Liquid Downflow Patents (Class 261/106)
  • Patent number: 11712490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sterilization apparatus. The sterilization apparatus comprises a sterilant extractor configured to extract a sterilant using an auxiliary needle from a sterilant cartridge disposed inside or outside a sterilization chamber and a sterilant supplier configured to receive the sterilant extracted through the auxiliary needle, to vaporize the sterilant through a vaporizer, and to provide the vaporized sterilant to the sterilization chamber or a vacuum pouch disposed inside the sterilization chamber through a main needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PLASMAPP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youbong Lim, Seunghun Lee, Junyoung Kim, Miseon Hwang
  • Patent number: 11668473
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner comprising, a housing in which an outlet is formed, a heat exchanger positioned inside the housing, and a fan positioned behind the heat exchanger. The fan configured to blow air to the heat exchanger. And a filter assembly coupled to the housing. The filter assembly configured to filter air entering the fan. The filter assembly covering a rear portion of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jae Kim, Jin Gyun Kim, Young Tae Song, Hae Gyun Shin, Chang Sik Lee, Chang Woo Jung, Seo Young Cho, Sung Hyun Chun
  • Patent number: 11655996
    Abstract: An air-to-air heat pump system for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building includes a thermally insulated cool channel for pumping external air into the building, the cool channel having a volume for mixing external air with exhaust air of the building, a warm channel for pumping internal air, the warm channel including a cellular humidifier that restores humidity to internal air, heat pump coils located in the cool channel and the warm channel, the heat pump coils configured for transferring thermal energy from the cold channel to the warm channel, a first fan located in the cool channel and a second fan located in the warm channel, wherein the first and second fans are configured for moving air within a channel, all of the foregoing provided in a monoblock or Split structure located inside, or partially inside, a thermal circuit of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lubnevskiy Konstantin Kazimirovich, Pesterev Yuri Georgievich
  • Patent number: 11596087
    Abstract: A data center includes a refrigerant induction pipe surrounding one or more regions of the data center, a refrigerant supply device suitable for supplying a refrigerant to the refrigerant induction pipe, the refrigerant having a vaporization temperature corresponding to a pseudo cryogenic temperature, a plurality of racks disposed in the one or more regions, and a plurality of rotating devices, each rotating device being suitable for rotating a corresponding one of the plurality of racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Myoung-Seo Kim, Seung-Yong Lee, Young-Pyo Joo
  • Patent number: 11584193
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle, suppress a climate control limiter that prevents an air blower of a climate control component from operating when an engine coolant temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, and actuate a motor on an air pump to introduce air external to the vehicle to the passenger cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 11543192
    Abstract: A splash bar for mounting to a splash bar hanger in a cooling tower includes a first leg defining a longitudinal axis of the splash bar and openings defined through the first leg. The first leg having an outer surface. The outer surface including surface features thereon. The surface features extending at least one of at an acute angle and generally perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis. The surface features designed and configured to promote droplet and cooling medium jet formation during operation of the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BRENTWOOD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Frank M. Kulick, III, Christopher Bowman, Nicholas Gavenas
  • Patent number: 11460198
    Abstract: A humidifier including a humidifier housing with an adjustable backplane configured to fit to a variety of humidifier pad sizes. Different sizes of humidifier pads are available, and the choice of humidifier pad may depend on the capacity of the HVAC system. The backplane of this disclosure may be adjusted by moving to one position to accommodate a larger humidifier pad or to a second position for a smaller humidifier pad. The backplane of the humidifier housing is configured to mount over an opening of an air duct of an HVAC system such that air is directed along an air path defined by the humidifier housing, through the humidifier pad positioned in front of the air duct and into the air stream of the HVAC system. Water flows through inlet tubing to a water distributor, which may direct the water to the top of the humidifier pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Brabec, Charles N. Hoff
  • Patent number: 11452974
    Abstract: A passive gas exchange transfer apparatus for exchanging carbon dioxide from a flue gas to a water supply is disclosed. The apparatus includes several upper rods and several lower rods to hold a membrane in place. The membrane provides increased surface area for the gas and the water to meet. The upper rods may be the source of the water supply, and the lower rods may be the source of the gas. The upper rods may disperse the water onto one side of the membrane, and the lower rods may disperse the gas onto the other side. The two may therefore meet at the surface created by the membrane as gravity draws the water downward, and convection draws the gas upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Sellars, Joel W. Agner
  • Patent number: 11073335
    Abstract: Evaporative cooling system including a cooling tower attached to a modified swamp cooler. The modified swamp cooler comprising a fan, a fan housing and at least one air outlet located in a bottom of the modified swamp cooler. The cooling tower comprises at least one indirect heat exchanger and all inner surfaces of the cooling tower, except for the at least one indirect heat exchanger, are made from and/or comprise a non-porous material. The non-porous material is high-density polyethylene. The cooling tower attached to the modified swamp cooler is part of an evaporative cooling system and supplies cool air to a building or areas which desire cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Anthony Staniulis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10823439
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a controller may include one or more environmental sensor inputs configured to receive data from one or more environmental sensors integral to an information handling system and a microcontroller unit communicatively coupled to the one or more environmental sensor inputs. The microcontroller unit may be configured to monitor the one or more environmental sensor inputs for one or more reliability-impacting events affecting or likely to affect operability of the information handling system and in response to an occurrence of a reliability-impacting event, apply an event-based policy affecting operation of one or more components of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Austin M. Shelnutt, Edmond I. Bailey, John R. Stuewe, Steven Embleton
  • Patent number: 10495332
    Abstract: A humidifying device, comprising an air duct (1) penetrating through the interior of the humidifying device, and a water absorption filter element (3) which is fitted over the top of an outer wall surrounding the air duct (1). According to the humidifying device, water is conveyed into the air duct (1) through the water absorption filter element (3) by means of the structural arrangement of a water channel (2) and the water absorption filter element (3), and humidifying operation is therefore carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Youning Wang, Zhenxue Zhu, Jianguo Wang, Mingjing Fan, Jialan Zhuang, Aibing Liu, Yuanwei Dong, Wenming Yan, Liqin Wu
  • Patent number: 10488061
    Abstract: The cooling systems and methods of the present disclosure involve modular fluid coolers and chillers configured for optimal power and water use based on environmental conditions and client requirements. The fluid coolers include wet media, a first fluid circuit for distributing fluid across wet media, an air to fluid heat exchanger, and an air to refrigerant heat exchanger. The chillers, which are fluidly coupled to the fluid coolers via pipe cages, include a second fluid circuit in fluid communication with the air to fluid heat exchanger and a refrigerant circuit in thermal communication with the second fluid circuit and in fluid communication with the air to refrigerant heat exchanger. Pipe cages are coupled together to allow for expansion of the cooling system when additional cooling capacity is needed. The fluid coolers and chillers are configured to selectively operate in wet or dry free cooling mode, partial free cooling mode, or mechanical cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INERTECH IP LLC
    Inventors: John Costakis, Ming Zhang, Earl Keisling, Ken Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10473352
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a main body, a fan configured to cause air to flow through the main body, and a water reservoir detachably disposed on an upper portion of the main body. A humidifying fabric member is disposed inside the main body and configured to receive water from the water reservoir. A water collecting tank is configured to collect water that flows down from the humidifying fabric member. In addition, a pump is configured to pump the water in the water collecting tank to the water reservoir through a suction hole. A bottom of the water collecting tank is formed to be downwardly inclined toward one portion of the bottom and the suction hole of the pump is disposed adjacent to the one portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jee-ho Park, Eom-ji Jang, Kwon-jin Kim, Young-seok Lim, Euy-sung Chu
  • Patent number: 10408475
    Abstract: A purification structure is located beside an inlet segment of a heat dissipator and contains: a casing, a water mesh, a water distribution seat, and a water collection device. The casing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The water mesh includes multiple orifices and is accommodated between the air inlet and the air outlet of the casing. The water distribution seat is secured on a top of the water mesh and includes an aperture and multiple passages. The water collection device communicates with a bottom of the water mesh, and the water collection device includes a water accommodation chamber and a pump, wherein the pump has a water output segment connecting with a guide tube which communicates with the aperture of the water distribution seat, such that the water is outputted by the pump to flow toward the aperture via the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LEADING STAND
    Inventor: A-Ching Shen
  • Patent number: 10281164
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a container defining a container cavity; a cover positioned over a container opening of the container cavity, the cover defining a body opening and a vent opening, the body opening and the vent opening in fluid communication with the container cavity; an attachment mechanism configured to attach the humidifier to a vent; and a wicking pad mounted in the container cavity between the vent opening and the body opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Terry Daley
  • Patent number: 10247483
    Abstract: A evaporative cooling device is described having a pair of heat conducting plates arranged in spaced, generally parallel relationship with spacing elements separating the plates from one another and defining primary and secondary flow channels between the plates. Inlet ducts are connected to the primary channels and outlet ducts connect from the primary and secondary channels. A water distribution system is also provided to supply water to the secondary channels such that a primary air flow through the primary channels may be cooled by heat conduction along the plates to cause evaporation of the water into a secondary air flow through the secondary channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Oxycom Beheer B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Magnus Clarkson, Andreas Jacobus Louis Nijsen, Johannes Antonius Maria Reinders
  • Patent number: 10077910
    Abstract: An outdoor device for an air conditioner is provided. The outdoor device may include a cabinet, and a base provided at a lower portion of the cabinet. The base may include a base body, on which at least one first seat that supports at least one compressor may be provided, an edge portion disposed along a circumference of the base body and on which at least one second seat that supports a heat exchanger may be disposed, and one or more drain holes defined in the base body to guide discharge of liquid existing in or contained within the base. The at least one first seat and the at least one second seat may be integrated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hoki Lee, Hyunjun Lim
  • Patent number: 10072858
    Abstract: Provided is a humidification and air cleaning apparatus. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus includes: a water tank storing water; and a discharge humidification medium housing disposed over the water tank and disposed over a discharge flow passage flowing via the water tank and the water supply flow passage supplying water into the water tank. Here, the discharge humidification medium housing includes: a reservoir disposed in the water supply flow passage and storing water supplied into the water tank when water is supplied from the upper side; and a water outlet formed in the reservoir and supplying water of the reservoir into the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sanghyuk Son, Jungwoo Lee, Hyuckju Kwon, Younggu Lee, Taeyoon Kim, Jieun Choi, Kunyoung Lee, Jongsu Lee, Kyoungho Lee
  • Patent number: 9777935
    Abstract: A humidifier, including: a flat humidification member formed of a water absorbing member and arranged in an upright posture; a nozzle serving as a water supply unit configured to supply water to the humidification member; and an airflow direction changing plate arranged with a clearance secured between the airflow direction changing plate and the humidification member. On a flat surface of the airflow direction changing plate opposed to the flat humidification member, an airflow direction changing portion is arranged to project toward the flat humidification member, the airflow direction changing portion being configured to change a direction of an air current flowing between the flat humidification member and the airflow direction changing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Akira Morikawa, Yasutaka Inanaga, Kazuya Michikami, Masaru Takada
  • Patent number: 9665134
    Abstract: An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Richard D. Kosoglow, Joshua D. Banko, David H. Narajowski, Jonathan L. Berk, Michael E. Leclerc, Michael D. McBroom, Asif Iqbal, Paul S. Michelsen, Mark K. Sin, Paul A. Baker, Harold L. Sontag, Wai Ching Yuen, Matthew P. Casebolt, Kevin S. Fetterman, Alexander C. Calkins, Daniel L. McBroom
  • Patent number: 9651270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic device (15; 55) for an evaporative system (11), comprising at least one pump (22; 62) and a housing (16; 56) with a water inlet (17; 57) and one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump (22; 62) is mounted on the housing (16; 56) and a water tank (20; 60) is provided by the housing (16; 56), the water tank (20; 60) being arranged between the water inlet (17; 57) and the one or more water outlets (19; 59), wherein the at least one pump is provided for pumping water through the one or more water outlets. The invention furthermore relates to an evaporative system (11) with such a hydraulic device (15; 55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Condair Group AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Muenzberg, Patrick Blaser, Neal Hiscock, Michael Gaunt, Nathaneal Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9623725
    Abstract: An air vent for a vehicle interior ventilation system including a diffuse air flow duct with a diffuse outlet opening for discharging the air as a diffuse or swirling jet, a movable connecting sleeve with an inflow opening and an outflow opening as a spot outlet opening, which forms a spot air flow duct at a spot outlet opening. Through movement of the connecting sleeve, different discharge directions of the spot jet from the spot outlet opening can be adjusted. The air discharged through the connecting sleeve is redirectable substantially completely in different discharge directions with pivoting of the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has a greater cross-sectional area at the inflow opening than at the outflow opening and at least one air guiding wall is formed in the connecting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Fritsche, Kuno Zeller, Dieter Reisinger, Martin Fieger
  • Patent number: 9310134
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an evaporative air cooler where the pads (2) of the cooler are intermittently wetted with an amount of water (14) in excess of the capacity of the pads (2) to absorb and retain during each wetting operation of the pad. The airflow (20) through the pads during intermittent wetting being limited to a velocity so as to not entrain water in the airflow during the wetting operation and the velocity of the airflow through the pads is increased after each intermittent wetting so as to raise the level of cooling output (22) of the cooler between each intermittent wetting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: FF Seeley Nominees Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert William Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9303923
    Abstract: An enclosure having a base with a chamber for holding water, right and left side panels, front and rear frames for supporting grilles or other air passages, and a top panel. At least the base, the side panels and the top panel are blow molded as separate components each having an exterior wall and an interior wall, each wall having a contour which differs from that of the other wall, each wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and each wall connected at its periphery to the other wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Sanjay Varma
  • Patent number: 8857798
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for concentrating a solution. The system includes a humidification device and a solution flow path for flow of a solution to be concentrated to the humidification device. The humidification device includes humidification media to facilitate evaporation of liquid from the solution to be concentrated to gas as the solution to be concentrated passes through the humidification media thereby concentrating the solution. The method includes flowing a solution to be concentrated along a flow path to a humidification device including humidification media, flowing a gas through the humidification media, and flowing the solution to be concentrated through the humidification media. There is evaporation of liquid from the solution to the gas as the solution passes through the humidification media thereby concentrating the solution and producing a humidified gas. The solution to be concentrated may be salt water and the gas may be air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Saltworks Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Stuart Sparrow, Henry Tsin, Hojung Kim, Ross Coleman
  • Patent number: 8833739
    Abstract: A humidifier for an HVAC system includes a replaceable humidifier pad, and a housing for holding the replaceable humidifier pad in an operating position during operation of the humidifier. The back side of the housing may define an air flow aperture that is in fluid communication with the replaceable humidifier pad when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position. In some instances, the right side of the housing may define a first aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad. Likewise, the left side of the housing may define a second aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Xin Hua Cao, Brad Terlson, David Quam
  • Patent number: 8794603
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system during a call for humidity includes an air intake configured to fluidically interface with an HVAC duct, a humidifier pad, a valve for controlling delivery of water from a water source to the humidifier pad, and a controller for controlling the valve. The controller may be configured to cause the valve to deliver a variable amount of water over a particular call for humidity. For example, and in some instances, the controller may cause the valve to deliver water to the humidifier pad for substantially less than all of the time for a particular call for humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David Quam, Jeremy Peterson
  • Patent number: 8777187
    Abstract: A domestic humidifier (10) is disclosed as including a water tank (34) for containing water, a basin (30) in a liquid communicable relationship with the tank (34), an adsorption medium (28) for breaking down water delivered to the adsorption medium (28) into water droplets floatable in air, a pump (22) for delivering water from the basin (30) to the adsorption medium (28), in which the tank (34) includes a water inlet (36) and a cover (38), and the cover (38) is movable to selectively close or open said water inlet (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Raymond Industrial Limited
    Inventor: Ying Man John Wong
  • Patent number: 8695361
    Abstract: An in-ceiling embedded type air conditioner including an indoor unit having an air blower and an indoor heat exchanger accommodated in a housing a substantially box-shape, and a filtering unit including a gas-liquid contact member that is disposed at the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger on an air blowing passage through which air sucked by the air blower flows in the indoor unit and infiltrated with electrolytic water generated by electrolyzing water, the air and the electrolytic water being brought into contact with each other in the gas-liquid contact member, whereby the air cooled or heated in the indoor heat exchanger is filtered, that is, virus, etc. contained in the air is inactivated, sterilized or the like and then blown out to a room to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takuro Nishihara, Hiroaki Usui, Yoichi Uchida
  • Patent number: 8689577
    Abstract: An in-ceiling embedded type air conditioner including an indoor unit having an air blower and an indoor heat exchanger accommodated in a housing a substantially box-shape, and a filtering unit including a gas-liquid contact member that is disposed at the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger on an air blowing passage through which air sucked by the air blower flows in the indoor unit and infiltrated with electrolytic water generated by electrolyzing water, the air and the electrolytic water being brought into contact with each other in the gas-liquid contact member, whereby the air cooled or heated in the indoor heat exchanger is filtered, that is, virus, etc. contained in the air is inactivated, sterilized or the like and then blown out to a room to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takuro Nishihara, Hiroaki Usui, Yoichi Uchida
  • Patent number: 8302943
    Abstract: A humidifier pad assembly for a humidifier that is configured for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system of a building or other structure. The humidifier pad assembly may include a frame for holding a replaceable humidifier pad within the housing of the humidifier. The frame may be structured to hold the replaceable humidifier pad within the housing such that a back major surface of the replaceable humidifier pad generally faces the back side of the housing, and a front opposing major surface of the humidifier pad generally faces the front side of the housing. The frame may further be structured to permit removal and replacement of the replaceable humidifier pad through the front side of the frame. In some cases, the housing may be configured such that the frame (and the replaceable humidifier pad) may be slid out of apertures in the right side and/or left side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Xin Hua Cao, Brad Terlson, David Quam
  • Patent number: 8292270
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. The housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may direct air through the humidifier pad from a first major surface to a second major surface of the pad. In the operating position, the first and second major surfaces of the humidifier pad may be substantially non-parallel with the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. In some cases, this may provide a more compact design. In some cases, a centrifugal fan, rather than an axial fan, may be used to draw air into the humidifier from the HVAC duct. The use of a centrifugal fan may reduce the noise associated with the operation of the humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Terlson, Xin Hua Cao, Xue Dong Li, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 8235361
    Abstract: A structured packing for a reactor is formed from a metal sheet to promote heat and mass transfer near the wall of the reactor. The structured packing causes lateral flow of fluids flowing through the packing such that jet impingement of at least one reactor wall is promoted. The packing may be used in a cylindrical, annular or plate-type reactor, e.g., a catalytic reactor, or a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tribute Creations, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Jay Feinstein
  • Patent number: 8231112
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Xinhui Hua Cao, Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland, Bin Wang, Jason Ableitner, Brad Terlson, Evelyne Tremblay, Vincent Boutin
  • Patent number: 8096534
    Abstract: A water distribution tray having an improvement including a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Geethakrishnan Vasudevan, Robert B. Uselton, Jesse Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8074971
    Abstract: For fire prevention, an auxiliary cooling apparatus applied to an outdoor condenser of a refrigerating cycle is provided with a filter which has air permeability and is arranged to oppose to an ambient air intake port of the condenser, and cools ambient air by heat exchange between the ambient air sucked into the ambient air intake port through the filter and water supplied to the filter, lots of implanted fibers (17), which are fine projections, are implanted on surfaces of fibers (15), which constitute a base material of the filter, via a self-extinguishing adhesive agent layer (16), so that an adhesive layer (16), and the fiber (15) of the base material do not burn even if the implanted fibers (17) are ignited, whereby an auxiliary cooling apparatus which is excellent in the light of safety can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroomi Yatagai, Syunichi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20110193246
    Abstract: A water distribution tray having an improvement comprising a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Geethakrishnan Vasudevan, Robert B. Uselton, Jesse Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7950631
    Abstract: A water distribution tray having an improvement comprising a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Geethakrishnan Vasudevan, Robert B. Uselton, Jesse Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110074051
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler for cooling air includes a cooling housing having an air inlet and an air outlet and an evaporation media, located within the cooling housing intermediate the air inlet and the air outlet for air flow there through and for receiving water to permit evaporation of at least some water. The evaporative cooler includes a drain pan located within the cooling housing and below the evaporation media to catch water which has not evaporated and falling from the evaporation media and a sump located within the cooling housing and below the drain pan for collecting water for use in supplying water to the evaporation media. The evaporative cooler includes a pipe connecting the drain pan to the sump for water movement from the drain pan to the sump and an air vent located within the cooling housing and connected to the pipe, the air vent being open to air within the cooling housing and above the drain pan to permit release of air from within the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Krzysztof Nikolin, William Keith Albert Eyers, Peter John Duncan Smith
  • Publication number: 20110068488
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: XinHua Cao, Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland, Bin Wang, Jason Ableitner, Brad Terlson, Evelyne Tremblay, Vincent Boutin
  • Publication number: 20110068489
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. The housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may direct air through the humidifier pad from a first major surface to a second major surface of the pad. In the operating position, the first and second major surfaces of the humidifier pad may be substantially non-parallel with the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. In some cases, this may provide a more compact design. In some cases, a centrifugal fan, rather than an axial fan, may be used to draw air into the humidifier from the HVAC duct. The use of a centrifugal fan may reduce the noise associated with the operation of the humidifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brad Terlson, Xin Hua Cao, Xue Dong Li, Bin Wang
  • Publication number: 20110068490
    Abstract: A humidifier for an HVAC system includes a replaceable humidifier pad, and a housing for holding the replaceable humidifier pad in an operating position during operation of the humidifier. The back side of the housing may define an air flow aperture that is in fluid communication with the replaceable humidifier pad when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position. In some instances, the right side of the housing may define a first aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad. Likewise, the left side of the housing may define a second aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Xin Hua Cao, Brad Terlson, David Quam
  • Patent number: 7862011
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler, including one or more media, distributes water from a source of water to each media through a constant flow valve. A distribution unit at each media includes a pair of spray bars for spraying water through two rows of uniformly spaced apertures disposed in each spray bar. A spray bar channel associated with each spray bar distributes the streams of water impinging thereupon from one row of apertures to the underlying media in specific locations. A distribution cap associated with each spray bar distributes streams of water impinging thereupon to the front and back edges of the underlying media. The water dripping from the media is drained. A fan or other air moving device draws air through the media to obtain cooled air resulting from evaporation of water flowing downwardly along the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: AZ Evap, LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Kammerzell, Donald L. Kammerzell
  • Publication number: 20100207286
    Abstract: A humidification system includes a humidifier housing mountable to the air duct. The humidifier housing has an opening to provide fluid communications between the humidifier housing and the air circulation system. An air inlet extends through the duct opening into the humidifier housing. A duct damper extends into the air duct and is reversibly positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stowed position is characterized by placement of the duct damper substantially adjacent to the humidifier housing while the deployed position is characterized by positioning a portion of the duct damper deeper into the air duct. An evaporative element is positioned between the air inlet and an air outlet. A cover is configured to reverse the direction of flow air sending it to the air outlet extending into the air duct. A deploying means changes the duct damper between the stowed position and the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Donald N. Jursich
  • Publication number: 20090321967
    Abstract: For fire prevention, an auxiliary cooling apparatus applied to an outdoor condenser of a refrigerating cycle is provided with a filter which has air permeability and is arranged to oppose to an ambient air intake port of the condenser, and cools ambient air by heat exchange between the ambient air sucked into the ambient air intake port through the filter and water supplied to the filter, lots of implanted fibers (17), which are fine projections, are implanted on surfaces of fibers (15), which constitute a base material of the filter, via a self-extinguishing adhesive agent layer (16), so that an adhesive layer (16), and the fiber (15) of the base material do not burn even if the implanted fibers (17) are ignited, whereby an auxiliary cooling apparatus which is excellent in the light of safety can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIKOKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroomi Yatagai, Syunichi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20090294548
    Abstract: Devices for the evaporation of liquid, in particular water, have an evaporation mat which is wetted with the liquid and on which the liquid evaporates. The evaporation mat comprises a textile fabric (1) having fibres, wherein the surface of the fibres is coated with a covering (2) which comprises a cured reaction product of a polyamine and a polyalkylene glycol etherified with end groups of the structure X—CH2[CH(OR)]wCH2—, in which structure w is an integer from 0 to 1 and, when w is 0, X is a halogen, and, when w is 1, X is halogen and R is hydrogen, or X and R together are —O—. Preferably, the evaporation mat is a consolidated nonwoven which contains fibres made of a synthetic thermoplastic which are bonded to one another by means of a thermoplastic hotmelt glue at their intersection points. The devices are used for air humidification, for concentrating solutions, or for evaporative cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Geiger, Karl Leu, Robert Dubuis
  • Publication number: 20090224414
    Abstract: In the evaporative humidifier of the present invention, a desired humidity is obtained by supplying water only to a humidifying module required for humidification. Air simply passes through a humidifying module to which water is not supplied. Accordingly, air obtained by mixing humidified air passing through the humidifying module which is wet with water being supplied thereto (wet zone) and non-humidified air passing through the humidifying module to which water is not supplied (dry zone) is blown out from an outlet of the evaporative humidifier. The mixture amount (mixture ratio) is controlled by the opening and closing of the valve, so that a desired humidity is obtained. Therefore, with the evaporative humidifier of the present invention, humidity control can be accurately performed without unnecessarily operating the humidifying device and without wasting energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akira YOKOYAMA, Koji SUZUKI, Kosei KAWASAKI
  • Patent number: 7572323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid separating device with a lower section with a fluid feeding device and a liquid discharging device, an upper section with a fluid feeding device and a gas discharging device, a contact device which is constructed in such a manner that gas, which rises from the lower section into the upper section, comes into contact with liquid which sinks from the upper section into the lower section. Thereby, the rising gases can be depleted of components which are soluble in said liquid. Furthermore, a measuring device for determining the quantity of liquid and/or the alterations thereof is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
    Inventors: Jens Müller, Volker Harbusch, Markus Huber, Christian Böhm, Kurt Rothkopf, Manfred Stefener
  • Publication number: 20090102073
    Abstract: A water distribution tray having an improvement comprising a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Lennox Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Geethakrishnan Vasudevan, Robert B. Uselton, Jesse Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7500656
    Abstract: A water curtain is provided which includes a drape assembly having a drape hood, material drape, float overflow shut-off, collection return, a drainage line solenoid which preferably is electric, a drainage line, a filter, drape solenoid which preferably is electric, a drape feed line, a pump, a pump power line, an on/off switch to a power source which preferably is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) power line for obvious safety concerns, a feed line, and a shutoff valve. The water supply may be electrically controlled by solenoid valves and has a float overflow shutoff control in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: John B. Hayden