Patents Examined by Malik N. Drake
  • Patent number: 6729153
    Abstract: Disclosed is an indoor unit in an air conditioner of which components are arranged symmetrically so as to enable a compact design. The present invention includes a case having an intake port and a blow outlet, a blower installed inside a central part of the case along a length direction of the case, a heat exchanger installed between the intake port and blower so as to heat-exchange a room air which is sucked in, a fan motor coupled with one side of the blower so as to drive the blower, and a pipe part installed at a space opposite to the fan motor centering around the blower and connected between the heat exchanger an outdoor unit so that an operational fluid circulates through the pipe part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Soo Moon, Mun Kee Chung
  • Patent number: 6729156
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ram air duct for an aeroplane air conditioning system having an inlet channel which can be closed by an inlet valve and in which at least one heat exchanger is arranged, having a blower arranged in a blower chamber and an outlet passage closable by an outlet valve. In accordance with the invention, the outlet passage is divided into two separately extending passages of which one is guided as a blower outlet passage up to the blower into the blower chamber and the other is designed as a bypass passage. The outlet valve only closes the bypass passage in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Sauterleute, Joachim Haas, Norbert Brutscher, Stefan Hofer
  • Patent number: 6725672
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage apparatus M stores a liquid hydrogen tank 1, hydrogen filling passage 3 that fills liquid hydrogen in to the liquid hydrogen tank, a degassing passage 4 provided with a relief valve V1 that opens when the pressure of hydrogen gasified in the liquid hydrogen tank reaches a predetermined level, and a hydrogen occlusive tank 2 that accommodates a hydrogen occlusive alloy 21 for storing the gasified hydrogen. When liquid hydrogen is being filled into the liquid hydrogen tank 1, the pressure in the hydrogen occlusive tank 2 is lowered using a duct 51, a cooling fan 52, and a conduit 54 for cooling the hydrogen occlusive tank 2. Accordingly, the filling time is shortened and the fuel efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shimada, Takahiro Kuriiwa, Yoshio Nuiya
  • Patent number: 6725684
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner including a main chassis receiving various components inside, a heat exchanger installed inside the main chassis so as to exchange heat with a room air, a blow fan installed inside the main chassis so as to suck in and blow out the room air, a front panel attached to a front side of the main chassis and having an intake inlet at a front face so as to make an air flow in the heat exchanger, and an intake panel installed at the front face of the front panel to revolve to move so as to close/open the intake inlet selectively, the intake panel installed at the front face of the front panel so as to be detachable. The present invention enables to provide a compact air conditioner having an improved exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hae Rim Lee, Yong Woo Kim, Jae Buem Bae, Yong Min Song, Kam Gyu Lee, Ju Ho Ock, Sung Jin Hwang
  • Patent number: 6722139
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner using a thermoelectric module enabling to supply users individually with fresh and pleasant air for cooling/heating. The present invention includes a thermoelectric module having high and low temperature parts discharging and absorbing heat by an electric power, a heat-absorption accelerating means connected thermally to the low temperature part of the thermoelectric module so as to accelerate heat exchange between the low temperature part and an air, and a heat-dissipation accelerating means connected to the high temperature part of the thermoelectric module to accelerate heat exchange between the high temperature part and air so as to cool the high temperature part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Soo Moon, Mun Kee Chung
  • Patent number: 6718777
    Abstract: A working medium is used which is composed of an R32 refrigerant or a mixed refrigerant containing at least 70 wt % of the R32 and a polyvinyl ether oil whose viscosity at 40° C. is 46-82 cst. Thus, a refrigeration system capable of improving COP while ensuring sufficient reliability using a working medium containing an R32 refrigerant having a low GWP (Global Warming Parameter) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Taira
  • Patent number: 6718795
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the power efficient production of high-pressure gaseous oxygen product. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid oxygen stream is pumped to a low to medium pressure and warmed within a first heat exchanger such as a brazed aluminum plate fin heat exchanger. The liquid oxygen stream is then pumped to a further pressure and then vaporized in a second heat exchanger to produce a high-pressure gaseous oxygen stream. In an embodiment, a high-pressure air stream may be utilized in the second heat exchanger for vaporizing the oxygen stream and cooling the air stream. The air stream may be utilized as a feed for the cryogenic air unit. A portion of the air stream at a medium pressure may be utilized in the first heat exchanger. A portion of the air stream may also be expanded to recover energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Briglia
  • Patent number: 6718776
    Abstract: A passive thermal control enclosure for transporting and storing payloads in earth orbit includes an inner box-like enclosure surrounded by an outer box-like enclosure with insulation in the space between the enclosures. The walls of the inner enclosure are fiber-matrix composite skins with honeycomb sandwiched therebetween. Each enclosure has its own door latched closed by releasable latches formed in opposed pairs that can be operated without any net force on the operator. Packs of phase change material (PCM) are placed into the inner enclosure with the payload. The PCM is contained in flexible packages. The packs of PCM are removed when they melt and replaced with fresh packs, and the melted packs preferably are re-frozen on-board the orbiting spacecraft. Freezing preferably is carried out such that the freeze front moves substantially in only one direction from one end of the pack to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: Francis C. Wessling, James M. Blackwood, Gabrial A. Elliott, Susan K. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6715301
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor for a refrigerator using a linear motor, in which a capacitance is varied according to a variation of a driving load, thereby improving a driving efficiency of the compressor. To this end, the apparatus for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor for a refrigerator using a linear motor comprises a first capacitor for attenuating an inductance of a coil wound on a motor; a second capacitor connected to the first capacitor in parallel; and a relay connected to the second capacitor in series to be turned on/off; and a microcomputer for outputting a control signal to turn on/off the relay according to the driving load of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gye-Young Song
  • Patent number: 6708521
    Abstract: An electrically driven refrigeration system (10), in particular for a vehicle air conditioner, comprises a compressor (12), an electric motor (14) for driving the compressor (12), an electronic controller (16) for controlling the motor (14), a condenser (18), an expansion device (20) and an evaporator (20). These elements are interconnected in such a way as to form a refrigeration circuit for circulating a refrigerant from the compressor (12) through the condenser (18), the expansion device (20) and the evaporator (22) back to the compressor (12). The electronic controller (16) is arranged in such a way as to be in thermal exchange relationship with the refrigerant at a point of the refrigeration circuit situated between the compressor outlet (26) and the condenser outlet (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lukas M. Wurth
  • Patent number: 6708504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to thoroughly cool an extrudate by releasing a cooling fluid in a hollow portion of the extrudate. Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight, and/or processing time. A fluid below about 80 degrees Fahrenheit is released into the hollow so as to cool the material and to assist in solidification. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. Other uses for the present invention include injection molding, compression molding, gas assist molding, and co-extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Brandt, Matthew F. Kollar, Herbert L. Hutchison
  • Patent number: 6701926
    Abstract: A improved interface is disclosed for delivering CPAP therapy to patients. The interface has a sliding engagement to the headgear. The sliding engagement allows substantial relative lateral movement eg: when face is distorted from sleeping on side, while still providing adequate compressive force to avoid side leakage. The sliding engagement also allows easy release from the headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Gregory James Olsen, Martin Leckie, Neil Prime, Lewis George Gradon, Nicholas Charles Alan Smith, Alastair Edwin McAuley, Mark Joseph Haycock, Chris Earl Nightingale, Geoffrey Mark Shaw
  • Patent number: 6701720
    Abstract: A sleeve or a wrapper is used to keep liquid contained in a container, such as a glass or bottle or can, cool. The sleeve contains materials that generate light when activated and chemicals that absorb heat when combined. The light is generated in an upper portion of the sleeve while heat is absorbed in a lower portion of the sleeve. The sleeve can be re-used by storing the sleeve in a refrigerator or freezer after the initial use which does not require such pre-cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin M. Stone, Renee Stone
  • Patent number: 6698211
    Abstract: A natural gas fuel storage and supply system, particularly suited for use in vehicles powered by liquid natural gas (LNG), includes an insulated tank containing a supply of LNG with a headspace there above. A pump and a vaporizer are in circuit between the tank and the engine of the vehicle. When activated, the pump pressurizes LNG from the tank and directs it to the vaporizer where gaseous LNG is produced. The pressurized gaseous LNG is routed to the engine where it is consumed as fuel. An economizer circuit communicates with the headspace of the tank and includes a regulator, a control valve and a flow control device. The control valve opens when the vehicle engine is in operation and the regulator opens when the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined level so that LNG vapor from the tank headspace flows to the vehicle engine air inlet where it is consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Gustafson
  • Patent number: 6698237
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating the components of a hydrocarbon gas feed stream is disclosed. A multi-component hydrocarbon gas feed stream is contacted with a solvent in an absorber to produce a first overhead stream that is enriched in a first component and a rich solvent bottoms stream that is enriched a second component. The rich solvent bottoms stream is flash vaporized to recover the second component as a second overhead stream and to produce a lean solvent stream that is returned to the absorber. During the flash vaporization process, the rich solvent bottoms stream is contacted with a stripping gas that is a portion of the first overhead stream. This stripping process enhances the recovery of the second component during the flash vaporization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Extraction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas K. Gaskin
  • Patent number: 6694776
    Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system for producing oxygen wherein essentially all of the power produced by a gas turbine system is used to compress feed air for the cryogenic air separation, and wherein preferably a facilitating column is employed to enhance the production of oxygen from the double column system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Parsnick, Andrew E. Taraboletti
  • Patent number: 6688112
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration device employs a gas-vapor mixture as the working fluid. As a result, the refrigeration device operates according to a modified thermoacoustic refrigeration cycle that adds a condensation-vaporization cycle to the thermoacoustic cycle. The resulting modified refrigeration cycle increases the efficiency of heat transport by harnessing the translational motion of the vapor, as well as the usual acoustic oscillations, to transport the heat energy from one end of a thermal stack to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Richard Raspet, William V. Slaton, Craig J. Hickey, Robert A. Hiller, Henry E. Bass
  • Patent number: 6688114
    Abstract: An improvement to an LNG carrier having a vaporizer on board said LNG carrier for vaporizing the LNG to a gaseous state is disclosed. The LNG carrier includes a source of heat for said vaporizer; an intermediate fluid circulating between said vaporizer and said source of heat; and one or more pumps for circulating said intermediate fluid between said vaporizer and said source of heat. The improvement includes equipment connections for adding at least one additional source of heat for said vaporizer, pre-installed flow conduits between said vaporizer and said equipment connections, and valves for isolating said pre-installed flow conduits from said vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: El Paso Corporation
    Inventor: Alan B. Nierenberg
  • Patent number: 6684660
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning air supply system is provided that includes a primary propulsion turbine engine having a bleed valve providing pressurized air. A ram air inlet provides ram air. A super charger includes a spool with at least two turbines mounted thereon driven by the pressurized air from the engine. At least one compressor is connected to the turbines, preferably mounted on the same spool as the turbines, and receives the ram air. The turbines drive the compressor and compresses the ram air for use by an air conditioning pack. The supercharger provides compressed air to an air conditioning pack that conditions the compressed air and distributes the refrigerated air throughout the aircraft. The number of turbines and compressors for the super charger is selected by matching the specific speeds of the compressors and turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Thomas Zywiak, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 6679067
    Abstract: A process for treating pantyhose in a cryogenic processor to produce cryogenically treated pantyhose that have enhanced wearing qualities is described. In this regard, one such process, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: reducing the temperature of the pantyhose to between about −80° C. and about −240° C. over about a 1 to 6 hour time period; holding the temperature of the pantyhose between about −80° C. and about −240° C. for a 6 to 48 hour time period; and allowing the pantyhose to increase in temperature to about 25° C. over a 3 to 48 hour time period. The cryogenic treatment of pantyhose results in enhanced wearing qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: C W Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mike Pate, Dick Reed