Patents Issued in July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9696053
    Abstract: A thermal image sensor and an air conditioner in which temperature data of significant pixels selected from all the pixels in an immediately preceding step are acquired by a thinning scanner, a human probability for each of the significant pixels is generated by a human probability generator, weight values for all the pixels are generated from the human probabilities for the significant pixels by a pixel weight calculator, and pixels having a larger weight value are selected, as the significant pixels to be used in the next step, by an all-pixel sorter, thereby assigning a larger number of pixels to a region in which there is a high probability that a person is existing while the number of significant pixels used in total is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Miwa, Makito Seki, Shintaro Watanabe, Takashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9696054
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a central plant for a building are provided. The central plant has a plant load. An optimal combination of plant equipment for meeting the plant load is estimated. Estimating the optimal combination of plant equipment includes using binary optimization to determine at least two potential combinations of plant equipment. Estimating the optimal combination of plant equipment also includes using nonlinear optimization to determine a potential power consumption minimum for each of the at least two potential combinations. The central plant is controlled according to the estimated optimal combination of plant equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 9696055
    Abstract: Controller technology, in which data specifying a user preference relating to an environmental parameter for a property is received. Based on data collected by a monitoring system, a location of one or more users within the property is identified. Environmental condition data for the property is accessed, the environmental condition data including environmental condition data for the location of the users within the property and other unoccupied locations within the property. The environmental condition data for the property is analyzed with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property. Based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, a setting for at least one component of an HVAC system is determined. The at least one component of the HVAC system is controlled according to the determined setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Goodman, Craig Carl Heffernan
  • Patent number: 9696056
    Abstract: The HVAC condition based maintenance system and method provides for a system to reduce operating costs by replacing existing time based scheduled maintenance with an on-condition based maintenance system and method for continuous monitoring and acquiring condition based data from an operating HVAC system, transmitting data to a remote server for storage, analysis and trending, recognizing operational performance reductions based on the comparison of current trending to historical data, and for triggering notification of failures and corrective action based on routine, impending and immediate problem recognition. Additionally, the acquired data is used to derive actual heat load characteristic of the building, identify HVAC system deficiencies, building deficiencies and installation issues and load imbalance of multi-unit systems providing direction for system improvements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: System ProWorks, Inc
    Inventor: Gary C. Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 9696057
    Abstract: A method for measuring HVAC efficiency is disclosed which may be used to test various heat transfer or passive elements within a HVAC system to determine whether any element, such as a cooling coil, heating coil, filter or mixer, is operating at an acceptable efficiency when compared to design specifications or previously established standards. The method may also be used to easily determine volumetric flow rate of air through the system at various points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Lance Rock
  • Patent number: 9696058
    Abstract: An HVAC Controller may include a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly releasably engageble with the first sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly may include a first housing and a printed circuit board capable of being secured relative to the first housing and capable of providing one or more signals. The second sub-assembly may include a second housing and a second printed circuit board capable of being secured relative to the second housing and capable of receiving the one or more signals from the first printed circuit boards when the first sub-assembly is releasably engaging the second sub-assembly. The first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board each may have one or more component mounted on sides facing one another, the components each extending a distance. The sum of the distances may be greater than a distance spacing the facing sides of the printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Novotny, Jaromir Cechak, Jiri Sapak, Eugene J. Takach, Reed Bisson
  • Patent number: 9696059
    Abstract: A combined heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (“HVACR”) system including an HVAC sub-system and a refrigeration sub-system. The HVAC sub-system is in communication with an open space of an indoor environment and includes a first condenser, a first evaporator, and a first compressor at least partially defining a first refrigerant circuit circulating a first refrigerant for selectively conditioning an airflow within the HVAC subsystem that conditions the open space. The refrigeration sub-system is in communication with an enclosed space within the indoor environment and includes a second condenser, a second evaporator, and a second compressor and at least partially defining a second refrigerant circuit circulating a second refrigerant for selectively conditioning the enclosed space. Heat from the second refrigerant is selectively transferred to the airflow within the second condenser to reheat the airflow prior to the airflow being discharged into the open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Norm E. Street, Roger J. Voorhis, Doron Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9696060
    Abstract: A temperature controlled air diffuser with a temperature-sensitive element alters the direction of the supply airstream passing through it and into a conditioned airspace, based on the temperature of the supply airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Paul E. Hohmann
  • Patent number: 9696061
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a heat pump water heater appliance with a mounting assembly for coupling a compressor to a plate within a casing of the heat pump water heater appliance. The mounting assembly includes a post that extends through a foot of the compressor and a fastener that extends through the bracket and the plate into the post in order to secure the bracket and the post together. An attachment mechanism secures the post and the foot of the compressor together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bryan Rissler, Jonathan D. Nelson, Noel Gabriel Aguilar, Alan George Constance
  • Patent number: 9696062
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing having intake and blow-out ports, a partition member dividing an interior of the casing, a heat exchanger, a centrifugal fan, and a heater. The centrifugal fan includes a bladed wheel having a plurality of rearward blades and sucks air existing in the heat exchanger compartment into the fan compartment through the fan entrance. The bladed wheel is mounted in the fan compartment such that a rotary shaft of the bladed wheel is oriented along an opening direction of the fan entrance and an opening direction of the blow-out port. The heater is mounted in a blow-out port opposed space. The blow-out port opposed space is a region opposed to the blow-out port within a fan downwind space. The fan downwind space is a space located on a downwind side of the bladed wheel within the fan compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamasaki, Tsunehisa Sanagi, Naofumi Yokoyama, Takashi Kashihara, Akihiko Mori
  • Patent number: 9696063
    Abstract: Cooling systems using adsorption are described. The cooling systems use an adsorption cycle without continuous heat input and over a long duration. The cooling system can function by vaporizing a liquid at a reduced pressure. The cooling systems have applications in developing countries, in both arid and non-arid regions, allowing, for example, for the operation of refrigerators and small air conditioners without electrical input. The cooling systems can be used for cold storage. The cooling systems can present a greener alternative to conventional cooling methods in developed countries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Anish Athalye
  • Patent number: 9696064
    Abstract: A thermo-magnetism cycle apparatus has a first magneto-caloric element (MCE) element on a low temperature side and a second MCE element on a high temperature side. A first heat transfer medium flows in the first MCE element and a second heat transfer medium flows in the second MCE element. A third MCE element has a first flow passage that flows the first heat transfer medium and a second flow passage that flows the second heat transfer medium. The third MCE element absorbs heat from the first heat transfer medium utilizing a magneto-caloric process and dissipates the absorbed heat partially to the second heat transfer medium. As such, the third MCE element actively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media via the magneto-caloric process. The third MCE element also passively transfers heat between the two heat transfer media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Torii, Naoki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9696065
    Abstract: We describe a refrigeration pill for an adiabatic solid-state magnetocaloric or electrocaloric refrigerator, the pill having longitudinal and transverse axes, said pill comprising: a housing divided along said longitudinal axis into first and second housing parts; wherein each of said housing parts comprises a thermally conducting metal skeleton within the respective said housing part; and wherein regions within said housing between elements of said skeleton comprise magnetocaloric or electrocaloric material. We also describe methods of manufacturing the pill, and various solid state refrigeration systems, and related apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Stelix Limited
    Inventors: Gilbert Lonzarich, Stephen Rowley
  • Patent number: 9696066
    Abstract: A bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting a refrigeration system for the same. The system includes an engine in energy supplying relation to a refrigeration unit, said engine running off a constant predetermined amount of gaseous fuel and a variable amount of distillate fuel. An electronic control unit generates control signals to dictate the ratio of gaseous to distillate fuel is used by the engine. An actuator is structured to provide isochronous control of the system, and is accordingly disposed in flow adjusting relation to the distillate fuel intake to variably adjust the amount of distillate fuel injected into the engine. The method of retrofitting includes at least inserting a gaseous fuel supply and mixer into the air supply line, inserting an electronic control unit for isochronous control of the system, and inserting an actuator for isochronous control of the amount of distillate fuel used in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Jason E. Green
  • Patent number: 9696067
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the heating of an airflow. According to certain embodiments, the temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and the speed of a compressor are used to determine a blower speed for a variable speed indoor air blower. The selected blower speed may facilitate a flow of air across a second, indoor heat exchanger at an indoor volumetric flow rate that heats the airflow to a leaving air temperature. The leaving air temperature may at least seek to attain the temperature of a variable target leaving air temperature that is adjusted based on changes in outdoor ambient temperatures. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the blower speed may be based on an indoor volumetric airflow rate that is determined, at least in part, on a determined system heating capacity and a temperature at the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Walter Rite, Don Alan Schuster, Drew Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9696068
    Abstract: In order to maintain a high cooling capability even in a case where a heating element has a lower calorific value, a boiling section of a heat receiving section in a phase change cooling apparatus includes a comb-shaped structure and a porous layer provided on a bottom portion of the comb-shaped structure between fins of the comb-shaped structure. With such a boiling section, a liquid film of a liquid phase refrigerant is forcedly made thinner. Thus, the liquid phase refrigerant is changed in phase into a gaseous phase refrigerant even in a case of a small difference between the temperature of the gaseous phase refrigerant and the temperature of the heat receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Arihiro Matsunaga, Minoru Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Sakamoto, Akira Shoujiguchi, Masaki Chiba, Kenichi Inaba
  • Patent number: 9696069
    Abstract: An ejector has a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, and an outlet. A primary flowpath extends from the primary inlet to the outlet and a secondary flowpath extends from the secondary inlet to the outlet, merging with the primary flowpath. A motive nozzle surrounds the primary flowpath upstream of a junction with the secondary flowpath. The motive nozzle has a throat and an exit. In one group of embodiments, an effective area of the exit is variable. In others, the needle may extend downstream from a flow control portion or may have an upstream convergent surface of a flow control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Hongsheng Liu, Jiang Zou, Frederick J. Cogswell, Jinliang Wang, Parmesh Verma
  • Patent number: 9696070
    Abstract: A flow rate regulation valve is used for a refrigeration cycle device for air conditioning. The flow rate regulation valve is constituted by: an inlet flow rate control valve connected to the inlet side of an inside evaporator and functioning in the refrigeration cycle device as an expansion valve for depressurizing and expanding a refrigerant flowing into the inside evaporator; and an outlet flow rate adjustment valve connected to the outlet side of the inside evaporator and functioning as an evaporation pressure adjustment valve for adjusting evaporation pressure in the inside evaporator to a predetermined target pressure at which frost is not formed. The flow rate regulation valve is characterized in that, when the opening of one of the inlet flow rate control valve and the outlet flow rate adjustment valve increases, the flow rate regulation valve displaces so that the opening of the other decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromi Ohta
  • Patent number: 9696071
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator applicable to a refrigeration system includes a cylindrical body, an inlet pipe fixedly connected to an upper end of the cylindrical body and an outlet pipe fixedly connected to a lower end of the cylindrical body, and further includes a gas guiding element, the gas guiding element further including a baffle, a flange located at one end of the baffle, and a bottom plate located at the other end of the baffle, the baffle being located above the outlet pipe and blocking a gas inlet of the outlet pipe; the flange being fixedly connected to an inner wall of the cylindrical body; and the bottom plate being fixedly connected to a side wall of a gas inlet end of the outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Pan, Zhijun Zhang, Jiabo Xing, Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 9696072
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerant service system to charge an air conditioning circuit includes pre-charging a predetermined pre-charge quantity of refrigerant into the air conditioning circuit, determining an average temperature in the air conditioning circuit based upon a pressure in the air conditioning circuit after pre-charging the air conditioning circuit, determining a charge compensation value based upon the determined average temperature in the air conditioning circuit, and charging the air conditioning circuit with a quantity of refrigerant based upon the charge compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mark W. McMasters, Dylan M. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9696073
    Abstract: A fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) system is provided for a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator and a compressor configured to circulate a refrigerant through the evaporator. The FDD system includes a communications interface configured to receive a measurement of a thermodynamic property affected by the refrigeration circuit and a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to use the measured thermodynamic property to determine an expected suction entropy of the refrigerant at a suction of the compressor, use the expected suction entropy to determine an expected thermodynamic discharge property of the refrigerant at a discharge of the compressor, determine an actual thermodynamic discharge property of the refrigerant at the discharge of the compressor, and detect a fault in the refrigeration circuit by comparing the expected thermodynamic discharge property with the actual thermodynamic discharge property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Andrew J. Boettcher, Saman Beyhaghi
  • Patent number: 9696074
    Abstract: A refrigerant compression system and method for controlling a refrigerant compression system are described. In some aspects, the refrigerant compression system includes a compressor system having a plurality of compression stages, a plurality of quench valves, a first suction temperature control circuit associated with a first quench valve, a second suction temperature control circuit associated a second quench valve, and a discharge temperature control circuit associated with a plurality of the quench valves. Quench valve settings are determined based on evaluation of one or more outputs from the suction temperature control circuits and the discharge temperature control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Ceccarelli, Jean Philippe Monge, Alex Benim
  • Patent number: 9696075
    Abstract: A container refrigeration device includes: a fan controller which reduces a rotation speed of an inside fan when a temperature inside a container is stabilized; and a rotation speed controller which reduces an operational rotation speed N of a compressor such that the temperature inside the container becomes equal to a target temperature as the fan controller reduces the rotation speed of the inside fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Fujimoto, Kazuma Yokohara, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9696076
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fan of a vapor compression system is disclosed. The vapor compression system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of a gas cooler or a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant circuit. The fan is arranged to provide a secondary fluid flow across the heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of an air flow. The method allows the electrical energy consumption of the fan to be reduced without risking instability of the vapor compression system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Jan Prins, Frede Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9696077
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a multi-capacity compressor and a refrigerant circuit with two conduits and pressure reducing devices arranged in parallel between an evaporator and a condenser. Refrigerant can flow through one, both or none of the conduits and pressure reducing devices. The appliance also has a heat exchanger in contact with either one pressure reducing device, or one conduit between the pressure reducing device and the valve system. The appliance also includes a controller for priming the compressor above a nominal capacity for a predetermined or calculated duration at the beginning of an ON-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Regio Gomes, Steven J. Kuehl, Andrew D. Litch, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9696078
    Abstract: The air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor; a heat source side heat exchanger; a use side pressure-reducing mechanism; a use side heat exchanger and an accumulator connected by a pipe so that a refrigerant circulates therethrough; a high-low pressure bypass pipe; a high-low pressure bypass unit installed in the high-low pressure bypass pipe; and a unit controller configured to perform a refrigerant amount detection operation in which an operation frequency of the compressor is controlled so that a value of an evaporating temperature becomes an evaporating temperature target value of the compressor to discharge a liquid-state refrigerant of the refrigerant from the accumulator, and control an opening degree of the high-low pressure bypass unit in performing the refrigerant amount detection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Kazuyoshi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 9696079
    Abstract: An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley
  • Patent number: 9696080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite bubble-type snowflake maker, including: a main machine, an air pipe, and a sprayer. The interior of a machine body of the main machine is provided with accommodating space, so as to enable a blower to send out wind power towards an air outlet, and enable a pump to outwardly transport bubble water along a bubble water pipe. An inlet of the air pipe is connected to the air outlet, so as to enable an outlet to be far away from the main machine, and a tail end of the bubble water pipe extends outwardly along the air pipe, so as to be connected to a bubble head. One end of a sprayer body of the sprayer is connected to the outlet of the air pipe, and the other end is provided with an air outlet pipe and a plurality of air outlet holes at an outer circumference of the air outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Antari Lighting & Effects, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping-Fa Hung
  • Patent number: 9696081
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement of a bubble-type snowflake maker. The interior of a machine body of a main machine is provided with accommodating space for disposing a blower that is used to send out wind power towards an air outlet pipe and an air outlet; a pump transports bubble water to a bubble head along a flexible bubble water pipe; a tail end of the air outlet pipe is sleeved with a cloth sleeve extending outwardly, and the bubble head of the bubble water pipe is disposed in the air outlet pipe; the air outlet is outwardly connected to a spray pipe having an inner pipe, and the air outlet pipe and the cloth sleeve extend into the pipe; the inner diameter of the inner pipe of the spray pipe is greater than the outer diameter of the air outlet pipe; and an inner annular toothed edge radially extends inwardly along a tail end of the inner pipe of the spray pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Antari Lighting & Effects, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping-Fa Hung
  • Patent number: 9696082
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing articles is arranged to deliver articles to selected stacking positions in two or more storage units. An article is dispensed to a first article transport and distribution section in a main storage unit, and then either delivered to a stacking position in the main unit or transported through a connecting window onto a second transport and distribution section in a satellite storage unit for delivery to a stacking position in that unit. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent bags of ice to selected stacking positions in each unit. Additional satellite storage units may be provided and included in the delivery sequence for distributing bags of ice throughout the units. The storage units may be refrigerated, merchandizing units for bagged ice, with the main storage unit associated with an ice bagged ice supply unit which dispenses bags of ice into the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: REDDY ICE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Henrik Pape
  • Patent number: 9696083
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which has an improved structure to increase insulating properties. The refrigerator includes a body including an inner casing and an outer casing, a storage compartment formed in the inner casing, an insulator provided between the inner casing and the outer casing to insulate the storage compartment, and a frame unit which is disposed between the adjacent insulators to ensure stiffness of the body and includes at least one coupling surface coupled with at least one of the inner casing and the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dae Whan Kim, Keon Kuk, Tae-Ho Song, Sung-Kie Youn, Kang Wonkyeong, Pilseong Kang, Yeo Inseok, Jaehyug Lee, Gil-Eon Jeong, Choi Bongsu
  • Patent number: 9696084
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having a cabinet defining a food storage chamber, a first door, a second door rotatably mounted to the outer surface of the first door, a light, a switch in operative communication with the light, and an actuator. The switch and actuator are configured to turn the light on when the first door is in the open position, to turn the light on when the second door is in the open position, and to turn the light off when both the first door and the second door are in the respective closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Phani Kumar Kalva, Bagawathkumar Chellappan, Satish Gundala
  • Patent number: 9696085
    Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigerator including a case having a storage chamber provided therein; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber to light an inner space of the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber (50) provided in the first door to define a storage space, the auxiliary storage chamber (50) accessible through an opening formed in the first door, a second door (30) rotatably coupled to the first door in the same direction as the first door, a front panel attached to a front surface of the second door (30), the front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film (120) attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit of the second door (30) on which the front panel is mount
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Soonho Jung, Jinhee Park
  • Patent number: 9696086
    Abstract: A system and method for producing liquefied natural gas are provided. The method may include compressing a process stream containing natural gas in a compression assembly to produce a compressed process stream. The method may also include removing non-hydrocarbons from the compressed process stream in a separator, and cooling the compressed process stream with a cooling assembly to thereby produce a cooled, compressed process stream containing natural gas in a supercritical state. The method may further include expanding a first portion and a second portion of the natural gas from the cooled, compressed process stream in a first expansion element and a second expansion element to generate a first refrigeration stream and a second refrigeration stream, respectively. The method may further include cooling the natural gas in the cooled, compressed process stream to a supercritical state with the first and second refrigeration streams to thereby produce the liquefied natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Ohart, Gregory W. Yonker
  • Patent number: 9696087
    Abstract: A method for separating air is provided, in which a flow of oxygen-rich liquid is sent to a top of a pure oxygen column, having a pure oxygen reboiler, in which said flow is purified in order to form a vessel liquid containing at least 98 mol % of oxygen and the vessel liquid is drawn off as a product. A supercharged airflow at a second pressure is sent to the pure oxygen reboiler and to a liquid oxygen vaporizer; a nitrogen-rich gas is drawn from the top of the medium-pressure column and sent to an intermediate reboiler of the low-pressure column and the condensed gas is sent to the top of the medium-pressure column; and a nitrogen-rich gas or air is sent to a vessel reboiler of the low-pressure column and the liquid that condenses therein is sent to the medium-pressure column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Benoit Davidian, Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Loïc Joly
  • Patent number: 9696088
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer for a textile fabric web, comprising a dryer chamber (2) and having at least one drum (3a) which is arranged in the dryer chamber (2) and around at least part of which the fabric web (5) is wrapped, wherein heated drying air flows through the fabric web (5) and is discharged via an interior chamber of the drum (3a), characterized in that the dryer (1) has a separate additional compartment (10) via which fresh air (11) is supplied and exhaust air (13) is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TRUETZSCHLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Böhn, Stephan Hajdu
  • Patent number: 9696089
    Abstract: Disclosed is a grain drying apparatus installed in a combine harvester. The grain drying apparatus using exhaust heat of a combine harvester according to the present invention comprises: an intake duct one end of which is connected to an exhaust port of the combine harvester and the other end of which outputs the hot air discharged from the exhaust port; a filter unit located at the other end of the intake duct for removing harmful components from the hot air; and an exhaust duct connected to the other end of the filter unit to supply the hot air from which the harmful components are removed to a grain selection pan of the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Gyeongsang National University
    Inventors: Hyeon-tae Kim, Sang-yoon Lee, Eun-gyu Choi, Byeong-eun Moon, Byung-ok Jin, Chi-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9696090
    Abstract: A thermal processing furnace for workpieces has a blowing hood in which a nozzle is installed, the nozzle blowing a gas flow to thermally process a workpiece, including a driving mechanism that adjusts a distance between the nozzle and a portion of the workpiece facing the nozzle so that the gas flow blown from the nozzle impinges on workpieces of various dimensions at a desired flow velocity, wherein a plurality of nozzles are arranged as the nozzle along a conveying direction of the workpiece in a zone where the thermal processing is performed, and the driving mechanism adjusts a distance between each of the nozzles and a portion of the workpiece facing the nozzle individually in each of the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CHUGAI RO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nakano, Sousaku Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9696091
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a heating method and apparatus in which a plurality of heated regions is superimposed in order to improve energy density control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ADC Acquisition Company
    Inventor: David E. Hauber
  • Patent number: 9696092
    Abstract: A furnace cooling panel monitoring system utilizes individual cooling panel data to produce critical monitoring data. An exemplary cooling panel monitoring system utilizes the input from a plurality of temperature sensors configured to accurately measure the temperature change of cooling fluid flowing through each individual panel. The change in temperature from the inlet to the outlet of a cooling panel along with the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the panel can be used to calculate the a heat energy dissipation rate of the cooling panel, or heat flux. The flow rate through individual panels is determined by K-values or resistance to flow constants for a given cooling panel. The heat energy dissipation rate for individual panels can be provided to a user through a computer implemented monitoring program in real time. Alerts may be initiated by the computer implemented monitoring program when a threshold value has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CIX Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Edward Trapp
  • Patent number: 9696093
    Abstract: A baseboard for use in preheating water has a heating element having a plurality of heating surface areas, a continuous coiled pipe member having a plurality of 180 degree bends adapted and formed to cover at least one of the surface areas of the heating element. The pipe member include a cold water intake pipe at a first end and a warm water outflow pipe at a second end dedicated and adapted to send warm water to a water heater. A cover member adapted to cover the heating element and the coiled pipe member includes at least one opening therethrough adapted to allow air to pass through and circulate around the heating element and the coiled pipe member and create a convection effect capable of adding additional heat to the water while passing through the coiled pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Sylvain Laberge
  • Patent number: 9696094
    Abstract: A cooling unit includes a tank having an inlet port and a discharge port for refrigerant, first and second radiators connected to the tank, the first and second radiators each having a flow path, an inlet chamber defined in the tank for supplying the refrigerant flowing therein from the inlet port to the first radiator, a discharge chamber defined in the tank for discharging the refrigerant cooled in the second radiator to the discharge port, and a reservoir in which bubbles generated in the refrigerant are collected, the reservoir being provided between the inlet chamber and the discharge chamber in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Michimasa Aoki, Masumi Suzuki, Yosuke Tsunoda, Masaru Sugie, Shinichirou Kouno, Kenji Katsumata, Wataru Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9696095
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that effectively distributes a refrigerant by varying the cross-sectional area of a header and an air conditioner having the same. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed spaced apart from each other, a header joined to both ends of each of the refrigerant tubes, at least one baffle to divide the refrigerant tubes into a plurality of mutually adjacent groups and block a longitudinal flow of a refrigerant flowing in the header, each of the groups causing the refrigerant to flow in one direction, and a booster installed to vary a cross-sectional area of the header to uniformly distribute the refrigerant to refrigerant tubes in the same group among the refrigerant tubes. The booster to vary the cross-sectional area of the header may allow a refrigerant flowing through a header to be effectively distributed to the refrigerant tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Gyu Lee, Sung Rok Kim, Dong Sik Jin, Kyoung Rock Kim, Hee Gak No
  • Patent number: 9696096
    Abstract: A loop heat pipe includes an evaporator to cause a liquid-phase working fluid to be vaporized by heat from a heat source; a condenser to condense the vaporized working fluid; a circulation path including a liquid line and a vapor line to connect the condenser and the evaporator in a loop; a tank provided on the liquid line and configured to accommodate the liquid-phase working fluid; a connecting line to connect the tank and the evaporator to supply the liquid-phase working fluid to the evaporator; and a bypass line positioned over the connecting line in a direction of gravity and connecting the evaporator and the tank, the bypass line being configured to discharge a vapor bubble produced in the evaporator during operation of the loop heat pipe to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki Uchida, Susumu Ogata, Seiji Hibino
  • Patent number: 9696097
    Abstract: Embodiments of multi-substrate thermal management apparatus are provided herein. In some embodiments, a multi-substrate thermal management apparatus includes a plurality of plates vertically arranged above one another; a plurality of channels extending through each of the plurality of plates; a supply manifold including a supply channel coupled to the plurality of plates at first locations; and a return manifold including a return channel coupled to the plurality of plates via a plurality of legs at second locations, wherein the supply and return channels are fluidly coupled to the plurality of channels to flow a heat transfer fluid through the plurality of plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Kim Vellore, Andrew Constant, Jacob Newman, Jeffrey Blahnik, Jason Schaller, William Weaver, Robert Vopat, Benjamin Riordon
  • Patent number: 9696098
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a once-through evaporator comprising an inlet manifold; one or more inlet headers in fluid communication with the inlet manifold; one or more tube stacks, where each tube stack comprises one or more substantially horizontal evaporator tubes; the one or more tube stacks being in fluid communication with the one or more inlet headers; one or more outlet headers in fluid communication with one or more tube stacks; and an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the one or more outlet headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Magee, Wei D. Zhang, Bruce W. Wilhelm, Vinh Q. Truong, Christopher J. Lech, James D. Pschirer
  • Patent number: 9696099
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core portion, a pair of header tanks, and an elastically-deformable sealing member. The header tanks are arranged on both end sides of the core portion. The header tank includes a core plate and a resin tank body, which define a tank space. The sealing member is disposed at an end part of the tank body located adjacent to the core plate. The sealing member has a loop shape to enclose the tank space when viewed from the core portion and is formed integrally with the end part of the tank body. The end part of the tank body includes a protrusion portion at least one of inward and outward of the sealing member. The protrusion portion encloses the tank space when viewed from the core portion and projects from the end part of the tank body toward the core plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Hakamata, Yoshinori Ishihara, Hirotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9696100
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for heating a powertrain prior to an engine start. One method includes heating a coolant by circulating the coolant through a radiator and operating an electric radiator fan, and flowing the coolant across the powertrain. The coolant is heated and circulated across the powertrain when a temperature of the powertrain is lower than ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Amey Y. Karnik, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 9696101
    Abstract: A conversion set for a firearm having a grip and a slide locked by a moveable barrel and including an ejecting opening is disclosed. To permit timely opening of the slide when using a replacement barrel which does not lock the slide, the conversion set for use of a replacement barrel which does not lock the slide includes a jacket which may be connected to the slide in a detachable, form-fitting manner. The jacket has a defined mass for the predetermined movement of the slide following a shot being fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Christian Kada
  • Patent number: 9696102
    Abstract: A firearm includes a frame to which a barrel and slide are slideably mounted and in which a magazine is slideably received. A bumper telescoped on a push rod slideable with the slide pushes a shell in the magazine onto a pivotal carrier. Locking wings pivotally mounted to the barrel are cammed in troughs of a cam block as the barrel and the slide slide parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel relative to the cam block, so that lock tabs are removably received in locking recesses in the slide to removably lock the barrel and slide together. A trigger is slideably mounted to the frame for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel for pivoting a sear lever engagable with a biased striker and moving a safety from an interfering position relative to the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: D. A. Wiese & Co., LLC
    Inventor: Olaf N. Lee