Patents Examined by M. Alexandra Elve
-
Patent number: 9388997Abstract: An air-conditioning control apparatus for controlling an air conditioner configured to supply conditioned air into a space to be air-conditioned so that a temperature of a predetermined section in a plurality of sections in the space to be air-conditioned becomes a set temperature, the air-conditioning control apparatus comprising: a detecting device configured to determines the number of people in the predetermined section; and a controller configured to correct the set temperature so as to be decreased if the number of people is increased and so as to be increased if the number of people is decreased.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsuji Yoshii, Shigeru Okada, Kazuhiro Sekiguchi, Shigeo Tera, Junya Nakasone, Koichi Yamana, Yoshiaki Gouda, Masaaki Meguro
-
Patent number: 9389022Abstract: A heat exchanger which can include at least a first group and a second group of channels arranged to provide fluid paths between a first end and a second end of the heat exchanger. Connecting parts are arranged at the first end and at the second end of the heat exchanger. A first heat transfer element transfers a heat load to fluid, and a second heat transfer element transfers a heat load from the fluid. The channels have capillary dimensions. The connecting parts include fluid distribution elements, and the first and second heat transfer element contact all channels.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Bruno Agostini, Matteo Fabbri
-
Patent number: 9372033Abstract: A heat exchange element of flexible plastic film, a heat exchanger including such elements, and apparatus for manufacturing the elements. The element includes a pair of opposite film sheets bonded by welds to form an expandable bag with inside and outside heat exchange surfaces, an inlet opening for supplying a pressurized heat exchange fluid to the bag, an outlet opening for discharging the fluid from the bag after heat exchange, and an array of welds defining routes for fluid flow inside the bag. There are spot welds in a first zone of the element, parallel extended welds in a second zone of the element, defining fluid flow channels through the second zone, and oblique welds in a third zone of the element, defining channels for fluid flow towards the outlet opening. The heat exchanger includes adjacent elements for heat exchange between a pressurized first fluid.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: ARVIND ACCEL LIMITEDInventors: Leif Ramm-Schmidt, Arun Ganesaraman
-
Patent number: 9368426Abstract: A piezoelectric fan includes a vibration plate one end of which in a length direction is supported in a fixed manner and the other end of which in the length direction is a free end; and piezoelectric elements, attached on at least one of front and back surfaces of the vibration plate. In an intermediate portion of the vibration plate in the length direction, a right-angle bent portion is provided, and a plurality of divided blades are defined by slits in an area of the vibration plate extending from the free end to a position located a predetermined distance from the bent portion toward the free end. The piezoelectric element is attached on the portion of the vibration plate between the fixed end and the bent portion. Hence, variations in resonant frequency among the blades are reduced and the blades are efficiently excited using a common piezoelectric element.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayoshi Tanida, Midori Sunaga, Hiroaki Wada
-
Patent number: 9366474Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ronald W. Guess, Melissa M. Bippus, Dennis J. Staley, Keith A. Snyder, John A. Laine, Li Y. Situ
-
Patent number: 9360262Abstract: A heat exchanger for a vehicle is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a heat radiating portion provided with first and second connecting lines formed alternately by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first and second operating fluids respectively into the first and second connecting lines. The first and second operating fluids exchange heat with each other during passing through the first and second connecting lines. The heat exchanger also includes a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one operating fluid of the first and second operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid, and mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Wan Je Cho
-
Patent number: 9360241Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat pump circuit, a load distribution element, and a controller. The heat pump circuit includes low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms having a fixed capacity ratio relationship. The load distribution element establishes a load distribution between first and second heat loads subjected to heating processes by heat exchange with refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms, respectively. The controller performs distribution control to maintain a ratio of 1 between temperatures of the refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high stage compression mechanisms and after heat exchange with the first and second heat loads, respectively. Alternatively, the controller performs distribution control to reduce a difference between the temperatures of the refrigerant discharged from the low-stage and high stage compression mechanisms and after heat exchange with the first and second heat loads, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Shuji Fujimoto
-
Patent number: 9353976Abstract: An object of the present invention is to keep an appropriate amount of a refrigerant to be circulated through a refrigerant circuit and prevent an overload operation of compression means due to high pressure abnormality in a refrigerating apparatus which obtains a supercritical pressure on a high pressure side.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiko Mihara, Hidetaka Sasaki, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Masahisa Otake
-
Patent number: 9347676Abstract: An air conditioning system comprising an air mover for circulating air to a space; a vapor compression circuit including a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion device; an evaporator; an air-reheat heat exchanger; and a control system. In one embodiment, the evaporator receives refrigerant from the vapor compression circuit and provides a cooled stream of air to the space. The air-reheat heat exchanger is positioned to receive the cooled stream of air. In one embodiment, the vapor compression circuit, the evaporator, and the air-reheat heat exchanger are operable in combination to provide a plurality of modes of operation. In a preferred embodiment, the control system is configured to compute a Sensible cooling-to-Total cooling (S/T) process ratio and to control an operation of at least one of the vapor compression circuit, the evaporator, and the air-reheat heat exchanger. A method of manufacturing the air conditioning system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventor: Robert B. Uselton
-
Patent number: 9347683Abstract: A hot water supply apparatus associated with a heat pump is provided. The hot water supply apparatus performs a hot water supply operation using a high temperature refrigerant that has been discharged from a compressor, and simultaneously performs an indoor heating operation using a two-stage refrigerant cycle. This allows the apparatus to supply hot water while simultaneously providing heating/cooling to an indoor space.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Jieseop Sim
-
Patent number: 9335098Abstract: A V-shaped heat exchanger apparatus providing a support pedestal on which on at least one side thereof a frame assembly is removably coupled to the pedestal structure. The frame assembly includes preferably as a unitary element, a frame and at least one heat exchanger fixedly secured thereto.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Copper Core LimitedInventor: Daniel R. Pawlick
-
Patent number: 9335072Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus that reduces large refrigerant noise generated when changing an operation mode. In an air-conditioning apparatus, when switching to a second operation mode from a first operation mode, switching to the second operation mode is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed after controlling either or all of expansion devices, controlling either or all of second flow switching devices, and controlling either or all of a first on-off device and a second on-off device such that a pressure difference of a heat source side refrigerant before and after each of the expansion devices is smaller compared to that in an operation state of the first operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Koji Yamashita, Yuji Motomura
-
Patent number: 9328954Abstract: A refrigerator without a kick plate and having an outer case with a water supply pipe at a bottom surface of the outer case. A lower hinge module of a refrigerator includes a body hinge bracket having one portion fixed to the lower surface of the outer case and the remaining portion disposed at the lower portion of the door for supporting the door, a hinge shaft which is protruded from the body hinge bracket and coupled at the lower surface of the door for the door to be capable of rotating and at which a central hole formed for the water supply pipe to pass through, a support member coupled to the lower portion of the body hinge bracket and supported by the bottom surface outside, and a guide unit which is provided along the outer side of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Byeong Kook Kang, Sang Gyu Jung, Sung Cheul Park
-
Patent number: 9328965Abstract: There is provided a heat exchanger of an air conditioning device capable of improving heat exchange efficiency in heat transfer tubes arranged in downstream rows in an airflow direction to enhance cooling capacity. In the heat exchanger of the air conditioning device, a plurality of heat transfer tubes arrayed in three or more rows in the airflow direction are provided, and a refrigerant is distributed to a plurality of paths to be supplied to the heat transfer tubes, and the heat exchanger is used as a evaporator during cooling operation. The plurality of paths include a most downstream path made up of only the heat transfer tubes in a most downstream row in the airflow direction, and an upstream path made up of only the heat transfer tubes in a plurality of rows arranged on an upstream side of the most downstream path.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Kenji Terano
-
Patent number: 9328947Abstract: Plate evaporator (14), in particular for a refrigerant circuit, having a pre-evaporator (18), a low temperature evaporator (28), and a post-evaporator (24) for refrigerant, all of which are integrated into a singular component, and furthermore having an inlet and an outlet for a heat transfer medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: VALEO KLIMASYSTEME GMBHInventor: Roland Haussmann
-
Patent number: 9316423Abstract: A container refrigeration apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which performs a refrigeration cycle, and includes a main circuit sequentially connecting a compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve and an evaporator, and a hot gas bypass circuit through which a refrigerant compressed in the compressor bypasses the condenser and the main expansion valve to flow into the evaporator; and a compressor control section which controls operating speed of rotation of the compressor during heating operation for heating inside of a container by the evaporator while returning the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the compressor through the hot gas bypass circuit and the evaporator so that a temperature inside the container reaches a target temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Kazuma Yokohara, Yuusuke Fujimoto, Atsushi Okamoto
-
Patent number: 9314802Abstract: Disclosed is a spraying tube device capable of, even in a case where a spray solution having low latent heat is used in a falling film type evaporator, uniformly spraying the spray solution to a heat-transfer tube, and a heat exchanger using the spraying tube device. The spraying tube device includes: a spraying tube configured to eject a spray solution M upward through ejection holes arranged along a tube axis C; a cover arranged above the spraying tube and configured to receive the ejected spray solution M and cause the spray solution M to flow through a space S between the cover and the spraying tube to flow downward on an outer surface of the spraying tube, and fins configured to uniformize in a tube axis C direction a distribution of the spray solution M having flowed downward from the cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi Okumura, Naoki Miyake, Tadashi Takemura, Kyoko Takemura
-
Patent number: 9316404Abstract: The present invention generally relates to heat pumps that utilize at least one solar receiver operating with the same working fluids. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a hybrid solar heat pump comprised of at least one microchannel heat exchanger with integral solar absorber, at least one compression device as the heat pump for concurrent compression to a higher pressure and mass flow regulator of the working fluid, and at least one working fluid accumulator with the entire system operating with the same working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLCInventor: Michael H. Gurin
-
Patent number: 9316424Abstract: A cooling system has a plurality of separate cooling stages including an upstream cooling stage having an upstream cooling circuit and a downstream cooling stage including a downstream cooling circuit, which are each a direct expansion cooling circuit including a tandem compressor. Each tandem compressor includes a fixed capacity compressor and a variable capacity compressor. A controller controls the fixed capacity compressor and variable capacity compressor of each tandem compressor based on a Call for Cooling, which of a plurality of ranges the Call for Cooling falls within, and whether the Call for Cooling is ramping up or ramping down.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventors: Zhiyong Lin, Roger Noll, John F. Judge, Gary A. Helmink, Benedict J. Dolcich, Daniel J. Schutte, Timothy J. Schrader
-
Patent number: 9315333Abstract: Conveying system and method for sensing and controlling the surface temperature of a conveyor transporting articles through a process that incidentally changes the temperature of the conveyor. The conveyor system includes a conveyor such as a transport belt having temperature sensors embedded in the belt at spaced locations along its length. Transmitters embedded in the belt transmit temperature readings made by the sensors to a remote controller. The remote controller controls a temperature modification unit in the belt's conveyor path that restores the temperature of the belt to an optimum range for the processing of the articles. The controller creates a temperature map of at least a portion of the conveyor path.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Joseph M. DePaso