Patents Issued in July 10, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080163604
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes turbine blades having film cooling holes at an outer face of an airfoil wherein the film cooling holes are designed to be better filled with air. In a disclosed embodiment, the film cooling holes include a meter section extending along a direction having a main component extending from a blade tip to a blade root. In addition, a diffused section communicates with the meter section at a face of the airfoil. The diffused section is spaced toward the blade tip from the meter section. In this manner, centrifugal force ensures the diffused section is also filled with air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20080163605
    Abstract: A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) and a method of making the pulsed plasma thruster are disclosed. The PPT includes no moving parts and is able to achieve a small size. The PPT is also designed to facilitate easy and rapid manufacture. The process for making the PPT uses known techniques for making printed circuit board devices. Another PPT also has no moving parts and uses a liquid fuel that is progressively advanced by capillary action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: H. Bruce Land, Daniel H. Simon, Tharen Rice
  • Publication number: 20080163606
    Abstract: A variable area fan nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine system includes a nozzle section that is attachable to a gas turbine engine for influencing flow through the fan bypass passage of the gas turbine engine. The nozzle section is movable between a first length and a second length that is larger than the first length to influence the flow. For example, the nozzle section includes members that are woven together to form collapsible openings that are open when the nozzle section is moved to the first length and that are closed when the nozzle section is moved to the second length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Colin L. Cini, Kenneth C. Baran
  • Publication number: 20080163607
    Abstract: A dual NOx trap system for reducing NOx emissions from an internal combustion engine. The system is plumbed and controlled such that the NOx adsorption time of a trap is decoupled from the NOx regeneration time. A trap is taken out of service for regeneration only for the minimum required regeneration time and then is placed back into service. Because regeneration times are short relative to adsorption times, during most of the working life of the assembly both of the traps are in service in NOx-trapping mode. Thus, higher NOx-trapping efficiencies are provided over most of the working life of the system because each unit volume of catalyst is in service for more than 50% of the time, permitting a smaller volume of catalyst for each trap than in a prior art system. Further, shorter off-line regeneration times result in reduced cooling of the traps during regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas W. Silvis, Joseph V. Bonadies
  • Publication number: 20080163608
    Abstract: A device for estimating the loading state of a NOx storage catalytic converter. The device includes a module for determining the oxygen concentration difference between an oxygen concentration present in the exhaust gas upstream of the NOX storage catalytic converter and an oxygen concentration present in the exhaust gas downstream of the NOX storage catalytic converter, and a controller for estimating the loading state of the NOX storage catalytic converter on the basis of said oxygen concentration difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20080163609
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control system [1] comprising a continuous regenerating DPF [13] and a DPF controlling means [30C], wherein control is so performed as to accept the operation of a forced regenerating means [34C] at an operation request by a driver when it is judged a traveling distance [?Mc] after starting collection detected by a traveling distance detecting means [33C] has reached a specified judging traveling distance [?M1] even when the DPF controlling means [30C] detects a collection amount [?Pm] detected by a collection amount detecting means [32C] is smaller than a specified judging collection amount [?P1]. Accordingly, in a continuous regenerating DPF [13] capable of manual regenerating, the number of warning such as a blinking regeneration button prompting a manual regeneration is reduced to relieve a driver of trouble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Hitoshi Satou, Takehito Imai, Tatsuo Mashiko, Takao Onodera, Makoto Takeuchi, Mamoru Komine, Nobuyuki Hiraki
  • Publication number: 20080163610
    Abstract: A method and system for regenerating particulate filters, catalyzed soot filters, and NOx adsorber catalysts for a vehicle having a compression ignition engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Thomas Baird, Jason Thomas Barton
  • Publication number: 20080163611
    Abstract: The invention suggests a procedure for the desulfurization of a storage catalyst, whereby the storage catalyst is run with a desulfurization temperature range that is required for the desulfurization, and whereby the storage catalyst is admitted with a regeneration gas with an air lambda of max. 1, as well as a device for the implementation of the procedure. During the desulfurization the storage catalyst is admitted in temporal shifts with a regeneration gas with an air lambda of max. even 1 during a desulfurization phase and a regeneration gas with an air lambda of higher than 1 during a desulfurization pause. Upstream before the storage catalyst an incoming lambda signal and downstream after the storage catalyst an outgoing lambda signal is acquired. By comparing the two signals that have been acquired during a desulfurization phase at least one favorable point of time for terminating the desulfurization process can be noticed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Junginger, Stefan Scherer, Simone Hingst, Christian Covini
  • Publication number: 20080163612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising an exhaust line in which an exhaust treatment device, in particular an oxidation catalyst or a particulate filter is arranged for treating the exhaust gases coming from the internal combustion engine. It is essential to this invention that a device for heating the exhaust gases in the exhaust line is arranged upstream from the exhaust treatment device and is connected to a fuel supply and an air supply, the latter producing primary air and secondary air, and the device has a pre-oxidation zone a downstream post-oxidation zone, such that the pre-oxidation zone is connected to the fuel supply for its supply of liquid fuel and is connected to the air supply for its supply of primary air, while the post-oxidation zone is connected to the air supply for its supply of secondary air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Publication number: 20080163613
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system structure is obtained which can protect well a bend portion of an exhaust pipe. A vehicle exhaust system structure 10 is intended to discharge exhaust gases of a front-engine front-drive vehicle with a transverse engine from a rear part of a vehicle body and is applied to an exhaust system 11 which is configured such that a first catalytic converter 12, a second catalytic converter 14, an exhaust system heat exchanger 15 and a muffler 16 are disposed sequentially in that order from an upstream side in an exhaust gas flow direction. In the exhaust system 11, a heat exchanger to muffler exhaust pipe 26 which connects the exhaust system heat exchanger 15 to the muffler 16 has an inclined portion 26A, and a portion of the exhaust system 11 which lies further rearwards than the exhaust system heat exchanger 15 is suspended from the vehicle body by a suspension unit 80.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoki Mabuchi, Hisashi Nishino
  • Publication number: 20080163614
    Abstract: A fuel burning device includes a tubular combustion cylinder open at opposing first and second ends. A fuel inlet pipe has a first end extending through the first end of the combustion cylinder partially into the combustion cylinder and a second end extending outside of the combustion cylinder. The fuel burning device also includes a burner head connected to the first end of the fuel inlet pipe and an orifice connected between the burner head and the first end of the fuel inlet pipe. The burner head is structured and arranged so that combusted fuel discharged at the second end of said combustion cylinder has reduced CO and NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: PROTO-TECHNICS, INC.
    Inventor: James Bosket
  • Publication number: 20080163615
    Abstract: An exhaust filtration system including a gap upstream of the filter and a regular pressure device downstream of the filter to thus normally maintain a pressure differential across the filter but operative to, upon build up of pressure upstream of the filter provide for relief to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Scott R. Trimingham
  • Publication number: 20080163616
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing liquid medium into a gaseous medium flowing through an exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine is provided. The liquid medium is supplied to the exhaust pipe with varied mass flow via an injector nozzle directed into the exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe has a mixer placed downstream of the injector nozzle and a flow path disposed parallel with the mixer and extending through a perforated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Bjorn Henriksson, Gert-Ove Wahlstrom
  • Publication number: 20080163617
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder wall through which an exhaust port with an exhaust port inner surface is routed from a combustion chamber to an exhaust port opening in the cylinder wall. A pipe section is arranged in a section of the exhaust port following the exhaust port opening in the direction of the combustion chamber with a pipe section outer surface, which reduces the heat transfer from the exhaust gas from the exhaust port into the cylinder wall. The pipe section outer surface is spaced from the exhaust port inner surface through an air gap by sections along an entire outer circumference of the pipe section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: DOLMAR GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Rodenbeck, Christian Kellermann, Christoph Blum
  • Publication number: 20080163618
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a turbine connected to a generator for generating power to supply to a grid the power derived from a rotating shaft includes a transmission for selectably driving either of a compressor or a direct current motor generator. The compressor compresses ambient air changing phase to liquid air. The direct current motor generator generates a current at a constant voltage for water electrolysis. A first bell containing a cathode collects elemental hydrogen; a second bell containing an anode collects elemental oxygen. The elemental hydrogen burns in the presence of the elemental oxygen to produce a highly energetic exhaust. A valve selectably admits either of the highly compressed air or the highly energetic exhaust into the turbine to drive the turbine thereby energizing the generator to supply the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Marius Angelo Paul
  • Publication number: 20080163619
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive apparatus comprises a main pump for pumping hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic load, a charge pump for continuously pumping pressurised hydraulic fluid to the main pump, and a hydraulic fluid cooler. At least a portion to the hydraulic fluid pumped through the hydraulic load is returned under pressure to the charge pump and the charge pump pumps the pressurised hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic fluid cooler to the main pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Norman John Smith
  • Publication number: 20080163620
    Abstract: In a Stirling engine, a casing houses therein component elements of the Stirling engine, including a high-temperature-side cylinder, a high-temperature-side piston, a connecting rod, a crankshaft, etc. A pressure control device determines whether the pressure of the gas charged in the casing has declined. If the pressure of the gas has declined, the pressure control device drives a pump to pressurize the gas charged in the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAGUCHI, Daisaku Sawada
  • Publication number: 20080163621
    Abstract: A synchronous reaction cell, rotating as a unit, disassociates hydrogen from water, traps and filters hydrogen, mixes and pressurizes hydrogen and ingested carbon, hydrogenates carbon by surface catalysis, isolates and exhausts liquid hydrocarbon products above a desired density, recirculates gaseous products for further reaction, and expands steam through a turbine to produce rotation and turn an electrical generator. Solar energy focused by heliostats is one means of supplying process heat. Burning natural gas or another fossil fuel in oxygen freed by the disassociation of water provides alternative sources of heat. The reaction cell has a vertical axis-of-rotation making it conducive to mounting on a tower disposed at the center of an array of heliostats. The rotating reaction cell has a large, cylindrical heat-absorbing surface. Electrical output might be used to aim heliostats. Excess electrical generation might be added to the local electrical grid and sold for its value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Paul Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080163622
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, with a turbine wheel arranged in the exhaust gas stream of the engine and including a heat-resistant light metal alloy, with a compressor wheel arranged in the intake air stream of the engine, with a shaft including steel, the compressor wheel being seated on the shaft and the turbine wheel being connected to the shaft by welding, and with a mounting for the shaft, a hub adapted to the shaft diameter is formed on the turbine wheel, the connection point between the hub of the turbine wheel and the shaft being arranged in the vicinity of the mounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Schlegl, Steffen Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20080163623
    Abstract: A turbine of a turbocharger is disposed on an exhaust passage. An air-fuel ratio sensor is disposed downstream of and in proximity to the turbine. An element of the air-fuel ratio sensor is positioned on or near the axis of an exhaust port of the turbine. A whirling flow of an exhaust gas in the same direction as a turbine wheel rotates is produced immediately after the exhaust port of the turbine, so that the whirling flow of the exhaust gas can centrifuge condensed water in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas contacts the element near the axis of the exhaust port where there is substantially no condensed water, thus preventing the element from being wetted with water or cracked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Eiraku, Naoki Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20080163624
    Abstract: A pipe line for a turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine has at least one exhaust line for the evacuation of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber of the engine to the turbocharger system and at least one inlet line for the supply of air to the combustion chamber. The turbocharger system includes at least one turbine, which cooperates with at least one compressor to extract energy from the exhaust flow of the engine and pressurize the inlet air of the engine. To allow a compact installation with low pressure losses, the inlet line connects with a curved line section of an outlet from the compressor, at least a part-section of the curved line section having a non-circular cross section. A diffuser is placed less than five pipe diameters downstream of the curved line section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Jonas Augustinson, Sebastian Krausche, Magnus Ising, Per Andersson
  • Publication number: 20080163625
    Abstract: An integrated system provides electricity and heat from solar, waste heat, biomass and fossil fuel energy. The system operates with a volatile organic working fluid that circulates in a variable speed heat engine type cycle, that is heated either to its boiling point, to a saturated state or above its boiling point, or to a superheated gas state, expanded through an expander, with working fluid injected therein such that the fluid exiting the expander is cooled in a condenser in thermal communication with a facility's domestic hot water, space heating or process heating systems, and circulated by a pump. Heat exchange loops define hot water production capability for use in a facility while a generator is coupled to the expander to produce electricity and is connected to the utility grid at fixed frequency and voltage in either a paralleling or island mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin M. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20080163626
    Abstract: In a fuel lance by means of which fuels can be injected, via at least two separate passages, into a combustion chamber alternately or simultaneously at an injection location arranged substantially at the lance tip, reliable operation is achieved, without the risk of flashbacks and also without coking, by virtue of the fact that the fuel lance, in addition to fuel, also passes purge air to the injection location, and that the purge air, at the injection location, is routed between the two fuel systems, in such a manner that these systems are shielded from one another by the purge air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Stefano Bernero, Weiqun Geng, Christian Steinbach, Peter Stuber
  • Publication number: 20080163627
    Abstract: A flexible fuel fuel-air mixer includes an annular shroud; a center body; an inner swirler disposed around an outer surface of the center body; a low-energy-content fuel plenum having an annul us formed by inner and outer shrouds forming a gap therebetween, a fuel inlet, and a fuel plenum swirler disposed in the gap; an outer swirler having an inner circumferential end portion disposed around the outer shroud of the fuel plenum; and a high-energy-content fuel shroud disposed at the upstream end portion of the annular shroud outwardly from the second swirler in the radial direction and circumferentially around the annular shroud, the fuel shroud being in flow communication with the outer swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Ahmed Mostafa ELKady, Andrei Tristan Evulet
  • Publication number: 20080163628
    Abstract: A cooling module mountable within a cabinet to provide cooling of the interior thereof has a cold end of its cooling system exposed to an exterior of the module at a top or bottom wall of its casing. A fan is mounted within the cabinet to discharge warm air heated by a hot end of the cooling system through discharge openings provided in an end panel of the casing. Cabinet walls may be provided in the form of one or more laminate sheets having an insulating layer and an exterior cladding. The one or more sheets may be bent or assembled as needed to form the cabinet structure. Shipping the cabinet to an end user or intermediary in flat panel form reduces the necessary volume of packaging to ease handling and reduce shipping costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Harvey D. Lilke
  • Publication number: 20080163629
    Abstract: A refrigerant measuring device includes a casing, at least one sensor, and a detection circuit. The casing forms a plurality of coupling connector for selectively jointing sources of refrigerant to be detected to receive the refrigerant. The coupling connectors are connected to a channel to which the sensor is connected. The sensor includes an enclosure, a pressure detection circuit, and a thermocouple. The enclosure forms a connector to connect the channel and defines an interior chamber connected to the connector through a pressure-reducing neck that guides the refrigerant in a pressure-reduced condition into the chamber to contact the pressure detection chip and the thermocouple for detection of pressure and temperature of the refrigerant. The detection circuit receives the detected pressure and temperature from the sensor and also receives data of standardized reference pressure and temperature from a memory and display the detected pressure and the temperature and the reference data on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Chiang Kao Chen
  • Publication number: 20080163630
    Abstract: A control method of a refrigerator which includes a dispenser through which water and ice are discharged, a water supplying valve and an ice supplying valve which respectively regulate the water and the ice which are supplied to the dispenser, and a water supplying switch and an ice supplying switch which selectively supply the water and the ice to the dispenser, includes determining which switch of the water supplying switch and the ice supplying switch is handled first; and opening the water supplying valve to supply the water to the dispenser if the ice supplying switch is handled while the water supplying switch is under operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-tae Ko
  • Publication number: 20080163631
    Abstract: Methods of configuring a cooling subassembly for an electronics system are provided, that is, for establishing a coolant-carrying tube layout for interconnecting multiple liquid-cooled cold plates in series-fluid communication for cooling multiple heat-generating electronic components of an electronics system. The electronic components are to be plugged in fixed relation into a preconfigured motherboard, and the tube layout includes at least one rigid coolant-carrying tube. Simplified analysis is initially performed to evaluate stress on the rigid tube(s) and determine if loss of actuation load on the electronic components exceeds an acceptable threshold, and if so, at least one tube having high stress is identified and reconfigured. Thereafter, analysis is performed to determine whether, with available actuation load on the cooling subassembly, electrical connection loading between the electronic components and the supporting motherboard is above an acceptable minimum level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, John L. COLBERT, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, Arvind K. SINHA
  • Publication number: 20080163632
    Abstract: In controlled cooling operation, data on the controlled cooling operation characteristics is read out from a memory and compared with a drop degree of an inside temperature actually measured by an inside temperature sensor 46, and a cooling device is operated so that the inside temperature drops following a temperature curve stored in advance. A state where the inside temperature is higher than the set temperature by 7K or more lasts for 15 minutes, for example, the cooling capacity by the cooling device is increased than the cooling capacity based on control of a controlled operation controller so that even if a door 17 is frequently opened/closed and the inside temperature tends to gradually rise, it can be detected at an early stage and kept close to the set temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaga, Naoshi Kondo, Yoshiyasu Suzuki, Akihiko Hirano, Tadashi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20080163633
    Abstract: An auxiliary air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, in particular a truck comprising a tractor provided with a driving cab and possibly a sleeper compartment, and a primary air-conditioning system connected to the main engine and to the battery of the truck. The auxiliary air-conditioning system is totally independent of the primary air-conditioning system of the truck and is formed by an external unit designed to be set on the outside of the driving cab and/or of the sleeper compartment, and by at least one heat-exchange unit, which is hydraulically and electrically connected to the external unit and is designed to be set inside the driving cab and/or inside the sleeper compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: LOMBARDINI S.R.L. A SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Marco Magri, Davide Bandiera
  • Publication number: 20080163634
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for construction and agricultural vehicles is disclosed. A case includes an air-mix chamber into which blown air flows after passing through a cooling heat exchanger. The blown air that has flowed into the air-mix chamber flows out through a front face opening and a rear face opening. The front face opening and the rear face opening are arranged in such a manner that a first angle between the inflow direction in which the blown air flows into the air-mix chamber and a first outflow direction in which the blown air flows out from the front face opening is not smaller than a second angle between the inflow direction and a second outflow direction in which the blown air flows out from the rear face opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20080163635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling and/or freezing device, in particular a refrigerator, upright freezer or chest freezer, comprising an evaporator for cooling air, a blower for supplying the cooled air into the interior of the cooling and/or freezing device, and a first heating means for de-icing the evaporator, wherein a second heating means is provided, which is arranged such that during operation of the second heating means the temperature of the blower surface lies above the dew point of the air present in the vicinity of the blower at least in certain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERATE OCHSENHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Christian Schropp
  • Publication number: 20080163636
    Abstract: A turbulence creating energy saving device which is installed on top of the air conditioner or refrigeration condenser or cooling tower. The device directs the hot air leaving the condenser or cooling tower straight up forcing the hot airflow through a series of fixed blades, causing the air to spiral creating a turbulence, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing through the cylindrical tube, in turn moving a larger amount of air through the condenser. The condensers function is to dissipate heat and requires as much air as possible flowing through it in order to do so. The top of the device has a cowling with a reduced output diameter to reduce the output noise level. Many condensers and cooling towers are installed in confined areas where airflow is insufficient to cool the unit efficiently, therefore must run much longer, wasting electricity and shortening the life expectancy of the condenser or cooling tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Gerard Alfred Godbout, Debra Ann Claire Godbout
  • Publication number: 20080163637
    Abstract: A shell-and-tube evaporator of a refrigerant system includes a refrigerant inlet distributor that traps a pocket of gaseous refrigerant to displace liquid refrigerant underneath the evaporator's tube bundle, thereby reducing the total charge of refrigerant in the evaporator. In some embodiments, the distributor comprises four sections interconnected by a central refrigerant feed line, which properly apportions the refrigerant to the four sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: H. Kenneth Ring, Kenneth J. Schultz, Steven J. Pitts, Ronald M. Cosby, Brian T. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20080163638
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming ice inside a helical refrigerated tube and harvesting the ice by warming the tube is provided. The device uses water pressure to push the ice out of the evaporator. At least a portion of the body of the evaporator is formed by extrusion. The evaporator can be made from aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
  • Publication number: 20080163639
    Abstract: The ice making apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of ice trays are arranged in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions, and that the ice tray arranged in the front row and the ice tray arranged in the rear row are rotated to face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Gue Sec HWANG
  • Publication number: 20080163640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an impingement freezer (1) comprising an outer housing (2) having side walls (3), ceiling (4) and floor (5), where the outer housing (2) comprises gas condition means (6), preferably for cooling gas and encloses a high-pressure chamber (7) formed by one or more ventilators (8) for circulating the gas, side panels (9) and a perforated plate (10), where the high-pressure chamber (7) is positioned so that the perforated plate (10) is facing a conveyor belt (11) for transporting products allowing the gas to be impinged through the perforated plate (10) onto the conveyor belt (11), which is arranged in a zone (19) between the perforated plate (10) and a plate member (12), and where the side walls (3) and the side panels (9) provides a return access channel (18) for the circulated gas, and the zone (19) is provided with at least one open side (20), which is open towards the return access channel (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Erik Benned Petersen
  • Publication number: 20080163641
    Abstract: A water dispenser including a light source that shines into a column of water produced by a nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle may be opaque, clear or semi-transparent. The water dispenser may be located in a household faucet, a refrigerator or any other appliance. The light source may vary in color to indicate either a consumer preference or a change in condition. The color selected may be controlled by a processor that is operatively connected to a display and/or one or more sensors. When in use, water is run through the nozzle to form a column. The light source shines into the column of water and may change color to indicate a preference or a change in condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: ALAN JOSEPH MITCHELL
  • Publication number: 20080163642
    Abstract: A first and a second expansion and compression machine (30, 40) having different volume ratios (Vc/Ve) are connected in parallel to a refrigerant circuit (10) of a refrigeration apparatus. Expanders (31, 41) of the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) are connected in parallel. Compressors (32, 42) of the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) are also connected in parallel. Upon variation in the operating condition of the refrigeration apparatus, the ratio of rotation speed between the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) is controlled by a controller (60). This, as a result, allows the refrigeration apparatus to operate at a COP close to an ideal condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Masakazu Okamoto, Katsumi Sakitani, Michio Moriwaki, Yume Inokuchi
  • Publication number: 20080163643
    Abstract: A beverage product includes a container having an interior volume and a frangible block of a frozen beverage material formed in the interior volume. The beverage product can further include a liquid beverage material disposed in the interior volume. In use, the frangible block of a frozen beverage material can be broken prior to consuming the beverage. The container can be made of a resilient material so as to allow the frangible block of a frozen beverage material to be broken. Another aspect of the present invention provides a vending machine capable of dispensing beverage products having frangible blocks of a frozen beverage material formed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Strunk
  • Publication number: 20080163644
    Abstract: A gas cooler and heat exchanger assembly comprises a gas cooler, including a cylindrical inlet header and a cylindrical outlet header, and a heat exchanger, including a first tank and a second tank, with at least a portion of each of the tanks being cylindrical and being an extension of and integral with each of the associated and aligned headers. In the first embodiment, the entirety of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. Each of the tanks is bisected thus defining a semi-cylindrical hot chamber and a semi-cylindrical cool chamber. In the second embodiment, only the cylindrical hot chamber of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. An additional box-shaped structure defines a box-shaped cool chamber disposed along and inwardly of each of the cylindrical hot chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, Xiaoxia Mu
  • Publication number: 20080163645
    Abstract: A natural gas processing method includes: a pretreatment process of obtaining a treated natural gas; an NGL recovery process of cooling the treated natural gas obtained in the pretreatment process to recover an NGL product composed of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons and to separate a lean gas; a sales gas production process of compressing a part of the lean gas separated in the NGL recovery process to obtain a high-pressure gas; and a natural gas liquefying process of cooling the high-pressure gas after the high-pressure gas is obtained by compressing the lean gas separated in the NGL recovery process, to thereby obtain the LNG product. In the natural gas processing method, a gas compressor used in the sales gas production process is used as a gas compressor in the natural gas liquefying process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: JGC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Konishi, Hidefumi Omori
  • Publication number: 20080163646
    Abstract: An adjustable ring according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a ring portion having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an opening for receiving a finger therethrough; a movable segment coupled to the ring portion and movable between a first position and a second position; and a spring element coupled to the ring portion and the movable segment to allow movement of the movable segment between the first position and the second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable ring further includes an insert portion coupled to an inner surface of the ring portion, the insert portion having an opening; and the movable segment coupled to the insert portion and having a surface movable through the insert portion opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HEARTS ON FIRE COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward CZAJKA, Puzant Khatchadourian, Hakob Melkonyan
  • Publication number: 20080163647
    Abstract: A jewelry arrangement having a mounting, a main gemstone positioned in the mounting, and a plurality of secondary gemstone positioned in the mounting underneath the main gemstone. The main gemstone can have a crown with a table and a pavilion, wherein the table can be positioned adjacent and at a first distance from the plurality of secondary gemstones. The main gemstone can also have a plurality of side which converge toward each other and have a plurality of facets. The sides can coverage towards a top which can be a second distance from the secondary gemstones such that the first distance is less than the second distance. An optical illusion can be created by orienting a main gemstone above a first number of secondary gemstones and configuring the main gemstone so that when the secondary gemstones are viewed through the main gemstone, a second number of secondary gemstones is visible such that the second number is greater than the first number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald Craig Rosen
  • Publication number: 20080163648
    Abstract: Glass panels are manufactured from cracked windshields and other pieces of safety glass. Manufacturing glass panels from cracked safety glass prevents the cracked safety glass from being placed into landfills. The method of manufacturing glass panels from cracked safety glass does not require melting the glass and thus provides a low energy solution for recycling cracked safety glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Sundholm, Karen Irene Miller, Yvette Clark
  • Publication number: 20080163649
    Abstract: A colorant for a high redox glass composition comprising: total iron (Fe2O3) 0 to 1.1 weight percent; and from 0.0001 to 0.15 weight percent of at least one of the following: Cu nanostructures, Au nanostructures, or Ag nanostructures, wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of the glass composition. The colorant of the invention can be used to make glass compositions having various colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Mehran Arbab, Larry Shelestak, Songwei Lu
  • Publication number: 20080163650
    Abstract: A three dimensional spacer fabric including a unitary, integral spacer fabric formed from interknitted layers, including a first layer of fabric, a second interconnecting layer and a third layer of fabric, wherein the third layer further includes loops of yarn protruding outward with loop apex points providing a looped surface on one side of the fabric for functioning with hook-and-loop type fasteners, and methods of making said fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald M. Sytz
  • Publication number: 20080163651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple laundry treating apparatus. The multiple laundry treating apparatus includes a laundry machine body, an auxiliary body mounted at one side of the laundry machine body, the auxiliary body having a volume and height less than that of the laundry machine body, the auxiliary body being provided with a laundry receiving space, and an air supply unit for forcibly supplying air into the auxiliary body, wherein at least some components of the air supply unit are mounted in the laundry machine body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seong Hae Jeong, Seong Jin Jo
  • Publication number: 20080163652
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a pyrotechnic safe and arm interrupter 98 may be constructed with an external lock casing 2, longitudinally extending bolt 3, washer 4, spring 5, retaining ring 8 and interlocking element 9 that may be configured in various shapes and features corresponding with a safety release component. A key 10 may be constructed with key stem 11, handle 12 and two pairs of teeth 13, 14 of different diameters radially protruding from successively reduced diameters along a distal portion of key stem 11. Lock 1 may be installed with notch 19 in alignment with a corresponding feature of the safe and arm interrupter mechanism and fastened in place with mounting holes 20 so that only mounting flange 17 and the key access 18 are external to the interrupter device, panel or door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Leonid Shatskin
  • Publication number: 20080163653
    Abstract: A locking cable device, which generally inhibits the theft of portable and more specifically inhibits the theft of expensive, electronic devices such as computers, laptops, and projectors. The security device works by use of a hook that hooks through an opening in an outside wall of the equipment to be secured. The hole can be an existing hole in the outside wall of the equipment, either round, square, or rectangular, such as a vent slot or security slot. A user may also add the opening by merely drilling an aperture or slot, sized appropriately for the corresponding hook on the security device. The hooked position is maintained by use of a housing locked on to the cable, close enough to the equipment being secured that the hook cannot be moved to an angle necessary for removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Scott R. Anderson