Patents Examined by Marc Norman
  • Patent number: 9945596
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes an evaporator evaporating a refrigerant, an electrochemical compressor compressing the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator, and a condenser condensing the refrigerant compressed by the electrochemical compressor. The heat pump apparatus is structured such that the refrigerant in a wet steam state is supplied from the evaporator to the electrochemical compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Haraki, Hiroyuki Itsuki
  • Patent number: 9939180
    Abstract: In a refrigeration apparatus, in a first operation mode, a comparison is made between a first liquid pipe temperature, which is a temperature of a refrigerant on a side of a liquid pipe heat exchanger that is near usage-side heat exchangers, and a second liquid pipe temperature, which is a temperature of the refrigerant on a side of the liquid pipe heat exchanger that is near a plurality of heat-source-side heat exchangers, the liquid pipe heat exchanger performing heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through liquid sides of the heat-source-side heat exchangers. When an evaporation-switch liquid pipe temperature condition is satisfied, the heat-source-side heat exchanger functioning as a radiator of the refrigerant is switched to an evaporator of the refrigerant, and the first operation mode is switched to a second operation mode in which the plurality of heat-source-side heat exchangers are caused to function as evaporators of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mari Susaki, Masahiro Oka, Ryuuta Ohura
  • Patent number: 9937771
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided that can prevent temperature variations of the air after the heat exchange in a radiator to reliably control the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior. During the heating operation and the heating and dehumidifying operation, target degree of supercooling SCt when target air-blowing temperature TAO is a predetermined temperature or higher is set to SCt1 that is greater than SCt2 when the target air-blowing temperature TAO is lower than the predetermined temperature. When amount of air Ga supplied from indoor fan 12 is lower than a predetermined value, the target degree of supercooling SCt is corrected, which is set such that the degree of supercooling is lower than target degree of supercooling corrected when the amount of air Ga supplied from the indoor fan 12 is a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Atsuo Inoue, Hidenori Takei
  • Patent number: 9933199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, device and computer program for terminating a defrosting cycle within a refrigerated transport container. The container may include: a transport volume, a cooling unit comprising an evaporator arranged in a cooling space, a return air grid arranged to separate said cooling space from said transport volume, means for sensing temperature indicative of the return air temperature of air returning to said cooling space from said transport volume or the temperature of the return air grid, means for actively heating said evaporator during defrosting cycles, and a processor configured for controlling the duration of said defrosting cycles. The method includes: establishing an indicator(s) indicative of frost and/or ice build-up on said return air grid, and terminating a defrosting cycle when an indicator(s) of frost and/or ice build-up on said return air grid indicates that said return air grid is free of frost and/or ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Maersk Line A/S
    Inventor: Leijn Johannes Sjerp Lukasse
  • Patent number: 9933193
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle charged with non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture and refrigerating machine oil. A suction pipe which is a refrigerant pipe connecting between a suction port of a compressor and an accumulator has an end portion on the side of the accumulator extending into the accumulator. In addition, the suction pipe of the air-conditioning apparatus includes an oil return hole formed in a portion of the suction pipe located inside the accumulator at a position higher than a central portion of the accumulator. A controller of the air-conditioning apparatus controls an opening degree of a pressure reducing device so as to make quality of refrigerant flowing into the accumulator less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhide Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9933175
    Abstract: A controller for a Heating Ventilation or Air Conditioning system (HVAC system) such as a mini split system is disclosed for adding control features that incorporate an observed operational status and occupancy/motion detection utilizing control commands already provided as part of the HVAC system as manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Howard Rosen
  • Patent number: 9933194
    Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system (1) includes: a compressor (3), a gas cooler (5), a temperature sensor (17) and an electronic control system (13), the electronic control system including a processor device (15) arranged to control operation of the compressor (3) according to input signals received from the temperature sensor (17), wherein the temperature sensor (17) is positioned to read an output temperature of the gas cooler. A method for controlling a compressor (3) in a CO2 refrigeration system (1) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ELSTAT LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Pendlebury, Colin Hull
  • Patent number: 9927135
    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: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Der-Kai Hung
  • Patent number: 9915960
    Abstract: A single-handle dual-control thermostatic faucet, comprises a faucet shell, a thermostatic valve provided in the faucet shell, a handle which controls the thermostatic valve, a cold water incoming pipe, a hot water incoming pipe and a mixed water outgoing pipe which are connected with the faucet shell, the handle is connected with the driving lever of the thermostatic valve; wherein the cold water incoming pipe and the hot water incoming pipe form an internal control cavity respectively, inside the control cavity, the following are provided: a hollow guiding part which is connected with the water inlet of the control cavity; a piston part provided between the guiding part and the water outgoing end of the control cavity; the internal cavity of the piston part is connected with the internal cavity of the guiding part, and the piston part has a water drawing portion, an elastomer action portion and a contact portion which are connected with one another successively can move axially inside the control cavity, th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUPREMA (ZHUHAI J/V) THERMOSTATIC SANITARYWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingjun Xie
  • Patent number: 9909801
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a display is disclosed herein. The display may display contents of the refrigerator, display recommended recipes based on the contents, and display an operational state of the refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a body, at least one door, at least one storage area, a display for displaying a GUI having a first region for displaying an image of the at least one storage area and a second region for displaying a control interface, a memory having information for contents of the at least one storage area, a communication interface, and a controller for controlling the display. The controller may control a display of at least one icon for a type of food in the second region of the GUI and may control a display of one of the at least one icon in the first region of the GUI based on an input at the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kangwoon Cheon, Daejong Kang
  • Patent number: 9909772
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for dynamically controlling an appliance based on information received from a wearable device, to regulate the user's health. A wearable device is identified and configured to monitor at least one physiological aspect of the user. A controllable appliance with at least one sensor and at least one controllable setting is also identified. Health information of the user is received and utilized in generating, a user profile which comprises parameters related to the health of the user. Data from the wearable device and data from the controllable appliance is analyzed and it is determined whether the data matches the parameters related to the health of the user. If the data does not match the parameters related to the health of the user, then at least one controllable setting of the at least one controllable appliance is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Busniess Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep Bazar, Kaustubh I. Katruwar, Sandeep R. Patil, Sachin C. Punadikar
  • Patent number: 9909794
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air-conditioning device of a so-called heat pump system which acquires comfortable heating of a vehicle interior by preventing or inhibiting frost formation to an outdoor heat exchanger. A controller calculates a maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst as a target value of a maximum heating capability which can be generated by a radiator 4 in a range in which an outdoor heat exchanger 7 is not frosted, and controls heating by the radiator 4 and heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of a heating medium circulating circuit 23 on the basis of the maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst and a required heating capability Qtgt which is the heating capability required for the radiator 4 to achieve the required heating capability Qtgt without causing frost formation to the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 9903614
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system for optimizing consumption of energy is provided comprising: a thermal controller configured to be connected to an external fluid tank containing external fluid having an external fluid temperature adapted to be heated by solar energy, and to an internal fluid tank containing an internal fluid having an internal fluid temperature and a heater adapted to be heated by a non-renewable energy, the thermal controller being configured to be connected to thermostats located at the internal and external tanks for determining the internal fluid temperature and the external fluid temperature; a valve in fluid communication with the internal and external tanks; a fluid controller connected to the thermal controller and to the valve, the fluid controller being configured to operate the valve based on the internal and external fluid temperatures in such a manner to optimize consumption of the non-renewable energy for heating the internal fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Basel Alsayyed, Emad Elnajjar, Muthanna Aziz
  • Patent number: 9897349
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a refrigeration cycle circuit including a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat source side heat exchanger, a heat source side pressure-reducing mechanism, an indoor side pressure-reducing mechanism, and an indoor side heat exchanger, and a hot water supply refrigerant circuit branching off from between the compressor and the four-way valve, including a hot water supply side heat exchanger and a hot water supply side pressure-reducing mechanism in order, and connected between the heat source side pressure-reducing mechanism and the indoor side pressure-reducing mechanism, wherein when a refrigerant state value on at least one of a low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle circuit and a discharge side of the compressor becomes a refrigerant collection start state value, a refrigerant collecting operation that collects refrigerant accumulated in the hot water supply refrigerant circuit into the refrigeration cycle circuit is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 9890971
    Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
  • Patent number: 9886042
    Abstract: An air moisture control system for a computer system includes a housing with an air passage and an air moisture control element with an adsorption material, which is exposed in the air passage so as to enable fluid communication towards and from the air moisture control element. The element is designed such that the adsorption material is adapted, in operation, to adsorb moisture from a first air flow flowing into the air passage, having a first temperature and a first relative humidity, and desorb moisture to a second air flow, said air flow having a second temperature at least 5° C. higher than the first temperature and a second humidity at least 3% lower than the first relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ingmar G. Meijer, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 9874881
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a supply pipe for water and a controllable safety valve in the supply pipe which shuts off a water supply connection. A controllable functional valve in a water circuit of the refrigeration appliance distributes water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Faehnle, Eugen Gaplikow, Hans Gerd Keller, Michael Krapp, Karl-Friedrich Laible, Vitaliy Rimkevich, Hans Peter Werner
  • Patent number: 9874360
    Abstract: Maximum evaporating temperature setting values and minimum evaporating temperature setting values in an indoor heat exchanger and a ventilator cooler are determined in accordance with outdoor air temperature and humidity, evaporating temperature setting values in the indoor heat exchanger and the ventilator cooler are set to be between the respective maximum evaporating temperature setting values and the respective minimum evaporating temperature setting values, and evaporating temperatures in the indoor heat exchanger and the ventilator cooler are controlled so as to be the respective evaporating temperature setting values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Fumitake Unezaki, Naomichi Tamura, Kazunobu Nishimiya, Hidemoto Arai
  • Patent number: 9869083
    Abstract: A system and methods for the storage, and preservation of mechanical assets, including collectable automobiles, small airplanes and watercraft in a storage unit. The storage unit includes a plurality of asset modules. The volume of each asset module is variable. The atmosphere of each asset module may be controlled by a control system. Control of the atmosphere of each asset module includes control of parameters including the type of gas each atmosphere is composed of and the temperature, the pressure and relative humidity of each atmosphere. These parameters may be monitored and controlled from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Michael P. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 9869501
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a first bypass pipe connected to an inlet-side passage of an accumulator through a second expansion device, a second passage of a subcooling heat exchanger, and a first opening and closing device; a second bypass pipe branched from the first bypass pipe between the subcooling heat exchanger and the first opening and closing device and connected to an injection port of a compressor through a second opening and closing device; and a third bypass pipe branched from a refrigerant pipe between a heat source-side heat exchanger and a use-side heat exchanger and connected to the second bypass pipe between the second opening and closing device and the injection port of the compressor through a third expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yamashita