Patents Issued in May 14, 2024
  • Patent number: 11982448
    Abstract: A cooktop appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical direction, the lateral direction, and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular. The cooktop appliance includes a top panel with a gas burner disposed on the top panel. A terminal block is positioned on the top panel adjacent to the burner. The cooktop appliance also includes a grate with a plurality of fingers removably positioned above the gas burner. The plurality of fingers include a sensor finger. A temperature sensor is rotatably mounted to the sensor finger of the plurality of fingers of the grate whereby the temperature sensor is movable along the vertical direction between an elevated position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 11982449
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a method for producing a radiant heater comprising applying two electrodes to a substrate, and printing a desired area of the substrate with an electrically conducive paint to create a heating zone, wherein the desired area at least partially overlays the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ECOVOLT LTD
    Inventor: Stephen Dempsey
  • Patent number: 11982450
    Abstract: An air conditioner indoor unit includes a body including an air outlet, an outer air deflector arranged at the air outlet and configured to open and close the air outlet, and an inner air deflector arranged at an inner side of the outer air deflector. The outer air deflector includes a plurality of first vent holes penetrating the outer air deflector in a thickness direction of the outer air deflector. The inner air deflector includes a plurality of second vent holes penetrating the inner air deflector in a thickness direction of the inner air deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Maocheng Zhu, Shengqi Li
  • Patent number: 11982451
    Abstract: An improved support structure for a valve stem positioned within a valve passageway of an HVAC line set quick connector is disclosed herein. The support structure may include a ring-shaped portion, a plurality of angled legs extending peripherally away and below the ring-shaped portion, and a plurality of terminal portions. The ring-shaped portion may be configured to surround the valve stem. Each of the plurality of terminal portions may be coupled to one of the plurality of legs and may further include an arcuate surface configured to engage the valve passageway of the HVAC line set quick connect. The improved support structure is configured to increase a cross-sectional opening area through the support structure such that coolant flowing through the HVAC line set quick connector is not substantially restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: JOI Holding LLC
    Inventor: Jason Ingram
  • Patent number: 11982452
    Abstract: A condenser coil of a system includes a subcool sensor. The subcool sensor includes a first thermistor positioned to sense a saturated liquid temperature of refrigerant flowing in a first portion of the condenser coil. The subcool sensor includes a second thermistor positioned to sense a liquid temperature of the refrigerant flowing in a second portion of the condenser coil. The second thermistor is coupled electronically in series with the first thermistor. The subcool sensor includes a signal output for transmitting a subcool signal from the subcool sensor. The signal output is coupled electronically to a first terminal of the first thermistor and a second terminal of the second thermistor. A controller of the system includes an input/output interface which receives the subcool signal from the subcool sensor and determines a temperature difference between the saturated liquid temperature and the liquid temperature based on the subcool signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh Goel
  • Patent number: 11982453
    Abstract: A controller for controlling operation of an actuator in an HVAC system is shown. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to receive, via a position sensor communicatively coupled to the actuator, a first voltage value, the first voltage value indicative of a first position of the actuator. The processing circuit is further configured to provide a control signal to the actuator to move to a second position. The processing circuit is further configured to, in response to the actuator moving to the second position, determine that the actuator is located in a different position than the second position based on a second voltage value via the position sensor. The processing circuit is further configured to automatically perform a fault correction process to calculate an updated stroke range of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Justin J. Seifi, Mark G. Freund
  • Patent number: 11982454
    Abstract: A refrigerant leakage notifying device includes a refrigerant sensor, a determination unit, a notification unit, and an output unit. The refrigerant sensor detects a refrigerant and outputs a detection signal according to a detection result. The determination unit receives the detection signal outputted from the refrigerant sensor and determines leakage of the refrigerant in accordance with the detection signal received. The notification unit notifies leakage of the refrigerant with at least one of sound and light in a case in which the determination unit has determined that the refrigerant is leaking. The output unit is provided separately from the refrigerant sensor. The output unit outputs a test signal to the determination unit. The test signal is a signal that the determination unit has determined that the refrigerant is leaking in a case in which the determination unit receives the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuichi Suzuki, Shinya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11982455
    Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of controllers that are each controller is configured to operate at least a portion of includes a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The system further includes a gateway controller that is configured to determine a mesh network size for a local mesh network, to broadcast the mesh network size to other gateway controllers within a local area network, and to receive mesh network size information from the other gateway controllers. The gateway controller is further configured to compute an average mesh network size for the local area network and to determine that the mesh network size for the local mesh network is less than the average mesh network size for the local area network. The gateway controller is further configured to add one or more controllers to the local mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Elena Smirnova, Mansoor Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11982456
    Abstract: A position information antenna 22b receives a position signal including position information about a sending source (satellite, base station, or the like) of a positioning radio wave. A communication antenna 22a transmits position information about a compressor 100 (air compressor) that compresses the air and receives meteorological information corresponding to the position of the compressor 100 from a server on a cloud. A controller 13 specifies the position of the compressor 100 from the position signal received by the position information antenna 22b and controls the compressor 100 on the basis of the meteorological information corresponding to the position of the compressor 100 received by the communication antenna 22a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Shigeyuki Yorikane, Masahiko Takano
  • Patent number: 11982457
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an interactive environmental control system are described. In some examples, operating temperatures for individual zones of an environment may be determined based on inputs received from occupants of the respective zones. For example, a building may be separated into zones, and environmental conditions at each zone may be monitored and adjusted independently. Each occupant of a zone may update their environmental preference and the system may utilize the user inputs to set and adjust an operating temperature for the respective zone based on the occupants' preferences. In some examples, the system may implement machine learning techniques to predict and set operating conditions for the zones based on inputs, such as a history of inputs, from building occupants (e.g., from occupants of a respective zone).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Yao, Gangotree Chakma, Bhagyashree Bokade
  • Patent number: 11982458
    Abstract: Air conditioner units and methods of operating the same are provided. A method of operating an air conditioner unit includes activating a makeup air system of the air conditioner unit. The makeup air system directs a flow of outside air from the makeup air system to an indoor portion of a housing of the air conditioner unit. The method also includes activating an indoor fan disposed in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit at a fan speed at least equal to a minimum circulation threshold speed in response to the makeup air system being activated. Activating the indoor fan causes the flow of outside air from the makeup air system to be urged through the indoor portion of the housing. An air conditioner unit may include a controller, and the controller may be configured for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Duane Longenecker, Charles D. Robinson, III, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11982459
    Abstract: The electric control box includes a box body, a mounting plate, a radiator, an electronic component and a cooling fan; the box body is provided with a mounting chamber, the mounting plate is arranged in the mounting chamber and the mounting chamber forms a first chamber and a second chamber which are located at two sides of the mounting plate, the mounting plate is provided with a first ventilation opening and a second ventilation opening which are spaced apart, the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening enables communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; the radiator is at least partially arranged in the first chamber; the electronic component is arranged in the second chamber and is in heat conducting connection with the radiator; and the cooling fan is used for supplying air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guochun Wang, Mingren Wang, Tiegang Zhang, Weihong Luo, Xihua Ma, Hongwei Li, Zhaohui Li
  • Patent number: 11982460
    Abstract: An air intake apparatus configured to be operably coupled to a primary air input of a furnace so as to provide airflow into the furnace in the event the primary air input becomes blocked. The air intake apparatus includes a body having an interior volume wherein the body includes a first end and a second end. The body has openings at the first end and the second end. A first end cap member is secured to the first end and includes an intake pipe operably coupled thereto. An intake member is secured to the second end cap member and extends upward therefrom into the interior volume of the body. The body includes a plurality of apertures formed in the wall thereof operable to atmospherically couple the interior volume of the body to an atmosphere in which the air intake apparatus is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Wayne Knelsen
  • Patent number: 11982461
    Abstract: A protective housing structure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprises a first end and a second end with a centerline extending there between. The protecting housing structure includes a cover section that is located between the first end and second end. The cover section comprises a dome-shaped top panel that is rigidly attached to a first sidewall and a second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Richard Lee Jameson, Jeffrey Lee Stewart
  • Patent number: 11982462
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a cabinet including an inlet port and a frame including an outlet port and coupled to the cabinet. A heat exchanger is disposed between the cabinet and the frame to exchange heat with air introduced into the inlet port and discharged to the outlet port. A blocking member is configured to connect the frame and the heat exchanger to prevent air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger from leaking into the cabinet. This structure inhibits dew from being generated on the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Woo Jung, Sung Jae Kim, Jin-Gyun Kim, Young Tae Song, Hae Gyun Shin, Chang Sik Lee, Seo Young Cho, Sung Hyun Chun
  • Patent number: 11982463
    Abstract: An air conditioner indoor unit includes an electric control box, a cleaner device, and an electrical wire. The cleaner device includes a filter screen rail assembly and a cleaning assembly configured to drive a filter screen to move on the filter screen rail assembly to clean the filter screen. The cleaning assembly includes an electrical wire connection end. The electrical wire is arranged at the cleaning assembly and the filter screen rail assembly. One end of the electrical wire is connected to the electrical wire connection end, and another end of the electrical wire is connected to the electric control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gen Lu, Xing Liu, Zecheng Sun, Shuyang Pi
  • Patent number: 11982464
    Abstract: Provided is an air-conditioning system that air-conditions a house having an upper floor and a lower floor positioned at a lower position than the upper floor. The air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning apparatus that conditions air in an air-conditioning room provided at the upper floor or at a higher position than the upper floor, a plurality of conveyance fans that conveys the air in the air-conditioning room to a plurality of upper rooms positioned at the higher floor independent of the air condition room, and is provided to correspond to the plurality of upper rooms, coupling fans that couple the upper rooms and lower rooms positioned at lower positions of the upper rooms to blow air from the upper rooms to the lower rooms, and a system controller that controls the air-conditioning apparatus, the conveyance fans, and the coupling fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Ando, Naoyuki Funada, Ayumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 11982465
    Abstract: A heat exchange unit for a ventilation device includes: a case having a first inlet port through which first air is sucked and a second outlet port through which second air is discharged formed on a front side, and a first outlet port through which the first air is discharged and a second inlet port through which the second air is sucked formed on a back side; and heat exchangers having a first air passage through which the first air passes and a second air passage through which the second air passes formed thereon. A first separation plate for separating the first inlet port and the second outlet port is installed in the height direction on the front side of the case. A second separation plate for separating the second inlet port and the first outlet port is installed in the height direction on the other side of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AMOGREENTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Chul Lim, Jae Yeong Lee
  • Patent number: 11982466
    Abstract: A structure comprises at least one outer wall having an internal wall section and an outer wall section with an air flow passage therebetween. A circulation system circulates air through the flow passage to inhibit moisture accumulation and mold growth. A sensing system determines the presence of moisture in the flow passage and generates a signal in response thereto. A controller receives the signal from the sensing system and controls the circulation system to maintain a predetermined temperature and relative humidity in the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Vacek LLC
    Inventor: Sam S. Vacek
  • Patent number: 11982467
    Abstract: A raised floor system includes a plurality of base units and at least one sanitizer unit. The plurality of base units are configured to define a portion of a floor. The sanitizer unit is configured to provide sanitized air to an environment above the floor. The sanitizer unit includes a housing; an ultraviolet light source disposed in the housing; a fan configured to facilitate air to flow into the housing, across the ultraviolet light source, and out of the housing into the environment; and a cover plate disposed on the housing, the cover plate configured to define a portion of the floor and to allow air to exit the housing into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CABLE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Roger Jette
  • Patent number: 11982468
    Abstract: Devices and methods for outdoor heating. A stove device includes a fuel system attached to a combustion chamber to deliver fuel from a hopper of the fuel system to the combustion chamber for combustion in a firepot assembly positioned inside the combustion chamber. A distance between a chute of the fuel system and the firepot assembly is adjustable to change an amount of fuel for combustion and thereby control temperature of combustion. The distance may be decreased to decrease the temperature and may be increased to increase the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventor: Tyson Traeger
  • Patent number: 11982469
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a gas furnace are disclosed. The gas furnace includes a variable combustion control which monitors the temperature of the burner and modifies one of the amount of combustion air supplied and the amount of gas fuel supplied to the mixing chamber. The described systems can dynamically accommodate differences in air quality and gas fuel supply to provide an optimum BTU output irrespective of differences in geographic location of usage. The gas furnace can include a dynamic response unit which predicts an optimum rate of heating to maintain a target room temperature, thereby preventing unnecessary shut down and costly re-ignition sequences, and maintaining the gas furnace at an optimum BTU output level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Williams Furnace Company
    Inventors: Theodore J. Colburn, Liwaans Ajith Antonit Amuthan
  • Patent number: 11982470
    Abstract: The invention provides a compact and self-sustained refrigeration system for medical uses, including in hospitals, in clinics and in home uses, including rescue and field emergency situations, independent of external power supply, based on small amounts of liquid carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: INHALETECH LLC.
    Inventor: Joseph Hadash
  • Patent number: 11982471
    Abstract: A conditioning system for a conditioned interior space includes a vapor compression system, an evaporative cooling system, and a controller. The vapor compression system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant active fluid for flowing between the evaporator and the condenser, a first fan to produce a first airflow toward the conditioned interior space, and a second fan for producing a second airflow from the condenser toward an exterior space. The evaporative cooling system includes a first tank containing a non-refrigerant active fluid, and a heat exchange device fluidically coupled to the first tank to receive the non-refrigerant active fluid. The first fan is positioned to produce the first airflow through the heat exchange device toward the conditioned interior space. The controller is programmed to control cooperative operation of the vapor compression system and the evaporative cooling system to condition the conditioned interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Copeland LP
    Inventor: Andrew M. Welch
  • Patent number: 11982472
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration device includes a magnetic heat container, a magnetic field generation device, a high temperature-side heat exchanger, a low temperature-side heat exchanger, and a pump. The magnetic heat container is filled with a magneto-caloric material. The pump is capable of transporting a heat transport medium in a reciprocable manner between the high temperature-side heat exchanger and the low temperature-side heat exchanger via the magnetic heat container. The magnetic heat container has a spiral shape extending in a spiral on an identical plane and allows the heat transport medium transported by the pump to flow along the spiral shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogasahara, Shun Tonooka, Tetsuya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11982473
    Abstract: A portable, independent thermoelectric temperature regulated system for providing active cooling to one or more payloads. The system includes a thermally insulated housing, one or more thermoelectric converters embedded in the thermally insulated housing, and a power source. The system may include one or more optional payload containers. Multiple payload containers may be used in the same housing. The system includes a control circuit for managing temperature of the payload(s) based on user selections. The housing may be hard or soft, and the multiple payload containers may be maintained at different temperatures. Optional phase change materials may be included that may be charged by the active thermoelectric converter discharged as a source of passive cooling or heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Sheetak, Inc.
    Inventors: Uttam Ghoshal, James Borak, Key Kolle, Dan Grimm
  • Patent number: 11982474
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a C02-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Jackson, Christopher Seith, Nathan Barrett, Kara O'donnell, Neal B. Almeida, Wen Lu, James E. Usowicz, Maruth Sok, Kurt D. Joudrey, Joshua A. Shreve
  • Patent number: 11982475
    Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a compressor that has a suction port and a discharge port. A heat rejection heat exchanger is coupled to the discharge port to receive compressed refrigerant. A heat absorption heat exchanger is coupled to the suction port. A lubricant flowpath goes from the heat absorption heat exchanger to the compressor. A side channel pump is located in the lubricant flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Vishnu M. Sishtla
  • Patent number: 11982476
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for de-energizing an indoor HVAC unit are provided herein. The system comprises an outdoor HVAC unit, an indoor HVAC unit, signal cables coupled between the outdoor HVAC unit and the indoor HVAC unit, and an air-gap switch connected to the indoor HVAC unit. The signal cables are configured to electrically power the indoor HVAC unit from the outdoor HVAC unit. The air-gap switch is connected to the indoor HVAC unit and is configured to selectively sever a connection between the signal cables and the indoor HVAC unit. The air-gap switch provides an electrical safety measure for servicing and maintaining the indoor HVAC unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: JOI Holding LLC
    Inventor: Jason Ingram
  • Patent number: 11982477
    Abstract: An electronic expansion valve includes a valve needle screw assembly which includes a valve needle, a valve needle sleeve, a washer part, a spring, and a screw assembly. The valve needle sleeve includes a circumferential wall part and a fitting part. The inner diameter of the fitting part is smaller than the inner diameter of the circumferential wall part. The screw assembly includes a lower stopper part, a valve needle support part, and an upper stopper part. The lower stopper part abuts against the washer part. The valve needle support part abuts against the fitting part of the valve needle sleeve. The upper stopper part abuts against the spring. The distance between the valve needle support part and the washer part is D1; the distance between the valve needle support part and the upper end of the fitting part is D2; and D1?D2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SANHUA INTELLIGENT CONTROLS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xianrang Wei
  • Patent number: 11982478
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit, sensors that measure an amount representing a state of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The controller executes normal operation according to air conditioning load and a first detection operation of detecting refrigerant leakage. The controller adjusts a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the condenser to a first value during normal operation. The controller detects a value related to discharge temperature of the compressor or a value related to degree of superheating at an outlet of the evaporator, based on a sensor measurement result. The controller adjusts degree of subcooling to a second value larger than the first value when executing the first detection operation, and determines that refrigerant is leaking when the value related to discharge temperature of the compressor or the value related to degree of superheating is equal to or larger than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Miura, Keisuke Nishitani
  • Patent number: 11982479
    Abstract: A digital refrigeration controller (100) with integrated module driven Step Motor Electronic Expansion Valve. The digital refrigeration controller (100) comprises a System (200) with a Processing Unit (206) for management of the digital controller (100), Unit (206) being connected to Serial Communication Interface (202), Sensor Signal Conditioning System (203), Charge Control System (204), Human-Machine Interface (205), Power Supply Detection and Selection System (207), Backup Power Supply Charging System (208), Real Time Clock (209) and Step Motor Electronic Expansion Valve Drive System (210). System (200) comprises further the following elements: Power Supply (201), a Backup Power Supply (211) and a Current Monitor (212). In case of power outage, the different elements of the system interact to keep the step motor electronic expansion valve closed without the need of external modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventors: Ivanir Antônio Gobbi, Flávio Paulo Perguer
  • Patent number: 11982480
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a high-pressure side with a gas cooler configured, while the refrigeration system is powered by a main power supply and is operating to provide refrigeration, to cool refrigerant on the high-pressure side. The refrigeration system includes a low-pressure side with one or more evaporators. The refrigeration system includes an auxiliary compressor coupled to a backup power supply. An input of the auxiliary compressor is coupled to fluid conduit of the low-pressure side, and an output of the auxiliary compressor is coupled to fluid conduit of the high-pressure side. A controller is communicatively coupled to the auxiliary compressor. After determining that the main power supply is unavailable, the controller causes the auxiliary compressor to turn on to move refrigerant from the low-pressure side to the high-pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Cole, Steve Pfister
  • Patent number: 11982481
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a rotary pressure exchanger fluidly coupled to a low pressure branch and a high pressure branch. The rotary pressure exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant at high pressure from the high pressure branch, to receive the refrigerant at low pressure from the low pressure branch, and to exchange pressure between the refrigerant at high pressure and the refrigerant at low pressure, and wherein a first exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at high pressure in the supercritical state or the subcritical state and a second exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at low pressure in the liquid state or the two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventor: Azam Mihir Thatte
  • Patent number: 11982482
    Abstract: A device for processing ice for ice beer comprising a body, a pair of installation tables, an ice-making unit having a cylindrical shape, and rotatable shafts being formed on the ice-making unit. The outer surface of the ice-making unit is maintained at a sub-freezing temperature. There is a driving unit configured to rotate the shafts, a storage unit positioned below the ice-making unit, and a storage space concavely formed in an upper surface of the storage unit. A supply unit installed on the body to store and drop beer. A pulverizing unit is plate shaped and an end thereof is adjacent to the ice-making unit. Beer is supplied from the supply unit to the storage space. The ice-making unit is rotated to contact the beer and form a beer ice layer thereon. The pulverizing unit separates the beer ice layer from the ice-making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ERMACDANG
    Inventor: Jin Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 11982483
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ice shaver with a multi-link, self-locking, force-reduction, motion control arm or armature to press an ice block against a blade. The armature has a lever with a forward handle, an intermediate connection to the column, and a rear connection to the frame of the ice shaver. A link is coupled between the rear connection of the lever and the frame of the ice shaver to form a four-bar linkage. The armature has a raised locked configuration in which the lever and the link are oriented substantially co-linear to maintain the column in a raised position. In another aspect, joints between the lever and the column can comprise dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Pioneer Family Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Griffiths, Robin Peng
  • Patent number: 11982484
    Abstract: An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Knatt
  • Patent number: 11982485
    Abstract: An automated three-dimensional refrigerated warehouse for a meat industry is provided. A refrigerated warehouse body is provided with two groups of chain wheels, a chain is sleeved on each group of chain wheels, and a plurality of mounting blocks are uniformly mounted on the chain. The mounting blocks are connected to suspension rods, a supporting table is connected between bottom ends of the suspension rods, an opening is provided in a middle of the supporting table, and a loading cart is placed on the supporting table. The refrigerated warehouse body is connected to two supporting plates, a first electric push rod is arranged above each of the two supporting plates, and top ends of the two first electric push rods are provided with mounting plates. Top ends of the two mounting plates are provided with a horizontal second electric push rod and a horizontal third electric push rod respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HEFEI POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Baocai Xu, Zhaoming Wang, Yong Xie, Hui Zhou, Yuanbo Hu
  • Patent number: 11982486
    Abstract: A system for cooling and/or heating one or more articles such as a tumble chiller is disclosed. The system comprises a reservoir 20 configured to contain a cooling and/or heating liquid 22, and a belt conveyor system. The belt conveyor system is configured in a first mode of operation to cause one or more articles to be tumbled within the reservoir 20, and in a second mode of operation to cause the one or more articles to be removed from the reservoir 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: D C NORRIS & COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: David Norris
  • Patent number: 11982487
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a defrosting control method, a central controller and a heating system. The defrosting control method comprises: heating fluid in a flow passage between an inlet and an outlet of a first heat source by a second heat source, at least in a part of process of defrosting by the first heat source; acquiring an operation parameter of the first heat source, wherein the operation parameter comprises a water outlet temperature and/or a water return temperature and/or an operation parameter of a compressor of the first heat source, comparing a current value of the acquired operation parameter with a preset range of the operation parameter, and adjusting a heat exchange amount between the second heat source and the fluid when the acquired current value is within the preset range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yufeng Jing, Fei Liu, Miao Chen
  • Patent number: 11982488
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body having a storage compartment, a door rotatably provided on the main body to open and close the storage compartment, and an automatic water supply device. The automatic water supply device includes a water supply case, a bucket detachably mounted on the water supply case, and a water level sensor provided to detect a water level in the bucket, and is configured to supply water to the bucket depending on the water level in the bucket. The door includes a dyke protruding from a rear surface of the door to form an accommodation space in which the water supply case is accommodated, and the water supply case is coupled to the dyke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Juno Kwon, Sangmin Park, Jin Jeong, Yonghan Kim
  • Patent number: 11982489
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated temperature logging and predictive alerting system for monitoring items that are being cooled or heated. In one embodiment, a predictive logging application may compare a predicted temperature curve of an item to a predefined slope to predict whether or not the item will meet a target threshold. The target threshold may be a target temperature or duration rule that can be aggregated discontinuously over a single day or multiple days. If the projected temperature curve is predicted to not meet the target threshold, the logging application may send alerts notifying a client of available corrective actions. In projecting the predicted slope, the predictive logging application may train machine learning models to analyze historical data associated with the item and the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CM SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bradford Gray, Thomas Gibson Woodbury, Mary Nicole Veitch
  • Patent number: 11982490
    Abstract: The medical transport container may be a portable briefcase-like container for transporting a medical cargo that requires refrigeration. As non-limiting examples, the medical cargo may be blood samples or pharmaceuticals. The medical transport container may be adapted to be carried by a courier using one hand. The medical cargo may be carried within an interior cavity of a case which is cooled using dry ice, a plurality of gel packs, a refrigeration unit, or combinations thereof. The interior cavity may be compartmentalized using a plurality of dividers. The temperature of the interior cavity may be monitored by a controller which may share status with and be remotely controlled by a smart device of the courier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mark-Anthony McLean, Audrey Angela McLean
  • Patent number: 11982491
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein and a plurality of fins disposed between adjacent heat exchange tube segments of the plurality of heat exchange tube segments. A bend is formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first portion of the heat exchanger located at a first side of the bend, and a second portion of the heat exchanger located at a second side of the bend opposite the first side. A support is positioned at or near the bend, the support including and includes a support base and at least one support finger extending from the support base and into a gap between adjacent heat exchange tube segments of the plurality of heat exchange tube segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tobias H. Sienel
  • Patent number: 11982492
    Abstract: A tank for a heat exchanger includes an extruded tank section having a generally constant extrusion profile extending in a longitudinal direction from a first tank end to a second tank end. A first planar end cap is joined to the extruded tank section near the first tank end, and a second planar end cap is joined to the extruded tank section near the second tank end. Together, the extruded tank section and first and second end caps can at least partially define an internal tank volume. The first and second planar end caps are both arranged at non-perpendicular angles to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Issa Dandan, Thomas Michael Best, Zachary Ouradnik
  • Patent number: 11982493
    Abstract: A thermally conductive pipe includes a pipe of which both end portions are closed, a working liquid that is sealed inside the pipe and vaporizes and liquefies, and a liquid transfer unit that exists along a longitudinal direction inside the pipe and transfers the liquefied working liquid at least in the longitudinal direction, in which the liquid transfer unit has, in a case of being viewed in a cross section of the pipe, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a first liquid transfer unit that is in contact with at least a partial range of an inner wall surface of the pipe and a second liquid transfer unit that is not in contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe and the first liquid transfer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyata, Toru Inoue, Kazuyoshi Itoh, Toko Hara, Keitaro Mori, Sou Morizaki, Motoharu Nakao, Kiyoshi Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 11982494
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods relating to providing a portable, rechargeable vessel for collecting, storing, and recovering thermal energy are provided. In one aspect, vessel includes a structure defining a well and an open-top portion at the top of the well; a phase-change material, wherein the phase-change material is disposed in the well, the phase-change material being configured to change phase at temperature in the range of 110-700° C.; one or more thermally-conductive fins interleaved in the phase-change material; and a thermally-conductive heat transfer plate disposed at and substantially covering the open-top portion of the structure, in direct thermal contact with the one or more fins, thereby allowing the transfer plate to directly exchange thermal energy with the phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Sun Buckets Inc.
    Inventors: J. Bruce Litchfield, Matthew Paul Alonso, Joe Bradley
  • Patent number: 11982496
    Abstract: A plate kind heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of stacked plates (2) forming flow paths for heat exchanging fluids there between, a first inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a first set of flow paths, a second inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a second set of flow paths, a first outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the first set of flow paths, and a second outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the second set of flow paths. The first inlet channel is provided with a stack (15) of rings (5) forming fluid passages towards the inlets of the first set of flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Helge Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11982497
    Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Patent number: 11982498
    Abstract: A cooling device having a surface configured to allow the circulation of a heat-transfer fluid along the surface in a first direction D1, an exchange of heat being able to take place by convection between the cooling device and the fluid, the device includes n cooling fins, n being an integer greater than or equal to one, each cooling fin forming a protuberance of the device, extending primarily in a plane (P) containing the first direction (D1), in each fin, at least two inserts having a tube form and a dimension characteristic of a section of the tube and extending primarily in a second direction (D2) of the plane P distinct from the first direction (D1), the inserts having, over their greater length, a thermal resistance lower than the thermal resistance of the cooling fin along the same length, each insert being distant in the first direction (D1) from another insert by a length equal to or greater than the characteristic dimension of the section of the tube of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Ramdane Lateb, Jose-Carlos Magno