Patents Examined by William E. Tapolcai
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Patent number: 7383689Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator for maximizing an inner space when a total size is the same, and for minimizing the total size when the inner space is the same. The dispenser of the icemaker in the refrigerator includes an ice chute being a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker is discharged; and a container supporter provided at an outer case and disposed to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged outside through the ice chute, the contain supporter allowing a container seated thereon to receive the ice discharged from the ice chute. The ice chute is closed and not exposed outside when the ice-discharging process is finished, and the container supporter is not exposed to the outer surface of the outer case.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Wook Yong Lee, Eui Yeop Chung, Seung Hwan Oh, Myung Ryul Lee, Chang Ho Seo, Seong Jae Kim, Sung Hoon Chung
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Patent number: 7383690Abstract: An ice harvesting prevention mechanism, including an actuator, is provided for an ice maker. The ice maker is arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice to an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position. An ice harvesting prevention device is arranged to prevent dispensing of ice in a first position of the actuator and to permit dispensing of ice in a second position of the actuator. The ice bucket itself, or a movable button carried on the ice bucket, may engage the actuator, when the ice bucket is placed in the ice receiving position, to move the actuator from the first position to the second position. The button may be moved to an “off” position to prevent engagement with the actuator, thereby preventing dispensing of ice when the ice bucket is in the ice receiving position.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Frank Weston Maglinger, Joseph Michael Griffith, Sinuhe Argumedo, Gregory Gene Hortin, Leonardo Rangel
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Patent number: 7380405Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include systems, methods, and apparatus for improving the fuel efficiency (mpg/kpl) of a motor vehicle during those times when the vehicle air conditioning system is operating. Whenever the driver takes his foot off the gas, or the vehicle engine is otherwise caused to decelerate, the refrigerant compressor clutch engages, allowing the compressor to operate on previously-imparted vehicle waste energy (e.g., imparted by the engine, or by downhill travel.) When the refrigerant pressure reaches a pre-set maximum value, the clutch is deactivated, and the compressor stops. When the refrigerant pressure reaches a pre-set minimum level, the clutch is activated regardless of the existence of vehicle waste energy. When the refrigerant pressure reaches another pre-set level between the aforementioned maximum and minimum levels, in the absence of any vehicle waste energy, the clutch is again deactivated and the compressor stops.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Inventor: Thomas D. Harrison
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Patent number: 7380410Abstract: A wine cooler unit has a refrigerated cabinet housing two pull-out assemblies, each having a door panel and one or more wine racks. One rack can be mounted to the door panel, and one or more follower racks can be extended and retracted by movement of the door panel mounted rack, or by independent manual movement thereof. Two or more racks can be pulled out from the cabinet in a staggered or cascading fashion in which an upper rack extends from the cabinet to a lesser extent than a next lower rack to provide access to the bottles on each rack. The door panels can be made of a glass thermopane allowing visual inspection of the contents inside the cabinet. The cabinet can be cooled by a refrigeration system having two evaporators, which provide two independent cooling zones, one for each pull-out assembly. A capacitance-operated control can be provided under the glass front of one door panel for controlling the temperature zones inside the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: U-Line CorporationInventors: Thomas W. Rand, Lawrence D. Moye, Andrew J. Doberstein, Jack L. Vaughn
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Patent number: 7380403Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchange device including at least one heat exchange wall (6) between the refrigerant fluid (3) and the fluid to be cooled (4) having on one side a so-called hot surface (7) in contact with the fluid to be cooled, and at least one mechanical system (10) antagonist to the deposition on the hot surface of the exchange wall, of a solid layer of the fluid to be cooled. According to the invention, the means antagonist to the deposition is formed with a friction means (11) including a planar surface extending parallel to the hot surface of the exchange wall and having a heat conductivity such that the ratio of the heat conductivities of said friction means on the hot surface is larger than or equal to 3, and the mechanical system (10) includes means for supporting the friction means, adapted so that the latter rubs on the hot surface of the exchange wall via its planar surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: LGL FranceInventors: Michel Smah, Mohamed Ali Ben Lakhdhar, David Liope, Gerard Blain, Alain Compingt
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Patent number: 7380408Abstract: An aircraft is provided with an integrated galley refrigeration unit and vehicle cabin air conditioning packet. A control selectively determines whether the provision of cooled air into an air cooled galley takes precedent over the provision of cooled air into the passenger cabin. Valving is provided to selectively provide cold fluid to a recirculation air heat exchanger, which supplies supplemental cooled air for delivery into the passenger cabin. This refrigeration air heat exchanger is utilized when precedent is given to providing cooled air to the cabin. On the other hand, the valve is maintained in an off position when it is determined that the air cooled galleys should take precedent.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand CorporationInventors: Thomas Zywiak, Diane Drew
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Patent number: 7380406Abstract: A refrigerated water pumping system provides high-pressure refrigerated water to misting nozzles situated in a livestock enclosure for housing livestock and adapted for converting the high-pressure refrigerated water into a fine mist or fog of water droplets at a target water temperature for evaporation in the enclosure to provide cooling of the enclosure to a target enclosure temperature. The system comprises a pump and a post-pumping heat exchanger, with the water being pumped by pump into high-pressure water. The high-pressure water is subsequently refrigerated into high-pressure refrigerated water having the target temperature by absorption of a target heat from the water by a refrigerant in the post-pumping heat exchanger, including any heat absorbed by water during pumping in pump.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Inventor: Yanick Leblanc
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Patent number: 7377121Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes an air conditioning case having an air introducing port from which air is introduced in an air introducing direction from a side of a cooling heat exchanger to a space under the cooling heat exchanger. Further, the air conditioning case includes a flow turning portion by which air introduced from the air introducing port is turned and flows through the cooling heat exchanger upwardly, and the cooling heat exchanger is slanted to have an upper end portion and a lower end portion approximately parallel to the air introducing direction. Furthermore, a plate member is arranged in the air conditioning case at a position under the lower end portion of the cooling heat exchanger, and the plate member has a plate surface which crosses with the air introducing direction to reduce a flow speed of air.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Toshihiro Tahara
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Patent number: 7373786Abstract: A desiccant dehumification system uses an air heater incorporating air feedback from the exhaust and/or the return air fans. The air and gas are mixed in a single step, two step, or continuous modulation mixing valve. An outdoor cooking grill style burner allows a small unit to be made with tight air heating system. One system cools the return air making it cool and humid. A portion of this air is then dried by a desiccant dehumidification system which makes hot and dry output air. The remaining return air is then dried by desiccant dehumidification system output air to deliver processed air in a controlled comfort range. A second system mixes return air with fresh air making mixed return air which is dried in a desiccant dehumidification system and then cooled to a desired comfort range without condensation.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Inventor: Jose Moratalla
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Patent number: 7373789Abstract: Refrigerator and an ice maker, the refrigerator including an ice maker, an ice bank for receiving ice from the ice maker, and discharging the ice, an ice moving device movably mounted for receiving ice from the ice bank, and discharging the ice to a dispenser, and a driving device for moving the ice moving device, thereby obtaining ice without bending oneself.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Hwan Oh, Myung Ryul Lee
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Patent number: 7370491Abstract: A fluid storage tank includes a wall defining a cavity therewithin. An inlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between a fluid source and the cavity. A projection and at least one obstruction are positioned within the cavity. The projection directs a flow of a fluid entering the cavity through the inlet opening towards the obstruction. The obstruction interferes with and disperses the flow within the cavity. An outlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between the cavity and a fluid dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Krzysztof Struminski, Ramesh Janardhanam, Balaji Parthasarathy, Pravin Naphade
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Patent number: 7367198Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area. The product display area defines a highest temperature zone and a lowest temperature zone. The merchandiser includes a first product simulator positioned in the highest temperature zone of the product display area to generate a first signal representative of the temperature of products positioned in the highest temperature zone of the product display area, and a second product simulator positioned in the lowest temperature zone of the product display area to generate a second signal representative of the temperature of products positioned in the lowest temperature zone of the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a controller in communication with the first and second product simulators. The controller is operable to adjust an outlet temperature set point in response to the first and second signals from the first and second product simulators.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Hussmann CorporationInventor: John Arthur Behr
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Patent number: 7367197Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining a low internal temperature in items held in an open container system. Example embodiments generate a stationary, insulating layer of cold air that covers the exposed surface and slows the transfer of heat from the environment. One example embodiment includes a storage container employing a free convection cooling mechanism adjacent to an exposed surface of a perishable. The free convection cooling mechanism acts to chill the air immediately above the exposed surface, thereby creating an insulating layer of cold air. By raising or lowering the temperature of this layer, the example embodiment may further be able to raise or lower the internal temperature of the perishable.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: H & K Dallas, Inc.Inventors: James P. Reil, Nitish Vashishta
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Patent number: 7363774Abstract: An air cooling device includes a thermally insulated container packed with encapsulated refrigerant and configured to pass incoming air for cooling. A tubular housing accommodates the packed container. A fan blower within the top portion of the housing draws ambient air through the bottom of the container within the refrigerant-packed interior of the container against gravity to prolong the air cooling period. The encapsulated refrigerant is implemented as a plurality of compacted frozen glycol balls serving as primary source of cooling for the incoming air. A multitude of pockets filled with cold air form between the compacted frozen glycol balls during device operation. These cold air pockets serve as secondary source of cooling for the flowing air.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Misterchill, LLCInventor: Bernard Elan Urfig
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Patent number: 7363766Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a thermoelectric device. The compressor is configured to receive a refrigerant and compress the refrigerant to a compressed state. The condenser is in fluid communication with the compressor to receive the refrigerant in the compressed state via a high pressure tube. The evaporator is in fluid communication between the condenser and the compressor to receive the refrigerant from the condenser and convey the refrigerant to the compressor via a low pressure tube. The thermoelectric device is operatively arranged relative to at least a portion of the high pressure tube to remove heat from the high pressure tube.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventor: Ronald Eisenhour
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Patent number: 7363772Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ice Energy, Inc.Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
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Patent number: 7360374Abstract: A refrigerated display merchandiser in which is stored food products and which is ordinarily exposed to prevailing ambient light is provided with transparent sheets which function as filter media to prevent harmful light from reaching the foods stuffs. The filtering media comprises a transparent sheet affixed to the display merchandiser as well as about any fluorescent lighting disposed within the merchandiser. A transparent sheet passes either red or blue light or alternatively, absorbs ultraviolet light including both UV-A light and UV-B light.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Inventor: Leo D. LaRose, Jr.
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Patent number: 7360373Abstract: An evaporator placed in a vehicle compartment includes a meandering flattened pipe, a header joined with one end of the flattened pipe for introducing a compressed refrigerant from a compressor placed in an engine room, and a header joined with the other end of the flattened pipe for discharging the refrigerant toward the compressor, wherein both headers are located in the engine room.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Sanden CorporationInventors: Kiyokazu Yamamoto, Toshiyuki Kawai
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Patent number: 7360377Abstract: A refrigerator including a shaved ice dispensing unit positioned within a freezing compartment door and plural ice dispensing units positioned in an ice cube container to selectively dispense ice cubes, crushed ice and shaved ice. First and second ice dispensing units are positioned in parallel in a freezing compartment. The first ice dispensing unit supplies ice cubes to the shaved ice dispensing unit, and the second ice dispensing unit selectively dispenses the ice cubes and crushed ice through an ice cube/crushed ice discharge port positioned in the freezing compartment door. The shaved ice dispensing unit includes a case having a shaved ice outlet formed therethrough, at least one blade positioned to the shaved ice outlet, a rotational barrel rotatably positioned within the case to be rotated by a driving motor and a reduction gear assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong Pil Park, Sang Min Park
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Patent number: 7357000Abstract: A temperature controlled case defines a space for storage of products and includes a cooling system to circulate a fluid to maintain a temperature of the products in the space. A deck is provided within the space and has a stepped configuration to provide multiple product support surfaces configured to support the products. At least one cooling element is coupled to the deck and receives a coolant from the cooling system so that the product support surfaces provide contact cooling to the products.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Dover Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bradley R. Schwichtenberg, J. Keith Norton, Dale D. Stevens, Peter F. Sosso