Patents Issued in February 15, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180045414
    Abstract: A swirler for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine, having a plurality of generally radially inwardly extending passages arranged circumferentially staggered in a circle, each passage having a radially outer inlet end, a radially inner outlet end, first and second generally radially inwardly extending lateral surfaces, and a base surface and top surface, in use of the swirler fuel and air travelling along the passages from their inlet ends to their outlet ends so as to create adjacent to the outlet ends a swirling fuel/air mixture. At least one surface of at least one passage has at least one gas fuel injection hole, wherein the surface, having the gas fuel injection hole, has at least one counterbore radially surrounding the gas fuel injection hole, wherein the gas fuel injection hole is arranged at a base of the counterbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Suresh Sadasivuni
  • Publication number: 20180045415
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided, including a main mixer with fuel injection holes located between at least one radial swirler and at least one axial swirler, wherein the fuel injected into the main mixer is atomized and dispersed by the air flowing through the radial swirler and the axial swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Jeffrey M. Cohen, Catalin G. Fotache, Lance L. Smith, Donald J. Hautman
  • Publication number: 20180045416
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-can type gas turbine combustor including a plurality of combustors that mix and burn fuel and the air, the combustors being connected by a crossfire tube assembly. The gas turbine cools the crossfire tube assembly without lowering the temperature of a combustion exhaust gas passing through the crossfire tube assembly and prevents thermal deformation and fire damage of the crossfire tube assembly. In a gas turbine according to the present invention, a guide ring that guides a current of the air is provided in a position opposed to air holes. One side end portion of an annular space configured between the guide ring and a crossfire tube assembly is opened to a space on the inside of the crossfire tube assembly. The other end portion is a closed end connected to a partition wall configuring the crossfire tube assembly. The length of an annular space between the air holes and the closed end is set to three times or more as large as the diameter of the air holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Hirofumi OKAZAKI, Hirokazu TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180045417
    Abstract: A fire pit is provided that includes a pair of spaced apart inner and outer vertical concentric walls providing a circular air passageway therebetween. Air is blown into the circular air passageway to flow in one circular direction to spaced outlet openings connected to conduits for feeding heated air to outwardly spaced registers around the fire pit. Flammable material in the chamber of the fire pit produces heated air transmitted through the inner metal wall into the air passageway which is then distributed to outlet openings connected to conduits extending to outwardly spaced registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: John Hlebaen
  • Publication number: 20180045418
    Abstract: A control unit is provided for use on a gas appliance. The control unit includes an urged member and a rotor, the rotor being attached to a user input device and being rotatable to a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a number of positions that correspond to a number of simmer settings of a gas valve. The rotor has a plurality of engagement features, each of which corresponds to one of the simmer settings, the urged member being engaged with one of the engagement features when the rotor is in one of the simmer settings. The rotation of the rotor requires a first smaller force to be applied when the rotor is in a position other than one of the simmer settings, and rotation of the rotor requires a second larger force to be applied when the urged member is engaged with one of the engagement features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Cameron Cook, Phillip Montanye, Kevin W. Sherbert, Charlie Bruce Simmons, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180045419
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a knob assembly to emit light to improve an aesthetic feel and user convenience. The cooking appliance includes a main body having at least one heating source, a panel disposed in the main body and provided with a through hole, and a knob assembly coupled to the panel. The knob assembly includes a knob, at least one light source configured to emit light, a first light guide passing through the through hole and arranged to guide the light emitted from the light source, and a second light guide configured to guide the light guided by the first light guide to an outside of the knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Ju KIM
  • Publication number: 20180045420
    Abstract: A structure covering a connection line, an electric cooking appliance including the same, and a method of assembling a cap of the electric cooking appliance includes a base plate including a through hole in a vertical direction, a cap provided below the base plate and provided with an accommodation space formed therein to accommodate a connection line placed through the through hole from an upper portion of the base plate, a coupling boss extending in a vertical direction in the cap and coupled to bottom of the base plate to couple the cap to the base plate, and a fastener inserted through the base plate from the upper portion of the base plate to couple the base plate to the coupling boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Taehong YEO
  • Publication number: 20180045421
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food articles comprising a casing having an interior, a processor and a plurality of cooking locations arranged within the casing. The apparatus further comprises a first heater adapted to output a first stage of heated air to the interior the casing at a rate controlled by the processor, a second heater adapted to output a second stage of superheated air to the interior of the casing at a rate controlled by the processor; and a steamer adapted to output a steam supply to the interior of the casing at a rate controlled by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: William Bailie
  • Publication number: 20180045422
    Abstract: A system for drying first and second enclosures includes first and second drying units, each drying unit including a process air stream moving through a process chamber, a reactivation air stream moving through a reactivation chamber and a rotating desiccant wheel configured such that a process wheel portion is located such that the process air stream moves therethrough, and such that a reactivation wheel portion is located such that the reactivation air stream moves therethrough. The reactivation air stream passes through a heating coil before passing through the reactivation wheel. A liquid heating unit circulates first and second heated liquid flows through the heating coils of the corresponding first and second drying units located respectively to dry the first and second enclosures. A flow control is operative to adjust a volume of the first and second heated liquid flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Claude Bourgault, Grant Blandin
  • Publication number: 20180045423
    Abstract: A combined gas-compressor and dehumidifier system composed of a gas compressor for compressing a first gas, a dehumidifier for dehumidifying a second gas, and a cooling system. The gas compressor is composed of (a) one or more compression stages and (b) one or more intercoolers, wherein the one or more intercoolers are connected to a cooling system. The dehumidifier for dehumidifying a second gas is composed of a first dehumidifying stage that uses a first desiccant to adsorb water from the second gas and output a second intermediate gas, a second dehumidifying stage that uses a second desiccant to adsorb water from the second intermediate gas, and a waste heat exchanger, wherein the waste heat exchanger is used to reactivate the first desiccant. The cooling system is composed of a liquid contained in connectors, and the connectors connecting the one or more intercoolers to remove heat from the gas compressor and provide the removed heat to the dehumidifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Pierre Jean Baelden, Kevin Cornelius Matthews
  • Publication number: 20180045424
    Abstract: An air conditioning system has an air conditioner, which includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that configure a refrigerant circuit, and a controller, which controls the running of the air conditioner. The controller does not allow operation of the air conditioner to start in a case where a signal from a ventilation unit that includes a ventilation fan for ventilation and ventilates a target space or a refrigerant leak sensor that detects refrigerant leakage in the target space is not input to the controller. Because of this, even in a configuration where an air conditioner and a ventilation unit are installed independently of each other, operation of the air conditioner can be performed in a state in which there is reliably established a countermeasure such as the ventilation unit being operated when the refrigerant has leaked, and safety and security with respect to refrigerant leakage are reliably ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuuzaburou YAJIMA, Tsutomu IURA, Yasuyuki AISAKA, Taiki SUNAHATA, Daisuke NOBURYUU
  • Publication number: 20180045425
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes an HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning the air in an inside space, and a programmable thermostat located remotely from the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit may have an onboard controller configured to control when the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not. In some cases, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit may use a common temperature setpoint when controlling in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The programmable thermostat may have a programmable schedule with a plurality of time periods, where each time period has a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint separated by a dead band. The onboard controller of the HVAC unit may be configured to accept input signals from the remotely located thermostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Gabriel A. Bergman, Chris Mullarkey, Cary Leen, David Schultz, Milos Cabel
  • Publication number: 20180045426
    Abstract: A position detection unit detects a current position of the terminal device, an environmental-information acquisition unit acquires environmental information of the terminal device, and a storage unit stores therein a behavior pattern of a user of the terminal device, a control pattern of an air conditioner, and air-conditioner position information. The terminal device also includes a control unit that estimates an arrival time at which the user arrives at a position of the air conditioner based on the current position, a moving speed included in the environmental information, and the air-conditioner position information, estimates a behavior pattern of the user by using the moving speed, and decides a control pattern of the air conditioner based on the environmental information and the estimated behavior pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Hiromitsu KANADA
  • Publication number: 20180045427
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control apparatus includes an away detector, a position acquisition unit, a distance acquisition unit, an instrument control unit, and a learning storage unit. The away detector detects that a user is away from a building. The position acquisition unit acquires position information of a portable terminal carried by the user. The distance acquisition unit uses the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit to acquire distance information indicating how far the portable terminal is from the building when the away detector has detected that the user is away from the building. The instrument control unit controls an air conditioner installed in the building based on the distance information acquired by the distance acquisition unit so that the air conditioner consumes less energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Satoshi YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180045428
    Abstract: A sensor mounting device (100) of the present disclosure includes: a power supply unit (110) configured to generate power that is to be supplied to the device; a sensor (120) configured to acquire information of the environment around of the device; a first control unit (130) configured to give an instruction based on the information acquired by the sensor (120); and a second control unit (150) configured to control the device in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit (130). Power to the sensor (120) and the first control unit (130) is directly supplied from the power supply unit (110). Power to the second control unit (150) is supplied from the power supply unit (110) via a switching unit (140) whose ON/OFF state is controlled by the first control unit (130).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Shinichi SHIKII, Koichi KUSUKAME, Nawatt SILAWAN, Tatsuo ITOH
  • Publication number: 20180045429
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes: a furnace having a furnace heat exchanger; and an indoor HVAC unit having a refrigerant heat exchanger. At least one of a component of the furnace and a component of the indoor HVAC unit are selectively removable from an airflow path of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Kirby Neal Bicknell
  • Publication number: 20180045430
    Abstract: An energy recovery assembly for transferring thermal energy between outgoing exhaust air and incoming supply air. The energy recovery assembly comprises a bead receiving conduit section configured to receive and retain a plurality of beads made of thermal conductive material therein, and at least one bead inlet and at least one bead outlet for each bead receiving conduit section. The bead receiving conduit section is positioned across the air transfer path of the ventilation system. Each one of the at least one bead inlet is configurable between an open configuration allowing introduction of beads in the bead receiving conduit section and a closed configuration preventing introduction of the beads therein. Each one of the at least one bead outlet is configurable between an open configuration allowing removal of the beads from the bead receiving conduit section and a closed configuration preventing removal of beads therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: ALT JOULE RR INC.
    Inventor: Roger Robitaille
  • Publication number: 20180045431
    Abstract: To generate a checkpoint for a virtual machine (VM), first, while the VM is still running, a copy-on-write (COW) disk file is created pointing to a parent disk file that the VM is using. Next, the VM is stopped, the VM's memory is marked COW, the device state of the VM is saved to memory, the VM is switched to use the COW disk file, and the VM begins running again for substantially the remainder of the checkpoint generation. Next, the device state that was stored in memory and the unmodified VM memory pages are saved to a checkpoint file. Also, a copy may be made of the parent disk file for retention as part of the checkpoint, or the original parent disk file may be retained as part of the checkpoint. If a copy of the parent disk file was made, then the COW disk file may be committed to the original parent disk file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Carl A. WALDSPURGER, Michael NELSON, Daniel J. SCALES, Pratap SUBRAHMANYAM
  • Publication number: 20180045432
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a closed dynamic cooling circuit, and a closed first steady-state cooling circuit. Each circuit has its own compressor, heat rejection exchanger, and expansion device. A thermal energy storage (TES) system is configured to receive a dynamic load and thermally couple the dynamic cooling circuit and the first steady-state cooling circuit. The dynamic cooling circuit is configured to cool the TES to fully absorb thermal energy received by the TES when a dynamic thermal load is ON, and the steady-state cooling circuit is configured to cool the TES when the dynamic thermal load is OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Steve T. Gagne, Kyle Burkholder
  • Publication number: 20180045433
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a first compressor (100) configured to compress refrigerant, a first condenser (110) configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the first compressor (100), a first expansion valve (120) configured to reduce a temperature and pressure of the refrigerant condensed in the first condenser (110), a first evaporator (140) configured to evaporate the refrigerant having passed through the first expansion valve (120), a second compressor (200) configured to compress refrigerant, a second condenser (210) configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the second compressor (200), a second expansion valve (220) configured to reduce a temperature and pressure of the refrigerant condensed in the second condenser (210) and a second evaporator (230) configured to evaporate the refrigerant having passed through the second expansion valve (220).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kyeongyun KIM, Kyungseok KIM, Kyunghun CHA
  • Publication number: 20180045434
    Abstract: A refrigeration device includes: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor, and an evaporator are connected circularly in the stated order; and a regenerative refrigerator including a heat dissipation portion that compresses a working fluid enclosed in a chamber and dissipates heat produced by compression, and a heat absorption portion in which the working fluid compressed in the heat dissipation portion is expanded. A refrigerant in the condenser is cooled by heat exchange between the condenser and the heat absorption portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SATO, Takao OTSUKI, Susumu KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20180045435
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic cooling device includes a tube in which a working fluid is enclosed; a first stack that generates acoustic waves in the working fluid with use of a temperature gradient; a first high-temperature heat exchanger provided at a first side of the first stack to heat the first side of the first stack; a first low-temperature heat exchanger provided at a second side of the first stack; a second stack in which a temperature gradient is generated by the acoustic waves; a second high-temperature heat exchanger provided at a first side of the second stack, which has a high temperature; a second low-temperature heat exchanger provided at a second side of the second stack, which has a low temperature; and a heat transfer portion configured to connect the second low-temperature heat exchanger to the first low-temperature heat exchanger so as to transfer heat therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toshiyuki SAITO, Ryouichi TAKAHATA, Tomoyuki TAKEI, Osamu ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180045436
    Abstract: An active regenerator in a magnetocaloric or an electrocaloric heat pump refrigeration system provides more efficient flow of heat. The heat exchange fluid moves synchronously with the motion of a magnetic or electric field. Only a portion of the length of the active regenerator bed is introduced to or removed from the field at one time, giving rise to a hot pulse and a cold pulse. Valves may direct the hot pulse and/or the cold pulse to supplement refrigeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Charles N. Hassen
  • Publication number: 20180045437
    Abstract: The invention is for an apparatus and method for a refrigerator and a heat pump based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) offering a simpler, lighter, robust, more compact, environmentally compatible, and energy efficient alternative to traditional vapor-compression devices. The subject magnetocaloric apparatus alternately exposes a magnetocaloric material to strong and weak magnetic field while switching heat to and from the material. Action of the heat switches is coordinated with the magnetic field strength to move heat up the thermal gradient. The invention may be practiced with multiple magnetocaloric stages to attain large differences in temperature. Key applications include thermal management of electronics, as well as industrial and home refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning. The invention offers a simpler, lighter, compact, and robust apparatus compared to magnetocaloric devices of prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Jan Vetrovec
  • Publication number: 20180045438
    Abstract: Methods systems and apparatuses are disclosed for maintaining and controlling the temperature of a material adjoining a composite material in situ, while the composite material is being heating during a composite material repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Gary D. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20180045439
    Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric module having a hot side and a cold side, where a heat sink is coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric module and a cold sink is coupled with the cold side of the thermoelectric module. A gasket is disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink and extends around a portion of the thermoelectric module. A vapor barrier is attached to and covers an outer surface of the gasket to prevent water vapor from penetrating the outer surface of the gasket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Nagy, Zakary S. McLennan, Paul G. Lau
  • Publication number: 20180045440
    Abstract: Liquid compression refrigeration cycle (LCRC) is a new cycle, that can be applied in the refrigeration and heat pump applications, this cycle has achieved the coefficient of performance of the reversed Carnot cycle, unlike the vapor compression cycle, where a clear deviation from the reversed Carnot cycle is appeared in it's ideal case, these deviations from the reversed Carnot cycle have been solved in the Liquid Compression Cycle (LCRC) to achieve a thermal efficiency more than the Vapor Compression Cycle (VCRC) efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Khaled Mohammed HOSSAIN
  • Publication number: 20180045441
    Abstract: A skid for capturing refrigeration from liquefied natural gas vaporization is disclosed comprising a first heat exchanger mounted on the skid, the first heat exchanger having a natural gas inlet, a natural gas outlet, a process fluid inlet, and a process fluid outlet. The process fluid is configured to flow from the process fluid inlet through the first heat exchanger to the process fluid outlet and then to the process fluid inlet. Other embodiments of the system for capturing refrigeration from vaporization of liquid natural gas, and methods for its use, are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin Frantz, John Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20180045442
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a water intake container, in which carbonated water is produced by mixture of carbon dioxide and clean water, a first dispenser assembly, which the water intake container is attached to or detached from, and which supplies carbon dioxide and clean water to the water intake container when the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser, a dispenser lever and a second dispenser assembly which discharges clean water or ice according to manipulation of the dispenser lever, but stops the discharging of clean water or ice if the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser assembly. The refrigerator may include a dispenser lever and a processor to control an ice maker to stop operation if a command is entered through a user interface and to control the ice maker to start operation if the dispenser lever is manipulated while the ice maker stops operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Won PARK, Sung Ho CHO, Kyung Tae KO, Seung Wan KANG, Woo Sung KIM, Chang Hern LEE, Gang Hyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20180045443
    Abstract: A refrigerant valve arrangement (1) is shown comprising a housing (2) having an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) and defining a main flow direction (5) a first valve having a first valve axis (11), and a second valve having a second valve axis (17). Such a refrigerant valve arrangement should have a low pressure drop between inlet and outlet. To this end said first valve axis (11) encloses a first angle (?) smaller than 90° with said main flow direction (5) and/or said second valve axis (17) encloses a second angle (?) larger than 90° with said main flow direction (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Klaus Halldorsson, Bjarke Skovgard Dam
  • Publication number: 20180045444
    Abstract: A packaged, pumped liquid, recirculating refrigeration system with charges of 10 lbs or less of refrigerant per ton of refrigeration capacity. The compressor and related components are situated in a pre-packaged modular machine room, and in which the condenser is mounted on the machine room and the evaporator is close coupled to the pre-packaged modular machine room. Prior art large receiver vessels may be replaced with a single or dual phase cyclonic separator also housed in the pre-packaged modular machine room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt Liebendorfer, Gregory S. Derosier, Trevor Hegg
  • Publication number: 20180045445
    Abstract: A charge-verification tool is used with a charge-verification system to diagnose and remedy a charge condition. The charge-verification tool includes a device having a controller configured to communicate with a system controller in the charge-verification system and a display configured to display measurements and instructions to an installer. The device is a user interface and is configured to provide communication between the installer and the system controller in the charge-verification system. The controller prompts the installer to input charge-verification system information including refrigeration line length and diameter. The controller receives a subcooling temperature calculated by the system controller and determines whether the subcooling temperature is between a threshold and a target subcooling temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung M. PHAM
  • Publication number: 20180045446
    Abstract: A design method for an air-conditioning/refrigeration circuit having a refrigerant with an oil portion, wherein at the design stage in a calculation of the air-conditioning/refrigeration circuit the fluid-dynamic and thermodynamic influence of the oil portion is approximated for at least one circuit component of the air-conditioning/refrigeration circuit only with refrigerant by a change of the refrigerant mass flow flowing through the circuit component. A reduction or increase is simulated by way of a bypass by which a bypass portion of the refrigerant mass flow is extracted from the circuit at an extraction point upstream of the circuit component, is made to bypass the circuit component and is then fed back to the circuit at a feed point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Max BEIER
  • Publication number: 20180045447
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for calibrating operation of a compressor unit in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A measuring device measures an operating parameter of the HVAC system at a position where the measuring device is mounted on a refrigerant line of the HVAC system. The measuring device switches states when the value of the measured operating parameter reaches a switching value. A controller estimates a value of the first operating parameter at the position where the first measuring device is mounted on the refrigerant line, and the controller determines whether the estimated first operating parameter is within a threshold percentage of the switching value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric BERG, Rakesh GOEL
  • Publication number: 20180045448
    Abstract: A cooling or freezing device includes an ice-making tray having a plurality of ice-piece-producing cavities distributed over at least two rows of cavities running parallel to one another. The device further includes a cold air supply system which provides a cold air stream which flows beneath the ice-making tray along the rows of cavities. There is additionally provided a temperature sensor unit which is inserted into a gap formed on the underside of the tray between a pair of adjacent ice-piece-producing cavities. The pair of cavities is formed by two ice-piece-producing cavities which, as seen in the direction of flow of the cold air stream, are the last ice-piece-producing cavities of two adjacent rows of cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Roland Schroedel, Manfredi Signorino, Josef Bauriedl, Thomas Baierl, Michael Koch
  • Publication number: 20180045449
    Abstract: A domestic refrigeration appliance having a housing in which a cooling compartment is provided, and is closable by a first door which is movably arranged on the housing. The appliance further having a dispensing unit having an output unit and an ice maker. The dispensing unit is configured for the output of liquid and/or molded ice elements and is arranged on the first door. A rear side of the first door facing toward the cooling compartment has a receptacle protruding toward the cooling compartment, in which receptacle the dispensing unit is arranged. The first door is pivotably arranged with at least one multiple-joint hinge on the housing. The multiple-joint hinge has a mechanism with which, during the pivoting movement of the first door, the first door is also displaced in the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: KARL-FRIEDRICH LAIBLE
  • Publication number: 20180045450
    Abstract: A self-chilling food or beverage container including an outer container and a heat exchange unit (HEU) secured internally of said outer container and having liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) therein, the HEU including a valve member which provides a restricted orifice in one position to allow the liquid CO2 to pass from the liquid state directly to the gaseous state while maintaining pressure in the HEU to keep the residual CO2 in the liquid state and in a second position to provide a substantially unrestricted flow path to permit liquid CO2 to be inserted into the HEU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: JOSEPH COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: MARK SILLINCE
  • Publication number: 20180045451
    Abstract: A domestic refrigeration appliance has a housing in which a cooling compartment is provided, which is closable by a first door movably arranged on the housing, and in which a freezing compartment separate therefrom is provided, which is closable by a second door which is movably arranged on the housing. On a front side of the first door, a first panel-like additional part separate from the first door is arranged as a facing part and a hole is formed in the additional part, through which an output unit of a dispensing unit belonging to the domestic refrigeration appliance which is configured for the output of liquid and/or molded ice elements is accessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: KARL-FRIEDRICH LAIBLE
  • Publication number: 20180045452
    Abstract: A sensing module according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a sensing electrode formed on a first surface of the substrate; a reaction layer formed on the first surface of the substrate and burying an upper surface of the substrate and the sensing electrode; a driving unit electrically connected to the sensing electrode formed on the first surface of the substrate and processing a sensing signal transmitted through the sensing electrode; and a protective layer formed surrounding the driving unit, wherein an impedance value of the reaction layer is changed by an external contact material, and the sensing electrode transmits the sensing signal with respect to the impedance value of the reaction layer to the driving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Chil Young JI, Jeong Gi SEO
  • Publication number: 20180045453
    Abstract: In various implementations, frost in a vapor compression system may be controlled. A property of a fan may be determined. A determination may be made whether a frost event and/or a nonfrost event has occurred based at least partially on the determined fan property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Qu, H. Gene Havard, Jon Douglas, Jeff Mangum
  • Publication number: 20180045454
    Abstract: An impingement apparatus associated with a conveyor includes: (a) a shell supporting an impinger; and (b) a coolant delivery apparatus enclosed by the shell, the coolant delivery apparatus including a gas circulation device for directing a coolant to the impinger; the impinger including: (i) an impingement plate including openings for directing impingement jets toward the conveyor; (ii) at least one non-circular cam in mechanical communication with the at least one conveyor and rotatable when the conveyor is in motion; and (iii) at least one connector in mechanical communication with the at least one cam and the impingement plate, the connector displaceable during rotation of the at least one cam to elevate and lower the impingement plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Scott BOYLES
  • Publication number: 20180045455
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an “O” shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Kuehl, Axel Julio Ramm, Guolian Wu, James W. Kendall, Nihat Cur, Paul B. Allard
  • Publication number: 20180045456
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nihat Cur, Axel Julio Ramm, Guolian Wu, James Kendall
  • Publication number: 20180045457
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body having a storage compartment, a first door rotatably installed at a first side of the main body to open and close a first portion of the storage compartment, and a second door rotatably installed at a second side of the main body to open and close a second portion of the storage compartment. A first camera may be installed at the first door to take a picture of an interior of the first storage compartment during rotation of the first door, and a second camera may be installed at the second door to take a picture of the interior of the first storage compartment during rotation of the second door. A controller may combine plural pictures taken by the first camera and the second camera into a single corrected image of a region of the first compartment spanning from the first door to the second door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Inhwan RYU, Minjoo CHA, Hyein YANG
  • Publication number: 20180045458
    Abstract: Methods, processes, apparatus, kits and systems for chilling and cooling bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items to selected desired temperatures by rapidly rotating and counter-rotating the bottled or canned beverages, desserts, and food items that are immersed in cooled liquids in short time spans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Douglas Shuntich
  • Publication number: 20180045459
    Abstract: A process for liquefying a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, in particular natural gas, where the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is precooled and subjected to water separation and a subsequent drying process before liquefaction and the hydrocarbon-rich fraction is liquefied against at least one mixed refrigerant circuit, where the refrigerant circulating in the mixed refrigerant circuit is compressed in at least two stages, subsequently at least partially condensed and the liquid fraction formed here is at least partly mixed into the refrigerant which has been compressed to an intermediate pressure is described. A substream of the liquid fraction serves for precooling the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied before it is fed to the water separation, where heat exchange between the liquid fraction and the hydrocarbon-rich fraction to be liquefied is effected by means of at least one heat exchanger system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Heinz Bauer
  • Publication number: 20180045460
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon vapor capture and processing system is disclosed to reduce both carbon emissions and conventional pollution, while producing financial returns by turning waste vapors into high quality NGLs. In one embodiment, the hydrocarbon vapor is sent to a compressor for compression. Compressed vapor is then cooled via an air cooler, before being condensed by a refrigerator to form a liquid. The resulting two-phase flow is then separated into a dry gas stream and a liquid stream using a cyclonic separator. The dry gas stream may be transmitted as a light gas to sales line. The resulting liquid stream is passed to a stripping column to produce NGLs. The system offers great benefits to the environment and public health, by providing a technology that drastically cuts carbon emissions and noxious pollution, while incentivizing drillers to implement such measures through its ability to produce revenue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Gevorg Sargsyan, Andrew C. Young, Kevin Hotton, Matthew Lewis
  • Publication number: 20180045461
    Abstract: A method for removing condensable components from a fluid containing condensable components. The method involves optimizing the temperature of an initial feed stream including the condensable components through heat exchange and cooling to condense liquids there from. The liquids are removed to form a gas stream which is then compressed and after-cooled to form a high pressure stream. A portion of the high pressure stream is expanded to form a cooled low pressure stream which is mixed with the initial feed stream to augment cooling and condensation of condensable components in the initial feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: N. Wayne MCKAY, James MADDOCKS
  • Publication number: 20180045462
    Abstract: A method and system for drying food products is disclosed. The system includes an infrared source, an ultrasonic generator, and a hydro conductive dryer. Food products are placed on a moving conveyor belt that cycles through the system and exposes the food products to infrared and ultrasonic vibration while also transferring thermal energy from heated water to the food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Vahid Baeghbali, Mehrdad Niakousari
  • Publication number: 20180045463
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Irven McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki