Patents Examined by Travis Ruby
  • Thermosiphon systems with nested tubes
    Patent number: 9713291
    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: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Rice
  • Exhaust heat recovery device
    Patent number: 9702292
    Abstract: In an exhaust heat recovery device, exhaust gas flows out from a heat exchange outflow port into a heat exchange passage. The exhaust gas having flowed out into the heat exchange passage flows in a radial direction from an inner side to an outer side of a heat exchanger to reach a second heat exchange passage from a first heat exchange passage. A heat exchange is performed in the heat exchanger while the exhaust gas flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Arata Kobayashi, Hirohisa Okami
  • System and method for a switchable heat sink
    Patent number: 9704773
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively dissipating thermal energy are provided. The system includes a heat-generating structure, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, and a heat transfer element. The heat-generating structure generates thermal energy. The first heat sink is in thermal communication with the heat-generating structure. The heat transfer element is configured to be selectively positioned between the first heat sink and the second heat sink to establish a path for the transfer of thermal energy between the first heat sink and the second heat sink. Upon positioning the heat transfer element between the first heat sink and the second heat sink, at least a portion of the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure is allowed to travel through the first heat sink and through the heat transfer element to the second heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederick B. Koehler, Douglas M. Beard
  • Temperature controlled loadlock chamber
    Patent number: 9698030
    Abstract: A temperature controlled loadlock chamber for use in semiconductor processing is provided. The temperature controlled loadlock chamber may include one or more of an adjustable fluid pump, mass flow controller, one or more temperature sensors, and a controller. The adjustable fluid pump provides fluid having a predetermined temperature to a temperature-controlled plate. The mass flow controller provides gas flow into the chamber that may also aid in maintaining a desired temperature. Additionally, one or more temperature sensors may be combined with the adjustable fluid pump and/or the mass flow controller to provide feedback and to provide a greater control over the temperature. A controller may be added to control the adjustable fluid pump and the mass flow controller based upon temperature readings from the one or more temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Lin, Jyh-Cherng Sheu, Ming-Feng Yoo, Kewei Zuo
  • Device and method for minimizing the effect of ambient conditions on the operation of a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 9689630
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for cooling liquid includes a generally rectangular arrangement of a plurality of horizontally spaced finned tube arrays arranged above the ground, the arrangement having longer sides extending in a length direction and shorter sides extending in a width direction. A plurality of fans are provided above the finned tube arrays for inducing air through the finned tube arrays, wherein at least two of said fans are mutually spaced in the width direction. At least one wind deflector is provided adjacent one of the longer sides, wherein the at least one wind deflector is installed on the ground separately from any of the plurality of finned tube arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uriyel Fisher
  • Layered thermal store with selectively alterable gas flow path
    Patent number: 9658004
    Abstract: Heat storage apparatus comprising at least one thermal store (300) comprising a chamber (301) having a gas inlet (306), a gas outlet (307), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media (303) disposed therebetween, the apparatus being configured such that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the chamber (301) from inlet (306) to outlet (307) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (303) can be selectively altered in response to the progress of the thermal transfer, thereby enabling the flow path to bypass inactive upstream or downstream regions of the storage media where thermal transfer is complete or minimal, so as to minimize the pressure drop across the storage media. A baffle system (305) in a main flow passageway (312) may be used to control the gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Energy Technologies Institute LLP
    Inventors: Jonathan Sebastian Howes, James Macnaghten, Rowland Geoffrey Hunt
  • Apparatus and method for adjusting coolant flow resistance through liquid-cooled electronics rack(s)
    Patent number: 9655282
    Abstract: A method is presented for adjusting coolant flow resistance through one or more liquid-cooled electronics racks. Flow restrictors are employed in association with multiple heat exchange tube sections of a heat exchange assembly, or in association with a plurality of coolant supply lines or coolant return lines feeding multiple heat exchange assemblies. Flow restrictors associated with respective heat exchange tube sections (or respective heat exchange assemblies) are disposed at the coolant channel inlet or coolant channel outlet of the tube sections (or of the heat exchange assemblies). These flow restrictors tailor coolant flow resistance through the heat exchange tube sections or through the heat exchange assemblies to enhance overall heat transfer within the tube sections or across heat exchange assemblies by tailoring coolant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wayne A. Barringer, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, James J. Steffes, Gerard V. Weber, Jr.
  • Device and method for minimizing the effect of ambient conditions on the operation of a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 9651269
    Abstract: A method of minimizing the effect of wind on a heat exchanger system includes setting the pivot angle of a wind deflector to an initial angle; collecting and recording a current reading of one of an outlet temperature sensor, a wind speed sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, or a heat exchanger inlet air pressure sensor; comparing the current reading of the sensor to a previous reading; and changing the pivot angle of the wind deflector from an initial angle when the current sensor reading is changed from the previous reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Multi-circuited vehicular thermal management system and method
    Patent number: 9631872
    Abstract: A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Bryan M. Styles, Mark D. Nemesh
  • Induction displacement air handling unit
    Patent number: 9625166
    Abstract: An induction displacement unit is disclosed that includes an induction plenum having first nozzles communicating with a first discharge plenum and second nozzles communicating with a second discharge plenum, a return air plenum and a heating coil disposed between the return air plenum and the first discharge plenum. In addition, the induction displacement unit has a cooling coil disposed between the return air plenum and the second discharge plenum, where the induction plenum is vertically disposed between the heating coil and the cooling coil. The heating coil is disposed in an upper portion of the unit. The first discharge plenum is disposed to induce a substantially vertical discharge, and the second discharge plenum disposed to induce a substantially horizontal discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Joachim Hirsch, Meghna Parikh, Brian J. Graham
  • Cooling concept for fuel cell emergency power supply
    Patent number: 9623973
    Abstract: A system is provided for cooling a heat-dissipating device in a vehicle with a fuselage, a passenger cabin, and a region pneumatically communicating with the previously mentioned, which region is situated outside the passenger cabin. At least one heat exchanger is provided for transferring heat of the heat-dissipating device to air, and at least one air conveying device for conveying air through the heat exchanger. The air conveying device is designed to convey air from the passenger cabin to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is designed to subject the inflowing air to heat of the heat-dissipating device and to dissipate it to the region situated outside the passenger cabin, thus inducing mixing of the air that has been subjected to heat with the air present in the outside region, and inducing a return flow from the outside region to the passenger cabin by way of their pneumatic connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Baker Al-Ali
  • Chilled beam pump module, system, and method
    Patent number: 9625222
    Abstract: Chilled-beam zone pump modules for controlling zones of a chilled-beam heating and air conditioning system, multiple-zone chilled beam air conditioning systems for cooling multiple-zone spaces, and methods of controlling chilled beams in multi-zone air conditioning systems. Embodiments include a pump serving each zone that both recirculates water within the module and chilled beam and circulates water in and out of a chilled or warm water distribution system through valves to control the temperature of the water delivered to the chilled beams. Different embodiments provide heating as well as cooling, use check valves to reduce the number of control valves required, adjust the temperature of the beam to avoid condensation, change pump speed to save energy or increase capacity, can be used in two- or four-pipe systems, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SEMCO LLC
    Inventors: John C. Fischer, Kirk T. Mescher, Richard K. Mitchell, Stephen P. Glen, Steven S. Carroll
  • Arrangement and method for automatically determined time constant for a control device
    Patent number: 9612030
    Abstract: A method includes a step of obtaining in a processing circuit a sequence of elements between a first device and a supply air temperature sensor of an air handling unit. The processing circuit also obtains an estimate for time constants associated with each element of the sequence. The processing circuit adds the time constants to obtain a process time constant estimate. The method further includes controlling a device based at least in part on the process time constant estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL CBYERNATION GROUP INC.
    Inventors: George Shu-Xing Cheng, Osman Ahmed, William Thomas Pienta
  • Device and method for minimizing the effect of ambient conditions on the operation of a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 9587842
    Abstract: For minimizing the effect of wind on a heat exchanger system having a plurality of finned tube arrays and a plurality of fans, a method includes providing a wind louver below one of the fans. The wind louver is arranged to divert wind flowing in an approximately horizontal direction below the one of the plurality of fans to instead flow in a direction that is more vertically upward as compared to the approximately horizontal direction. Readings of a heat exchanger outlet temperature, ambient temperature, wind, and inlet air pressure are collected and recorded, and compared to previous readings. The louver height is changed if the readings have changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uriyel Fisher
  • Double-shaft damper assembly for vehicle air conditioning apparatus
    Patent number: 9566843
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning apparatus in which a plurality of air mixing dampers that are driven independently of each other have a drive shaft having a double-shaft structure. A hollow drive shaft of one damper is penetrated by a solid drive shaft of another damper. A first shaft-center immobilizing mechanism that secures a shaft center of the hollow drive shaft is provided between a side surface of the unit casing, to which the drive shaft having the double-shaft structure is supported in a freely rotatable manner. And a gear provided at a shaft end of the hollow drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Yamashita, Isami Yoneda, Takahiro Sasaki, Junichiro Hara
  • System and method for storing thermal energy
    Patent number: 9557079
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage system includes a container positioned within a surrounding body of water and comprising a container wall. The wall has an interior surface exposed to and defining an internal volume of the container and has an exterior surface opposite the interior surface and exposed to the surrounding body of water. The internal volume is substantially full of water, and the container is configured to thermally separate water within the internal volume along the interior surface from water of the surrounding body of water along the exterior surface. A thermal source in thermal communication with the water within the internal volume is configured to transfer a thermal potential to the water within the internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
    Inventors: Brian Von Herzen, Scott Raymond Frazier
  • Modular air cooled condenser apparatus and method
    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
  • High definition heater system having a fluid medium
    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
  • Microtruss based thermal heat spreading structures
    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
  • Assembly for plugging a tube
    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