Patents Examined by Travis Ruby
  • Patent number: 9551532
    Abstract: A mechanical draft cooling tower employs air cooled condenser modules and operates by mechanical draft to exchange heat between atmospheric air and steam. The cooling tower utilizes a modular air cooled condenser with heat exchange deltas having tube bundles that are manufactured and assembled prior to being shipped to the tower site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SPX DRY COOLING USA LLC
    Inventors: Michel Vouche, Christophe Deleplanque, Fabien Fauconnier
  • Patent number: 9553006
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a heater, is provided that includes a base member having at least one fluid passageway. A two-phase fluid is disposed within the fluid passageway, a pressure of the two-phase fluid being controlled such that the two-phase fluid provides at least one of heating and cooling to the base member. A tuning layer is secured to the base member, and the tuning layer includes a plurality of zones. Furthermore, a component, such as a chuck by way of example, is secured to the tuning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin Robert Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Philip Steven Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob Robert Lindley, Allen Norman Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis Stanley Grimard
  • Patent number: 9546826
    Abstract: A heat transport structure is provided having a structural microtruss wick with a thermal transport medium associated with the microtruss wick for thermal energy transport by fluid and vapor transport between a heat source and a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: William B. Carter, Adam F. Gross, Keith V. Guinn, Alan J. Jacobsen, David Kisailus
  • Patent number: 9541337
    Abstract: A device and method for plugging a tube that includes setting a tapered plug in a tube with a compression ring that circumscribes the plug. The ring radially expands when axially compressed and wedges the plug in the tube. An anchoring assembly fits over the tapered end of the plug and is coupled to the plug while being pushed against the compressed ring. When coupled to the plug, the anchoring assembly maintains the ring in a compressed state. The anchoring assembly can be made up of legs that fasten to the tapered end of the plug and have shoulders attached on a free end that are positioned against a lateral side of the compressed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Abdullah M. Al-Otaibi
  • Patent number: 9534796
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of blower fans provided adjacent to each other in a left-right direction, a heat exchanger, and a plurality of vertical vanes that are provided in an air outlet and that deflect an airflow to be blown out from the air outlet in a left/right direction. Further, when the airflow to be blown out from the air outlet is deflected in at least one direction in the left/right direction, the air volume of the blower fan disposed on the leftmost side or the rightmost side of the vertical vanes corresponding to the deflection direction is reduced relative to the air volume of the other blower fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshinori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9534803
    Abstract: An energy saving air conditioning system is disclosed which provides different air conditioning modes, including a closed-loop mode, an open-loop mode, and a partial-loop mode, for controlling the environment in a high-density apparatus room. The energy saving air conditioning system uses a cloud operating center to monitor the temperature and the moisture inside and outside the high-density apparatus room. The cloud operating system dynamically selects the air conditioning mode in such a manner that energy can be saved and the environment in the high-density apparatus room can be optimally managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chao-Jung Chen, Chien-Pang Chen, Kai-Hung Lin, Chih-Ming Chen, Wen-Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 9528774
    Abstract: A heat dissipation apparatus including multiple heat exchange sheets. A first path and a second path are formed between the multiple heat exchange sheets, and the first path includes a first countercurrent channel, a guide channel, and a first-outlet cross-flow channel; the second path includes a second countercurrent channel and a second-inlet cross-flow channel. One part of a first fluid that enters the first path enters the first countercurrent channel and mainly performs countercurrent heat exchange with a second fluid that is in the second countercurrent channel, and the other part passes the guide channel and rapidly performs cross-flow heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zaizhong Xia, Wen Fang, Yun Tang
  • Patent number: 9519297
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a building system includes a supply temperature sensor upstream of a thermal load, a return temperature sensor downstream of the thermal load, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate an actual thermal energy difference from the supply and return temperature sensors. The controller is configured to control a flow rate of a pump such that the measured thermal energy difference is equal to a desired thermal energy difference for the system, and the measured thermal energy difference is constant for a time interval. A system and method for controlling a building system includes determining a desired thermal energy difference for a load, measuring a supply and return temperature of the load, and reducing the system flow rate such that a valve controlling the load flow rate is at an at partially open condition when the return temperature of the load is the desired return temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Vytautas K. Virskus
  • Patent number: 9520221
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a system and method for monitoring functional operational reliability of a cooling system having at least one thermosyphon for transformers provided with at least one evaporator and with at least one condenser. The cooling system using a coolant which can be vaporized and a gaseous medium, as a heat carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Weber, Bhavesh Patel, Jens Tepper, Bruno Agostini, Marcos Bockholt, Michael Luckey
  • Patent number: 9505300
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for a motor vehicle provided with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine. The assembly has a radiator intended to be supplied with a flow of a liquid coolant coming from the engine, a condenser for use in an air-conditioning system of the vehicle, mounted facing the radiator, and a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly includes a plate-like shroud mounted facing the condenser, on a side remote from the radiator, and carrying a motor-driven fan capable of inducing a flow of air through the radiator and the condenser. The ventilation assembly is connected directly to the radiator, and the condenser is directly connected to the ventilation assembly and/or the radiator such that it is separately detachable and extractable, and possibly mountable again, leaving the ventilation assembly and the radiator in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Gate S.R.L
    Inventors: Bruno Grasso, Carlo Canuto
  • Patent number: 9500413
    Abstract: A thermosiphon system includes a condenser, an evaporator including a housing and a wick located in the housing, and a condensate line fluidically coupling the condenser to the evaporator. The condensate line includes an outer tube and an inner tube nested within the outer tube. A first passage defined by the inner tube is positioned to carry a liquid phase of a working fluid from the condenser to the evaporator, and a second passage defined by a volume between the inner tube and the outer tube is positioned to carry a vapor phase of the working fluid from the evaporator to the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Rice
  • Patent number: 9476609
    Abstract: A water separator and system includes a compressed air aftercooler and water/moisture separator with a demister core comprising a plurality of offset fins. In one embodiment, the compressed air aftercooler comprises a compressed air core having an aftercooler inlet, an aftercooler outlet at the bottom of the compressed air core, and one or more heat transfer passages. In one aspect, the system comprises a moisture separator substantially integral to the aftercooler. In another aspect, the system includes a first generally horizontal region beneath and adjacent to the aftercooler outlet; and an expansion zone adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first region, the expansion zone being configured to reduce the horizontal velocity of compressed air passing therethrough. In another aspect, the demister core is in fluid communication with the expansion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: API Heat Transfer Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J Galus, John Stromecki, Timothy Beechler
  • Patent number: 9476652
    Abstract: A thin heat pipe structure includes a pipe body and at least one wick structure. The pipe body has a vaporizing end internally defining a first chamber, and a condensing end internally defining a second chamber communicating with the first chamber. A space in the first chamber is smaller than that in the second chamber. The wick structure is provided in the first and the second chamber, such that at least one channel is defined in the pipe body by the wick structure and the first and second chambers. With the above arrangements, the pressure resistance in the pipe body at the condensing end is reduced to thereby enable upgraded vapor-liquid circulation efficiency of the working fluid in the pipe body and accordingly upgraded heat dissipation effect of the thin heat pipe structure. A method of forming the thin heat pipe structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 9459032
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and a refrigerant quantity determination method are provided, whereby a refrigerant quantity can be determined in a simple and accurate manner without compromising the reliability of a compressor. A refrigerant circuit (10) has a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (23) that functions as a condenser, an indoor expansion valve (41, 51), an indoor heat exchanger (42, 52) that functions as an evaporator, an indoor unit interconnection pipe (4b, 5b), a liquid refrigerant connection pipe (6), a gas refrigerant connection pipe (7), and an outdoor unit interconnection pipe (8). A controller (9) performs liquefaction control for liquefying refrigerant and placing the refrigerant in a portion extending from the indoor expansion valve (41, 51) to the outdoor heat exchanger (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Takahiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9459015
    Abstract: Methods for installing one or more heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units in an HVAC system include the steps of securing inlet and outlet piping assemblies of the HVAC unit to a bracket, coupling a thermal transfer mechanism of the HVAC unit with the inlet piping assembly and the outlet piping assembly, fluidly coupling a water pump with the thermal transfer mechanism, the inlet piping assembly, or the outlet piping assembly, mounting the HVAC unit by mounting the bracket to the HVAC system, and maintaining alignment of the HVAC unit thermal transfer mechanism, the HVAC unit inlet piping assembly, and the HVAC unit outlet piping assembly while mounting the HVAC unit in the HVAC system. An HVAC unit can include a thermal transfer mechanism, inlet and outlet piping assemblies, a water pump, and a bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: John Chris Karamanos, Douglas Edward Stuck
  • Patent number: 9455212
    Abstract: A loop heat pipe system includes a loop heat pipe (LHP), a temperature sensor, a heater and a controller. The temperature sensor measures temperature of a working fluid portion of the LHP in which the working fluid has different phases depending on whether or not the LHP is in a disable status not to start up a heat transportation, in which a liquid phase of the working fluid does not exist in an evaporator of the LHP. The heater heats a heating target part of a vapor line. The controller, in order to start up the LHP, turns on the heater, monitors temperature of the heating target part using the temperature sensor, and turns off the heater when detecting a change in the monitored temperature, caused by condensation of a vapor phase of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki Uchida, Takeshi Shioga, Shigenori Aoki, Susumu Ogata, Hideaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9454194
    Abstract: A heat dissipating module includes a heat dissipating member and an air flow guiding mechanism. The air flow guiding mechanism includes a base, an air guiding plate and a stopping structure. The base is disposed on a side of the heat dissipating member, and the air guiding plate is pivoted to the base. The stopping structure is disposed on the base. A side of the stopping structure abuts against the air guiding plate, so as to allow the air guiding plate to rotate in a first direction and to stop the air guiding plate from rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Shih-Huai Cho
  • Patent number: 9453693
    Abstract: The method of controlling the saturation level of a gaseous state fluid generated at an outlet of a gaseous state fluid generation system comprises measuring a reference parameter of the fluid other than the saturation level itself, with the reference parameter being representative of the saturation level, and selectively superheating the fluid as a response to the measured reference parameter until the reference parameter falls within an acceptable range of reference parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: MAXI-THERME INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Lach
  • Patent number: 9441582
    Abstract: A device for cooling fuel for an internal combustion engine, includes a heat pipe, which includes an evaporation zone and a condensation zone. To decrease the amount of gaseous hydrocarbons conducted into an activated carbon filter of a tank ventilation device of a tank of the internal combustion engine, and thereby avoid undesired bleed-emission or an enlargement of the activated carbon filer, the evaporation zone of the heat pipe is in thermal contact with fuel vapors, to condense part of the fuel vapors before the hydrocarbons contained therein can enter the activated carbon filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Harald Hagen
  • Patent number: 9441892
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for use with heavy equipment including a heat exchanger rotatable about a horizontal axis out of a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jared Jayson Lowe, Michael John Cocayne, Steven Richard Sass, Austin Edward Vize