Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9719679
    Abstract: A basket for incinerating waste inside an incinerator for a duration longer than fifteen minutes with no need for waste to be molten earlier, particularly when waste is introduced inside the incinerator. The basket includes mainly of a glass fiber envelope: it is preferably stiffened by a lightweight metal structure located inside or outside the envelope or built into it. A gripping handle is installed on top of the assembly that is stiffened at the top by a metal tube to which a lightweight metal structure is fixed and by a base formed from a drip pan fixed to the base of the lightweight metal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AREVA NC
    Inventors: Roger Boen, Patrice Charvin
  • Patent number: 9719680
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for portable, free-standing exhaust systems for exhausting gases from internal combustion type engines, including portable generators. Portable, free-standing exhaust system comprising a plurality of metal exhaust stack sections, forming a continuous hollow column; a housing stand with legs holding the column; a hanger bracket connecting the housing stand and a connector tube, including a separation space, which is connected to an exhaust pipe for exhausting gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Todd Staller
  • Patent number: 9719681
    Abstract: A system for supplying fuel includes a fuel manifold, a water manifold, and a fluid junction between the fuel manifold and the water manifold. A turbulator downstream from the fluid junction receives a fluid flow from the fluid junction. A method for supplying fuel includes flowing fuel through a fuel manifold, flowing water through a water manifold, and combining a portion of the water from the water manifold with the fuel from the fuel manifold to create emulsion fuel. The method further includes flowing the emulsion fuel through a turbulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Frank Beadie, Gregory Allen Boardman, Geoffrey David Myers, William Thomas Ross
  • Patent number: 9719682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature and a composition detected by a temperature sensor and an oxygen analyzer, respectively, the data from which are used to control the flow and composition of the oxygenation and combustion fuel streams. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, Richard A. Huntington, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9719683
    Abstract: A power burner system for use with a heating appliance includes a burner tube, a gas valve for providing gas to the burner tube, and a variable speed combustion air blower for mixing air with the gas provided to the burner tube. The burner system further includes a control in communication with the gas valve and the combustion air blower. The control may also be in communication with various other devices of an appliance, such as a variable speed air-circulating fan, a variable speed exhaust fan, or various sensors associated with the heating appliance. The control modulates the gas valve and the combustion air blower to maintain substantially stoichiometric conditions of the gas and air provided to the burner tube and as a function of signals from at least one of the devices. In one embodiment, the burner system may be used in a conveyor oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Wayne/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Cox, Syed Mohammad Shiblee Noman
  • Patent number: 9719684
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable porosity combustor liner has a laminated alloy structure. The laminated alloy structure has combustion chamber facing holes on one side and cooling plenum facing holes on a radially opposite side. The combustion chamber facing holes are in fluid communication with the cooling plenum facing holes via axially and circumferentially extending flow passages sandwiched between metal alloy sheets of the laminated alloy structure. Porous zones having respective different cooling flow amounts are formed in the laminated alloy structure based on at least one of an arrangement of the combustion chamber facing holes, an arrangement of the cooling plenum facing holes, and an arrangement of the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North America Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Pinnick, Kenneth W. Froemming, Bruce E. Varney
  • Patent number: 9719685
    Abstract: A system and method for flame stabilization is provided that forestalls incipient lean blow out by improving flame stabilization. A combustor profile is selected that maintains desired levels of power output while minimizing or eliminating overboard air bleed and minimizing emissions. The selected combustor profile maintains average shaft power in a range of from approximately 50% up to full power while eliminating overboard air bleed in maintaining such power settings. Embodiments allow for a combustor to operate with acceptable emissions at lower flame temperature. Because the combustor can operate at lower bulk flame temperatures during part power operation, the usage of inefficient overboard bleed can be reduced or even eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark David Durbin, Mark Anthony Mueller, Lance Kenneth Blakeman, David Albin Lind
  • Patent number: 9719686
    Abstract: A flow control device has a duct section with a plurality of damper blocking elements, each having a major plane. The damper blocking elements are pivotably connected to the duct section and movable in a range that is limited to ensure that, when the duct section is mounted in a preferred orientation, the damper blocking element major planes always form an angle of at least 45 degrees from the horizontal throughout the range. The range is such that the plurality of damper blocking elements can selectively close and open the duct. The blocking elements can completely close the duct, for example, to block natural convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: OY HALTON GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Andrey V. Livchak, Derek W. Schrock, Darrin W. Beardslee, Andrew C. Faller
  • Patent number: 9719687
    Abstract: A multi-temperature output fluid heating system including an input for receiving a fluid supply, a single heating source, a first output, a second output and a bypass path. The first output is fluidly connected to the input, where the first output is adapted for control by a first control device and to receive heat from the single heating source to achieve a first temperature at the first output. The bypass path fluidly connects the input and the second output. The input is adapted to empty a first portion of the fluid supply into the first output and a second portion of the input into the bypass path. The second output is adapted to receive an output from the first output and an output from the bypass path to achieve a second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Intellihot, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Deivasigamani, Sivaprasad Akasam
  • Patent number: 9719688
    Abstract: A transportable PCM (phase change material) module comprises a number of PCM packs; a housing for thermally insulting said number of PCM packs from a module's surrounding medium; spaces separating said packs and forming one or more channels for the flow of a fluid; said housing incorporating a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; whereby, in use, fluid flows through said channels from said inlet to said outlet. A PCM (phase change material) pack comprises a laminate of a first conducting panel and a second conducting panel enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said portion of PCM incorporates thermal conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VKR Holdings A/S
    Inventors: Mathew Holloway, Karina Torlei, Daniel Becerra, William Linsey Penfold
  • Patent number: 9719689
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a climatic beam located in a room. The climatic beam includes a first portion and a second portion, and a divider located along a length of the climatic beam to separate the first portion from the second portion. The climatic beam further includes a coil supplied with a flow of fluid. A fresh air duct is connected to the first portion to provide a flow of fresh air into the first portion, and a fan is located at the second portion and is configured to draw a flow of primary air across the coil and into the second portion. A beam exit allows a flow of the fresh air and the primary air into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Olivier Josserand, Patrick Renault, Jacques René Schmid
  • Patent number: 9719690
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling an air conditioning (AC) system includes defining one or more zones to achieve control actions based on local conditions to create a localized dynamic system for localized control, wherein zones are defined by considering hot and cool areas of the room or location of heat generating equipment, wherein the zone definition changes dynamically based on time of day or based on occupancy, or wherein zones are defined in a customizable manner based on sensitivity analysis considering energy savings and comfort tradeoff or considering equipment with predetermined temperature restrictions; monitoring through sensor placement at predetermined locations in the room based on importance of the equipment, heat generation zones and proximity to the AC; determining appropriate temperature setpoints based on existing operating conditions; and applying temperature information at the predetermined locations to generate rules for the actuation of AC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Rakesh Patil, Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 9719691
    Abstract: When indoor units are performing a cooling operation, an air-conditioning apparatus controls four flow passage switching valves, for example a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a third solenoid valve, and a fourth solenoid valve, so that a number of intermediate heat exchangers operating as evaporators is greater than in a cooling main operation. During the cooling main operation, a target value for suction pressure or evaporating temperature at a compressor is set equal to or lower than that in a case in which the indoor units are performing the cooling operation, and a frequency of the compressor and a capacity of a heat-source-side heat exchanger are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 9719692
    Abstract: A ventilation system utilizing fans to bring air into a building and/or exhaust air out of the building powered at least in part by solar panels that can be quickly and easily mounted on the building, such as on roof vents, windows, and the like adjacent to the fans. A sensor may be operatively connected to a controller or logic circuit to measure environmental factors to determine whether to activate the fans. The ventilation system is configured to be a modular device with versatile fasteners for easy installment in windows, attics, or roof tops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: THE SECURECASE COMPANY
    Inventor: Daniel M Cislo
  • Patent number: 9719693
    Abstract: The invention discloses a dehumidifier, including a chassis, a mainframe, a water receiving tank and a water tank, wherein the mainframe and the water tank are arranged on the chassis, and the water tank is detachably connected with the mainframe; the water receiving tank is arranged on the mainframe, and the drainage nozzle of the water receiving tank is over against the water receiving opening of the water tank. The dehumidifier further includes a water receiving container and a sliding bracket, wherein the water receiving container is arranged on the sliding bracket, the sliding bracket is in slide connection with the mainframe, and an elastic element is arranged between the sliding bracket and the mainframe. The problem that after the water tank is pulled out, the residual water flow drops onto the chassis through the drainage nozzle, is solved, thus the growth of bacteria on the chassis can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TCL AIR CONDITIONER (ZHONGSHAN) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xiongfeng Wu, Xianxiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9719694
    Abstract: A solar heat collecting element for use in solar troughs and solar power systems. The solar heat collecting element includes a conduit for carrying a heat transfer fluid; a light transparent envelope disposed about the conduit; and an edge welded metal bellows assembly coupling a first end of the conduit with a first end of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David Velasco, John Ditri, Nancy E. Wasson, Kristopher Thomas Heick
  • Patent number: 9719695
    Abstract: A low profile flexible solar thermal panel has low-cost, thin sheet foil and film materials fabricated as an integrated airtight solar thermal panel and a dual-port bifurcated duct adapter and formed metal foil air passages. The bifurcated air duct and formed metal foil layer enables, the panel to require only a single duct orifice through a mounting surface (such as a roof or wall) to provide both ingress and egress for air flow. The formed metal foil layer supplies a rigid support for two laminar air passages that steer forced air from the ingress port through a lower laminar air passage and returns it through the upper laminar air passage to the egress port in the bifurcated duct. The air duct enables measurement of the inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature and circulated air volume, further enabling electronic measurement of total energy produced in standard units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Zonbak LLC
    Inventor: John E. Sylvan
  • Patent number: 9719696
    Abstract: A solar receiver configuration (receiver) adapted to include a plurality of receiver heat transfer passes. Each pass includes a plurality of panels. Further, each panel includes a plurality of tubes, tangentially arranged, vertically extending between horizontally placed lower and upper headers. The headers, which are pipe assemblies with closed ends, of adjacent panels are horizontally and vertically offset one to another to form a substantially continuous tube surface. Such continuous tube surface enables solar heating of the fluid flow therefrom in at least a parallel flow arrangement and a serpentine flow arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lech, Ronald Girard Payne, John Tweedie, Gary Pashko, Apurba Kumar Das, Lin Deng, David McGrane, Pedro Inigo, Rahul Jayant Terdalkar
  • Patent number: 9719697
    Abstract: A solar selective coating includes a substrate, a cermet layer having nanoparticles therein deposited on the substrate, and an anti-reflection layer deposited on the cermet layer. The cermet layer and the anti-reflection layer may each be formed of intermediate layers. A method for constructing a solar-selective coating is disclosed and includes preparing a substrate, depositing a cermet layer on the substrate, and depositing an anti-reflection layer on the cermet layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Feng Cao, Tianyi Sun, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 9719698
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a cooling apparatus for subsea applications with a shell and tube heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a longitudinal shell. The shell forms a cavity with a fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port. A bundle of tubes extends from an inlet plenum chamber with an inlet port and into the shell on the same side of the shell as a bundle of tubes extending from an outlet plenum chamber with an outlet port. At least one tube sheet seals against the shell cavity and the inlet and outlet plenum chambers. The bundle of tubes extending from the inlet plenum chamber is in fluid connection with the bundle of tubes extending from the outlet plenum chamber. A retrievable pump module with a sealed pump module housing is placed adjacent the heat exchanger and includes a motor driving an ambient sea water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KONGSBERG OIL & GAS TECHNOLOGIES AS
    Inventors: Eirik Archer, Marius Bjørn
  • Patent number: 9719699
    Abstract: An air conditioner (1A) as a refrigeration apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit (2) including an evaporator (25), a first compressor (21), a vapor cooler (3), a second compressor (22), and a condenser (23) that are connected in this order; a heat release circuit (4) that allows a heat medium to circulate between the condenser (23) and a first heat exchanger (5) that releases heat to the atmosphere; and a heat absorption circuit (6) that allows a heat medium to circulate between the evaporator (25) and a second heat exchanger (7). The vapor cooler (3) is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant vapor compressed by the first compressor (21) and the heat medium flowing in the heat release circuit (4) or the heat medium flowing in the heat absorption circuit (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Kou Komori, Bunki Kawano, Hidetoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9719700
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a refrigeration system (1), including one or more refrigeration entities (4), is disclosed. Each entity controller (7) obtains a measure for an error value between the measured value of a compressor control parameter and a setpoint value (8) for the compressor control parameter, and each entity controller (7) adjusts a refrigeration load of the corresponding refrigeration entity (4) to correspond to a cooling capacity of the compressor(s) (2), and in accordance with the obtained measure for an error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Jans Prins, Frede Schmidt, Torben Green
  • Patent number: 9719701
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a thermoelectric heat pump includes a heat transfer region having an array of thermoelectric modules, a waste channel in substantial thermal communication with a high temperature portion of the heat transfer region, and a main channel in substantial thermal communication with a low temperature portion of the heat transfer region. An enclosure wall provides a barrier between fluid in the waste channel and fluid in the main channel throughout the interior of the thermoelectric heat pump. In some embodiments, the waste fluid channel and the main fluid channel are positioned and shaped such that differences in temperature between fluids disposed near opposite sides of the enclosure wall are substantially decreased or minimized at corresponding positions along the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Lon E. Bell, Robert W. Diller
  • Patent number: 9719702
    Abstract: A temperature adjustment apparatus has a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle, and a Peltier element control section that controls electric power supplied to the Peltier element. When the temperature difference between a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, the Peltier element control section stops supply of electric power to the Peltier element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Murata, Kuniaki Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9719703
    Abstract: Vehicle air comfort systems and methods. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Quisenberry, Sam K. McSpadden, Christopher Alan Polser, Niran Balachandran
  • Patent number: 9719704
    Abstract: Integrated systems and methods for onsite wastewater treatment in which a portion of onsite energy demands may be driven by energy harvested from the wastewater. Thermal energy of wastewater may be transferred from an onsite wastewater treatment system to an onsite heat pump to recover thermal energy, at least a portion of which may then be delivered to an onsite energy demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NATURAL SYSTEMS UTILITIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eugenio Giraldo, Paul Knowles
  • Patent number: 9719705
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for condensing moisture in a moist gas stream entering a bioreactor or leaving a bioreactor, the system comprising: a condenser container capable of holding a fluid, the condenser container comprising: an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, the inner wall surface defining an interior chamber for holding the fluid; and a first fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the first fitment forming a first port configured to allow the moist gas stream to flow through the first port and into the interior chamber; a second fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the second fitment forming a second port configured to allow a dried gas to flow from the interior chamber and out of the second port; and a cooling device in contact with at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container and arranged to cool the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container, thereby
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.
    Inventors: Patric Fricking, Parrish Galliher, Geoffrey Hodge, Michael Fisher, Patrick Guertin, Richard Damren, Colin Tuohey, Thomas Erdenberger
  • Patent number: 9719706
    Abstract: An accumulator arrangement for use in a cooling system suitable for operation with two-phase refrigerant includes a condenser having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The accumulator arrangement further includes an accumulator for receiving the two-phase refrigerant therein, the accumulator having a refrigerant inlet connected to the refrigerant outlet of the condenser and a refrigerant outlet. Finally, the accumulator arrangement includes a subcooler having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet of the subcooler being connected to the refrigerant outlet of the accumulators, and the subcooler being arranged at least partially within the interior of the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Piesker, Martin Sieme, Johannes Chodura, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman
  • Patent number: 9719707
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a cycle switching device. The cycle switching device switches a refrigerant cycle between a heating circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a heating heat exchanger, and a cooling circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a cooling heat exchanger. The air conditioner further includes an air conditioning controller, which controls the cycle switching device and includes a defroster control portion. The defroster control portion increases a temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment through a defroster air outlet by a predetermined degree while keeping the refrigerant cycle at a state of the heating circuit for a predetermined time, when a defrosting operation is commanded to be performed during the heating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yokoo, Terukazu Higuchi, Yoshinori Yanagimachi, Akira Umehara
  • Patent number: 9719708
    Abstract: In a heating main operation mode in which a load to be processed by the heating operation is dominant during cooling and heating mixed operation, an air-conditioning apparatus closes an opening and closing valve, and adjust the opening degree of an expansion device in accordance with the evaporating temperature of a load-side unit requesting cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okano, Hirofumi Koge
  • Patent number: 9719709
    Abstract: It is determined whether thermo-off postponement control is allowed or not on the basis of a current compressor operating frequency when a thermo-off condition is satisfied. If it is determined that thermo-off postponement control is allowed, the thermo-off postponement control in which a lowest operating frequency in an operating frequency range of a compressor is temporarily reduced within a range greater than or equal to a minimum operating frequency of the compressor in use so as to continue an operation. If it is determined that thermo-off postponement control is not allowed, thermo-off of stopping the compressor is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Abe, Masanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 9719710
    Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a cooling unit for generating cold air; a case mounted in a food storage space, and defining a cooling space for receiving the cold air; an ice making assembly for making ice; a rib unit provided at one side of the ice making assembly; and a bucket arranged at one side of the ice making assembly for receiving the ice. The ice making assembly includes an ice tray arranged in the cooling space, the ice tray having an ice making recess formed in an upper surface thereof for making ice; and a cold air guiding unit arranged at a lower side of the ice tray for guiding the cold air to the lower side of the ice tray, and a rib unit including cooling ribs protruding downward from a bottom surface of the ice tray while extending in a state of being rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 9719711
    Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Nihat O. Cur, Douglas D. Leclear, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Ronald L. Voglewede
  • Patent number: 9719712
    Abstract: A system and a thermochemical method for the production of cold, that uses a reactive device having a reactor or a chamber for storing a reactive product that can absorb a gas. The reactive product and the gas are such that, when they are exposed to one another, they undergo a reaction resulting in absorption of the gas by the reactive product and, conversely, they undergo a reaction involving the desorption of the gas absorbed by the reactive product as a result of heat applied to the reactive product when it absorbed the gas. The system has two substantially identical reactive devices wherein when the reactor of one reactive device is operating in the absorption cycle, the reactor of the other is operating in the desorption cycle. The system has a mechanism for determining the progress rate of the thermochemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: COLDWAY
    Inventors: Laurent Rigaud, Francis Kindbeiter
  • Patent number: 9719713
    Abstract: A refrigerated cargo container includes a cargo container and a refrigeration unit. A plurality of refrigerant tubes are in fluid communication with the refrigeration unit and extend along a roof of the cargo container. The plurality of refrigeration tubes are configured to convey refrigerant there through and cool an interior of the cargo container via natural convection and thermal radiation. A method of cooling a cargo in a cargo container includes flowing a refrigerant through a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed at a roof of the cargo container. Thermal energy is transferred from container air in the container to the refrigerant thereby cooling the container air. The container air is circulated via natural convection toward the cargo thereby cooling the cargo via thermal energy transfer to the container air. The container air is recirculated toward the plurality of refrigerant tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jason Scarcella
  • Patent number: 9719714
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a dehumidification control method thereof to effectively perform both temperature compensation and dehumidification so as to prevent formation of dewdrops in a refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator. The control method includes detecting a temperature of outside air around the refrigerator to judge whether or not the detected temperature corresponds to a low-temperature mode requiring dehumidification, heating a refrigerating compartment by operating a refrigerating compartment heater and a refrigerating compartment fan for dehumidification if the low-temperature mode is judged, cooling the refrigerating compartment by operating a compressor while continuously operating the refrigerating compartment fan, and simultaneously cooling and heating the refrigerating compartment to enable simultaneous implementation of temperature compensation by heating of the refrigerating compartment and dehumidification by cooling of the refrigerating compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Han Kim, Kook Jeong Seo, Jung Won Park
  • Patent number: 9719715
    Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump system is provided, the heat pump system having at least a controller and configured to operate at least two defrost cycles. The method comprises receiving, at the controller, weather data for a defined geographic area proximate to an installed location of the heat pump system; and selecting, based on said weather data, one of the at least two defrost cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Pete Hrejsa
  • Patent number: 9719716
    Abstract: An anti-ice buildup system for roof vent pipes that is easy to install and that prevents ice buildup in roof vent pipes. The anti-ice buildup system for roof vent pipes generally includes a first segment and a second segment extending downwardly from the first segment. At least a portion of the first segment is adapted to remain outside of a vent pipe and at least a portion of the second segment is adapted to extend downwardly through an upper opening in the vent pipe. The second segment is constructed of a thermal conductive material to conduct heat from the vent air and sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Larry A. Villella
  • Patent number: 9719717
    Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Stevan R. Dolinsek, Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon, Chad J. Rotter, David A. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 9719718
    Abstract: A casing for a device that can be used in the domestic, catering, or retail sectors, in one embodiment a refrigerating device, that has two lateral walls, a top wall, and a rear wall. The casing comprises two lateral casing elements for covering the lateral walls of the device, a top casing element for covering the top wall of the device, and a rear casing element for covering the rear wall of the device. The lateral casing elements and the top casing element each have an angled front edge section for engaging around a front edge of the lateral walls and a front edge of the top wall, respectively. Each lateral casing element includes a retaining profile on a face opposite the angled front edge section, the rear casing element being held in said retaining profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Red Bull GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Piendl, Eike Schaefer, Rainer Vogt, Peder Madsen, Kenneth Tønder
  • Patent number: 9719719
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances are disclosed. In one embodiment, a refrigerator appliance may comprise a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein and a plurality of electrical connectors disposed at a plurality of shelf mounting positions within the temperature-controlled compartment. The refrigerator appliance may also comprise a plurality of adjustable shelves each carrying at least one light emitting diode (LED), where each of the plurality of adjustable shelves may be removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the at least one LED is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of electrical connectors. The refrigerator appliance may further comprise a power supply circuit that is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical connectors and that is configured to selectively supply power to only a subset of the plurality of electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: James Kerner
  • Patent number: 9719720
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a door configured to open or close a storage compartment, and a beverage receiving chamber that defines a space for reception of a beverage container. The refrigerator includes a light emitting device and a camera arranged with the beverage receiving chamber in its field of view and configured to capture an image of an interior of the beverage receiving chamber. The refrigerator includes a beverage residual quantity sensing device located in the beverage receiving chamber and configured to measure a weight of a beverage. The refrigerator includes a display configured to display a kind and residual quantity of the beverage, and a controller configured to control operation of the camera, receive a weight sensing signal from the sensing device, determine the residual quantity of the beverage based on the weight sensing signal, and provide a user with information on the kind and residual quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Jihyun Lee, Inhwan Ryu
  • Patent number: 9719721
    Abstract: A kinetic energy drying device for sludge comprises a shell provided with a first rotating shaft, which is fixedly connected with a rotating disk, on the bottom; a steel knife fixed on the rotating disk along the circumferential direction, and a stainless steel wave plate provided on the top of the first rotating shaft. The stainless steel wave plate is provided with a first through hole communicated with a channel and a second through hole perforated in a separating plate provided on the channel and communicated within the channel. A heating body is mounted on the top of the stainless steel wave plate and around the channel. Also provided is a kinetic energy drying method for sludge. The method applying the said kinetic energy drying device for sludge can obtain good effect in crushing and drying, kill the bacteria during the crushing and drying process, and reduce the odor of dried materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: JCL(ZHUHUAI) ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventor: Wah Keung Lok
  • Patent number: 9719722
    Abstract: The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace. The grain-drying facilities 1 include: a biomass combustion furnace 3 provided with a heat exchanger 24 for generating a hot air from a combustion heat of a biomass fuel and an outside air which has been taken in from the outside; and a circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 provided with a grain-drying portion 7 to which the hot air that has been generated in the biomass combustion furnace 3 is supplied through a pipe 15 for supplying a hot air, wherein the circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 has a plurality of warming pipes 6a in the grain-drying portion 7, and an exhaust hot-air is supplied to the warming pipes 6a from the biomass combustion furnace 3 through a pipe 11 for supplying the exhaust hot-air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Satake Corporation
    Inventor: Hirota Fujitomo
  • Patent number: 9719723
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate support structure, a vacuum drying apparatus and a method for vacuum drying a substrate. The substrate support structure comprises: a support pin having a top end for supporting a substrate; and an auxiliary support assembly including: a drive device; a support rod driven by the drive device; and a support disc disposed at a top end of the support rod and made of flexible material adapted to support the substrate, wherein the drive device is configured to drive the support rod to move in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the support pin so as to make the support disc positioned below or above the top end of the support pin as the support rod moves, so that the substrate is selectively supported by the support disc or the support pin. The substrate support structure, the vacuum drying apparatus and the method for vacuum drying a substrate can prevent the substrate from being easily scratched and avoid poor quality and uneven brightness of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongwei Xing, Huihui Mu, Min Yuan, Hequn Zhang, Longgen Yang
  • Patent number: 9719724
    Abstract: A method for detecting straightness deviations and/deformations in a rotary kiln (1), the rotary drum (4) of which includes bearing rings (6) spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and respectively supported on rollers (7), involves scanning the outer surface area (5) of the rotary drum (4), the bearing rings (6), the rollers (7) and/or the shafts (17) of the rollers (7) in a contactless fashion with the aid of at least one scanning device (12) such that three-dimensional position data regarding the scanned objects is obtained, and evaluating the three-dimensional position data with respect to the occurrence of a deviation of the rotary kiln axis (3) from a straight line, a deviation of the rotary drum (4) from a cylindrical shape and/or a deviation of the rotational axes (8) of the rollers from a line extending parallel to the rotary kiln axis (3). A device for detecting straightness deviations and/or deformations in a rotary kiln (1) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HOLCIM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Thomas Stutz
  • Patent number: 9719725
    Abstract: A drive system for a roller conveyor is described. The drive system may comprise a motor and a driving loop driven by the motor and having a driving side and a return side. The drive system may further comprise a first reducer configured to drive a rotation of the driving loop in a forward direction, a second reducer configured to drive the rotation of the driving loop in a reverse direction, and at least one sprocket driven by the driving side of the driving loop. The at least one sprocket may be configured to drive a rotation of at least one roller of the roller conveyor in the forward direction when the driving loop is rotating in the forward direction, and in the reverse direction when the driving loop is rotating in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Stephens
  • Patent number: 9719726
    Abstract: Cooling towers and cooling tower fill configured for the cooling of process water with air by indirect heat exchange, in which the fill is configured with a first set of channels and a second set of channels, said first and second set of channels interleaved with one-another so that heat exchange occurs across material separating said channels from one-another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Davey J. Vadder, Sarah L. Ferrari, John W. Lane, Jean-Pierre Libert, Thomas W. Bugler
  • Patent number: 9719727
    Abstract: A method of and system for recirculating a fluid in a particle production system. A reactor produces a reactive particle-gas mixture. A quench chamber mixes a conditioning fluid with the reactive particle-gas mixture, producing a cooled particle-gas mixture that comprises a plurality of precursor material particles and an output fluid. A filter element filters the output fluid, producing a filtered output. A temperature control module controls the temperature of the filtered output, producing a temperature-controlled, filtered output. A content ratio control module modulates the content of the temperature-controlled, filtered output, thereby producing a content-controlled, temperature-controlled, filtered output. A channeling element supplies the content-controlled, temperature-controlled, filtered output to the quench chamber, wherein the content-controlled, filtered output is provided to the quench chamber as the conditioning fluid to be used in cooling the reactive particle-gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SDCmaterials, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick P. Layman
  • Patent number: 9719728
    Abstract: A submersible heat-exchanging apparatus for installation into storage tanks used for containing industrial oils. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical heat-exchange component with one end sealingly engaging a terminal plug and the other end sealingly engaging and communicating with a coupling manifold having opposed inflow and outflow ports. A flow-directing elongate insert is provided with one end configured to engage the coupling manifold interposed the inflow and outflow ports, and the other end provided with an aperture and configured for abutting the terminal plug. The flow-directing elongate insert slidingly contacts and cooperates with the inner walls of the heat-conductive conduit thereby partitioning the heat-conductive conduit into two opposed fluid transmission channels wherein one channel communicates with the inlet port and the other channel communicates with the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Roger Arnot