Flexible Envelope Or Cover Type Patents (Class 165/46)
  • Publication number: 20150075747
    Abstract: A heat and moisture transfer system may include a flexible heat and moisture exchanger in fluid communication with an environment control unit and an enclosed space. The flexible heat and moisture exchanger may include at least one flexible water vapor-permeable membrane, and may be configured to pass air streams simultaneously in different directions in adjacent subchannels formed by the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ARCHITECTUAL APPLICATIONS P.C.
    Inventor: John Edward BRESHEARS
  • Patent number: 8967233
    Abstract: The invention relates to a latent cold storage device with an improved structure and an improved mode of operation by means of a sandwich-type arrangement of the heat conducting elements and cold storage elements, whereby the cold storage elements made in the form of pockets containing a cold storage medium, are deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 8944155
    Abstract: A cylindrical, annular axial flow heat exchanger for use as a gas cooler in a thermal regenerative machine such as a Stirling engine is provided. The heat exchanger includes an outer shell of sufficient strength and thickness to withstand the pressure exerted by the working fluid and a tubular member positioned adjacent to and in contact with the outer shell, the tubular member having spaced apart sidewalls defining a flow passage therebetween. At least one of the sidewalls of the tubular member is embossed with ribs, the ribs being in contact with the inner surface of the outer shell thereby defining axially extending flow passages between the outer shell and tubular member along the circumference thereof for the flow of a second, gaseous fluid through the heat exchanger. The first fluid flows circumferentially through tubular member, while the second fluid flows axially between the outer shell and the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20150000864
    Abstract: A cooling system of multiple heat generating devices which can be inserted into and detached from an electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus is provided with rigid frames for cooling the heat generating devices, flexible bags for circulating cooling medium attached to the facing surfaces of the rigid frames, and pressing sheets provided in the front-back direction of the rigid frames over the flexible bags whose back end sides are fixed to the rigid frames, the intermediate parts are made to contact the flexible bags, and the other ends are attached to shafts which can roll up the pressing sheets according to the insertion depth of the heat generating devices into the rigid frames. The shaft drive mechanisms provided at insertion ends of the heat generating devices make the shafts rotate to roll up or unroll the pressing sheets when it is inserted into or withdrawn from the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shinichi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140374056
    Abstract: A heat-exchanging mat to cool livestock provides for elastic water conduction channels displaced toward an upper surface of the mat and provides for cushioning placed below those elastic channels. In this way, a high degree of cushioning may be obtained without sacrificing an efficient transfer of heat into the upper surface of the mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumi Research Foundation
    Inventors: Christopher Choi, Nigel Cook, Kenneth Nordlund
  • Publication number: 20140326431
    Abstract: A thermally protected attachment system is provided. A device including a cover hingeably coupled to a thermal blanket is provided. The thermal blanket and cover may be configured to insulate a cavity defined by the interior of the thermal blanket and the cover in response to the cover being in a closed position. The thermal blanket may be coupled to a thermal protection panel of an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Sean Pretty
  • Patent number: 8857203
    Abstract: A personal thermal regulation system includes a personal liquid cooling garment, wherein the personal liquid cooling garment is configured to circulate a working fluid therein, a membrane evaporator configured to receive circulated working fluid from the personal liquid cooling garment, wherein the membrane evaporator is further configured to evaporate a portion of the received circulated working fluid, and a chemical absorber in fluid communication with the membrane evaporator, wherein the chemical absorber is configured to receive a controlled flow of the evaporated portion of the received circulated working fluid from the membrane evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Edward W. Hodgson
  • Patent number: 8814057
    Abstract: Devices comprising multi-compartment fluidic cell with multiple inlets. Compartments can be separated from one another using soft seals. The main cell can be located between two adjacent secondary cells. The main cell carries the main flow while the secondary cells can carry either the main flow or any auxiliary flows. The flow in the multi-compartment cells minimizes fluid leakage and causes reduced pressure difference between the main cell and the two secondary cells especially under similar flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim A. Khaled
  • Patent number: 8802364
    Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: TCP Reliable, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus H. Haarmann, Anthony Alleva, Thomas-Laurent Bringas
  • Patent number: 8776868
    Abstract: A cooling device for cooling a computer includes: a flexible and conformal fluid heat-exchanger coupled to a surface of the computer; a liquid coolant material circulated through the fluid heat-exchanger to convey heat from the fluid to an external cooling apparatus; an enclosure defined when the fluid heat-exchanger is placed against the computer surface; and a vacuum applied to the enclosure, removably sealing the fluid heat-exchanger to the computer to provide a vapor seal for the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yves Martin, Theodore G. Van Kessel
  • Patent number: 8771330
    Abstract: A personal artificial transpiration cooling system having a transpiration surface with a substrate, a transpiration membrane layer which is spaced from the substrate layer by one or more spacers to define one or more interior fluid flow channels between a first surface of the transpiration membrane layer and the substrate; and a stoma layer disposed adjacent a second surface of the permeable membrane layer, the stoma layer being spaced from the second surface of permeable membrane layer by a predetermined distance to define one or more cavities disposed between pores in the at least one stoma layer and the second surface of the permeable membrane layer. A fluid reservoir is provided in fluid communication with the one or more interior fluid flow channels, while the transpiration surface is configured to be worn by a human or an animal and the fluid reservoir is designed to be supported, in use, by the human or animal wearing the transpiration surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Roper, William B. Carter
  • Publication number: 20140162107
    Abstract: For a technical object whose temperature is to be controlled, in particular a battery for an electric vehicle drive, there is provided a heat exchanger arrangement, the heat exchanger of which is in the form of a heat-exchanging pouch (1) which has an inflow and outflow duct and which is in heat-conducting contact with internal surfaces of the object whose temperature is to be controlled. The heat-exchanging pouch (1) is produced in a simple manner by means of edge welding of two foil pieces arranged one above the other. The mounting of said heat-exchanging pouch in a narrow gap space of a heat exchanger arrangement, and good heat transfer to adjacent walls, are made possible by means of a pressure pouch (34) which is likewise formed from a foil material and which is filled with a compressible medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Obrist Powertrain GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Obrist, Martin Graz, Peter Giese, Oliver Obrist
  • Patent number: 8742296
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-inflating heat sanitizer, which uses convective heat transfer to eradicate bed bugs within an item. The heater unit propagates and reheats the air within the present invention as the heated air flows through the present invention. The heat chamber enclosure is a compartment that allows the heated air to circulate around the item and raise the temperature of the item to above 140° F. The structure of the heat chamber enclosure is inflatable walls, which are pressurized when the heated air flows into the heat chamber enclosure. The heated air will then vent out of the inflatable walls into the treatment volume, where the item is located. The insulated ducts lead the heated air from the heater unit into the inflatable walls and lead the heated air from the treatment volume back to the heater unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Joseph Anthony Bermudez
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Bermudez
  • Patent number: 8714461
    Abstract: Devices utilized to enhance insulating properties at high temperatures. Such devices can include two gas compartments. A main gas compartment can function as a main layer and generally contains a layer of a gas (e.g., Xenon) having a relatively small thermal conductivity. The plates of the main gas layer can be separated by a soft seal, so that the main gas does not leak and the main layer expands easily. A second gas compartment can be configured as a vented compartment filled with air. At high temperatures, the main gas expands while the secondary gas volume shrinks. Since the main gas possesses a lower thermal conductivity, the effective resistance of the device increases, causing an enhancement in the insulating properties at large operating temperatures. A series of gas compartments can be utilized for additional enhancement in insulating properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul-Rahim Assaad Khaled
  • Patent number: 8690073
    Abstract: Devices for the control of flow rate and thermal conditions using two-layered thin films separated by flexible complex seals. The plates of an upper thin film are separated by a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is composed of an elastic soft seal separating closed voids of stagnant fluid and in contact with the upper plate of the device as it is the heated plate. The lower and the upper plates of the lower thin film can be separated by an elastic soft seal. The lower and upper thin films are named as main and secondary layers, respectively. Both the upper plate of the secondary layer and the lower plate of the main layer are fixed while the intermediate plate and is free to move in the vertical direction. When the pressure or the working temperature in the secondary layer increases, the secondary layer expands causing the main layer thickness to shrink. This reduces the main layer flow rate and temperature gradients within the main layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul-Rahim Assaad Khaled
  • Patent number: 8684275
    Abstract: Devices and methods for increasing and decreasing cooling capacity as thermal load increases by utilizing bimaterial. For increasing the cooling capacity, the upper plate of a thin film microchannel can be configured from a bimaterial, such that the upper layer possesses a higher linear thermal expansion coefficient than that of the lower layer material. Excessive heating causes the coolant temperature to increase which in turn heats the upper plate. As such, the upper plate bends outward allowing for more coolant to flow within the thin film. For decreasing the cooling capacity, the upper plate can be configured from a bimaterial such that its lower layer has a higher linear thermal expansion coefficient than that of the upper layer material. Excessive heating can cause the coolant temperature to increase, which in turn heats the upper plate. As such, the upper plate can bend inward resulting in less coolant flow within the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim Assaad Khaled
  • Patent number: 8684274
    Abstract: A cooling enhancement apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate having a face in contact with at least one hot medium and having another face in contact with a secondary gas. The second substrate includes a face in contact with the secondary gas and has the other face in contact with a main gas. The faces of the first and second substrates in contact with the secondary gas generally oppose each other. One or more flexible seals can be attached to the first substrate and to the second substrate to form one or more closed enclosures including the secondary gas so that the second substrate moves relative to the first substrate when the secondary gas undergoes volumetric thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim A. Khaled
  • Publication number: 20140008036
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pillow having a filler contained therein for providing heat dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: POLAR GENERATION LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Segal
  • Patent number: 8613762
    Abstract: A cold therapy system includes a cooling bath; a therapy pad; a heat exchanger; a first pathway fluidly connecting the cooling bath to the heat exchanger; a second pathway fluidly connecting the heat exchanger to an inlet of the therapy pad; a third pathway fluidly connecting an outlet of the therapy pad to the heat exchanger; and a fourth pathway fluidly connecting an outlet of the heat exchanger to the cooling bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Medical Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Bledsoe
  • Publication number: 20130319031
    Abstract: A cooling unit that can be used with or without a garment, such as a ballistic vest, that covers a user's torso when worn by the user. The cooling unit includes a fan for blowing ambient air; a manifold for distributing to the torso the air that is blown by the fan; and a hose for connecting the fan to the manifold. The manifold may be formed of three overlying panels that are secured together, including an outer panel, a central panel, and an inner panel that is closest to the user's torso when the cooling unit is being worn. No modification of the vest is necessary to accommodate the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SAFARILAND, LLC
    Inventors: James Greene Coats, IV, Brad Glass
  • Patent number: 8534347
    Abstract: A connector system is provided. The system includes a substantially circular interconnecting hub, and a plurality of circuit board bays configured substantially radially around the substantially circular interconnecting hub. Each circuit board bay has a plurality of aligned connectors configured to receive a circuit board. The interconnecting circuit hub has, for each individual circuit board bay, a direct data pathway connecting the individual circuit board bay to all remaining circuit board bays of the plurality of circuit board bays. Each of the plurality of circuit board bays can directly communicate through the interconnecting hub with each of the remaining circuit boards bays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Denny, Bobby Jim Kowalski, James T. Seward, Michael P. Ebsen, Thomas Rosenthal, William J. Leinberger, Jeffery Stagg Young, Andrew D. Josephson
  • Patent number: 8528833
    Abstract: A portable heating system used to heat a person while in cold environments. A heating unit containing a fuel combustion chamber and a heat exchanger oxidizes a fuel to produce heat. The heat from the oxidation process is transferred to the fluid using the heat exchanger. The fluid either boils or simply becomes less dense than cooler fluid in the heat exchanger and thus more buoyant. Convection moves the heated fluid upwards in to a thin bladder encapsulating the fluid and held against a person. The elevated kinetic energy in the bladder creates an entropy differential to the person. This differential allows the kinetic energy in the bladder to flow to the person thus warming them. The fluid now having less energy, now denser, flows back down the bladder to the heating unit by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Ryan Robert Munson
  • Publication number: 20130228304
    Abstract: To cool detectors of level measuring devices, it is possible to use cooling compresses which are fastened to the detector housing. Such a cooling compress includes a cooling body which at least in part consists of a deformable material. The inner wall of the cooling body of the cooling compress is configured such that it moves towards a corresponding region of the outer surface of the detector to form a thermal contact with a corresponding region of the outer surface of the housing when a cooling fluid flows through the cooling body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Frank Becherer, Winfried Rauer
  • Publication number: 20130180683
    Abstract: A cooler bag and wrap is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the cooler bag includes a pair of side panels and at least one pocket formed within each side panel. A plurality of fluid filled beads are contained within the pocket and are visible through an outside layer of the side panels to provide a distinctive appearance to the bag. In addition, the fluid within the beads is adapted to be frozen to keep contents of the bag cool. The bag may also include at least one baffle within the at least one pocket. The baffle helps to evenly disperse the beads and to prevent all the beads from collecting at the bottom of the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: Farhan Khan
  • Publication number: 20130146249
    Abstract: A battery cooling structure includes a cooling plate and a heat transfer sheet. The cooling plate is to cool a battery module including a plurality of battery cells arranged side by side. The heat transfer sheet is provided between the cooling plate and a cooling surface of the battery module to transfer heat from the cooling surface to the cooling plate. The heat transfer sheet is deformable by a pressure applied to the heat transfer sheet. The heat transfer sheet includes a positioning hole through which the cooling surface of the battery module is visible when the heat transfer sheet is assembled to the battery module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130133856
    Abstract: A hydrophobic polyether-block-polyamide copolymer (PEBA) for the manufacture of a fabric material capable of cooling after the material has been brought into contact with an aqueous medium at a temperature lying in the range from 15° C. to Tm-20° C., Tm being the melting point of the fabric material, the aqueous medium comprising at least 85 wt % water relative to the weight of the aqueous medium, the PEBA comprising 20 to 80 wt % polyamide blocks and 80 to 20 wt % polyether blocks and having a saturated water absorption of less than 6 wt % according to the ISO 62 standard relative to the weight of PEBA, a cooling fabric comprising such a PEBA and the use of this fabric in the medical, hygiene, baggage, confection, clothing, domestic or household equipment, furnishing, carpet, automotive or industrial fields, especially for industrial filtration, agricultural and/or building matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Bruno D'Herbecourt, René-Paul Eustache, Sophie Chhun
  • Patent number: 8448693
    Abstract: A sealed thermal interface component minimizes or eliminates the exudation of fluids, such as silicone oils, while preserving the excellent thermal conductivity of silicon-based thermal pad materials and enhancing the conformability of the component. In an example embodiment, one or more thermal pads are formed of conformable thermal management material that may exude fluid under elevated temperatures or over time. Film encapsulates the thermal pad or pads, forming a sealed and partially evacuated thermal interface component. In one embodiment of the invention, the thermal pad or pads are formed of an elastomeric silicon-based thermally conductive material and the film is made of polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Lundell Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lundell, Thomas L. Lundell
  • Publication number: 20130092251
    Abstract: A procedure is described for extending the period of time during which a line leg (e.g., a pipeline) made of a material with a coefficient of thermal conductivity ?R, in a fireproofing installation remains below a critical temperature and hence for increasing the T-rating value according to ASTM E814 (UL1479). A line leg is wrapped with a mesh, that includes a non-flammable material with a coefficient of thermal conductivity ?G, directly adjacent to the bulkheading of a feedthrough opening in a component on both sides for wall feedthroughs and/or above the feedthrough opening for ceiling feedthroughs, subject to the condition that the coefficient of thermal conductivity ?G is greater than the coefficient of thermal conductivity ?G. The heat removal from a line leg can be supported easily and, in particular, applied on-site such that even line legs with good thermal conductivity can achieve a high T-rating value in the fire test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Herbert Munzenberger
  • Patent number: 8418484
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between gasses such as air and a liquid or gaseous coolant has narrow spacing between exchanger surfaces for high efficiency. To avoid undue obstruction of gas flow due to ice buildup on the exchanger surfaces, the heat exchanger is equipped with sensors to monitor the gas flow and an actuator that widens the spacing between exchanger surfaces such that gas flow remains unimpeded. Embodiments provide for defrosting of the exchanger surfaces when an limit on spacing of exchanger surfaces is reached, and for relaxing the spacing to the original narrow spacing when defrosting is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles R. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20130068419
    Abstract: A thermally conductive reinforcing sheet includes a reinforcing layer. After the thermally conductive reinforcing sheet is attached to an aluminum board having a thickness of 1.0 mm and is heated at 80° C. for 10 minutes, the bending strength at a displacement of 1 mm of the resulting sheet is 10 N or more and the thermal conductivity of the reinforcing layer is 0.25 W/m·K or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Mase, Yoshio Terada, Midori Tojo
  • Publication number: 20130025315
    Abstract: A generally planar, conformable evaporative structure, particularly for incorporation in a garment or an item of personal protective equipment as part of a system to cool the wearer's body, includes an envelope of substantially impermeable, flexible material containing: a layer of flexible wick material disposed adjacent to a major face of the envelope and adapted to hold a working fluid in liquid phase for evaporation by heat conducted through the envelope; a layer of flexible, breathable fabric in parallel with the layer of wick material; and an array of flexible ribs such as open helical coils within the layer of breathable fabric adapted to maintain pathways for the flow of working fluid in vapour phase towards a condensation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Freeman, Rajinder Singh
  • Patent number: 8349552
    Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having, a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: TCP Reliable, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus H. Haarmann, Anthony Alleva, Thomas-Laurent Bingas
  • Patent number: 8256497
    Abstract: A thermal energy exchanger assembly (100) includes an exchanger housing (138). The exchanger housing (138) houses a pair of core support assemblies (174) formed of individual core supports (200). The core supports (200) are coupled together so as to form apertures 228. Core tubes (180) are received within the apertures (228). A fresh airstream (122) is made to flow through the core tubes (180) while a stale airstream (114) is made to flow between and around the core tubes (180). In this manner, an exchange of thermal energy occurs between the fresh airstream (122) and the stale airstream (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: John Gietzen
  • Patent number: 8258443
    Abstract: A heating unit for use in heating buckets or barrels. The heating unit includes a first pliable cover layer and a second pliable cover layer. A pliable electrical heating element is disposed between the first and the second cover layers and configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy and to distribute the heat energy. The pliable electrical heating element includes a heat generating element for converting electrical current to heat energy and a heat spreading element comprising carbon thermally coupled to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes a thermal insulation layer. The heating unit includes a receiving power connector electrically connected to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes one or more fasteners allowing the heating unit to be wrapped around a bucket or barrel and secured by the one or more fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: 417 and 7/8, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Caterina, David Naylor
  • Patent number: 8256412
    Abstract: A warming device of sheet form having (1) a heat generating sheet prepared by papermaking and containing an oxidizable metal, a moisture retaining agent, and a fibrous material and (2) an air permeable holder holding the heat generating sheet. The warming device has a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm and a flexural strength of 0.01 to 0.3 N/cm. The sheet preferably has a thickness of 0.1 to 2.0 mm. The fibrous material preferably has a CSF of 600 ml or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kumamoto, Masataka Ishikawa, Hironobu Kawajiri, Hisao Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 8215377
    Abstract: A heat transfer device generally includes a flexible cooling layer for use in heat pipe technology for example. The flexible layer has outer and inner surfaces. A backing layer has an outer surface and an inner surface facing the inner surface of the flexible layer. A rigid separator portion is disposed between the inner surfaces of the flexible and backing layers, and has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surfaces of the flexible and backing layers and the rigid separator portion define a sealed chamber. An evaporable working liquid is contained within the sealed chamber. The working liquid expands when heated to expand a volume within the sealed chamber, such that the flexible layer extends away from the sealed chamber. The flexible layer, when extended transfers heat through the sealed chamber to a cooler area of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Monson, Kevin J. Thorson
  • Patent number: 8192924
    Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design used double-layered transparent polyethylene, with two sealed compartments filled with the solution, separated by a flattened and sealed portion between them. One of the two sealed compartments contacts one side of the blood bag and the other compartment is folded over to contact the other side of the blood bag. The transparent compartments allows an operator to verify at any time whether the solution is in a solid state, and the flexibility of the compartments eases the proper positioning of them around a blood bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: TCP Reliable, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice Barakat, Louis Thibault, Klaus H. Haarmann, Annie Beauséjour, Anthony Alleva, Mario Tremblay, Serghe Lapointe
  • Patent number: 8176972
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving the cooling efficiency of semiconductor chips. One embodiment is to construct a vapor chamber with one compliant surface for improving the efficiency of transferring heat from a semiconductor chip to the vapor chamber, and another embodiment is to construct a vapor chamber with the chip substrate such that the chips are embedded inside the vapor chamber. One surface of the vapor chamber has a flexible structure to enable the surface of the vapor chamber to be compliant with the surface of a chip or a heat sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence S. Mok
  • Patent number: 8172156
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices comprising at least one flexible seal, at least one flexible complex seal having at least one closed cavity containing a fluid, or a combination thereof. The devices may comprise at least one immobile and inflexible substrate and at least one mobile and inflexible substrate capable of movement due to the flexible seal, the flexible complex seal, or both. The flexible complex seals comprise at least one closed cavity comprising a fluid, such as a gas or a liquid. As disclosed, the presence or absence of heat will cause the mobile and inflexible substrate to move. The movement will increase or decrease the fluid amount or fluid flow rate in the primary fluid layer. Also disclosed are methods for enhancing the insulating properties of insulating assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kambix Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul Rahim Assaad Khaled
  • Patent number: 8162034
    Abstract: An elongated structure (100) for the transmission of fluid-based compositions at non-ambient temperatures comprising a first conduit (130) for the transmission of a fluid-based composition, at least one flexible, elongated and inflatable temperature control conduit (110a, 110b) for the transmission of a temperature control fluid, the temperature control conduit (110a, 110b) having a relatively rigid elongated reinforcement member (116a, 116b); and elongated cover (140) holding said temperature control conduit (100a, 110b) in thermal communication with the first conduit (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Bonner
  • Patent number: 8156997
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for producing heated and/or cooled compressed air. The device may include a conventional air compressor, one or more filter stages to dry and purify the compressed air, a heat exchanger assembly including a heat exchanger enclosure with a heat exchange coil surrounded by ice or hot water for cooling or heating the compressed air, and an air distribution manifold to supply the temperature-controlled and filtered air to users. In a preferred embodiment, ice is used to cool the compressed air, and the cooled compressed air is supplied to protective gear worn by athletes to cool the athletes during rest periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: TMS Company LLC
    Inventors: Melvin O. Carter, Darren A. Carter, Kevin A. Carter, Fred M. Williams
  • Patent number: 8087451
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting two devices with a quick disconnect feature. A male plug is insertable into a female receiver and latched into position with a latch. The male plug is disconnected from the receiver by pulling the male plug out of the receiver with a force greater than an operating force. The male plug has a groove that engages a latch in the female receiver. The interface of the groove and the latch includes a bevel engaging a corner joining a surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and a surface parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Adroit Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford E. Gammons
  • Patent number: 8069907
    Abstract: A heat pipe for cooling a heat-generating component has a generally planar, sealed flexible body having an evaporator section, a condenser section, and a flexible bellows section. The bellows section is located between the evaporator section and the condenser section along a longitudinal length of the body. A chamber extends from the evaporator section to the condenser section inside the body and contains a working fluid. The bellows section includes internal supports to keep the chamber open during repeated bending of the heat pipe at the bellows section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Johnny P. Bryant, James R. Bylander, Vern E. Radewald
  • Publication number: 20110247781
    Abstract: A cooling enhancement apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate having a face in contact with at least one hot medium and having another face in contact with a secondary gas. The second substrate includes a face in contact with the secondary gas and has the other face in contact with a main gas. The faces of the first and second substrates in contact with the secondary gas generally oppose each other. One or more flexible seals can be attached to the first substrate and to the second substrate to form one or more dosed enclosures including the secondary gas so that the second substrate moves relative to the first substrate when the secondary gas undergoes volumetric thermal expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Abdul-Rahim A. Kahled
  • Patent number: 7960655
    Abstract: A PCB can include an insulating member, a cooling member, and a circuit pattern. The cooling member can be built into the insulating member. The cooling member can have a cooling passageway through which a cooling fluid can flow. The circuit pattern can be formed on the insulating member. Thus, high heat in the circuit pattern can be rapidly dissipated by the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Chan Han, Dong-Chun Lee, Young-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7954236
    Abstract: A sealed thermal interface component minimizes or eliminates the exudation of fluids, such as silicone oils, while preserving the excellent thermal conductivity of silicon-based thermal pad materials and enhancing the conformability of the component. In preferred embodiments, a foam frame surrounds a plurality of thermal pad portions formed of conformable thermal management material that may exude fluid under elevated temperatures or over time. Film encapsulates the foam-framed thermal pad portions, forming a sealed and partially evacuated thermal interface component. In one embodiment of the invention, the thermal pads are formed of an elastomeric matrix material containing silicone, the foam frame is made of urethane, and the film is made of polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Lundell Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lundell, Thomas L. Lundell
  • Patent number: 7952873
    Abstract: A cooling module includes a thermally conductive plate, a bladder disposed on at least one side of the plate, the bladder have a chamber, and fluid disposed in the chamber of the bladder wherein the bladder in an inflated state impresses the cooling module against an adjacent electronic circuit card. where the cooling module is forcibly pressed against adjacent electronic circuit card providing increased physical stability to the electronic circuit card as well as provide a cooling technique for the circuit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Glahn, Robert G. Kurtz, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110120040
    Abstract: A PCM heat insulation blanket (10) is positioned in a wall structure of a building for modulating the transfer of heat to and from the controlled internal temperature of the building structure. The PCM heat insulation blanket includes an array of pods (12) with one group of pods 12A containing a first PCM and a second group of pods containing a second PCM 12B having a different phase change temperature than the first group of pods. The pods with different PCMs are substantially uniformly intermixed among each other. The pods are formed of laminated sheets, each of which may include a metal foil that is vapor impermeable and tends to maintain the PCMs in the blanket at approximately the same temperature, and which also functions to reflect radiant heat away from the temperature controlled internal space of the building structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Robert J. Alderman
  • Patent number: 7934543
    Abstract: Conditioning of ambient air in a room of a building in terms of heat and/or cold and optionally humidity, and air flow is accomplished by arrangement of latent heat accumulator bodies in the room of the building. A separate air duct, which forms an incoming-air flow, is provided to blow out incoming air underneath the latent heat accumulator bodies by utilizing the Koanda effect, while air is sucked in parallel to the surface of the latent heat accumulator bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Klaus Fieback, Andreas Laube, Lutz Kutzker, Harald Kuhlei, Antonius Hubertus Henricus Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7919163
    Abstract: The present disclosure utilizes the phase change properties of various phase change materials, specifically of 1-decanol and 1-dodecanol. Blood platelets and biological tissues that are chemically unstable at high temperatures can be maintained between 20° C. and 24° C. using 1-Dodecanol in a disclosed container. Temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products may be maintained between 2° C. to 8° C. using 1-Decanol in a disclosed container. The present disclosure may be used to control the temperature of such products during transport by confining the temperature of the product within a predetermined range. This permits light weight packaging with the maintenance of temperatures in narrow, pre-selected ranges over extended periods of time. A nylon and low density polyethylene thermal blanket comprising cells substantially filled with phase change material, which is advantageously puncture proof, durable, and capable of surrounding any payload, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Benjamin Romero