Patents Examined by Steve Tanenbaum
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Patent number: 9933195Abstract: An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Scotsman Group LLCInventors: Keith H. Roth, Chris J. Salatino, Jonathan V. Stockton
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Patent number: 9920961Abstract: A method for heating a fluid or a body using a vapor compression circuit containing a heat-transfer fluid containing tetrafluoropropene, said method including, successively and cyclically, evaporation of the heat-transfer fluid, compression of the heat-transfer fluid, cooling of the heat-transfer fluid and expansion of the heat-transfer fluid, the heat-transfer fluid being in the supercritical state at the end of compression. Also, an installation suited to implementing this method.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCEInventor: Wissam Rached
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Patent number: 9921007Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (201) comprises: a hot fluid flow channel (210); a cold fluid flow channel (220); and a heat exchanger (230) disposed between the channels. The heat exchanger comprises a heat sink (240) and a thermoelectric device (250). In some embodiments the fluid flow channels (210, 220) may be arranged to provide a cross-flow of the hot and cold fluids.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLCInventors: Richard John Harper, Nicholas Chandler
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Patent number: 9915459Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Guolian Wu
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Patent number: 9915460Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ice tray comprising: a tray body configured to provide ice-making spaces configured to retain water; a plurality of partition walls extending upward from a bottom surface of the tray body to define the ice-making spaces; and a vibration-generating unit configured to vibrate the tray body. The vibration-generating unit can include a vibration-generating member configured to generate vibration and a mounting member configured to mount the vibration-generating member to a lower surface of the tray body.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: Sung Jin Yang
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Patent number: 9909787Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator/cryocooler apparatus including: an inlet for receiving a cyclically moving volume of gas; a regenerator device fluidly connected to the inlet for storing and recovering thermal energy from the gas; a pulse tube fluidly connected to the regenerator; and a conduit fluidly connected at one end to the pulse tube and fluidly connected at its opposite end to a container, said container providing a storage volume for gas, wherein apparatus is configured such that the cyclically moving gas enters the regenerator in a direction parallel to its elongate axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: THE HYMATIC ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Scott Spooner, Chun Fai Cheuk
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Patent number: 9897352Abstract: The hierarchy condensation third-type absorption heat pump provided by the invention belongs to the absorption heat pump technology field. A solution cycle is formed by a first generator, an absorption-generator, a first absorber, a first solution pump, a second solution pump, a first solution heat exchanger and a steam distributing chamber. A solution cycle is formed by a second generator, a second absorber, a third solution pump and a second solution heat exchanger. The refrigerant vapor of the first generator is provided for the first condenser. The refrigerant vapor of the second generator is provided for the second condenser. The refrigerant vapor of the steam distributing chamber is provided for the second absorber. The refrigerant liquid of the first condenser enters evaporator via the throttle valve. The refrigerant liquid of the second condenser enters evaporator via the refrigerant liquid pump. The refrigerant vapor of evaporator is provided for the absorption-generator and the first absorber.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2012Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Inventor: Huayu Li
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Patent number: 9897359Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle that includes one or more intermediate heat exchangers, exchanging heat between a heat source side refrigerant and a heat medium different from the heat source side refrigerant, a heat medium circuit that includes at least one pump configured to circulate the heat medium for heat exchange by the intermediate heat exchanger, a use side heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the heat medium and air in an air-conditioning target space, and flow switching valves configured to switch between passing the heated heat medium through the use side heat exchanger and passing the cooled heat medium through the use side heat exchanger and in which the pump, the use side heat exchanger, and the flow switching valves are connected by pipes, and a controller configured to calculate an actual temperature efficiency ratio based on a temperature at a heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger in the heat medium circuit and determine whether a flow rate of theType: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto, Koji Azuma, Takayoshi Honda
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Patent number: 9885500Abstract: A magnetic heat pump system which arranges permanent magnets at the two sides of a magnetocalorific effect material to thereby strengthen the magnetic field to improve the cooling and heating ability, which magnetic heat pump system uses first and second magnets which move inside and outside of the containers in the state facing each other to change a magnitude of a magnetic field which is applied to a plurality of containers in which a magnetocalorific effect material is stored so as to change a temperature of a heat transport medium which is made to flow through the containers by a reciprocating pump, the intensity of the magnetic field which is applied to the magnetocalorific effect material in the containers being increased to enlarge the change of temperature of the heat transport medium which is discharged from the magnetic heat pump and improve the cooling and heating efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Watanabe, Takuya Fuse, Shinichi Yatsuzuka, Kazutoshi Nishizawa, Tsuyoshi Morimoto
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Patent number: 9835391Abstract: A method for the heat recovery from a tunnel cooling apparatus, having one or several cooling cells for cooling products in containers by means of a cooling agent circulating in a coolant circuit, and a heat exchanger; including: controlling the circulating quantity of the coolant, and controlling the temperature of the coolant, wherein both the circulating quantity and the temperature of the coolant are measured and controlled on the basis of comparisons with predefined parameters, so that the thermal yield of the heat exchanger is optimized.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: KRONES AGInventors: Falko Jens Wagner, Jan Karsten Münzer, Johannes Eckstein
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Patent number: 9829233Abstract: A method including: determining a cooling value; and comparing the cooling value to an activation point of a lead compressor. The lead compressor is in a tandem set of scroll compressors of a cooling system. The tandem set of compressors comprises a lag compressor. The method further includes: activating the lead compressor when the cooling value is greater than the activation point; activating the lag compressor subsequent to activating the lead compressor; and determining whether conditions exist including: an alarm associated with the lag compressor being generated, and the lead compressor being deactivated. The method further includes deactivating the lag compressor when at least one of the conditions exists in the cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Liebert CorporationInventors: Roger Noll, Lou Monnier, Zhiyong Lin, Daniel J. Schutte, Benedict J. Dolcich
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Patent number: 9823003Abstract: Provided is a first unit including a first unit including a compressor and a first heat exchanger; a plurality of second units each including a second heat exchanger and each being connected to the first unit via a plurality of branched pipes; a plurality of valves configured to open to permit refrigerant flows and close to not permit the refrigerant flows; a storage unit configured to store connection information indicating a relationship of connection between the plurality of second units and the plurality of pipes; a closed path pipe that is any of the plurality of branched pipes to which no second unit is connected, and a control unit configured to detect whether the closed path pipe is included in the connection information.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shogo Tamaki, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki
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Patent number: 9809314Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises a process air line configured to supply compressed process air provided by a process air source to an air conditioning unit of the aircraft air conditioning system and a trim air line branching off from the process air line upstream of the air conditioning unit and being configured such that trim air flows through the trim air line, the trim air having been branched off from the compressed process air flowing through the process air line. A compressor is arranged in the trim air line and is configured to compress the trim air flowing through the trim air line. A turbine of the aircraft air conditioning system is configured to drive the compressor. A cabin exhaust air line is configured to supply cabin exhaust air discharged from an aircraft cabin to the turbine for driving the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignees: Airbus Operations S.L., Airbus Operations GmbHInventors: Holger Bammann, Frank Klimpel, Dariusz Krakowski, Anton Mendez-Diaz
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Patent number: 9809310Abstract: An aircraft passenger service device for receiving goods for cold storage to be supplied to aircraft passengers includes a receiving device having a viewing apparatus, a coolant inlet for feeding a coolant into the receiving device, and a coolant outlet for discharging the coolant from the receiving device. The viewing apparatus is designed to enable a user to inspect goods stored in the receiving device before removal. The aircraft passenger service device further includes a cooling arrangement having a coolant circuit line connected to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet of the receiving device, and a device that directs into the coolant circuit line a refrigerant fluid flowing through a refrigerant fluid circuit line of a central cooling system of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventors: Kenan Sönmez, Markus Kerber, Volker Brakhan
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Patent number: 9798994Abstract: A logistics system for monitoring and signaling the thermal condition of unit loads of PCM panels during a thermal conditioning cycle as between deep frozen, thermally dampened frozen, and thermally spent, and method of managing thermal conditioning of PCM panels utilizing such signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: PELICAN BIOTHERMAL LLCInventor: William T. Mayer
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Patent number: 9783720Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing cooling comprising evaporating a liquid refrigerant comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4; provided that the weight ratio of E-CF3CH?CHF to the total amount of E-CF3CH?CHF and C2H2F4 is from about 0.05 to 0.99, in an evaporator, thereby producing a refrigerant vapor. Also disclosed herein is a method for replacing HCFC-124 or HFC-134a refrigerant in a chiller designed for said refrigerant comprising providing a replacement refrigerant composition comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4; provided that the weight ratio of E-CF3CH?CHF to the total amount of E-CF3CH?CHF and C2H2F4 is from about 0.05 to 0.99.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLCInventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
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Patent number: 9786964Abstract: In an operation mode for heating battery air, a refrigerant passage switching portion switches over to a first refrigerant passage in which a refrigerant including gas refrigerant flowing out of an interior condenser flows into an auxiliary heat exchanger through a first pipe having a relatively large passage cross-sectional area and a liquid refrigerant flowing out of the auxiliary heat exchanger flows to an inlet of an exterior heat exchanger through a second pipe having a relatively small passage cross-sectional area. Meanwhile, in an operation mode for cooling the battery air, the refrigerant passage switching portion switches over to a second refrigerant passage in which a liquid refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchanger flows into the auxiliary heat exchanger through the second pipe and a gas refrigerant flowing out of the auxiliary heat exchanger flows to a suction port of a compressor through the first pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masayuki Takeuchi, Takashi Yamanaka
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Patent number: 9784493Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) for a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is described. The TRU can be configured to have an upper compartment to accommodate a compressor and an engine, and a condenser compartment that is generally positioned below the upper comportment. The condenser compartment can include a condenser and a fan at a bottom portion of the condenser compartment. The fan can be configured to blow air out of the condenser compartment in a downward direction from the bottom portion of the condenser compartment. The TRU can also have an evaporator compartment that is generally positioned behind the condenser compartment. The evaporator compartment can accommodate an evaporator that is generally positioned below the upper compartment. The evaporator compartment can have an air inlet and an air outlet that is positioned higher than the air outlet. In operation, airflow through the evaporator compartment is directed in a downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Abhijith Balakrishna, Patil Raju, Wilson Samuel Jesudason Lawrence
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Patent number: 9784459Abstract: The invention relates to an energy system, and more particularly to an air conditioning system for air conditioning rooms, comprising an energy source for heat pump systems, in which energy and/or heat is stored in a latent energy or heat storage system, comprising an ice slurry production device (100) for producing ice slurry from a liquid ice slurry brine (10), which operate according to a method for air conditioning rooms, in which energy or heat is stored or buffered in a latent energy or heat storage system and/or removed or extracted therefrom, wherein ice slurry is provided as the latent energy or heat storage system, or according to a method for producing ice slurry from an ice slurry brine (10), comprising the following steps: filling a housing (110) with the liquid ice slurry brine; cooling the liquid ice slurry brine by bringing it in contact with a heat exchanger device (220) disposed in the housing (110) while stirring the ice slurry brine (10) so as to generate the ice slurry, wherein, when an iType: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Hubert Langheinz KALTETECHNIKInventor: Hubert Langheinz
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Patent number: 9752803Abstract: A heat pump system is provided that includes a flow directing system that allows an outdoor heat exchanger to be switchable between a single-pass arrangement and a two-pass arrangement. The heat pump system includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a flow directing system of check valves and piping segments that enable switching of the outdoor heat exchanger between the single-pass and the two-pass arrangement. The outdoor heat exchanger is operable as a two-pass condenser in the cooling mode and as a single-pass evaporator in the heating mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Jerome Anthony Matter, III, Jeffrey Lee Tucker