Abstract: A method for air conditioning using a primary power source augmented with an ancillary power source which is accomplished by receiving a heat-laden first working fluid at an initial pressure; pre-pressurizing the heat-laden first working fluid to a pre-pressurization pressure according to an amount of available ancillary power; passing the pre-pressurized heat-laden first working fluid to a primary compressor when the pressure of the pre-pressurized heat-laden first working fluid is greater than the initial pressure; and passing the heat-laden first working fluid at the initial pressure, or at a pressure that is slightly less that the initial pressure, to the primary compressor when the pressure of the pre-pressurized heat-laden first working fluid is not greater than the initial pressure.
Abstract: A temperature sensitive resettable linear actuator includes a linear actuator housing and a support shaft. The support shaft has a first end portion configured for longitudinal movement within the linear actuator housing and a second end portion extending from the linear actuator housing. The support shaft is configured to translate between an extended position and a retracted position. A shape memory alloy device is positioned within the linear actuator housing and coupled to the support shaft for moving the support shaft from the extended position to the retracted position when the shape memory alloy device reaches a predetermined temperature.
Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for efficient elimination of door and frame condensation at widely utilized commercial freezer/refrigeration display cases. The apparatus includes a local controller unit connected with an array of case sensors including an internal case temperature sensor, an external case frame temperature sensor and a dew point sensor. The case frame temperature sensor and dew point sensor are housed to thermally isolate sensing elements thereof from effects of frame temperature changes and ambient air temperature in the vicinity of a sensing element, and to limit heat transfer by the housing to the sensing elements thereby improving sensing accuracy and apparatus performance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 20, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2008
Inventors:
Brent W. Murray, Patrick M. Bertsch, Robert A. Majzner
Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for a refrigerant-based thermal storage system wherein a condensing unit and an ice-tank heat exchanger can be isolated through a second heat exchanger. The disclosed embodiments provide a refrigerant-based ice storage system with increased reliability, lower cost components, and reduced power consumption compared to a single phase system such as a glycol system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2005
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2008
Assignee:
Ice Energy, Inc.
Inventors:
Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Robert R. Willis, Jr.
Abstract: A complex fluid machine has an expansion-compressor device, a pump, and a motor generator, wherein the expansion-compressor device, the pump, and the motor generator are operatively connected and arranged in series, and a power transmitting device for disconnecting the pump from the motor generator, when the expansion-compressor device is driven by the motor generator so as to be operated as a compressor device.
Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the production of frozen ice-cream mass with solid ingredients, which in the finished ice-cream mass will appear substantially as inclusions which distinguish themselves by flavour, appearance and/or consistency from the surrounding homogenous ice-cream mass. The apparatus comprises a first through-flow freezer for cooling of a continuous flow of mass, and a second through-flow freezer for further cooling of the continuous flow of mass, where a mixing-in arrangement for the mixing of solid ingredients into the continuous flow of mass is inserted between the through-flow freezer and the second through-flow freezer. It is hereby achieved that the mixing-in of the solid ingredients takes place in the frozen ice-cream mass when this has a temperature between ?3° C. and ?7° C. at which the viscosity of the mass is low.
Abstract: A refrigerator having a forward projecting dispenser that extends forward a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the forward projecting dispenser. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel. The dispenser may extend to the door handle of the refrigerator or beyond the handle. The distance the dispenser extends forward the front panel of the door is minimized using a slight diagonal rear side of the dispenser housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2005
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2008
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Michael A. Bowen, Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf
Abstract: The present invention provides a freezer capable of preventing/restraining quality of foods from being deteriorated, freezing method, and frozen objects manufactured using the freezer and freezing method. The freezer 10 comprises a freezer main body 101, a cluster fragmenting device 1A for fragmenting water clusters contained in the objects 5, a loading part 7 for loading the objects 5, a heat exchanger 8 and a cold gas supply device. The cold gas supply device comprises a dehumidifying device 11 for dehumidifying a cold gas heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 8, and a fan 9 for-circulating dehumidified cold gas to maintain the inside of the freezer 101 in a dry state. Further, the cluster fragmenting device 1A includes plural magnetic field generating devices 2 that imparts magnetic fields to the objects 5 containing water and changes the strength of magnetic fields with time elapsed.
Abstract: A system for cooling gas heated by passing the gas over heat-producing equipment to cool the equipment comprises a heat exchanger including a first heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer heat from the heated gas to a first coolant, and a first condensing module connected for fluid communication with the heat exchanger and including second and third heat transfer mechanisms, the first condensing module being configured to transfer heat through the second and third heat transfer mechanisms from the first coolant to second and third coolants in the second and third heat transfer mechanisms, respectively.
Abstract: A refrigerator having a dispenser in a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An angled ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the dispenser. The inner liner has more storage space over conventional ice chute dispensers. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 2, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2008
Assignee:
Maytag Corporation
Inventors:
Michael A. Bowen, Jr., Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf
Abstract: A control system for an icemaker for an ice/beverage dispenser is responsive to both a sensed level of ice in an ice bin of the dispenser and to a customer ice usage profile to operate the icemaker at such times as to build ice for the ice bin just before and in sufficient time and quantity to meet an anticipated demand for ice. The control system may be programmed manually or automatically through use of adaptive algorithms, with ice usage patterns that identify the days and times of day when demands for ice will occur, and the control system then operates the icemaker in accordance with such ice usage patterns.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 8, 2005
Date of Patent:
August 26, 2008
Assignee:
IMI Cornelius Inc.
Inventors:
Daniel C. Leaver, Thaddeus M. Jablonski
Abstract: A refrigerator with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door allowing the door to open about the pivoting edge. A water dispenser, positioned on the door, has a paddle which is moved horizontally by a user to cause water to be dispensed. The paddle engages a toggle that is attached to the dispenser housing, causing the toggle to rotate into engagement with a microswitch. The microswitch is mounted on a user interface control board which communicates with a power supply electronic control board. The power supply control board operates a water dispenser solenoid valve to cause water to flow to the dispenser when the toggle engages the microswitch. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from the water dispenser to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 25, 2007
Date of Patent:
August 26, 2008
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Diane E. Marret, Guy E. Garrison, Jill C. Moeller, Johnny R. Revlett, Mark G. Steffenhagen, Daryl L. Reuter, Jeff J. Smale
Abstract: Improved brine solutions and uses thereof for uncontaminatedly and/or efficiently freezing items such as foods, and biological samples. In accordance with one embodiment, a brine solution containing a sufficient amount of dye in conferring the solution a distinctive color is used in the freezing process. In accordance with another embodiment, a brine solution containing deionized water is used for improving the freezing efficiency and/or freezing capacity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 10, 2004
Date of Patent:
August 26, 2008
Assignee:
Winterlab Limited
Inventors:
Barnet L. Liberman, Peter H. Glidden, Sr., Kevin C. Vandervoort, Robert J. Peacock, II
Abstract: The present invention involves a system and method for superheating the refrigerant gas in a motor vehicle air conditioning system in order to minimize the amount of work required to be performed by the compressor. In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerant gas is diverted through the exhaust manifold immediately after passing through the compressor. As the refrigerant gas passes through the exhaust manifold, it is superheated by the surrounding hot exhaust gases thereby increasing the refrigerant gas pressure to reduce the amount of work done by the compressor.
Abstract: A ground-based system and method of supplying electrical power and temperature-controlled air to an aircraft environmental control system during ground support operations uses a throttle valve to control the flow of compressed air flowing through a heat exchanger. An air conditioner module mounted on a wheeled cart removes heat from the compressed air that is supplied to it from an auxiliary power unit (APU), and supplies cooled compressed air at a desired temperature. The temperature of the cooled compressed air is controlled by selectively positioning a throttle valve, which regulates compressed air flow from the compressed air source. The throttle valve position is controlled in response to one or more ambient meteorological conditions and/or the amount of electrical power being supplied from the system.
Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making ice cream or other dessert through the use of a canister assembly containing a freezable material. The canister assembly includes at least two separable canister subassemblies. The subassemblies may be nestable so as to minimize storage space.
Abstract: A heat pump employing CO2 as refrigerant and utilizing heat source of natural water, e.g. well water, ground water, river water or sea water, effectively is applied to an air conditioning system in order to enhance heating/hot water supplying capacity and refrigeration capacity without requiring a large scale appurtenant facilities.
Abstract: A self-contained mobile walk-in cooler is disclosed. The self-contained mobile walk-in cooler is comprised of a refrigeration unit, a gasoline generator to provide power to the refrigeration unit when a permanent power source is unavailable, and a mobile carriage for quick and easy transport. The self-contained mobile walk-in cooler provides mobile and walk-in refrigeration and cooling with an easily transportable mobile carriage system.
Abstract: A process for the manufacture of the ice cups in which a condensation plate able to receive water spray for the formation of the ice elements is cooled for a predetermined period of time such as to cause freezing of the water and the subsequent formation of ice elements. When cooling is interrupted the plate is heated for a predetermined interval of time to permit detachment of the ice elements. Between the interruption of cooling and the start of heating the plate is subjected to a plurality of heating stages of increasing duration alternating with a plurality of cooling stage of decreasing duration.
Abstract: An ammonia/CO2 refrigerating system having a liquid pump for feeding the liquid CO2 cooled in a brine cooler by the utilization of the vaporization latent heat of ammonia in an ammonia refrigeration cycle to a cooler, which comprises a liquid receiving vessel 4 for receiving a CO2 brine cooled in a brine cooler 3, a liquid pump 5 capable of changing the rate of the feed of a liquid, a rising piping 90 provided between the liquid pump 5 and a cooler 6, and a communication pipe 100 for communicating the top of the riser pipe 90 with the CO2 gas phase in the liquid receiving vessel 4, wherein the discharge pressure of the liquid pump 5 is set so as for the CO2 recovered form the cooler 3 or the liquid receiver 4 in the state of a liquid or a gas-liquid mixture, and the level of the rise in the rising piping 90 is set at a level being the same as or higher than the highest storage level for the CO2 brine in the liquid receiving vessel 4.