Patents Examined by Zachary R Anderegg
  • Patent number: 10076723
    Abstract: A novel self-cooling food and beverage container and a process for manufacturing the same is disclosed. A self-cooling beverage and food container using a substantive humidification cooling process within said food and beverage container for cooling food and beverage products is disclosed. Methods of assembling and operating the apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Mark Anthony
  • Patent number: 10072883
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a heat source unit apparatus includes air heat exchangers, each includes a plurality of fins arranged at prescribed intervals, heat exchanging pipes penetrating the fins, and bent strips extending at sides and bent in the same direction, and a heat exchange module includes two air heat exchangers, each having the bent strips opposed to those of the other air heat exchanger, the air heat exchangers being inclined such that lower edges are close to each other and upper edges are spaced apart, whereby the heat exchange module is shaped like a letter V as seen from side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Tanno, Masahiro Okada, Kenjiro Matsumoto, Takamitsu Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 10047987
    Abstract: A system may include a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expansion device, and first and second working fluid flow paths. The compressor may include a compression mechanism and a motor. The heat exchanger may receive compressed working fluid from the compressor. The expansion device may be disposed downstream of the heat exchanger. The first working fluid flow path may fluidly connect the heat exchanger and the expansion device. The second working fluid flow path may be disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and may fluidly connect the heat exchanger with the compressor. The second working fluid flow path may provide compressed working fluid to the compression mechanism and to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirill M. Ignatiev, Robert C. Stover
  • Patent number: 10041711
    Abstract: Provided are a superconducting rotating machine which improves the cooling efficiency of a rotor by using schemes of passively or actively circulating a coolant and a cooling method thereof. The superconducting rotating machine includes a rotor supported rotatably about a rotation axis and including: at least one superconductive coil; and a central cavity; and a cooling apparatus disposed at an exterior of the rotor and configured to communicate with the cavity, wherein the cooling apparatus includes: a condenser configured to condense a gas coolant supplied through a gas coolant supplying pipe to generate a condensed coolant; a coolant circulating unit configured to supply the condensed coolant into the cavity, configured to recover a vapor coolant evaporated in the cavity into the condenser and configured to circulate the condensed coolant; and a forced circulating unit configured to actively circulate the condensed coolant into the cavity in response to the rotor being tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woon Sik Kwon
  • Patent number: 10018380
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a compressor that compresses a working gas; an expansion chamber where the working gas compressed by the compressor expands and generates cooling; a valve mechanism including a stator valve and a rotor valve, which rotates with respect to the stator valve; and a forcing mechanism that applies a force to one of the rotor valve or the stator valve toward the other one of the rotor valve or the stator valve. The valve mechanism is configured to switch a flow of the working gas between the compressor and the expansion chamber as the rotor valve rotates. The forcing mechanism is arranged such that the center of the force applied by the forcing mechanism deviates from the center of the valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Morie, Mingyao Xu
  • Patent number: 10017031
    Abstract: The invention concerns an air conditioning system for conditioning the air of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle including a housing with a first flow channel and a second flow channel for conducting air and a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator is arranged in the first flow channel and the condenser in the second flow channel. The air conditioning system is designed for cooling and heating the passenger compartment and for a reheat operation. The setting of the operating mode is done only via the controlling of air guidance mechanisms. One of the heat exchangers evaporator or condenser is arranged with a part of the heat transfer surface in both the first and the second flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Torsten Klein, Roberto Della Rovere, Marc Graaf, Gerald Richter, Felix Girmscheid
  • Patent number: 10018381
    Abstract: A disclosed cryogenic refrigerator includes a first refrigerator including a compressor, a regenerator which performs intake or ejection of a refrigerant gas relative to the compressor, and a pulse tube whose low temperature end is connected to a low temperature end of the regenerator; a second refrigerator having an output smaller than the first refrigerator; a connecting pipe which performs intake and ejection of the refrigerant gas relative to a high temperature end of the pulse tube and the second refrigerator; and a flow control valve which is provided in the connecting pipe and performs a flow control of the refrigerant gas flowing inside the connecting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Mingyao Xu
  • Patent number: 10000108
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes an interior condenser that exchanges heat between a high-pressure refrigerant and ventilation air to heat the ventilation air, an exterior heat exchanger that exchanges heat between outside air and the refrigerant downstream of the interior condenser, an interior evaporator that exchanges heat between a low-pressure refrigerant downstream of the exterior heat exchanger and the ventilation air before passing through the interior condenser, and an internal heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchanger and the refrigerant flowing out of the interior evaporator. The refrigeration cycle device further includes a gas-liquid separator that separates the refrigerant at a downstream side of the interior condenser into gas and liquid phase refrigerants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9995510
    Abstract: A connecting device in a pulse tube cooler system branches such that a first line branch (11) has a first flexible line segment (4a) and a second line branch (12) has a second flexible line segment (4b), the flexible line segments being arranged in parallel with and offset from one another. The flexible line segments each have a front segment end (17, 18) and a rear segment end (19, 20), the front segment end (17) of the first flexible line segment (4a) and the rear segment end (20) of the second flexible line segment (4b) are rigidly connected to one another, the rear segment end (19) of the first flexible line segment (4a) and the front segment end (18) of the second flexible line segment (4b) are rigidly connected to one another, and there is no continuous rigid connection between the control valve and the cold head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Wikus, Steffen Bonn, Gerhard Roth
  • Patent number: 9950853
    Abstract: A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PACKIT, LLC
    Inventors: Melissa Renee Irwin-Kieling, Jeannette Marie Brisacher-Dirksen
  • Patent number: 9951974
    Abstract: A flash tank economizer includes a sensor for sensing a condition indicative of pressure in the flash tank, and when that pressure is found to equal or exceed the critical pressure of the particular refrigerant being used, a controller responsively closes a valve in the economizer vapor line to shut off the economizer. A sensor is also provided to sense the pressure at the compressor mid-stage, and if that pressure is found to exceed the pressure in the flash tank, the controller causes the flow control device to function so as to prevent the flow of refrigerant from the compressor mid-stage to the flash tank. Provision is also made for selectively draining refrigerant from the flash tank to reduce the pressure therein from a supercritical to a subcritical condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Huff, Jason Scarcella
  • Patent number: 9933119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100) comprising a converted LNG carrier with a hull and a plurality of LNG storage tanks (4, 104) wherein in that the floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100) comprises: —at least one sponson (2, 2?, 3, 3?, 102, 103) on the side of the hull, for creating additional hull volume, —process equipment (110) for LNG processing on the floating LNG plant (1, 1?, 100), and—a reservoir for storing fluids separated during the LNG processing, wherein said reservoir is formed by the ballast tank or in the space reserved for the ballast tank of the original LNG carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bernays, Hein Wille, Jeremy Duncan Stuart Joynson
  • Patent number: 9924833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-contained trolley for temperature conditioning and distribution of meal trays (13) comprising two compartments separated by an insulating wall (11), namely a compartment for heating, called the hot compartment, and a compartment for chilling, called the cold compartment, receiving at least one stack of meal trays arranged so that one part of each meal tray (13) is located in the hot compartment and the other part thereof is located in the cold compartment, wherein the heating of the hot compartment and the chilling of the cold compartment are simultaneously obtained by means of a thermochemical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: COLDWAY
    Inventors: Laurent Rigaud, Francis Kindbeiter
  • Patent number: 9879898
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan G. Tarrant, Ryan D. Schuchart, Mauro M. Oliveira, Alvin V. Miller, Brent A. Koppenhaver, Carl J. Franken, Nelson J. Ferragut, II, Tim L. Coulter, Greg Berardi, Thomas Carl Anell
  • Patent number: 9828536
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing heating comprising condensing a vapor working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a heat pump apparatus containing a working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a method for raising the maximum feasible condenser operating temperature in a heat pump apparatus suitable for use with HFC-134a, comprising charging the heat pump with a working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4. Also disclosed herein is a method for replacing HFC-134a refrigerant in a heat pump designed for HFC-134a comprising providing a replacement working fluid comprising (a) E-CF3CH?CHF and (b) at least one tetrafluoroethane of the formula C2H2F4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Patent number: 9829240
    Abstract: A domestic refrigeration device includes a heat-insulated inner container having an inner space; a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the interior space; a door leaf for opening and closing the interior space; and a base on which the inner container is arranged and in which at least part of the refrigerant circuit is arranged. At least part of the front of said base is open to allow an exchange of air from the interior of the base with the surroundings of the domestic appliance. An air guiding element is mounted in front of the base and has a continuous front wall covering the front of the base and is spaced apart from the floor on which the base stands. The air guiding element is open downwards in the direction of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan August Staedel, Zeki Asan, Alexander Görz, Cemalettin Hastürk
  • Patent number: 9797649
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, an ice making device and an ice making water supply device. A variable temperature drawer is disposed in lower part of the refrigerating chamber. The ice making water supply device includes a water tank disposed above the variable temperature drawer, a water pump connected with the water tank, and a water pipe connected with the water tank and the ice making device for introducing the water in the water tank into the ice making device. With the refrigerator according to embodiments, the water quality is ensured and the preservation effect is improved. Because the temperature of the variable temperature drawer is generally in the range of ?3° C. to 8° C., the water in the water tank is not easy to be frozen, and can be supplied to the ice making device continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD., HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lingyun Li, Gang Li, Dongxian Liu
  • Patent number: 9772128
    Abstract: An intermittent operation based continuous absorption system (IOBCAS) which supports cooling effect during the daytime without the use of a solution pump is provided. The IOBCAS may utilize an isochoric process for pressurization of the system and the system may include a plurality of generator-absorber units that intermittently operate in succession to provide a continuous refrigeration cooling effect during the daytime. The system of the present disclosure enables the plurality of generator-absorber units to switch between a generation, absorption, and heat recovery mode of operation to provide cooling effect during the daytime which a higher coefficient of performance compared with conventional intermittent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Syed Ahmed Mohammad Said, Muhammad Umar Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 9733654
    Abstract: A temperature control system for dispensing a fluid material from an applicator nozzle at a controlled temperature that includes at least one temperature control fluid conduit at least one fluid material supply conduit and at least one manifold device. The manifold device is in thermal communication with the temperature control fluid conduit and the fluid conduit and may also be in thermal communication with the fluid material supply conduit. At least one thermal adjustment device is in thermal contact with the manifold device. The thermal adjustment device includes at least one thermoelectric device such as at least one peltier circuit. The temperature control system also includes at least one sensor positioned proximate to the applicator nozzle that produces at least one signal actionable on the Peltier circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: William A. Cline
  • Patent number: 9707647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling an object that was previously subjected to a heat application, generally a multi-piece composite, particularly in the form of a shrink-fit chuck into which the shank of a tool was chucked or from which it was removed (cooling device), wherein the device comprises a pump, by way of which it generates a carrier gas flow, particularly an air flow, which is charged with a liquid cooling medium, particularly water, so that a coolant flow, the majority of the volume of which consists of the carrier gas, is created, which then spreads over at least the section of the object to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer