Patents Issued in July 14, 2020
  • Patent number: 10712033
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor configured to circulate a working fluid through the HVAC system, a fan configured to direct across a heat exchanger coil of the HVAC system, an ambient sensor configured to monitor a condition of an environment surrounding the heat exchanger coil, and a control system communicatively coupled to the ambient sensor, where the control system is configured to detect a status of the ambient sensor, and where the control system is configured to adjust operation of the compressor, or the fan, or both, upon detection of an error of the ambient sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Shaun B. Atchison, Andrew M. Boyd, Noel A. Grajeda-Trevizo, Tom R. Tasker
  • Patent number: 10712034
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes an air moving device configured to move air through the HVAC system, a first variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to drive the air moving device, and a second VFD configured to drive the air moving device, wherein the first VFD and the second VFD are configured receive control instructions and to selectively operate based on the control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ryan E. Hill, Harold J. Dubensky, Sandeep K. Chodapaneedi, Lindsey C. Walker, Nivedita Nath, Keith L. Glatfelter, Bhushan D. Vichare, Gnanesh Suvvada, Siddappa R. Bidari, Justin M. Fantom, Deepak S. Kollabettu, William J. Skinner, Jr., David A. Shearer, David P. Gillmen
  • Patent number: 10712035
    Abstract: When refrigerant leakage occurs, a controller in an air conditioner performs first shutoff control to open a liquid relay shutoff valve and close an indoor expansion valve and a gas relay shutoff valve on the basis of information from a refrigerant leakage detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Yuusuke Nakagawa, Yuusuke Oka
  • Patent number: 10712036
    Abstract: A Fault Detection Diagnostic (FDD) variable differential and variable fan-off delay Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) thermostat control method. The FDD method detects a fan-on setting, reports a FDD fan-on alarm, overrides a fan-on setting, and turns off an HVAC fan. The FDD method detects, reports, and corrects a short-cycle by providing a variable differential based on: a cooling or heating cycle duration, or an off-cycle time. The variable fan-off delay is based on: a Conditioned Space Temperature (CST), comparing a current CST to the CST measured during the fan-off delay, a rate of change of CST with respect to time (dT/dt), dT/dt reaches an inflection point, the CST crosses a fan-off-delay differential, a cooling cycle duration, a heating cycle duration, a cooling temperature split, a heating temperature rise, an outdoor air temperature, a supply air temperature, or the rate of change with respect to time of these HVAC parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Robert J. Mowris, John Walsh
  • Patent number: 10712037
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, operating an HVAC system comprises receiving zone temperature data from a temperature sensor, zone humidity-ratio data from a humidity sensor, a temperature set point from a user, and a relative-humidity set point from a user. A humidity-ratio set point is determined based on the temperature and relative-humidity set points. A first command to the HVAC system to perform a cooling operation is communicated upon determining that the temperature data exceeds a temperature threshold based on the temperature set point. Determining if the humidity data has reached a humidity-ratio threshold based on the humidity-ratio set point after determining that the temperature data has reached the temperature threshold. Operating the HVAC system according to a dehumidification-based cooling procedure upon determining that the humidity data has not reached the humidity-ratio threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rohini Brahme, Umesh Gokhale, Derek Phillips
  • Patent number: 10712038
    Abstract: An HVAC system within a building includes one or more sensors and a thermostat. The thermostat has a processor that is configured to receive air quality information relating to one or more air quality components. The thermostat is further configured to determine a performance level corresponding to each air quality component. The thermostat is further configured to determine one or more parameter values for each air quality component. The thermostat is further configured to generate an icon that visually represents each air quality component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Justin J. Ploegert
  • Patent number: 10712039
    Abstract: A method and a thermostat for a multi-thermostat temperature control system are provided. The system includes a thermostat including at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one memory device. The thermostat is configured to receive one or more input signal commands permitting a recovery from a demand management system load shedding event and determine a pseudo-random starting time window from which a recovery starting time is selected. The pseudo-random starting time is based on a value accessible to the thermostat that is unique to the thermostat. The starting time window includes a primary delay window and a secondary delay window within the primary delay window. The thermostat is also configured to start an operation of a conditioning unit associated with the thermostat at the selected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier
  • Patent number: 10712040
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a blower drive. The processor receives an altitude and a first blower coefficient. The processor determines a second blower coefficient based on the first blower coefficient and the altitude. The blower drive receives the second blower coefficient and adjusts at least one of a speed and a torque of a motor based on the second blower coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Palanivel Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 10712041
    Abstract: A cooling fan automatic control system includes: a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of an object to be cooled; a plurality of current sensors configured to measure power consumption by each of a plurality of cooling fans; and a controller which, when a measured temperature that is a measured value obtained by the temperature sensor is higher than a target cooling temperature of the object to be cooled, controls rotational speeds of the plurality of cooling fans so as to minimize a total of measured current values of the plurality of cooling fans obtained by the plurality of current sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Murakami, Masashi Murakami
  • Patent number: 10712042
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes a heat exchanger configured to circulate a working fluid therethrough, a valve configured to regulate a flow rate of the working fluid through the heat exchanger, and a valve controller configured to modify a valve position control signal received from an external controller, separate from the valve controller, based on a temperature differential of the working fluid entering and exiting the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Marcello Passoni, Alejandro Gonzalez Pozo, Gabriele Francesco Giuseppe Andreoni
  • Patent number: 10712043
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air vent including a housing; plural louvers extending horizontally or vertically, pivotably arranged in the housing and aligned relative to an air outlet opening arranged in the housing, wherein the plural louvers are controllable jointly with an identical orientation by a pivot movement from a starting position into a pivot position by an adjustment device for changing an air outflow direction from the air outlet opening, wherein the plural louvers are controllable by at least one actuation element made from a shape memory alloy to adjust a diffuse air flow independently from a control by the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GRAMMER Interior Components GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Link, Pierre Stehle, Gunter Link, Christian Schreck
  • Patent number: 10712044
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture that is configured for operably releasing condensate from a condensate-producing unit without allowing a substantial quantity of gas to enter the condensate-producing unit and/or a substantial quantity of gas to flow through the system, machine, device, and/or manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Nicholas Howard Des Champs
  • Patent number: 10712045
    Abstract: An air handling unit comprises a cabinet, a blower assembly positioned within the cabinet, a slab positioned adjacent to and parallel to a vertical side of the cabinet, wherein the slab comprises a heat exchanger assembly, and at least one hinged connector that pivotally connects the slab to the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick William Van Deventer, John Raymond Edens, Bradley Lynn Kersh, Randy Joe Semroska, Mark Hudgins, Caitlin Michelle Butler
  • Patent number: 10712046
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a ventilator mounting bracket, belonging to device installation brackets. Existing ventilator mounting brackets are smaller in adjustable distance range, difficult in installation and fixation and low in efficiency. The ventilator mounting bracket of the present invention is provided with two telescoping rod components which can extend and shorten and two folding rod components which are connected between the two telescoping rod components and can be folded and unfolded; the two folding rod components are unfolded to stretch the two telescoping rod components such that the two telescoping rod components and the two folding rod components form a mounting hole for mounting a ventilator; the two folding components are folded to withdraw the two telescoping rod components for packaging and transportation; moreover, the two ends of each one of the two telescoping rod components can be fixed at corresponding fixed parts by adjusting the length of the telescoping rod components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AUPU HOME STYLE CORPORATION LIMITED.
    Inventors: Shouyong Gao, Jian Chen, Jianli Xu, Kong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10712047
    Abstract: A heating system retrofitted to be operable through multiple heat stages at a constant fuel-air mixture includes a tube heat exchanger having a plurality of burners, a combustion air blower (CAB) having an exhaust vent connected with the plurality of burners, the CAB operable at a first speed and a second speed, a first valve connecting a fuel source to a first subset of the plurality of burners, and a second valve connecting a fuel source to a second subset of the plurality of burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Perez, Steven Schneider, Bryan Smith, John Tran
  • Patent number: 10712048
    Abstract: A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: John David McGrane, Pedro Israel Inigo, Apurba Kumar Das, Rahul Jayant Terdalkar, Abhinaya Joshi, Michael M. Clark, Joseph W. Quinn, Gary Pashko, Robert Derosa
  • Patent number: 10712049
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a water pump, and a heat exchanging arrangement. The heat exchanging arrangement includes a main casing having a receiving cavity divided into a water atomizing compartment and one water showering compartment, a water atomizing unit, a water showering head, a fill material unit provided underneath the water showering head, and a water collection basin provided underneath the water atomizing unit and the fill material unit. A predetermined amount of heated water from the first heat exchanger is guided to flow to the water showering head and the water in the water showering head is sprinkled on the fill material unit. A predetermined amount of water from the water pump is guided to flow to the water atomizing unit and the water flowing to the water atomizing unit is sprayed and atomized in the water atomizing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Sui Liu
  • Patent number: 10712050
    Abstract: A multi-stage heat engine having an evaporator, a condenser, expander stages; vapour compression stages; tanks for holding gaseous phases of a fluid. The compressor stages is adapted to compress the gaseous phase in the adjacent tank with a higher pressure than which occurred at expansion and to move the compressed fluid to the next adjacent tank at a higher pressure, the expander stages are adapted to expand a part of the compressed fluid in each tank, to expand the fluid in the adjacent tank at a lower pressure, the compressor and expander sections are adapted to output the gaseous phase at the highest pressure to the condenser and the liquid phase at the lowest pressure to the evaporator, where the output of the condenser are fed back to the tank at the highest pressure and the output of the evaporator is fed back to the tank at the lowest pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK (VITO)
    Inventor: Johan Van Bael
  • Patent number: 10712051
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes first and second temperature zones and a refrigerant circuit having first and second parallel branches. The first branch has a controllable first restriction point and a first heat exchanger for setting a temperature of the first temperature zone, and the second branch has a second restriction point and a second heat exchanger for setting a temperature of the second temperature zone. A branching point, at which the refrigerant circuit splits into the two branches, is configured as a separator for separating gas and liquid and the second branch is connected to a liquid outlet of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Babucke
  • Patent number: 10712052
    Abstract: A system includes a high side heat exchanger, a flash tank, a first load, a second load, a first compressor, and a heat exchanger. The flash tank is configured to store the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger. The first load is configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to remove heat from a first space proximate to the first load. The second load is configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to remove heat from a second space proximate to the second load. The first compressor is configured to compress the refrigerant from the first load. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant from the first compressor and the second load to the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger, and direct the refrigerant from the first compressor and the second load to a second compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventor: Fardis Najafifard
  • Patent number: 10712053
    Abstract: A cryocooler includes a displacer, a cylinder in which the displacer is accommodated, a Scotch yoke mechanism which drives the displacer, and a housing in which the Scotch yoke mechanism is accommodated. The Scotch yoke mechanism includes a crank, a yoke plate, a second drive shaft, and a first drive shaft. The housing may include a drive mechanism accommodation chamber in which the crank and the yoke plate are accommodated, a first assist chamber in which a distal end of the first drive shaft is accommodated, and a second assist chamber which is provided between the drive mechanism accommodation chamber and a gas chamber or between the drive mechanism accommodation chamber and the first assist chamber. The first assist chamber and the second assist chamber can be adjusted to a higher pressure than the pressure in the drive mechanism accommodation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Morie
  • Patent number: 10712054
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device includes a loop pipe, a first stack that is disposed in the loop pipe and that generates a sound wave in the loop pipe by way of a temperature gradient, a second stack that is disposed in the loop pipe and that generates a temperature gradient, a first high temperature side heat exchanger that is disposed at one end of the first stack and that makes the temperature of the one end of the first stack be higher than the other end, and a first low temperature side heat exchanger that is disposed at the other end of the first stack and that makes the temperature of the other end of the first stack be lower than the one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION OSAKA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Saito, Ryouichi Takahata, Tomoyuki Takei, Osamu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10712055
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a flowpath switching valve disposed on a refrigerant flowpath between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units configured to operate in a cooling mode or in a heating mode, a mode controller configured to selectively guide refrigerant received from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units. The mode controller guiding the refrigerant through one or more of: a first refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve to the mode control unit, a second refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve and diverging to the outdoor heat exchanger, and to the mode control unit, and a third refrigerant pipe extending from the outdoor heat exchanger to the mode controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung-Rock Kim, Joon-Ho Yoon, Kwon Jin Kim, Dong-Gyu Lee, Eom Ji Jang, Dong Sik Jin, Seung Kwan Choi, Heung Seob Choi
  • Patent number: 10712056
    Abstract: Some aspects of the invention provide an air cooling system. The air cooling system may include a solar energy gathering component that drives a cooling system. The air cooling system may include an absorption cooling system or a thermoelectric cooling system. The cooling system may include a solar collector matched with an air venting system. The cooling unit may hang on the inside of a window or on another vertical surface and utilize the heat and/or radiation from the sun to activate a cooling mechanism that, in turn, provides cooling via the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Solar Snow Corporation
    Inventor: Harold Finkleman
  • Patent number: 10712057
    Abstract: A method for generating electricity and cold and a device for realizing same, consists in a closed absorption cycle in which a working body is a mixture of a low-boiling (refrigerant) component and a high-boiling (absorbent) component. The method involves evaporating a strong solution in a steam generator, thus forming a refrigerant vapor and a weak solution, expanding the refrigerant vapor in a turbine, thus producing work, and, after the turbine, absorbing spent vapor in an absorber, forming a strong solution. A distinguishing feature of the method consists in changing the concentration of a strong solution using two stages, including not only evaporation but also filtration. The proposed method and device allow for significantly increasing the efficiency of systems for generating electricity relative to analogous known methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Waste to Energy Generating Inc.
    Inventor: Igor I. Samkhan
  • Patent number: 10712058
    Abstract: A rotary compressor includes: a closed upright cylindrical compressor housing including an upper portion provided with a discharge section of refrigerant and a body portion provided with an intake section of the refrigerant; a compression section disposed at a lower part in the compressor housing and configured to compress the refrigerant suctioned by the intake section to discharge the refrigerant from the discharge section; and a motor disposed at an upper part in the compressor housing and configured to drive the compression section. The motor has a rotor disposed on an inner side and a stator disposed on an outer side, the refrigerant is HFO1123 refrigerant or a refrigerant mixture containing the HFO1123 refrigerant, and an inner welded portion formed by welding using flux is provided within a projection area of the rotor at the upper portion of the compressor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Shunji Itakura, Ken Horiguchi, Toshiyuki Fuji, Sota Shimada, Kazuya Funada, Kenji Komine, Junya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10712059
    Abstract: A distributor assembly for a space conditioning system comprising a sealed expansion device and a sealed distributor housing. The expansion device has a first opening, a second opening and an interior chamber there-between. The interior chamber contains an orifice housing, wherein the orifice housing has a through-hole orifice therein. The orifice housing is configured to move between the first opening and the second opening within the interior chamber. An outer surface of the orifice housing forms a fluid stop around the first opening such that a refrigeration fluid of the space conditioning system delivered through the second opening can substantially only pass through the through-hole orifice to the first opening. The distributor housing has a largest opening that is permanently sealed to the first opening of the sealed expansion device and a plurality of smaller openings configured to be fluidly connected to a heat-exchange coil of the space conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Allied Air Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Hany Roman
  • Patent number: 10712060
    Abstract: A power generation method capable of obtaining, even after switching a refrigerant, the equivalent power generation amount before the switching includes: a step of, during reference operation for circulating a reference refrigerant as a working medium within a circulation pathway and operating a binary generator, acquiring information of a control target of superheat of the reference refrigerant evaporated in an evaporator; a step of filling as the working medium, in the circulation pathway, mixed refrigerants by mixing a high-vapor pressure refrigerant and a low-vapor pressure refrigerant than the reference refrigerant in the ratio in which its vapor pressure equals the reference refrigerant; and a step of operating the binary generator while circulating the mixed refrigerants as the working medium within the circulation pathway and controlling superheat of the mixed refrigerants evaporated in the evaporator so as to equal the control target of the superheat of the reference refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Adachi, Masayoshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10712061
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a flow path switching valve. An outdoor heat exchanger is divided into a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. During heating operation, a refrigerant is diverted and supplied to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. During the heating operation, the flow path switching valve combines the flows of the refrigerants discharged from the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and returns the resultant refrigerant to a refrigerant inlet of a compressor. Three ports of the flow path switching valve are internally communicated with one another while being isolated from an other single port during the heating operation. Two ports of the flow path switching valve are internally communicated with each other and other two ports are internally communicated with each other during defrosting operation of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Tashiro, Yasuhide Hayamaru
  • Patent number: 10712062
    Abstract: A refrigerant distributor includes: a first introduction pipe configured to be open at a first end and closed at a second end and to cause refrigerant to flow from the first end toward the second end; a second introduction pipe configured to be closed in ends on both upstream and downstream sides and to cause the refrigerant to flow in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow direction in the first introduction pipe; a plurality of branch pipes connected in series along a refrigerant flow direction on the second introduction pipe; and an adjusting pipe configured to connect the first introduction pipe and the second introduction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Horiba, Tatsunori Sakai, Kumi Aoki, Akihide Terao, Keiichi Tomita, Hirohito Yagi
  • Patent number: 10712063
    Abstract: An improved frozen product dispenser wherein a product is placed into a cooled hopper and the product is then fed from the hopper into a freezing and dispensing chamber where it is frozen and dispensed. Applicants have further created improved methods and apparatuses for to control the refrigeration and freezing systems of the exemplary frozen product machines are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FBD PARTNERSHIP, LP
    Inventors: R. Craig Cobabe, Stephen K. Versteeg
  • Patent number: 10712064
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating and storing liquid refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a housing configured as a refrigerant collection container, the housing having a refrigerant outflow line disposed therein. The refrigerant outflow line extending from an inlet opening, which is disposed in a gas refrigerant region and above a level of the liquid refrigerant, via a liquid refrigerant region to the outside, and has a through-opening formed in the liquid refrigerant region. The housing includes a boiling element for liquid refrigerant disposed therein. The boiling element is connected to the refrigerant outflow line in the region of the through-opening, such that a liquid passing through the through-opening from the housing passes through the boiling element by suction of a gas refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Toni Spies, Peter Heyl, Marc Graaf, Hartmut Helm, Heinrich Ittner, Jiri Dvorsky
  • Patent number: 10712065
    Abstract: Equipment for transferring fluid into a reservoir or a downstream pipe includes: a piston valve having a body and a rod with a closing member; a chassis defining a housing receiving the piston valve and an upstream passage for fluid, the piston valve movable between a non-inserted and inserted positions, with the piston outside and inside the housing, respectively; and a module defining a cavity for receiving the fluid from the upstream passage and a downstream discharge passage intended to be fluidly connected to the reservoir or downstream pipe, the inlet of the discharge passage defining a valve seat intended to receive the closing member of the piston valve in the deployed position, the module being movable relative to the chassis between an open position, allowing the piston valve to be inserted in the housing, and a closed position, in which the module is fastened to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FIVES FILLING & SEALING
    Inventor: Jacques Goasguen
  • Patent number: 10712066
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner of a heat pump system in which there is prevented or inhibited frosting to an outdoor heat exchanger when heating in a vehicle interior is beforehand performed during plug-in, thereby achieving comfortable heating in the vehicle interior during running and also extending a running distance. The vehicle air conditioner includes an injection circuit 40 which distributes a refrigerant flowing out from a radiator 4 to return the refrigerant to the middle of compression by a compressor 2, a controller has frosting estimation means for estimating the frosting to an outdoor heat exchanger 7, and when a heating mode is executed in a state where a power is supplied from an external power source to the compressor 2 or to a battery which supplies the power to drive the compressor 2, the injection circuit 40 performs gas injection to the compressor 2 in a case where the frosting to the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10712067
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are connected in a circuit and is provided with an indoor air temperature sensor configured to detect indoor air temperature in a space in which the air-conditioning apparatus is installed, and a controller configured to control a rotation speed of the compressor. The controller controls operation of the compressor based on an operation state of the compressor and a change amount of the indoor air temperature detected by the indoor air temperature sensor at a set time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinori Nakamura, Takuya Mukoyama
  • Patent number: 10712068
    Abstract: A method of operating a multiple energy source of a transport refrigeration unit determines if the transport refrigeration unit is at idle. The method may then electrically switch a condenser fan motor from an electrical power source to a battery charging circuit. The condenser fan motor may be back-driven via wind blowing through a condenser fan. Electrical power is thereby generated and applied to charge a battery via a battery charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suzankumar Gongate, Chandrasekhar Puppala
  • Patent number: 10712069
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an upper tray portion with at least one cavity for forming ice, a lower portion with at least one fin, and an evaporator cooling tube which is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion, such that the evaporator cooling tube is sandwiched between the upper tray portion and the lower portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Nilton Bertolini, Alexander Görz, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10712070
    Abstract: Nestable sunshade coolers may include a cooler enclosure including an enclosure bottom panel, a pair of spaced-apart enclosure side panels extending from the enclosure bottom panel, an enclosure front panel and an enclosure rear panel extending from the enclosure bottom panel in spaced-apart relationship to each other between the enclosure side panels. A plurality of enclosure corners may join the enclosure side panels to the enclosure front panel and the enclosure rear panel to the enclosure side panels, respectively. An enclosure rim may be provided on the enclosure side panels, the enclosure front panel and the enclosure rear panel. The enclosure side panels, the enclosure front panel and the enclosure rear panel may angle outwardly from the enclosure bottom panel to the enclosure rim to form a substantially trapezoidal shape in longitudinal sectional view and cross-sectional view of the cooler enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Randall W. Touchton
  • Patent number: 10712071
    Abstract: A cold storage assembly for maintaining a temperature of an item includes a shell that defines an interior space. The shell comprises membranous polymer so that the shell is flexible. The shell has a top that is open. A lid is pivotally coupled to a back of the shell adjacent to the top. The shell is configured to insert items into the interior space and the lid is positioned to selectively close the top. A plurality of panels is selectively couplable to an inner surface of the shell. The panels extend between a front and a back of the shell and define a plurality of compartments. The panels are configured to separate the items. A cooling unit that comprises an evaporator and a condenser is coupled to the shell. The cooling unit is positioned to cool the interior space and the items that are positioned therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Rosell
  • Patent number: 10712072
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel kit, transportable apparatus and method for generating in-situ CO2 snow block within the apparatus. An item such as a biological sample can be stored and transported within the same apparatus that is employed for creating the CO2 snow block. The apparatus is capable of preserving the sample during transport. The invention also includes a specially designed CO2 snow charger system including a charger and meshed conduit. The charger system is operated in accordance with the methods of the present invention to create the in-situ CO2 snow block within a container that can be also used for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Zhou, Ranko Bursac, Robert R Sever
  • Patent number: 10712073
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ternary natural refrigerant mixture containing R-600a (isobutane), R-600 (isobutane), and R-290 (propane) that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for more energy efficient cooling than a single refrigerant such as R-134a without having to change the compressor design, which can add to manufacturing costs. For example, the ternary natural refrigerant mixture can be used in a refrigeration system that uses dual evaporators to provide more efficient cooling. The refrigeration system can be used in, e.g., a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment and a frozen food compartment to provide separate cooling to each compartment simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 10712074
    Abstract: A refrigerator and method utilize a pair of tandem evaporators to provide cooling for both a compartment and an ice making system of a refrigerator. An upstream evaporator in the pair of tandem evaporators provides cooling for a compartment such as a freezer, fresh food, flexible cooling, or quick cooling compartment, while a downstream evaporator is in fluid communication with the upstream evaporator to receive a portion of the air cooled by the upstream evaporator and further cool the received portion for use in cooling one or more components of the ice making system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Scalf, Mark W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10712075
    Abstract: A refrigerator and ventilation door device thereof are provided. The ventilation door device comprises: a bottom frame provided with a ventilation opening; a door plate disposed abutting the bottom frame, configured to shift in a parallel plane of the bottom frame so as to adjust an area of the ventilation opening, and a guideway forming a predetermined angle with respect to the shifting direction of the door plate; and an adjuster having a guide post movably inserted in the guideway, and upon moving of the adjuster in a direction perpendicular to the shifting direction of the door plate, the guide post drives the door plate to shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Enpin Xia, Huimin Zhang, Xiaobing Zhu
  • Patent number: 10712076
    Abstract: A air-cooled refrigerator is provided, comprising: a freezer compartment (103), a refrigeration compartment (104), a temperature changeable compartment (105), a finned evaporator (106), an electric air door (107), an air inlet duct (101) and an air return duct (102), wherein the main air duct (1011) has one end connected to the refrigeration compartment air inlet duct (1012) and the temperature changeable compartment air inlet duct (1013) respectively, and the other end connected to an outlet of the finned evaporator (106), and in the air return duct (102), both the refrigeration compartment air return duct (1021) and the temperature changeable compartment air return duct (1022) introduce the returning air into the bottom of the finned evaporator (106), the electric air door (106) is communicated with the refrigeration compartment air inlet duct (1012) and the temperature changeable compartment air inlet duct (1013) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD, HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yang Luo
  • Patent number: 10712077
    Abstract: An arrangement for cryogenic cooling includes a cryogen tank, a cryogenic recondensing refrigerator arranged to cool a heat exchanger that is exposed to the interior of the cryogen tank, and an arrangement for conducting heat from a cooled article to the cryogen tank. A further cryogen tank is provided below the heat exchanger and arranged to receive cryogen liquid recondensed on the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Adam Paul Johnstone, Jonathan Noys, Michael Simpkins, John Anthony Robert Teah
  • Patent number: 10712078
    Abstract: Disclosed is a defrost system (200) comprising a refrigeration cycle (202) and defrost cycle (204), and a first heat exchanger (206) and a second heat exchanger (208). The first heat exchanger (206) exchanges heat between the defrost cycle (204) and a heat source (210) whereby the defrost fluid of the defrost cycle may undergo at least a partial phase change in the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger (208) exchanges heat between one or more components of the refrigeration cycle (202) and the defrost cycle (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SCANTEC REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Stefan Jensen
  • Patent number: 10712079
    Abstract: A cooling device having an evaporator for cooling a cooling chamber of the cooling device, including, a heat insulated cabinet; a housing, which is surrounded by the cabinet; an evaporator chamber for receiving the evaporator, wherein the evaporator chamber is closed by an evaporator cover sheet, which is fixed to a mounting element of the cooling device; and a fixing assembly, which is configured to releasably interlock the evaporator cover sheet with the mounting element by pushing the evaporator cover sheet towards the mounting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Yigit Akalan, Ziya Arslankiray, Mehmet Ciyanoglu, Emre Emek, Tanzer Yildizgoecer
  • Patent number: 10712080
    Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet structure includes thermoforming a first polymer sheet to form a wrapper having a base wall and four sidewalls. The method also includes thermoforming a second polymer sheet to form a liner having a base wall and four sidewalls. Elongated corner stiffeners are adhesively secured to inside corners of the wrapper. A resilient ring is adhesively secured to the wrapper and liner. The resilient ring includes pins that are received in openings of the elongated corner stiffeners. Porous material is disposed in a vacuum cavity between the wrapper and the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine J. Westlake, Eric J. Dherde
  • Patent number: 10712081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart repository that can be used as a refrigerator or the like, the smart repository being characterized by comprising: a repository body having a door installed in an entrance/exit formed in a side surface thereof, the repository body containing an outer column that faces the entrance/exit and an inner column that communicates with the outer column through the upper and lower end portions thereof; multiple storing boxes provided to be contained and stacked inside the outer and inner columns; a plurality of vertical driving devices installed on the outer and inner columns, respectively, and driven so as to lift/lower the multiple storing boxes; an imaging portion comprising a plurality of push means for moving a box on the upper end portion of the inner column toward the outer column and moving a box on the lower end portion of the outer column toward the inner column, the imaging portion being configured to take an image of a to-be-stored object introduced through the door
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SUNKANG EGS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jung-Hwan Na
  • Patent number: 10712082
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a drawer slidably mounted within the cabinet. The drawer includes a drawer body and a door attached to the drawer body via a hinge such that the door is rotatable relative to the drawer body between a closed position and an open position. The drawer also includes a latch configured to retain the door in the closed position when the latch is locked. The drawer is slidable between a retracted position where the door of the drawer is proximate the cabinet and an extended position where the door of the drawer is spaced apart from the cabinet. The latch is configured to automatically unlock when the drawer slides to the extended position which allows the door to rotate to the open position when the drawer is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bart Andrew Nuss