Patents Examined by Mark S. Shulman
  • Patent number: 6321555
    Abstract: A device for defrosting the finned cooling assembly of a refrigeration system having an ellipsoid transparent polymer material housing a light source. The light source is positioned substantially in correspondence with one of the focal points of the ellipsoid. A sensor for the light beam radiated by the light source and reflected by an inner surface of the ellipsoid recognize variations in the luminous intensity of the beam caused by the formation of frost along the path of the light beam. A plurality of finned cooling assemblies are activated by the signal emitted by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: I.R.C.A. S.p.A Industria Resistenze
    Inventors: Maurizio Buratti, Antonio Fiorentini
  • Patent number: 6318113
    Abstract: The invention involves the personal air conditioning of individual workstations in an open office space layout. The individual workstation's air is supplied by a major air plenum located under a horizontal surface of the workstation. The conditioned air is directed by a smaller self-contained air terminal located under a floor representing a larger major air plenum or chamber. The conditioned air is supplied to the individual workstations at or near the atmospheric pressure. The multiple of smaller air terminals are the movers of the conditioned air by way of driving fans installed therein and activated as the need arises. The conditioned air is moved from the smaller air terminals by flexible air tubes to the air plenum mounted under the desk surface. A person situated at the workstation can control the direction of air emanating from the front of the personalized air outlet plenum toward the person in multiple directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventors: Hans F. Levy, Peter G. Betz
  • Patent number: 6318105
    Abstract: A control for an air conditioning unit, which is configured to be easily attached to a vertically extending partition of the air conditioning unit. The control box includes a main housing having a substantially horizontal bottom wall. The bottom wall has front, side and rear edges and a front wall extending substantially vertically upwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall. A side wall extends substantially vertically upwardly from each of the side edges of the bottom wall. Each of the side walls has a front edge integrally formed with the front wall and a rear edge having a downwardly extending attachment hook extending rearwardly of the rear edge of the side wall and the rear edge of the bottom wall. The air conditioner's partition has attachment hook receiving slots formed therein, which are configured to receive the attachment hooks therein in a manner attaching the main housing to the partition with the rear edges of the bottom wall and the side wall in confronting relation with the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. Bushnell, Nestor Hernandez, Juan C. C. Correa
  • Patent number: 6318109
    Abstract: A low profile evaporator unit suitable for mounting on the ceiling of a small bus. The unit includes a cabinet containing an evaporator coil and a return air intake opening in the floor of the cabinet. A blower is mounted in the cabinet directly over the opening. A grill is non-removably mounted over the floor opening and a filter receiving tray is integrally joined to the grill so that the grill forms the bottom wall of the tray. Limited access is provided to the tray such that an air filter can pass into and out of the tray without removing the grill from the housing. Elongated narrow slits are also provided in the grill which further restrict access to the interior of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Reimann, David Sloat
  • Patent number: 6318117
    Abstract: A generator for an absorption chiller boils an absorption solution with steam heat by conveying the steam through a tube bundle with the steam flowing counter to the flow of solution. The tube bundle runs downhill in the direction of steam flow, while in some embodiments of the invention a bottom surface of the generator runs uphill in the direction of solution flow. The amount of solution in the generator is kept to an appropriately low level by submerging the tube bundle deeper at one end of the generator than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventors: Daoud A. Jandal, Lee L. Sibik, Robin R. Lee, Michael P. Morse
  • Patent number: 6308528
    Abstract: A fluid delivery apparatus provides for controlled delivery of fluids into a fluid system. The fluid delivery apparatus can allow a defined volume of fluid to be delivered to the fluid system cleanly, minimizing fluid waste and spillage. The fluid delivery apparatus can provide a mechanical advantage allowing the fluid to be delivered easily and efficiently to a pressurized fluid system. The apparatus can have a piston and handle arrangement that can reduce wear of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Bright Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Knowles
  • Patent number: 6305182
    Abstract: A refrigerant control apparatus for use in an absorption heating and cooling system of the type which uses a refrigerant and an absorbent, and which includes a generator, a condenser, an absorber and an evaporator having an evaporator sump. The control apparatus includes a reservoir, disposed in condensate collecting relationship to the condenser, and in refrigerant draining relationship to the evaporator. The reservoir has a storage capacity sufficient to store, during operation in the cooling mode, a quantity of refrigerant large enough to reduce the steady state concentration of the operating solution from a first, relatively high concentration used in the cooling mode to a second, relatively low concentration used the heating mode, and includes an overflow structure that allows refrigerant to overflow into the evaporator when the reservoir is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Neelkanth Shridhar Gupte, Deog Yong Song, Shik Moon
  • Patent number: 6298678
    Abstract: An improved window-type air conditioner for easy installation includes: a main unit having a base plate on which heavy components of the air conditioner, such as a compressor, and indoor and outdoor heat-exchangers, are mounted; a cabinet for receiving the main unit through an opening in the front side thereof; and an inclination section for maintaining a predetermined downward inclination of the main unit in the cabinet. The inclination section includes at least two guide rails formed on a bottom of the cabinet at a predetermined downward inclination toward the outside for supporting the lower side of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6295828
    Abstract: A refrigerant channel switching apparatus in an air conditioner having cooling and warming functions is provided. The apparatus includes a main valve body, a direction shifting chamber formed within the main valve body and having a four connecting ports connected to an output and an input of a compressor, an indoor heat-exchanger, and an outdoor heat-exchanger, respectively, an operating chamber formed in the main valve body having a plurality of connecting ports, an operational guide member contained in the operating chamber and disposed to rotate in the operating chamber, a partition formed with the operational guide member in a body and disposed to rotate within the direction shifting chamber of the main valve body, a pilot valve connected to the connecting ports of the operating chamber and causing the direction shifting chamber to switch a connection between a compressor, an indoor heat-exchanger, and an outdoor heat-exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyoung-Mo Koo
  • Patent number: 6293120
    Abstract: A building air conditioning system using geothermal energy comprising an underground pipe being buried underground for transmitting geothermal energy from the underground to air from the outdoors and for controlling humidity of said air and cleaning said air, a cobble stone layer constituted by filling numerous cobble stones in a space under the floor of a building for introducing air from said underground pipe to heat-exchange this introduced air with geothermal energy stored therein and to control humidity of said air and to clean said air, and air supply means for supply air from said cobble stone layer to an inside of a room of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toko Kogyo
    Inventor: Toko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6289689
    Abstract: A water collection and dispensing machine having a primary housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air blower structured to draw air into the primary housing through the air inlet and push air out of said primary housing through the air outlet. The water collection and dispensing machine further includes an evaporator coil structured to cycle a cold refrigerant liquid therethrough, the evaporator coil being disposed in line with the air inlet so that the air drawn into the primary housing through the air inlet passes thereover and moisture therefrom condenses on an exterior surface of the evaporator coil so that it may be collected in the form of water droplets, filtered to eliminate contaminants, and dispensed for convenient consumption by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: International Water Makers, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Zakryk
  • Patent number: 6276157
    Abstract: A room air conditioner of the type having a partition, which divides the indoor and outdoor sections of the air conditioning unit. The partition has an exhaust opening for exhausting room air into the outdoor section. An improved exhaust and control arrangement includes a scroll structure mounted in the indoor section for directing conditioned air into the space to be cooled. The scroll structure has a rear wall in confronting relation with the partition and has an exhaust opening therein in fluid communication with the indoor section side of the exhaust opening in the partition. Support structure is provided in the indoor section located laterally of and forwardly of the exhaust opening in the partition. The partition is provided with a second opening therethrough adjacent the support structure. A one-piece exhaust actuation device includes an elongated actuating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Luciano da Luz Moraes
  • Patent number: 6272880
    Abstract: A heat-source-side space and two heat-use-side spaces are formed in a casing. A heat-source-side heat exchanger is contained in the heat-source-side space, and heat-use-side heat exchangers are individually contained in the heat-use-side spaces. The casing is formed with a plurality of suction ports for room air and a plurality of delivery ports for conditioned air. The suction ports and the delivery ports are individually connected to ducts communicating with rooms. The heat-source-side heat exchanger and the plurality of heat-use-side heat exchangers constitute refrigerant circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miki, Yasushi Fujiwara, Satoru Yoshimitsu, Akihito Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6266975
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat pump/engine system having a water/brine flash evaporator in fluid communication with a first air/brine heat exchanger, a brine condenser in fluid communication with a second air/brine heat exchanger, and a vapor compressor/turbine connected on a fluid conduit leading from the flash evaporator to the brine condenser. Heat/pump methods are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Agam Energy Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Gad Assaf
  • Patent number: 6257013
    Abstract: A device for facilitating the servicing of A.C. units which are mounted underneath the floor of manufactured homes, recreational vehicles or the like near an access location such as the rear of the vehicle which device is provided with a movable carriage for supporting substantially the entire A.C. unit and which is constructed to be easily slid out from underneath the vehicle at the access location whereby the unit is in an exposed position for easy servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: William C. Murray, Cleates F. Murray
  • Patent number: 6247325
    Abstract: Portable apparatus for servicing a refrigeration system having a refrigerant containing an oil lubricant. The apparatus includes a support frame, a modular housing supported by the frame and defining internal accumulator, condenser, storage, and high and low pressure filter chambers, and a control plate assembly having a plurality of flow passages enabling flow communication between the various chambers. The control plate is adopted for connection to the refrigeration system being serviced, and has control valves operative to control flow of refrigerant through the passages to and between the internal chambers. A processor controls the control valves in a manner enabling selective recovery, evacuation, charging and/or flushing of the refrigerant of the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Skye International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Muston, Mario Matkowitch
  • Patent number: 6247324
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a case body, and an air cooling coil disposed in the case body to cool an air stream flowing thereacross. A blower is disposed in the case body, and is driven by an output shaft of a motor to blow the air stream across the air cooling coil and deliver cooled air stream forwardly and outwardly of the case body. A drain pane is disposed under the air cooling coil to collect droplets of condensate, and has a first outlet to drain water therein. A water pump includes a pump body with an accommodation chamber, and an impeller received in the chamber and provided with a driven shaft. The driven shaft extends outwardly of the pump body to form a coupling end to be coupled with the output shaft so as to enable the motor to drive the impeller to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Chien-Chih Hsu
  • Patent number: 6247331
    Abstract: Refrigerant vapor generated in a high temperature regenerator is condensed in a condenser, and the refrigerant vapor is changed to refrigerant liquid. Then it is conducted to a first evaporator. The refrigerant vapor evaporated in the first evaporator is absorbed in a solution in a first absorber. The refrigerant liquid conducted from the condenser without vaporizing in the first evaporator is introduced to a second evaporator, and it evaporates in the second evaporator. The refrigerant vapor in the second evaporator is absorbed in the solution in a second absorber. The first and the second evaporator and the first and the second absorber are made of a unitary chamber. The first evaporator is juxtaposed to the second absorber with a heat transfer member. The concentration of the refrigerant in the second evaporator is controlled by a refrigerant liquid controller that controls a flow rate of the refrigerant liquid flowing from the first evaporator at the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nishiguchi, Ryoko Sakiyama, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Tomihisa Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 6237353
    Abstract: Related components of a refrigeration system are cooled by refrigerant drawn from the system condenser by a pump which serves to raise the pressure of the condensate and move the condensate through the system related component. The condensate is reduced to a vapor as it absorbs parasitic heat losses in the components and is returned to the condenser where the parasitic heat losses are carried out of the system by the condenser coolant so that the system performance is not adversely effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Vishnu M. Sishtla, Michael A. Stark
  • Patent number: 6237360
    Abstract: A beverage cooling apparatus including a cylinder shaped receptacle extending into a second receptacle for receiving ice, the cylindrical receptacle having one open end to receive bottles or beverage containers. The apparatus can be utilized in an ice bin, ice chest, ice maker, freezer, or any refrigerated placement area to chill, refrigerate or store open, partially used or unused bottles, such as wine or liquor, or any other beverage container that is best when served cold or should be preserved cold. The receptacle is provided in a slanted position, and contains slots or openings small enough to prevent ice cubes or ice chunks from entering the chilling or storing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Gary L. Corona