Patents Examined by Mohammad M Ali
  • Patent number: 9885499
    Abstract: A refrigerant air conditioner for boats in ports and marinas, comprising a compressor (1), an external heat exchanger, an internal heat exchanger (13) cooperating with a fan (12). The compressor (1) and the external heat exchanger are contained within an air conditioner container (16; 38) forming part of a multi-service pedestal (17; 36), equipped with a support structure (20; 37) situated on a pier (P) or quay, and the room heat exchanger (13) is placed in a boat (B) moored to pier (P) or quay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Marcello Giampiccolo
  • Patent number: 9885516
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated door structure includes a first wall having a first edge and a barrier layer, a second wall having a second barrier layer and a second edge coupled to the first wall member proximate the first perimetrical edge. The second wall includes at least four inner side walls and a back wall that defines a second wall offset. At least one tubular member extends between the first wall member and the second wall offset, wherein an inner conduit surface of the tubular member provides fluid communication between the first wall outer facing surface and the second wall outer facing surface. A cavity insulation material is disposed within a cavity volume defined between the first and second walls, wherein the cavity volume is hermetically sealed, and wherein the cavity volume includes an at least partial vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nihat Cur, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9885504
    Abstract: Heat pump systems and methods for providing chilled/hot liquid for air-conditioning and domestic hot-water, are provided. The heat pump systems include a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a third heat exchanger (e.g., a hot-water heat exchanger) that share at least one expansion valve disposed at a downstream position of the hot-water heat exchanger. The at least one expansion valve is disposed between the hot-water heat exchanger and the first and second heat exchangers. The heat pump systems can provide six operation modes, including a cooling mode, a heating mode, a water-heating mode, a heat-recovery mode, a simultaneous heating and water heating mode, and a defrost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Liang Xu, Yuqing Du, Jun Wang, Jing Lei, Chungang Wang, Guangyu Shen
  • Patent number: 9879899
    Abstract: Surged heat pump systems, devices, and methods are disclosed having refrigerant phase separators that generate at least one surge of vapor phase refrigerant into the inlet of an evaporator during an on cycle of the compressor. This surge of vapor phase refrigerant, having a higher temperature than the liquid phase refrigerant, increases the temperature of the evaporator inlet, thus reducing frost build up in relation to conventional refrigeration systems lacking a surged input of vapor phase refrigerant to the evaporator. The temperature of the vapor phase refrigerant is raised in relation to the liquid phase with heat from the liquid by the phase separation, not by the introduction of energy from another source. The surged heat pump systems may operate in highest heat transfer efficiency mode and/or in one or more higher temperature modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: XDX Global, LLC
    Inventor: David Wightman
  • Patent number: 9879886
    Abstract: A turbo refrigerator (1) includes: a turbo compressor (5) to which a gas-phase component (X3) of a refrigerant from an economizer (3) is supplied, wherein the turbo compressor (5) includes a first flow path (R10) through which a compressed refrigerant gas (X1) flows, and a connecting pipe (5b) connected to the first flow path (R10) and a second flow path (R3) through which the gas-phase component (X3) of the refrigerant flows, and the diameter of the connecting pipe (5b) reduces toward the first flow path (R10) from the second flow path (R3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Oda, Nobuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 9878794
    Abstract: A method for providing recirculation air to an environmental control system is provided. The method includes supplying via an inlet a flow of bleed air to the environmental control system at a first energy, providing the bleed air from the environmental control system at a second energy into a chamber, and providing the recirculation air to the environmental control system by recirculating the bleed air at a third energy from the chamber to an air cycle machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 9874390
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a low energy refrigerator heat source. The refrigerator includes a heat source positioned at a source of latent heat. The heat source harvested heat from the source of latent heat and stores said heat in a fluid within that heat reservoir or heat exchanger. The warmed fluid is then supplied via a fluid pathway to an application requiring a heat output. Thus, the heat reservoir provides heat to the application without use of an energy-consuming device, which reduces the energy consumption of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick J. Boarman
  • Patent number: 9874368
    Abstract: A refrigerant channel switching unit is disposed between a heat source unit and a utilization unit to switch flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant channel switching unit includes a first refrigerant pipe connected to a suction gas communicating pipe, a second refrigerant pipe connected to a high-low pressure gas communicating pipe, third and fourth refrigerant pipes, and first and second electric valves mounted to the first and second refrigerant pipes, respectively. The third refrigerant pipe is connected to the first and second refrigerant pipes and a gas pipe. The fourth refrigerant pipe is connected at ends to a liquid communicating pipe and a liquid pipe. A minute channel is formed in the first or second electric valve. The minute channel enables the refrigerant to flow through the minute channel even when an opening degree of the valve is set to be the lowest degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Eguchi, Shigeki Kamitani
  • Patent number: 9873826
    Abstract: This chemical heat pump includes two reaction sections R1 and R2 containing a thermal storage medium; an evaporation-condensation section D containing water or steam; and two fluid channels individually disposed so as to correspond to the reaction sections. A “first state in which R1 is set to a heat-storing state and R2 is set to a heat-release state” and a “second state in which R1 is set to a heat-release state and R2 is set to a heat-storing state” are alternately applied every time after a first period elapses. For each reaction section, in the heat-release state, a fluid is caused to flow from a first side to a second side of the corresponding fluid channel over a first period; and, in the heat-storing state, a fluid is caused to flow from the second side to the first side of the corresponding fluid channel over a second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hanzawa, Kouji Ogura
  • Patent number: 9869493
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Benedict, David G. Beers, Brian Michael Schork, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9869492
    Abstract: A system includes a high side heat exchanger, a modulating valve, a flash tank, and a refrigeration unit. The high side heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from refrigerant. The modulating valve is configured to control the flow of refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to both a heat exchanger and a flash tank. The flash tank is configured to store refrigerant from the heat exchanger and from the high side heat exchanger. The refrigeration unit is configured to receive refrigerant from the flash tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventor: Augusto J. Pereira Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9863686
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a full-ice level includes: an ice making tray for making ice; an ice making tray fixing unit positioned on both sides of the ice making tray to support the ice making tray; an ice storage unit positioned below the ice making tray and for storing ice that is separated from and drops from the ice making tray; a full-ice level sensor for sensing the highest level of ice stored in the ice storage unit; a sensor guide on which the full-ice level sensor is installed, and positioned in the ice storage unit; and a motor on one side of the ice making tray fixing unit and coupled with the sensor guide, and for moving the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Won Gu Park
  • Patent number: 9863676
    Abstract: When, according to the invention, the air in the so-called Zone 2 areas is ventilated, i.e. sucked out, the ATEX Directive concerning treatment of inflammable coolants may be satisfied in an effective manner. In practice, the suction around the engine (6) of the vehicle and the ventilation of the service equipment (9, 21, 53), respectively, may ensure that the requirements in the ATEX Directive with respect to Zone 2 areas may be satisfied, if possibly inflammable vapors are discharged, since these areas are ventilated to the atmosphere. The use of the method is service-friendly when servicing air conditioning systems and when adding coolant online.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Louis Cording, Bjarne Lund
  • Patent number: 9863671
    Abstract: A method including controlling a climate control system of an electrified vehicle to cool a coolant of a coolant subsystem with a refrigerant of a heat pump subsystem in response to a temperature of the coolant exceeding a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Ragazzi, James George Gebbie
  • Patent number: 9865788
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device may include a housing that may have a first housing element and a second housing element. The first housing element and the second housing element may each be composed of an electrically conductive material. At least two thermoelectric elements may be arranged between the first housing element and the second housing element. The at least two thermoelectric elements may be arranged at a distance from each other and may be electrically connected via at least one conductor bridge. A first electrical insulator may be arranged between the at least two thermoelectric elements and the first housing element. A second electrical insulator may be arranged between the at least two thermoelectric elements and the second housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christopher Laemmle, Thomas Himmer
  • Patent number: 9863674
    Abstract: An evaporator system that includes: a first evaporator coil at a first evaporator temperature and pressure; a second evaporator coil at a second evaporator temperature and pressure that is less than the first evaporator temperature and pressure where the first evaporator and second evaporator are configured to be thermally disjointed; and a plurality of thermally conductive spaced apart evaporator fins having a plurality of spaced apart thermal break portions positioned between the first evaporator coil and the second evaporator coil that thermally disjoin the first evaporator and the second evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Kuehl, Nihat Cur, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9861013
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided which includes, for instance, a coolant circulation loop, one or more primary coolant pumps, and a fill and drain pump. The primary coolant pump(s) is coupled to facilitate circulating coolant through the coolant circulation loop, and the fill and drain pump facilitates selective filling of the cooling system with the coolant, or draining of the coolant from the cooling system. The fill and drain pump is integrated with the cooling system as a backup coolant pump to the primary coolant pump(s), and circulates the coolant through the coolant circulation loop responsive to an error in the primary coolant pump(s). The primary coolant pump(s) and fill and drain pumps may be different types of pumps, and the cooling system further includes a control system for automatically activating the fill and drain pump upon detection of an error in the primary coolant pump(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David L. Edwards, Gary F. Goth, Daniel J. Kearney, Peter W. Kelly, Francis R. Krug, Jr., Robert K. Mullady, Donald W. Porter, Allan C. VanDeventer, Randy J. Zoodsma
  • Patent number: 9857115
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus is provided to which, even when a heat medium leaks from a heat medium circuit for some reason and air enters the heat medium circuit, the heat medium circuit can be automatically refilled with the heat medium before a pump is heated and damaged. When it is determined that a rotational speed of a pump is higher than an upper rotational speed limit, the controller determines that the heat medium is leaking from the heat medium circuit and performs a heat-medium-introducing and air-purging control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Honda, Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto, Koji Azuma
  • Patent number: 9857118
    Abstract: A refrigerator is described that includes a slim refrigerator door. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a refrigerator door to open and close the storage compartment, and an ice maker to generate ice cubes. The refrigerator further includes an ice bin-at the refrigerator door to receive the ice cubes generated in the ice maker and having a discharge opening-for discharging the ice cubes. The refrigerator further includes a motor-at the refrigerator-and at least one blade-within the ice bin and connected to the-motor. The at least one ice cube directly drops onto the at least one blade. The at least one blade moves the at least one ice cube to the discharge and discharges the at least one ice cube from the ice bin by an operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Mok Lee, Sang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 9857108
    Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly is disclosed, the assembly having a cold side and a hot side, where the hot side comprises a single fan sink and the cold side comprises dual fan sinks. Thermoelectric modules may be between the hot side and cold side and arranged in one circuit or multiple parallel circuits, and in direct thermal contact with both the hot side and the cold side. The assembly may include one or more moisture barrier measures, including a wire seal, a series of screw O-rings, and a sealing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Henrik Höjer, Anders Thorén, Dan Martin Gustav Karlstedt