Patents Examined by Marc Norman
  • Patent number: 9322581
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Patent number: 9316426
    Abstract: Articulated water curtains for ice making machines include two portions, an upper portion hingedly connected to the upper portion of the machine, and a lower portion that includes a bottom edge of the two-piece water curtain and that is pivotally-mounted to a lower portion of the machine or to the lower portion of the water curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Scotsman Group LLC
    Inventor: Jay Martin Almblad
  • Patent number: 9316403
    Abstract: The concepts relate to reducing energy loss associated with hot water systems. One example includes a cold water line and a hot water line and an end use fixture in fluid flowing relation with the cold and hot water lines and configured to control water flow therefrom. This example also includes a water heater having an intake or inlet in fluid flowing relation to the cold water line and an outlet in fluid flowing relation to the hot water line. The example includes an automatic hot water recovery apparatus positioned in fluid flowing relation to the cold water line proximate to the water heater, the automatic hot water recovery apparatus configured to draw hot water back into the water heater from the hot water line subsequent to hot water usage at the end use fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventor: Spencer Kim Haws
  • Patent number: 9316407
    Abstract: An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Patent number: 9316431
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours. In a first iteration, a real-time temperature of the refrigeration device is cooled to a target temperature over a first time duration. The refrigeration device compressor and fan are disabled over a second time duration and the real-time temperature is allowed to slowly rise, never exceeding an established maximum temperature. The real-time temperature is periodically monitored over the first time duration and the second time duration and adjustments are made for a subsequent iteration if the target temperature is reached before the end of the first time duration, if the target temperature is not reached during the first time duration, and if the maximum temperature is reached during the second time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventors: Vishnu Sivadas, Timothy Lee Lockwood
  • Patent number: 9309982
    Abstract: A temperature-adjustment system for a vehicle includes temperature-adjustment passages and obtained by circularly connecting a battery, an inverter, a DC/DC converter, a traveling motor, and a pump that circulates the heat medium that adjusts temperatures by cooling/heating the heat generation elements, are provided. The temperature-adjustment passages and are provided with proportional valves that interrupt the flow of the heat medium and adjust the flow volume of the heat medium, an air flow-in part that introduces air into the battery temperature-adjustment passage, and a heat medium discharge part that discharges the heat medium from the temperature-adjustment passage to outside of the vehicle. The proportional valve, air flow-in part, battery, pump, and heat medium discharge part are preferably arranged in that order, and the proportional valve is closed and an air take-in valve and a heat medium discharge valve are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Akiyama, Tadashi Osaka, Masatsugu Arai
  • Patent number: 9310145
    Abstract: A device comprises equipment (101) with a heat source, a cold part (102) relative to the equipment, and a thermal conductor element (103) capable of conducting the heat from the equipment to the cold part. The element (103) is such that, under certain thermal conditions above a given thermal condition, the equipment and the cold part are essentially thermally isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Emile Colongo, Stephane Ortet
  • Patent number: 9310114
    Abstract: An electronic expansion valve is provided that allows an air conditioner to control air conditioning in accordance with a valve opening point of the electronic expansion valve. Also, an air conditioner is provided that is capable of controlling air conditioning on the basis of the valve opening point of the electronic expansion valve. The electronic expansion valve is provided with a barcode corresponding to property data of the electronic expansion valve. The property data include a pulse number corresponding to a valve opening point that was measured in the process of manufacturing the electronic expansion valve. The valve opening point is set on the basis of the pulse number of a stepper motor when the flow rate of a gas flowing through a valve hole of the electronic expansion valve is equal to a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Daiken Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetaka Wakisaka, Masahiro Oka
  • Patent number: 9309000
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an outer skin of an aircraft comprises at least one feed line for a coolant, at least one discharge line for the coolant and at least one bundle of coolant channels through which coolant flows, wherein in the case of the heat exchanger being attached to the outer skin, the coolant channels are positioned directly on the outer skin of the aircraft, at least in areas, for dissipating heat to the surrounding environment of the aircraft. The heat exchanger may comprise cooling fins around which air flows for increasing the heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 9303908
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit configured to interconnect a heat source unit and a utilization unit, a transmission line that exchanges a signal between the heat source unit and the utilization unit, an information obtaining section, an operation controlling section capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation, a refrigerant quantity judging section, and a condition setting section. The information obtaining section obtains information on the utilization unit connected to the heat source unit via the transmission line. The refrigerant quantity judging section judges the adequacy of the refrigerant quantity in the refrigerant circuit by using the operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit in the refrigerant quantity judging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9303897
    Abstract: A method of compensating for thermal lag in a temperature control system is performed by a controller of the temperature control system. The method includes receiving a first temperature obtained by a temperature sensing device at an end of a temperature control cycle. A second temperature obtained by the temperature sensing device is received at a pre-defined time after the end of the temperature control cycle. The method includes changing an operational set-point temperature of the temperature control system using a difference between the received temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier
  • Patent number: 9303889
    Abstract: An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Patent number: 9300190
    Abstract: A free-surface liquid transfer apparatus for rotating machinery includes a stationary member. The stationary member includes a main surface configured to align to a rotating member, a landing surface arranged around the main surface configured to receive and slow a continuous film of working fluid transferred from the rotating member, an annular gap arranged around the landing surface, and a hollow torus cavity arranged proximate the annular gap configured to receive the slowed continuous film of working fluid transmitted through the annular gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark F. Franzen, Michael J. Andres, Kris H. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9297591
    Abstract: A heat conduction system including modular pipes housing a solid heat conductor made of a combination of carbon foam glass and grapheme and, for conductors, insulated from the outermost pipe by an insulating layer and with an annular gas purging gap for high-temperature applications. Also included in the system are thermal valves, manifolds, and heat exchangers to route and use the thermal energy. In an exemplary use, a down-hole heat exchanger, thermally coupled to a string of heat conduction modules, brings geothermal heat up from abandoned oil wells to operate a boiler and steam turbine. In another exemplary use, waste heat is conducted out of slag for conversion into useful energy. In yet another exemplary use, waste heat is conducted away from a nuclear reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventors: Richard von Hack-Prestinary, Raymond S. Donofrio
  • Patent number: 9298196
    Abstract: A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes receiving an immediate-control input to change set point temperature, controlling temperature according to the set point temperature for a predetermined time interval, and then automatically resetting the set point temperature upon the ending of the predetermined time interval such that the user is urged to make further immediate-control inputs. A schedule for the programmable thermostat is automatically generated based on the immediate-control inputs. Methods are also described for receiving user input relating to the user's preference regarding automatically generating a schedule, and determining whether or not to automatically adopt an automatically generated schedule based on the received user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Frank E. Astier, Rangoli Sharan, David Sloo, Anthony Michael Fadell
  • Patent number: 9297565
    Abstract: In various implementations, an air conditioning system may automatically adjust an amount of refrigerant using an accumulator. The air conditioning system may operate in at least two operation modes including a cooling operation and a reheat operation. The amount of refrigerant allowed to flow to a condenser of the system may be based at least partially on the operating mode of the air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Der-Kai Hung
  • Patent number: 9301433
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic component. The apparatus includes a refrigerant evaporator in thermal communication with a component(s) to be cooled, and a refrigerant loop coupled in fluid communication with the evaporator for facilitating flow of refrigerant through the evaporator. The apparatus further includes a compressor in fluid communication with a refrigerant loop, an air-cooled heat sink coupled to the refrigerant evaporator, for providing backup cooling to the electronic component in a backup, air cooling mode, and a controllable refrigerant heater coupled to the heat sink. The refrigerant heater is in thermal communication across the heat sink with refrigerant passing through the refrigerant evaporator, and is controlled in a primary, refrigeration cooling mode to apply an auxiliary heat load to refrigerant passing through the refrigerant evaporator to ensure that refrigerant in the refrigerant loop entering the compressor is in a superheated thermodynamic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9297579
    Abstract: A passively cooled instrument protective housing has an internal heat exchanger, an external heat exchanger, and a storage tank for a cooling medium and disposed in a housing interior. A cooling unit having a cooling unit evaporator is disposed in the storage tank and in which a cooling unit coolant is evaporated with the use of heat from the storage tank cooling medium. A condenser or a liquefier is disposed outside the housing and in which the vaporous or gaseous cooling unit coolant emanating from the cooling unit evaporator is liquefied. A switching and/or shut-off device is provided, by which the cooling unit can be switched off and/or can be uncoupled from the passive cooling system formed by the internal and external heat exchangers and by the storage tank. In addition, a control and/or regulating device is provided, which same is operatively connected to the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Martin Hess
  • Patent number: 9297589
    Abstract: A boiling heat transfer device of the present invention includes: a heat receiving portion that boils a liquefied refrigerant to convert it to vapor, and contacts with a device to be cooled and cools the device to be cooled; a vapor tube that connects to an upper portion of the heat receiving portion and conveys the vapor generated by the heat receiving portion; a heat dissipating portion that condenses the vapor conveyed from the vapor tube to convert it to a liquefied refrigerant and dissipates heat to an atmosphere; and a liquid tube that returns to the heat receiving portion the liquefied refrigerant condensed by the heat dissipating portion. At least a portion of a cross-sectional area of a flow passage of the vapor in the heat receiving portion gradually decreases from a lower portion of the heat receiving portion toward the upper portion of the heat receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakamoto, Minoru Yoshikawa, Takeya Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 9297593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a header plate (1) of a heat exchanger, comprising a plurality of openings or sockets (2) intended for the fixing of a plurality of tubes or the like through which at least one fluid flows, the header plate extending along a planar surface (XX), characterized in that the distance between two adjacent openings or sockets (2), or “tube spacing” (p), is less than 9.5 millimeters (mm). The invention also relates to a header tank with such a header plate (1) and to a brazed or “mechanical” heat exchanger including such a header tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Lesueur, Christian Riondet