Condition Sensing Patents (Class 62/129)
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Patent number: 11345229Abstract: Fuel tank (1) having: a wall (12) defining an internal volume (20) of the tank, and a temperature sensor (4) located inside the internal volume of the tank and at least partially enveloped with a material (21) having a thermal diffusivity comprised between 2×10?7 and 2×10?5 m2/s at 20° C. The temperature sensor measure an internal tank temperature, such as a vapor dome temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and ResearchInventors: Antoine Chaussinand, David Hill
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Patent number: 11293661Abstract: A multi-unit air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit, a second indoor unit, a third indoor unit, and a mode conversion device. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor-unit controller and a selector. The first indoor unit includes a first indoor-unit controller. The second indoor unit includes a second indoor-unit controller. The selector is configured to send a first selection signal or a second selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a first control mode according to the first selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a second control mode according to the second selection signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Inventors: Meibing Xiong, Yongfeng Xu, Zekun Liang, Linxing Ren, Wen Huang
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Patent number: 11268472Abstract: A system comprising a refrigeration engine (132) and regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) positioned within a housing (144, 244), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) controlling fuel to the engine through a fuel line (354), a lock-off valve connected to the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) to shut off fuel supply through the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a controller operably connected to the lock-off valve and/or the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a guide (462, 562) positioned within the housing (144, 244) and proximate to the refrigeration engine (132), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or the fuel line (354) to direct gases leaking from the refrigeration engine (132), regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or at least one fuel line (354), and a methane sensor (566, 666A) positioned within the guide (462, 562) to detect the presence of methane within the guide (462, 562) that is directed by the guide (462, 562), the methane sensor (566, 666A) in communication with the controlType: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventor: Loic Renault
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Patent number: 11262104Abstract: A unit device of a refrigeration cycle apparatus forms part of a refrigerant circuit using flammable or slightly flammable refrigerant. The unit device includes a unit body and a storage box. The storage box is provided with a sensor that detects leakage of the refrigerant and a communicating portion that communicates with the unit body. The storage box is attached to an outer wall portion of the unit body.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shogo Uraguchi, Yasuyuki Kotake
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Patent number: 11248816Abstract: An air conditioner which continues driving with a deteriorated gas leakage sensor is provided. An air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit including a compressor and an indoor unit connected with the outdoor unit and uses flammable refrigerant. The air conditioner includes: a refrigerant gas sensor; and a controlling unit configured to stop the compressor at occurrence of abnormality, when the refrigerant gas sensor detects refrigerant gas while the compressor is being driven. After the compressor is stopped as the refrigerant gas sensor detects the refrigerant gas, the controlling unit does not start driving of the compressor until an operation to cancel the abnormality is performed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shinsuke Ikawa, Akio Tasaka, Yuusuke Shiono, Shinji Nagaoka, Daisuke Toyoda
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Patent number: 11235640Abstract: A system and method of temperature optimization in a passenger vehicle when transporting perishable items, includes a passenger vehicle having predetermined storage compartments, an in-vehicle computer network connected to a plurality of sensors; and a display device in communication with the in-vehicle computer network. The display device obtains information about perishable items. The display device is configured to estimate time that the perishable items may be maintained in the vehicle. The conditions for perishable items may be optimized by determining parking locations and movement of the vehicle between parking locations in order to minimize temperature fluctuations in the vehicle. The display device is configured to update the user on the status of the perishable items and changed parking locations.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin P. Austin, Joshua E. Domeyer, John K. Lenneman
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Patent number: 11232552Abstract: A system is configured to receive video footage of evaporator coil slabs after they exit an automated coil brazer. The system is further configured to convert the video footage to greyscale. The system is further configured to isolate frames from the greyscale video footage. Each frame comprises an image of a different evaporator coil slab. The system is further configured to identify a plurality of feature points in a first frame and a plurality of feature points in a second frame. The system is then configured to determine that a subset of features points in each frame are rotationally invariant. The system is further configured to generate a first digital fingerprint for each frame from a binary feature vector for each point in the subset of feature points determined to be rotationally invariant.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Satish Seshayya, Vinay R. Thatigutla
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Patent number: 11204187Abstract: A chiller system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a compressor section and a controller. The compressor section has a first refrigerant compressor having a first cooling capacity and a second refrigerant compressor having a second cooling capacity different from the first cooling capacity. The controller is configured to selectively operate the first and second refrigerant compressors.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Inventor: Frank D. Ford
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Patent number: 11199350Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a controller. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant flows. The heat-source-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium. The load-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium, and refrigerant flows. In the heat medium circuit, a flow control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and the heat-source-side heat exchanger are connected by a heat medium pipe, and the heat-source heat medium flows. The controller includes a storage unit that stores data indicating a defined maximum flow rate and a defined minimum flow rate of the heat-source heat medium that flows in the heat medium circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Ryosuke Matsui, Koji Azuma
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Patent number: 11162725Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a first operation using a load-side heat exchanger as a condenser, and a second operation using the load-side heat exchanger as an evaporator. A suction pipe provided between a refrigerant flow switching valve and a compressor has a container. To the heat medium circuit, an overpressure protection relief valve and a refrigerant leakage detector are connected. When leakage of refrigerant into the heat medium circuit is detected, the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and the compressor is operated. When a requirement for ending the operation of the compressor is satisfied after the leakage is detected, the compressor is stopped, and the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a first state.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Hirokazu Minamisako, Kazutaka Suzuki, Takafumi Mito, Taro Hattori
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Patent number: 11160393Abstract: A method for reducing sweating in a temperature-controlled display device includes receiving values of an ambient temperature, a door frame temperature, and relative humidity. The method can also include estimating a value of a dewpoint temperature using the values of the ambient temperature and the relative humidity. The method can also include determining control decisions for a door frame heater of the temperature-controlled display device using the value of the dewpoint temperature and the door frame temperature, and transitioning the door frame heater between an on-state and an off-state using the control decisions to maintain the value of the door frame temperature at or above the value of the dewpoint temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Naresh Kumar Kirshnamoorthy, Shobin Balakrishnan
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Patent number: 11131470Abstract: Provided is an indoor unit for a refrigeration apparatus that is capable of detecting a refrigerant leak while suppressing condensation on a refrigerant gas sensor. An indoor unit (50) for an air conditioner (100) including a refrigerant circuit (10) includes a casing (60), an indoor fan (53), and a refrigerant gas sensor (81). The refrigerant circuit (10) has refrigerant charged therein, and performs a refrigeration cycle. The casing (60) houses at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit (10), and has a blow-out port (64) that opens in a direction other than an up-down direction. The indoor fan (53) is housed in the casing (60), and generates an air flow (F) directed from the blow-out port (64) to outside the casing (60). The refrigerant gas sensor (81) is capable of detecting a refrigerant gas below a bottom surface (63) of the casing (60).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Tomoatsu Minamida, Tomoyuki Haikawa, Shigeharu Taira
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Patent number: 11118822Abstract: A detection system and method of detection directed towards the detection of refrigerant leaking from a refrigerant circuit in a heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration (HVACR) system. The system including a refrigerant circuit utilizes a mixture of working fluid and an additive. The system also includes a detection device that can detect the additive when external to the refrigerant circuit. A method of detecting leaking refrigerant includes adding a detectable fluid to a refrigerant circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Stephen A. Kujak
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Patent number: 11118821Abstract: A space in which an indoor unit is disposed has its corresponding refrigerant leakage sensor. A remote control for the indoor unit has its corresponding information output device for notifying the user of information visually and/or aurally. When the refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant, an alarm outputs a warning sound and a safety measure device is activated. Further, the information output device outputs guidance information for notifying the user action to be taken after the safety measure device takes the safety measure. After outputting the guidance information, the information output device stops outputting the guidance information in response to completion of the user action.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takuya Matsuda, Makoto Wada, Yuji Motomura, Katsuhiro Ishimura
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Patent number: 11099106Abstract: A diagnosis control method of an air conditioner is provided to clearly inform a user of an air conditioner installation error. The diagnosis control method includes receiving a test run command or a self-diagnosis command for diagnosis of the air conditioner, performing a first test run to diagnose an assembly state of the air conditioner, performing a second test run to diagnose pipe connection of the air conditioner and an amount of refrigerant in the air conditioner, performing a determination including diagnosing a state of the air conditioner based on operation results of the first test run and the second test run, and displaying the diagnosis result through a display device provided at an indoor unit of the air conditioner.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kil Soo Son, Jong Kweon Ha, Kwang Sik Han, Young Jin Kim, Beom Seok Seo, Byoung Ok Ahn, Hong Seok Jun
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Patent number: 11102028Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to recognition of an appliance state based on sensor data and determination of a response based at least in part on the appliance state. In various embodiments, an apparatus to recognize an appliance state may include a sensor data module to identify sensor data in one or more signals relating to data from one or more sensors associated with an appliance, an appliance state recognition module to determine an appliance state of the appliance based at least in part on the sensor data, a response module to determine a response based at least in part on the appliance state, and a transmission module to send the response to at least one of an appliance controller for the appliance or a presentation device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Rita H. Wouhaybi, Mark D. Yarvis, Bradut Vrabete
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Patent number: 11079300Abstract: A refrigerant leak detecting method for an air-cooling heat pump system in a heating mode comprises S110, S210, obtaining a leak indication parameter set, wherein the leak indication parameter set at least includes a refrigerant level in a liquid reservoir and/or a supercooling degree; S120, S220, comparing each leak indication parameter in the leak indication parameter set with a corresponding preset indication parameter interval; S130, S230, when each leak indication parameter falls within a corresponding preset indication parameter interval, obtaining and recording a corresponding evaluated refrigerant leak amount; S140, S240, when a cumulative value of the evaluated refrigerant leak amount falls within a preset refrigerant leak interval, determining that a refrigerant leak occurs in the air-cooling heat pump system; when the cumulative value of the evaluated refrigerant leak amount does not fall within the preset refrigerant leak interval, returning to the step S110, S210.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Runfu Shi, Hui Zhai, Xiangyu Gao, Guangyu Shen, Yu Zhu, YuHui Kuang
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Patent number: 11047606Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system can include a condenser, multiple fans, and a controller. The condenser can be configured to cool CO2 and the multiple fans can be configured to affect cooling operations of the condenser. The controller may be configured to obtain a temperature value of CO2 output by the condenser. The controller may be configured to determine if the condenser is operating properly using the temperature value of the CO2. The controller may be configured to obtain values of input current and input voltage provided to the multiple fans. The controller can determine a number of in-operational or faulty fans of the multiple fans using, at least in part, the values of the input current and the input voltage and a model that relates input current to input voltage for known numbers of in-operational or faulty fans.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Naresh Kumar Krishnamoorthy, Pedro Jesus Greiner
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Patent number: 11041666Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration apparatus that secures safety while suppressing an increase in cost. A refrigeration apparatus performs a refrigeration cycle in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, and a usage-side heat exchanger. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a usage-side fan providing an air flow, and a controller. The usage-side fan is disposed in a target space where inside air is cooled. The controller performs a refrigerant leak determination process to determine whether a refrigerant leak occurs, based on a state of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. When the controller performs the refrigerant leak determination process to determine that a refrigerant leak occurs, then the controller performs leakage refrigerant agitation control to operate the usage-side fan so as to suppress local emergence of a region where the refrigerant leaks at a high concentration in the target space.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Satoru Sakae, Takahito Nakayama, Takenori Mezaki
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Patent number: 11022346Abstract: A method of determining charge loss of a refrigeration system includes the steps of inputting an ambient temperature, a box temperature, and a compressor speed into an electronic controller of the refrigeration system, and calculating a first air side temperature difference across an evaporator by applying an algorithm having a first T-Map representative of normal operating conditions. The controller may then confirm a detection prerequisite is satisfied. Upon confirmation, the controller calculates a second air side temperature difference across the evaporator by applying the algorithm having a second T-Map representative of a loss of refrigerant charge. An action may then be taken from the controller if the first air side temperature difference is less than the second air side temperature difference.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Jian Sun, Lucy Yi Liu
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Patent number: 11022357Abstract: A system and method of operating an HVAC system including a HVAC unit including a unit temperature sensor, a unit controller, and a variable speed compressor, and a two-stage system controller in communication with the unit controller, the method including operating the system controller to transmit a conditioning signal to the unit controller based in part on a system demand, operating the unit controller to receive the conditioning signal, and receive outdoor air temperature data from the unit temperature sensor, operating the unit controller to determine whether the outdoor air temperature data is greater than or equal to a cooling temperature limit or less than or equal to a heating temperature limit, and operating the unit controller to transmit a speed signal to the compressor based in part on the plurality of conditioning signals and the outdoor air temperature data.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew Austin, Derek Leman
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Patent number: 11022368Abstract: A refrigerator may include a storage compartment, an inner door which comprises an opening having a size corresponding to a size of the storage compartment, a plurality of door guards, and an outer door which open and close the storage compartment, wherein the inner door comprises a control unit may control an internal environment of the storage compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyun Joo Kim, Yong Man Seo, In-Sung Hwang, Bok Hyun Jang, Tae Youl Lee, Jeong Won Choi
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Patent number: 11015852Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration apparatus capable of, even in occurrence of a refrigerant leak, suppressing the extent of the refrigerant leak in continuously operating a usage unit other than a usage unit at which the refrigerant leak occurs.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Satoru Sakae, Azuma Kondou, Masaaki Takegami, Kazuyoshi Nomura
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Patent number: 10989428Abstract: A performance diagnosis device for an air conditioner includes: a data collection unit that collects and records operation data on the air conditioner; an equipment characteristic database that is a data group covering operation conditions meeting the specifications of the air conditioner; a reference data creation unit that calculates individual characteristic curved surface data by using the operation data possessed by the data collection unit and the equipment characteristic database; and a performance evaluation unit that compares part of the operation data possessed by the data collection unit with the individual characteristic curved surface data to evaluate the performance of the air conditioner, in which the individual characteristic curved surface data is corrected with respect to the equipment characteristic database so as to correspond to the operation data possessed by the data collection unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Yoko Kokugan, Hiroshi Kusumoto, Tatsuo Fujii
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Patent number: 10868688Abstract: A method for setting functional parameters of a refrigeration apparatus controller is disclosed. A controller is prepared to operate a refrigeration apparatus having a unique identifier. The controller has a set of settable functional parameters having a plurality of subsets, each associated with an identifier. A setting device is provided to set each functional parameter of the set. A step of preparing a plurality of secondary applications is also included wherein each secondary application has a specific identifier and interacts with the primary application to limit the functional parameters which can be set by the primary application to the functional parameters belonging a specific subset. An assignment step for recording an identifier in the controller; a detection step during which the setting device is connected to the controller to receive the identifier; and an adaptation step for downloading the secondary application associated with the identifier received from an archive are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: CAREL INDUSTRIES S.P.A.Inventors: Andrea Rana, Ivan Favaro
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Patent number: 10857854Abstract: A method of identifying air flow faults within a cooling system of an automobile comprises measuring the temperature of coolant entering a heat exchanger for the cooling system, measuring the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger, and measuring the temperature of ambient air that is flowing into the heat exchanger, calculating Actual Delta T by subtracting the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger from the temperature of coolant entering the heat exchanger, calculating Expected Delta T, wherein Expected Delta T is a pre-determined value of an expected difference between the temperature of the coolant entering the heat exchanger and the temperature of the coolant leaving the heat exchanger, calculating Effective Delta T by subtracting Expected Delta T from Actual Delta T, and identifying a fault in the air flow through the heat exchanger based on the value of Effective Delta T.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shiming Duan, Christopher H. Knieper, Calvin Wang
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Patent number: 10859299Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an indoor fan, a temperature sensor provided in an area adjacent to a seam in a refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and a controller configured to determine the presence of refrigerant leakage on the basis of a decrease in the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to determine the presence of refrigerant leakage while the indoor fan is stopped, and stop the determination of the presence of refrigerant leakage while a defrosting operation is performed.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kenyu Tanaka, Masahiko Takagi, Yasuhiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 10828965Abstract: Provided is a control method on electronic expansion valve in air conditioner, which comprises: obtaining a real-time running frequency of compressor, a real-time exhaust temperature and a real-time outdoor environment temperature as the compressor running; if the air conditioner working in cooling mode, using a first set rule or a second set rule to obtain an integral coefficient in which the selection is based on the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and a first set outdoor environment temperature; if the air conditioner working in heating mode, using a first set rule or a third set rule to obtain an integral coefficient in which the selection is based on the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and a second set outdoor environment temperature; performing a PID control on the electronic expansion valve by using an error of the difference between real-time exhaust temperature and a set target exhaust temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP., LTD.Inventors: Wenming Xu, Yu Fu, Mingjie Zhang, Fei Wang, Beibei Xu, Juke Liu, Rongbang Luo, Junjun Yuan, Shuang Ding
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Patent number: 10823496Abstract: A refrigerator-implemented method for optimizing placement of food items in different compartments of a refrigerator, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a request to store a first type of food item in the refrigerator, determining, using detection hardware, each type of food item already stored in one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, comparing a characteristic of the first type of food item with a same type of characteristic for each type of food item already stored in the one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, selecting a first of the compartments in which to store the first type of food item based at least in part on the comparison, and outputting, using an output device, a recommendation to store the first type of food item in the first compartment. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Inseok Hwang, Su Liu, Eric J. Rozner, Chungkuk Yoo
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Patent number: 10801766Abstract: A fan drive circuit for a variable speed fan motor in a cooling system, includes an inverter configured to supply a current signal to stator windings of the variable speed fan motor, a frequency detection circuit coupled to an output stage of an inverter of a compressor motor of the cooling system and configured to detect a first frequency of a compressor current signal at the output stage of a variable speed compressor drive circuit and generate a frequency signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the inverter and the frequency detection circuit. The DSP is configured to receive the frequency signal corresponding to the first frequency from the frequency detection circuit, select a second frequency corresponding to the first frequency at which to operate the variable speed fan motor, and transmit control signals to the inverter to supply current to the stator windings at the second frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Paul S. Mullin, Daniel E. Thompson
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Patent number: 10804082Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a chamber main body, a stage, a cooling device and a local loop. The stage is provided in an internal space of the chamber main body and a coolant path is formed in the stage. The cooling device is provided at an outside of the chamber main body. The cooling device includes a cooling loop having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The local loop is provided at a position closer to the chamber main body than the cooling device is. The local loop includes a receiver, a flow velocity controller and an evaporator pressure regulating valve. The receiver stores therein the coolant supplied from the cooling device. In this substrate processing apparatus, the coolant stored in the receiver can be circulated within the local loop.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Yasuhiro Tobe
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Patent number: 10801767Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a high-side pressure sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, an outdoor fan, a fan driving unit, and a controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Kota Morimoto
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Patent number: 10775085Abstract: A system and method are provided including a system controller for a refrigeration or HVAC system having a compressor rack with a compressor and a condensing unit with a condenser fan. The system controller monitors and controls operation of the refrigeration or HVAC system. A rack controller monitors and controls operation of the compressor rack and determines compressor rack power consumption data. A condensing unit controller monitors and controls operation of the condensing unit and determines condensing unit power consumption data. The system controller receives the compressor rack power consumption data and the condensing unit power consumption data, determines a total power consumption of the refrigeration or HVAC system, determines a predicted power consumption or a benchmark power consumption for the refrigeration system, compares the total power consumption with the predicted power consumption or the benchmark power consumption, and generates an alert based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions, Inc.Inventors: John Wallace, Franklin Beltran, Frank S. Wallis, Keith Bertie, Paul L. Fullenkamp
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Patent number: 10747914Abstract: Improved energy conservation, including realization of a ZNET (Zero Net Energy including Transportation) paradigm, can be encouraged by providing energy consumers with a holistic view of their overall energy consumption. Current energy consumption in terms of space heating, water heating, other electricity, and personal transportation can be modeled by normalizing the respective energy consumption into the same units of energy. In addition, the passive always-on electricity consumption caused by inactive devices that contributes to the baseload of a building can be identified and addressed by the consumer, as appropriate by expressing baseload as a compound value that combines constant always-on loads and regularly-cycling loads. The baseload is estimated as the peak occurrence in a frequency distribution of net load data, after which the always-on load can be determined by subtracting out any regularly-cycling loads.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
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Patent number: 10663186Abstract: An apparatus providing Fault Detection Diagnostics (FDD) for a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system comprising a permanent magnet attached to a movable damper and a magnetometer attached to a stationary frame to provide a magnetic field measurement of the permanent magnet. The apparatus converts the magnetic field measurement into a damper position measurement and determines a difference between the damper position measurement and a damper position actuator voltage command, and if the difference is greater than a damper actuator voltage tolerance, then the apparatus generates a FDD alarm signal. The apparatus calculates a com puted Outdoor Air Fraction (OAF) damper position based on a measured HVAC parameter, and if the difference between the computed OAF damper position and the OAF damper position command is greater than a damper position tolerance, then the apparatus generates a FDD alarm signal or an actuator voltage signal to correct the movable damper position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Inventors: Robert J. Mowris, John Walsh
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Apparatus for controlling refrigerator, refrigerator and method for diagnosing fault of refrigerator
Patent number: 10612840Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a refrigerator, and a method for diagnosing a fault of the refrigerator are presented. More specifically, a power consumption of a refrigerator may be measured, and a fault of a plurality of loads included in the refrigerator may be diagnosed based on the measured power consumption. Accordingly, all of the plurality of loads included in the refrigerator may be diagnosed whether they have a fault or not. Further, among the plurality of loads included in the refrigerator, one or more loads having feedback uncontrollable may be diagnosed whether they have a fault of not.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Yonghun Suh -
Patent number: 10605521Abstract: A refrigerator and an air purifier for a refrigerator are provided. The air purifier may include a case configured to be mounted on an upper surface of a cabinet of a refrigerator and in which inlet holes and an outlet hole are formed, a plurality of fan motor assemblies provided inside of the case to force a flow of air, a plurality of filter assemblies mounted in the case to partition a space between the inlet holes and the plurality of fan motor assemblies and purify suctioned air, a controller that controls driving of the plurality of fan motor assemblies, and a gas sensor connected to the controller to detect harmful gas in a kitchen space. The controller may control driving of the plurality of fan motor assemblies through detection of the harmful gas by the gas sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jongho Yun, Hyungyul Kim, Hyunsik Mun, Wooyong Ju
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Patent number: 10539358Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a header main pipe to which an indoor pipe is connected at a brazed portion and header branch pipes. The header branch pipes are connected to first ends of heat-transfer pipes included in an indoor heat exchanger at brazed portions. The indoor pipe is connected to indoor refrigerant branch pipes at brazed portions. The indoor refrigerant branch pipes are connected to second ends of the heat-transfer pipes. A first leaked refrigerant receiver is disposed under the brazed portions. A first temperature sensor is disposed in the first leaked refrigerant receiver. A second leaked refrigerant receiver is disposed under flare joints connecting the indoor pipes to extension pipes, respectively. A second temperature sensor is disposed in the second leaked refrigerant receiver.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Takao Komai, Akira Maeda, Masafumi Tomita, Masahiro Takamura
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Patent number: 10539063Abstract: The cooling system is provided with an internal passage for circulating the cooling water inside an internal combustion engine, a water pump provided in an one end side external passage connected to the one end portion of the internal passage, and an ECU configured to execute a water flow switching control that switches a cooling water flow in the internal passage between a forward flow directed from the one end portion of the internal passage to the other end portion and a reverse flow directed from the other end portion to the one end portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.Inventors: Yuji Ito, Kentaro Yutani, Tomotaka Sugishita, Motomasa Iizuka, Takeo Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10527310Abstract: When refrigerant gas leaks in an indoor unit, the leaked refrigerant gas locally accumulates in an area of the indoor space. This air conditioner includes an indoor unit having one or more outlets, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit, wherein a flammable refrigerant or a mildly flammable refrigerant is used. The air conditioner includes a refrigerant gas sensor disposed in the indoor unit. When refrigerant gas is detected by the refrigerant gas sensor, a control is performed such that air is blown from the one or more outlets at a minimum air speed or higher, said minimum air speed being preset in accordance with the rated cooling capacity of the air conditioner.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nagaoka, Shigeharu Taira
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Patent number: 10507402Abstract: An apparatus includes an atomizer with a first flow member defining a first flow path and a second flow member defining a second flow path such that a solution and an inlet gas can flow in the first and second flow path to a mixing volume defined by the first flow member. A vane of the second flow member redirects a portion of at least one of a tangential velocity component or a circumferential velocity component of the flow to produce a rotational velocity component therein. The solution and the inlet gas mix within the mixing volume to produce a mixture. A separator is fluidically coupled to the second flow member to receive the mixture. The separator produces a first flow including a vaporized portion of a solvent from the solution and a second flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute from the solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: MICRONIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Kelly P. Rock
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Patent number: 10508849Abstract: An air conditioner of the present invention includes: a compressor; an outdoor fan; a temperature sensor configured to detect an outside temperature; a memory configured to store the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a controller configured to conduct holding control of not updating the outside temperature stored in the memory, when the compressor is being driven and the outdoor fan is stopped or is repeatedly started and stopped after the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor is stored in the memory while the outdoor fan is being driven.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Yamakawa, Kengo Murayama, Seiji Oka
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Patent number: 10508847Abstract: An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit which connects an outdoor circuit and a plurality of indoor circuits connected in parallel. The air conditioner includes a leak detection section which detects leak of a refrigerant from the indoor circuits, and a control section which circulates the refrigerant to perform a refrigeration cycle when the leak detection section detects leak of the refrigerant such that the refrigerant in the indoor circuits of the refrigerant circuit is at a low pressure. Providing the control section in the air conditioner can reduce the leak of the refrigerant from the indoor circuit at low cost.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Ryuzaburo Yajima, Toshiyuki Kurihara
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Patent number: 10433646Abstract: A method and system for temperature control of a microclimate device are disclosed. The temperature control can be integrated into a reservation system for the microclimate device. A user interface can receive a user input of a temperature control setting. The user interface can be integrated into the microclimate device. A processor can receive the user input and control a heating and/or cooling device to execute the temperature control setting.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Steelcaase Inc.Inventors: Ryan Schmidt, Caroline Kelly, Mark McKenna, Christopher Norman, Rob Scheper, Timothy Swieter
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Patent number: 10429266Abstract: Methods and systems for leak detection in a fluid compression system using a purge system are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method for detecting leaks includes determining, during a period of vacuum, a purge exhaust rate of non-condensables from a purge system integrated with a chiller unit. The method includes determining a differential pressure, the differential pressure based on a vacuum side pressure of the chiller unit, where the vacuum side pressure includes at least one of a pressure of a condenser and pressure of an evaporator. The method includes calculating, via a controller, the purge exhaust rate and the differential pressure to identify a leak size based at least in part on the purge exhaust rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Robert J. Roth
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Patent number: 10415859Abstract: A heat recovery system and methods of their use that include a liquid separator, which allows for relatively less refrigerant charge needed for operation of the heat recovery system, e.g. in a cooling and/or heat recovery mode. The liquid separator separates the liquid and vapor from fluid exiting the heat recovery exchanger, which can ensure that the inlet of the condenser coil is sourced with vapor and minimizes liquid entering the condenser coil. The liquid separator does not receive liquid refrigerant from the condenser coil, such as in a regular operating mode (e.g. cooling and/or heat recovery mode). Use of the liquid separator and its arrangement within the fluid circuit can thereby reduce the operating refrigerant charge needed for the system. A flow control device can control the heat recovery and/or cooling capacity of the heat recovery system.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignees: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC., TRANE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD.Inventor: Yu Qing Du
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Patent number: 10408485Abstract: This application discloses an installation check system used for checking installation of an air conditioner before a start of a trail run of the air conditioner. The installation check system includes a display portion for displaying work instruction information about the installation, an input means configured to be operated for entering a check result based on the work instruction information, a determination portion configured to determine whether the start of the trail run is allowed based on the check result, and a signal generator which generates a drive signal to execute the trail run. The signal generator generates the drive signal under condition of the determination portion allowing the start of the trail run.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Machiko Katori, Shinya Murai
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Patent number: 10350804Abstract: The present invention provides a molding machine that can easily detect viscosity of resin in a cylinder without advance preparations. An injection molding machine (10) includes an ultrasonic viscosity sensor (20), and the ultrasonic viscosity sensor (20) includes an ultrasonic vibration portion in contact with resin filled in a cylinder (12).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventors: Morihisa Ota, Koji Hayashi
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Patent number: 10352602Abstract: A portable monitoring system that monitors various aspects of the operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor that measures power provided to the refrigerant-cycle system and gathers data from one or more sensors and uses the sensor data to calculate a figure of merit related to the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the measurements performed by the monitoring system include one or more of: an evaporator input air temperature, an evaporator output air temperature, evaporator air flow, evaporator air humidity, condenser air input temperature, condenser air output temperature sensor, electrical power. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring system receives information about the refrigerant-cycle system from either the system itself or from a computer network.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Lawrence Kates
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Patent number: 10344767Abstract: A method for compressor surge detection to enable model based air estimation includes determining if an intake air compressor pressure ratio is within a predetermined surge pressure range. Then the differences between mass air flow sensor signals measured at a start and finish of each count of a predetermined string length counter when the compressor pressure ratio is within the predetermined surge pressure range. Next, a transition is made to an air mass estimation model output signal from a mass air flow sensor signal when a sum of the air flow differences is greater than a predetermined compressor surge threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn W Murphy, Andrew J Kosanka, Jay S Meldrum, Layne K Wiggins, Adam J Heinzen