Patents Examined by Phillip E Decker
  • Patent number: 9335044
    Abstract: The invention consists in a cover for a chimney, the cover comprising: a housing adapted to surround at least an upper end of a chimney, the housing having an expansion area for receiving emissions from the upper end of the chimney; a diffuser for diffusing the emissions from the upper end of the chimney into the expansion area; at least one air inlet for introducing air into the expansion chamber; at least one outlet for enabling air or emissions to be exhausted from the expansion chamber; wherein the housing is adapted such that emissions exiting the upper end of the chimney are diffused and expanded into the expansion chamber and a reduced pressure is created within the housing for drawing emissions from the upper end of the chimney into the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Neville Donald D'Herville
  • Patent number: 9334054
    Abstract: An interior ceiling panel system includes a ceiling panel mounted in a ceiling area, a first airflow directing panel in a first side of the ceiling area defining an airflow passage, and a second airflow directing panel in a second side of the ceiling area, defining an eddy space. An airflow supply source introduces airflow into the ceiling area, and the second airflow directing panel provides an obstruction that creates an eddy in the eddy space that incoming airflow with air in the cabin. One or more speakers project sound energy upward toward the ceiling panel, which deflects sound energy to provide more uniform sound levels in the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Hashberger, Sylvio A. C. Bravetti
  • Patent number: 9333834
    Abstract: Air controlling system of an air conditioner for a vehicle which controls conditioned-air with the temperature controlled in an air-conditioning case to be supplied to each demand part in a vehicle. The air controlling system of an air conditioner for a vehicle is equipped with a rear console duct and can discharge conditioned-air to not only the front seats, but the rear seats in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: DOOWON CLIMATE CONTROL CO., LTD
    Inventor: Chul-Min Jang
  • Patent number: 9335387
    Abstract: This invention discloses a ventilation system for an MRI system, including: a hydrodynamic rotating device, a primary coolant water pipe, a secondary coolant water pipe, a fan and air outlet; the water outlet of the primary coolant water pipe is connected to the water inlet of the hydrodynamic rotating device, while the water inlet of the secondary coolant water pipe is connected to the water outlet of the hydrodynamic rotating device; with the impetus provided by the coolant water from the primary coolant water pipe, the hydrodynamic rotating device drives the fan near the air outlet to rotate, discharging the coolant water into the secondary coolant water pipe. Furthermore, the invention discloses a ventilation method for an MRI system. Ventilation efficiency is improved significantly with the system and method provided by this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Li Ming Chen, Ting Qiang Xue, Wei Gao, Ke Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9328937
    Abstract: An exemplary temperature control system for animal confinement buildings includes an agricultural heater and a ventilation system. The agricultural heater is modified to be a variable rate heater using SmartBox technology or by applying appropriate control logic and outputs to a conventional room controller. A heat on/off relay of the room controller can serve as an enable signal connected to the SmartBox. Heating is controlled using a proportional-plus-integral algorithm for error correction. Error correction may be ceased when temperatures fall within a dead band. Heat is turned on when the temperature drops to an on temperature equal to a set point minus 0.5F. Heat can be turned off when the heater has been at a minimum output level for a minimum output period (such as 90 seconds) and the temperature has not dropped below the on temperature during the minimum output period. An auto-variable radiant brooder may be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: L.B. White Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Tomlinson, Carl A. Lind
  • Patent number: 9321328
    Abstract: An air vent apparatus for a vehicle may include a spacer securely mounted to an inner surface of a duct and having a plurality of partition walls protruding in an inner space thereof, and a plurality of inside wings rotatably coupled to the spacer and opening or closing the duct wherein the inside wings have respectively overlapping parts for overlapping with the partition walls when the inside wings close the duct so as to increase a duct sealing force between the inside wings and the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP.
    Inventor: Byung Seok Kong
  • Patent number: 9321620
    Abstract: An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: STOKELY-VAN CAMP, INC.
    Inventors: Rei-Young Amos Wu, Gregory Schimmel, Subodh K. Raniwala, Michael F. McGowan
  • Patent number: 9317046
    Abstract: A variable output heating control system includes a user interface, an operating parameter sensor, a controller, a combination control valve, a plurality of variable flow valves, and a plurality of burners. The user interface allows a user to enter operating parameters, such as a set temperature. The operating parameters sensor provides measured parameters, such as a measured temperature. The controller receives the set temperature and the measured temperature and generates commands to control the flow of gas, based on the set temperature and the measured temperature. The combination control valve shuts off the flow of gas from an external gas source based on a command from the controller. The plurality of variable flow valves vary the flow of gas that is received from the combination control valve and supplied to the burners. The plurality of burners provide heat based on the combustion of gas that is received from the plurality of variable flow valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventor: Mike Gum
  • Patent number: 9316422
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a first portion for evaporating a working fluid at a first pressure, for compressing the evaporated working fluid to a second, higher pressure, and for liquefying the compressed working fluid within a liquefier, and a second portion for compressing liquid working fluid to a third pressure, which is higher than the second pressure, for evaporating the working fluid compressed to the third pressure, for relaxing the evaporated working fluid to a pressure, which is lower than the third pressure, so as to generate electrical current, and for liquefying relaxed evaporated working fluid within the liquefier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Efficient Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Sedlak, Oliver Kniffler
  • Patent number: 9285125
    Abstract: A prefabricated heat-insulation panel has two hot water flow paths installed separately inside a panel, with primary and secondary connection parts provided in the panel and connected to a boiler or allowing hot water to circulate to adjacent panels. A polybutene layer with rosin as an activator is formed on the inner surface of the hot water supply pipe made of thermoplastic elastomer, and reduces the diameter and the length of the hot water supply pipes installed in the panel and the panel thickness and minimizes the boiler load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Hi Gon Lee, Ha Rim Kim
  • Patent number: 9282590
    Abstract: A method of controlling the temperature of an environment, including the steps of providing a thermostat and receiving a signal from an occupancy sensor indicating whether an area has been occupied for each discrete time period of a 24 hour time period, assigning a first point value to each discrete time period where occupancy has been sensed, and repeating the steps for the next two 24 hour periods, and averaging the point values for each discrete time period in the first, second, and third 24 hour periods, to obtain an average point value, and sending a first signal to a heating device adapted for heating a second area to provide a temperature-related setting for a given discrete time period when the average point value for that discrete time period is above a threshold point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Appleton Grp LLC
    Inventor: Andrew J. Donlan
  • Patent number: 9266405
    Abstract: A system for regulating the cabin temperature of an automobile features an automobile having a roof and a passenger cabin. The roof features a ventilation housing aperture located therein. The system features a ventilation housing having a hollow housing chamber located therein. A housing bottom side features a fan aperture located therein. The housing bottom side is located on the ventilation housing aperture thereon. A housing rear side features an exterior vent aperture located therein. The system features an anterior chamber and a posterior chamber located in the hollow chamber. A chamber divider is located between the anterior chamber and the posterior chamber. The system features a fan located in the fan aperture operatively connected to a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen R. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9259990
    Abstract: A vehicle heating system comprising: a coolant circuit that circulates coolant between an engine and a heater core; heating device that heats coolant, which is interposed in the coolant circuit; a pump for coolant circulation, which is interposed in the coolant circuit; and a switching valve that switches the coolant flowing through the coolant circuit between a heater-core-side circuit that circuits the coolant among the heater core, the pump and the heating device and an engine-side circuit that circulates the coolant into the engine, wherein the switching valve has a thermo valve that switches channels so that the coolant coming from the engine-side circuit enters either one of the heater-core-side circuit and the engine-side circuit according to temperature of the coolant, and a bypass that delivers the coolant, which comes from the heater-core-side circuit, to the heater-core-side circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeharu Ishii, Hisafumi Doi, Makoto Katsuki, Shinsaku Tomita
  • Patent number: 9253930
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to ventilation methods, and more particularly to selectively configurable climate control method for use in data centers and the like. A method includes a first structural element and a second structural element spaced apart from first structural element to define a space between the first and second structural elements. The method also includes a plurality of partitions moveable into the space between the first and second structural elements and a controller arranged to control movement of the plurality of partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
  • Patent number: 9249982
    Abstract: A device for altering the airflow pattern from a ceiling vent diffuser by obstructing openings in a region of the diffuser. The device comprises a flexible member that is secured to a diffuser vane by a hook member and two tabs. The hook member has two or more engagement regions which enable it to engage vanes on different manufacturer's diffusers. The first end of the hook member is either pivotally secured to the flexible member or is engaged in an adjustment mechanism thereon. The adjustment mechanism allows the second end of the hook to be situated in different positions relative to an interior edge of the flexible member so as to accommodate different diffusers. An extension detachably engages the flexible member to increase the size thereof to accommodate larger diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Airvisor Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Brown, Robert G. Dickie, Petri J. Nurmela, Jonathan D. Liberty
  • Patent number: 9249983
    Abstract: An air supply shutter for ventilating closed buildings includes a marginal frame with interconnected upper, lower and lateral frame members to define a centrally disposed air vent opening having inlet and outlet sides. A shutter flap is pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between closed and open positions. A coupler is connected with the shutter flap and configured for engagement with an activator for shifting the shutter flap between the closed and open positions. The upper frame member includes an air guiding wall which is disposed on the outlet side of the air vent opening, faces the air vent opening, and extends upwardly at a predetermined angle to deflect the air flowing through the air vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BIG DUTCHMAN INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Winfried Pagenstert
  • Patent number: 9234671
    Abstract: An air conditioning indoor unit includes a movable first air direction adjustment plate that changes an up and down direction of the outlet air, a second air direction adjustment plate disposed adjacent to the air outlet, and a control unit that controls postures of the first and second adjustment plates. The second adjustment plate has at least a front end portion housed in an indoor unit front portion outside a blowing path when housed. In a Coanda effect utilization mode the control unit controls the postures of the first and second adjustment plates such that the second adjustment plate is spaced apart from the indoor unit front portion and a height position of a rear end portion is lower than when operation is stopped, and the adjustment plates form a predetermined angle to change the outlet air to a Coanda air flow along an undersurface of the second adjustment plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Yasutomi, Takahiro Okamoto, Masashi Kamada, Hironobu Teraoka, Noriyuki Okuda
  • Patent number: 9228757
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of electrical heating elements in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in accordance with fan operating conditions, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring speeds at which a fan motor is operating; communicating status signals indicative of fan motor operating speeds; and upon receiving a status signal indicating the fan motor is operating at a speed exceeding a predetermined maximum speed, communicating a control signal instructing a heater interlock to interrupt power supplied to at least one electrical heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne Helt
  • Patent number: 9217408
    Abstract: A method of determining an Idle Stop and Go (ISG) ventilation condition may include an ISG restriction early step that calculates an expected external air temperature through modeling using information acquired from a vehicle and execute an ISG logic to determine whether ISG entrance is possible based on a current ventilation condition of the vehicle, an ISG restriction proceeding step that detects an voltage of an air-conditioning system, an ISG restriction ascertaining step that determines whether an ISG entrance condition is satisfied, wherein the ISG entrance condition includes comparing the expected external air temperature through modeling with a specific temperature and the voltage of the air-conditioning system with a specific voltage, and an ISG entrance step that controls an engine by performing the ISG entrance when the ISG entrance condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jiyong Yu, Chongah Gwon, Junghwan Bang, Hyungjun Kim
  • Patent number: 9217526
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing the integrity of a portion of flexible pipe body. The method includes the steps of, via at least one port in an end fitting assembly in which an end of a portion of flexible pipe body is terminated, monitoring at least one parameter associated with an annulus region disposed between layers of the flexible pipe body, the annulus region being connected to the port by a connecting passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Tony Eccleston