Heating And Cooling Patents (Class 165/58)
  • Patent number: 6651731
    Abstract: For a heat exchanger using a heating medium for the purpose of heating a fluid to be handled during a steady state, this invention provides a method for using relevant devices which enables the heat exchanger to be operated safely and infallibly without suffering the raw material or the reaction product to polymerize in the reactor or the pipes during an unsteady state, suffering the reactor or the pipes to sustain a fracture owing to a rise in the internal pressure of the vessel, and suffering the apparatus for production to sustain serious damage. This invention pertains, mainly in a heat exchanger admitting a heating medium and using it for the purpose of heating a fluid to be handled, to a method for using relevant devices during the unsteady state, characterized by introducing a cooling medium in the place of the heating medium mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishimura, Yukihiro Matsumoto, Sei Nakahara, Motomi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030178176
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided with a heat exchanger that has a thermally conductive tube over-molded with a plurality of thermally conductive fins. To form the heat exchanger, a thermally conductive tube is provided. Insert molding, over molding or injection molding is utilized to incorporate thermally conductive fins with the thermally conductive tubes. The molding process may also simultaneously create any required features, such as mounting features and fittings for tubing to be connected to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kurt A. Jenkins, John G. Olendorf, Peter Davison
  • Publication number: 20030155101
    Abstract: A brewing machine (1) for delivering hot beverages, the machine (1) including: an inlet (2) for receiving a supply of water; at least one boiler (7) which receives water from the water supply and which is capable of delivering hot water and/or steam; a mixing station (26) which receives hot water and a predetermined dose of a beverage (such as coffee) for mixing with said hot water and subsequent delivery of said beverage from said machine (1); a cooling chamber (10) which receives part of the water supply and which delivers hot water at a predetermined maximum temperature to said mixing station (26) via an outlet (19); the cooling chamber (10) including at least one inlet (12) and at least one outlet (14) wherein said cooling chamber (10) receives cold water from the water supply and wherein the cooling chamber (10) receives hot water from the boiler (7) for delivery to the mixing station (26); and wherein the temperature of the hot water in the cooling chamber (10) which is delivered to the mixing station (
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Marc Shane Minney
  • Publication number: 20030127213
    Abstract: A heat exchanging device includes a housing received in a container for allowing the fluid in the container to flow through the housing. A tube is extended through the housing. A driving device may pump the fluid in the container to flow through the housing and to have an increased heat exchange effect, within the housing, with the fluid in the tube, and may be driven by another driving device which may be actuated by the fluid flowing through the tube. A heater may be used to heat the fluid in the container and in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Herman Lai, Bin Juen Huang
  • Publication number: 20030085021
    Abstract: The operation of the Energy Optimizer is based on the fact that within any furnace there is an optimum operating temperature above which the furnace's heat exchanger reflects rather than absorbs any significant amount of additional thermal energy. Once that optimal heat exchanger temperature has been achieved, any continued application of thermal energy is typically reflected up the chimney as lost heat, wasted energy, and added pollutants to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald M. Dykes, Doug W. Wessel
  • Publication number: 20030070789
    Abstract: A refrigerated oven comprising a cooking chamber in which is provided a heating elements and a refrigeration unit chamber in which is provided a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fluidly connected to the cooking chamber. Both the heating element and the refrigeration unit are selectively operable to either cool or heat the cooking chamber to thereby cool or heat a food item located therein. The refrigeration unit as preferably modular refrigeration unit that the slid into and out of the refrigeration unit chamber. Preferably, the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator that is thermally isolate is from a condenser. The condenser as preferably conductively coupled to a base supporting the elements of the modular refrigeration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Ralph Tate, Brent A. Junge, Joseph L. Coleman, Jan M. Watson, Steven R. Cawley
  • Patent number: 6506994
    Abstract: A heating chamber assembly for heating or maintaining the temperature of at least one wafer, employs thick film heater plates stacked at an appropriate distance to form a slot between each pair of adjacent heater plate surfaces. The heating chamber assembly may be employed adjacent one or more processing chambers to form a preheat station separate from the processing chambers, or may be incorporated in the load lock of one or more such processing chambers. The thick film heater plates are more efficient and have a better response time than conventional heat plates. A chamber surrounding the stack of heater plates is pressure sealable and nay include a purge gas inlet for supply purge gas thereto under pressure. A door to the chamber opens to allow wafers to be inserted or removed and forms a pressure seal upon closing. The slots in the stack are alignable with the door for loading and unloading of wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Kun Victor Wang, Mark Fodor, Chen-An Chen, Himanshu Pokharna, Son T. Nguyen, Kelly Fong, Inna Shmurun
  • Publication number: 20020179283
    Abstract: A heat exchange section (72) is provided in the middle of a circulation water path (58, 59) connecting between a temperature-controlled water tank (71) and a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus body (4) so as to perform a heat exchange with air of a clean room (3). The heat exchange section (72) is installed near an exit of an air circulation path (32) above a fan-filter unit (34) of the clean room as a temperature stabilized area off an atmosphere of the clean room (3). Additionally, as another method, a temperature of a chemical fluid from a chemical fluid tank (6) is controlled to be a temperature of the air in the clean room by a heat exchange section (61) provided in a location the same as above without using the temperature-controlled water so as to supply the chemical fluid to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus body (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Osamu Suenaga, Makoto Yamamoto, Naoki Mori, Hiromu Ito, Sadao Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020134530
    Abstract: Heat transfer fluid mixtures and methods of making and using same are presented. The inventive heat transfer fluid mixtures consist essentially of at least one light gas, such as helium, and at least one heavy fluid, such as argon, which may be adjusted between a first composition having a high heat transfer coefficient and high cost, and a second composition of a lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Giacobbe
  • Patent number: 6440521
    Abstract: Thrust reverser inner wall structure comprising a thermally conductive nonmetallic carbon pitch fiber honeycomb core sandwiched between a top and bottom layer. The core is adhered by a reticulated layer of adhesive to a perforated carbon fiber top layer, and adhered to a base layer of nonmetallic, nonperforated carbon fiber reinforced fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Francis W. Moore
  • Publication number: 20020104644
    Abstract: For a heat exchanger using a heating medium for the purpose of heating a fluid to be handled during a steady state, this invention provides a method for using relevant devices which enables the heat exchanger to be operated safely and infallibly without suffering the raw material or the reaction product to polymerize in the reactor or the pipes during an unsteady state, suffering the reactor or the pipes to sustain a fracture owing to a rise in the internal pressure of the vessel, and suffering the apparatus for production to sustain serious damage. This invention pertains, mainly in a heat exchanger admitting a heating medium and using it for the purpose of heating a fluid to be handled, to a method for using relevant devices during the unsteady state, characterized by introducing a cooling medium in the place of the heating medium mentioned above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishimura, Yukihiro Matsumoto, Sei Nakahara, Motomi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020100576
    Abstract: A multifunctional thermal installation includes a compressor, a switch valve, an evaporator, a condenser, a water heater, and an expansion valve. The water heater has a water inlet that is connected to an underground well. The evaporator and the condenser include at least a first group of heat exchangers and a second group of heat exchangers. The first group of heat exchangers is disposed in the water heater and the second group of heat exchangers and a fan associated with the second group of heat exchangers are disposed in a room. After integrating separate installations into a system, the present invention uses only a small amount of a non-renewable energy source and most of the required energy sources can be replaced by the renewable energy sources collected from the system itself. Thus, the environmental pollution caused by the consumption of energy sources can be reduced significantly. In addition, non-renewable energy sources can be conserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Hongsun Hua
  • Publication number: 20020096312
    Abstract: There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a membrane permeator for removing vapor from a process gas and for providing a vapor-depleted process gas, and (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from a liquid to a vapor-depleted gas to produce a vapor-added process gas. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the liquid to the vapor-added process gas, and is also capable of upgrading the thermal energy to a higher temperature. The system may be used for various heat pump applications including chilling and waste heat or low level heat recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Amos Korin
  • Publication number: 20010018965
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pickling agent for the chemical conversion coating of a heat exchanger which is capable of cleaning the complicated structure comprising fins and tubes of a heat exchanger in preparation for the successful formation of a chemical conversion film, a method of pickling a heat exchanger, a method of treating a heat exchanger comprising said pickling method, and a heat exchanger produced by using said treating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Masahiko Matsukawa, Kentaro Saito, Toshio Inbe, Katsuyoshi Yamasoe
  • Patent number: 6284206
    Abstract: A process gas selective oxidizer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant includes one or more catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and one or more adjacent non-catalyzed heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields may be formed with catalyzed pellets or with a monolithic catalyzed open cell foam component. The heat exchanger process gas flow fields are formed by non-catalyzed monolithic open cell foam components which have coolant fluid passages disposed therein. Planar metal sheets form a common wall between the selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and the heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The use of the open cell foam to form the heat exchanger process gas flow fields provides enhanced heat transfer between the reformate gas and the coolant fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: International Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Roger R. Lesieur, Thomas J. Corrigan, Derek W. Hildreth
  • Patent number: 6257010
    Abstract: A merchandiser that is capable of holding and displaying both cold foods and warm foods includes a cold pan which has walls that are recessed into the top of a counter to provide a cold compartment that opens out of the counter top. The cold foods occupy the cold compartment. In addition, the merchandiser has a closure assembly which rises upwardly form the cold pan and includes side walls that support a shelf above the cold pan and also housing above the shelf. Front and rear doors are attached to the side walls to close the space between the shelf and housing at the front and rear, respectively, of the closure assembly, so that the doors, the side walls, the shelf and the housing enclose a warm compartment that holds and displays warm foods. Both doors pivot about horizontal axes to provide access to the warm compartment. The housing contains a fan and heating element for circulating heated air through the warm compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Steven M. Shei, Clement J. Luebke
  • Patent number: 6109339
    Abstract: A heating system uses a dynamic thermal stabilizer for receiving, mixing, holding and outputting a circulating heat exchange liquid in a fashion similar to the use of a flywheel in the mechanical arts. Liquid is returned to the dynamic thermal stabilizer from both an input heat exchange unit and an output heat exchange unit. A two pump system affords a simple tee fitting arrangement that provides room air heating by directly using hot liquid either from the dynamic thermal stabilizer or directly (and at higher temperature) from the input heat exchange unit itself to automatically achieve an additional boost of room heat using higher temperature liquid. The system can also provide initial short draws of domestic hot water from the dynamic thermal stabilizer alone or long draws of hot water by using the input heat exchange unit as a further source of heat input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: First Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Sherwood G. Talbert, David A. Ball, Jan B. Yates, Stephen E. Petty, Steve Grimes
  • Patent number: 5983988
    Abstract: Disclosed is a warmer and a refrigerator designed for use on an automobile. The warmer and the refrigerator are two detachably connected boxes respectively defining a hot chamber and a cold chamber. The hot and the cold chambers both have an inner container and a double-pipe spiral passage wound about an outer wall of the inner container to increase heat absorbing and dissipating areas of the hot and the cold chambers. The double-pipe spiral passages of the hot and the cold chambers are led to a radiator or a heater and an air conditioning compressor, respectively, of the automobile. Two covers are pivotally connected to tops of the hot and the cold chambers, such that the covers can be lifted and opened relative to the chambers by 180 degrees. A gooseneck shank and an air-pressure type water pump can be provided to the hot and the cold chambers, so that drinking water can be directly stored in the chambers and be pumped up for drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Wen-Hu Hong
  • Patent number: 5955011
    Abstract: Fine fibers are formed and carried in a high energy, high temperature gaseous stream to a primary fine fiber collection surface where fine fibers are collected from the gaseous stream. Gases of the gaseous stream along with fine fibers not removed from the gaseous stream by the primary collection surface are drawn through the primary collection surface and formed into an exhaust gas stream which is passed through a secondary fine fiber collection surface to remove additional fibers from the exhaust gas stream before it is discharged to the atmosphere. To reduce the operating temperatures at and surrounding the primary and secondary collection surfaces, the gas streams are cooled by evaporative cooling. Water is sprayed into the gas streams by nozzles, shielded from the gas streams by scoops, so that fibers do not collect on the nozzles and form fiber wads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Andrew Clocksin, Michael J. Cusick
  • Patent number: 5775408
    Abstract: An integrated combined heating and cooling unit comprises a known high efficiency gas fireplace unit stacked on top of a known high efficiency window type air conditioning unit. Novel vent adapters are connected to the rear of the units for connecting them to a source of outside combustion and cooling air to effect high efficiency operations. Novel controls comprise a fireplace relay and an air conditioning relay mounted inside of each of the units. The relays control the on-off operation of the respective units and are actuated by a thermostatic control preferably located remote from the combined units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Heat-N-Glo Fireplace Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald John Shimek, Daniel Curtis Shimek
  • Patent number: 5682760
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for the generation of heat from the combustion of waste oil. The apparatus includes the waste oil burner and novel combustion chamber operative to generate heat from the combustion of waste oil, a storage tank for containing heat transferring fluid, an absorbtion type chilling unit, a heating unit, or both, and heat transfer fluid pumps, piping, valves, and a control system for transferring the heat transfer fluid, and the heat it contains from the combustion chamber to the storage tank and ultimately to the heating unit or chilling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Earth Partners, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 5606641
    Abstract: A device for the thermal regulation of a pressurized circulating fluid includes a plurality of elementary assemblies, each formed by a stack of ribbed or corrugated plates. Seals define fluid circulation circuits for conducting coolant fluid and heat transfer fluid therethrough, the circuits emerging at the top and the bottom of the device, heat being exchanged between the circuits through the plates. An electrical heating resistance element is interposed between the circuits for precise thermoregulation of the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Joel Bucaille
  • Patent number: 5584183
    Abstract: An improved thermoelectric heat exchanger is provided which comprises a series of thermoelectric units sandwiched between two channels for the purpose of transferring heat from a liquid coolant flowing through one channel to a second fluid flowing through the other channel. Heat transfer fins are brazed to the inner surfaces of both channels to provide improved heat transfer between the fluids and the channels. A thermally conductive grease or ductile metal between the thermoelectric units and the channels provides improved heat transfer at this interface. When an electric current is passed through the thermoelectric units, heat is transferred from the liquid coolant through the thermoelectric units to the second fluid via the Peltier Effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Solid State Cooling Systems
    Inventors: Lloyd F. Wright, Clifford C. Wright
  • Patent number: 5579654
    Abstract: A closed cycle cryogenic refrigerating system with a fixed restrictor operates with a compressor inlet pressure in a range of 0.1 Mpa to 0.4 Mpa and compressor discharge pressure in a range of 1.5 Mpa and 2.5 Mpa. A basic cryogenic refrigerant mixture is used to which is added approximately 3% to 25% of helium, hydrogen and/or neon. A ratio of refrigerant density at the inlet of the fixed restrictor between steady-state operation and operation at the beginning of cool-down is in an approximate range of 7 to 17. Relatively rapid cool-down is achieved and evaporator temperature is maintained in an approximate range of 70K to 120K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Apd Cryogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, Mikhail J. Boiarsky, Ajay Khatri
  • Patent number: 5413166
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module (10) which is adapted to selectively heat or cool the inside of a container includes an exterior heat exchanger (51) having a plurality of spaced and generally parallel undulating fins (52). An exterior fan (31) is positioned adjacent to the exterior heat exchanger (51) and is adapted to move air from the outside of the container through the spaces between the fins (52) of the exterior heat exchanger (51). An interior heat exchanger (54) has a plurality of spaced and generally parallel undulating fins (55). An interior fan (42) is positioned adjacent to the interior heat exchanger (54) and is adapted to move air from the inside of the container through the spaces between the fins (55) of the interior heat exchanger (54). A motor (28) drives the fans (31, 42) and is cooled by air drawn in through apertures (34) in the hub (32) of the exterior fan (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventors: James M. Kerner, Patrick A. McCauley, Larry E. McCulloch, Michael R. Tanner
  • Patent number: 5314719
    Abstract: HVAC systems having interior surfaces exposed to moist air are protected against fungal growth by coating the interior surfaces with an adherent flexible polymer film which includes a fungicidal composition in an amount effective to provide a zone of inhibition against multiple fungal species of at least 1 mm, and which employs active fungicidal ingredients which are substantially non-volatile and non-soluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Foster Products Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon Batdorf, William J. Brendle
  • Patent number: 5293753
    Abstract: In a method for preventing bacterial growth in a refrigerating or freezing plant for food, the plant (1 ) includes a substantially closed housing (2) and, arranged therein, a device (3) for refrigerating food in this housing, and has an operating cycle including a work period during which the refrigerating device (3) is active, and a rest period during which the refrigerating device (3) is inactive and the plant can be cleaned. The cleaning includes raising the temperature in the plant above a temperature requisite for killing bacteria. Furthermore, the air pressure in the plant is maintained higher than the ambient pressure, at least during the entire rest period, by supplying air free from bacteria. The plant (1) includes heaters for raising the temperature therein during a rest period above a temperature requisite for killing bacteria, and air supply devices (7, 8) for supplying the air free from bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Frigoscandia Food Process Systems AB
    Inventors: Sven-Olle Rothstein, Jan Solminger
  • Patent number: 5273585
    Abstract: A heat-treating apparatus comprises zones such as a carburizing zone, a cooling zone, and a nitriding zone, those zones are formed in series by partitioning a continuous passage through doors, and conveyance means for conveying an object along the passage. The cooling zone comprises a forced-feed cooling means for cooling the object by blowing cooling gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Shoga, Yoshikazu Nagai, Masayuki Suzawa, Hiroshi Nagahama, Ko Yamaoka, Teiji Ogawa, Yoshitugu Kamiya
  • Patent number: 5220807
    Abstract: A combined refrigerator-water heating system providing one or more insulated food storage compartments, includes an insulated water storage compartment, a refrigeration system including a compressor, an evaporation heat exchanger configured to cool the food storage compartment(s), a condenser configured to heat the water storage compartment, a flow restriction/expansion device, piping connecting the compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporation in a series flow loop, a resistance electric heating element configured to heat the water storage compartment, and a control means to activate the compressor in response to cooling demand from the food storage compartment, and to activate the electric heating element in response to either heating demand from the water storage compartment or a time-of-day signal to bias resistance electric water heating operation toward times of off-peak electric use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Davis Energy Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Bourne, David A. Springer, Marc A. Hoeschele
  • Patent number: 5159973
    Abstract: An improved food serving cart of the type having a compartment for holding multiple trays of prepared foods having both hot and cold food and/or beverage portions thereon, the improvement including a vertically disposed cold reservoir for holding replaceable cooling modules, and multiple food tray holding racks attached inside the cart in a vertical column horizontally adjacent to and in thermal communication with the vertically disposed cold reservoir such that a first portion of each of the horizontal racks is in close proximity to the cooling modules and constitutes a cold zone and a second portion of each of the horizontal racks in spatially separated from the vertical cold reservoir and constitutes a hot zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Plastics Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: James Q. Pennington, Ray A. Story
  • Patent number: 5121291
    Abstract: A portable computer having a cooling system with an intake fan and exhaust openings, one of which is provided with an exhaust fan which is located so that it diverts some of the air-flow to increase the flow of air over the power supply, the fans are activated whenever the temperature in any thermal area rises and the speed of the intake fan increases to meet the challenge of the highest temperature of any one of the thermal areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Mentor Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Cope, Leslie W. Kent, Christopher W. Gardner
  • Patent number: 5060717
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a heat exchanger, through which room air circulates in a predetermined direction, and an air cleaner, The air cleaner includes an electric duct collecting portion for capturing fine duct in the circulating air, a filter portion for absorbing the odor from the circulating air, and a control unit for controlling the operations of the indoor unit and the collecting portion. The collecting portion, filter portion, and control unit are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction so that filter portion is situated between the collecting portion and the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiichi Morita, Akihiko Sugiyama, Oserojoin Watabiki, Mithuo Murano
  • Patent number: 5054542
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for a building and the building's appurtenances utilizes a heat transfer medium that obtains heat from environmental panels. The heat transfer medium flows in a unidirectional mode through the system. The heat transfer medium is passed through heat exchangers where the heat values in the medium are exchanged or transferred to water to raise the temperature of the water which is then subsequently used as hot water for appurtenant building uses. The heat transfer system, independently from the ambient heat obtainable from the environmental panels, can also utilize heat drawn from air conditioning units to both cool the air passing through the air conditioners and to heat the heat transfer medium. This heat is then exchanged or transferred to the various water sources for use in the appurtenant building uses. An electrical control system selectively transfers the available heat values to those appurtenant building uses, giving preference to those uses as determined by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Thermotaxis Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommis E. Young, John L. Curtis, Dennis A. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5042571
    Abstract: A variable parameter heater for applying heat in a predetermined profile to a work surface. The heater has a plurality of elongated members which are interconnected to form a frame. Elongated members are slidingly adjustable to provide the intended heat profile. Each elongated member contains first and second rows of apertures. Heated air is delivered to the work surface past selectively energized heating elements disposed in the first row of apertures. Cool air where required is delivered to the work surface through the second row of apertures. The heater may include a vacuum probe for depositing or removing components relative to the work surface. The vacuum probe may also direct cool air to the work surface. Mirrors may be mounted upon elongated members to provide enhanced viewing of the work surface. In case of disablement, elongated members are individually removeble for repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Sierra Research and Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Drislane
  • Patent number: 4974663
    Abstract: A method for circulating a gas in an autoclave which comprises a pressure container (A) having a wind tunnel (7) in which moldable materials (1) are placed and the gas is circulated by a blow fan (33), the pressure container (A) being sealably closed by a door, the layers of each of the materials (1) are compressed, heated, adhered together, and set in the pressure container (A) producing swirling of the gas coming out of an outer duct formed between the inner face Aa of the pressure container (A) and the wind tunnel (7) by guide blades (H), diverting the gas at the inner face (2a) of the door (2), and directing the diverted gas to flow through the inside (7b) of the wind tunnel (7) with the swirl. The apparatus for circulating gas has guide blades (H) for swirling the gas going out of the outer duct (7a) provided in the outer duct, whereby the gas is diverted at the inner face (2a) of the door (2), and is directed to flow through the inside (7b) of the wind tunnel (7) with the swirl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Ashida MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Nakaji
  • Patent number: 4951737
    Abstract: A package terminal air conditioner having a modular blower and heater unit that is readily removable intact for servicing. The module includes a housing or box that has a back scroll portion and a pair of ends or side panels. The ends have rearwardly extending tabs and top forwardly extending mounting brackets. A cross-flow blower wheel is spaced adjacent the scroll portion of the housing and is supported by the ends. A shaft extending from the blower wheel is connected to a motor. An electric heating element is mounted to the housing, and the motor and heating element are connected to an electrical connector. The module is installed into an indoor section compartment of the air conditioner, and the tabs insert through slots in the main partition. The mounting brackets are then affixed and the connector is mated to a matching connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Tenhundfeld, Daniel R. Melchior, Michael A. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 4915162
    Abstract: In an automatic vending machine having a heater for boiling water, and a motor-driven compressor for refrigeration, a flow of current to the heater is stopped when the compressor is started. On the other hand, while the compressor is being operated stably, the current flowing in the heater is controlled in phase such that the sum of an effective current flowing in the compressor and an effective current flowing in the heater does not exceed a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ikura
  • Patent number: 4911234
    Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger coil has a fan on one side thereof for forcing ambient air through the coil and a partition on the other side thereof. The partition is placed relatively close to the coil to thereby define a channel which allows the flow of ambient air therethrough without any substantial decrease in system capacity or airflow. A comparison between the channel width and the channel length is made to define the limits of minimal separation between the coil and the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Dwight H. Heberer, Avinash N. Patel, Kevin Torrance
  • Patent number: 4846257
    Abstract: Apparatus for keeping food hot and/or cold includes a body of heavily insulated material in which there are separate recesses for hot food and cold food. The cold food is kept cold by means of an ice compartment located in the bottom of one recess and an exhaustible refrigeration unit located in the top of that recess. The hot food is kept warm by means of an electrical coil in the bottom of the recess and a solar heating panel in the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Terry A. Wallace
    Inventors: Terry A. Wallace, Ventonia L. Keyes, Harry C. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4828171
    Abstract: A housing for a multi-function appliance designed to house, at a minimum, a natural or bottled gas-fired water heating device, an air heating device, an air cooling device, a fan section, and control components, adaptable to provide flexibility in dealing with various venting problems, arranged to facilitate servicing access from the front thereof, and constructed of a relatively small number of different panels, struts, and other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: EGN Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Akin, Jr., Thomas J. Baker
  • Patent number: 4798240
    Abstract: Space heating and cooling and potable water heating are provided by a single appliance. The housing appliance is divided into four sections: a lower water storage section, a middle hardware section, an upper internal air handling section and a side external air handling section which may protrude through a building wall. A heating medium from a single burner heat exchanger may be directed to either a liquid to air heat exchanger for space heating or to a hot water storage tank for heating potable water. The storage tank contains a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the heating medium to the potable water. A single thermostatic flow control maintains a constant temperature of heating medium directed to either the liquid to air heat exchanger or the storage tank to provide condensation of products of combustion during the space heating mode of operation and part of the water heating mode of operation and yet preclude overheating of the heating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph Gerstmann, George M. Celorier, Jr., Wayne S. Hill
  • Patent number: 4696340
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises an outer casing containing an inner casing having a heat exchanger disposed therein and a blower so as to define jointly with the inner casing an internal air intake passage. The air conditioner further includes an air intake-discharge selector mechanism disposed in a desired position in communication with the air intake passage for taking air into and out of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Diesel Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruyuki Nagao, Yuji Kawamura, Koichi Kashima
  • Patent number: 4686378
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating thermal and electrical energy outputs in response to thermal and electrical load requirements imposed thereon. The apparatus includes a variable speed power source and a mechanism for transferring thermal energy from the power source a coolant fluid. A generator is also provided and is driven by the power source to produce electrical energy for the electrical load. The output frequency of the generator is independent of the speed of the power source. A mechanism is also provided for extracting thermal energy from the coolant fluid and directing the thermal energy to the thermal load. Finally, a device is included for monitoring the loads and controlling the thermal and electrical outputs in response to the loads by independently varying the speed of the power source and the output frequency of the generator to provided desired thermal and electrical energy outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: ETA Thermal Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Sisk
  • Patent number: 4679615
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for heating and/or cooling a plurality of objects simultaneously at different preselected temperatures, wherein a predetermined temperature difference is established between two spaced points on a heat-conductive member to produce a constant temperature gradient between the points; and then a plurality of objects are supported in heat exchange relationship with respect to predetermined locations of the temperature gradient according to the preselected temperatures to which the respective objects are to be heated or cooled. The apparatus further includes temperature control means for maintaining the two spaced points of the heat conductive member at the predetermined temperature difference during the heating or cooling of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Advanced Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Avinoam Livne
  • Patent number: 4677279
    Abstract: An overhead or ceiling heater panel for room heating, mainly with radiant heat, includes a relatively elongate radiant plate (1) in the form of an extruded aluminum profile or the like, a reflector (2) mounted with a spacing behind the radiant plate seen in relation to the heat radiation direction (S), and attached to the radiant plate at two longitudinal edges (1A, 1B) thereof, and a surrounding box-like housing (3) generally composed of sheet members. Problems with respect to deformation and skew in such a radiant plate are eliminated by providing adjacent each end of the radiant plate (1), a locking spring (10) which is mounted with at least a mounting member (11A, 11B) at one edge (1A, 1B) of the radiant plate (1), and which adjacent this edge is formed with a locking part (10A, 10B) adapted to cooperate with a holding member (21A, 21B) in an adjacent end wall (13) of the surrounding housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Energikontroll A.S.
    Inventor: Per Wesseltoft
  • Patent number: 4507938
    Abstract: An air-conditioning and hot water supply system, which comprises a heat pump type refrigerating device at the primary side having a user side heat-exchanger and a heat source side heat-exchanger with a coolant of excellent low temperature characteristic being filled in both of them; a refrigerating device at the secondary side having a user side condenser for heating water for hot water supply and a heat source side evaporator with a coolant of excellent high temperature characteristic being filled in both of them; fan coil units for air-conditioning communicatively connected with the user side heat-exchanger of the heat pump type refrigerating device at the primary side and the heat source side evaporator of the refrigerating device at the secondary side; and a circuit for air-conditioning, through which cold or warm water is caused to circulate between the user side heat exchanger and the heat source side evaporator, the cold water or warm water after the air-conditioning operation by the fan coil units bei
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hama, Toshiro Abe
  • Patent number: 4456645
    Abstract: A practice for gas cooler assembly fabrication wherein a first plate comprised of carbonizable material is provided in first regions with a conductive first material and in second bordering regions with an adhesive material and the first plate and a second plate comprised of carbonizable material are brought into adjacent relationship and carbonized by heating to thereby form the completed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Energy Research Corporation
    Inventor: Chang V. Chi
  • Patent number: 4408658
    Abstract: An improved process for heating a material (20) within a fused silica ampoule by radiation through the wall of the ampoule (16), while simultaneously passing a cooling gas (22) around the ampoule, the radiation having passed through a screen (18) of fused silica so as to remove those components capable of directly heating the silica, thereby increasing the temperature of the material within the ampoule above the strain point of the ampoule, while maintaining the exterior of the ampoule cool enough to prevent rupturing the amp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Holland
  • Patent number: 4339930
    Abstract: A control system for a solar-assisted heating and cooling system including solar collector system, a thermal storage system, a water-to-air heat pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger, a domestic water heater, and a cooling tower. The preferred embodiment of the controller of the present invention includes a first temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the collector fluid at the outlet of the solar collector system, a second temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the storage fluid at the thermal storage system, and a third temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the inlet water to the domestic water heater. The controller energizes or deenergizes a collector fluid circulation pump and activates valve means to circulate the collector fluid between the collector system and the thermal storage system or the domestic water heater based on the temperature of the three sensors to provide efficient operation of the solar energy collection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard E. Kirts
  • Patent number: 4254636
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for using solar energy to modify the temperatures of conditioned space in a building and to supply domestic hot water for the building. Part of the system is mounted to a core that forms a structural column of the building. The system incorporates selector mechanisms for selectively altering the flow of water in the system to facilitate changes in the functioning of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Sunhouse Incorporated
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr