Patents Examined by Travis Ruby
  • Patent number: 7874499
    Abstract: A climate control system for a storage unit. The system includes a reverse cycle chiller; a fluid supply line in fluid communication with an outlet of the fluid side heat exchanger; a fluid return line in fluid communication with an inlet of the fluid side heat exchanger and the fluid supply line; at least one hydronic coil in optional fluid communication with the fluid supply line and the fluid return line, the at least one hydronic coil located in a room to be controlled; a controller in communication with the reverse cycle chiller and the at least one hydronic coil; an ambient temperature sensor in communication with the controller; an ambient humidity sensor in communication with the controller; a room temperature sensor in communication with the controller, the room temperature sensor positioned in the room; and a room humidity sensor in communication with the controller, the room humidity sensor positioned in the room. A method of controlling the climate in a storage unit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Store-N-Stuff LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Lochtefeld
  • Patent number: 7861538
    Abstract: A refrigerator apparatus includes a housing with an interior chamber, thermoelectric devices that are thermally coupled to the interior chamber, and dual redundant electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Welle, Siegfried W. Janson
  • Patent number: 7854138
    Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-unit air conditioning system adapted to cool or heat room spaces while passing a refrigerant in one direction or in a reverse direction is disclosed. In the method, which is applied to a multi-unit air conditioning system including at least three compressors, when a compressor re-operation is repeatedly carried out after all of the compressors have been turned off, to turn on again at least one of the compressors, repetition of the compressor re-operation is carried out for a predetermined number of different orders in such a manner that at least one of the compressors is turned on first in an associated order of the repeated compressor re-operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Il Nahm Hwang, Sung Oh Choi, Ho Jong Jeong, Seok Ho Yoon, Jin Ha Choi
  • Patent number: 7850088
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thermostatic water mixing valve having a sub-base coupled to a base, both having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a mixed water outlet. A disk assembly including a lower or stationary disk and an upper or rotatable disk are positioned on the base. The lower disk also has a peripheral notch that receives an extent of an engaging member that extends from a sidewall of the base, while the upper disk has a peripheral cavity that also receives an extent of the engaging member. A cap is coupled to the upper disk, wherein the cap and the upper disk rotate as a unit with respect to the lower disk. The cap has a hot water cavity and cold water cavity positioned about a central opening. A cartridge assembly includes a collar with at least one aperture aligned with the cold water cavity of the cap and a depending skirt with at least one aperture aligned with the hot water cavity of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wu Wei, Keping Li
  • Patent number: 7836707
    Abstract: A method to detect and respond to a coil condition in an HVAC system. The method includes calculating an initial airflow restriction value and a current airflow restriction value, which are compared. If the current airflow restriction value is greater than a first sum including the initial airflow restriction value and a first restriction factor, then a coil condition is preliminarily determined to be freezing and cooling in the HVAC system is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Puranen, Rajendra K. Shah
  • Patent number: 7837127
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilation system for exchanging the air in a room with outside air, which system comprises: A fine wire heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel, which channels are in heat-exchanging contact with each other, and wherein the first channel has an inlet connected to outside air and an outlet connected to the air in the room, and wherein the second channel has an inlet connected to the air in the room and an outlet connected to the outside air; balancing means for balancing the flow in both channels, such that the heat transfer is maximized. The invention also relates to a combination of a façade, a room on the inside of and adjacent to the façade and a ventilation system, wherein the inlet of the first channel of the system is connected to outside air on the outside of the façade and the outlet is connected to the air in the room, and wherein the inlet of the second channel is connected to the air in the room and the outlet is connected to the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Kristinsson-Reitsema B.V., Fiwihex B.V.
    Inventors: Jon Kristinsson, Björn Kristinsson, Eleonoor Europeo Van Andel, Eleonoor Van Andel
  • Patent number: 7832466
    Abstract: A water supply system includes a main water tank and a sub-tank of smaller dimensions than the main tank for supplying hot and cold water for household use. The sub-tank is surrounded by a tubular coil of refrigerant in contact with the sub-tank, a layer of insulation and an outer wall for maintaining the insulation in place and protecting the tubular coil and sub-tank from being damaged. A water heater is disposed in or below a lower part of the tank and a three-way switch is provided for selecting heating or refrigeration during different seasons of the year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Abdullah Ahmad Al-Hashash
  • Patent number: 7832223
    Abstract: A controller area network based climate control system for a work machine, and a method of operation of the same, which advantageously and economically integrates into and utilizes the resources and capabilities of a CAN of a work machine, including, but not limited to, shared data from other systems of the machine, particularly engine data including engine operating speed and temperature, for controlling climate control system operation, as well as for troubleshooting and diagnosing problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Javaid Arshad, Patrick T. Hinke, Alan G. Leupold, Mark D. Klassen, Leonid Chernyavsky, Paul E. Wibbels
  • Patent number: 7823624
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a main heat exchange housing, a cooling air inlet line and a hot air inlet line to bring a cooling airflow and a hot airflow in the main housing. A heat pre-exchanger is disposed upstream from the main housing, the heat pre-exchanger being able to be crossed by the cooling airflow and the hot airflow prior to the main housing. The invention also relates to a propulsion unit and an aircraft comprising such a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Herve Marche
  • Patent number: 7823631
    Abstract: A constructional unit for a heat exchanging device that includes at least one housing in which a gaseous medium is at least partially guided on a predetermined path, an inlet device for the gaseous medium, at least one first heat exchanging device, at least one second heat exchanging device, at least one controller that influences the direction of flow of the gaseous medium in at least some sections and that can be adjusted to at least two different positions, and an outlet device for the gaseous medium. In at least one first position of the first controller, substantially no portions of the gaseous medium are guided through the first heat exchanging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventor: Pierre Tonnelier
  • Patent number: 7823397
    Abstract: A method for detecting a clogged state of a pipe of a heat pump type multi-air conditioner includes: detecting a temperature of a pipe of an arbitrary indoor heat exchanger among a plurality of indoor heat exchangers; detecting a pressure of a refrigerant sucked into an arbitrary outdoor unit among a plurality of outdoor units in case of performing an air-conditioning operation, and detecting a pressure of a refrigerant introduced into the arbitrary indoor heat exchanger after being discharged from an arbitrary outdoor unit among the plurality of outdoor units in case of performing a heating operation; and comparing a pressure corresponding to the detected temperature of the pipe and the detected pressure of the refrigerant and determining whether the pipe is clogged based on the comparison result. By detecting a clogged state of a pipe, the heat pump type multi-air conditioner is prevented from being damaged due to a clogged state of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Se-Dong Chang, Sung-Hwan Kim, Yoon-Been Lee, Baik-Young Chung
  • Patent number: 7819178
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioner includes a housing having a rear seat discharge passage for supplying mixed air to rear seats in a vehicle and a plurality of dividing ribs disposed in a face outlet which is open upwardly in the housing. Each of the dividing ribs has a communication path defined therein in the longitudinal direction thereof, the communication path being concave in confronting relation to the interior of the housing. Mixed air produced in a mixing portion in the housing is supplied from the face outlet to front seats in the vehicle. Part of the mixed air is supplied through the communication paths to the rear seat discharge passage, from which the mixed air is supplied to the rear seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Sawamukai, Shintaro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7802732
    Abstract: A device for temperature regulation of sections of the interior of an aircraft includes a controlled mixer valve for the mixing of engine bleed air and air that is cooler than the engine bleed air in order to obtain pre-tempered mixed air flowing out of the mixer valve; a distribution line connected to the outlet of the mixer valve which is connected to the respective sections by at least two supply lines; individual heating units assigned to the respective sections; sensors assigned to the individual sections for the respective actual temperatures; transmitters for the respective nominal temperatures; and a regulator unit which controls the mixer valve dependent upon the respective nominal temperatures and the respective actual temperatures in the individual areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Scherer, Torsten Schwan, Georg Mühlthaler, Jan Dittmar
  • Patent number: 7802733
    Abstract: A fluid delivery control system including a rotatable flow control member to provide a flow control signal to a controller and a rotatable temperature control member to provide a temperature control signal to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Randall Paul Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7798207
    Abstract: Cooled air introduced from an evaporator through a first passage in a housing is divided into laminar flows by a guide structure disposed on an air mixing door. The direction of flow of the cooled air is changed upwardly by guide walls of the guide structure and is further changed upwardly by first walls of the guide structure, after which the cooled air is introduced into a mixer. Heated air introduced from a heater core through a third passage is mixed with the cooled air in the mixer. The mixed air is delivered from a face discharge outlet, a defroster discharge outlet, or a foot discharge outlet into a passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Tarukawa
  • Patent number: 7797957
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for linearizing control of a commercial refrigeration system. In an embodiment of the invention, a controller is configured to receive a non-linear sensed suction pressure and convert the suction pressure to a linear temperature equivalent. The linear temperature equivalent is used by the controller to achieve efficient system operation over an entire range of operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Ted W. Sunderland
  • Patent number: 7793707
    Abstract: A fluid cooling device embodied as a modular unit includes a drive motor (10) driving a ventilation wheel (12) and a fluid pump (14) that supplies a first type of fluid into a fluid system, and leads to a heat exchanger (22) from which the fluid is redirected into the fluid system in a tempered manner. A second fluid pump (32) is used to extract a second type of fluid from the reservoir (30) and to supply the second type of fluid to a second fluid system, from which the second type of liquid is redirected towards the reservoir (30) in a guiding manner via the first heat exchanger (22) and the second heat exchanger (24). The second fluid pump enables different tempering operations to be carried out for separate fluid systems, using only one fluid cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hydac System GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Klein, Andreas Welsch
  • Patent number: 7788938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating a coolant circuit (2) of a vehicle air conditioning system (4). According to said method, a target value (SW(VT)) for an evaporator temperature (VT) is predetermined in a base control circuit. Said value is used to determine a control value (U) for controlling the evaporator temperature (VT) by means of an evaporator temperature regulator (16). Said control value is also fed to a ventilator fan controller (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Baruschke, Armin Britsch-Laudwein, Karl Lochmahr
  • Patent number: 7775450
    Abstract: An adjustable height housing enables a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) with a dial permitting manual control of bathtub shower water temperature to be vertically mounted in a horizontal bathtub deck. The housing can be installed on a narrow bathtub rim yet also accommodates substantial substrate thickness of bathtub decks where required. Manual adjustment of hot and cold ring stops is performed from the top-side using only a screwdriver to gain access. The housing includes a long threaded outer sleeve which extends from near the top deck surface to the thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) cartridge body housing below, thereby accommodating any deck thickness from a 1/16 inch thick stainless steel tub edge to a compound deck construction up to 2¾ inches thick. The rotatable temperature dial is coupled to a cap rotatable by the adjustment handle which, in turn, rotates an adjustable extension shaft within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Jerome Warshawsky
  • Patent number: 7770633
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plate-type heat exchanger in which a heat medium is sealed in a hollow part of an airtight structure formed in the interior of a plate-like container, and the heat medium is moved by capillary force from a condensing part to an evaporating part in the hollow part along heat-medium-guiding grooves formed in the container's inside surface portions that face the hollow part; wherein a plastic workable metal plate of specific thermal conductivity is prepared; a carving tool is used to repeatedly carve out a surface portion of the metal plate at specific intervals along the surface portion, forming a plurality of plate-like fins; and a plurality of grooves formed between these fins is used as heat-medium-guiding grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Nakamura Seisakusho Kabushikigaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Miyahara