Patents Examined by Marc Norman
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Patent number: 9400125Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus (1) for transferring heat from a first relatively cold medium to a second relatively hot medium, comprising a gastight rotor (4) rotatably mounted in a frame (2), and, mounted inside the rotor (4), a compressor (10), a first heat exchanger (8) for transferring heat from the fluid to the second medium and located relatively far from the axis of rotation of the rotor (4), an expansion chamber (11) for expanding the fluid, and a channel (14) for conveying the expanded fluid from the expansion chamber (11) to the compressor (10), wherein the first heat exchanger (8) is thermally insulated from the channel (14).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Heleos Technology GmbHInventor: Frank Hoos
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Patent number: 9399516Abstract: A refrigeration unit for an aircraft galley comprises a frame establishing a main compartment, and a side window that receives a side access compartment, where a the dividing wall separates the side compartment interior space from a main chilled compartment. A side door mounted to the side access compartment allows access to the side compartment but not the main compartment, allowing segregation of snacks and items accessible to passengers via self-serve from those that are only distributed by flight attendants.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.Inventors: Aaron B. Hawkins, Jesse R. Peck, William J. Godecker, Victor A. Zankich
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Patent number: 9400966Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventor: Saak Dertadian
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Patent number: 9401317Abstract: An assembly for a heat sink having a contact plate with opposing first and second faces, a plurality of fins extending from the first face of the contact plate, and a plurality of gaps between the fins. A retaining device has a first pair of opposing sides and a second pair of opposing sides, the first and second pairs of opposing sides surrounding an opening, the first pair of opposing sides having primary framing members, at least some of the primary framing members having a first end at a respective side and a distal free end, with at least one engagement member positioned proximate the distal free ends. The primary framing members define a receiving space for the heat sink. A metal spring is configured in a closed shape cross-section for engagement with the retaining device. The metal spring has a pair of elongated sides, a pair of truncated sides and heat sink engagement regions.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Aavid Thermalloy, LLCInventors: Rui Sheng Tan, Xiong Zhang, Zhe Hong Liu, San Xi Zheng
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Patent number: 9400143Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for reducing the vibrations of a tube bundle of a heat exchanger inside its shell, wherein this device allows a secure and quick insertion after the bundle has been manufactured. This easy insertion after manufacturing the bundle allows the high temperatures to which the bundle is subjected for the attachment by means of brazing to not affect the properties of the device, particularly the elasticity achieved by means of tempering, for example.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: BORGWARNER EMISSIONS SYSTEMS SPAIN, S.L. UNIPERSONALInventors: José Antonio Grande Fernández, Ángel Chamadoira Gómez
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Patent number: 9400120Abstract: An air conditioner performs startup control in which compressor capacity is reduced as measured indoor temperature approaches a set temperature. A desired time of day is set directly or indirectly. A startup control apparatus of the air conditioner measures an inflection point occurrence time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when measured indoor temperature exhibits an inflection point. Alternatively, the startup control apparatus measures a control parameter lowering arrival time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a control parameter transmitted to the compressor decreases to a prescribed value. A scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner is set as a time of day that is the desired time of day set moved forward by the inflection point occurrence time or the control parameter lowering arrival time. Operation of the air conditioner is started when the scheduled operation start time arrives.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Nanae Kinugasa
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Patent number: 9395106Abstract: A system and method for cooling power electronics using heat sinks, and including a heat pump. The heat pump includes a main refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a reversing valve. A biflow expansion valve is configured to receive condensed liquid refrigerant and to expand the refrigerant. A cooling circuit in fluid communication with the main refrigerant line includes an expansion device configured to receive a portion of condensed liquid refrigerant from the main refrigerant circuit and to expand the portion of condensed liquid refrigerant. A heat sink is configured to receive the expanded portion of refrigerant from the expansion device. Power electronics are coupled to the heat sink such that the portion of expanded refrigerant from the expansion device passes through the heat sink and cools the power electronics.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Roger J. Voorhis
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Patent number: 9395107Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing, two high-temperature-side refrigeration circuits and two low-temperature-side refrigeration circuits. Each of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuits is configured to exchange heat with both of the two low-temperature-side refrigeration circuits by cascade heat exchangers. A hot-water pipe letting water or hot water through water-refrigerant heat exchangers of the high-temperature-side refrigeration circuits is provided. When the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuit conducts a defrosting operation of the evaporator, the low-temperature-side refrigeration circuits are controlled in such a way that the low-temperature-side refrigerant circuit releases heat in the cascade heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: TOSHIBA CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Shun Asari, Takahiro Zushi, Takahisa Endo
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Patent number: 9395096Abstract: A control unit for controlling the operation of at least one smart-home system may include at least one occupancy sensor and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to receive readings from the at least one occupancy sensor during a trial period; compare information derived from the readings to at least one threshold criterion to establish whether the one or more occupancy sensors reliably determined occupancy of an enclosure in which the control unit is installed during the trial period; and enable an away-state feature of the control unit if it is determined that the one or more occupancy sensors reliably determined occupancy of an enclosure during the trial period.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Evan J. Fisher, Yoky Matsuoka
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Patent number: 9388798Abstract: A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Robert J. Howard, Stephen L. Bailey
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Patent number: 9389012Abstract: Provided is a storage system and a refrigeration appliance including the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a rail attached to a liner panel. The rail includes at least one mounting structure configured to pass through an aperture in the liner panel. A bin has an arm extending from a rear surface of the bin. The bin is placed in a storage position. The arm is placed between the rail and the liner panel when the bin is placed in the storage position. Another example of the storage system and refrigeration appliance includes a foot extending from a rear surface of the bin. Yet another example includes interaction between a bin tab and a plurality of bumps on the rail to prevent side to side motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Timothy Bryan Rackley, Adam Ellis, Andrew D. Brown, Justin Elgin
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Patent number: 9392728Abstract: In association with a liquid flow through a heat exchanger situated to remove heat from electronic devices, a coolant flow control apparatus is provided. The coolant flow control apparatus comprises a first input channel for carrying liquid coolant to a first input of the heat exchanger; a flow control device positioned along a flow path that includes the first input channel, the flow control device, in response to a temperature of coolant proximate to the flow control device, is operable to enable or to prevent coolant flow along the first input channel into the heat exchanger; a second input channel for continuously carrying liquid coolant to a second input of the heat exchanger, during both times when the flow control device is enabling and is preventing the coolant flow along the first input channel into the heat exchanger; and an output channel for carrying coolant away from the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Eric V. Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Michael R. Rasmussen, Stephen M. Zins
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Patent number: 9375996Abstract: A device and a method for a controlling compressor of vehicles may include a cabin temperature sensor, an outdoor temperature sensor, an evaporator temperature sensor, an engine speed sensor, and a throttle position sensor detecting a throttle opening, a condenser, an evaporator, a temperature control door controlling a temperature of an air flowed in a cabin, an intake door selectively flowing an inner air or an outer air in the cabin, and a blower blowing the air to the intake door, and a controller controlling an operation of the air conditioning system, wherein the controller decides a acceleration mode and an allowable temperature at each acceleration mode when an acceleration condition occurs, and decreases an operation of the compressor according to a difference between the evaporator temperature and the allowable temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Choon Gyu Kwon, Jae Woong Kim, Chang Won Lee
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Patent number: 9377211Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses a flammable refrigerant, a heat source side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air in an unconditioned space, an outdoor unit air-sending device disposed at a position where the air is enabled to flow out of a housing to the outside, the outdoor unit air-sending device being driven to maintain the concentration of the refrigerant in the housing at or below a predetermined concentration, and an outdoor unit controller that controls an operation of the compressor and an operation of the outdoor air-sending device. The outdoor unit controller allows the outdoor unit air-sending device to operate in order to maintain the concentration of the refrigerant at or below the predetermined concentration even when the compressor is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto
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Patent number: 9377224Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a heat source unit that cools or heats a refrigerant, an indoor unit that performs a cooling operation, and a hot water supply unit that performs a hot water supply operation. When there is an operation request for one of the indoor unit and the hot water supply unit, even when there is no operation request for the other, the heat pump apparatus causes both the one and the other to operate if the other satisfies a certain condition so that the hot water supply unit performs a hot water supply operation by utilizing a refrigerant heated by performing a cooling operation in the indoor unit and the indoor unit performs a cooling operation by utilizing a refrigerant cooled by performing a hot water supply operation in the hot water supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Masanobu Baba, Ryo Oya
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Patent number: 9379420Abstract: A battery system having a cooling plate with a conduit therein is provided. The system further includes a battery module having first and second battery cells. The system further includes a compressor, and a condenser coupled between the compressor and the conduit of the cooling plate. The system further includes a microprocessor that determines a maximum temperature level of the first and second battery cells, and determines a target temperature level for the cooling plate based on the maximum temperature level. The microprocessor determines a temperature error value based on a difference between a temperature level and the target temperature level of the cooling plate, and determines a desired RPM value for the compressor based on the temperature error value.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Satish Ketkar, Paul Laurain, Richard McCormick
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Patent number: 9372007Abstract: When the air conditioner implements the temperature controlling operation, the ventilator performs ventilation in a normal ventilation mode where a ventilation amount is set at a certain ventilation amount or more. When the air conditioner implements the operation not intended for temperature control, the ventilator performs ventilation in a ventilation suppressed mode where the number of rotations of an exhaust fan is made greater than that of an air supply fan to place indoor space in a negative pressure and ventilation is performed at an amount smaller than the certain ventilation amount or ventilation is stopped. In the ventilation suppressed mode, a ventilation amount is set to be smaller in response to a greater heating load that is increased by ventilation performed during the operation not intended for temperature control.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Yoshitaka Matsugi
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Patent number: 9371024Abstract: An air-conditioner conducts an air-conditioning for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and has an eco-mode to save energy. The air-conditioner includes a seat temperature control system and a controller. The seat temperature control system is configured to operate to heat or cool a seat in the passenger compartment. The controller automatically activates the seat temperature control system when the eco-mode is set.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Yasushi Kondo, Yoshinori Yanagimachi, Satoshi Izawa, Motohiro Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9372021Abstract: While a compressor is stopped, a change rate of a refrigerant temperature per predetermined time is calculated on the basis of a value detected by a refrigerant temperature sensor, and a heating amount from a compressor heating unit to the compressor is made proportional to the change rate of the refrigerant temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yohei Kato, Naoki Wakuta
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Patent number: 9372034Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an effective cooling-energy storing performance and a stable cooling-energy radiating performance and to realize a high productivity. An evaporator has a plurality of refrigerant tubes arranged at almost equal intervals to form therebetween accommodating spaces. A plurality of cooling-storage containers are arranged in some of the accommodating spaces and fins are arranged in the remaining accommodating spaces. A cooling-storage unit is formed by one cooling-storage container and two refrigerant tubes arranged at both sides of the cooling-storage container. Each of the cooling-storage container has projections extending from one wall portion to the other wall portion to form heat exchange portions. The cooling-storage container is connected to the refrigerant tubes by soldering material.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Yokoyama, Yoshio Miyata, Etsuo Hasegawa, Masahiro Shimoya, Jun Abei, Ryoichi Sanada, Takashi Andoh, Seiji Inoue, Katsutoshi Enomoto