Branched Flow Of Heat Exchange Material Patents (Class 165/294)
  • Patent number: 11794568
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, machines, equipment, and methods for selectively allocating airflow between different heat exchangers. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a first heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system. A second heat exchanger is configured to dissipate heat from at least one second system. An airflow controller is configured to receive an intake airflow and to direct an output airflow to selectively direct at least a portion of the output airflow to either or both of the first and second heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Graham Lloyd Feltham
  • Patent number: 11709528
    Abstract: A system and method for active disturbance rejection based thermal control is configured to receive, at a first active disturbance rejection thermal control (ADRC) controller, a first temperature measurement from a first thermal zone. The ADRC controller generates a first output control signal for controlling a first cooling element, wherein the first output control signal is generated according a first estimated temperature and a first estimated disturbance calculated by a first extended state observer (ESO) of the first ADRC controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhan Ping, Qinling Zheng
  • Patent number: 9052351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that monitors and controls an operation of an electricity meter. A potential failure condition of an electrical connection between an electricity meter and a meter socket in an electrical line that provides power from a power supply to an electrical load through the electricity meter, is detected. A correction time may be determined based on a temperature in a vicinity of and a current through the electrical connection, and may indicate an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection will occur. The method determines whether the electricity meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time or the information used to detect the potential failure condition of the electrical connection. The method may provide either, or both, notification of the imminent failure condition and disconnection of power to the electrical load by operating a disconnection switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SENSUS USA INC.
    Inventors: Marc L. Reed, Jared Rude, Andrew Dudding, Michael Brown, William R. Mazza, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150090803
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a heat pump having a refrigerant radiator, a gas furnace unit having a heating section to heat passing air, a blower generating air flow through the radiator and the heating section, and a controller controlling operation of the heat pump unit, the gas furnace unit, and the blower. The controller has a first operating mode in which the gas furnace unit operates alone as a heat source unit, a second operating mode in which the heat pump unit operates alone as a heat source unit, and a third operating mode in which the gas furnace unit and the heat pump unit operate at the same time as a heat source unit. The controller is configured to select the operating modes based on a parameter relating to outside air temperature that is the temperature of outside air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Masakazu OKAMOTO, Michio MORIWAKI, Hiroshi YOH
  • Patent number: 8978748
    Abstract: Method of controlling a variable delivery pump fitted to a heating system comprising: a heat exchanger connected to two circuits of fluids, the variable delivery pump making it possible to vary the flow-rate of the first fluid inside the heat exchanger; a return loop on the primary circuit allowing the first fluid reaching the input of the heat exchanger to mix with a portion of the first fluid coming from the output of the exchanger; a first temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the second fluid coming from the secondary circuit; a second temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the first fluid coming from a primary circuit; a control unit electrically connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the sensors generating electrical signals as functions of the temperatures and constituting electrical input signals of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Alfa Laval Corporate AB, Alfa Laval Hes
    Inventors: Matthieu Perrin, Stéphane Thomazic
  • Patent number: 8960269
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a bypass valve; a stack of standard tubes; and, in the stack, a pair of stacked-together adapter tubes. Each standard tube end has spaced-apart walls including openings. Each adapter tube end has: a wall including an opening; and a passage. At one end of the pair, the passages communicate with one another and the openings communicate with the openings in adjacent standard tubes; at the other end, the openings communicate with the openings in adjacent standard tubes. The valve includes a plug with opposed plug walls, one plug wall having one of an inlet and outlet, the plug being disposed with its walls between and at said other end of the pair and with the inlet and outlet communicating with the passages. An actuator is adjacent to the plug and has a reciprocating plunger for selectively blocking at least said one of the inlet and outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Cheadle, Yuri Peric, Doug Vanderwees
  • Publication number: 20140326430
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electric vehicle includes a controller that carries out a method of cooling a battery of the electric vehicle. The method includes: a) when charging the battery using an external electrical source but prior to the temperature of the battery reaching a selected temperature, cooling a motor of the electric vehicle by a selected amount by circulating fluid between the motor and a radiator of the electric vehicle, and b) after step a) cooling the battery of the electric vehicle by circulating fluid between the battery, the motor and the radiator while charging the battery using the external electrical source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Neil Carpenter, Guangning Gao, Ibrahim Al-Keilani
  • Patent number: 8844612
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a temperature of a device by circulating fluid through a heat sink in thermal contact with the device. The apparatus includes a first fluid source (505) including a first fluid having a first temperature, a second fluid source (510) including a second fluid having a second temperature, and a thermal chuck (500) operably connected to the first fluid source and the second fluid source, wherein the thermal chuck is configured to receive the first fluid and the second fluid to be circulated through the heat sink (555). A method is also provided for controlling a temperature of a device in contact with a heat sink. The method includes determining a target temperature (S602), initiating a flow of a fluid from a fluid source (S604, S702), determining temperature data (S606, S704) of the device and the heat sink, and variably adjusting a flow rate (S710, S712) of the fluid to generally maintain the device at the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Mitsuaki Tani, Larry Ray Stuckey
  • Publication number: 20140262199
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a first temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a first temperature; a second temperature adjustment unit storing fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a low-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the first temperature adjustment unit; a high-temperature flow path for passing fluid supplied from the second temperature adjustment unit; a bypass flow path for circulating fluid; a combination flow path for passing fluid from the low-temperature flow path, the high-temperature flow path, and the bypass flow path merged at a merging part; a temperature adjustment part that passes fluid from the combination flow path and cools/heats a member of a semiconductor manufacturing device; and a control device that controls valve positions of variable valves attached to the three flow paths upstream of the merging part and adjusts the flow rate distribution ratio for the three flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Tokyo Electron Limited, CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Atsuhiko Tabuchi, Hideki Wakai, Kazutoshi Itoh, Yasuhisa Hirose, Keiichi Nishikawa, Takahiro Minatani
  • Publication number: 20140190681
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cooling system based on a heat dissipation of an electronic module and an ambient air temperature includes determining a combination of individual controls on components of the cooling system that achieve a specific amount of cooling based on a cooling power relationship for the plurality of components, the heat dissipation of the electronic module and the ambient air temperature, and applying the individual controls to the plurality of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Pritish R. Parida, Mark D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 8671932
    Abstract: In order to provide a method of operating a solar thermal power plant, in which a heat transfer medium is evaporated endothermally by solar radiation in an evaporator section, wherein the evaporator section comprises a plurality of evaporator branches, among which the heat transfer medium is distributed, in which method non-uniform radiation conditions of the evaporator section may be effectively taken into consideration, it is provided that the mass flow distribution at the evaporator section is controlled, wherein the mass flows are adjusted individually at all or a majority of the evaporator branches and a controlled variable is a variable characterizing a spatial energy rise in a respective evaporator branch in a region of the evaporator branch where the heat transfer medium has not yet evaporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Markus Eck, Tobias Hirsch
  • Publication number: 20140008051
    Abstract: A machine including an engine cooling system, a secondary system with a low-temperature limit, and a secondary cooling system. A temperature sensor is associated with the secondary cooling system. The temperature sensor senses the secondary cooling system temperature and provides a temperature signal. A control valve has an open position allowing fluid communication between the engine cooling system and the secondary cooling system, and a closed position disallowing fluid communication. A controller receives signals from the secondary system temperature sensor and commands the control valve to open when the secondary cooling system temperature is below the low-temperature limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Timothy M. O'Donnell, Evan E. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8622120
    Abstract: A method and a device for influencing the temperature of at least one electromechanical component situated in a motor vehicle, in which a transmission situated in the motor vehicle is cooled by a transmission oil flowing in a transmission cooling circuit. A cooling circuit branch is provided for influencing the temperature of the electromechanical component. The transmission oil also flows in the cooling circuit branch as a heat carrier. The flow rate of the transmission oil in the cooling circuit branch is influenced for influencing the temperature of the electromechanical component as a function of the setpoint operating temperature and/or the actual operating temperature of the electromechanical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Gerundt, Oliver Kaefer
  • Publication number: 20130128455
    Abstract: A system is provided in one example embodiment that includes at least one rack for electronic equipment, each rack including: at least one sensor configured to measure an environmental condition, an air conditioning system, an ingress port configured to allow air to flow into a corresponding rack from an environment surrounding the racks, and an egress port configured to allow air to flow out of a corresponding rack and into the environment surrounding the racks. The system also includes a housing that surrounds the racks and that defines the environment surrounding the racks. The air that flows out through the egress ports of the racks conditions the air in the environment surrounding the racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Brian D. Koblenz, Carol Simon, Milton P. Hilliard
  • Publication number: 20130098599
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for independently cooling each of a plurality of zones of a computer system in relation to their respective zone power consumptions. In one example method, a power consumption of heat-generating devices is monitored at each of a plurality of zones of a computer system. A cooling fluid flow rate to each zone is independently controlled. One of the zones is targeted for increased cooling in response to a detected increase in power consumption in the targeted zone. The cooling fluid flow rate to the targeted zone is then increased in immediate response to the power consumption increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Patent number: 8349378
    Abstract: A brewing process including taking off a fluid having a starting temperature from a heat store; feeding the fluid to a plurality of heat consumers for releasing heat; and returning to the heat store the fluid which has a final temperature. The brewery installation has a heat store for controlling the flow of the fluid in the installation, and a plurality of heat consumers each of which is connected to the primary circuit for releasing heat. Improved efficiency is achieved in part by the final temperature of the fluid which flows out of the respective heat consumers is measured and the return of the fluid is controlled as a function of the measured final temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Karl Wasmuht, Cornelia Folz
  • Patent number: 8230911
    Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting several parallel connected heat exchangers supplied with a coolant medium. The aim of the invention is to simplify the adjustment. For this purpose, the method consists in a) determining a specific value of heat requirement for each heat exchanger in a predetermined time period; b) comparing the specific values of all heat exchangers therebetween and c) in modifying the adjustment of the heat exchanger having the lowest specific value of heat requirement in such a way that the heat requirement thereof is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Joergen Seerup, Niels Gregersen
  • Patent number: 8132616
    Abstract: Disclosed is a temperature conditioning system including several thermal transfer blocks, where each is associated with one of several components requiring thermal management. Each of the components is associated with a different time dependent thermal management profile. A fluid path, with a heat transfer fluid, connects one or more transports to the thermal transfer blocks. For each thermal transfer block, at least one thermo-responsive valve is located downstream from the thermal transfer block. The thermo-responsive valve is passive in that it does not require energy other than thermal energy to move from a starting position to an ending position and the thermo-responsive valve is free of any exterior control lines. A method of temperature conditioning components is also disclosed including circulating a heat transfer fluid and optimizing the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid in response to differential changes in temperature of the heat transfer fluid by actuating one or more thermo-responsive valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Brower, Bradley J. Horejsi
  • Patent number: 8110044
    Abstract: A first flow passage (16), which cools a temperature controlled object by a circulating first cooling water (15), and a second flow passage (19) separate from the first flow passage are provided so as to exchange heat between a second cooling water (18) flowing through the second flow passage (19) and the first cooling water (15). There is no need to store the first cooling water (15) in a tank of a constant capacity, and the first cooling water (15) flowing through the first flow passage (16) of a chiller corresponding part is absorbed substantially in its entirety by the second cooling water (18). A response becomes quick with respect to a load fluctuation of the temperature controlled object, and waste of energy can be reduced while improving accuracy of temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshihisa Nozawa, Koji Kotani
  • Patent number: 7791004
    Abstract: A fluid heating system configured to regulate a temperature of a fluid within a fluid receptacle having a fluid reservoir includes a processing unit, at least one fluid temperature sensor in electrical communication with the processing unit, and a heating element in electrical communication with the processing unit. The at least one fluid temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of one or both of the fluid receptacle and/or fluid retained within the fluid receptacle. The processing unit selectively activates and deactivates the heating element to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the fluid receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Allied Precision Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Reusche, Philip E. Chumbley
  • Patent number: 7775268
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system comprises a vehicle unit, a heat exchanger, a cooling fan, a coolant pump, a three-way valve, and a control unit. The heat exchanger is arranged in the coolant route to selectively receive a coolant from the coolant outlet of the vehicle unit. The cooling fan is arranged to blow cooling air to the heat exchanger. The coolant pump is arranged to circulate the coolant through the coolant route. The three-way valve is arranged to switch the coolant route between a heat exchanger route that passes through the heat exchanger and a bypass route that bypasses the heat exchanger. The control unit is configured to control operation of at least one of the cooling fan, the three-way valve and the coolant pump based on a temperature of the coolant at the heat exchanger and a temperature of the coolant at the coolant outlet of the vehicle unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Sato, Takayuki Ishikawa, Mitsuru Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20100186941
    Abstract: A constant temperature liquid circulating device includes a heat absorption tube through which flows heat absorbing liquid, a tank containing a constant temperature circulating liquid and a heat exchange portion of the heat absorption tube, a conduit which circulates the constant temperature circulating liquid in the tank to an external device and a flow regulator. The flow regulator includes an electric proportional valve for controlling a flow amount of heat absorbing liquid in the heat absorption tube, an electromagnetic valve for delivering the heat absorbing liquid to the heat exchange portion, and a controller which regulates the flow of the heat absorbing liquid through the electric proportional valve not to be less than a low flow limit value, and which regulates the flow of heat absorbing liquid through the electromagnetic valve so as to adjust the circulating liquid to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Ichinose, Katsutoshi Sato
  • Publication number: 20100163221
    Abstract: A temperature regulation method and system (100) includes a reservoir (112) having a fluid with a temperature of a value such that, within a control range of a local temperature controller, a local set point temperature is achievable. A piping system (101) delivers the fluid from the reservoir to one or more elements needing temperature control. A heat generator/removal device (110) in one of the fluid paths is disposed at or near an element needing temperature control. For each heat generator/removal device, a local temperature controller (116) and a feedback sensor (114) are configured to control the heat generator/removal device such that an amount of heat exchanged with the fluid, at or near the element needing temperature control, results in a local temperature, monitored by the control feedback sensor to be locally and accurately maintained at the local set point temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Theo Anjes Maria Ruijl, Hendrik Jan Eggink, Jacobus Cornelis Gerardus Van Der Sanden, Ralph Theodorus Hubertus Maessen, Jeroen Dekkers
  • Publication number: 20100078160
    Abstract: A system and method for liquid-liquid free-cooling that may include a modular coolant distribution unit (CDU) is provided. CDUs can incorporate integral free-cooling or bolt on free-cooling switch modules. The free-cooling flow can be either direct or indirect. Units can interface with each other to provide scalable cooling for computer data centers. Embodiments of the system can integrate with electronics rack passive rear door liquid heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: VETTE CORP.
    Inventors: Shlomo D. Novotny, John P. Menoche, David W. Roden
  • Publication number: 20090101138
    Abstract: In order to provide a method of operating a solar thermal power plant, in which a heat transfer medium is evaporated endothermally by solar radiation in an evaporator section, wherein the evaporator section comprises a plurality of evaporator branches, among which the heat transfer medium is distributed, in which method non-uniform radiation conditions of the evaporator section may be effectively taken into consideration, it is provided that the mass flow distribution at the evaporator section is controlled, wherein the mass flows are adjusted individually at all or a majority of the evaporator branches and a controlled variable is a variable characterizing a spatial energy rise in a respective evaporator branch in a region of the evaporator branch where the heat transfer medium has not yet evaporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Markus Eck, Tobias Hirsch
  • Publication number: 20090020282
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) is specified having a housing (2), in which a primary side (3) having a primary-side flow path (5) is arranged between an upstream connector 6) and a downstream connector (7) and a secondary side (4) having a secondary-side flow path (10) is arranged between an inflow connector (11) and an outflow connector (12), wherein the primary side (3) and the secondary side (4) are in heat-transferring connection along a heat exchanger section (15) and a first temperature sensor (16) is arranged in the region of the outflow connector (12). The desire is to improve the ability to regulate and monitor the heat exchanger (1). To this end, there is provision for at least one second temperature sensor (18-20, 24, 25) to be arranged on the heat exchanger section (15) and for both temperature sensors (16; 18-20, 24, 25) to be connected to an evaluation device (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Atli Benonysson
  • Publication number: 20080296010
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining the capacity of a heat exchanger is provided. The effective heat transfer coefficient for the heat exchanger is calculated from the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the product and the measured inlet and outlet temperatures of the auxiliary medium. By means of the value, the outlet temperature of the product set for maximum flow of the auxiliary medium is determined as that at which the change in the heat content of the product is at least approximately the same as the change in the heat content of the auxiliary medium and the amount of heat transmitted by the heat exchanger for the product flow. The value is displayed to the user and permits a decision as to how much longer the heat exchanger can reliably be operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Kirchberg
  • Patent number: 7044213
    Abstract: A constant temperature refrigeration system for extensive temperature range application comprising a refrigerator, a low-temperature heat exchanger, a medium-temperature heat exchanger, a high-temperature heat exchanger, a pump, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a third solenoid valve, a temperature sensor, a power regulator and a controller, the temperature sensor is utilized for determining the working fluid temperature and compare the actual input temperature, the actual output temperature and the predetermined temperature, and the controller is utilized for controlling the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve for conveying the fluid to flow through various heat exchangers so that the working fluid is heated or cooled, with the result being that the working fluid temperature outputted is to reach the predetermined temperature, so as to acquire the working fluid having the exactly and precisely predetermined low temperature (?40° C. to 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wen-Ruey Chang, Der-Yung Liu, Chan-Hsiang Chang
  • Publication number: 20040134649
    Abstract: A truck-mounted carpet-cleaning system that replaces the separate heat exchangers used in conventional systems having a single unit. It also merges several exhausts before they are used in the exchanger. This allows the system to be able to better regulate the temperature of the water. This improved regulation eliminates the need for a water bypass system. Because of the improved heat exchange system, the solenoids, sensors, thermo relief valves, bypass orifices and other components found in traditional systems can be eliminated. This results in a more reliable system, with more tightly regulated water temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Richardson, Richard Forrest
  • Patent number: 6584790
    Abstract: An air flow controlling device for refrigerators and freezers, comprising an evaporator (3) in selective fluid communication with at least two air flow heating environments (1, 2, 4), said device comprising an inlet nozzle (12) in fluid communication with a respective airflow heating environment (1, 2, 4), and an outlet nozzle (13) in fluid communication with the evaporator (3), and a respective obturator (20), which is operatively associated with the inlet and outlet nozzles (12, 13) and displaceable between opening and closing positions, respectively permitting and blocking the fluid communication between said inlet and outlet nozzles (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Multibras S.A. Eletrodomesticos
    Inventor: Luis Antonio Diemer Lopes
  • Publication number: 20020153133
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a isolating heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between exhaust air leaving an enclosed space and outside air entering the enclosed space. The system operates in three basic modes, under the control of a microprocessor-based controller which is responsive to the temperatures inside and outside of the enclosed space. In the heating mode, heat is transferred from the exhaust air to the outside air when the enclosed space requires heating. In the cooling mode, heat is transferred from the outside air to the exhaust air when the outside air temperature is higher than that in the enclosed space. In the supplemental cooling mode, heat transfer between the exhaust and outside air is reduced or eliminated when the outside air temperature is below the desired temperature in the enclosed space and cooling is required. In the heating mode, the heat exchanger is selectively heated when necessary to defrost it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Building Performance Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6450254
    Abstract: A plurality of autonomously controlled valves in a fluid distribution system are interconnected by a data communication network. The system also includes fluid flow sensors which report to the system by way of the network. The autonomous controllers include information as to their neighbors or environment sufficient to determine malfunctions such as a leak or break in an associated path, and can take autonomous action. The actions are established by the autonomous controllers regardless of the existence of a connection to the network, so that even if the network connection fails or is damaged, the valve can still respond to its own flow sensor with predetermined actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: Scott Baxter Hoyle, Michael Anthony McSweeney
  • Patent number: 6240735
    Abstract: A rotary damper assembly for controlling the flow of a fluid includes inner and outer hollow cylinders, each having one or more side wall apertures, the inner cylinder being nested within the outer cylinder in a manner to permit relative axial rotation of the cylinders about a common longitudinal axis, the inner cylinder receiving the fluid flow at an axial inlet, and the flow of fluid through the assembly being proportional to the degree of alignment of the cylinder apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: John A. Kolson, Robert W. Starenchak, Douglas C. Lanz
  • Patent number: 6206088
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a first heat exchanger followed by a second heat exchanger disposed in a dense fluidized bed, the second heat exchanger being made up of a plurality of nests of tubes disposed along the path of the particles in suspension in the dense fluidized bed. The second heat exchanger is provided with at least two feeds situated on either side of its center, each of the feeds receives a distinct mixture of the input fluid and of the output fluid of the first heat exchanger, so that the temperature of the fluid fed into each of the nests is an increasing function of the distance between it and the inlet via which the particles are fed into the dense fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Stein Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Semedard, Pierre Gauville, Christian Enault
  • Patent number: 6176305
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a isolating heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between exhaust air leaving an enclosed space and outside air entering the enclosed space. The system operates in three basic modes, under the control of a microprocessor-based controller which is responsive to the temperatures inside and outside of the enclosed space. In the heating mode, heat is transferred from the exhaust air to the outside air when the enclosed space requires heating. In the cooling mode, heat is transferred from the outside air to the exhaust air when the outside air temperature is higher than that in the enclosed space. In the supplemental cooling mode, heat transfer between the exhaust and outside air is reduced or eliminated when the outside air temperature is below the desired temperature in the enclosed space and cooling is required. In the heating mode, the heat exchanger is selectively heated when necessary to defrost it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6089797
    Abstract: In a thermal equalization system a machine tool carriage preferably of aluminum but which could be made of other lightweight materials, a drilling spindle housing is mounted on the carriage. At least one spindle housing is be mounted said carriage to service work pieces mounted on a tooling plate of the work table for said spindle. The chiller unit is used to provide coolant to the spindle to compensate for the heat generated by the spindle during drilling. When the spindle is not drilling, excessive cooling of the spindle can result. Accordingly, the instant invention also includes, a conductive rubber heating pad which is attached to the spindle structure to provide a heat source for the system to compensate for excessive cooling when the drill is not generating heat. The temperature control maintains the temperature between the spindle housing, carriage and work table thereby minimizing temperature expansion differentials between the drilling position and the worktable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Excellon Automation, Co.
    Inventors: Yi-Qing Peter Chen, Gary Hoogerbrugge
  • Patent number: 5984004
    Abstract: For cooling and/or heating a machine casing, a method and an arrangement is disclosed in which the machine casing is provided with cooling channels in which pipes are received. Between the pipes and the walls of the cooling channels, a cavity remains through which a cooling medium is circulated. A liquid heat exchange medium is circulated through the pipes. In order to vary the heat energy exchanged per time unit between the pipes and the machine casing, the kind of the medium circulating in the cavities is changed, or its composition is changed, or the flow velocity of the heat exchange medium is varied, or any desired combination of the above measures is realized. Thus, the heat flow, i.e. the exchange of heat energy per time unit, can easily be influenced by the provision of cavities between machine casing and heating or cooling medium by controlling its limiting heat exchange factors, i.e. thermal conductivity and heat transfer resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Buss AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Caviezel, Raphael Deschler, Patrick Tschopp
  • Patent number: 5787321
    Abstract: A temperature controlling device for an electrophotographic imaging device which has a fixing unit including a heat roller, the fixing unit performing a fixing operation in which toner is fixed on a recording sheet. The temperature controlling device includes a temperature sensing system, arranged about an outer surface of the heat roller such that, for the purpose of temperature measurement, the heat roller is divided into a plurality of areas along a rotational axis of the heat roller, and a temperature of each area is detected by the temperature sensing system; an air blowing system which blows air to each of the plurality of areas separately; and a controller which controls the air blowing system to blow air in accordance with temperatures of the plurality of areas in order to prevent overheating of any portions of the heat roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nishikawa, Tsukasa Yanashima
  • Patent number: 5642628
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least a first compartment cooled to a first temperature and a second compartment cooled to a second temperature, and a multiplex damper system disposed in a cooling-air passage so as to selectively direct the cooling-air flow from the refrigeration apparatus to the compartments. The multiplex damper system comprises a single movable control damper mounted in the cooling-air passage and a drive control system responsive to the cooling demands of the respective compartments and that is coupled to the single control damper so as to selectively dispose the control damper in a plurality of respective air flow positions. The range of air flow positions includes a first compartment-only air flow position, a second compartment-only air flow position, and at least one divided-flow position in which cooling air flow is proportionally directed into both the first and the second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Walter Whipple, III, Thomas Arthur Brownell, Rollie Richard Herzog
  • Patent number: 5623990
    Abstract: A combined safety shower and eyewash station utilizes steam to heat water in a heat exchanger. Cool water is combined with heated water from the water outlet of the heat exchanger by a temperature-regulated mixing valve. If the water at the water outlet of the heat exchanger becomes too hot, some of the water is fed to the steam inlet of the heat exchanger. This makes it easy for the mixing valve to regulate water temperature even though the shower uses water at a much higher rate than does the eyewash station. Steam is fed to the heat exchanger through a steam valve which is opened automatically when a demand for warm water is sensed by a pressure-drop flow sensor. An overtemperature responsive actuator overrides the demand sensor to shut off the steam. A steam trap at the inlet of the steam valve eliminates cold condensate so that the apparatus is able to deliver warm water substantially immediately upon demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Texan Corporation
    Inventor: Fred L. Pirkle
  • Patent number: 5584437
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises a heat exchanger for conducting refrigerant in heat exchanging relationship with an air flow, and a blower for drawing air through the heat exchanger. An adjustable flow distributing plate is disposed between the heat exchanger and blower and is movable by a motor to various positions for controlling the relative air flows through respective portions of the heat exchanger. Temperature sensors are connected to the heat exchanger for detecting the refrigerant temperature at various regions of the heat exchanger. The adjustable plate is positioned in a desired position in response to the detected refrigerant temperatures for equalizing the refrigerant temperatures in the regions of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Deuk Ik, Kim Jong Youb