Patents Examined by Samantha Miller
  • Patent number: 9851116
    Abstract: A displacement ventilation system includes a vertical duct located inside an enclosed space and extending between a floor and a ceiling of the enclosed space, an air inlet coupled with the vertical duct for drawing air into the displacement ventilation system, and an elongated diffuser extending adjacent the floor for diffusing at least some of the outside air over the floor of the enclosed spaced. The displacement ventilation system desirably includes a return air duct extending adjacent the ceiling and being coupled with the vertical duct for removing return air from the enclosed space and advancing the return air toward the vertical duct, a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between the return air and the outside air, and a heat pump for changing a temperature level of the outside air or the return air passing through the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: David J. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9845969
    Abstract: An exhaust air shutter assembly may include a housing having a dividing wall separating the exhaust air shutter assembly into an inside portion and an outside portion. An opening may be formed in the dividing wall and a frame may be mounted around the perimeter of the hole. Disposed on the frame may be a gasket that extends around the entire perimeter of the hole. The exhaust air shutter also may include at least one shutter flap mounted adjacent to the frame with a hinge such that the shutter flap can pivot between a closed position and an open position. When the shutter flap is in the open position, an air flow path exists from the inside portion of the exhaust air shutter assembly to the outside portion. When the shutter flap is in the closed position the air flow path is blocked. The shutter flap is configured to contact the gasket mounted to the frame when the shutter flap is in the closed position, thereby creating a seal between the shutter flap and the opening in the dividing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Petra Engineering Industries Co.
    Inventor: Osama Mohammad Hussein Ali
  • Patent number: 9845729
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recuperator segment uses metal tubes deformed into air cells in a waved configuration. The air cells are stacked one to another to form a double skinned recuperator segment providing cold air passages through the respective air cells and hot gas passages through spaces between adjacent air cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel Alecu, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 9835354
    Abstract: An adjustable regulator and lock device for a pivotally rotatable damper adapted for installation in an air duct of an HVAC system is disclosed, which includes a pivot rod rotatably attached to the air duct and arranged for rotation with the damper. The pivot rod has coupled to it, a lockdown member having a plurality of radially extending teeth extending outwardly therefrom. A plate member is fixedly spaced from the air duct and has a plurality of correspondingly shaped and dimensioned tooth-shaped cutouts adapted to receive the teeth of the lockdown member to selectively lock the rotational position of the pivot rod and the damper in a selected angular orientation. The teeth of the lockdown member are biased by a coil spring toward engagement with the cutouts of the plate member, and yet selectively releaseable therefrom. The invention provides secure and locked positioning of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CAPITAL HARDWARE SUPPLY, INC.
    Inventor: David Yoskowitz
  • Patent number: 9839155
    Abstract: A thermal ducting system for electronic equipment in an electronic equipment enclosure is provided. The thermal ducting system includes a top duct, a bottom duct spaced apart from the top duct, a side duct extending from the top duct to the bottom duct and along an intake side of the electronic equipment, and at least one baffle positioned in the side duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: James N. Fleming, Timothy Goldsberry, Mark Shurhay, Max W. Hibner
  • Patent number: 9834482
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for lowering the internal relative humidity inside of a concrete structure by applying a pressurized gas and forcing such pressurized gas into the concrete structure, in turn driving moisture in the pores of the concrete to the exterior of the structure. Pressurized gas is supplied to a network of sealed cavities extending into the face of the concrete structure, ultimately causing the gas to move into the concrete structure through pores and capillaries through the structure, in turn driving moisture in the concrete structure toward the surface. Optionally, a competitive inhibiting agent, such as lithium nitrate, may also be provided to stabilize the concrete structure against future deleterious expansions caused by moisture uptake in the existing ASR gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Peter H. Emmons
  • Patent number: 9820411
    Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for controlling the airflow direction through a device enclosure. A first device enclosure is positioned adjacent a second device enclosure, wherein both enclosures have an airflow pathway extending from the front to the back, and a fan for moving air through the airflow pathway, wherein the fan of the first device enclosure is a reversible rotary fan. The method automatically determines whether the first device enclosure is in a first orientation with its front facing in the same direction as the front of the adjacent second device enclosure or in a second orientation with the front facing in the same direction as the back of the adjacent second device enclosure. The airflow direction imparted by a reversible rotary fan is then controlled according to the determined orientation of the first device enclosure relative to the second device enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Gary D. Cudak, Edward S. Suffern, J. Mark Weber
  • Patent number: 9815347
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner with at least one air conduction device and a switching device. Provision is made that in a first operating state, the air conditioner has air passing at least partially through it in a first direction, that the air conditioner has air flowing through it at least partially in a second direction different from the first direction, and that the air conditioner has at least one switching device, to alter the flow direction of the air in the air conduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventor: Jonathan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9809087
    Abstract: A foreign object obstruction device for preventing foreign objects from entering into the vent of a vehicle without completely obstructing the air passage of the vent is provided. The foreign object obstruction device extends between the a rear vehicle bumper and the vehicle body, and includes a rigid panel mounted to the vehicle body, generally beneath the vent so as to present a generally horizontal planar surface. The foreign object obstruction device may also include a stand-off structure extending from the rigid panel to the vehicle body so as to maintain the foreign obstruction device a predetermined distance from the vent, and a resilient pad disposed between the stand-off structure and the vehicle body so as to help absorb the force caused by objects being hurled into the device; and between the rigid panel and the bumper so as to form a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Takeo Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9809313
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligently alerting the flight crew of a cabin depressurization. An example system includes a cabin altimeter that generates a cabin pressure value, an alerting device, such as a speaker system and a processing device in data communication with the cabin altimeter and the alerting device. The processing device determines if there is a problem with the cabin pressure received from the cabin altimeter, determines rate of change of the cabin pressure, and sets at least one of an alert volume or an alert frequency based on the cabin pressure and the rate of change of the cabin pressure if it was determined that a problem exists with the cabin pressure. The processing device also issues a cabin depressurization alert over the alerting device based on at least one of the set alert volume or alert frequency, if there is a problem with the cabin pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J Conner, Yasuo Ishihara, Steve C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9802464
    Abstract: An air discharger for discharging an air stream, in particular in a vehicle interior, includes at least one air guide channel and at least one air routing element disposed therein. The routing element being designed as a vane wheel having at least one vane, wherein each of the vanes is formed from at least two segments disposed in succession axially. The segments being able to move at least relative to one another angularly between a position that brings about a “diffuse” mode and a position that brings about a “total air” mode by way of an axially adjustable variable flow cross section of the air guide channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Salah Benamira
  • Patent number: 9803367
    Abstract: A ridge vent for tile roofs is provided having a vent strip located on each side of a roof ridge. The ridge vent includes a center water dam having a centering portion and two leg portions, with the centering portion being located over a ridge board. The vent strips includes a vent material, formed from a non-woven mat, including a first surface, which matches a surface of the tile roof, and a second surface. An upper water barrier is attached to the second surface of at least one of the vent strips and extends over the roof ridge. The ridge vent is rollable and can be provided as one piece or as separate components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Martin J. Rotter
  • Patent number: 9788455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic equipment data center or co-location facility designs and methods of making and using the same in an environmentally aware manner, and generally provides apparatus and methods for using novel support bracket structures, and thermal panels associated with the same, that allow for distinct partitioning of air flowing in hot aisles and cold aisles, as well as for holding wiring above cabinets that are used to store electronic equipment in the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Switch, Ltd.
    Inventor: Rob Roy
  • Patent number: 9772117
    Abstract: An air-circulator includes an housing with an air inlet, an air outlet opening, an odor filter, and an insertion opening for inserting the odor filter. The odor filter is assigned to the air outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Feisthammel, Steffen Renkema, Markus Wendland
  • Patent number: 9764621
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning discharge port structure wherein the airflow direction of air-conditioning drafts can be adjusted by changing the orientation of a plurality of fins provided to a discharge port. The fins include an outermost fin and an adjacent fin adjacent to the outer fins. The outer fin has a first regulating part for regulating the air-conditioning drafts flowing through an inter-fin flow passage between the outer fin and the adjacent fin, and a second regulating part for regulating the air-conditioning drafts flowing through a flow passage between the outer fin and a wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Sakaguchi, Masayuki Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9759446
    Abstract: An air handling unit has an interior wall configured to selectively retain a removable component of the air handling unit. An air handling unit has an interior wall configured as a drain pan. An air handling unit has an outer skin joined to the interior wall, an insulator disposed between the interior wall and the outer skin, and the interior wall has a mounting channel configured to selectively retain a removable component of the air handling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Stewart, Mark Hudgins, Richard Lee Jameson, Keith Adam Novak, Leslie Zinger
  • Patent number: 9750164
    Abstract: Described herein is an integrated data center that provides for efficient cooling, as well as efficient wire routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Switch, Ltd.
    Inventor: Rob Roy
  • Patent number: 9744829
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower, a fresh-air valve, a bypass duct, and a bypass valve. The blower is configured to urge air to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the blower. The fresh-air valve is operable to provide a mixture of air drawn from an outside-air duct and a recirculated-air duct to the inlet. The fresh-air valve is operable to a recirculate position where the outside-air duct is substantially blocked from communicating with the inlet. The bypass duct is configured to couple the outlet to the outside-air duct. The bypass valve is located in the bypass duct and is operable to a closed position and an open position. The cabin is ventilated when the fresh-air valve is in the recirculate position, the bypass valve is in the open position, and the blower is operated to blow air out of the outside-air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Mingyu Wang, Debashis Ghosh, Edward Wolfe, IV, Sourav Chowdhury, Timothy D. Craig
  • Patent number: 9725101
    Abstract: A passenger compartment duct is provided with a passenger compartment air blow opening through which air is supplied into a passenger compartment and a cab-air-supply-duct communicating opening communicating with a cab air supply duct. The cab air supply duct is provided with a cab air blow opening through which air is supplied into a cab and a passenger-compartment-duct communicating opening communicating with the passenger compartment air supply duct. There are provided a damper turning communication from the passenger compartment air supply duct to the cab air supply duct ON or OFF, a cab air outlet through which air in the cab is discharged to the outside of the cab, and a damper opening or closing the cab air outlet. The cab air outlet includes a first outlet opened so as to communicate with an air intake side of cab air-conditioning units and a second outlet opened so as to communicate with the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9724981
    Abstract: There is provided an air conditioning register which can prevent or effectively suppress a reduction in an effective opening surface area at an air-conditioned air blow-out portion, and which has good blow-out efficiency of air-conditioned air. A first flow path 42 and a second flow path 44, whose directions toward a blow-out bezel 26 differ, are formed within a retainer 12 of an air conditioning register 10. A first damper 52 and plural second dampers 58, which are interlocked with one another, are provided at the retainer 12. The first damper 52 opens and closes the first flow path 42, and the second dampers 58 open and close the second flow path 44. The first damper 52 and the second dampers 58 are operated such that either one of the first flow path 42 and the second flow path 44 is opened and the other is closed, and the flow path of the air-conditioned air is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimio Sakakibara, Michiyo Nonoyama, Keiko Tanaka, Makoto Inoue