Employing Diverse Materials Or Particular Material In Refrigeration Circuit Patents (Class 62/114)
  • Patent number: 7934384
    Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly, a door assembly, a cooling assembly, a customer enticement device, and a power unit. The product container assembly defines an interior region for containing products. The cooling assembly is connected to the product container assembly and includes a powered cooling device to cool the interior region. The enticement device is adapted to encourage customer interest in the merchandising unit and includes a powered component. The power unit includes a power supply electrically connectable to an external power source, with each of the powered cooling device and the power component of the enticement device being electrically coupled to the power supply. With this configuration, the common power supply serves to power both the cooling assembly as well as the customer enticement device. In some embodiments, the cooling assembly includes a thermoelectric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Tuskiewicz, Mark Bedard
  • Patent number: 7926296
    Abstract: A phase change material comprising a mixture of water and deuterium oxide is described, wherein the mole fraction of deuterium oxide is selected so that the mixture has a selected phase change temperature within a range between 0° C. and 4° C. The mixture is placed in a container and used for passive storage and transport of biomaterials and other temperature sensitive materials. Gels, nucleating agents, freezing point depression materials and colorants may be added to enhance the characteristics of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventors: Francis C. Wessling, Jr., James M. Blackwood
  • Patent number: 7914696
    Abstract: Heat transfer compositions are usable in their own right or are suitable as a replacement for existing refrigeration usages. The compositions possess a reduced Greenhouse Warming Potential, yet have a capacity and energy efficiency (which may be conveniently expressed as the “Coefficient of Performance”) ideally within 20% of the values of those attained using R-134a, and preferably within 10% or less (e.g. about 5%) of these values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ineos Fluor Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Robert E. Low, Stuart Corr
  • Patent number: 7875749
    Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt as a guest compound of a clathrate hydrate, having a property of producing the clathrate hydrate when cooled, and further containing a phosphate of an alkali metal added thereto. A clathrate hydrate produced by cooling an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a phosphate of an alkali metal, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is the guest compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: JFE Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tomura, Shingo Takao, Takao Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20110005244
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant from a subcritical state to a supercritical state, a cooler for transferring heat from the refrigerant, an expander for expanding the refrigerant in the supercritical state, an expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant from the supercritical state to the subcritical state and an evaporator for transferring heat from a cooling fluid to the refrigerant in the subcritical state. Work extracted by the expander provides power to the compressor. A method for cooling a vehicle includes compressing a refrigerant from a subcritical state to a supercritical state, cooling the refrigerant, expanding the refrigerant in the supercritical state where work produced by expanding the refrigerant is used to compress the refrigerant, expanding the refrigerant from the supercritical state to the subcritical state, cooling a cooling fluid with the refrigerant in the subcritical state and cooling vehicle components with the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam M. Finney, Young K. Park, Scott F. Kaslusky, Daniel R. Sabatino
  • Patent number: 7836721
    Abstract: A cooling system (10) comprises a first (40) and a second (50) cold storage tank, a first refrigerator (41) cooling water in the first cold storage tank (40), a first thermal load (92) disposed in a first circulating passage (43) extending from the lower to the upper part of the first cold storage (40), a second thermal load (93) warmer than the first thermal load (92) disposed in a second circulating passage (44a) also extending from the lower to the upper part of the first cold storage tank, a second cold storage tank (50) disposed in the second circulating passage, a second refrigerator (51) cooling water fed from the upper part of the second cold storage (50), wherein a cooling output temperature of the second refrigerator (51) is set to be higher than that of the first refrigerator (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nishiwaki, Tsuneo Nakama, Shigeru Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7832222
    Abstract: A portable recovery unit for automatically filling a background tank of blended refrigerant includes a main tank for holding recovered refrigerant from a vehicle A/C system which has a first chemical composition, and an auxiliary tank for holding an auxiliary supply of fresh refrigerant which has a second refrigerant composition. The auxiliary tank is arranged in fluid communication with the main tank so that fluid can be transferred from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. An electronic controller controls the flow of fluid from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. A refrigerant identifier is coupled to the main tank to sample and analyze the refrigerant in the main tank in order to determine the chemical composition of the refrigerant in the main tank, so the refrigerant in the main tank can be purified to an acceptable level based on that analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Mark McMasters
  • Publication number: 20100257880
    Abstract: The invention described herein represents a significant improvement in the efficiency of cooling processes for applications such as buildings, computer equipment, processes, and refrigeration. Described is HVAC energy attached storage whereby an existing HVAC systems cooling capacity is augmented by the addition of a phase changed compressed refrigerant storage and control system. Energy is stored at a first time for subsequent use when electricity is more expensive than a threshold, when electricity availability is constrained, when the thermal load to be cooled is forecasted to be above a threshold, or when a renewable energy source is less available than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Ray M. Alden
  • Publication number: 20100242501
    Abstract: An energy efficient cooling system that employs liquid air in order to eliminate potentially harmful effects associated with some refrigerants with regard to both humans and the environment. The system includes an insulated container configured to contain liquid air at the appropriate low temperature so that it can remain in its liquefied state. The system further includes at least one air flow device, which may be a compressor and/or a fan. The system also includes a valve-controlled piping system for moving the cool air to an outlet, such as a duct system. Thereafter, the cool air may be distributed throughout a room, building or other area for which cooling is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Laura L. Li, Guang Shun Li, Meng Chu Li
  • Publication number: 20100218516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of cooling a metal strip traveling through a cooling section in a continuous heat treatment line. In accordance with the invention, the method consists in projecting a refrigerant medium into the cooling section (4) onto the surface of the strip (1) to be cooled, the medium being constituted for the most part by a phase-change substance that passes into the gaseous phase at a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the strip (1) and without oxidizing said strip so that energy is exchanged within an endothermic process by a change in the phase of said phase-change substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Maroun NEMER, Maria ZOGHAIB, Denis CLODIC, Diala ABDO, Stephane LANGEVIN, Patrick DUBOIS
  • Patent number: 7743615
    Abstract: A formate salt based heat transfer fluid having a pH containing a phosphate for a secondary refrigeration loop is disclosed. The formate based heat transfer fluid generally is a more effective heat transfer medium than a glycol based fluid designed to operate in the same temperature range. The formate based fluid also has lower toxicity and environmental risks than the glycol fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: Gilbert R. Malone, Stephen H. Stoldt
  • Publication number: 20100154444
    Abstract: The present invention relates to refrigerant compositions containing trans-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233zd(E)) useful for chiller applications and processes using 1233zd(E).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Hulse, Rajiv Ratna Singh, Mark W. Spatz
  • Publication number: 20100115977
    Abstract: A thermodynamic energy conversion device (14) based on the effect of differential evaporation generated by a convex liquid surface and by a temperature gradient is constructed for the use either as a heat or hydraulic pump. In one arrangement the device (14) comprises two heat conductive containers (1) and (2); a working liquid (5) disposed in said containers with open surfaces (6) and (6?); a vapour (7) of the working liquid; a porous device (8) for creating at least one convex meniscus (9) on the open surface (6), of the working liquid (5) in one of the containers said convex meniscus having higher mean curvature than that of the open surface (6?); means (10) for connecting containers (1) and (2) to an external hydraulic circuit (11). An efficient external combustion engine using such a device (14) is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Thermodynamic Nanotechnologies Limited
    Inventor: Aliaksandr Saroka
  • Publication number: 20100037637
    Abstract: An innovative oil observer for estimating oil concentration and oil amount in a refrigerant compressor in a vapor compression cycle is described. The invention ensures the safe operation of the compressor by ensuring that adequate lubricant is present in the compressor. This oil observer is based on oil models for components of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Oil models for HVAC components estimate oil mass and refrigerant mass in each component. With all component oil models and heat exchanger observers which provide the estimation of inner geometric lengths of two-phase flow heat exchangers, a system-level oil observer is established by integrating all component models. Experimental testing has been conducted to verify the performance of this oil observer for steady state operation and dynamic processes. The invention has direct applications in residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong He, H. Harry Asada, Tao Cheng
  • Publication number: 20100011791
    Abstract: A heat transfer system capable of being coupled to at least one temperature controlled zone, the elements of the system comprising: (i) at least one liquid refrigerant line; (ii) at least one expansion valve selected for R22 or R422D; (iii) at least one evaporator (iv) at least one compressor; (v) at least one condenser; (vi) at least one vapor refrigerant line; and wherein all of the elements have an inlet side and an outlet side and elements (i) through (vi) are in fluid communication together and contains R422D; and the system further comprising a sensing element communicatively coupled to the outlet side of at least one evaporator and at least one expansion valve and at least one sensing element contains a fluid selected to work when R22 is in the condenser-to-evaporator circuit, or R422D. Further disclosed are methods for retrofitting R22 containing heat transfer systems, including refrigerators and air conditioners. Also disclosed are refrigerators and air conditioners containing only R422D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Roger Nicholas Strickland, Calvin Curtis Lawson, Neil Andre Roberts, James William Dunlap, Donald Bernard Bivens, Kevin Patrick O'Shea
  • Publication number: 20090301701
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a heat exchanger tube, comprising a copper alloy, which contains the alloying elements [in percent by weight] 0.05-3% Fe, 0.01-0.15% P, and optionally 0.05-0.2% Zn, 0.02-0.05% Sn and residual Cu as well as unavoidable impurities, as a gas-cooler, condenser or evaporator tube of a refrigerator or heat pump operating with CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Beutler, Johann Gschaider, Robert Kloeckler, Hans-Achim Kuhn, Eberhard Lepin, Christoph Walther, Rolf Wamsler, Martin Straub, Wolfgang Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20090294102
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is heat transfer system, comprising a brazed aluminum component, and a heat transfer fluid in fluid communication with the brazed aluminum component, wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises a liquid coolant, an oxy-anion of molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, phosphorus, antimony, or a combination thereof, and a corrosion inhibitor. Also disclosed is a method of preventing corrosion in the heat transfer system, and a heat transfer fluid and additive package for use in the heat transfer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc., Law Department Patent Services
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Peter M. Woyciesjes, Aleksei V. Gershun, Filipe J. Marinho
  • Patent number: 7624585
    Abstract: The invention provides a freezer unit using refrigerants serving as an oil carrier without using any refrigerants of subjects of the ozone regulation and being capable of realizing extremely low temperatures such as ?150° C. The freezer unit includes a refrigerant circuit on a high temperature side and a refrigerant circuit on a low temperature side to form independent closed refrigerant circuits which condense refrigerants delivered from compressors and thereafter evaporate the condensed refrigerants to achieve cooling action, and a cascade condenser formed by an evaporator in the refrigerant circuit on the high temperature side and a condenser in the refrigerant circuit on the low temperature side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiro Yuzawa
  • Patent number: 7624586
    Abstract: An object is to provide a freezing device in which a safely-treatable incombustible mixed refrigerant can be used and which can realize an extremely low temperature of ?85° C. or less in chamber by a simple structure. The freezing device comprises a single refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is condensed and thereafter evaporated to exert a cooling function and which allows heat exchange between the evaporated refrigerant and the condensed refrigerant, wherein there is introduced into the refrigerant circuit a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant containing R245fa, R600, R23 and R14; a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant containing R245fa, R600, R116 and R14; a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant containing R245fa, R600, R508A and R14; or a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant containing R245fa, R600, R508B and R14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Yuzawa, Fukuji Yoshida, Susumu Kobayashi, Minoru Suto
  • Publication number: 20090288431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of stabilizer that may be at least one phenol or a mixture of at least one phenol with other stabilizers. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao, Mario Josph Nappa, Barbara Haviland Minor, Thomas J. Leck, Nandini C. Mouli
  • Publication number: 20090277194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a fluoroolefin and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Barbara Haviland Minor, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao, Donald Bernard Bivens, Deepak Perti, Mark Steven Baunchalk
  • Publication number: 20090266106
    Abstract: A method of producing a clathrate hydrate slurry, includes a step of heat-exchanging an aqueous solution of a guest compound for the clathrate hydrate or a slurry of the clathrate hydrate dispersed or suspended in an aqueous solution or water with a refrigerant thereby generating the clathrate hydrate in the aqueous solution or the slurry, in which a part of the clathrate hydrate deposited on the heat transfer surface in the process of heat exchange with the refrigerant is removed by adjustment of a temperature of the refrigerant and flow force of the aqueous solution or the slurry and the rest is kept remained as it covers the heat transfer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hidemasa Ogoshi, Naoyuki Furumoto, Hiroyuki Ida
  • Publication number: 20090260373
    Abstract: [Problems] To provide a refrigerant which is obtained by mixing a refrigerant, dimethyl ether, and carbon dioxide and which has such excellent performances that it does not cause ozonosphere depletion, has extremely low global warming potential, and is safe and nontoxic. [Means for solving problems] The refrigerant composition for refrigerating machines contains 1-10 mol % dimethyl ether and 99-90 mol % carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: JAPAN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION CO., LTD., SHOWA TANSAN CO., LTD., TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seijyuro Maiya, Osamu Nakagome, Hideyuki Suzuki, Yasuhisa Kotani, Toshifumi Hatanaka, Toshihiro Wada
  • Publication number: 20090241565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the solubility of oils in refrigerant compositions within a system using a refrigerant compressed with a mechanical device by adding polyolester directly to the refrigerant followed by charging a mixture of the polyolester and refrigerant into the system (air conditioner, refrigerator, etc.). The present invention also relates to a method of optimizing mineral oil return in a system using a refrigerant compressed with a mechanical device and a method of cleansing heat exchange tubes of a system using a refrigerant compressed with a mechanical device by adding polyolesters directly to a refrigerant composition followed by charging a mixture of the polyolester and refrigerant into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL REFRIGERANTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. YOST, James P. LAVELLE, Umar M. KHOKHAR
  • Publication number: 20090193817
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for refrigerating one or more thermal loads which consists in providing a first CO2 source derived from a mechanical cold system, and in feeding one or more evaporators from said first source so as to cause the CO2 to evaporate thereby cooling said one or more thermal loads. The method is characterized in that it consists in providing a second CO2 source, consisting of a cryogenic storage of CO2, and in inputting CO2 from said second source, so that the flow rate of fluid feeding the evaporator(s) is a mixture of liquid CO2 derived from said first source and liquid CO2 derived from said second source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME A DIRECTOIRE ET CONS
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Germain, Didier Alo, Jean-Yves Thonnelier
  • Publication number: 20090113903
    Abstract: The methods and systems using supercritical fluids for cooling of objects with high thermal emissions are disclosed. The unique thermodynamic properties of supercritical fluids combined with microchannel cooling technology allow effective absorption of the waste heat and exclude “vapor lock”, “boiling crisis”, and other deficiencies of conventional two-phase liquid cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Alexei V. Babkin, Robert V. Duncan, Anatoly I. Efremov, Peter J. Littrup
  • Publication number: 20090095014
    Abstract: There is a working fluid for a heating and cooling. The fluid is a blend of from about 1% to about 98% by weight 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, from about 1% to about 98% by weight 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, and from about 1% to about 98% by weight 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. The 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane are from about 90% or more by weight of the blend. There are also an apparatus that uses the blend and methods for heating and cooling using the blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew Sun, Ke Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090019861
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit is disclosed for motor vehicles. The air conditioning unit includes with a compression refrigerant circuit where a refrigerant circulates, comprising comprehensively switched in series with respect to fluid flow at least one compressor upstream of a heat-delivering heat exchanger, and an expansion element upstream of a heat-absorbing heat exchanger, whereby into the flow path leading from the outlet of the heat-delivering heat exchanger to the expansion element an additional heat exchanger is integrated thermally coupled to at least one cooling means the temperature of which can be put to values below the temperature of the refrigerant in the compression refrigeration circuit at the position of the refrigerant's outflow from the heat-delivering heat exchanger, and a method for its operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Roman Heckt, Marc Graaf, Tobias Haas
  • Patent number: 7478540
    Abstract: Refrigerant freezeout is prevented, and temperature is controlled, by the use of a controlled bypass flow that causes a warming of the lowest temperature refrigerant in a refrigeration system that achieves very low temperatures by using a mixture of refrigerants comprising at least two refrigerants with boiling points that differ by at least 50° C. This control capability enables reliable operation of the very low temperature system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Flynn, Mikhail Boiarski, Oleg Podtcherniaev
  • Patent number: 7473716
    Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group n-pentane, iso-pentane, cyclopentane, n-hexane and iso-hexane are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful in the preparation of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hilde Lund, legal representative, Robert Christian Parker, Ian Robert Shankland, Earl August Eugene Lund
  • Patent number: 7459101
    Abstract: The present invention discloses ternary mixtures of fluoroethane (HFC-161), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125) and difluoromethane (HFC-32) used as environmentally friendly alternative refrigerants to HCFC-22. The mass ratios of the mixture of each component are 5-60%, 25-50% and 5-50%, respectively. Its ODP is zero, with no depletion potential to the ozone layer. Its GWP is smaller than those of HCFC-22, R407C and R410A. Its working pressure and pressure ratio are close to those of HCFC-22. With few changes to system components, it can be used as a potential substitute refrigerant for HCFC-22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Zhejiang Lantian Environmental Protection Hi-Tech Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangming Chen, Zhikal Guo, Xinzheng Guo, Yongmei Xuan
  • Publication number: 20080289344
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the efficiency of a transcritical cooling installation and the installation itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Antonie Bonte, Jean Paul Leenders
  • Patent number: 7451615
    Abstract: A refrigeration device is provided that has a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, and a user side heat exchanger. The refrigeration device also has a condenser arranged between the compressor and the user side heat exchanger. The condenser is arranged to condense a portion of the refrigerant that is compressed in the compressor and that is sent to the user side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromune Matsuoka, Kazuhide Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7422423
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor includes a compressor section, driver, a first contact section and a second contact section. The compressor section is accommodated in a closed container for compressing refrigerant gas. The driver drives the compressor section. The first and second contact sections are brought into contact with each other or they slide with each other by driving the compressor section. On the surface of each one of the contact sections, at least one of plural recesses uniformly placed or a mixed layer, to which molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is bound, is formed. The foregoing structure allows increasing the abrasion resistance of the first and second contact sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kawabata, Takahide Nagao, Akihiko Kubota, Hironari Akashi, Kosuke Tsuboi, Takashi Kakiuchi, Makoto Katayama, Takeshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7410597
    Abstract: A thermally conductive material includes a supercritical fluid and a number of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid may be selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, ethane, ethane, nitrous oxide, propane, butane, pentane, and so on. The carbon nanotubes may be selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes, double-wall carbon nanotubes, mult-wall carbon nanotubes, or other kinds of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes have an average length of less than 1 micron and an average diameter of less than 100 nanometers. The supercritical fluid has dual characteristices of a liquid and a gas, and the carbon nanotubes have excellent thermal conductivity. As a result, the thermally conductive material becomes a nano-super heat conductor with excellent thermal conductivity and high efficiency of thermal conductivity, and is suitable for heat dissipation of various heat sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precsision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20080178609
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a combined cooling and heating system comprises a hydrogen reservoir. The combined cooling and heating system may be used in an aircraft. During a charging of the hydrogen reservoir, with hydrogen, a kitchen appliance is heated, and during the discharging process, the hydrogen reservoir cools the fuel cell system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig
  • Publication number: 20080157023
    Abstract: The invention pertains to heat transfer compositions, particularly to automobile refrigerants comprising a hydrofluoroalkene, an iodocarbon, a lubricant and a metal stabilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: George J. Samuels, Samuel F. Yana Motta, Gregory J. Shafer, Rajiv R. Singh, Mark W. Spatz, Raymond H. Thomas, Michael Van Der Puy, John L. Welch, David P. Wilson, Gary Zyhowski
  • Publication number: 20080028782
    Abstract: An azeotrope spray cooling system for utilizing an azeotrope coolant for improving the performance of a spray cooling system. An azeotrope coolant is utilized within a two-phase thermal management system for thermally managing one or more heat producing devices. The characteristics of the azeotrope coolant may be adjusted for various types of thermal management applications by altering the components of the azeotrope coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2005
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Charles L. Tilton, Donald E. Tilton, Bruce A. Smetana, Angela R. Maehren, Philip W. Appel, Randall T. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7299653
    Abstract: A single-stage refrigerating system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a refrigerant in a path from the evaporator to the compressor and a refrigerant in another path from the condenser to the evaporator, and a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture used in the system. The refrigerant mixture is a combination of a refrigerant having a normal boiling point of approximately room temperature and a low-boiling-point refrigerant having a normal boiling point below ?60° C. A dew point of the refrigerant mixture at a pressure in the condensing process after the compression is above room temperature. The boiling point is higher than the dew point at a pressure in the lower-pressure region in a path from the evaporator to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nihon Freezer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Kurita, Nobuyoshi Kurita
  • Patent number: 7296423
    Abstract: The use of sealants based on organosilanes for refrigeration and air conditioning systems is made possible by control of the rate of introduction and viscosity of the sealant mixture within certain ranges. An appropriate choice of organosilane sealant is made to allow effective sealing of small pinhole size leaks in the air conditioning or refrigeration system. The organosilane is then combined with a miscible lubricant at particular ratios to provide the proper mixture viscosity for injection into the refrigerant system to prevent bearing seizure. Specific orifice sizes are selected for an apparatus to ensure that the composition is injected at the flow rates required to prevent liquid slugging and subsequent compressor shutdown or failure. In addition, effective introduction of the mixture requires certain procedures be performed. Injection procedures are also described that prevent temporary or catastrophic equipment shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Brasscorp Limited
    Inventors: Paul Appler, Jack Brass, George E. Cranton
  • Patent number: 7269961
    Abstract: A compressor and heat pump combination has an active chamber and a passive chamber, each with its own hot plate and cold plate. The two chambers are joined along an edge by a membrane that largely transmits pressure, largely insulates against temperature transfer, and prevents passage of gases from one chamber to the other. The gas in the active chamber is alternately cooled and heated by exposure to the active cold and active hot plates, causing pressure changes in the active chamber that are transmitted to the passive chamber by the membrane. The pressure changes alternately cool the gas in the passive chamber below the temperature of the passive cold plate, and heat the gas in the passive chamber above the temperature of the passive hot plate. In alternately exposing the cooled gas in the passive chamber to the passive cold plate, and the heated gas in the passive chamber to the passive hot plate, heat is forced to flow from the passive cold plate to the passive hot plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: John R. Pendray
  • Patent number: 7264731
    Abstract: Units (10), systems (100), and methods with treated water are provided in which a treated water source (12, 104) is included integrally in a host piece of equipment (10, 102). The host piece of equipment (10, 102) includes host functions such as ice making (14, 106). Other equipment, such as dispenser (108) may be coupled to the equipment (102) to share the treated water from treated water source (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Robert S. Bosko
  • Patent number: 7260940
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump having a high coefficient of performance (COP), and a heat utilizing apparatus that allows the obtaining of high energy efficiency by using that heat pump. The heat pump, comprising a refrigerant circuit 13 that contains a decomposer 20 in which a gas hydrate decomposition process is carried out and a former 25 in which a gas hydrate formation process is carried out. This refrigerant circuit 13 imparts heat to a high-temperature object in the gas hydrate formation process by taking up heat from a low-temperature object in the gas hydrate decomposition process. In addition, the heat pump comprises at least an excess water separator 40 that separates excess water from the gas hydrate formed in former 25, or a compression system that sends gas and liquid which are decomposition products of the gas hydrate decomposed in decomposer 20 to former 25 after compressing and mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomonari Ito, Tomohiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7246498
    Abstract: A liquid injection type scroll compressor is used to a refrigerating apparatus using hydrocarbon fluoride refrigerant which does not contain chlorine (HFC-125/HFC-143a/HFC-134a) as an operating fluid and an amount of an injected liquid is controlled according to a discharge temperature of the compressor. Further, ester oil and/or ether oil is used as refrigerator oil and a dryer is disposed in a refrigerating cycle. With this arrangement, a refrigerating cycle operation can be stably realized in a wide range without almost changing the arrangement of a conventional refrigerating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fujita, Yoshikazu Amo
  • Patent number: 7234310
    Abstract: Disclosed is a very low temperature or cryogenic refrigeration system with a scroll compressor and utilizing a mixed refrigerant that decreases refrigerant discharge temperature by refrigerant injection into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Flynn, Oleg Podtcherniaev
  • Patent number: 7210301
    Abstract: The use of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R365mfc) as refrigerant in turbocompressor cooling systems, which, due to their construction, can achieve high outputs with a small space and material requirement. Such systems used in high-performance commercial and industrial refrigeration units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Solvay Fluor und Derivate GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Jannick, Christoph Meurer
  • Patent number: 7144523
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of cyclopentane, and a compound selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, or fluorinated sulfur compounds. Specifically these compounds may be selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethane, hexafluoropropane, pentafluoropropane, tetrafluoropropane, trifluoropropane, difluoropropane, octafluorobutane, hexafluorobutane, pentafluorobutane, nonafluorobutane, difluorobutane, trifluoro-2-methoxyethane and bis(pentafluoroethyl)sulfide. The compositions, which may be azeotropic or azeotrope-like, may be used as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents or displacement drying agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Barbara Haviland Minor
  • Patent number: 7128528
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide: high-reliability and long-life CO2 refrigerant compressor-use bearings that uses bearing materials high in wear resistance and in baking resistance, and; such a compressor, air conditioner, refrigerator, and hot-water supply machine that each employ these bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takayasu, Noboru Baba, Shouichi Nakashima, Tadashi Iizuka, Toshiaki Yamanaka, Hiroaki Ogura, Toshiomi Fukuda, Shinichi Ozaki
  • Patent number: RE40049
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a secondary refrigerant to precool and liquefy a primary refrigerant, then vaporizing and expanding the primary refrigerant to cool a cold tip of a cryosurgical instrument for ablation of biological tissue, such as cardiovascular tissue, in particular endocardiac tissue and tissue inside a cardiac blood vessel. The secondary refrigerant has a critical temperature above the critical temperature of the primary refrigerant, and a cooling temperature below the critical temperature of the primary refrigerant, thereby facilitating the use of the precooling step to provide liquid primary refrigerant in an operating room environment in which the primary refrigerant could not otherwise be provided in the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventor: Hong Li
  • Patent number: RE40627
    Abstract: Refrigerants containing HCFC's are replaced with new blends by using R-236fa and R-125, or R-125 with R-245fa, or R-236ea, or R-134a with R-236fa in place of HCFC's. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg Podtchereniaev, Tamirisa Apparao, Kevin P. Flynn, Boris Yudin, Vladimir Mogarichni, Mikhail Boiarski