Patents Examined by William E. Tapoical
  • Patent number: 6321551
    Abstract: An indoor ice rink facility is provided with a dehumidifier coil connected with the ice rink refrigeration coils in a secondary refrigerant loop and a reheat coil coupled with the primary refrigerant loop for maintain the ice sheet and controlling the humidity of the facility in a single system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas J. Backman, James F. Roomsburg
  • Patent number: 6123266
    Abstract: An outdoor battery cabinet is formed to include a cooling system to extend the life of the housed batteries. The cooling system comprises a ventilation system including an air intake unit, an exhaust unit and a thermostat control. The interior surface of the cabinet is covered with a layer of insulative material. The ventilation system is configured to turn "on" when the outdoor temperature drops below the interior cabinet temperature, thereby cooling the housed batteries. Once the outdoor temperature rises above the cabinet temperature, the ventilation system is turned "off" and the insulation in the cabinet functions to maintain the cooler ambient temperature within the cabinet. To minimize the effects of wind forcing air through the ventilation openings, the intake and exhaust louvers are located on the same side of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Dean Bainbridge, Carla Betro, Mayankkumar M. Dixit, Quang Duong, Mahesh B. Mistry, Stephen John Palaszewski, Chandrakant B. Patel
  • Patent number: 6122929
    Abstract: A tank of an accumulator is divided into an upper room and lower room by a dryer unit. The upper room is divided into a right upper divided room located at a refrigerant inlet side and a left upper divided room located at a refrigerant outlet side by a separating wall formed with the dryer unit. The right and left upper divided rooms communicate with each other through a plurality of apertures that are provided in the separating wall. Further, an oil returning tube is integrally formed with the dryer unit, and a filter is provided in the dryer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6119470
    Abstract: A freezing tank for making ice cream includes an outer tank that has a first enclosing tank wall with a first open end, and an inner tank that is placed in the outer tank through the first open end and that has a second open end surrounded by the first open end. The inner tank has a second enclosing tank wall received in the first enclosing tank wall. The first and second enclosing tank walls confine a cooling chamber for receiving a freezing fluid therein. The second open end is jointed to the first open end in a fluid-tight relationship to prevent leakage of the freezing fluid. Pressurized fluid can enter into the cooling chamber via a first hole that is communicated with the cooling chamber and that allows for insertion of a pressurizing device. A pressure detecting device can be mounted to the first enclosing tank wall to detect a decreased pressure representative of existence of a leakage via a second hole formed in the first enclosing tank wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Hank Chiang
  • Patent number: 6018951
    Abstract: A refrigerating and shipping container for refrigerated goods, whereby said container is made heat-insulated, with a door or a cover and with a refrigeration supply. According to the invention, a wall of the container has an indentation into which a cold finger of a refrigeration supply fits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Horst Rudiger
  • Patent number: 5894734
    Abstract: A water-circulating type ice maker of the present invention comprises a refrigerating capacity detecting means for detecting the refrigerating capacity of the ice maker at a set temperature, which is slightly above the temperature where the ice-making water starts to freeze in the state of partial ice, and an ice-making plate temperature lowering means for lowering the temperature of the ice-making plate as a counter measure against partial ice generation so that the ice-making plate temperature lowering means starts operating when the refrigerating capacity detected by the refrigerating capacity detecting means is lower than a predetermined capacity. The comparison of the refrigerating capacity detected by the refrigerating capacity detecting means and the predetermined capacity can be made by detecting the high side pressure, the low side pressure, the condensing temperature or the evaporating temperature when the ice-making water reaches the set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Morishita, Masahide Yatori
  • Patent number: 5890375
    Abstract: An evaporator (10), e.g. in a domestic refrigerator, for refrigerating air in a space for goods, which space is confined against ambient atmosphere (14) by a wall (16), is constituted by a tubular element (18), through which a refrigerant flows from a capillary pipe (20), which is connected to the element at a joint (28) at one end of the element. The element (18) comprises an inner tube (24), through which the refrigerant flows, outside which inner tube an outer tube (26) is arranged, the outer tube (26) extending through the wall (16) and the joint (28) being arranged between the capillary pipe (20) and the inner tube (24) inside the wall (16) in a chamber (38) formed in the outer tube (26). A sealing means (36) arranged between the capillary tube (26) prevents humidity of the ambient atmosphere (14) from forcing its way into the chamber (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Mauri St.ang.hl, Per Wedby
  • Patent number: 5860591
    Abstract: Energy exchanger, valve (8) with thermostat valve (12), a housing (9) with inlet (15) and outlet (16), a thermostat bellows displaceable spindle (42) with a seal (32) which, against the pressure of a spring (43) surrounding the spindle (42), closes/opens an opening (28) in a transverse wall (29) in the housing (9) between the inlet (15) and the outlet (16), and a membrane (17, 21) controlled by the differential pressure for the control of an energy-carrying medium between the inlet (15) and the outlet (16), and an adjustable closing element (11) between the inlet (15) and the membrane (17, 21), the thermostat valve (12) being able to shut off the flow between the inlet (15) and the outlet (16) independently of the closing element (11). With the valve (8), only a predetermined maximum amount of the medium flows through the energy exchangers (5). If the differential pressure increases upon the closing of one or more valves on a pipe length, the flow in the individual energy exchanger (5) is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Frese Armatur A/S
    Inventors: Hans Henrik Gylov, Ole Joergensen, Carsten Moeller
  • Patent number: 5836168
    Abstract: An automatic ice production apparatus and a method thereof, comprising an ice removing motor rotation control function, an ice removing motor protection function, a water supply alarm/indication function, a water supply state control function and a water supply motor control function. To perform the above functions, the automatic ice production apparatus comprises an ice removing motor rotation controller for controlling a rotating operation of an ice removing motor, a water supply motor rotation controller for controlling operation of a water supply motor, a water supply state controller for controlling the supply of the water pumped by the water supply motor to the automatic ice production apparatus and a dispenser, a water level detector for detecting the level of water in a water supply tank, an alarm generator for generating an alarm in response to the water level detected by the water level detector, and a microcomputer for controlling the entire operation of the automatic ice production apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Bin Lee
  • Patent number: 5826437
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a door duct installed inside a door and being formed with a cool air suction port and many cool air discharge ports which are opened at an inner surface of the door, and a blowing fan installed at the cool air suction port for supplying cool air in a fresh food compartment into the door duct. The cool air in the fresh food compartment is directed toward the door by the blowing fan, so the cool air is uniformly distributed in the fresh food compartment. Furthermore, the cool air drawn into the door duct is supplied into pockets formed inner side surface of the door through the cool air discharge port, so the inner space of the pockets are effectively cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-Kwan Kim
  • Patent number: 5806761
    Abstract: In a combination faucet device (10) according to the invention, a movable valve member (160) slidingly moves relative to a main casing (30) to change a mixing ratio of high-temperature water supplied from a hot water port (116) to low-temperature water supplied from a cold water port (106). The movable valve member (160) is pressed by a temperature sensitive spring (130) in a first direction while being pressed by a bias spring (150) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The temperature sensitive spring (130) is exposed to a water mixture and varies its spring constant according to the temperature of the water mixture. The temperature sensitive spring (130) accordingly moves the movable valve member (160) in a direction for decreasing the ratio of the high-temperature water to a certain position where the spring force of the temperature sensitive spring (130) balances with the spring force of the bias spring (150), thus allowing a water mixture adjusted to a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Enoki, Osamu Tokunaga, Setsuo Ito, Masaaki Itoh, Hirofumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5775118
    Abstract: A noise-absorbing member is attached on a surface of a dashboard at a passenger compartment side of a vehicle. A diaphragm case member of a temperature sensitive element portion of an expansion valve is disposed near the noise-absorbing member to face the noise-absorbing member. Thus, when noise due to a vibration of a valve body of a valve body mechanism portion of the expansion valve is transmitted to a diaphragm for operating the valve body and is further transmitted to the diaphragm case member, the noise transmitted from the diaphragm case member can be effectively reduced by the noise-absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Endo
  • Patent number: 5768899
    Abstract: An automatic ice maker includes an ice-making tray rotatable between an upright ice-making position, and an inverted ice-discharging position. A container disposed beneath the tray receives the discharged ice. A cam wheel rotates with the tray and includes first and second cams that actuate first and second switches, respectively. A controller connected to the switches determines the position of the tray on the basis of the states of the switches. A lever detects whether the container is full of ice. When the container is full, the lever actuates the second switch in order to prevent further ice-making operations, regardless of the orientation of the first and second cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun Il Lee, Jae Eok Shim
  • Patent number: 5765743
    Abstract: An outdoor installation type cabinet which accommodates electronic equipment has a number of thin tubes which form an outside air passage and outside air is allowed to flow in the outside air passage by operating an external fan. A heat exchanger which is spaced from each wall of the cabinet is provided at a midway portion of the outside air passage to perform heat exchange between the outside air flowing in the outside air passage and inside air present in the equipment accommodating portion. A circulating fan is installed in the equipment accommodating portion to circulate the inside air. A bimetal is mounted on each side wall of the cabinet to detect a temperature of each side wall and control operations of the external fan, the circulating fan, and an internal fan according to the temperature detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Jun Sakiura, Yasushi Kojima, Naoya Yamazaki, Kazuhiro Iino, Motoko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5765490
    Abstract: Process for heating a hollow needle (2) consisting essentially of a metal tube (3), the inside and/or outside of which have previously been brought into contact with a contaminating medium, according to which an electric current is supplied to the said needle, flowing in the metal wall and over the length of the said tube (3) and dissipating thermal energy therein through the ohmic effect, characterized in that a predetermined quantity of electrical energy is supplied to the said needle (2), metered as a function of the electrical characteristics of the said tube (3), on the one hand to suffice for decontamination of the needle, both inside and outside, and on the other hand to limit the heating and preserve the integrity, including the original shape, of the said needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Bio Merieux
    Inventors: Bruno Colin, Genevieve Bossy
  • Patent number: 5765391
    Abstract: A refrigerant circulation apparatus utilizing two evaporators operating at respectively different evaporating temperatures which is capable of efficient refrigerant circulation by performing a heat exchange by contact between a refrigerant pipe guiding refrigerant discharged from a condenser to an evaporator and a refrigerant pipe guiding refrigerant discharged from the evaporator to a compressor in order to enhance the refrigerating ability when an evaporator is operated at a high evaporating temperature and pressure, includes a compressor, a condenser, a plurality of evaporators operating at different respective evaporating temperatures, a first plurality of refrigerant pipes for guiding the refrigerant discharged from the condenser to the plurality of evaporators, and a second plurality of refrigerant pipes predetermined portions of which are in heat exchanging contact with the first plurality of refrigerant pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Gye Young Song
  • Patent number: 5746271
    Abstract: A doghouse having an heating and air conditioning unit installed therein with insulated walls, an insulated roof, hinges connecting the roof on one of its sides to the upright walls for easy access by the pet owner to the controls of the heating and air conditioning unit. The present invention also has a flexible door covering with laterally overlapping parallel strips that are made from a heavy material so as to be minimally affected by tangling and frequent wind interaction. The strips are vertically hung from the upper part of the door opening to allow pets freedom of access in and out of the doghouse, while at the same time retaining the major portion of the climate controlled air within the insulated walls and roof of the doghouse during pet use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel J. DeCosta
  • Patent number: 5735133
    Abstract: Uncomfortable air temperatures in an air conditioned vehicle immediately following start up of the air conditioning system or when the air conditioning system compressor is being driven at low speeds are avoided in a cooling system including a blower (22) for blowing air into a compartment (10). An air/liquid heat exchanger (30) is located at the outlet (34) of the blower (22) for cooling air received from the blower (22). The system includes a compressor (50), an expansion device (58), a condenser (54) and a liquid/refrigerant evaporator (64) for expanding refrigerant and cooling a liquid coolant which is circulated through a thermal storage device (92) and the heat exchanger (30) by a pump (86). Upon system start up, or when the compressor (50) is being driven at low speed, the coolant is cooled by the thermal storage device (92) to provide a means of cooling air from the blower (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark G. Voss, Alan P. Meissner, Joseph R. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5713211
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using certain hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) as low temperature heat transfer media in secondary loop refrigeration systems. These materials exhibit a low, somewhat linear Temperature Difference Factor over the temperature range of -15.degree. C. to -65.degree. C., making them ideal for use as low temperature heat transfer media. The HFEs of the present invention are nonflammable, nontoxic, environmentally benign, and have a high heat transfer capacity and low viscosity over the required operating temperatures. Furthermore, since these materials have high boiling points and low freezing points, they are not prone to phase changes over the required operating temperatures, and do not require pressurized systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory J. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 5678420
    Abstract: A waste incineration heat conversion system has an incinerator for burning waste discharged from an installation, a heat recovering section for recovering the heat generated by combustion of the waste in the incinerator, a cold generating section for generating cold by utilizing the thus recovered heat, and a pipe line for conveying the thus generated cold to the installation so that the thus conveyed cold is utilized in the installation for a purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiko Fukushima, Yasuo Koseki, Akinobu Hayashi, Ryuichi Kaji