And Drive Motor Patents (Class 34/547)
  • Patent number: 11873473
    Abstract: An apparatus for culturing suspended photosynthetic organisms, specifically a flowing thin film photobioreactor is disclosed herein, wherein the flowing thin film photobioreactor comprises a light source and a trickle-film insert comprising screen material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Wayne Roger Curtis
  • Patent number: 11414812
    Abstract: A clothing care machine and a control method thereof are provided. The clothing care machine includes a drying chamber, an air supply device, a first humidity sensor and a second humidity sensor. The drying chamber is used for containing clothes. The air supply device is communicated with the drying chamber for supplying hot air to the drying chamber. The first humidity sensor is disposed in the drying chamber to detect the humidity in the drying chamber. The second humidity sensor is disposed outside the drying chamber to detect the ambient humidity outside the drying chamber. The clothing care machine and the control method can automatically judge whether the drying process is completed and stop working according to the humidity change in the drying chamber and the ambient humidity, the judgment is more accurate to effectively improve the drying effect and reduce the energy consumption, and the intelligent degree is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TSANN KUEN (ZHANG ZHOU) ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaosen Sun, Ruifeng Cai, Weimin Zheng
  • Patent number: 10947661
    Abstract: A control method of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a heat pump system is provided as a heat source for heating air supplied to a drum includes selecting one of a plurality of operation modes in which initial driving frequencies are different from one another and inputting a drying start command to the dryer by a user; checking an outer temperature and comparing the outer temperature with a preset reference temperature T by a control unit; performing the operation mode selected by the user by the control unit, in a case where the outer temperature is equal to or more than the reference temperature T; performing an operation mode in which the initial driving frequency of the compressor is the highest of the plurality of operation modes, in a case where the outer temperature is less than the reference temperature T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Haeyoon Je, Ingeon Lee
  • Patent number: 10941373
    Abstract: A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GREENTECH VENTURES, INC.
    Inventors: Young Nam Kim, Yong Woo Park
  • Patent number: 10927493
    Abstract: In a dryer, humidity of supply air in a supply path of a heat pump dryer unit is directly detected by a first humidity detection sensor, and humidity of exhaust air in a discharge path is directly detected by a second humidity detection sensor. The first and second humidity detection sensors are collectively installed at one place, and a first conduit or a second conduit that guides the supply air or the exhaust air to a position of the corresponding sensor is provided. The sensors may be collectively disposed at one place in the supply path or the discharge path. This facilitates mounting of the sensor and saves a mounting space. Because environment temperatures of the two humidity sensors can be regarded as equal to each other when using relative humidity sensors, temperature detection for conversion into absolute humidity can be performed at one place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sasaki, Tatsuya Konno, Junya Togashi, Masahiro Haga
  • Patent number: 10793995
    Abstract: A condensing type clothes dryer having a heat pump cycle and a method for controlling a condensing type clothes dryer having a heat pump cycle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongju Lee, Daeyun Park, Byeongjo Ryoo
  • Patent number: 10648730
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel medical implement drying apparatus and a method for holding and drying certain medical implements during a reprocessing sequence. This is accomplished by forcing air through the apparatus. The apparatus and method disclosed herein is useful for many medical implements having a hollow casing. The medical implement drying apparatus is particularly well suited for use with a drying cabinet containing one or more of the medical implements during the drying process which will facilitate drying of the exterior of each medical implement, while the disclosed apparatus removes water and water vapor from the interior of each medical implement. Specialized holders, racks, and drying gas pumping systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Cenorin, LLC
    Inventors: Drew R. Radford, Paul Leung
  • Patent number: 10138589
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus that includes: a cabinet; an outer tub that is disposed inside the cabinet; a plurality of heat exchange tubes through which air discharged from the outer tub moves, the plurality of heat exchange tubes being arranged to have a gap between adjacent heat exchange tubes; a heat exchange tube housing that is configured to accommodate the plurality of heat exchange tubes and that defines an interior area configured to store cooling water; a cooling water introduction passage that is coupled to a lower portion of the heat exchange tube housing and through which cooling water is provided to the heat exchange tube housing; and a cooling water discharge passage that is coupled to a upper portion of the heat exchange tube housing and through which cooling water stored in the heat exchange tube housing is discharged is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hoosun Lee, Doohyun Kim, Geunhyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9771677
    Abstract: A dryer appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior, and a drum positioned within the interior. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, and includes a cylinder and a rear wall. The cylinder is rotatable relative to the rear wall. The dryer appliance further includes a heater configured to provide heat to the chamber, the heater comprising a heating element mounted to the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Timothy Lee Anderson
  • Patent number: 9285165
    Abstract: A method for controlling a dryer includes putting a brush driving unit into operation, after putting the brush driving unit into operation, gathering information related to the operation of the brush driving unit, and controlling operation of the dryer based on the gathered information related to the operation of the brush driving unit. The brush driving unit being is configured to drive a brush that separates foreign matter from a filter portion of a filter assembly positioned to contact air that has exited from a drum of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Kim, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 9091015
    Abstract: A dryer including a housing, a drying chamber disposed within the housing, and a heating element coupled to the housing. The dryer further includes an intake configured to supply intake air to the drying chamber and an exhaust vent configured to vent exhaust air out of the drying chamber. The intake, the drying chamber, and the exhaust vent define an air flow path from the intake through the drying chamber and out the exhaust vent. The dryer includes a heat exchanger and a heat pump having a condenser. The heat exchanger and the heat pump are each configured to absorb thermal energy from the exhaust air and transfer the thermal energy to the intake air. The air flow path is configured such that the intake air is heated directly or indirectly by the heat exchanger prior to the intake air being further heated directly or indirectly by the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Caldeira, Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9061332
    Abstract: Provided is a treatment system whereby a wet organic waste can be effectively treated and CO2 produced in the course of the treatment can be immobilized to thereby contribute to the reduction of CO2. The treatment system is characterized by including microbiologically fermenting a wet organic waste in a fermentation device, combusting in a combustion furnace a fermented material obtained from the fermentation device and, at the same time, supplying to the combustion furnace a fermentation gas produced by the microbiological fermentation treatment in the fermentation device, and then recovering and immobilizing CO2 in a hot exhaust gas produced by the combustion treatment in the combustion furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: URAYASU DENSETSU K.K.
    Inventor: Takaitsu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9052142
    Abstract: A dryer includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, a duct that defines a flow passage for air exiting the drum, and a filter assembly located at a position relative to the flow passage and contacting air that has exited the drum. The filter assembly includes a case defining the filter assembly, a filter portion configured to filter foreign substance from the air contacting the filter assembly, a brush frame configured for rotational movement relative to the case about a rotational axis, and a brush that is supported by the brush frame and configured to separate the foreign substance from the filter portion. A first distance from a first side of the case to the rotational axis of the brush frame is longer than a second distance from a second side of the case to the rotational axis of the brush frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Kim, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 8615897
    Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to increase gradually the angular velocity of the drum to provide a “soft start” for the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Wehrheim, Keith I. Hoemann, Gregory A. Peterson, L. Ranney Dohogne, Marshall J. Huggins, Gregory M. Levine
  • Publication number: 20120197441
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drying machine which includes a drum, a fan to circulate air within the drum, and at least one heater to heat air provided to the drum, and uses the motor and the at least one heater as a load, includes, upon receiving a drying process command from a user, receiving power rate information for each hour from an energy management system (EMS), recognizing current power rates on the basis of the power rate information for each hour, determining whether the current power rates are higher than reference power rates by comparing the current power rates with the reference power rates, and adjusting the operation rate of any one of the motor and the at least one heater when the current power rates are higher than the reference power rates. The drying machine changes the load operation rate before the power rates exceed the reference power rates, resulting in reduction in power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sook KIM, Eun Suk Bang
  • Publication number: 20090293304
    Abstract: A sensing multi-stage control system for hand dryers aims to be installed in a lavatory and energized by electric power to generate heat and airflow to dry human hands to improve shortcomings of conventional hand dryers that cannot control airflow amount and temperature level. The hand dryer according to the invention includes a heater, a fan motor and a detection unit. The detection unit has at least two sets of sensors located at an air outlet of the hand dryer and is electrically connected to a control circuit which starts, stops and controls the heater and fan motor at a desired temperature level and rotation speed to form the sensing multi-stage control system. The control circuit, incorporating with the sensors and a comparison and logic processor to process signals, can provide multi-stage control of the temperature level of the heater and rotation speed of the fan motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Che-Hua YANG
  • Publication number: 20090064532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a centrifugal switch are disclosed. The systems may include a bypass relay operatively connected to the heating element and configured to bypass the centrifugal switch prior to the drum reversing rotational direction, and allow the heating element to remain energized during the drum reversing rotational direction. The centrifugal switch bypass circuit further includes a relay hold circuit operatively connected to the bypass relay and configured to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during the drum reversing rotational direction. The method may include, once the drum begins reversing the rotational direction, utilizing a bypass relay to bypassing the centrifugal switch. Finally, the method may include utilizing a relay hold circuit to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during reversal of the rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Steven M. Recio, Erick Graven, Ashley Burt, Joseph Frazar
  • Patent number: 6810602
    Abstract: A drier module, for use in a drier having a drier motor and one of two heat generation devices, namely gas or electric, is an interchange module of a drier of a gas or electric type and may be connected to a drier motor and to a gas control circuit of a gas drier or to an electric heater of an electric drier. During drier assembly, the module is adaptively modified, for example, by setting a switch position according to a desired mode, i.e., the intended drier type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Doo Kim, Jae Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 6334267
    Abstract: An apparatus for confirming the initial conditions of a clothes dryer prior to the start of the drying cycle is provided. The clothes dryer comprises a drying chamber with air inlet and outlet ports. A blower powered by a first motor is arranged in the outlet port to draw air into the drying chamber through the inlet port. A burner for heating the air before it enters the drying chamber is arranged in the inlet port. Also arranged at the inlet port is a air proving device for measuring the air flow through the drying chamber. A second motor is provided for the drive system which creates the tumbling action in the drying chamber. The air flow proving device must be enabled before the second motor is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: American Dryer Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Slutsky
  • Patent number: 5901460
    Abstract: An automatic system for drying high moisture content material from a source. The system includes a dryer enclosing a bed inclined upwards from the bottom portion thereof to the top portion thereof, and a slat and picker drive motor for urging material downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the bed. A first material feed system transports the high moisture content material from the source to the top portion of the bed, and includes a surge bin disposed between the source and the dryer for assuring a constant supply of material to the dryer for constant operation thereof. There are sensors for detecting the amount of material delivered to the surge bin; and a controller, responsive to the sensors, which adjusts the rate of material transferred from the surge bin to the dryer and the rate material is processed through the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Kessel/Duff Corporation
    Inventors: Brad J. Carter, Robert A. Caughey, deceased, by Jason Warner, legal representative
  • Patent number: 5852881
    Abstract: The inventive clothes dryer is provided with a system for preventing the overheating of the clothes in the drum caused by the abnormality in the V-belt, such as the break or derailment thereof. By the system, the power supply to the motor is halted temporarily while the motor is rotated at a predetermined speed, whereafter the motor keeps rotating due to its inertia. During the inertial rotation of a predetermined period of time, the number of rotations of the motor is counted. When the V-belt is in the normal state, the motor is loaded appropriately, so that the speed of the motor falls rapidly during the inertial rotation, and the number of rotations is accordingly small. When, on the other hand, the V-belt is in an abnormal state, the number of rotations is large. Therefore, the state of the V-belt is checked by comparing the number of rotations to a predetermined value, and when the number is smaller than the predetermined value, the drying operation is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Kuroda, Tatsuya Hirota, Kiyokazu Fujikawa, Youzou Kawamura, Tamotu Kawamura, Takashi Fukuda, Hisanori Hirose
  • Patent number: 5659977
    Abstract: An integrated plant including a microalgae production plant for growing, harvesting and drying algae and a fossil fuel-motor-generator plant producing electrical energy. A fossil fuel engine produces hot exhaust gas from which sensible heat dries the algae. The drying may be direct from the exhaust gas or may be indirect with the hot exhaust gas exchanging sensible heat with a recirculating stream of inert gas. Carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas is recovered for use as a nutrient in the microalgae production plant. Electrical energy from the generator is used to drive motors and/or produce artificial illumination and/or drive pumps, motors and controls in the microalgae production plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Cyanotech Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Jensen, Eric H. Reichl
  • Patent number: 5388348
    Abstract: A drying machine has a predrying operation. In the predrying operation before heated air is supplied to the drying chamber to dry clothes in the drying chamber, the drum repeats the rotation of the clockwise and counterclockwise alternately in a short cycle, so that entwined clothes are got loose. During the predrying operation, cool air is supplied to the drying chamber. Then the heated air is supplied to the drying chamber, so that clothes are dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Miho Tanaka, Kinya Hayashi