Patents Examined by Steve McAllister
  • Patent number: 7878887
    Abstract: A method and a line system for the air-conditioning of a cabin of an aircraft envisage that at sites remote from passengers air that is at a temperature lower than air at sites closer to passengers is introduced into the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Elmers, Michael Markwart, Dietrich Lampe, Thomas Scherer
  • Patent number: 7862410
    Abstract: An air removal unit configured for removing exhaust air from an equipment rack or enclosure includes multiple fans to achieve a high airflow capacity while defining a compact and portable structure. The unit removably installs along an exhaust side of an equipment rack or enclosure to provide capabilities for managing the thermal output of equipment, such as servers, CPUs, communications, internetworking and other types of equipment. The unit includes one or more upper fan modules and one or more lower fan modules positioned below the upper fan modules. The upper and the lower fan modules are arranged in a stacked configuration along the depth of the unit with the lower fan modules positioned in an offset orientation relative to the upper fan modules. The stacked configuration and the offset orientation of the fan modules help to incorporate multiple fans with the unit while maintaining the compact and portable design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Lianne M. McMahan, Lou Perry, Prasad Rao, Brian McKenna
  • Patent number: 7857688
    Abstract: A cabinet having a pair of vertically stacked chassis separated by a central, vertically extending region. A pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending panels is disposed in the central region, the panels forming: a pair of outer compartments for receiving air exiting a corresponding one of the pair of laterally spaced vertically stacked chassis; and an inner compartment for receiving air exiting the pair of vertically stacked chassis. The panels have therein an array of openings in a lower portion thereof for passing portions of air in the outer compartments into the inner compartment. An upper portion of the panels inhibits portions of air in the outer compartments from passing into the inner compartment. The openings extend in rows horizontally across the panel. The number of opening in lower ones of the rows is greater than the number of opening in upper ones of the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: W. Brian Cunningham, John K. Bowman, Steven R. Cieluch, C. Ilhan Gundogan, Gerald J. Cote
  • Patent number: 7854778
    Abstract: An intake duct for a compressor comprises an inlet and an outlet means. The duct has a serpentine path. The outlet means comprises a first outlet and a second outlet. The duct further comprises at least one grille member configured to prevent the passage of objects over a predetermined size which is positioned in the duct out of the line of sight when viewed through the inlet. The duct is shaped such that in operation objects passing through the at least one grille member greater than a predetermined mass are directed towards the first outlet and the remainder of the objects are directed towards the second outlet. The first outlet leads overboard and/or to a trap and the second outlet leads to a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Alec R. Groom, John Christopher Hacker, Jonathan Wilson, Gareth L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7841843
    Abstract: A micro air delivery device for supplying air to a predetermined space, comprises a jet unit for obtaining and delivering outside air; a cover having a discharge orifice for discharging the outside air delivered from the jet unit; and a base unit connected to the jet unit. Since a valve is not employed to regulate the air supply or delivery, the air delivery device is superior in safety, is of simplified construction, and efficient. Furthermore, the air flow can be controlled by varying the electric current or the frequency, and accordingly, an active delivery of the air is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hye-jung Cho, Xiao-bing Luo
  • Patent number: 7819727
    Abstract: The present invention is a push-pull ventilation hood having a push device to obtain a push air flow and a pull device to exhaust contaminant flow with an exhaust opening and the two devices properly coordinated with each other, wherein, when the push flow flows through a contaminant source, a contaminated flow of the push flow is exhausted through the exhaust opening. Based on the design process according to the present invention, a push-pull hood with the highest efficiency of push velocity can be designed and the push-pull hood can economically and effectively control the contaminant source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Council of Labor Affairs
    Inventors: Rong Fung Huang, Yu-Kang Chen, Tung-Sheng Shih, Cheng-Ping Chang, Wen-Yu Yeh, Chun-Wan Chen, Shin Yi Lin, Shun-Yuan Jan
  • Patent number: 7815498
    Abstract: A flow of air coming out of a louver facing the internal space of the passenger compartment of a vehicle is oriented, exploiting the Coanda effect, in an area adjacent to a first surface of the passenger compartment or in an area adjacent to a second surface of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Marco Biasiotto, Carloandrea Malvicino, Fabrizio Mattiello, Andrea Perosino
  • Patent number: 7794312
    Abstract: A covering apparatus for an enclosure presenting a ventilating barrier curved with respect to a barrier axis includes a segmented panel member having a plurality of louvered areas. Respective adjacent louvered areas of the plurality of louvered areas are separated by a respective bend structure. Each respective bend structure has a first section departing in a first direction from a first bend axis and a second section departing in a second direction from a second bend axis. The first and second bend axes are generally parallel with the barrier axis. The first direction is generally away from the second bend axis. The second direction is generally away from the first bend axis. The bend structure further has a third section extending from the first and second bend axes to a third bend axis. The third bend axis is non-coplanar with the first and second bend axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald N. Zimmer, John Nhu Tran
  • Patent number: 7780509
    Abstract: A foundation vent comprising a front frame and resiliently-flexible clips with tabs at their ends. The foundation vent can be quickly installed within a foundation opening by flexing the clips, placing them into the opening, and pushing the front frame until it seats against the exterior of a foundation wall. At this point, the tabs of the clips will have protruded past the interior face of the foundation wall allowing the clips to return to their unflexed state and causing the tabs to secure against the interior face of the foundation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: John Charles Hoaks
  • Patent number: 7780508
    Abstract: A register includes an operation knob which is slidably assembled to a selected one of front horizontal blades and which is connected to a selected one of rear vertical blades via a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism includes a connection pillar portion formed integrally with an intermediate portion of the selected vertical blade, the connection pillar portion having a generally circular cross section and being located at a position deviating from a rotation axis of the selected rear vertical blade, and a pair of connection arm portions extending rearward from the rear end of the operation knob with a predetermined space formed therebetween. The operation knob is connected to the selected vertical blade in a state where the connection pillar portion is rotatably inserted into an engagement groove between the connection arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Howa Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuaki Okuno
  • Patent number: 7775848
    Abstract: A hand-held fan and object holder generally comprises a housing; a fan that rotates with respect to the housing; and a coupling member for securing an object, such as a candy item. The housing encloses the internal components that operate the fan, including a motor and a battery. At the lower end of the housing, the coupling member secures the object, such as a candy item, to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Candyrific, LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Auerbach
  • Patent number: 7775778
    Abstract: A heat dissipation module including a supporting frame, a driver, a linkage, a first magnet and a plurality of magnetic blades is provided. The supporting frame has a chute. Moreover, one end of the linkage has a protrusion passing through the chute. The other end of the linkage is connected to the driver. The first magnet is disposed on the protrusion. In addition, the repelling magnetic blades are pivoted on the supporting frame. The outermost magnetic blade faces the first magnet and they repel each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Shaw-Fuu Wang, Ting-Chiang Huang, Shih-Chen Shen, Sheng-Jie Syu
  • Patent number: 7766732
    Abstract: A ductless fumehood system comprising: at least one ductless fumehood comprising a housing; a workspace formed within the housing; a door for selectively closing off the workspace; an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace; a master module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere; and a slave module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere; wherein the slave module is in communication with the master module such that the master module central processing unit is capable of (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the slave module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the slave module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within that slave module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: FIPAK Research and Development Company
    Inventor: Francois P. Hauville
  • Patent number: 7762765
    Abstract: A device for cooling a pet includes a fan with a housing. A motor coupled with a blade positioned in the housing. The motor is electrically coupled with a power source to energize the motor to rotate the blade. At least one member is coupled with the housing. The at least one member includes a cut-out to couple the member with an animal crate to mount the fan on the crate for cooling a pet inside of the crate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fan-Tastic Vent
    Inventors: Stephen A. Milks, Penny Milks, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7758409
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor unit of an air conditioner, which is capable of improving the mounting accuracy between a front grill and a movable panel. An indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a main body casing, a front grill, a second panel, a driving machine, and an opening and closing mechanism. The front grill is provided forward of the main body casing and includes a first intake port. The second panel is capable of moving so as to open and close the first intake port. The driving machine is provided in the main body casing, and generates a driving force to move the second panel. The opening and closing mechanism is provided at the front grill, and moves the second panel by the driving force of the driving machine to open and close the first intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yamashita, Tatsuhiko Akai, Takashi Doi, Toshiyuki Natsume, Atsushi Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7749053
    Abstract: A device for generating a negative pressure in the sealed room of a tablet press and/or of an isolator, with a fan connected to the sealed room and an air opening towards the sealed room, wherein the intake side of an ejector is connected with the sealed room, the working fluid connection of which is connectable with a compressed air source via a valve, with a sensor which is connected to a negative pressure control unit which opens the valve when the sensor measures a pressure in the sealed room which is above a predetermined negative pressure value, a second valve being assigned to the fresh air inlet opening, which depending on the embodiment remains opened or is triggered and closed by the negative pressure control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fette GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Behns, Enrico Gand, Linda Heck, Ralf Zingler
  • Patent number: 7727059
    Abstract: A vented door for a computer system includes a vented base and an outer door. The vented base and the outer door are separately pivotable. The vented base is pivotably attached to the computer system's enclosure for movement between a closed configuration where the vented base abuts against a panel of the enclosure and an open configuration where the vented base is swung away from the panel. The outer door is pivotably attached to the vented base to avoid interfering with a neighboring computer system's vented door as the vented base is pivoted to the open configuration. An acoustic noise reduction lining is provided on the outer door and in the air flow apertures of the vented base. The outer door is preferably removable from the vented base so that the combined weight of the vented base and the outer door need not be lifted when removal is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan Alfonso Merino
  • Patent number: 7721855
    Abstract: In a locomotive having a dynamic braking capability, a method for maintaining an airflow path to a resistive grid disposed within a resistive grid enclosure having an enclosure inlet and an enclosure outlet is provided, wherein the method includes generating an inlet airflow into the enclosure inlet, creating a heated inlet airflow by associating the inlet airflow with the resistive grid such that the inlet airflow absorbs heat generated by the resistive grid, directing the heated inlet airflow toward the enclosure outlet to generate a heated outlet airflow, redirecting at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow to be thermally associated with a structural portion of the enclosure inlet such that the temperature of the structural portion of the enclosure inlet is increased above a predetermined temperature to reduce blockage of the enclosure inlet by snow and recirculating the redirected heated outlet airflow with ambient air being drawn into the resistive grid enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Marsh, Theodore Clark Brown, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 7708626
    Abstract: An air supply device for an automotive seat includes an air duct which is arranged at the delivery side of a fan and has at least one air outlet opening provided in the upper region of the seat for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant with a flow of air. A heating element is arranged in the air duct between the fan and the air outlet opening, and the air supply device has at least one sensor for detecting a parameter value as a function of which the flow of air emerging from the air outlet opening is controlled. In order to provide the air supply device with a flow of air which can be controlled in a more universal manner, the sensor is arranged inside the air duct between the air outlet opening and the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Claudio Bargheer, Dietmar Hartmann, Karl Pfahler, Lothar Renner
  • Patent number: 7699692
    Abstract: A fan assembly (20) for dissipating heat from an electronic device includes a bracket (30) and a fan module (40). The bracket has a retaining wall (31). The retaining wall defines an opening (311) and two vertical slots (313) at opposite sides of the opening. The fan module includes a fan (50) and a pair of clamp members (60). The fan has a fan opening corresponding to the opening of the bracket. The clamp members are respectively attached to opposite sides of the fan. An engaging portion (62) is formed on one end of each clamp member for engaging with the corresponding slot of the bracket. Each engaging portion has a wide portion (624) configured for abutting against an outer surface of one retaining walls and a narrow portion (622) for entering to the corresponding slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiu-Zhong Yin