Patents Issued in April 11, 2017
  • Patent number: 9618228
    Abstract: An improved airflow delivery system (1) comprising an air moving element (3) configured to move air in a flow path, a chamber (19) in the flow path configured to receive product (9), an air transfer chamber (11) comprising an inlet (10) of a selected area for receiving air in the flow path in a first direction (x-x) and an outlet (14) of a selected area greater than the area of the inlet for discharging air in the flow path in a second direction (y-y) different from the first direction, an airflow divider (33) extending across the air transfer outlet and configured to divide airflow in the flow path, an airflow directional (15) extending across the flow path downstream of the airflow divider and upstream of the chamber, the airflow directional having an upstream inlet face (28a) and a downstream outlet face (29c) and configured to receive airflow at the inlet face and split the airflow into multiple separated sub-paths (27) within the flow path and to discharge the airflow from the downstream outlet face subs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Harper International Corporation
    Inventors: Renee M. Bagwell, William J. Stry
  • Patent number: 9618229
    Abstract: Provided is a heat exchange device that facilitate assembling of a plurality of heat exchangers. The heat exchange device having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger arranged adjacent to each other so that surfaces of the heat exchangers face each other. A first mounting plate fixed to the side surface of the first heat exchanger, and a second mounting plate fixed to the side surface of the second heat exchanger are fastened and fixed to each other so as to face each other. The first mounting plate has a space of a size such that the second mounting plate can be fixed to the first mounting plate so as to face each other. Insertion holes are formed in the space so as to receive therein tube ends of refrigerant tubes in a plurality of stages, the tube ends laterally projecting from the second mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Shiborino
  • Patent number: 9618230
    Abstract: A PTC heater having a heat conductor, a first end cover, a second end cover, and a PTC heating element. The heat conductor includes a duct for accommodating a PTC heating element, a first liquid passage channel, and a second liquid passage channel. The first end cover is coupled to one end of the heat conductor and includes a first and a second compartment, a water inlet, and a water outlet. The water inlet is in fluid communication with the first compartment and the first liquid passage channel, and the water outlet is in fluid communication with the second compartment and the second liquid passage channel. The second end cover is coupled to the other end of the heat conductor. The first and second liquid passage channels are in fluid communication with each other via an internal space of the second end cover to form a closed liquid circulation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Bestway Inflatables & Materials Corp.
    Inventor: Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 9618231
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a controller for a multistage gas furnace, a multistage gas furnace and computer readable medium for performing a method to operate a furnace. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a corrosion reducer configured to ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation based on if an indoor circulating fan of the gas furnace is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
  • Patent number: 9618232
    Abstract: Modifications convert an existing single-pass boiler to operate with a multi-pass combustion gas flow through the flue passages of the heat exchanger of the boiler. A diverting target wall is arranged partway along the length of the original combustion chamber, and an upper draft diverter is arranged in a flue collector chamber above the flue passages, to divert some or all of the combustion gas into a multi-pass flow pattern through several flue passages of the heat exchanger in series. The modifications may further include changing the nozzle oil delivery rate and cone angle, the oil supply pressure, the draft conditions, and others. Heat extraction from the hot combustion gas to the boiler water is increased, exhaust gas temperature is decreased, and overall efficiency is increased, to result in a fuel and cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Theodore S. Brown
  • Patent number: 9618233
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a water heater appliance is operating on a timer switch is provided. The method includes determining a power on time interval between a previous power interruption and a current power interruption if the current power interruption is a long power outage and establishing that the water heater appliance is not operating with a timer switch if the power on time interval is greater than a threshold time interval. A related water heater appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Alan Farris, Barrett Wilson Brown, Michelle Diana Gross
  • Patent number: 9618234
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes: a main refrigerant circuit (21) having a compressor (1), a radiator (2), a first expansion mechanism (5), a second expansion mechanism (6), and an evaporator (4); an injection passage (22) for supplying an intermediate-pressure refrigerant to an injection port 1c of the compressor 1; and a water circuit (30) through which water to be heated in the radiator (2) flows. The refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes a sub heat exchanger (3) for cooling the water in the water circuit (30) by exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the injection passage (22) and the water to be heated in the radiator (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kou Komori, Yuichi Yakumaru, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9618235
    Abstract: Condensation occurs on an indoor fan. In an air conditioner of the present invention, an indoor heat exchanger includes an auxiliary heat exchanger 20 and a main heat exchanger 21 disposed leeward from the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. The auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is disposed forward of a front heat exchanger 21a of the main heat exchanger 21. In an operation in a predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a liquid refrigerant supplied to the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 all evaporates midway in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. Then, the refrigerant having flowed through a superheat region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 flows through a portion of the front heat exchanger 21a which portion is located leeward from an evaporation region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Haikawa
  • Patent number: 9618236
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat source unit, a usage-side unit, and a usage-side controller. The heat source unit has a heat source-side compressor for compressing a heat source-side refrigerant, and a heat source-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as an evaporator of the heat source-side refrigerant. The usage-side unit is connected to the heat source unit and has a capacity-variable-type usage-side compressor for compressing a usage-side refrigerant, a usage-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as a radiator of the heat source-side refrigerant and functioning as an evaporator of the usage-side refrigerant, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger capable of functioning as a radiator of the usage-side refrigerant and heating an aqueous medium. The usage-side controller performs usage-side capacity variation control for incrementally varying the operating capacity of the usage-side compressor during a usual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., DAIKIN EUROPE N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9618237
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a converting unit, an accumulator, and injection module, a supercooling valve, and an injection valve. The injection module expands and vaporizes a portion of refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger in the heating operation. The supercooling valve is disposed between the injection module and the accumulator and is opened to direct the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the accumulator in the heating operation and then closed after a predetermined time passes. The injection valve is disposed between the injection module and the compressor and is opened when the supercooling valve is closed in the heating operation, thereby injecting the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongsu Kim, Beomchan Kim, Younghwan Ko, Byoungjin Ryu
  • Patent number: 9618238
    Abstract: Provided is an adsorption refrigerator that achieves high cooling capacity while reducing the volume the device as a whole occupies. The adsorption refrigerator according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which only one adsorption reactor is positioned directly above a first lower-layer adsorption reactor and a second lower-layer adsorption reactor. In addition, the adsorption refrigerator according to the present embodiment performs sequence control in which one of the first lower-layer adsorption reactor and the second lower-layer adsorption reactor keeps performing an adsorption process, whereas the other one changes processes of preheating, desorption, precooling, and adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Atsushi Akisawa, Mizanur Rahman
  • Patent number: 9618239
    Abstract: The magnetic refrigerating device according to one embodiment includes a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container that is filled with a magnetic material and that can move in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at the end of the magnetic material container. The magnetic refrigerating device also includes a magnetic-field applying/removing mechanism that is provided at the outside of the fixed container, and that can apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and can generate a magnetic torque to the magnetic material container in moving direction of the magnetic material container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayashi, Akiko Saito, Shiori Kaji
  • Patent number: 9618240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerant cooling and/or condensing apparatus, system and method. Specifically, the present invention provides a cooling apparatus for cooling and condensing refrigerant from air conditioners, refrigerators, and other like mechanical cooling devices for collecting the same. Specifically, the cooling apparatus comprises a cold plate having a cooling coil, a heat plate with one or more heat sinks attached thereto wherein heat is transferred from the cold plate to the heat plate, and a fan for cooling the heat plate, further wherein gaseous refrigerant is sent through the coil, and heat is removed therefrom and transferred to the heat plate. The cooled refrigerant is then easily collected in a tank or other receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Randy Prohaska
  • Patent number: 9618241
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus controls that a discharge temperature does not become too high with a refrigerant whose compressor discharge temperature readily rises, and thus suppress degradation of the refrigerant and a refrigerating machine oil. An injection pipe that injects a heat source side refrigerant into a compressor is installed, connected a pipe between a backflow prevention device and an opening and closing device installed on a branching pipe, and an aperture unit in the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Katsuhiro Ishimura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 9618242
    Abstract: A thermal storage heat pump system transfers heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle from at least one of a thermal storage device and ambient air. Heat from the thermal storage device is absorbed by a first coolant flowing through it, and is transferred to a refrigerant via a first heat exchanger. The heat is then transferred from the refrigerant to a second coolant via a second heat exchanger, and then from the second coolant to air flowing into the passenger compartment via a heater core. Heat from ambient air is absorbed by the refrigerant via a third heat exchanger. The heat source is determined by at least one of the thermal storage device temperature, ambient air temperature, and ambient air humidity. At start-up of the vehicle, heat transfer to the refrigerant and to the second coolant is controlled based on low-side and high-side pressure measurements of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon
  • Patent number: 9618243
    Abstract: A rotary valve for an adsorption heat pump may include a cylindrical valve body, arranged rotatably about a central axis in a predetermined rotation direction with an outer covering and two front plates. A plurality of counter-directional high temperature connections may be arranged on the outer covering for connecting a high temperature heat source. A plurality of counter-directional medium temperature connections may be arranged on the outer covering for connecting a medium temperature heat sink. A plurality of sorption module connections may be arranged on the front plates for connecting a plurality of corresponding sorption modules. A duct system may pass through the valve body for directing a fluid, and a throttle, integrated into the valve body, may be included for constricting a flow cross-section at a throttle site of the duct system. The duct system may include open ducts and closed ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Burk, Matthias Stripf
  • Patent number: 9618244
    Abstract: An exemplary evaporating unit for cooling a heat emitting device includes a cooling circuit having a stack of evaporating units arranged alternately with heat emitting devices. Each evaporating unit is connected to a condenser and includes a first inlet channel, a first plurality of evaporation channels, and a first outlet channel. The evaporating unit is designed for pre-heating the cooling fluid flowing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Anders Blomberg, Bruno Agostini, Jing Ni, Jürgen Hafner, Mathieu Habert
  • Patent number: 9618245
    Abstract: A body of an ejector includes a diffuser passage, in which an ejection refrigerant jetted from a nozzle passage and a suction refrigerant drawn from a suction passage are mixed together and pressurized by arranging a passage formation member, and a gas-liquid separation space, in which the refrigerant flowing out of the diffuser passage is separated into gas and liquid by the action of a centrifugal force. An inlet part of an oil return passage that is open in the gas-liquid separation space is arranged at a position closer to an outer peripheral side than to an axis center of the passage formation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yokoyama, Haruyuki Nishijima, Etsuhisa Yamada, Daisuke Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9618246
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a refrigerant circuit between a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor that includes two conduits and pressure reducing devices arranged in parallel between the evaporator and the condenser. The appliance also includes a valve system to direct refrigerant through one, both or none of the conduits and pressure reducing devices, and a heat exchanging member in thermal contact with either one pressure reducing device, or one conduit between the pressure reducing device and the valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Litch, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9618247
    Abstract: A system supplies a fluid to an evaporator of a refrigeration unit and has first and second lines connected to a fluid inlet of the evaporator. The system has an expansion valve with a continuously modifiable first flow cross section, disposed in the first line, the continuously modifiable first flow cross section setting a first mass flow through the first line. A shut-off device is disposed in the second line and switchable discretely between an open position and a closed position. A throttle with a constant second flow cross section is disposed in the second line. A control unit continuously modifies the first flow cross section of the expansion valve and controls the shut-off device as a function of the first flow cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alexander Jekimow, Karl-Heinz Petry, Giuseppe Tramaglino
  • Patent number: 9618248
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery and recharge device and a method to recharge oil to refrigeration equipment is disclosed. The refrigerant recovery and recharge device comprises a valve block which is adapted to establish fluid communication between the device and refrigeration equipment and a recharge path adapted to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment through an outlet in the valve block. The device further comprises at least a first oil container and a second oil container and the valve block comprises a valve with a first inlet and a second inlet. The first oil container is in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second oil container is in fluid communication with the second inlet to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment. The method for recharging oil recharges oil either from the first oil container or the second oil container in dependence of the type of fuel used in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Venkatesh Gorur Krishna Iyengar
  • Patent number: 9618249
    Abstract: A voltage-command correction-value computation unit outputs a correction value for correcting a voltage command value according to a bus voltage. A multiplier calculates a voltage command value acquired by correcting the voltage command value based on the correction value. A voltage-command generation unit generates and outputs three-phase voltage command values based on the corrected voltage command value calculated by the multiplier and a phase. A PWM-signal generation unit generates six drive signals corresponding to switching elements of an inverter based on the three-phase voltage command values outputted by the voltage-command generation unit and a carrier signal. The PWM-signal generation unit outputs the generated drive signals to the corresponding switching elements of the three-phase inverter, to cause the inerter to generate a high-frequency AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Hatakeyama, Shinya Matsushita, Shinsaku Kusube, Tsutomu Makino
  • Patent number: 9618250
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a water storage vessel configured to be mounted to the door of the refrigerator, a supply passage configured to connect the storage space of the water storage vessel to an ice making apparatus and dispenser to supply the water in the water storage vessel to the ice making apparatus and the dispenser, a valve installed at an intersection of the supply passage and configured to perform a passage conversion, and a pump configured to pump the water in the water storage vessel so that the water flows to the supply passage, wherein the water storage vessel is provided with a water storage vessel lever capable of changing the position of at least one portion of the supply passage so that the at least one portion of the supply passage is connected to/disconnected from a remaining portion of the supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Min Park
  • Patent number: 9618252
    Abstract: A cooler insert comprising a hexahedrical container having an exterior surface and a hollow interior forming a fluid-tight reservoir containing a refrigerant material. The hexahedrical container includes a plurality of deep beverage receptacles on the top side of its exterior surface and a plurality of shallow beverage receptacles on the bottom side of its exterior surface. The design and configuration of the beverage receptacles enables a single cooler insert to be used alone or multiple cooler inserts to be used in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce C. Andrews
  • Patent number: 9618253
    Abstract: Refrigerators that can be used in the storage and transport of vaccines are disclosed. A refrigerator has a payload container (20) within which items can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The payload container (20) is submerged in a reservoir (21) that contains water. The reservoir has a cooling region containing the payload container and a headspace containing water that is, in use, higher than the payload container. Cooling means, that might include a refrigeration unit (30) having cooling elements (32) or a cold thermal mass can cool water within the headspace. Where there is a refrigeration unit, a power supply, typically solar powered, can act as a source of power for the refrigeration unit. Embodiments may include a freezer compartment close to the cooling elements (32). Alternatively, the cooling region includes a pipe manifold within the payload container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THE SURE CHILL COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Tansley
  • Patent number: 9618254
    Abstract: A refrigerator as disclosed herein may include a refrigerator body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment, a cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigeration compartment using a first refrigerant, and a thermosyphon that includes a pipe for a second refrigerant to flow. The pipe may have a first section having a first prescribed shape for condensing refrigerant and a second section having a second prescribed shape for vaporizing refrigerant. A valve may be provided at the pipe to operate the thermosyphon. The cooling circuit and the thermosyphon may be operated independently. The thermosyphon may provide auxiliary cooling for the refrigeration chamber when the cooling circuit is not operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ilhyeon Jo, Seokjun Yun, Taehee Lee, Younghoon Yun
  • Patent number: 9618255
    Abstract: A personal safety system in the form of a refuge chamber includes at least one main room and a cooling device provided for cooling the ambient air of the main room in the form of a CO2 cooling system (10). The CO2 cooling system (10) has a heat exchanger (28) and a first and a second pressure reducer (20, 32) upstream and downstream of heat exchanger (28), respectively. The heat exchanger (28) has a plurality of alternatingly or cyclically usable cooling coils. A process is provided for the operation of such a refuge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Matthias Lühr
  • Patent number: 9618256
    Abstract: An automatically adjustable swing seal for a rack-aisle freezing and chilling system extends, for example, from the top horizontal frame member of a racking structure and defines an intake opening along with side seals and a bottom seal. The swing seal is positioned at a height such that a product stack having a top edge positioned at any point along the face of the swing seat creates a seal between the intake opening and the stack via the swing seal, the side seals, and the bottom seal. Thus, stacks of varying heights may automatically be accommodated. Further, the bottom edge of the swing seal may be beveled, such that if a product stack is not evenly stacked a portion of the uneven stacking will not catch against the swing seal when the stack is pulled away from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tippmann Companies Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 9618257
    Abstract: A gas-flow cryostat adapted for dynamic temperature regulation using a fluid level sensor; the cryostat further including one or more heaters coupled to various components of the cryostat. As fluid evaporates from a liquid cryogen evaporation reservoir within the cryostat, the fluid level sensor and a feedback control unit are adapted to monitor and dynamically control the level of evaporating cryogen by regulating the heaters. Accordingly, the cryostat is adapted to dynamically control temperature about a specimen region within the cryostat. The cryostat can be used in various applications, including analytical laboratory equipment for measuring various physical properties of samples. Temperature sensors are further incorporated for added control and optimization of the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTUM DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Randall Black, Dinesh Martien, William Neils
  • Patent number: 9618258
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice making unit. The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration cycle including a refrigerant pipe to supply cooling energy to an ice making compartment, and a fixing member to fix a first portion of the refrigerant pipe, at least a second portion of the refrigerant pipe supported by and inserted into the ice making compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Shik Shin, Sang Hyun Park, Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 9618260
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include an input device that receives an input for setting an operation requirement, a fan that blows air according to the set operation requirement, an illumination system that illuminates a closed curve region, a case having the fan provided therein and at least one air outlet formed therein for discharging air outward from the closed curve, and a lighting controller that controls the illumination system to generate an indicator of a flow direction of air being discharged through the at least one air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yunjoong Kang
  • Patent number: 9618261
    Abstract: The present techniques are directed to a system and method for generating power and producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). The system includes a power plant configured to generate power, wherein an exhaust gas from the power plant provides a gas mixture including nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The system also includes a dehydration system configured to dehydrate the gas mixture to generate a nitrogen refrigerant stream and a refrigeration system configured to produce LNG from a natural gas stream using the nitrogen refrigerant stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Stanley O. Uptigrove, Russell H. Oelfke, O. Angus Sites
  • Patent number: 9618262
    Abstract: A column deluge suppression system for suppressing a hazard occurring in a grain dryer includes a plurality of vertical column sections and a segmented, annular manifold. The manifold is positioned around the upper section of the grain dryer in proximity to the grain columns. The manifold includes a plurality of elongated deluge drops that extend toward the grain column openings and permit water to drench the grain columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Custom Dryer Suppression System, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9618263
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for drying a material to liberate a substance such as a liquid having a vapor pressure from solids and/or dissolved substances in the material. The system includes a plenum chamber and a blower providing a stream of air to the plenum chamber. An outlet communicates with the plenum chamber and a velocity accelerator is disposed downstream of the outlet. The velocity accelerator is arranged to receive air from the outlet of the plenum chamber into a progressively narrowing interior passageway terminating at a downstream choke point orifice. The choke point orifice discharges into a larger diameter discharge region. A throttle body is disposed in the discharge region and is selectively movable toward and away from the choke point orifice to decrease or increase the volume of the discharge region. A passageway is formed through the throttle body for receiving flashed material from the discharge region and conveying the material in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Flash Rockwell Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Hogan
  • Patent number: 9618264
    Abstract: A device and method for dehydrating products, through gasifying the humidity in the air or on any wet element through the application of air, heat and magnetic fields. Such a process would be useful for the drying of clothing, grain, food and other industrial uses. In a separate implementation, measure addition of moisture to the air or gas in the system could be used to generate hydrogen and/or oxygen via a gas separator, such as the membrane units in use today. The magnetic fields used may be built using electromagnetic and/or permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Elberto Berdut-Teruel
  • Patent number: 9618265
    Abstract: A method of tapping a steelmaking furnace comprised of determining a desired level of steel to be attained in a ladle, and calculating the weight of molten steel that will be present when the desired level is attained following a transfer of molten steel from the furnace to the ladle. The furnace is operated such that slag is formed on top of molten steel contained therein. The furnace is moved to a first position to cause transfer of molten steel to the ladle to begin. The transfer of molten steel from the furnace to the ladle is continued, and at the first occurrence of molten steel attaining the desired level in the ladle, molten steel attaining a maximum allowable weight in the ladle, or an excessive amount of slag being present upon the molten steel in the ladle, transfer of molten steel to the ladle is ceased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nupro Corporation
    Inventors: Frank L. Kemeny, David I. Walker
  • Patent number: 9618266
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a ladle metallurgy furnace having an improved roof structure. The improved roof may comprise an internal surface structure having a substantially smooth exterior surface, an external surface structure spaced apart from the internal surface structure, a plurality of channels that are defined intermediate the internal and external surface structures, a supply port in fluid communication with at least one channel through the second surface structure and in further fluid communication with a supply line, and a return port in fluid communication with at least one channel through the external surface structure and in further fluid communication with a return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Superior Machine Co. of South Carolina, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Carraway
  • Patent number: 9618267
    Abstract: Graphite is produced from powder as a carbon source by means of a graphitization furnace. The graphitization furnace is comprised of: an electrically conductive crucible including a hollow configured to house the powder; an electrode including a columnar shaft and a head provided at an end of the shaft, the head having a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a hemisphere, a column with a rounded edge, a cone, and a cone with a rounded tip; and a power source configured to apply electric current to the powder through the crucible and the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, IHI Machinery and Furnace Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Matsuda, Kazumi Mori
  • Patent number: 9618268
    Abstract: An evaporative condenser radiating module for steam exhaust of a steam turbine comprises tube bundles and steam-water separating chambers. A steam-water separating chamber (4) between a section A and a section B, a section A downflow cooling section tube bundle (3), a section B downflow cooling section tube bundle (5), and a counter flow cooling section tube bundle (8) are disposes at the left side of a central steam-water separating chamber (7). An upper sealed space (10) of the steam-water separating chamber (4) between the section A and the section B is in communication with the central steam-water separating chamber (7) through the counter flow cooling section tube bundle (8). A lower sealed space of the steam-water separating chamber (4) between the section A and the section B is in communication with the central steam-water separating chamber (7) through the section B downflow cooling section tube bundle (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Shanxi Electric Power Research Institute, Shanxi Electric Power Company
    Inventors: Honghui Shi, Qingzhong Ma, Jin Wang, Jiayong Lu, Longying Zhang, Zhigang Bai
  • Patent number: 9618269
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes. In a flow divider, a part of a plurality of capillary tubes is connected to an open end portion on a side of a front tube plate, and a remainder of the plurality of the capillary tubes is connected to an open end portion on a side of a rear tube plate. The plurality of refrigerant tubes include even number refrigerant tubes constituted by an even number of heat transfer tube portions and odd number refrigerant tubes constituted by an odd number of heat transfer tube portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kikuchi, Kanji Akai, Yoshio Oritani, Hideki Sawamizu, Masanori Jindou, Yoshiharu Michitsuji
  • Patent number: 9618270
    Abstract: A high-velocity low-pressure cooling system (100), especially suited for data center applications, includes an air coolant loop (102), a non-air coolant loop (104) and a cooler unit (126) for heat transfer between the loops (102 and 104). The air loop (102) is used to chill ambient air that is blown across heat transfer surfaces of equipment mounted in data center racks (110). In this manner, effective cooling is provided using a coolant that is benign in data center environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Chapel, William Pachoud
  • Patent number: 9618271
    Abstract: A device for the exchange of heat between a first and a second medium with pairs of trays stacked one on top of the other in a stacking direction is provided, wherein a first flow chamber that can be flowed through by a first medium is provided between the two trays of at least one pair of trays or several pairs of trays and a second flow chamber that can be flowed through by a second medium is provided between two pairs of trays adjacent to one another, wherein the first flow chamber has first flow path with flow path sections that can be flowed through consecutively in opposite directions for the first medium, which are separated from one another by a division wall arranged between the at least two trays of the at least one pair of trays, and wherein the second flow chamber has a second flow path for the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Diem, Eberhard Pantow, Ulrich Maucher, Peter Geskes, Martin Kaemmerer, Michael Schmidt, Klaus Irmler, Jens Holdenried, Steffen Brunner
  • Patent number: 9618272
    Abstract: This invention provides a temperature and humidity independent control air conditioning system, comprising a high temperature cooling unit, a low temperature cooling unit, a humidity processing unit, and an indoor unit, wherein the coolant with a first temperature provided by the high temperature cooling unit flows into the indoor unit and then its temperature becomes a second temperature; the coolant with a third temperature provided by the low temperature cooling unit flows into the humidity processing unit; the coolant with the second temperature is divided to the low temperature cooling unit. With this invention, temperature and humidity independent control can be realized with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: YuHui Kuang, Chungang Wang
  • Patent number: 9618273
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a waste heat recovery and conversion system are disclosed. The system may include a modular heat exchanger whose energy source is provided by waste heat energy transporting fluids transferring their energy to a working fluid. The working fluid may be in a liquid state contained in a reservoir hydraulically connected to a high-pressure heat transfer chamber. The high-pressure heat transfer chamber may be configured to receive thermal energy utilized to convert the working fluid into a superheated vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Claudio Filippone
  • Patent number: 9618274
    Abstract: A thermal module with enhanced assembling structure includes a base and a heat pipe. The base is formed on a middle portion with a longitudinal receiving recess, which has two end portions forming two supporting portions and a middle portion formed into an opening. A first and a second extended arm are formed at junctions between the receiving recess and two longitudinal sides of the opening. Wall surfaces of the first and second extended arms adjacent to the longitudinal sides of the opening are formed with alternating elevated and sunken areas. The heat pipe is held down in the receiving recess by the first and second extended arms to fitly engage with the elevated and sunken areas. Therefore, there is an increased fitting tightness between the heat pipe and the base to ensure enhanced assembling strength of the thermal module and reduce the manufacturing cost thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Huang Lin, Kuo-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 9618275
    Abstract: A heat pipe with a capillary structure that consists of heat conductive capillary grooves in the condenser region that meet with a porous wick in the evaporator section. The embodiments include several structures of the interface at the junction of the porous wick and the capillary grooves. One such interface is a simple butt joint. Others have interlocking shapes on the wick and the grooves such as parts of the wick that fit into or around the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Anderson, John R. Hartenstine, Kyle S. Van Riper, Calin Tarau, Christopher Peters
  • Patent number: 9618276
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for storing or releasing thermal energy by chemical reaction according to which a flow of heat-transfer gas is circulated through a layer (10) of a first hygroscopic salt A, then through a layer (20) of a second hygroscopic gas B, the gas being reactive with salts A and B, the thermodynamic equilibrium curve of salt A being located further to the left than that of second salt B in a pressure-temperature phase diagram, the circulation of the flow of gas causing a dehydration or hydration reaction of both first salt A and second salt B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Gwennyn Tanguy, Foivos-Epameinon Marias, Joël Wyttenbach
  • Patent number: 9618277
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage installation including a thermal energy storage tank and a spider diffuser system mounted in said tank. The TES tank comprises an outer wall having a generally cylindrical inner surface surrounding a hollow internal space in the tank. The spider diffuser system comprises a centrally disposed manifold structure that is disposed in vertically spaced relationship relative to a thermocline formed in a temperature stratifiable liquid in the space during operation of the tank. The manifold structure has an internal chamber and includes an opening for introduction of a said liquid into the chamber or discharge of a said liquid from the chamber. The spider diffuser system also includes a diffuser pipe assembly comprising a plurality of elongated diffuser legs. Each of the legs is attached to the manifold structure so as to extend generally radially outwardly from the structure and toward the inner surface of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: CROM, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Talmadge Mincey
  • Patent number: 9618278
    Abstract: A microchannel heat exchanger (800) is manufactured by bonding a first sheet (802a) of material and a second sheet (802b) of material in a first connection pattern for integral formation of a core portion (801) and a manifold portion (808) for the first and second sheets (802a, 802b) of material. A third sheet (802c) of material is then superposed on to the second sheet (802b) of material and bonded in a second connection pattern to the second sheet of material for integral formation of the core portion (801) and the manifold portion (808) for the second and third sheets (802b, 802c) of material. The second and third sheets (802b, 802c) of material are bonded without bonding the second sheet (802b) of the material to the first sheet (802a) of material. The core portion (801) and the manifold portion (808) of the heat exchanger (800) are thus integrally created. The interstices between the first, second, and third sheets (802a, 802b, 802c) of material are then expanded to create fluid flow channels (806).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Denkenberger Thermal, LLC
    Inventor: David C. Denkenberger
  • Patent number: 9618279
    Abstract: A metal heat exchanger tube for the evaporation of liquids on the outside of the tube, having a tube axis, a tube wall, and integrally formed ribs that run circumferentially on the outside of the tube. The ribs have a rib foot, rib flanks, and a rib tip, wherein the rib foot projects substantially radially from the tube wall. A respective groove is located between every two ribs that are adjacent to one another in the axial direction. At least first, second, and third lateral material projections, which are formed from the material of the ribs, are arranged on a first, second, and third level on the rib flanks in such a way that the grooves are largely covered by all of the material projections. The first, second, and third lateral material projections are formed on levels that are in each case differently spaced apart from the tube wall in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: WIELAND-WERKE AG
    Inventors: Ronald Lutz, Andreas Beutler, Andreas Schwitalla, Markus Revermann, Christian Rettich