Patents Examined by Ljiljana (Lil) V Ciric
  • Patent number: 7716937
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, an evaporator, a variable speed evaporator fan. The refrigerator further includes multiple temperature sensors that communicate with an electronic microprocessor-based control system that in turn controls the operation of the refrigerator system based on the information provided by the multiple temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Schenk, Karl M. Truitt
  • Patent number: 7717161
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a tank for keeping a coolant liquid therein and having an air layer, a heat receiving element in contact with a heat generating part to receive heat therefrom, a radiator for radiating heat absorbed by a coolant liquid, and a circulating mechanism for circulating the coolant liquid from the heat receiving element through the tank and through the radiator again to the heat receiving element. The tank has a conduit forming area for forming a coolant liquid circulating conduit to pass through a middle position of the tank, and a narrow gap which divides the conduit forming area at the middle position of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoyasu Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 7712518
    Abstract: A heat dissipation apparatus used in a computer comprises a heat sink and a star-shaped spring with multiple directional arms, wherein each directional arm extends in a corresponding direction, and the tangent direction of the corresponding contact boundary formed by securing the direction arm to the heat sink is perpendicular to the corresponding direction. The force imposed from the spring on the heat sink is uniform as a result of the perpendicular mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Wen Chang, Chun-Feng Lai
  • Patent number: 7708056
    Abstract: A fan controlling system and method is applicable to an electronic device with a fan for adjusting a temperature of the electronic device. The fan controlling system includes a plurality of temperature sensors installed in different regions inside of the electronic device for sensing temperatures around the regions, a mapping table for mapping a plurality of temperature ranges onto a plurality of rotation speeds, and a processing module for comparing the temperatures sensed by the temperature sensors and controlling the fan to rotate according to one of the rotation speeds onto which the mapping table maps one of the temperature ranges within which a highest one of the sensed temperatures is. Therefore, the fan can operate stably and does not generate a loud noise even when its rotation speed is changing, and has a longer lifespan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Jung Shen, Min-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 7708053
    Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 7708055
    Abstract: An air-conditioner housing comprising an evaporation device, a heating device, and a mixing chamber, out of which air flows to the rear footwell while serving to ventilate the rear passenger compartment. The air-conditioner housing also comprises an air control device that uses mixing flaps to control the air flowing via the evaporation device and the heating device into the mixing chamber. The air-conditioner housing has a separate stratification duct through which cool air can be guided into the ventilation area of the rear passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Evripidis Koukouravas
  • Patent number: 7708052
    Abstract: A coil support suitable for supporting a coil in a condensing unit includes a body and a protrusion extending from the body. The protrusion is configured to limit movement of the coil in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Derek A. Leman, Christopher J. Ingermann, Loren D. Hoffman, Frank J. David, John A. Wade, Larry D. Burns, Nancy O. Ashcraft, Brian L. DePerro
  • Patent number: 7698903
    Abstract: The energy efficient ventilation system provides tempered air to an air to air heat exchanger, such as a heat pump. The system includes independent air intake sources from a tunnel, a structure, and the exterior of the structure that direct air to a control module. Regulators control the amount of air that enters the control module from the air intake sources. The control module mixes the intake air and distributes the tempered air to the structure and to the air to air heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Global Green Building, LLC
    Inventor: George E. Van Hoesen
  • Patent number: 7694729
    Abstract: An air passage opening/closing device for a vehicle air conditioner has a casing and a slide door. The slide door is movably disposed in the casing. Both sides of the slide door are guided by guide channels provided in the casing. The guide channels are formed by the casing and a separate guide member. The slide door can be assembled by mounting the slide door on a door-sliding surface of the casing, and mounting the separate guide member on the slide door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Uemura
  • Patent number: 7677299
    Abstract: A nearly isothermal heat pipe heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a flat heat pipe connected to one or more flat vapor chambers using a conduit and a heat pipe. The connected flat heat pipe and the flat vapor chambers form a common vapor domain. Fins are attached on the outer surfaces of the flat heat pipe and the flat vapor chambers. Various capillary structures are also provided for fabricating flat heat pipes. A panelized welding process is further provided for fabricating flat heat pipes or flat vapor chambers. The panelized welding process uses either friction stir welding (FSW) or plasma beam welding to transversely join the panels that form the flat heat pipes or the flat vapor chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Zheng
  • Patent number: 7673671
    Abstract: To provide an air conditioner capable of reducing an input power and a rotational speed of a fan motor necessary for obtaining a predetermined flow rate from an indoor unit. An air conditioner includes an indoor unit 8 having at least one inlet 6 and one outlet 8; a cross-flow fan 1 connected to a fan motor; a front heat exchanger 2; and a back heat exchanger 3, wherein an installation angle ? of the front heat exchanger 2 positioned above the rotational center of the cross-flow fan 1 relative to the horizon is 65°???90°, a point of the back heat exchanger 3 closest to the front heat exchanger 2 is located adjacent to the front heat exchanger 2 from the rotational center of the cross-flow fan 1, and an outlet angle ?2 of a blade of the cross-flow fan 1 is 22°??2?28°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Okazawa, Seiji Hirakawa, Toshiaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7669640
    Abstract: A casing houses a heat exchanger in a vehicle HVAC system. The heat exchanger includes air inlet and air outlet faces, rear end and front end faces, and first and second side faces. The side faces are each capped with a radiator tank comprising a front end. Each radiator tank defines an orifice for connection to a heat transfer fluid supply circuit. The casing includes a front end wall defining an opening opposite the front end face of the heat-exchanger. The casing also includes a cover defining at least two passages adapted to suit the orifices of the radiator tanks and fixedly attached to the front end wall. The cover also includes seals for limiting the outlet of air via the opening and/or the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Vincent, Gilbert Terranova, Thomas Carton
  • Patent number: 7669643
    Abstract: A device, including a heat exchanger plate and a plate package (2) of heat exchanger plates (1) which are provided beside each other to form a plate interspace between adjacent plates. The plate interspaces form, in an alternating order, first passages (3) for a first medium and second passages (4) for a second medium which cools the first medium. Each heat exchanger plate has at least two portholes forming a first inlet port channel and a first outlet port channel (7), which extend through the plate package to a first inlet and a first outlet, respectively, for the first medium to and from the first passages (3). The first outlet forms a gas outlet (31) for discharging a gaseous portion of the first medium and a liquid outlet (32) for discharge of liquid of the first medium. The liquid outlet (32) is separated from the gas outlet (31) to permit separate discharge of the liquid and gaseous portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekelund, Rolf Christensen, Ingvar Lindholm
  • Patent number: 7669433
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-air conditioner central control system, which shares the physical network and control resources with a multi-air conditioner system so as to control a ventilation system in an integrated manner. The central control system includes a multi-air conditioner system including one or more multi-air conditioners connected to a network for indoor air conditioning, a ventilation system including one or more ventilation devices connected to the network for ventilating indoor air by inhaling and exhausting the indoor air, and a central controller connected with the multi-air conditioner system and the ventilation system for monitoring, in real time, a state of each of the multi-air conditioners and the ventilation devices and controlling an operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Soo Yoon, Sang Chul Youn, Duck Gu Jeon
  • Patent number: 7669646
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger block having a plurality of heat exchange passages. On the heat exchanger block, a header is mounted that extends over at least one part of one side of the heat exchanger block and establishes a flow connection between the heat exchange passages. The plate heat exchanger is provided with a fluid connection, which is formed by the header-side end of a pipeline. The fluid connection is essentially perpendicular to the side of the heat exchanger block over which the header extends. Within the pipeline directly in front of the header, there is a flow guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Aigner, Gabriele Engl, Thomas Hecht, Helge Möbus, Stefan Möller, Wolfgang Süssmann, Alfred Wanner
  • Patent number: 7669644
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a casing, within which there is present a first pipe wound in a spiral, in which a first fluid flows, the casing being designed to receive a second fluid that is in heat-exchange relationship with the first fluid. The heat exchanger further comprises at least one second pipe wound in a spiral, which connects, in parallel to the first pipe, two gaps formed in the casing, the spiralled pipes being arranged in a coaxial way and at a distance from one another, and having different sections of passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: COSMOGAS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Alessandrini, Andrea Alessandrini
  • Patent number: 7661460
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger for interchanging thermal energy between at least two fluids, one of which fluids may be a refrigerant in hot or cold form or in a liquid/vapor phase, and another of which fluids is a thermal transfer fluid. The heat exchanger may incorporate an internal heating element. The thermal transfer fluid is transported between two concentric metal tubes, while the refrigerant moves along a tubing helically wrapped about or between the tubes and is in thermal contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Thermal Sciences Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Cowans, William W. Cowans
  • Patent number: 7661459
    Abstract: A mobile cart for serving food and/or beverages is described. According to various implementations, the cart is equipped with a removable mission module. The mission module includes equipment that is used by the cart to perform its designated mission, such as an oven (for a hot food service mission module), a cooling unit (for a cold food service mission module), a beverage dispenser (for a beverage service mission module), a point of sale terminal (for duty-free service mission module), appropriate branding (for a franchising mission), or a custom equipment (for a customized mission). The mission module also includes a processor and a memory. The mission module is removable, and may be one of several mission modules available to the cart. Thus, for each type of mission, there may be a different mission module. This enables the cart to be quickly and easily “customized” for each mission by replacing an unneeded module with a required one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Wesley, Timothy Andrew Birkmann, Brian Douglas Stamm
  • Patent number: 7658223
    Abstract: A refrigerant tank includes a base plate made of cooper and a reinforcing frame made of stainless steel. A block made of copper extends through the reinforcing frame and has one face in contact with the base plate and an opposite face in contact with a heating body. Heat generated by the heating body is transferred through the cooper block and through the copper base plate to refrigerant inside the refrigerant tank. The stainless steel reinforcing frame provides strength to the refrigerant tank to allow the heating body to be pressed against the heating tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Hiroshi Tanaka, Sho Ishii
  • Patent number: 7658005
    Abstract: A heat exchanger panel for a surface of a room, the panel having plate-type heat exchanger elements and having a heat exchanger pipe. The heat exchanger elements include two main surfaces facing away from each other and a peripheral surface linking the main surfaces, a fiber mat and a thin plaster layer. The plaster layer adheres to the fiber mat and the heat exchanger pipe extends at least partially within the plaster layer. The pipe has at least two connections in the area of the peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Hans-Dietrich Sulzer