Patents Examined by Travis Ruby
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Patent number: 10072867Abstract: An air-conditioning control system, which controls a central-type air-conditioning system, includes a plurality of auxiliary controllers respectively set in a plurality of areas and a main controller capable of communicating with each auxiliary controller. Each auxiliary controller includes a sound wave receiving unit, which receive sound waves that are outputted from a portable apparatus capable of outputting sound waves, and a sound wave strength information transmitting unit which transmits, to the main controller, sound wave strength information indicating sound wave reception strength. By the main controller, a first operating mode is set for at least a single area in which the auxiliary controller of a transmission source for specific sound wave strength information, which indicates a sound wave strength that is a predetermined threshold or higher is set, and a second operating mode is set for at least one of the remaining areas.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATEDInventors: Taku Isono, Takahiro Miyajima
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Patent number: 10060688Abstract: A boiler system includes a boiler having at least one heat exchanger having a surface on which a deposit may form. The boiler system further includes at least one retractable sootblower having a lance tube for carrying a high pressure fluid into the boiler. The lance tube is configured such that the high pressure fluid impacts the heat exchanger surface to effect a vibration thereof. The boiler system also includes at least one vibration measuring device coupled to the boiler system. The vibration measuring device is configured to measure the vibration of the heat exchanger surface, and the measured vibration indicates presence or absence of the deposit on the heat exchanger surface. The vibration measuring device may optionally detect a vibration caused by the release of the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger or the impact of the released deposit with a surface in the boiler system.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Integrated Test & Measurement (ITM)Inventor: Timothy M. Carlier
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Patent number: 10060638Abstract: Multiple-zone chilled beam air conditioning systems for cooling multiple-zone spaces, methods of controlling chilled beams in multi-zone air conditioning systems, and chilled-beam pump modules for controlling zones of a chilled-beam heating and air conditioning system. 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 water distribution system through one or more valves to control the temperature of the water delivered to the chilled beams. Different embodiments adjust the temperature of the beam to avoid condensation, change pump speed to save energy or increase capacity, provide heating as well as cooling, use check valves to reduce the number of control valves required, can be used in two- or four-pipe systems, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: SEMCO LLCInventors: John C. Fischer, Kirk T. Mescher, Richard K. Mitchell, Stephen P. Glen, Steven S. Carroll
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Patent number: 10054473Abstract: An airflow sensor for a heat sink has a substantially flat base portion and a deformable upper portion electrically coupled to the base portion that contacts a conductive strip. As airflow increases, the deformable upper portion deforms and moves away from the source of airflow, which moves the point of contact between the deformable upper portion and the conductive strip farther away from the source of the airflow. The difference in the point of contact is measured, and is used to characterize the airflow sensor for different airflows. Data from the airflow sensor can then be logged during system operation. When needed, the data from the airflow sensor can be read from the log and converted to airflow using the airflow sensor characterization data. In this manner the airflow through a heat sink may be dynamically measured, allowing analysis and correlation between system events and airflow through the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Anderl, Bret P. Elison, Phillip V. Mann, Chelsie M. Peterson
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Patent number: 10054318Abstract: The heat medium transport paths are arranged between the first building and the second building and transport heat media that transport heat energy. A temperature distribution acquisition means acquires the temperature distribution of the heat media that have temperatures being different from each other in the heat medium transport paths and that are sequentially transported in a state of having a predetermined length in the transport direction in the heat medium transport paths. A control means receives a load request of an air conditioner of the first building, and when a heat medium having the heat energy that satisfies the load request received reaches the first building, based on the temperature distribution acquired by the temperature distribution acquisition means, the control means causes the air conditioner of the first building to take out the heat energy from the heat medium reached.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignees: OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITYInventors: Masaki Nakao, Masatoshi Nishioka, Craig Farnham, Tsuyoshi Nagahiro, Youichi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10058008Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature control system having adjacently-installed temperature equalizer and heat transfer fluid and application device thereof, in which one or more adjacently-installed temperature equalizer formed with a heat transferring adjacent surface is provided, a fluid channel thereof is utilized for allowing a heat transfer fluid to pass thereby enabling to perform temperature equalizing heat transfer with the external surface and/or the internal surface of an object (103) disposed to the adjacent surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
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Patent number: 10046617Abstract: A traction battery thermal management system is provided. The thermal management system includes a battery loop for regulating the traction battery temperature. A motor loop is provided for regulating a motor temperature. The thermal management system also includes a radiator. A radiator valve selectively controls fluid flow through the radiator. A battery valve selectively couples the battery loop and the motor loops. The battery loop, the motor loop are in fluid communication and arranged in parallel to be cooled by the radiator.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark G. Smith, William Samuel Schwartz, Kenneth J. Jackson, David Fabricatore
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Patent number: 10041745Abstract: A heatsink comprising a heat exchange device having a plurality of heat exchange elements each having a surface boundary with respect to a heat transfer fluid, having successive elements or regions varying according to a fractal relationship. According to one embodiment, a noise spectrum due to fluid flow is wideband. According to another embodiment, surface boundary layers are disrupted to increase heat transfer. Flow-induced vortices may be generated at non-corresponding locations of the plurality of fractally varying heat exchange elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: FRACTAL HEATSINK TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventor: Alexander Poltorak
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Patent number: 10029557Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) cooling system includes an engine cooling circuit configured to cool an engine by circulation of coolant cooled by an engine heat exchanger using an engine water pump. An engine reservoir tank is configured to temporarily store the coolant cooled by the engine heat exchanger and replenish insufficient coolant. An HEV cooling circuit is configured to cool an inverter and motor by circulation of coolant cooled by an HEV heat exchanger using an HEV water pump. An HEV reservoir tank is configured to temporarily store the coolant cooled by the HEV heat exchanger and replenish insufficient coolant. A connector (30) configured to intermittently connect the engine cooling circuit to the HEV cooling circuit. An engine coolant amount detection sensor and an HEV coolant amount detection sensor are respectively configured to detect amounts of the coolant stored in the engine and HEV reservoir tanks.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Kyung-Su Han
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Patent number: 10006676Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: HYDAC COOLING GMBHInventors: Artur Kraus, Juergen Hof
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Patent number: 10006668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SEOUL INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATIONInventors: Byung Deok Yu, Hyunsoo Min, Junjin Jeon
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Patent number: 10006647Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Chiwoo Song, Kakjoong Kim
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Patent number: 10001304Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Nishioka, Yuji Motomura, Daisuke Shimamoto, Osamu Morimoto
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Patent number: 9983143Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Gemological Institute of America, Inc. (GIA)Inventors: Shane Elen, Matt Hall, Wuyi Wang
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Patent number: 9976812Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Maurice F. Holahan, Eric V. Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Michael R. Rasmussen, Arvind K. Sinha, Stephen M. Zins
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Patent number: 9976819Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLCInventors: David B. Nibler, Emily R. Colomes, Peter M. Owenson
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Patent number: 9969244Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James R. Hurd, Paul Bryan Hoke, Fred Koberstein
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Patent number: 9956845Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Charles S. Lingafelt, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
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Patent number: 9951994Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: SPX DRY COOLING USA LLCInventors: Michel Vouche, Christophe Deleplanque, Fabien Fauconnier
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Patent number: 9945617Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventor: Andrei G. Fedorov