Patents by Inventor Dennis Carl Hansen

Dennis Carl Hansen 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).

  • Publication number: 20180328642
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Justin Morgan, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 10036585
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Justin Morgan, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20160084561
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Justin Morgan, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 9234690
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and an ice maker within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. In one example, a rotatable auger drives the ice pieces out of a removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latch is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin along a second direction. In another example, an air mover is disposed within the ice maker for delivering cooled air from an ice maker evaporator to a region adjacent to the ice bin. At least one air channel is formed into an inside surface of the ice maker chamber. In another example, a method of making ice in the refrigeration appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of operating the air mover and a defrost heating of the ice maker evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Justin Morgan, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8689571
    Abstract: Provided is a dryer for minimizing moisture entrained within a refrigerant used to provide a cooling effect to a temperature-controlled environment, and a refrigeration appliance including such a dryer. The dryer includes a housing defining a drying chamber and a desiccant disposed within the drying chamber for removing at least a portion of the moisture from the refrigerant. A first outlet is formed in the housing adjacent a lower region of the drying chamber when the drying chamber is viewed in an operational orientation. A second outlet is also formed in the housing at an elevation vertically above the first outlet when the dryer is viewed in the operational orientation for discharging at least a portion of the refrigerant introduced into the drying chamber to be delivered to a second heat exchanger with a relatively-low internal pressure. The elevation of the second outlet relative to the first outlet promotes the discharge of the refrigerant through the first outlet instead of through the second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Antonio Contreras Lafaire, David L. Hall, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8584474
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8484987
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products
    Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20100218521
    Abstract: Provided is a dryer for minimizing moisture entrained within a refrigerant used to provide a cooling effect to a temperature-controlled environment, and a refrigeration appliance including such a dryer. The dryer includes a housing defining a drying chamber and a desiccant disposed within the drying chamber for removing at least a portion of the moisture from the refrigerant. A first outlet is formed in the housing adjacent a lower region of the drying chamber when the drying chamber is viewed in an operational orientation. A second outlet is also formed in the housing at an elevation vertically above the first outlet when the dryer is viewed in the operational orientation for discharging at least a portion of the refrigerant introduced into the drying chamber to be delivered to a second heat exchanger with a relatively-low internal pressure. The elevation of the second outlet relative to the first outlet promotes the discharge of the refrigerant through the first outlet instead of through the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Antonio Contreras Lafaire, David L. Hall, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20100218542
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20100218518
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen