Patents Examined by Richard L. Leung
  • Patent number: 7201002
    Abstract: In combination, pressurized fluid contained in a storage vessel, in both liquid and vapor regions, a heat exchanger in the vapor region of the vessel, and a first pressure regulator having an inlet side in communication with liquid in the vessel, and having an outlet side in communication with the heat exchanger, whereby if pressure in the vessel rises to the setting of the regulator, it opens and admits liquid from the vessel to the heat exchanger, to vaporize in that exchanger causing vapor in the vessel to condense, and reducing pressure in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Cryogenic Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross M. Brown
  • Patent number: 7131276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pulse tube refrigerators for recondensing cryogenic liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to the same for magnetic resonance imaging systems. In many cryogenic applications components, e.g. superconducting coils for magnetic resonance imaging (mri), superconducting transformers, generators, electronics, are cooled by keeping them in contact with a volume of liquified gases (e.g. helium, neon, nitrogen, argon, methane). In a first aspect, the present invention provides a pulse tube refrigerator PTR pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) arrangement within a cryogenic apparatus, wherein a regenerator tube of the PTR is finned. In this configuration the fins or baffles, are believed to increase the surface area available for distributed heat transfer from the helium atmosphere to the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Oxford Magnet Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaiyu Pan, Timothy Hughes, Keith White
  • Patent number: 7121099
    Abstract: In a Stirling cycle refrigerator, or in a method for controlling the operation of a Stirling cycle refrigerator, when it starts or stops being operated, or according to the detection result from position or temperature detecting means, the voltage supplied to a driving power source for driving a piston is controlled appropriately to prevent the piston from moving too far out of its movable range and thereby prevent breakage of a component resulting from collision between the piston and a displacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Shimizu, Naoki Nishi
  • Patent number: 7100380
    Abstract: A method of operating an organic rankine cycle system wherein a liquid refrigerant is circulated to an evaporator where heat is introduced to the refrigerant to convert it to vapor. The vapor is then passed through a turbine, with the resulting cooled vapor then passing through a condenser for condensing the vapor to a liquid. The refrigerant is one of CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2, (CF3)2 CFC(O)CF(CF3)2, CF3(CF2)2C(O)CF(CF3)2, CF3(CF2)3C(O)CF(CG3)2, CF3(CF2)5C(O)CF3, CF3CF2C(O)CF2CF2CF3, CF3C(O)CF(CF3)2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joost J. Brasz, Ulf J. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 7059138
    Abstract: A refrigeration system especially useful for refrigerating biological samples wherein a cryocooler, such as one employing a pressure wave from a pressure wave generator, is used to generate refrigeration for cooling liquid coolant or purging fluid, which is employed within hollow structures bordering an enclosed space of a storage unit or within the storage space of a storage unit and is subsequently cleaned of contaminants purged from the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dante Patrick Bonaquist, John Henri Royal, Bryce Rampersad, Richard J. Jibb
  • Patent number: 7047750
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerating machine, comprising a pulse tube (11) connected to a regenerator (9) and having a hot end part (11a) being heated, in which a cooling device (30), for cooling the hot side tube wall (11cd) of the pulse tube by cooling medium lower in temperature than the hot side tube wall of the pulse tube, cools the hot side tube wall (11cd) of the pulse tube by coolant flowing from the pressure source (1) of the pulse tube refrigerating machine into the regenerator (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Hideo Mita, Tetuya Gotou, Motohiro Igarasi, Takayuki Furusawa
  • Patent number: 7047762
    Abstract: A device for storage of an opened food container such as a wine container. The device includes a housing for receiving the opened food container in a substantially vertical orientation. A poppet valve assembly is provided for insertion in an opening in the opened food container and biased to enable it to accommodate opened food containers of varying sizes. The device includes a pressurized source of heaver-than-air inert gas located within the housing, a regulator for reducing the pressure of the inert gas from a first pressure at the pressurized source of the heavier-than-air inert gas to second pressure at the poppet valve assembly. The poppet valve assembly also includes a spring-loaded check ball, low-pass port, shuttle and orifice to control pressure and flow path of the heavier-than-air inert gas and to direct the heavier-than-air inert gas to the opened food container thus displacing any air that may have been present therein through an exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventors: Gregory J. Luzaich, Teddy R. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7017352
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to thoroughly cool an extrudate by directing a cooling fluid toward a surface of the extrudate (e.g., an interior surface that defines a hollow portion of an extrudate). Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight, and/or processing time. A cooling fluid is diverted toward the surface of the extrudate so as to cool the material and assist in solidification. A baffle may serve to divert the cooling fluid in the desired direction. In another example, the extrudate may be partially or totally immersed in a liquid cryogenic fluid. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. In addition, the more efficient cooling may be achieved with a lesser amount of the cooling fluid, and the velocity and temperature of the cooling fluid may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventors: Herbert L. Hutchison, Jeffrey R. Brandt
  • Patent number: 7017351
    Abstract: A MEMS based thermoacoustic cryo-cooler for thermal management of cryogenic electronic devices. The cryogenic cooling system can be integrated directly into a cryogenic electronic device. A vertical comb-drive provides an acoustic source through a driving plate to a resonant tube. By exciting a standing wave within the resonant tube, a temperature difference develops across a stack in the tube, thereby enabling heat exchange between heat exchangers. A tapered resonant tube improves the efficiency of the cooling system, compared with a simple cylinder configuration, leading to reduced harmonics and strong standing waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Mems Optical, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhili Hao, Mark Fowler, Jay A. Hammer, Michael Whitley, David R. Brown
  • Patent number: 7003977
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing cryogenic cooling fluid to an apparatus comprises a re-circulation device, a passive cold storage device having a porous matrix of material which directly contacts the cryogenic cooling fluid as the cryogenic cooling fluid passes through the passive cold storage device, a first portion of a fluid communication feed line fluidly connecting the re-circulation device to the passive cold storage device, a second portion of a fluid communication feed line fluidly connecting the passive cold storage device to the apparatus for communicating cryogenic cooling fluid to the apparatus, and a fluid communication return line fluidly connecting the apparatus to the re-circulation device. The passive cold storage device may comprise a regenerative heat exchanger including a porous matrix of metal wire mesh, metal spheres or ceramic spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Albert Eugene Steinbach, Robert Adolph Ackermann, Xianrui Huang
  • Patent number: 7003980
    Abstract: An energy-saving type refrigerating device capable of preventing global warming, allowing a communication pipe diameter to be reduced and the number of types of the communication pipe diameters to be reduced while a COP of over the COP obtained when R22 is used is provided by using, as a refrigerant, R32 with small global warming potential (GWP), comprising a compressor (23), a first heat exchanger (22), a expansion means (26), and a second heat exchanger (2), wherein R32 is used as a refrigerant, the diameter of a first communication pipe (42) is set to 2/8 in. and that of a second communication pipe (41) is set to ? in. in the refrigerating capacity range of 2.2 to 5.6 kW, the diameter of the first communication pipe (42) is set to 2/8 in. and that of the second communication pipe (41) is set to 4/8 in. in the refrigerating capacity range of 4.5 to 7.1 kW, and the diameter of the first communication pipe (42) is set to 2/8 in. and that of the second communication pipe (41) is set to ? in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Taira
  • Patent number: 6993917
    Abstract: A heat transfer member having an external heat transfer member including an insertion hole having an adaptor ring inserted thereinto, and at least one of a base blocking protrusion and a grove blocking protrusion formed on a predetermined portion of the surface of the base confronting the inserted adaptor ring inside the insertion groove, for increasing the coupling strength of the external radiating member and the adaptor ring and the transition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignees: LG Electronics Inc., Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Reuven Unger, Dong Gon Hwang, Woo Suk Chung
  • Patent number: 6990829
    Abstract: An air cooling system is provided for cooling ambient or recirculated air. The system includes a compressor receiving ambient air, and a first heat exchanger receiving pressurized air from the compressor. An expander receives warm air from the first heat exchanger. A second heat exchanger receives cold air from the expander. The second heat exchanger also receives supplemental ambient air, and is structured to utilize the cold air to cool the supplemental air and provide mixed cool air. The system cools and dehumidifies the supplemental ambient air to prevent unwanted stratification and condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Hall, Wayne Charles Schnaidt
  • Patent number: 6986266
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for separation of LNG allow both maximum enriching of the methane product in methane at any initial LNG composition, and to production the methane product in fully liquid state for the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Cryogenic Group, Inc.
    Inventor: George B. Narinsky
  • Patent number: 6983610
    Abstract: The performance of a multi-stage inertance pulse tube cryocooler in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be enhanced by cooling the inertance tube of one stage placing it in thermal communication with the cool heat exchanger of a preceding stage. Cooling at least one inertance tube of a multi-stage cooler in this invention lowers the viscosity and sound speed of the gas in the inertance tube, thereby improving the cooling power for that subsequent cooling stage, and for the entire device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Olson
  • Patent number: 6983612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a phenothiazine granulate with a narrow particle size distribution. At least 98% pure phenothiazine in liquid form is pressed through a device provided with boreholes and a frequency is applied to said liquid phenothiazine. The liquid phenothiazine discharged through the boreholes enters a cooling medium having a temperature of between ?196 and +120° C. The drops of liquid phenothiazine thus produced are brought to a temperature below melting point and are optionally solidified in another post-cooling area. Optionally, fine-grain particles or coarse-grained particles thus formed can be subsequently removed by appropriate methods. The bulk density of the obtained phenothiazine granulates ranges more particularly from 720–780 kg/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Clariant GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Beyer, Dietmar Breier, Gunther Effenberger, Michael Roos, Jens Ruppert, Olaf Just, Detlef Wehle
  • Patent number: 6983614
    Abstract: A formate salt based heat transfer fluid containing sulfamic acid for a secondary refrigeration loop is disclosed. The formate based heat transfer fluid generally is a more effective heat transfer medium than a glycol based fluid designed to operate in the same temperature range. The formate based fluid also has lower toxicity and environmental risks than the glycol fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: Diane L. Dick, Thomas E. Rajewski, Gilbert R. Malone
  • Patent number: 6981382
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring heat requires a supply tube connected in fluid communication with a capillary tube. A tip member is positioned to surround the distal end of the capillary tube to create a cryo-chamber. In operation, a liquid refrigerant is introduced into the supply tube at a working pressure (e.g. 450 psia). The pressure is then significantly reduced on the liquid refrigerant as it transits through the capillary tube. The refrigerant then exits the distal end of the capillary tube, still in its liquid state. Inside the cryo-chamber, at a pressure of less than about one atmosphere, the refrigerant transitions into its gaseous state. The resultant refrigeration causes heat to transfer into the cryo-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CryoCor, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lentz, Matt M. Riordan, Eric Ryba
  • Patent number: 6981388
    Abstract: The following invention relates to an air conditioning system, in particular for aircraft, comprising at least one heat exchanger, arranged in a ram air duct, for cooling compressed air by means of a fluid, and comprising at least a first and a second air cycle machine which at the compressed-air end are connected to the heat exchanger. A particularly compact, reliable, redundant and economical arrangement is achieved in that the heat exchanger comprises at least one first heat exchanger unit and a second heat exchanger unit, of which one each is connected at the compressed-air end to one of the air cycle machines, and in that ram air outlet ducts which are fluidically separate from each other are provided, of which one is connected to the first heat exchanger unit and another is connected to the second heat exchanger unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Brutscher, Joachim Haas
  • Patent number: 6981613
    Abstract: A portable, pressurized liquid storage system comprises a pliable and collapsible liquid reservoir including a fill pipe and a first valve disposed in the fill pipe; a pump operably connected to the reservoir; an outlet pipe including a second valve operably connected to the pump for connecting to a liquid-using device; and a housing in which the reservoir and the pump are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Cullen Kamisugi