Patents Examined by Paul Schwarzenberg
  • Patent number: 10274241
    Abstract: An apparatus for preserving and transporting fresh or frozen products, particularly for thermally insulated containers, includes at least one heat accumulator associated with a respective inner wall of a container. The apparatus further includes a plurality of longitudinally extended heat accumulation modules, each one having an enclosure that delimits a cavity adapted to contain a heat accumulation liquid. The cavity accommodates a heat exchanger that can be supplied with a heat transfer fluid. The heat accumulation modules are mutually connected mechanically and thermally, and in that the enclosure has a first wall that faces the inner face of the container and has a substantially flat surface. The modules also include a second wall opposite the first wall and being directed towards the internal compartment of the container, having an at least partially ribbed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PRS—PASSIVE REFRIGERATION SOLUTIONS S.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Ghiraldi
  • Patent number: 10247484
    Abstract: A head condenser is provided with a plate heat exchanger which has first and second channels through which media can flow and which, for the first medium, form tubes between individual plates that are connected to each other to form a pair of plates and, for the second medium, form waves between pairs of plates that are connected to each other to form a stack of plates. A condenser housing is provided in which the plate heat exchanger is arranged, wherein the condenser housing provides pressure chambers which extend over the large outer surfaces of the plate heat exchanger and are in fluidic connection with the channels for the first or second medium. The pressure chambers are traversed by fluid lines which are in fluidic connection with the respectively other first or second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kelvion PHE GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Abker, Bernd Müller, Markus Lentz, Dirk Kux
  • Patent number: 10197319
    Abstract: A system includes a variable-capacity compressor operable in a first capacity mode and in a second capacity mode that is higher than the first capacity mode. A control module is configured to switch the variable-capacity compressor between the first capacity mode and the second capacity mode based on a demand signal from the thermostat. The control module determines a number of previous consecutive operating cycles of the variable-capacity compressor in the first capacity mode within a predetermined period of time. The control module operates the variable-capacity compressor in the second capacity mode in response to the number of previous consecutive operating cycles of the variable-capacity in the first capacity mode within the predetermined period of time exceeding a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sahil Popli, Edward J. Trudeau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10180292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a permanently joined plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of metal heat exchanger plates having a solidus temperature above 1000° C., provided beside each other and forming a plate package with first plate interspaces for a first medium and second plate interspaces for a second medium, wherein the first and second plate interspaces are provided in an alternating order in the plate package, wherein each heat exchanger plate comprises a heat transfer area and an edge area comprising bent edges which extend around the heat transfer area, wherein a first surface of the plates forms a convex shape and a second surface of the plates forms a concave shape, wherein the heat transfer area comprises a corrugation of elevations and depressions, wherein said corrugation of the plates and the bent edges are provided by pressing the plates. The invention also relates to a plate heat exchanger produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Per Sjödin, Kristian Walter
  • Patent number: 10161673
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a casing including storage compartments, doors attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartments, hinges connecting the doors to the casing and supporting the doors so that the doors are openable and closable, electrically non-conductive hinge covers detachably attached to the casing and covering the hinges, and a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover and including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Yamato, Go Maeda, Makoto Okabe
  • Patent number: 10119766
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device includes a housing and a heat pipe. The heat pipe has an open end, which is inserted into an opening on a top side of the housing, such that a heat pipe chamber of the heat pipe is communicated with a housing chamber of the housing and an extended portion extended from the open end of the heat pipe is pressed against a bottom side of the housing, as well as a heat pipe wick structure of the heat pipe is connected to a housing wick structure of the housing, so as to increase heat transfer effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Min Lin, Wen-Ji Lan
  • Patent number: 10107534
    Abstract: A pipe mounting structure of an embodiment allows a pipe, which is connected to an outlet side of an evaporator, to be mounted on a second passage of an expansion valve in such a manner that the pipe is inserted into an inlet port, and allows a pipe, which is connected to an inlet side of a compressor, to be mounted on the second passage in such a manner that the pipe is inserted into an outlet port. These pipes are mounted so that the pipes face each other with a shaft therebetween. The pipe mounting structure includes a natural vibration suppressing structure configured to prevent or suppress natural vibration of a gas column having antinodes of a standing wave at an open end of one of the pipes and an open end of the other pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TGK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanao Kumakura, Takeshi Kaneko, Ryosuke Satake, Shinji Saeki, Takeshi Watanabe, Takafumi Jyonouchi
  • Patent number: 10088188
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an electronic thermostat for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes an electronic level feature and leveling register that allow the thermostat housing to be rotated about a mounting wall plate to place the thermostat housing in a leveled position. In one aspect, the thermostat includes at least one accelerometer. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Vendt, Steve Lazar
  • Patent number: 10047988
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner in which in a dehumidifying and heating mode, a heating capability by a radiator can be acquired while avoiding frost formation to a heat absorber. A dehumidifying and heating mode is executed in which a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 radiates heat in a radiator 4, the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated is decompressed, and then heat is absorbed in a heat absorber 9 and an outdoor heat exchanger 7 or only in the heat absorber 9 to heating a vehicle interior while dehumidifying the vehicle interior. The vehicle air conditioner includes an injection circuit 40 which distributes a part of the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator 4 to return the part to the compressor 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10047993
    Abstract: An engine driven heat pump includes an outdoor fan and an engine cooling water pump, each of which is driven by the generation power of a generator, and after a lapse of a first predetermined time from a predetermined actuation time of an engine, the output power from the generator is output-controlled, and the power output control is started so as to obtain the generation power, and when it is determined that the generation voltage after the start of the power output control is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, the engine cooling water pump is driven, and after a lapse of a second predetermined time from a predetermined drive time of the engine cooling water pump, the outdoor fan is driven, and after a lapse of a third predetermined time from a predetermined drive time of the outdoor fan, the output control of the inverter is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideshi Okada, Kyoko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10041714
    Abstract: A rotational speed Cr of a compressor 21 during a defrosting operation is controlled within a control range that corresponds to a capacity ratio P, a total sum Pi of rated capacity of an indoor unit, or a refrigerant pipe length Lr. Accordingly, even in the case where a refrigerant circulation amount during the defrosting operation is reduced due to an installation state of an air conditioner 1, it is possible to prevent suction pressure from being significantly reduced and falling below a performance lower limit value of the compressor 21. Thus, damage to the compressor 21 can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent a case where the suction pressure falls below the performance lower limit value of the compressor 21 and thus low-pressure protection control is executed. Therefore, a case where the restoration of the heating operation is delayed does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Kimura, Kuniko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10024558
    Abstract: A split liquid desiccant air conditioning system is disclosed for treating an air stream flowing into a space in a building. The split liquid desiccant air-conditioning system is switchable between operating in a warm weather operation mode wherein the system provides cooling and dehumidification, and a cold weather operation mode wherein the system provides heating and humidification, as well as into a mode wherein the system provides heated, dehumidified air to a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: 7AC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter F. Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 10012423
    Abstract: There is disclosed a cooling system. The cooling system comprises a main cooling unit and a main chilling unit in fluid communication with a heat exchanger, the main chilling unit being configured to cool a liquid coolant for use with the heat exchanger. The cooling system further comprises a back-up cooling unit that includes a cooling reservoir including a plurality of small-sized self-contained cooling accumulators; a secondary chilling unit configured to cool the plurality of small-sized cooling accumulators, during a charging phase; a valve configured to selectively couple the cooling reservoir to the main cooling unit during a release phase so that the plurality of small-sized cooling accumulators provide a heat sink to cool the cooling fluid for the main cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Yandex Europe AG
    Inventor: Alexander Alekseevich Konovalov
  • Patent number: 9995498
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes an information obtaining unit that obtains, from a target VAV air conditioning system to be monitored, a room temperature and a variable air volume; a room temperature display processing unit that displays, in a form of a graph, the room temperature obtained from the target VAV air conditioning system to be monitored; a controllable range calculating unit that calculates a length of a bar of a bar graph indicating a controllable range on the basis of the variable air volume; and a controllable range display processing unit that displays the bar graph including the bar having the length calculated by the controllable range calculating unit such that the bar graph is overlapped with the room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Harayama, Mayumi Miura, Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9970674
    Abstract: An adaptive ventilation system and method for a data center are provided. The adaptive ventilation system includes: one or more system-controlled vents facilitating dynamic redirection of airflow passing through the vent(s), and including (for instance) a plurality of adjustable louvers; and a plurality of sensors dispersed within the data center for ascertaining one or more feedback parameters within different zones of the data center. The system also includes a controller configured or programmed to automatically manage adjustment of the system-controlled vent(s) based on the ascertained feedback parameter(s) within the data center. The automatically managing includes, for instance, automatically controlling orientation of multiple louvers of the system-controlled vent(s) to dynamically facilitate a desired airflow discharge adjustment to at least one system-controlled vent based, at least in part, on the sensed feedback parameter(s) within the different zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eli M. Dow, Joseph D. Harvey, Douglas E. Rohde
  • Patent number: 9964327
    Abstract: An air-conditioning remote controller allowing a user to intuitively grasp a setting status of an air-conditioner and to use the controller commonly between a plurality of models of the main body of the air-conditioners, the air-conditioning remote controller including an input unit to input setting values for setting items relating to air-conditioning control, and a display unit having a predetermined area to display a plurality of icons thereon and displaying setting values and icons depending on the number of taps, wherein the display unit changes the number of displayable icons depending on the number of taps for the main body of the air-conditioner controlled using the setting values, and also displays the icons with the larger size per tap as the number of the icons in the air-conditioner is getting smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning Technology (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Ayumi Masuda, Yoshiyuki Yamanashi, Kouichirou Sakurai, Ena Kudo, Satomi Kaito
  • Patent number: 9939205
    Abstract: A heat dissipater having capillary component includes: a heat spreader including a shell member having at least one through hole and a first capillary structure disposed in the shell member; a heat pipe, received in the through hole and including a pipe member and a second capillary structure disposed in the pipe member. The pipe member includes an opening formed in the shell member; and a capillary component, accommodated in the shell member and including a block member extended with a protruding part and arranged adjacent to the first capillary structure. The protruding part is received in the opening and arranged adjacent to the second capillary structure. Accordingly, the heat pipe and the heat spreader can be combined for operation, and an internal working fluid can flow between the heat pipe and the heat spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Sun, Lei-Lei Liu, Xiao-Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 9925846
    Abstract: Sun load on a cabin of a vehicle is determined without a sun load sensor by affixing a relative humidity/temperature sensor to an inside of a windshield of the vehicle. The relative humidity/temperature sensor includes a relative humidity sensor that senses relative humidity of air at the relative humidity sensor, a temperature sensor that senses temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and a glass temperature sensor that senses temperature of glass of the windshield. A controller determines the sun load based on readings from the relative humidity/temperature sensor of relative humidity of the air at the relative humidity sensor, temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and temperature of the glass of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Allan W Flanagan
  • Patent number: 9920949
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system of the present disclosure, the controlling module determines state of the indoor unit. If the indoor unit is under off state, the controlling module determines whether an indoor temperature is smaller than a preset temperature. If yes, the controlling module controls the indoor unit to heat according to a first heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under heating state, the controlling module sets a second heating temperature of the indoor unit to the first heating temperature, and controls the indoor unit to heat according to the first heating temperature. The first heating temperature is smaller than the second heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under cooling state, the controlling module sets a first cooling temperature to a second cooling temperature which is greater than the first cooling temperature, and controls the indoor unit to cool according to the second cooling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: GD Midea Heating & Ventilating Equipment Co., Ltd., Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meibing Xiong, Yongfeng Xu, Xihua Ma, Weilong Hu
  • Patent number: 9915454
    Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger includes a fan configured to adjust a heat transfer coefficient ao of the outside of a heat transfer tube through which a refrigerant flows, a bypass passage and flow rate control valve configured to adjust a heat transfer coefficient ?i of the inside of the heat transfer tube through which the refrigerant flows, and an on-off valve configured to adjust a heat transfer area A where the refrigerant exchanges heat with a heat medium. A controller controls the heat transfer coefficient ?o of the outside of the heat transfer tube, the heat transfer coefficient ?i of the inside thereof, and the heat transfer area A to control a heat exchange amount of the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Ariyama, Kosuke Tanaka, Hirofumi Koge, Hiroyuki Okano