Patents Examined by Marc Norman
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Patent number: 9291281Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The apparatuses include, for instance, a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
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Patent number: 9292020Abstract: A fail-safe engine coolant thermostat includes a body having a bore with an inlet and an outlet. A thermal actuator capable of extended and retracted positions due to coolant temperature is disposed in the body. A valve plate is pivotally mounted in the body to open and close fluid flow through the body. A connecting member is coupled between the thermal actuator and the valve plate to pivot the valve plate to the closed flow position. A pivot connection of the valve plate to the body is diametrically off center to the valve plate to pivot to the fluid flow open position under coolant fluid flow pressure unless the thermal actuator, at cold fluid temperatures, pivots the value plate to the closed position through the connecting member. An adjustment is provided for the connecting member to enable adjustment of the valve plate to the full closed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Inventor: Darrel R. Sand
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Patent number: 9295181Abstract: A coolant-conditioning unit is provided which includes a facility coolant path, having a facility coolant flow control valve, and a system coolant path accommodating a system coolant, and having a bypass line with a system coolant bypass valve. A heat exchanger is coupled to the facility and system coolant paths to facilitate transfer of heat from the system coolant to facility coolant in the facility coolant path, and the bypass line is disposed in the system coolant path in parallel with the heat exchanger. A controller automatically controls a regulation position of the coolant bypass valve and a regulation position of the facility coolant flow control valve based on a temperature of the system coolant, and automatically adjusts the regulation position of the system coolant bypass valve to facilitate maintaining the facility coolant flow control valve at or above a specified, partially open, minimum regulation position.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
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Patent number: 9291396Abstract: A header tank for a heat exchanger for supplying a heat exchange fluid to a core unit in which a plurality of tubes are provided side by side includes an inlet part for introducing the heat exchange fluid into the header tank, and a plurality of ribs projecting into the header tank, extending in directions intersecting with a central axis direction of the inlet part, arranged side by side in the central axis direction and configured to cause the heat exchange fluid to flow into the tubes. The plurality of ribs project more into the header tank with increasing distance from the inlet part.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Kato, Takashi Kaneda
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Patent number: 9291403Abstract: A heat exchanger has a core case, at least one fin case disposed in the core case, and pair of upper and lower fins disposed in the fin case. The fin case has an inlet part, an outlet part, and a middle part disposed between the inlet and outlet parts. Each of the upper and lower fins has top and bottom portions. The upper and lower fins are disposed within the fin case so that the upper and lower fins are not in contact with each other at the inlet and outlet parts of the fin case and so that the bottom portions of the upper fin are in contact with respective ones of the top portions of the lower fin at the middle part of the fin case.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: YUTAKA GIKEN CO., LTD.Inventors: Toru Hisanaga, Yoshihiro Umeda, Tamaki Kuniyoshi
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Patent number: 9283826Abstract: A device for cooling a heat source of a motor vehicle, including a cooling body (7) which is in thermal contact with the heat source, a first fluid stream for the discharge of heat being capable of flowing to the cooling body (7), wherein at least one second fluid stream for the discharge of heat can flow selectably to the cooling body (7).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Conrad Pfender, Dirk Neumeister, Guenther Feuerecker, Manuel Wehowski, Roland Burk, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Tobias Isermeyer, Florian Moldovan, Martin Steinbach
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Patent number: 9285150Abstract: A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a driving assembly that is mounted on the case and an underside of the agitating assembly to generate a driving force for swinging the agitating assembly, and a refrigeration cycle for producing cold air to be supplied to the storage chamber and the cooling device. The cooling device further includes a starting torque supply mechanism supplying mechanical or electric energy to the agitating assembly, to initiate a swinging motion of the agitating assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Yeonwoo Cho, Yanggyu Kim, Younseok Lee
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Patent number: 9283850Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention is a semiconductor device applicable in a cooling system including an ECU functioning as a setting part that sets target temperature of a refrigerant used to cool the semiconductor device, and a sensor functioning as a detector that detects the temperature of the refrigerant as refrigerant's temperature. The semiconductor device generates variable heating loss. The semiconductor device includes a heating controller that controls the heating loss in the semiconductor device such that the target temperature and the refrigerant's temperature become the same.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Noboru Miyamoto, Mitsunori Aiko
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Patent number: 9285050Abstract: Methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The methods include providing a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
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Patent number: 9285049Abstract: A thermostat device having a first coolant flow path; a second coolant flow path; a casing including a thermostat container portion that communicates with the first and second coolant flow paths; a third coolant flow path that communicates with the thermostat container portion; a cap that covers the thermostat container portion; a thermostat including a thermo-element that advances and retreats in response to changes in temperature of a coolant that flows through the thermostat container portion; a temperature sensor disposed within the thermostat container portion and which detects the temperature of the coolant; a sensor mount in which the temperature sensor is embedded, integrated into an inside end of the cap; and a lead connector extending from the temperature sensor and integrated into an outside end of the cap.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Nippon Thermostat Co., Ltd.Inventor: Noriyasu Yajima
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Patent number: 9279591Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium side device with plural pumps for circulating the heat medium related to the heating or the cooling of plural intermediate heat exchangers. Plural use side heat exchangers exchange heat between the heat medium and air. Plural flow path switching valves switch the flow path for supplying the heat medium related to a selected system among the heating media circulating in plural systems to each use side heat exchanger. A relay unit side control device controls the flow path switching valves so as to circulate the heat medium between the use side heat exchanger causing the heat medium to absorb the heat and the use side heat exchanger causing the heat medium to emit the preferentially set heat, when it is determined that it is impossible to perform the heating or the cooling of the heat medium by the intermediate heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeo Takata, Koji Yamashita
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Patent number: 9279594Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing the usage of a ventilation system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems comprise a thermostatic controller that has at least two settings for the delay occurring between turning the ventilation system off and then turning the system back on. One setting being for a first interval and at least a second setting for a second interval that is longer than the first interval. A processor is in communication with the thermostatic controller and is configured to evaluate one or more parameters including at least the temperature outside the structure conditioned by the ventilation system. The processor is further configured to determine whether to adopt the first interval or the second interval based upon the values of the parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.Inventor: John Douglas Steinberg
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Patent number: 9273889Abstract: Disclosed is a monitoring and control system for an air source heat pump apparatus having a controller to control at least one operation of the heat pump apparatus, a temperature sensor to detect the temperature in a specified area at, near, and/or around the controller, and an operable component, the system including a control program to: determine the temperature based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor; determine whether a first condition exists, the first condition including a determination that the controller is powered, but the operable component is not operating; determine whether a second condition exists, the second condition including a determination that the controller is powered, and the operable component is operating; and based at least partially on determinations (a)-(c), determine the ambient temperature at or around the heat pump apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: United States ThermoAmp Inc.Inventors: William P. Bernardi, Jeffrey J. Calabro
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Patent number: 9274532Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling a thermal module that raises or lowers the temperature of a thermal control platform that includes a reading interface and a control unit. The reading interface is used for reading parameters of the thermal control platform that are stored in a memory module. The control unit is connected to the reading interface for receiving the parameters read by the reading interface and for sending a control signal to the thermal module according to the corresponding parameters. The thermal module then raises or lowers the temperature according to the control signal. Accordingly, the temperature controller automatically adjusts the temperature control to different thermal control platforms.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.Inventors: Chien-Hsing Liu, Chieh-Fu Chen
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Patent number: 9273879Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Lawrence Kates
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Patent number: 9267720Abstract: An air conditioner may include an indoor device and an outdoor device. The outdoor device may include a plurality of compressors, a plurality of bypass tubes respectively connected to the plurality of compressors, and a plurality of bypass valves respectively provided to the bypass tubes. When at least one of the plurality of compressors is stopped during operation of the air conditioner and the plurality of compressors, a bypass valve corresponding to the stopped compressor may be opened to equalize an internal pressure of the stopped compressor to facilitate a re-start of operation of the stopped compressor without adversely affecting overall performance of the air conditioner.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Bongsoo Choi
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Patent number: 9268341Abstract: The cartridge comprises a slide valve for regulating the temperature of a mixture of hot and cold fluids. The slide valve is, under the action of a thermostatic element and in relation to an outer casing of the cartridge, which can be displaced along the central axis of the casing in such a way as to vary inversely the respective flow sections of an inlet for a first of the fluids, delimited axially between the casing and one of the two opposite axial surfaces of the slide valve, and of an inlet for the second fluid, delimited axially between the casing and the other axial surface of the slide valve. Therefore the cartridge can, effectively and economically, provide a good mixture of the two fluids, a flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: VERNETInventors: William Da Silva, Emmanuel Platet
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Patent number: 9267718Abstract: In a temperature control system and method, a compressor is left on during steady state operation even when cooling is not needed, and an electronically controlled valve (e.g., a solenoid valve) is used to enable and disable the flow of coolant through a heat exchanger system in order to selectively control whether cooling is enabled or disabled. A flow of air may be passed through the heat exchanger system to cool the flow of air, and the valve may be controlled based at least in part on temperature of the flow of air, e.g., in accordance with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control scheme. A heater may be controlled to selectively heat the flow of air. A cooling cycle may be provided in which the heater is disabled and the flow of coolant is enabled via the valve, and a heating cycle may be provided in which the heater is enabled and the flow of coolant is disabled via the valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Khoury Industries IncorporatedInventor: Antoine Henein Khoury
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Patent number: 9268342Abstract: A water heater and thermal mixing valve assembly and method for providing a reduced discharge water temperature and a hot water temperature from the same tank. The assembly includes a tank adapted to accept and store an amount of cold water, a heater to heat the cold water held in the tank and increase the cold water temperature to a predetermined hot water temperature, at least one thermal mixing valve integrated with the tank in communication with a hot water passage and a cold water bypass conduit to provide a discharge water of a controlled temperature, the cold water bypass conduit being mounted to the cold water passage allowing the associated cold water to communicate with the tank and the thermal mixing valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Thomas Beyerle, Jonathan D. Nelson
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Patent number: 9267743Abstract: A housing for electronic equipment includes a fan and a plurality of coolant channels in a passage of a cooling fluid introduced by the fan. A passage width defined by a cooling member blocking the passage, the member being one of the plurality of coolant channels closer to the fan, is smaller than a passage width defined by a cooling member blocking the passage, the member being one of the plurality of coolant channels farther away from the fan.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Toshio Sugimoto, Reiko Kondo