Patents Examined by Travis Ruby
  • Patent number: 10006676
    Abstract: A temperature control device has a flow line (15) for supplying a consumer, connected to the flow line (15), with a liquid medium at a predetermined temperature. A return line (17) is connected to the consumer for returning at least one part of the liquid medium from the consumer to a mixing device (41). In a predefinable ratio, the liquid medium of the return line (17) is mixed in the mixing device with a storage medium provided in a tank (25). The mixing device has a mixing chamber (41) arranged below the filling level of the tank (25) with the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC COOLING GMBH
    Inventors: Artur Kraus, Juergen Hof
  • Patent number: 10006647
    Abstract: An air conditioning system may include an outdoor device disposed in an outdoor space, the outdoor device including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor devices disposed in an indoor space, the plurality of indoor devices including an indoor heat exchanger, and a distributor that distributes and introduces a refrigerant into the plurality of indoor devices. The outdoor device may include an outdoor branch branched into a plurality of refrigerant paths, a first outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a first heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, a second outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a second heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a bypass tube that extends from the outdoor branch to allow the refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby guiding the refrigerant to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Chiwoo Song, Kakjoong Kim
  • Patent number: 10006668
    Abstract: An underground heat exchange system is provided to reduce energy consumption for circulation of a heat transfer medium and reduce construction, management, and maintenance costs. The underground heat exchange system includes: a double-pipe heat exchanger that is buried underground to convert a heat transfer medium into a usable form; a medium collector that collects the heat transfer medium that has dispersed its heat via a heat consumption area to circulate the same to the ground heat exchanger; and a plurality of circulation loops. The medium collector includes first and second reservoirs that are arranged in two tiers: upper and lower, spaced apart from each other, an upstream pump is provided in a first circulation loop between the first and second reservoirs, and the second reservoir is placed higher than the first reservoir. The ground heat exchanger may enhance heat exchange efficiency by increasing the contact area and time between the ground and the heat transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SEOUL INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Byung Deok Yu, Hyunsoo Min, Junjin Jeon
  • Patent number: 10001304
    Abstract: In a heat medium relay unit, a drain pan is configured to have width and depth dimensions larger than dimensions of an outer shell of a heat medium relay unit main body. The outer shell includes side panels, upper frames, lower frames, and an upper end surface, the position of which is higher than those of upper end surfaces of the lower frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nishioka, Yuji Motomura, Daisuke Shimamoto, Osamu Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9983143
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Gemological Institute of America, Inc. (GIA)
    Inventors: Shane Elen, Matt Hall, Wuyi Wang
  • Patent number: 9976812
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an electrical heat source is disclosed. A heat exchanger has two principal sub-assemblies. A closed-loop fluid flow is provided through a second sub-assembly, disposed next to a heat source. An open-loop fluid flow is provided though a first sub-assembly in communication with a second sub-assembly. Each of the first and second sub-assemblies has a rotational element. The fluid flow entering the first sub-assembly rotates the first rotational element, and magnetic communication between the rotational elements causes movement of the second rotational element, thereby achieving fluid movement within the second sub-assembly. Operationally, the closed-loop sub-assembly removes heat from the heat source and transfers it to the open-loop sub-assembly for subsequent heat transfer in a downstream fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Maurice F. Holahan, Eric V. Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Michael R. Rasmussen, Arvind K. Sinha, Stephen M. Zins
  • Patent number: 9976819
    Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger orients the position of an inlet port at an angle offset from the position of the outlet port on the header body in order to simplify the plumbing of the header within a system. In one implementation of a header for a heat exchanger, the header forms a header cavity defined by an external wall and which is separated into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber by a dividing wall. An inlet port is defined within the external wall and is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber. Similarly, an outlet port is defined within the external wall and is in fluid communication with the outlet chamber. The inlet port is oriented on the external wall at an offset angle with respect to a position of the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: David B. Nibler, Emily R. Colomes, Peter M. Owenson
  • Patent number: 9969244
    Abstract: A vehicle air circulating system comprises a controller, an interior condition sensor attached to the controller, an instrument panel, and a deployable register assembly attached to the controller and pivotably attached to the instrument panel. The register assembly includes a first register and a second register and is movable between a closed position in which the first register is recessed within the instrument panel and is thus obstructed and an open position in which the first register is deployed. The second register remains unobstructed whether the register assembly is in its closed or open position. The deployable registers provide directional control for pull down conditions. Once the desired conditions are achieved, the deployable registers lower into the instrument panel and the other registers provide a larger opening to direct the air overhead at lower velocities keeping the vehicle cabin cool while not blowing in the direction of the occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James R. Hurd, Paul Bryan Hoke, Fred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 9956845
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system. An air conditioner and heater are operatively connected to a controller and control the temperature of the cabin area of a vehicle. A processor, operatively connected to the controller, determines the amount of time for an operator of the vehicle to travel between their location and the location of the vehicle. The processor determines an amount of time required to adjust the temperature of the cabin area of the vehicle to a selected temperature by using one of the air conditioner and the heater. The processor automatically operates one of the air conditioner and the heater to begin adjusting the temperature of the cabin area to the selected temperature when the amount of time required for the operator to travel between their location and the location of the vehicle is less than or equal to the amount of time required to adjust the temperature of the cabin area vehicle to the selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Charles S. Lingafelt, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9951994
    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: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SPX DRY COOLING USA LLC
    Inventors: Michel Vouche, Christophe Deleplanque, Fabien Fauconnier
  • Patent number: 9945617
    Abstract: Thermal ground planes, thermal ground plane structures, and methods of thermal energy management, are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure provide for thermal ground planes and/or thermal ground plane structures for both fully passive and active two-phase heat spreaders, as well as the cooling devices and thermal management methods enabled by these planes and/or structures that enable heat dissipation from one or more high heat flux domains followed by spreading the heat laterally over a large area achieving essentially the spatially isothermal plane, structure, system, or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventor: Andrei G. Fedorov
  • Patent number: 9945620
    Abstract: A room perimeter heating/cooling radiator with a non symmetrical elliptical transverse cross section, that utilizes low to medium temperature heat transfer fluid (generally water or water/glycol) in a new design with an enhanced ‘primary only’ heat transfer surface having an internal spiral or helix to circulate the water around the inside of the primary surface to enhance the heat transfer, and an internal conduit that provides both freeze damage protection and the ability to cross connect multiple identical radiators for increased efficiency. The primary intended location is within inches of the building windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Middleton Semmes
  • Patent number: 9938931
    Abstract: A surface cooler for turbomachines includes an inner layer and an outer layer disposed adjacent to the inner layer and including a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or a combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption. Further, the outer layer includes a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins are configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption, and wherein the plurality of fins includes metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Jonathan Glenn Luedke, Thomas Michael Tucker
  • Patent number: 9939207
    Abstract: A process is for the pre-conditioning of one or more latent heat storage elements in the case of which the temperature or the narrow temperature range of the phase transition defines a target temperature and the latent heat storage elements are heated up to the target temperature. The latent heat, storage elements are cooled to an initial temperature below the target temperature and this initial temperature is determined. The latent heat storage elements at the initial temperature are introduced into a thermally insulated container and the container is then closed. The interior of the closed container is, or has been, connected to a heating device of which the thermal output which takes effect in the interior of the closed container is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: VA-Q-TEC AG
    Inventors: Joachim Kuhn, Fabian Eschenbach, Martin Heinemann
  • Patent number: 9933170
    Abstract: A water-cooled split air conditioning system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a plurality of connecting hoses. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor housing and a water cooling unit. The water cooling unit includes a pumping device, a top water collection basin, a fill material unit provided underneath the top water collection basin, a bottom water collection basin provided underneath the fill material unit, and a plurality of heat exchanging pipes provided in the bottom water collection basin and immersed in the cooling water. The cooling water collected in the bottom water collection tank is arranged to be guided to flow back into the top water collection basin. A predetermined amount of refrigerant is arranged to flow through the heat exchanging pipes to perform highly efficient heat exchanging process with the cooling water for lowering a temperature of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Lee Wa Wong
  • Patent number: 9924639
    Abstract: The temperature control structure for indoor gardens is a temperature controlled space that protects plants from heat stress. The temperature control structure for indoor gardens is a water cooled structure. A plurality of fans are also provided to provide air flow through the structure. The temperature control structure for indoor gardens comprises a cooling structure and a basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Chandler A. Arrighi
  • Patent number: 9920996
    Abstract: The system and method of controlling a level of flooding to remain substantially constant within a flooded heat exchanger wherein steam flows into a steam side and condenses to form condensate that partly floods the steam side and that flows out of the steam side, and wherein cold water flows into a water side in heat exchange relationship with the steam side to heat the cold water and form heated water that flows out of the water side, comprises collecting the water condensate flowing out of the heat exchanger condensate outlet into a level controller through a controller condensate inlet; connecting the level controller to a steam source having a pressure equivalent to that of the heat exchanger steam side; and controlling the level of condensate in the level controller to remain substantially constant with a controller valve that allows condensate to be exhausted out through a controller condensate outlet if the level of the condensate in the level controller rises beyond a valve activation threshold where
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAXI-THERME INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Lach
  • Patent number: 9920940
    Abstract: A rotary wheel assembly is configured for use with a system for conditioning air to be supplied to an enclosed structure. The rotary wheel is configured to be positioned within a supply air stream and an exhaust air stream. The assembly includes a cassette frame, a wheel rotatably secured within the cassette frame, and a self-adjusting seal subassembly configured to maintain sealing engagement with respect to a surface of the wheel. The self-adjusting seal subassembly includes at least one seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Norman Erb, Manfred Gerber, Maury Brad Wawryk, David Martin Wintemute, Paul Lorenzo Pieper
  • Patent number: 9920939
    Abstract: The dehumidifier uses an all-plastic air-to-air heat exchanger together with an integral chiller to cool the incoming air to remove water vapor, and then exchange heat with incoming air to cool the incoming air and re-heat the outgoing air. The degree of dehumidification and the temperature of the outgoing air can be controlled by varying the speed of a variable speed fan so as to provide varying degrees of cooling as well as dehumidification. A programmable controller can be used to operate the dehumidifier automatically, either together with a humidistat and thermostat, or in accordance with a predetermined time profile for the conditioned space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 9920530
    Abstract: Light-weight, heat-managing structures feature open-cell lattice, honeycomb, and/or corrugated (prismatic) arrangements in their substructures, combined with heat pipe/heat plate arrangements for managing heat to which the structures are subjected. The structures are well suited to aerospace applications and may be employed in the leading edge of wings or other airfoil-shaped components; gas turbine engine components; rocket nozzles; and other high-heat, high-stress environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Haydn N. G. Wadley, Douglas T. Queheillalt