With Heating, Cooling Or Heat Exchange Means Patents (Class 312/236)
  • Patent number: 6350000
    Abstract: Assembly of parts for mutually joining one or more panels of an air conditioning cabinet, the assembly comprising: a wall and one or more profile parts joined to this wall which extend therefrom, which profile parts are joinable with a cabinet panel in such a way that the wall makes no contact with sides of the panel forming the inner wall of the air conditioning cabinet, wherein the wall and the profile parts are chosen such that a low heat transfer coefficient is providable and such that condensation within and exterior to the cabinet is substantially avoidable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Holland Heating B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Johannes Antonius Van Benthem, Philippus Johannes Maria Bleijs
  • Patent number: 6340213
    Abstract: A fully collapsible and portable astronomy work station comprising a foldable base and a foldable table assembly wherein the table assembly is attached to the folded base section when desired to be transported or attached to the unfolded base section when desired in the fully operational configuration. When in the operational configuration a tray table may be lowered from the table assembly providing an astronomer with a heated back section for his maps and the like as well as a heated telescope eye piece retaining area thus preventing the back section as well as the eye pieces from becoming moist from condensation or dew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: Lewis R. Calobrisi, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020005686
    Abstract: A heated food storage and display cabinet comprises an open fronted chamber in which packs of food can be stored, an upwardly extending enclosed air duct having a plurality of outlets over a substantial length of the duct leading from the duct to the chamber, a first flow inducing means for directing air upwardly through the duct and a second flow inducing means for producing a curtain of air which is directed across the open front of the chamber and heater means, the first flow inducing means causing the air to pass over the heater means, through the duct, through the outlets and into the chamber, the cabinet having a glazed, openable door in which at least part of the said duct is defined, the openable door enabling food packs to be placed in the cabinet other than through the open front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Alan David Nuttall, Michael James Steel
  • Patent number: 6336691
    Abstract: A storage cabinet includes a housing having at least one exterior port, at least one interior port positioned above the exterior port, and a convection passageway connecting the exterior port and the interior port such that warm air will rise within the passageway by natural convection from the exterior port to the interior port. The cabinet also includes at least one drawer received within the housing and moveable between a closed position wherein a storage space within the drawer is inaccessible from outside the housing, and an open position wherein the drawer extends out of the housing such that the storage space is accessible. The drawer has at least one inlet for allowing airflow to pass from the interior port of the housing to the storage space of the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position. Another storage cabinet provided by the present disclosure includes a housing and at least one drawer received within the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Plug-In Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf P. Maroney, Jeffrey P. Crouch
  • Publication number: 20010052412
    Abstract: The output of known cooling equipment cabinets fitted with air-to-air heat exchangers is not sufficient for hot climates. The proposed cooling system is bipartite, comprising a first set of cooling equipment that provides for closed cooling air circulation inside the cabinet, and a second set of cooling equipment that provides for open cooling air circulation inside the cabinet. For most of the year, cooling of the cabinet can be handled with the first set of cooling equipment, which consists of an air-to-air heat exchanger (100). For the short period of time that the heat exchanger alone cannot ensure sufficient cooling of the air inside the cabinet, the second set of cooling equipment will be employed to provide through-flow air circulation. This is achieved by drawing air into the cabinet through a filter (104) and blowing warmed-up air out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Harri Tikka
  • Publication number: 20010048267
    Abstract: A clothes drying, dewrinkling and ironing cabinet which comprises a main enclosure (2) for housing clothes, access to said main enclosure (2) being by way of a front door (3), means (4) for drying and dewrinkling the clothes in said enclosure (2) and control means for regulating said means (4), said cabinet also having an ironing board unit (6). This ironing board unit (6) is a folding one and is mounted on the inside of the door (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Alberto Albaizar, Luis Javier Arrieta
  • Publication number: 20010042616
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cooling apparatus and method, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for cooling the air exiting an electronics enclosure. Cooling the air exiting the enclosure causes the enclosure to present a neutral heat load to a room containing such enclosure. Cooling the exiting air obviates the necessity of increasing the room air conditioning capacity to account for the heat added to the room by the electronics within the enclosure. Further, the invention decreases the possibility of moisture condensation within the enclosure and also provides a more efficient cooling system than is available from prior art devices and techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel B. Baer
  • Publication number: 20010043031
    Abstract: A climatic cabinet with at least one door, having a storage station with at least one object storage device, which exhibits several storage locations arranged one on top of the other, and having a transport device for feeding objects to the object storage locations, wherein the transport device has an object receiver, wherein the object receiver is secured to a vertical carriage in such a way that it can be moved vertically and horizontally, and wherein the storage station and transport device are arranged on mounting plates. The functionality of the climatic cabinet and its functionality are achieved through improvements in the transport device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: Kendro Laboratory Products GmbH
    Inventors: Gernot Gonska, Thorsten Dick
  • Patent number: 6315039
    Abstract: A bedside rethermalization unit maintains food items placed on meal serving trays, including hot food items to be served at an elevated temperature, in a refrigerated state and rethermalizes hot food items at a desired time prior to meal serving. The unit is preferably in the form of a cart with castered wheels to enhance mobility. The cart includes a cabinet having an upper tray storage compartment for storing and rethermalizing a single day's worth of meals for a single individual, and a lower tray storage compartment for storage of soiled trays and eating utensils. Both compartments are refrigerated. A divider physically and atmospherically isolates the upper and lower tray storage compartments to inhibit contamination of uneaten meals in the upper compartment by soiled trays placed in the lower compartment. Rethermalization of hot food items in the upper compartment may be achieved by convection, conduction, induction, radiant heating, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Westbrooks, Jr., Sara C. Hurt
  • Publication number: 20010030492
    Abstract: A temperature and/or humidity controlled cabinet includes an environmentally controlled compartment having a main access opening and a swing door that is configured to selectively permit access to the inside of the environmentally controlled compartment via at least a portion of the main access opening and to close off access to the inside of the temperature controlled compartment via at least a portion of the main access opening. The cabinet further includes at least one sliding door that is defined in a portion of the swing door and that is configured to selectively permit access to the inside of the environmentally controlled compartment and to close off access to the inside of the environmentally controlled compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Michael A. Branz, Hing Wah Chiu
  • Patent number: 6294762
    Abstract: A surgical warming system heats medical items of various sizes, independently and simultaneously for immediate use. The warming system includes a plurality of compartments, each separately heated and controlled. The compartments may be modular and stackable, or multiple compartments of varying size may be formed into a single cabinet structure so as to receive different sized intravenous bags or bottles. Each compartment is heated by forcing a controlled mix of recycled and outside air through a heating chamber and then into the compartment. Each compartment includes a heating unit and controller allowing the simultaneous maintenance of different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Medical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Bruce R. Heymann, Calvin Blankenship
  • Patent number: 6288897
    Abstract: The invention regards a casing for an electronic device, such as a computer or especially a server. The casing has on its top a recess in which a modular fan unit can be inserted. The fan unit is a further element of the invention and serves for cooling the inner components in the casing by producing an air flow through it. For this purpose it comprises several fans. The casing and the fan unit are constructed for easy accessability of the inside of the casing, optimized air flow and handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventors: Claus Fritschle, Klaus Heesen
  • Patent number: 6278098
    Abstract: A microwave oven comprises a magnetron; a body casing having a cooking compartment receiving microwaves from the magnetron and a cooling compartment formed adjacent to the cooking compartment; a thermoelement installed between the cooking compartment and the cooling compartment, and having a radiator and a heat absorber; a hot air transmitting unit transmitting hot air generated from the radiator of the thermoelement to the cooking compartment; and a cool air transmitting unit transmitting cool air generated from the heat absorber of the thermoelement to the cooling compartment. With this configuration, the cooking compartment can be used as a warmer. Also, the cooling compartment can be used as a cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-woon Han, Han-seong Yoo, Han-sung Kang
  • Patent number: 6272013
    Abstract: A unit housing structure for detachably housing a unit mounted with electronic parts in a unit mounting portion of an electronic device in which a guide rail having a guide slot whose opposite wall surfaces are slopes gradually opening outwardly is provided on the side of said unit mounting portion or said unit and a guided portion to be slidably engaged with the guide slot of said guide rail is provided on the side of said unit mounting portion or said unit, whereby movement of said unit is guided by the engagement between said guided portion and the guide slot at the time of insertion/extraction of said unit into/from said unit mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Negishi
  • Patent number: 6269285
    Abstract: A freezer chest for storing and displaying frozen foods such as packaged ice cream products for sale to retail customers includes a modular storage bin in which a product stack plate is mounted on a helical support spring. Packaged ice cream products are loaded onto the product stack plate. The product stack plate, urged by the helical spring, advances the stack of frozen products to the top of the storage bin as products are removed by customers. A permanent magnet mounted on the product stack plate generates a magnetic field that couples with position sensors mounted in a vertical array along the storage bin. Each sensor produces an output signal in response to coupling alignment of the magnetic field with the sensor as the stack plate moves through the storage bin. The helical support spring extends the stack plate incrementally in proportion to the weight load removed as each packaged product is unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel R. Mignault
  • Patent number: 6268594
    Abstract: A multipane insulating glass for appliances having an inner-chamber temperature which is lower than the ambient temperature, in particular for viewing doors of refrigerators and freezers comprises at least two panes which are of approximately equal size and are arranged at a distance from one another. The distance is maintained by a spacer which runs continuously around the vicinity of the edge. One of the two outer panes is provided with an electrically conductive, transparent coating on its side which faces towards the space between the panes. In this glass, the coating, which is applied to the entire surface, is deactivated in the peripheral area of the pane, containing the contact surface for the spacer. Also, a process for producing coated flat glass materials for such insulating glass materials, as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Kurt Leutner, Sabine Melson, Roland Leroux
  • Patent number: 6255103
    Abstract: A cultivating apparatus designed so that cultivating containers for cultivating cultures can be mounted therein and the inside of the apparatus is hermetically sealed by closing a door of said apparatus to cultivate the cultures, is provided with a sterilizing lamp for emitting light for sterilizing germs such as bacteria, etc. contained in the gas in the apparatus. The sterilizing lamp comprises an ultraviolet lamp for emitting ultraviolet rays in which light of 200 nm or less in wavelength is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tamaoki, Hiroki Busujima, Tetsuya Miyoshi, Tadahisa Saga
  • Patent number: 6236564
    Abstract: A detachable fan rack mounting structure includes a mounting frame fixedly fastened to a disk drive rack, and a fan rack detachably mounted on the mounting frame to hold at least one fan, wherein the mounting frame has a top hook and two protruded portions disposed at a top side, a plug hole and a retaining hole disposed near a bottom side, and a female connector spaced above the retaining hole; the fan rack has a springy hook and two locating notches disposed at a top side and respectively forced into engagement with the top hook and protruded portions at the mounting frame, a bottom plug flange and a positioning block respectively engaged into the plug hole and retaining hole on the mounting frame, and a female connector, which is automatically connected to the male connector at the mounting frame after installation of the fan rack in the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Enlight Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Yuan Fan
  • Patent number: 6231137
    Abstract: A cooling or support rack is embedded into a work surface of a countertop at a position generally, directly in front of one or more doors of an oven arranged above the countertop. Preferably, the oven incorporates a pair of arcuate, sliding doors which are movable from a closed position to an open position wherein the doors do not extend over the cooling rack. The upper surface of the cooling rack is substantially flush with both the countertop and a lowermost cookware support surface within the oven such that cookware can be readily slid into and out of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Lye, Luke N. Michas, Jeremy C. Howard, Edgar L. Laguinia, Elizabeth Akers, Seung Park, Marc S. Harrison, Peter Wooding, Jane K. Langmuir
  • Patent number: 6230510
    Abstract: Console air conditioning units particularly useful for retrofit conversions, but having advantageous features for new installations as well. For retrofit applications, the console air conditioning units have the same “footprint” as an original package unit, and accordingly can be used to replace a worn-out console package unit without requiring any architectural changes. An indoor cabinet is subdivided at least into a plenum compartment having an air discharge opening and either a machinery compartment or a room air return compartment. The machinery compartment or room air return compartment occupies only a portion of the width of the cabinet, and a utility storage volume occupies an adjacent portion of the width. Preferably the plenum compartment is located in an upper portion of the cabinet above the machinery compartment or room air return compartment, and extends substantially the entire width of the cabinet along a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Miller Price
  • Patent number: 6228636
    Abstract: An incubator includes (a) a housing, (b) a sample shelf holding at least one plate accommodating a sample, (c) a controller maintaining an environment inside of the housing at a given condition, (d) a first opening provided on the housing, (e) a first door for closing the first opening, (f) a second opening provided on the housing and smaller than the first opening and yet large enough for at least one plate being passed through, and (g) a second door for closing the second opening. This construction allows the incubator to minimize opening when the plate is taken out or restored during a test or a culture so that environment changes in the housing can be restrained. As a result, the incubator produces reliable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Yahiro, Akira Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6220338
    Abstract: An installation comprising a cupboard with a top section providing an assembly of cold units, and a preserving section provided with insulating shelves and trays with through slots for placing containers thereon. Each insulating shelf comprises, in each zone supporting the container base of the meal service trays, a tubular pipe exchanger connected to a cooling pipe circuit, while at least one heat exchanger on each shelf is associated with an electric heating unit, and the cold units assembly is a sealed chamber formed by and/or containing tubular heat exchanging pipes whereof the tubular networks are interconnected to each other and connected to a cooling pipe circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Italinnova S.A.S.
    Inventor: Rene Vincent Grandi
  • Patent number: 6222159
    Abstract: A multiple cavity, portable baseball or softball bat warmer consisting of an insulated case with capped, suspended, open ended tubes adapted to receive bats in a vertical position that are connected to a heat chamber. The bat barrels are retained on a height-adjusting grate that is positioned according to league level. A convection thermal heat source is positioned below the retaining grate. Warmed air from the heat source rises through the grate heating the bats retained in the capped cavities above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: James S. Healy
  • Patent number: 6190490
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an insulated storage enclosure comprising the steps of providing a slab of polyurethane, forming recesses in the slab representing access openings to the enclosure, applying a layer of fiberglass reinforced resinous material to one side of said slab, cutting said slab into sections representing the side and ceiling members of the enclosure, providing a base, erecting the side and ceiling members on the base, and applying a layer of the reinforced material over the uncoated side and ceiling surfaces. Also disclosed is the method of constructing an insulted closure member for the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph R. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 6170281
    Abstract: A weather shield is a cover of rigid material of sufficient size and shape, to accommodate the complete surrounding of the exterior unit of a heat pump, or central air conditioning system, which, when installed over the exterior unit, will be a shelter from the weather conditions of rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, cold, and heat; by acting as an umbrella to divert the weather conditions, be a shield to impede the movement of the natural flow of air currents, act in the capacity of an energy saver, by collecting heat from solar rays through an absorbant pigment coating, or by repelling heat from solar rays through the use of a white reflective pigment coating, or attachable panels of a white durable material, act to decrease the recirculation of air flow produced by the exterior unit'fan which circulates air through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Karl Vernon Lee Barnett
  • Patent number: 6169656
    Abstract: A fan duct for dissipating heat generated by a central processing unit of a computer is disclosed. The fan duct has a main body defining an air inlet and an air outlet. An electrical fan is mounted to the main body below the air outlet. A knob is attached to a top wall of the main body and located above the fan. An enclosure of the computer includes a back panel and a top cover. The top cover is attached with a hook. The fan duct is firstly assembled to the back panel by extending screws through the back panel to threadedly engage with the fan duct. The top cover is then mounted to the back panel to reach a finally assembled position in which the hook engages with the knob, whereby a portion of a weight of the fan is supported by the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Foxconn Precision Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Shen Pei, Eric Sun, Richard Lee
  • Patent number: 6166353
    Abstract: A free-standing warming appliance includes an outer enclosure and an inner liner which cooperate together to form a heating chamber. A warmer drawer forming a receptacle for precooked food stuffs is selectively inserted into and withdrawn out of the heating chamber. A heating element is secured to the inner liner within the heating chamber to warm the food stuffs within the warmer drawer receptacle. A control panel has an indicator light and infinite switch for controlling the heating element. The control panel is located within the enclosure and covered by a front panel of the warmer drawer so that access to the control components of the control panel is provided only when the warmer drawer is withdrawn from the heating chamber. Oven support members are secured to the outer enclosure to support a cooking appliance, such as a built-in oven, above the free-standing warming appliance. The cooking appliance rests directly on the oven support members of the warming appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Senneville, Serge Laprade, Gilbert Archambault, Stephane Labadens
  • Patent number: 6153857
    Abstract: A portable food and utensil storage device includes a box like base component having a plurality of wheels attached to its bottom surface for rolling the device along a supporting surface. The interior of the base component includes a plurality of segregated compartments each configured and designed to retain hot or cold food items as well as various accessory items therein. The base component includes an opening adjacent its bottom surface in communication with an interior chamber for slidably receiving a gas fueled grill assembly. The top end of the base component is selectively coverable with a lid that pivotably engages the top edge of its rear wall. The inwardly facing side of the lid includes a plurality of bands and loops for retaining silverware, cups and similar items thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Auline J. Gunnels
  • Patent number: 6149254
    Abstract: An equipment cabinet for electrical and electronic equipment and components is provided with a functional area, which is surrounded by multishell walls and at least one door and is terminated in dustproof and watertight manner. A functional area wall is positioned between an outer wall and an inner guide wall and is provided with a rib system, in order to ensure a particularly good heat removal from the functional area. The rib system is in the form of rib rails, which are provided with a plurality of ribs and ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Knuerr-Mechanik fuer die Elektronik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Bretschneider, Joerg Schwaebe, Thomas Willkommen
  • Patent number: 6144555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cabinet structure for enclosing electronic circuitry and electronic equipment. The cabinet structure includes an outer casing 60b and an inner casing 60a situated inwardly of the outer casing. The electronic circuitry/equipment has been placed within the inner casing 60a. A climate conditioning plant 80 intended for acclimatizing the atmosphere in which the electronic circuitry/equipment is situated has been placed inwardly of the outer casing but outwardly of the inner casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventor: Timo Turunen
  • Patent number: 6119678
    Abstract: An appliance, such as a cooking range, a clothes dryer, a clothes washer, an oven or the like, includes a console along a rear edge of the appliance which can pivot between an upright in-use position and a lower shipping, repair and/or servicing position. The console is preferably of a two-part construction including a front housing body having an integrally injection molded encapsulation or frame peripherally retaining a touch sensor control panel which can be readily accessed when the console is in its lower repair position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Gemtron Corporation
    Inventor: Brian F. Marchand
  • Patent number: 6116154
    Abstract: A system is provided for manually manipulating a food pan in a food warming apparatus having an open front end communicating with an interior warming compartment. A wire form pan holder cradles the food pan and moves the pan into and out of the warming compartment through the open end of the warming apparatus. A wire form grate is provided in the warming compartment for guiding the pan holder into and out of the compartment. The pan holder has a handle projecting forwardly thereof. First complementary interengaging stops between the wire form grate and the wire form pan holder define an inner position of the pan holder. Second complementary interengaging stops between the grate and the pan holder define an outer position of the pan holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Prince Castle Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Vaseloff
  • Patent number: 6114659
    Abstract: A food warming device having a bin for holding food products. The bin has an air delivery port and an air intake port located at first and second end walls that are disposed at first and second opposite edges of the bottom portion. The regions above the bottom portion and along the third and fourth opposite edges between the first and second walls are substantially open whereby the food products are clearly visible to customers. The bottom portion has a heated surface for receiving food products to be warmed. An air circulating means forms a stream of circulating heated air that moves from the air delivery port over the heated surface to the air intake port. The food products are warmed by heat emanating from the heated surface and by warm air from the stream of circulating heated air. A balancing system maintains the circulating air in balance by diverting a portion of the return air to ambient atmosphere through a bleed exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Frymaster Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Finck, James M. Wasner, Henry T. Ewald
  • Patent number: 6105818
    Abstract: A method of dispensing food whereby food prepared at a first location is transported to a second location for dispensing in a working cycle characterized by the steps of: apportioning the food onto a plurality of trays (20A, 20B) at the first location, loading the plurality of trays (20A, 20B) into a rack (15) to give, in combination, a spaced array of loaded trays; the spaced array having predetermined overall dimensions; transporting the spaced array to an intermediate location, placing the loaded rack into a containment (11) with an internal volume (12) of sufficient size to receive at least one spaced array; transporting the containment along with its spaced array or arrays to the second location; regenerating food in the spaced array while within the containment; dispensing loaded trays (20A, 20B) from the spaced array; and returning the racks (15) back to the first or some other location for re-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Burlodge Limited
    Inventor: Angelo Speranza
  • Patent number: 6104003
    Abstract: A cabinet for housing telecommunications equipment in outdoor locations includes an enclosure for containing the telecommunications equipment. A subrack is mounted within the enclosure. A duct directs ambient air from outside the cabinet to the subrack. The duct includes an inlet disposed in a lower portion of the cabinet and a subrack inlet plenum disposed immediately below the subrack. A subrack exit plenum is disposed above the electronic subrack for exhausting air heated by the electronics equipment. A fan draws ambient air into the inlet through the duct into the subrack inlet plenum, through the electronic subrack into the subrack exit plenum, and out of the enclosure through the subrack exhaust plenum. A heater is provided for heating inlet air when ambient temperatures are low. The fan and heater are controlled by a thermal controller. At low ambient temperatures, the air flow is maintained constant by the fans and power to the heater is varied to maintain the subrack inlet temperature constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford T. Jones
  • Patent number: 6098529
    Abstract: A method and apparati for preparing and displaying a donut having a "fresh-baked" quality in a retail environment principally uses standard equipment available in a typical convenience store or quick-service restaurant. The method utilizes pre-frozen donuts manufactured at a centralized manufacturing facility and involves thawing, storing and heating the frozen donuts at the point-of-service. The donuts are thawed under refrigeration but in a generally humidity-constant environment. This on-site procedure allows a retailer to quickly and conveniently produce a moist, fresh-tasting donut with minimum equipment and effort. Furthermore, the present production method allows the retailer to control the number and type of donuts produced for sale, thereby substantially eliminating waste and allowing the retailer to immediately tailor donut production to local consumer demand. An improved applicator eases the glazing process to permit relatively inexperienced personnel to properly glaze the donuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventors: Barry J. Brummett, Thomas H. Stoerck
  • Patent number: 6097014
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for reheating a meal including a plurality of prepared foods, each food being placed on a dish and the dishes constituting the meal being placed on a tray. Those food dishes to be reheated are placed in insulated receptacles having a magnetic material adapted to be induction heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Florinius-Investimentos E Servicos Internacionais LDA
    Inventor: Norbert Kirsch, deceased
  • Patent number: 6073547
    Abstract: A food temperature maintenance cart transports meals of hot and cold food items prepared at a meal assembly area to a meal serving area where the meals are to be served, while keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold for extended periods of time. The cart includes a cabinet having tray storage compartments for storing meal serving trays containing refrigerated and heated food items. Thermal barriers subdivide each of the tray storage compartments into a refrigerated compartment for maintaining refrigerated foods in a refrigerated state and a heated compartment for maintaining heated foods in a heated state. A refrigerated air delivery compartment separates adjacent refrigerated compartments and produces laminar flows of refrigerated air across refrigerated food items contained on the trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Westbrooks, Jr., Randal L. Delbridge
  • Patent number: 6072159
    Abstract: A heater for the middle, bus bar compartment of a switchgear cabinet is inserted from the rear compartment through an opening in a vertical panel at the rear of the middle compartment and is supported within the middle compartment by a bracket cantilevered from the panel. The bracket is U-shaped with a horizontal base and a pair of upstanding side walls forming rails on which the heater slides. The heater includes an inverted U-shaped guard over the heater element forming downwardly facing slots which engage the bracket rails. The guard and the bracket are perforated for convective circulation of air induced by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William Edward Wilkie, II, Steven Dale Walker
  • Patent number: 6065820
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as an oven, with a front panel which extends substantially across the width of the front side of the household appliance. Control and/or display elements of the household appliance are assigned to the front panel. The front panel is an extruded metal section. In order to increase the stability of the front panel, the front panel extends, bent essentially uniformly about a vertical axis, over the width of the front panel in the shape of a segment of a cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Fleissner, Gerhard Busalt
  • Patent number: 6062665
    Abstract: A switchgear cabinet with a cabinet body and a cover, wherein the cover projects with lateral shoulders past the lateral walls of the cabinet body, which extend in a direction of a cabinet depth of the cabinet body. Joining another switchgear cabinet adjacent a first switchgear cabinet is possible with a relatively small cost, if the lateral walls are embodied as separate elements and can be interchangeably connected with the cover or the cabinet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider, Michael Diebel
  • Patent number: 6041851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet air conditioning arrangement, having a central control arrangement as well as sensors communicating therewith and air conditioning components. Numerous air conditioning "strategies" are made possible, and hence an adaptation to variable conditions of use, are achieved by the measures where various air conditioning components are disposed at various locations in the switchgear and are controlled or regulated by means of the central control arrangement in dependence on sensor signals and/or adjustable or programmable controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Diebel, Achim Edelmann, Markus Hain
  • Patent number: 6036292
    Abstract: A plastic kickface, that consolidates a conventional metal face plate and a plastic kickplate, extends across a lowermost frontal portion of a shell of a refrigerator cabinet assembly. At least one lower door hinge bracket is secured to reinforcement structure of the cabinet shell by fasteners that extend through tubular spacers located in holes formed in the plastic kickface. Provisions are made for creating a seal along a lower section of a door of the refrigerator cabinet assembly by interconnecting the kickface with a sealing strip that is adapted to be engaged by a section of an annular gasket attached to the door of the refrigerator cabinet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Sheldon W. Mandel, John P. Myers, Gerald L. Wolanin
  • Patent number: 6034870
    Abstract: A computer system including a highly efficient forced air cooling subsystem is disclosed. The computer system includes an enclosure having a first (e.g., front) panel, a processor mounted upon a motherboard located within the enclosure, and a fan located within the enclosure for providing a flow of air through the enclosure. The fan draws air into the enclosure through an opening (e.g., an intake vent) in the first panel and produces a pressurized stream of air. The fan may be oriented such that the pressurized stream of air is directed toward the processor. The computer system may also include a plenum adjacent to the first panel, wherein the intake vent allows ambient air surrounding the enclosure to enter the plenum. The fan may be mounted within an opening in a wall of the plenum. The enclosure may also include a second (e.g., rear) panel opposed to the first (e.g., front) panel and having three openings (e.g., exhaust vents) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay K. Osborn, Howard W. Stolz, Clifford B. Willis
  • Patent number: 6025989
    Abstract: A modular node assembly for a rack mounted multiprocessor computer in which the node assembly has a logic chassis and a removable chassis. The logic chassis contains logic cards including memory cards, a service processor card, Central Processing Unit (CPU) processor cards, and Input/Output (I/O) cards to which I/O and processor interconnecting cables are attached. The removable chassis contains the power supply module for the node, a node supervisor card, disk drives and cooling fans. The removable chassis is removable from the logic chassis without moving or disturbing the logic chassis. One fan of a pair of cooling fans in the removable chassis draws air through the power supply, which has relatively higher cooling needs, and blows the air into the logic chassis over logic modules having relatively lower cooling needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Ayd, Timothy S. Farrow, Peter W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5979169
    Abstract: Console air conditioning units particularly useful for retrofit conversions, but having advantageous features for new installations as well. For retrofit applications, the console air conditioning units have the same "footprint" as an original package unit, and accordingly can be used to replace a worn-out console package unit without requiring any architectural changes. An indoor cabinet is subdivided at least into a plenum compartment having an air discharge opening and either a machinery compartment or a room air return compartment. The machinery compartment or room air return compartment occupies only a portion of the width of the cabinet, and a utility storage volume occupies an adjacent portion of the width. Preferably the plenum compartment is located in an upper portion of the cabinet above the machinery compartment or room air return compartment, and extends substantially the entire width of the cabinet along a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Miller Price
  • Patent number: 5976871
    Abstract: The cytogenetic chamber includes a chamber enclosure, a drying cavity in the enclosure, a door and a hand-insertion port through the door. A slide-supported, fixative-treated cell (prepared outside the chamber or in situ in the chamber) is in the drying area and air flows through the entirety of the drying area at a substantially uniform (and relatively low) flow rate. The fixative dries at substantially the same drying rate, irrespective of the location of the slide in the drying area. The invention is particularly useful for chromosome spreading and results in a significantly-increased percentage of metaphases having metaphase areas in the optimal range of 2,500 to 4,500 squared microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Walker, Andrew Veldt, Kevin Ewing, Daniel Dorn, Jack L. Spurbeck, Syed M. Jalal
  • Patent number: 5975202
    Abstract: PURPOSE: To facilitate a bending of a core and to reduce a resistance of fluid by a method wherein a fin at one end is overlapped integrally between each of rows from a deformation part of the core and the other end fin is separated for each of the rows and contacted and fixed to a tube, respectively.CONSTITUTION: Tubes 1 and 2 are arranged in a thickness direction of a core. The tubes pass through several fins 3 and 4. The fin 3 is provided with tube insertion holes of circular form in two rows. Outside tube and the core part formed by the fin 4 are projected longer than that of the core. A reamer is placed within the tube to expand an outer diameter and then the tube is press fitted to the fin. A bending machining guide jig 6 is placed within the core, an external force is applied to the core as indicated by an arrow and bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Rene Grandi
  • Patent number: 5971505
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit is provided which includes an outdoor section, which has a condenser coil mounted therein and an outer protective housing partially enclosing the outdoor section. The housing has a substantially rectangular opening therein in overlying relation with the condenser coil. The opening is defined by at least two spaced parallel coplanar wall sections, each of which has a predetermined width. A flexible protective grille, which is configured to substantially cover the rectangular opening, has two edges thereof which are spaced from one another by a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the wall sections. Each of the edges have integrally formed therewith two or more narrow, rigid, spaced apart extensions, which project perpendicularly therefrom. Each of the narrow extensions has a length less than the predetermined width of the wall sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Victoriano Zamora
  • Patent number: 5969942
    Abstract: A device for ventilating electronic and electrical equipment, subassemblies and components, which are placed in casings, cabinets and subassembly carriers. The device is particularly suitable for slide-in fan modules, which are equipped with axial flow fans and positioned at a relatively small distance from a reception space for the electrical and electronic equipment, etc. to be ventilated. Between the objects to be cooled and the fan unit is provided an air distribution plate, which has punched out air passage openings. In order to achieve a diffuser action and partial direction change of an air volume flow, air deflecting surfaces with a predeterminable inclination and in clearly defined areas are formed by a punching and bending process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Knuerr-Mechanik fur die Electronik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Heckner, Thomas Rickinger, Josef Neblich, Werner Spateneder