Patents Examined by Mark Shulman
  • Patent number: 6595016
    Abstract: A portable refrigerator kit for perishable pet products for keeping perishable pet products from spoiling while the user is out camping with one's pets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Arzu Demirkiran
  • Patent number: 6588224
    Abstract: A system for generating refrigeration wherein a hot process fluid is used to drive a thermoacoustic engine and residual heat from the process fluid is used to desorb refrigerant from a high pressure absorbent heat pump solution with the resulting refrigerant expanded to generate refrigeration prior to being reabsorbed by the absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bayram Arman, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, John Henri Royal, Arun Acharya
  • Patent number: 6588225
    Abstract: This invention is directed towards apparatus for the production of water from air, and in particular for the production of drinking water. The apparatus includes an air intake device adapted to move air into the apparatus, an evaporator adapted to freeze the water contained in the air issuing from the air intake device and defrosting means adapted to defrost the water frozen by the adapter; the volume of air passing over the frosting surface of the evaporator; evaporator being controlled by either the air intake device or the evaporator. In an alternative form the apparatus may include an air intake device adapted to move air into the apparatus, an air temperature controller to control the temperature of the air entering the apparatus, an evaporator adapted to freeze water contained in the air issuing from the temperature controller and a defroster adapted to defrost the water frozen by the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Watermaster Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Clarence Hodgson, Anton Rudolf Mikulicic
  • Patent number: 6589011
    Abstract: Described is a cooling device for a shroud of a gas turbine blade, having a cooling channel system provided in the shroud, which is provided radially to the gas turbine blade with cooling channels that are open on one side, and which is closed off with a cover plate. The invention is characterized in that, between the cover plate and the cooling channels that are open on one side, an impact cooling plate is provided in such a way that the impact cooling plate rests on the cooling channels that are open on one side, is pressed against them by force, and encloses a space with the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Reinhard Fried, Markus Oehl
  • Patent number: 6588226
    Abstract: A system for recovering potable water from the water vapor in ambient air at a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. The system is especially adapt at operating efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities. The system is able to operate efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities by employing a mechanism for enhancing the buildup of frozen water on the surfaces used to condense the water vapor from ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Aquatronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Semrow, Elwin Brooks Petersen, Cory Buckway, Keith C. Warner, Mark H. Nelson, Desiree Ragan, Nick Wells, Greg A. Cameron
  • Patent number: 6584788
    Abstract: An aqua-ammonia absorption heating and/or cooling apparatus uses a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) and a temperature-sensing bulb for controlling refrigerant flow to the evaporator having a bulb charge composition comprising a mixture of propane and butane, or an ammonia-water mixture having over 70% ammonia, by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Paul Sarkisian, Lance Kirol, Uwe Rockenfeller
  • Patent number: 6584783
    Abstract: A conduit for transporting non-volatile liquids is provided in which the conduit's internal surfaces have a surface energy lower than that of the nonvolatile liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan, Scott R. Gaboury
  • Patent number: 6584798
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an Individual cooling system comprising: (a) a garment V; (b) a container containing a block of material liberating an amount of cooling energy by phase change; (c) a pump P. The invention characterized in that it comprises means enabling the continuous operation of the assembly without solidification of the heating medium, even if the solidification temperature of the heating medium is higher than the temperature of the block of material releasing the cooling energy by phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Schegerin
  • Patent number: 6584801
    Abstract: An absorption system powered by low temperature heat for producing at least one of refrigeration and power is disclosed, wherein a low-pressure drop heat reclaimer 1 reclaims heat from the source into a heating agent, which in turn supplies heat to the absorption cycle desorber 5 via internal coils 7. The extra temperature differential normally present in closed cycle heating systems is avoided by using the absorption working fluid as the heating agent, in an integrated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6581388
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for actively reducing the temperature gradient of a substrate. The substrate is placed in thermal contact with a heat dissipation structure so as to dissipate heat from the substrate. Current is passed through a thermoelectric device, so as to provide cooling to at least one hot spot on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shlomo Novotny, John Dunn, Marlin Vogel
  • Patent number: 6574985
    Abstract: A beverage bottle container includes a pair of rigid, double-walled mating container portions having inner surfaces for engagement with a beverage bottle. Each of the container portions includes a bottom surface, hinge means, and a top surface which defines a bottle neck receiving passageway. The inner surfaces include bottle engagements means in the form of internal projections suitable to engage and otherwise secure beverage bottles of varying shape and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph F. Fiore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6574967
    Abstract: A cooling and heating apparatus using a thermoelectric module, in which the thermoelectric module, a heat emitting member and a heat conducting block are integrated into a single unit, to improve the performance and durability of the thermoelectric module. The cooling and heating apparatus includes a thermoelectric module. The heat emitting member is attached to a first surface of the thermoelectric module. The heat conducting block is attached to a second surface of the thermoelectric module. The heat absorbing member is attached to the heat conducting block. A cover integrates the thermoelectric module and the heat conducting block into the single unit by fixedly covering side surfaces of the thermoelectric module and the heat conducting block and a part of an inner surface of the heat emitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rae-Eun Park, Jae-Seung Lee, Su-Il Lee
  • Patent number: 6574980
    Abstract: The final segment in one-half or one-third circuit tube assemblies are arranged in a concurrent manner with the air flow in a closed-circuit cooling tower to more fully utilize spray-water cooling that occurs in the region below the tube assembly but above the sump water surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank T. Morrison
  • Patent number: 6564575
    Abstract: An accumulator with an inlet port comprising a deflector for use in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, and a method for use thereof are disclosed. In operation, the accumulator is provided between the evaporator and compressor of an air conditioning or refrigeration system. Vaporized refrigerant is conveyed from the evaporator into the accumulator through an inlet port having a deflector. The deflector deflects the refrigerant from the inlet port in a spray pattern to reduce the velocity of the refrigerant thereby avoiding turbulence in the accumulator. In another embodiment, a vapor conduit inside the accumulator for conveying refrigerant to an outlet port has an open vapor inlet end with chamfered cut edges pointing away from the inlet port to avoid liquid from splashing into the vapor conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred G. Schroeder, Zhongping Zeng
  • Patent number: 6560968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoelectric cooler, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric cooler, in which a thermoelectric module is applied to a blow system of a fan blade set and a motor, for converting a current blow system into a blow system having a cooling function with a low noise. To do this, the present invention provides a thermoelectric cooler including a thermoelectric module having thermoelectric elements each for absorbing or dissipating a heat at a junction of two different metal depending on a direction of a current flowing through the junction, a fan blade set for blowing air cooled at a heat absorption side of the thermoelectric module to a desired place, and a motor for giving a rotating force to the fan blade set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Cheol Soo Ko
  • Patent number: 6560979
    Abstract: Prevention of the incapability of operation due to crystallization in the absorption solution. When the temperature difference (&Dgr;T) between the temperature of the concentrated absorption solution Tr detected by the temperature sensor (22) and the temperature of crystallization Tc for the concentrated absorption solution at a specified concentration detected by the concentration sensor (21) comes within a prescribed figure, the opening of the heat control valve (20) is decreased by a specified figure, 20% for example. When the concentration of the concentrated absorption solution, which is measured by the concentration sensor (21), exceeds a prescribed figure, 65% for example, the heat supplied to the high temperature regenerator (1) is reduced by decreasing the opening of the heat control valve (20) regardless of the above temperature difference (&Dgr;T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiguma Yamazaki, Eiichi Enomoto, Yasushi Kamata, Masahiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6557370
    Abstract: Methods are provided for storing items. One such method includes: providing a container sized and shaped to receive an item, the container having: a storage chamber, an insulating material and a re-freezable material, the insulating material defining an interior and having at least one opening for providing access to the interior, the re-freezable material being disposed within the interior, the insulating material comprising soyoyl polyol, the re-freezable material comprising an acrylate-based superabsorbent. Systems and other methods also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: John Henry Gano, III
  • Patent number: 6557366
    Abstract: An apparatus for cold-holding food product. The apparatus comprises a cabinet carrying a refrigeration unit including a plurality of refrigerated shelves. The plurality of refrigerated shelves are adapted to frost on both sides under the control of the refrigeration unit to thereby maintain the quality of food product held on the shelves. To allow for the drainage of any melting frost, the plurality of shelves may be angled and a drain pan system included to direct the water away from the shelves to a drain or condensate evaporator during defrost periods. To prevent the removal of frost with the unloading of food products from the shelves, wire racks or trivets may be used to elevate the food product on baking pans above the frosted shelve surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Donatos Pizzeria Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne K. Spillner
  • Patent number: 6550271
    Abstract: A decorative thermally insulated beverage bottle holder having a detachable carrying strap, a bottle opener, and a bottle cap. The bottle holder is made of a flexible insulating material such as neoprene. A vertically disposed zipper allows for the easy opening and closing of the contour fitting holder. Indicia can be placed on the holder to enhance its appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Curt Edward Silbert
  • Patent number: RE38181
    Abstract: An improved dehumidification system for automotive use includes a rotating, wheel like heat exchanger with axially open cells that carry a water adsorbing material. Opposed ambient air and heated air flows, covering opposite halves of the wheel, continually adsorb water on one side and are recharged on the other side. Alternating radially closed cells between the axially open cells carry no desiccant material, but receive a cross cooling flow, on the water adsorbing side of the wheel only, to remove the heat released during the water adsorption process. The desiccant recharging process on the other side of the wheel is not disturbed by the cross cooling flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, Mohinder Singh Bhatti