNOS INC.Inventor: Seong Sik Ham
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Patent number: 9341394Abstract: A thermoelectric refrigeration system including at least one cooling chamber and a thermoelectric heat exchange system. The thermoelectric heat exchange system includes cascaded heat sinks. The cascaded heat sinks include cascaded cold side heat sinks and a hot side heat sink. The cascaded cold side heat sinks include a first cold side heat sink and a second cold side heat sink. The thermoelectric heat exchange system also includes a first plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the first cold side heat sink and the second cold side heat sink and a second plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the second cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink. Each thermoelectric cooler is a module including multiple thermoelectric devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Phononic Devices, Inc.Inventors: Jesse W. Edwards, M. Sean June, Robert Joseph Therrien, Abhishek Yadav
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Patent number: 9341311Abstract: A compressed air supply apparatus includes an air compressor for compressing air to at least atmospheric pressure, a tank for storing the compressed air and supplying the compressed air, via a supply port, to various devices that use the compressed air as a working fluid, a first pipe that connects the air compressor to the tank, a heat pump including an evaporator for cooling at least a part of the first pipe, a selection device for selecting whether a cool air cooled by the evaporator, which is fluidly distinct from the compressed air, is introduced into a vehicle interior or discharged outside of the vehicle interior, and a control device configured to control the selection device so that the cool air is introduced into the vehicle interior when an air conditioner switch is turned ON and discharged outside of the vehicle interior when the air conditioner switch is turned OFF.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: UD TRUCKS CORPORATIONInventor: Shohji Itadani
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Patent number: 9341396Abstract: A retrofit energy exchange system including a first set of valves for connecting to a first energy transfer sub-system. The system further includes a second set of valves for connecting to a second energy transfer sub-system. In addition, the system includes an energy exchange unit configured to supply excess energy from to the first energy transfer sub-system to the second energy transfer sub-system.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: Aniello Manzo
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Patent number: 9335074Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes at least a use side heat medium flow control device and a heat medium flow switching device disposed in an outlet side of the heat medium passage of a use side heat exchanger, and a heat medium backflow prevention device disposed in an inlet side of the heat medium passage of a use side heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura
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Patent number: 9335071Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, an indoor fan, an expansion valve, a refrigerant-pressure-perceiving part, which perceives a pressure of refrigerant sent from the compressor to the indoor heat exchanger, and a control part, which performs startup fan control in which the indoor fan remains stopped until the compressor goes from being at rest to starting up and the pressure perceived reaches a high-pressure threshold. The control part repeats an action of reducing a flow rate of the indoor fan or stopping driving of the indoor fan when the pressure perceived is equal to or less than a low-pressure lower than the high-pressure threshold, and an action of increasing the flow rate of the indoor fan or initiating driving of the indoor fan when the pressure perceived reaches or exceeds a pressure threshold which is higher than the low-pressure threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hidehiko Kinoshita, Tsuyoshi Yamada, Junichi Shimoda, Kenta Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9335105Abstract: A cooling assembly is disclosed having a device chamber, a cooling chamber, a heat exchanger, a fan and a controller, the heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit located above the first heat exchanger unit. The fan includes a first fan adapted to generate a first cooling air flow. The cooling assembly further includes a first dust tray located between the first heat exchanger unit and the second heat exchanger unit, the first cooling air flow being directed towards the first dust tray. The first dust tray is adapted to receive and retain at least part of contaminant particles present in the first cooling air flow, the device chamber being separated from the cooling chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: ABB RESEARCH LTDInventors: Timo Koivuluoma, Bruno Agostini, Mathieu Habert, Jouko Siirilä
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Patent number: 9328931Abstract: A heating and/or cooling system for maintaining an environment at a desired temperature. The heating and/or cooling system includes a heat pump, a temperature sensor disposed to measure a temperature of the environment, and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to control a condensing temperature within the condenser such that the condensing temperature is set as low as possible while maintaining the condensing temperature a predetermined amount above the desired temperature that is being maintained. The system controller may also be configured to control the evaporating valve in order to vary, based on the measured temperature, an evaporating temperature in order to reduce the difference between the evaporating and condensing temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: ESG POOL VENTILATION LTDInventor: Anthony Robinson
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Patent number: 9327580Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes a solar radiation amount detection element configured to detect the amount of solar radiation incident on an instrument panel, a temperature correction element configured to correct a detection signal value output from the solar radiation amount detection element according to a temperature on the instrument panel, a solar radiation sensor configured to output a detection signal in which a temperature is corrected by the temperature correction element, and an air conditioner configured to control air conditioning inside a vehicle based on the detection signal from the solar radiation sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATIONInventors: Hideki Sunaga, Masato Nomura, Masakazu Yamasaki