Patents Examined by Ljiljana V. Ciric
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Patent number: 11306927Abstract: A fault detection system for detecting a flow restriction in an air handler is provided. The system includes a coil, air and liquid temperature sensors, a smart valve and a notification device. The coil is located in an air stream of the air handler. The air temperature sensors are located in the air stream, one sensor determining an air temperature of air upstream of the coil and another determines an air temperature downstream of the coil. The liquid temperature sensors determine a liquid temperature entering the coil and exiting the coil. The smart valve includes a controller in communication with the liquid temperature sensors and at least one of the air temperature sensors that uses the measured air temperature downstream of the coil and a valve actuator position to determine whether the coil is operating at a reduced capacity. The notification device communicates with the controller of the smart valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Ian Robert Dempster, Benjamin Paul Erpelding, Thomas Bennett Hartman, Chelsey Ann MacNeill
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Patent number: 11305610Abstract: A thermal control system includes first and second components. A plurality of coolant conduits fluidly couple the components to define a coolant circuit. A pump is operable to circulate coolant among the conduits. Within the coolant circuit, the first component is upstream of the second component and the pump is upstream of the first component. A controller is configured to selectively operate according to a circuit heating mode, wherein the controller controls the pump at a first speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source, and a local heating mode, wherein the local heating mode the control controls the pump at a second speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source. The second speed is less than the first speed. The controller operates in the local heating mode in response to a heating request associated with the second respective component.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kyle Holihan, Cameron P. Smith, Benjamin C. Groen
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Patent number: 11306974Abstract: A temperature plate includes a plate body and at least two supporters. The plate body has a first plate and a second plate, and a vacuum chamber is defined by the first plate and the second plate. The first plate has a first external surface, and the plate body is bent to form at least two bent portions with the first external surface being a compressive side, and the supporters are disposed inside the vacuum chamber and connected to an inner wall of the vacuum chamber to enhance a structural strength of the bent portions and also to improve heat conduction, wherein the temperature plate is combined with a cooling fin assembly, the cooling fin assembly is disposed on the first external surface. When the number of the bent portions are two, the configuration of the two bent portions allows the plate body to clip the cooling fin assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Li-Kuang Tan, Shih-Kang Lin
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Patent number: 11299014Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes a high-temperature side heat exchanger, an expansion valve for decompressing the refrigerant flowing out of the high-temperature side heat exchanger, a low-temperature side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve and coolant, a high-temperature coolant circuit in which the coolant circulates to the high-temperature side heat exchanger, a low-temperature coolant circuit in which the coolant circulates to the low-temperature side heat exchanger, a battery and a low-temperature side radiator configured to exchange heat with the coolant in the low-temperature coolant circuit; and a heat transfer portion configured to transfer heat from the high-temperature coolant circuit to the low-temperature coolant circuit such that the coolant dissipates heat in the battery and the low-temperature side radiator.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiki Kato, Naoya Makimoto, Takuya Fuse
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Patent number: 11293680Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes an ice dispensing system incorporating first and second ice movers and a controller that operates the first ice mover to move ice toward the first end of a storage bin and out of a dispenser outlet during an ice dispensing operation, and operates the second ice mover concurrently with operating the first ice mover to circulate ice in the storage bin during an ice circulation operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
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Patent number: 11292314Abstract: An air-conditioning control system for a vehicle includes: an occupant sensing unit that determines whether or not there is an occupant inside the vehicle when a driver exits from the vehicle; a ventilation control unit that performs control to allow external air to be introduced into the vehicle, upon sensing that there is an occupant in the vehicle; and a temperature control unit that senses at least one of an interior temperature of the vehicle and an external temperature at the time of controlling ventilation. The system is configured to control heating or cooling based on the sensed interior temperature or the external temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sang Shin Lee, Man Ju Oh, So La Chung, Jae Woong Kim
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Patent number: 11285779Abstract: An image capturing unit captures a periphery of a moving body through a transmitting portion. A heater is capable of heating the transmitting portion. An air-conditioning unit switches an air-conditioning state in the moving body between an inside air circulation state and an outside air introduction state. A control unit controls the heater. The control unit can make the heater operate intermittently, and perform control so that an OFF time of the heater during an intermittent operation will be shorter in the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the inside air circulation state than the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the outside air introduction state.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Seiji Kudo, Masaki Nakajima
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Patent number: 11267318Abstract: A vehicle HVAC system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant outside air, a first check valve set, a first expansion device for decompressing a first portion of the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the first portion of the refrigerant and a second portion of the refrigerant, a second expansion device for decompressing the second portion of the refrigerant, a second check valve set, a third heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and inside air, and a selector valve for switching between a heating mode and a cooling mode. The first check valve set and the second check valve set together maintain a constant flow direction through the first expansion device, the second heat exchanger, and the second expansion device in the heating mode and the cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jing He, Loren John Lohmeyer, Manfred Koberstein
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Patent number: 11267315Abstract: An air-conditioning device includes: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an evaporating unit configured to evaporate refrigerant a heater unit configured to heat the air by using the heat of the refrigerant a liquid receiver arranged at the downstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger and a restrictor mechanism provided between the heater unit and the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein, in an operation state in which the flow of the refrigerant is restricted by the restrictor mechanism and heat is released in the heater unit, a first operation mode and a second operation mode are switched, the first operation mode being set such that the liquid-phase refrigerant is stored in the liquid receiver and the gaseous-phase refrigerant is guided to the compressor and the second operation mode being set such that the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the liquid receiver is guided to the evaporating unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Marelli Cabin Comfort Japan CorporationInventors: Jun Hatakeyama, Satoshi Ogihara, Tatsuya Osaki, Tomohiro Maeda, Mitsuaki Nagata, Yasuhito Ookawara
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Patent number: 11268757Abstract: A process and plant for natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery includes a main heat exchanger, a cold gas/liquid separator, a separation or distillation column, and an overhead gas heat exchanger. A pressurized residue gas generated from an overhead gas stream removed the top of the separation or distillation column is expanded and used as a cooling medium in the overhead gas heat exchanger and the main heat exchanger. The expanded residue gas, used as a cooling medium, is then compressed up to a pressure to be combined with the overhead stream from the separation or distillation column.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Linde Engineering North America, Inc.Inventors: Grant McCool, Thomas Walter, Arturo Puigbo
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Patent number: 11260719Abstract: A battery cooling system includes a cooling water circulation circuit for circulating cooling water for cooling the battery, a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat between air and cooling water, a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the low-pressure refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle circuit and cooling water, and an ion exchanger for removing impurity ions contained in the cooling water. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged in series in the cooling water circulation circuit. The ion exchanger is disposed on the downstream side of the second heat exchanger in the cooling water circulation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki Tomita, Tsuyoshi Koga, Yusuke Suzuki, Masaya Kaji
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Patent number: 11255582Abstract: A method for cooling air in an HVAC system includes moving refrigerant through a closed refrigeration circuit having, inter alia, an expansion device subsystem, which includes a full-load pathway and at least one partial-load pathway and a flow selector for directing refrigerant flow from the condenser to either the partial-load pathway or the full-load pathway. The method also involves directing refrigerant flow from the condenser to the full-load pathway when the refrigerant pressure is greater than or equal to a first preselected activation pressure and stepping down a refrigerant pressure with a set orifice and directing refrigerant flow from the condenser to the partial-load pathway when the refrigerant pressure is less than a second preselected activation pressure and stepping down a refrigerant pressure with a variable expansion device configured for partial loads. Refrigerant is delivered from the full-load pathway or partial-load pathway to the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventor: Wenqian Liu
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Patent number: 11255593Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold defining a mold cavity and a refrigeration loop having an evaporator in thermal communication with the ice mold. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant loop to cool the evaporator and the ice mold. After ice is formed, a flow regulating device may divert a portion of the flow of refrigerant around the condenser through a bypass conduit to slowly increase a temperature of the refrigerant within the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Justin Tyler Brown
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Patent number: 11254185Abstract: An air-conditioning control system for a vehicle includes an acquisitor configured to acquire an exposure temperature of an exposed body surface of an occupant and a clothing surface temperature of the occupant, a non-exposure temperature estimator configured to estimate a non-exposure temperature of a non-exposed body surface of the occupant on the basis of the exposure temperature and a clothing amount, a clothing amount estimator configured to estimate the clothing amount on the basis of the non-exposure temperature and the clothing surface temperature, and a control unit configured to control an air conditioner of a vehicle into which the occupant gets on the basis of an estimation result of the clothing amount estimator.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Miki Shibuya, Mamoru Fujita, Junichi Kanemaru
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Patent number: 11254188Abstract: An air conditioner includes a battery temperature adjustment device which adjusts the temperature of a battery and has a refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger to exchange heat between a refrigerant and a heat medium. A controller executes a first heating/battery cooling mode to let the refrigerant discharged from a compressor radiate heat in a radiator, decompress the refrigerant, and then let the refrigerant absorb heat in an outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger, and a second heating/battery cooling mode to let the refrigerant discharged from the compressor radiate heat in the radiator and the outdoor heat exchanger, decompress the refrigerant, and then let the refrigerant absorb heat in the refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: SANDEN AUTOMOTIVE CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuya Ishizeki, Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Akira Horikoshi, Takashi Toyama, Nobuhiko Fujii
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Patent number: 11247532Abstract: A vehicle temperature regulation apparatus includes a temperature regulator configured to regulate a temperature of a circuit board mounted in a vehicle, a controller configured to control the temperature regulator, and a storage unit configured to store a vehicle startup scheduled time. When the temperature of the circuit board at a check time before the vehicle startup scheduled time is outside of a predetermined normal temperature range, the controller executes circuit board pre-temperature-regulation control to operate the temperature regulator to regulate the temperature of the circuit board before the vehicle startup scheduled time.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Nishiyama, Kenji Tsukagishi, Takahisa Kaneko
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Patent number: 11236954Abstract: A heat exchanger including multiple fins, multiple heat transfer pipes having an oval shape or a flat shape and joined to the fins, and a header connected, on one end side, to an end portion of an inlet pipe through which working fluid flows in upon evaporation operation and connected, on the other end side, to an end portion of each of the heat transfer pipes, wherein the header includes a longitudinal partition plate arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction and configured to divide an internal space of the header into an inlet-pipe-side space connected to the end portion of the inlet pipe and a heat-transfer-pipe-side space connected to the end portion of each of the heat transfer pipes, and an opening is formed at a position not overlapping with the inlet pipe at the longitudinal partition plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: HITACHI-JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING, INC.Inventor: Ryoichi Takafuji
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Patent number: 11233254Abstract: A process that includes pre-cooling a H2 gas feedstock with a compressed liquid natural gas via a heat exchanger, introducing the pre-cooled H2 gas feedstock into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H2 liquefier module, and delivering liquid H2 from the active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H2 liquefier module to a liquid H2 vehicle dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, Emerald Energy NW, LLCInventors: Jamie D. Holladay, John Barclay
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Patent number: 11226161Abstract: A heat exchanger having an optimum design considering a thermal capacity of an end portion of an extrusion tube to significantly improve heat transfer performance by optimizing a shape and a thickness of the end portion of the tube, and a heat exchanger having an optimum design obtained based on a structured rule to enable easy application to other tubes with various dimensions. The heat exchanger has an end portion of a tube has a cross section in a quadrangular shape with rounded corners, each having a radius in a range of 15% to 45% of a height of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Hanon SystemsInventors: Wi Sam Jo, Ho Chang Sim, Sun Mi Lee, Hong-Young Lim
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Patent number: 11214116Abstract: An integrated heat management system for a vehicle includes a refrigerant circulation line configured to cool or heat a passenger compartment while operating in an air conditioner mode or a heat pump mode according to a flow direction of a refrigerant, an electric component module side cooling water circulation line configured to circulate the cooling water through the electric component module to cool the electric component module, a water-cooled outdoor heat exchanger configured to allow the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circulation line to exchange heat with the cooling water circulating through the electric component module side cooling water circulation line, and a cooling water flow control unit configured to control a cooling water flow in the electric component module side cooling water circulation line.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Hanon SystemsInventors: Chul Hee Kim, Doo Hoon Kim, Hyeon Gyu Kim, Joong Man Han