Patents by Inventor ALBERTO R. GOMES
ALBERTO R. GOMES has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10145589Abstract: A refrigerator and method are provided where the refrigerator includes two or more cooling compartments monitored by temperature sensors and cooled by a plurality of evaporators. The cooling for the evaporators is provided by a compressor operating on a recurring cooling cycle. A processor provides varying levels of voltages to the compressor and sets the recurring cooling cycle. The recurring cooling cycle comprises at least two cooling periods and a rest period. The method includes determines the length of the rest period as compared a predetermined rest period range. When the rest period falls outside the predetermined range, the processor selects the voltage to send to the compressor during a subsequent cooling cycle. The processor selects the voltage based on at least one of the temperature of the first and second compartments and the voltage to the compressor during the cooling cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Stephen L. Keres, Andrew D. Litch
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Patent number: 10018396Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes at least one freezer compartment and at least one refrigerator compartment, wherein the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are defined by a plurality of interior surfaces. The refrigerator further includes a cooling module set (CMS) removably attached to at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces, wherein the CMS is configured to operate in any orientation of a plurality of orientations, and the CMS is further configured to be repositionable with respect to the plurality of interior surfaces to alter a shape of at least one of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nihat Cur, Alberto R. Gomes, Luiz Antonio D. Lopes, Guolian Wu, Luciana Wasnievski Da Silva
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Publication number: 20180128531Abstract: An ice maker includes, among other things, an ice cube mold, an ice cube remover and a force sensor comprising a piezo dielectric elastomer (PDE). The ice cube mold has at least one cavity for receiving liquid. The ice cube remover is configured to apply a removal force to either the mold or an ice cube. The force sensor is provided on either the mold or the remover and provides an output indicative of the removal force. Upon the removal of an ice cube from the cavity, the ice cube remover applies a removal force to the mold or the ice cube to effect the removal of the ice cube from the cavity and the force sensor outputs a signal indicative of the removal force.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: ALBERTO R. GOMES, YEN-HSI LIN, ANDREW M. TENBARGE
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Patent number: 9890991Abstract: A domestic appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer is disclosed. The appliance may include a piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device may be configured to supply electrical power to various electrically-powered elements in the appliance, such as a light source, a drive status sensor, and active balancing components.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Yen-Hsi Lin, Andrew M. Tenbarge
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Patent number: 9863684Abstract: An ice maker includes, among other things, an ice cube mold, an ice cube remover and a force sensor comprising a piezo dielectric elastomer (PDE). The ice cube mold has at least one cavity for receiving liquid. The ice cube remover is configured to apply a removal force to either the mold or an ice cube. The force sensor is provided on either the mold or the remover and provides an output indicative of the removal force. Upon the removal of an ice cube from the cavity, the ice cube remover applies a removal force to the mold or the ice cube to effect the removal of the ice cube from the cavity and the force sensor outputs a signal indicative of the removal force.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Yen-Hsi Lin, Andrew M. Tenbarge
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Publication number: 20170059210Abstract: A method to control a fixed-sequence dual evaporator cooling system including providing a recurring cooling cycle cooling system wherein each recurring cooling cycle comprises first and second cooling cycles for cooling respective first and second interiors, a pump-out cycle for returning coolant to a condenser, and an idle cycle, and providing a processor to establish exceptions to the recurring cooling cycle. A step includes the processor monitoring first and second actual temperatures of the respective first and second interiors, selecting predetermined first and second control temperatures for the respective first and second interiors, and selecting a command input signal to supply to a compressor, the condenser fan, the first and second evaporator fans, and the valve of the cooling system during the recurring cooling cycle based upon the first and second actual temperatures and the predetermined first and second control temperatures to initiate the established exceptions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Andrew D. Litch
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Patent number: 9528727Abstract: A method to control a fixed-sequence dual evaporator cooling system including providing a recurring cooling cycle cooling system wherein each recurring cooling cycle comprises first and second cooling cycles for cooling respective first and second interiors, a pump-out cycle for returning coolant to a condenser, and an idle cycle, and providing a processor to establish exceptions to the recurring cooling cycle. A step includes the processor monitoring first and second actual temperatures of the respective first and second interiors, selecting predetermined first and second control temperatures for the respective first and second interiors, and selecting a command input signal to supply to a compressor, the condenser fan, the first and second evaporator fans, and the valve of the cooling system during the recurring cooling cycle based upon the first and second actual temperatures and the predetermined first and second control temperatures to initiate the established exceptions.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Andrew D. Litch
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Publication number: 20150059394Abstract: An ice maker includes, among other things, an ice cube mold, an ice cube remover and a force sensor comprising a piezo dielectric elastomer (PDE). The ice cube mold has at least one cavity for receiving liquid. The ice cube remover is configured to apply a removal force to either the mold or an ice cube. The force sensor is provided on either the mold or the remover and provides an output indicative of the removal force. Upon the removal of an ice cube from the cavity, the ice cube remover applies a removal force to the mold or the ice cube to effect the removal of the ice cube from the cavity and the force sensor outputs a signal indicative of the removal force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: ALBERTO R. GOMES, YEN-HSI LIN, ANDREW M. TENBARGE
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Publication number: 20140260378Abstract: A method to control a fixed-sequence dual evaporator cooling system including providing a recurring cooling cycle cooling system wherein each recurring cooling cycle comprises first and second cooling cycles for cooling respective first and second interiors, a pump-out cycle for returning coolant to a condenser, and an idle cycle, and providing a processor to establish exceptions to the recurring cooling cycle. A step includes the processor monitoring first and second actual temperatures of the respective first and second interiors, selecting predetermined first and second control temperatures for the respective first and second interiors, and selecting a command input signal to supply to a compressor, the condenser fan, the first and second evaporator fans, and the valve of the cooling system during the recurring cooling cycle based upon the first and second actual temperatures and the predetermined first and second control temperatures to initiate the established exceptions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Andrew D. Litch
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Publication number: 20140268648Abstract: A domestic appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer is disclosed. The appliance may include a piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device may be configured to supply electrical power to various electrically-powered elements in the appliance, such as a light source, a drive status sensor, and active balancing components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: ALBERTO R. GOMES, YEN-HSI LIN, ANDREW M. TENBARGE
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Publication number: 20140260377Abstract: A refrigerator and method are provided where the refrigerator includes two or more cooling compartments monitored by temperature sensors and cooled by a plurality of evaporators. The cooling for the evaporators is provided by a compressor operating on a recurring cooling cycle. A processor provides varying levels of voltages to the compressor and sets the recurring cooling cycle. The recurring cooling cycle comprises at least two cooling periods and a rest period. The method includes determines the length of the rest period as compared a predetermined rest period range. When the rest period falls outside the predetermined range, the processor selects the voltage to send to the compressor during a subsequent cooling cycle. The processor selects the voltage based on at least one of the temperature of the first and second compartments and the voltage to the compressor during the cooling cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Stephen L. Keres, Andrew D. Litch
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Patent number: 8820112Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a CMS adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, where the CMS has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The high pressure side includes an orientation-flexible compressor and a condenser fluidly connected with the orientation-flexible compressor. The low pressure side is fluidly connected to the high pressure side and includes an evaporator. The CMS also includes at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of the orientation-flexible compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The CMS further includes an insulating panel forming at least a portion of the at least one housing, and substantially separating the high pressure side from the low pressure side. The CMS is typically configured to operate in a plurality of orientations based upon the orientation-flexible compressor.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nihat Cur, Alberto R. Gomes, Luiz Antonio D. Lopes, Guolian Wu, Luciana Wasnievski Da Silva
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Publication number: 20120291477Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a CMS adapted to define at least a portion of an envelope of at least one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, where the CMS has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The high pressure side includes an orientation-flexible compressor and a condenser fluidly connected with the orientation-flexible compressor. The low pressure side is fluidly connected to the high pressure side and includes an evaporator. The CMS also includes at least one housing configured to enclose at least one of the orientation-flexible compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The CMS further includes an insulating panel forming at least a portion of the at least one housing, and substantially separating the high pressure side from the low pressure side. The CMS is typically configured to operate in a plurality of orientations based upon the orientation-flexible compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: NIHAT CUR, ALBERTO R. GOMES, LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, GUOLIAN WU, LUCIANA WASNIEVSKI DA SILVA
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Publication number: 20120291475Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes at least one freezer compartment and at least one refrigerator compartment, wherein the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are defined by a plurality of interior surfaces. The refrigerator further includes a cooling module set (CMS) removably attached to at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces, wherein the CMS is configured to operate in any orientation of a plurality of orientations, and the CMS is further configured to be repositionable with respect to the plurality of interior surfaces to alter a shape of at least one of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: NIHAT CUR, ALBERTO R. GOMES, LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, GUOLIAN WU, LUCIANA WASNIEVSKI DA SILVA
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Publication number: 20120291476Abstract: An appliance is provided that includes at least one freezer compartment and at least one refrigerator compartment, wherein the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are defined by a plurality of interior surfaces. The refrigerator further includes a cooling module set (CMS), wherein the CMS includes an orientation-flexible compressor, the CMS is configured to operate in any orientation of a plurality of orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: NIHAT CUR, ALBERTO R. GOMES, LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, GUOLIAN WU, LUCIANA WASNIEVSKI DA SILVA