Withdrawing Or Adding Refrigerant From Or To Normally Closed System Patents (Class 62/149)
  • Patent number: 12135154
    Abstract: The refrigerant management system has a service port connection, refrigerant treatment elements and a wet circuit connecting the service port connection to the refrigerant treatment elements. The refrigerant treatment elements are comprised of a refrigerant filter, a compressor, a condenser coil and a tank. The tank has tank head manifolds mounted thereto. The filter, the compressor and the condenser coil being mounted to the tank and connected to the tank head manifolds by respective pairs of tubing. The wet circuit being partially incorporated inside the tank head manifolds and inside the tank between the tank head manifolds. The first tank head manifold connects the service port connection to the refrigerant filter. The second tank head manifold connects the compressor to the condenser coil and to the tank. Conduits inside the tank extending between the first and second tank head manifolds connect the refrigerant filter to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Inventor: Andy Dominique
  • Patent number: 12123610
    Abstract: System and method for monitoring and detecting potential problems early in a VCC based HVAC&R system employs a monitoring application or agent that uses continuous machine learning and a temperature map to derive or “learn” a relation between a measured input power parameter of one or more system compressors, and condenser and evaporator intake fluid temperatures, based on observations of the temperatures and the input power parameter when the HVAC&R system is new or in a “newly maintained” condition. The monitoring agent can then use the learned relation to determine, based on subsequent observations of the condenser and evaporator intake fluid temperatures, the input power parameter values that should be expected if the HVAC&R system were operating in the “newly maintained” condition. The agent can thereafter compare the expected compressor input power parameter values with observed input power parameter values to determine early whether the system is experiencing performance degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Buda
  • Patent number: 12111065
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus having a housing, at least one internal sensor, an electronic control unit, at least one radio module, an operating device and an information carrier. The measuring apparatus is configured to be connected to external sensors by cable and/or wirelessly, the electronic control unit is configured to convert measurement signals from internal and external sensors into digital measurement data and to provide the digital measurement data to the information carrier. The information carrier is configured to provide and display as priority, in the case of simultaneous availability of wired or wireless sensors, either the data of the wired sensors or the data of the wireless sensors. A system for performing measurement tasks and managing measurement data, and methods for starting up and/or maintaining an air conditioning system are also provided, as well as methods for starting up and/or maintaining a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Refco Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Manfred Ulrich, Ulrich Demuth, Michael Oswald
  • Patent number: 12067333
    Abstract: A method for estimating refrigerant charge for an HVACR system is provided. The method includes obtaining one or more system parameters during operation. The one or more system parameters include at least one of compressor suction superheat, system mass flow, expansion device mass flow or opening degree, compressor suction saturated temperature, and compressor discharge saturated temperature. The method also includes conducting a regression analysis on the one or more system parameters to determine one or more predictive parameters for estimating the refrigerant charge. The method further includes determining a predictive model based on regression analysis. The predictive model establishes a relationship between the refrigerant charge and the one or more predictive parameters. Also the method includes estimating the refrigerant charge based on the predictive model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jian Ming Zhang, Lifen Li, James P. Crolius, Scott A. Munns
  • Patent number: 12066227
    Abstract: An air-conditioning management system includes: an air conditioning apparatus configured to carry out a refrigerant recovery operation of recovering a refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit that connects an outdoor unit and an indoor unit and sending the recovered refrigerant to each recovery unit of the outdoor unit; and a control unit configured to make a determination whether all the recovered refrigerant is sendable to each recovery unit before a start of the refrigerant recovery operation by the air conditioning apparatus, and to output, when determining that all the recovered refrigerant is not sendable to each recovery unit, a command for notifying the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuta Iyoshi, Yoshiki Yamanoi, Kumiko Saeki
  • Patent number: 12059942
    Abstract: A system for indicating on an electronic device that the refrigerant being introduced by a user to an air conditioning system has reached its optimum fill level includes a sensor device having a main body, the sensor device being structured and disposed for measuring a range of data; a wireless transmitter on the sensor device, the wireless transmitter being in communication with the electronic device for wirelessly transmitting the range of data to the electronic device; an electronic application configured for use with the electronic device; and wherein the electronic application is structured and disposed for visually indicating to the user via the electronic device the transmitted range of data in real time and audibly indicating to the user via the electronic device when the transmitted range of data reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: AC AVALANCHE, LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Quest
  • Patent number: 12061023
    Abstract: A water-based refrigerant for a thermal working machine. The refrigerant for a thermal working machine (150) having an evaporator (A), a condenser (B), a compressor (CGL), and a throttle element (D). The refrigerant is based on water and comprises a refrigerant component with a hydroxyl group, for example in the form of ethanol. The use of such a mixture as a refrigerant for a thermal working machine and for a thermal working machine having such a refrigerant, and to a method for operating a thermal working machine having such a refrigerant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Inventor: Steffen Klein
  • Patent number: 12055323
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor connected to a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. An expansion device is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A ratio of a volume of the first heat exchanger to a volume of the second heat exchanger is between 0.6 and 1.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Burns, Richard G. Lord
  • Patent number: 12031732
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioning device, a detector, and an alarm. The air conditioning device has a control unit and conditions air in an indoor space. The detector detects the concentration of refrigerant in the indoor space. The alarm notifies of refrigerant leakage in the indoor space. The detector or the alarm transmits information indicating whether or not the detector and the alarm are connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner, to the control unit. The control unit inhibits operation of the air conditioning device when the information indicates that the detector and the alarm are not connected to each other in the wired or wireless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Minami, Yasushi Hori
  • Patent number: 12000631
    Abstract: A method of operating an HVAC system includes compressing a working fluid using a compressor, removing heat from the working fluid using a condenser, removing pressure from the working fluid using an expansion valve, and transferring heat between airflow contacting an outer surface of one or more coils in an evaporator and the working fluid passing through the one or more coils. The method further includes detecting a leak of the working fluid using a leak detection sensor. The method further includes transporting at least a portion of the working fluid to a storage container and storing the working fluid in the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dilbag Singh Gill, Patric Ananda Balan Thobias
  • Patent number: 12000637
    Abstract: The present application relates to techniques for operating a refrigerant climate control system in one of a plurality of operating modes. In an example process, sensor data is received. The sensor data may correspond to a current state of a refrigerant in a receiver of the refrigerant climate control system. The process may also include receiving an energy control signal requesting operation of the refrigerant climate control system. The process may also include determining an operating mode of the refrigerant climate control system based on a signal type of the energy control signal and the current state of the refrigerant in the receiver. The process may also include instructing the refrigerant climate control system to operate in the determined operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Gregorich
  • Patent number: 11994326
    Abstract: A refrigerant leakage detection system includes a first controller, and a second controller. The first controller uses a first method to determine the presence or absence of refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit. The second controller uses a second method different from the first method to determine the presence or absence of refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant leakage detection system determines the presence or absence of refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit on the basis of the determination result of the first controller and the determination result of the second controller. The refrigerant leakage detection system determines that there is a refrigerant leakage in the refrigerant circuit if the first controller determines that there is a refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit and the second controller determines that there is a refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Minami
  • Patent number: 11988426
    Abstract: Efficiency in refrigerant charging work is addressed when a recovered refrigerant recovered from a first heat source unit is to be charged to a second heat source unit. A refrigerant charging method is a charging method used when a first heat source unit of an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigeration cycle is to be performed by a refrigerant that circulates is to be replaced with a second heat source unit. The refrigerant charging method includes recovering a first refrigerant from an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus and obtaining a recovered refrigerant and charging the recovered refrigerant and charging a second refrigerant whose composition differs from the composition of the recovered refrigerant to the refrigeration cycle apparatus after renewal that includes the second heat source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Atsushi Yoshimi, Eiji Kumakura, Ikuhiro Iwata, Shun Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 11991858
    Abstract: The discussion relates to cooling computing devices and specifically to managing two-phase cooling. One example can include a two-phase liquid immersion tank containing heat generating components and a liquid phase of a coolant having a boiling point within an operating temperature range of the heat generating components. The example can also include a stratification chamber fluidly coupled to the liquid immersion tank and configured to at least partially separate a gas phase of the coolant from other gases. The example can further include a condenser chamber fluidly coupled to the stratification chamber and configured to receive the gas phase of the coolant and cause the gas phase of the coolant to phase change back into the liquid phase of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Andrew Keehn, Bharath Ramakrishnan, Eric Clarence Peterson, Husam Alissa, Seth Henderson Morris, Ioannis Manousakis
  • Patent number: 11982408
    Abstract: A quick-fill apparatus for use with a valve assembly, and related methods of filling a pressure vessel, are disclosed. A valve assembly may be affixed to a pressure vessel, and may include a receptacle, a fill valve and an overfill valve. Preferred examples of the apparatus comprise a body, a valve trigger pin, a vent trigger pin and a handle. A valve engagement end of the body may be releasably securable within the receptacle. At that point, moving the handle to the on position causes the valve trigger pin to force the fill valve to an open configuration, and causes the vent trigger pin to force the overfill valve to a fluid venting configuration. A rigid fill tube may be in fluid supplying communication with a fuel supply port of the body. The fill tube and the handle may be elongated and extend in a shared direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: YSN Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Dovid Newman, Jeff Brown
  • Patent number: 11953247
    Abstract: A recycle information management system includes a communication device and a management device. The communication device transmits recycle information acquired from a recycle system via a network. The recycle system includes at least a recycling device that removes at least oil from the collected refrigerant to recycle the refrigerant. The management device includes a storage unit that stores the recycle information in association with a recycle system ID usable to identify the recycle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., DAIKIN EUROPE N.V.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadashi Hirose, Suguru Seikoba, Yumi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11940169
    Abstract: Air conditioner units and methods of operating the same are provided. A method of operating an air conditioner unit includes measuring an ambient temperature and estimating a setpoint temperature of the air conditioner unit. The method also includes inputting the measured ambient temperature and the estimated setpoint temperature into a closed-loop control algorithm. The method further includes setting a compressor speed of the variable speed compressor based on the output of the closed-loop control algorithm. An air conditioner unit may include a controller, and the controller may be configured for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Duane Longenecker
  • Patent number: 11933530
    Abstract: A HVACR protection system can include a pressure sensor to sense pressure within a refrigerant line coupled to a compressor; a timer; and a protection system controller. A compressor controller in communication with the protection system controller can control operation of the compressor and disable the compressor until successful completion of a vacuum test of the refrigerant line. The vacuum test can initiate upon the pressure sensor sensing the pressure being less than or equal to a vacuum test pressure, at which point the timer begins timing for a vacuum test time period. The vacuum test is successfully completed upon expiration of the vacuum test time period with the pressure remaining less than or equal to the vacuum test pressure for the vacuum test time period. The protection system controller can enable the compressor controller to operate the compressor upon successful completion of the vacuum test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Rodney Minchey, Stephen T. Fasolino
  • Patent number: 11904656
    Abstract: A heat pump system control method for a vehicle includes a process (A) of operating a compressor of an air conditioner to cool or heat an interior of the vehicle while the vehicle is driving, measuring by a controller initial states of the compressor and a refrigerant based on data detected from a data detector, and monitoring the compressor, a process (B) of determining by the controller whether a current coil temperature of a motor unit provided in the compressor is higher than a coil specification temperature through the process (A) and operating a protection mode; and a process (C) of, when the process (B) is completed, calculating by the controller a slope of a coil temperature of the motor unit over time, determining whether the temperature slope is greater than zero (0) three times consecutively to stop the operation of the compressor, and terminating control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: ChanWoong Jo, Seong-Bin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11901537
    Abstract: A method for purging air from a cooling system including operating one or more pumps at a selected speed for a first time interval, waiting a second time interval with the one or more pumps off or at a reduced speed relative to the selected speed, and repeating the steps of operating and waiting multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Baumann, Jared Lamkin
  • Patent number: 11898782
    Abstract: A multi-air conditioner for heating/cooling operation may include: at least one indoor unit which is installed in a room, and includes an indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor unit which is connected to the indoor unit through a refrigerant pipe, and includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor expansion valve, and a four-way valve; at least one leakage blocking valve which is formed on the refrigerant pipe, and blocks a refrigerant flow in the refrigerant pipe when a refrigerant leak occurs from the refrigerant pipe in the room; and a buffer unit which is installed on the refrigerant pipe between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and collects refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant pipe. Accordingly, when the refrigerant leaks into the room, it is possible to minimize the amount of the leaking refrigerant by collecting the refrigerant in the buffer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Chiwoo Song, Yongcheol Sa, Jiyoung Jang
  • Patent number: 11874037
    Abstract: An additional-filling-amount management system includes a mass correlation data obtaining unit, an additional-filling-amount determination unit, and a storage unit. The mass correlation data obtaining unit obtains mass correlation data correlating with a mass of a refrigerant container from which refrigerant is supplied to a refrigeration cycle apparatus that is additionally filled with refrigerant. The additional-filling-amount determination unit determines an additional filling amount based on the mass correlation data, the additional filling amount being an amount of refrigerant, from the refrigerant container, with which the refrigeration cycle apparatus has been additionally filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Yoshimi, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11835278
    Abstract: A temperature control medium processing apparatus configured to collect a temperature control medium from a module using the temperature control medium or refill the module with the temperature control medium includes a tank configured to store the temperature control medium therein; a first inlet path which is connected to a first inlet opening of the tank, and through which the temperature control medium is introduced; an inlet connector configured to connect the first inlet path and a path from the module; an outlet path which is connected to an outlet opening of the tank, and through which the temperature control medium is flown out; an outlet connector configured to connect the outlet path and a path to the module; and a pump provided at the outlet path, and configured to force the temperature control medium stored in the tank to be flown out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hayato Sakai, Takehiko Arita, Haruka Kaneko, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11774137
    Abstract: A coil assembly is provided, comprising: a direct expansion (DX) coil circulating refrigerant and cooling supply air passing over the DX coil by heat exchange to generate dehumidified air; a reheat coil circulating the refrigerant and heating the dehumidified air by heat exchange to generate output air; a first horizontal drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a first horizontal position; a second horizontal drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a second horizontal position; a first vertical drain pan below the DX and reheat coils in a vertical position, wherein the first and second horizontal drain pans are connected to the first vertical drain pan, the reheat coil is secured between the first and second horizontal drain pans, and the first horizontal drain pan is on an opposite side of the DX coil and the reheat coil from the second horizontal drain pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC US, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Bush, Allen Barbely
  • Patent number: 11732941
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes an integrated open-circuit refrigeration system and closed-circuit heat pump system. The thermal management system includes a receiver having a first receiver port and a second receiver port, the receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator having a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port, the heat pump circuit having a closed-circuit fluid path with the receiver and the evaporator and an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive refrigerant from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system having an open-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver and the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Joshua Peters
  • Patent number: 11702958
    Abstract: A method of regulating pressure in a thermal transport bus of a gas turbine engine, the method including: operating the gas turbine engine with the thermal transport bus having an intermediary heat exchange fluid flowing therethrough, the thermal transport bus including one or more heat source heat exchangers and one or more heat sink heat exchangers in thermal communication through the intermediary heat exchanger fluid; and adjusting a flow volume of the thermal transport bus using a variable volume device in fluid communication with the thermal transport bus in response to a pressure change associated with the thermal transport bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Alan Schimmels, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11686516
    Abstract: A refrigerant-amount determination kit includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is mounted at least temporarily on at least one of a portion of a refrigeration cycle apparatus and the periphery of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is an apparatus having a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The processor determines the amount of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit based on a detection result detected by the sensor during operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Inao, Shizuka Sadai, Shuji Fujimoto, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 11685234
    Abstract: A control system includes a refrigerant recovery module and at least one of a valve control module and a compressor control module. The refrigerant recovery module is configured to generate a refrigerant recovery signal to initiate a recovery of refrigerant from a first heat exchanger of a thermal system for an electric vehicle, and to stop the refrigerant recovery based on a temperature of refrigerant circulating through the first heat exchanger. The valve control module is configured to open a first valve to allow refrigerant to flow through the first heat exchanger in response to the refrigerant recovery signal. The compressor control module is configured to increase a speed of a compressor disposed upstream from the first heat exchanger in response to the refrigerant recovery signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Devin C. Richardson, Cameron Paul Smith, Anthony James Donatelli, Nathan John English, Tanay Kalpej Patel
  • Patent number: 11674710
    Abstract: A compliant containment device for use in a hydronic system, the compliant containment device including a vessel including an inlet and an outlet, and valve operably coupled to at least one of the inlet and outlet, wherein the valve is configured to operate between an open and closed position based in part on a temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory Terraz
  • Patent number: 11629890
    Abstract: Thermal management systems are described. These systems include a refrigerant receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator, a closed-circuit refrigeration system having a closed fluid circuit path, with the refrigerant receiver and evaporator disposed in the closed fluid circuit path, and the closed fluid circuit path including a condenser and compressor. These systems also include a modulation capacity control circuit configured to selectively divert refrigerant vapor flow to the condenser from the compressor by diverting a portion of refrigerant vapor flow (diverted flow) from the compressor to the refrigerant receiver in accordance with cooling capacity demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Joshua Peters
  • Patent number: 11604019
    Abstract: A system for charging an outdoor unit with refrigerant includes a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration and a user device configured to receive the measured refrigerant concentration. The system includes that the user device is configured to, in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding a threshold, generate and display an alert on a user interface of the user device indicating the measured refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Alfano, Winfield S. Morter, Brian R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11561033
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a refrigerant receiver having a refrigerant receiver outlet and a refrigerant receiver inlet, with the refrigerant receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an ejector having a primary flow inlet coupled to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, a secondary flow inlet and an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Joshua Peters, Jacob Swain
  • Patent number: 11548267
    Abstract: A heat cycle system is a heat cycle system (1) using a working medium containing hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) that has a double bond in a molecule structure, the heat cycle system (1) having a compressor (10), a high-pressure side heat exchanger (12), a low-pressure side heat exchanger (14), an expansion mechanism (13), and an acid detection means (40) which is disposed in a discharge pipe (21) connecting the compressor (10) and the high-pressure side heat exchanger (12) and which detects acid generated by decomposition of the working medium in a heat cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayamizu, Masato Fukushima, Hirokazu Takagi
  • Patent number: 11530848
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner including a connection pipe connected to a refrigerant pipe disposed inside an outdoor heat exchanger that operates as a condenser during a cooling operation and as an evaporator during a heating operation, a header connected to the connection pipe, wherein a refrigerant separated from a two-phase refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe flows through the header, a bypass pipe connected to the header to guide a flow of the refrigerant to a compressor, a flow rate control valve installed at the bypass pipe to control a flow velocity of the refrigerant, a subcooler configured to superheat the refrigerant flowing through the bypass pipe, and a controller configured to control an opening degree of the flow rate control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jungmin Park, Eunjun Cho
  • Patent number: 11449650
    Abstract: A method for estimating refrigerant charge for an HVACR system is provided. The method includes obtaining one or more system parameters during operation. The one or more system parameters include at least one of compressor suction superheat, system mass flow, expansion device mass flow or opening degree, compressor suction saturated temperature, and compressor discharge saturated temperature. The method also includes conducting a regression analysis on the one or more system parameters to determine one or more predictive parameters for estimating the refrigerant charge. The method further includes determining a predictive model based on regression analysis. The predictive model establishes a relationship between the refrigerant charge and the one or more predictive parameters. Also the method includes estimating the refrigerant charge based on the predictive model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jian Ming Zhang, Lifen Li, James P. Crolius, Scott A. Munns
  • Patent number: 11441826
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vapor compression system that includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense vapor refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, a subcooler coupled to the condenser, where the subcooler is external of a shell of the condenser, and where the subcooler is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the condenser and to cool the liquid refrigerant to subcooled refrigerant, and an evaporator disposed downstream of the subcooler along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the subcooled refrigerant to the vapor refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Jeb W. Schreiber, Eric H. Albrecht, Kevin D. Krebs, Justin P. Kauffman, Brian L. Stauffer, Xiuping Su, Li Wang, Fang Xue
  • Patent number: 11378288
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner having an expansion valve unit. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an expansion valve unit configured to decompress the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger, a refrigerant pipe configured to deliver the refrigerant, which is decompressed and expanded by the expansion valve unit, to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and a bracket configured to support the expansion valve unit. The expansion valve unit includes an expansion valve, a first connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the heat exchanger, and a second connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the refrigerant pipe. The expansion valve, and one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion are fixed to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Munsub Kim, Youjae Kim, Hyunho Kim, Hyeongjoon Seo, Duhan Jung
  • Patent number: 11378313
    Abstract: A refrigerant detector testing system according to aspects of the disclosure includes a metering orifice formed in a suction line that is disposed between an evaporator coil and a compressor, a valve fluidly coupled to the metering orifice, a connecting tube fluidly coupled to the valve on a side opposite the metering orifice, a mixing device having an input orifice fluidly coupled to the connecting tube. In some embodiments, the mixing device includes an air intake disposed proximate the input orifice, a throttling portion downstream of the input orifice and the air intake, the throttling portion having a reduced cross-sectional area, and a diffuser section positioned downstream of the throttling portion, the diffuser section having an output orifice. According to aspects of the disclosure, a refrigerant detector fluidly exposed to the output orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Robert B. Uselton, Eric Berg, Mark Olsen
  • Patent number: 11326804
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units; a relay unit including an intermediate heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and a heat medium; and a heat source unit configured to supply cooling energy or heating energy to each of the plurality of indoor units via the relay unit. The heat source unit and the relay unit are connected by a heat-source connection pipe through which the refrigerant flows, and the relay unit and the plurality of indoor units are connected by a load connection pipe through which the heat medium flows. The load connection pipe comprises a main pipe connecting between the relay unit and one of the indoor units provided at an end of the load connection pipe opposite to the relay unit. The main pipe has branch parts associated with the indoor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Hiroki Washiyama, Yuji Motomura, Kimitaka Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11280529
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to subcooling control of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. An HVAC system may include a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a refrigerant vessel having an inlet fluidly coupled to a discharge conduit extending from the compressor, and the refrigerant vessel having an outlet fluidly coupled to a liquid conduit, the liquid conduit configured to pass liquid refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The HVAC system may further include an electronic expansion valve (EEV) fluidly coupled between the discharge conduit and the inlet of the refrigerant vessel, wherein the EEV is configured to modulate and divert a portion of vapor refrigerant flowing through the discharge conduit into the refrigerant vessel to control subcooling (SC) produced by the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Luis Balderrama
  • Patent number: 11262096
    Abstract: A compliant containment device for use in a hydronic system, the compliant containment device including a vessel including an inlet and an outlet, and valve operably coupled to at least one of the inlet and outlet, wherein the valve is configured to operate between an open and closed position based in part on a temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory Terraz
  • Patent number: 11204188
    Abstract: An air-conditioning device including multiple outdoor units and an indoor unit through a pipe includes a control section that obtains a degree of subcooling at an outlet of a subcooling circuit of each outdoor unit based on a temperature detected by a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of refrigerant having passed through the subcooling circuit of each outdoor unit, obtain a target value of the degree of subcooling based on the obtained multiple degrees of subcooling, and perform the control of increasing the rotation speed of a compressor of an outdoor unit having a higher degree of subcooling than the target value and decreasing the rotation speed of a compressor of an outdoor unit having a lower degree of subcooling than the target value such that a difference in the degree of subcooling at the outlet of the subcooling circuit of each outdoor unit is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI-JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kaneko, Shoutaro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11199337
    Abstract: An air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit connecting a plurality of indoor heat exchangers in parallel and is able to complete collection of refrigerant to the side of an outdoor heat exchanger in a shorter time when the refrigerant has leaked at any indoor heat exchanger is provided. Thus, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, when refrigerant leak is detected by a refrigerant leak sensor provided in an indoor unit and refrigerant leak is not detected by a refrigerant leak sensor provided in an indoor unit, an indoor LEV and a cutoff valve are closed to isolate an indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit from the refrigerant circuit in a refrigerant pump-down operation. When refrigerant leak is detected by the refrigerant leak sensor and refrigerant leak is not detected by the refrigerant leak sensor, an indoor LEV and a cutoff valve are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kawashima, Katsuhiro Ishimura
  • Patent number: 11162720
    Abstract: A method of converting a refrigerant includes recovering a refrigerant from a refrigeration unit with an evacuation pump and containing the recovered refrigerant in a container. The method also includes testing the recovered refrigerant and converting the recovered refrigerant. The converted refrigerant is different from the recovered refrigerant. A system for converting a refrigerant includes an evacuation pump, a container, and one or more refrigerant containers. The evacuation pump and container are configured to recover a refrigerant from a refrigeration unit. The one or more containers deliver one or more refrigerant components into the container to convert the recovered refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dermott Crombie, Stephen A. Kujak
  • Patent number: 11131489
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery apparatus is connected between a target apparatus from which a refrigerant is recovered and a refrigerant recovery container. The apparatus includes a compressor, a condenser, and a residual refrigerant recovery path. The compressor sucks the refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit of the target apparatus and compresses the refrigerant. The condenser condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and sends the refrigerant to the refrigerant recovery container through a main refrigerant recovery path. The residual refrigerant recovery path through which a decompression mechanism on a branch path branching from the main refrigerant recovery path decompresses a residual refrigerant in the condenser. The decompressed refrigerant is sucked into the compressor and pressurized. The pressurized refrigerant is sent into the refrigerant recovery container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Domyo
  • Patent number: 11125481
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes an evaporator coil and a compressor fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil. A condenser coil is fluidly coupled to the compressor. The condenser coil includes at least one condenser circuit fluidly coupled between a discharge line and an exit manifold. A sub-cool circuit is fluidly coupled between the exit manifold and a liquid line. A first temperature sensor is disposed at an entrance to the sub-cool circuit. A second temperature sensor is disposed at an exit to the sub-cool circuit. An HVAC controller is operatively coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. The HVAC controller is configured to determine a temperature difference across the sub-cool circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Siddarth Rajan, Patrie Ananda Balan
  • Patent number: 11085677
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system is equipped with an extraction pipe, a stabilizer holding container, a recovery pipe, a recovery container, and a recovery device. The extraction pipe is connectable to a refrigerant extraction port of an air conditioning apparatus. The stabilizer holding container is connected to the extraction pipe—and holds a stabilizer. The stabilizer holding container causes refrigerant guided by the extraction pipe to come into contact with the stabilizer. The recovery pipe guides the refrigerant discharged from the stabilizer holding container. The recovery container is connected to the recovery pipe and recovers the refrigerant guided by the recovery pipe. The recovery device causes the refrigerant to move from the refrigerant extraction port to the recovery container. The refrigerant includes a compound represented by a molecular formula having one or more carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Tanaka, Shigeharu Taira, Tomoyuki Haikawa, Yoshiki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11073308
    Abstract: In a cryocooler for developing coldness of 4 K or lower by expanding helium, an expander expands high-pressure helium. A compressor compresses low-pressure helium returned from the expander, to generate high-pressure helium, and supplies the high-pressure helium to the expander. When helium temperature in the expander is 2.17 K or lower, the pressure of the low-pressure helium is equal to or higher than pressure given by a curve, in a helium state diagram in which the horizontal axis is temperature and the vertical axis is pressure, along which helium's volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: A. T. A. M de Waele, Mingyao Xu, Qian Bao
  • Patent number: 11047590
    Abstract: An air conditioner, in which a liquid-pressure adjustment expansion valve that decompresses a refrigerant so that the refrigerant flowing through a liquid-refrigerant connection pipe is in a gas-liquid two-phase state is provided in an outdoor liquid-refrigerant pipe that connects a liquid-side end of an outdoor heat exchanger to the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe, properly transports the refrigerant in a two-phase state while suppressing an increase in a discharge temperature of a compressor. A liquid injection pipe that branches part of a refrigerant flowing through an outdoor liquid-refrigerant pipe and feeds the branched refrigerant to a compressor is connected to a portion of the outdoor liquid-refrigerant pipe on a side of an outdoor heat exchanger with respect to a liquid-pressure adjustment expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Yuusuke Nakagawa, Masahiro Honda, Yuusuke Oka
  • Patent number: 10871317
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for indicating status of multi-phase vacuum-assisted recovery of refrigerant from a vehicle. One apparatus for multi-phase vacuum-assisted recovery of refrigerant from a vehicle includes a compressor that removes refrigerant from the vehicle during a first phase and a second phase of a recovery process. The apparatus also includes a vacuum pump to assist the compressor in the removal of refrigerant from the vehicle during a second stage of the recovery process. Further, the vacuum pump is fluidly connected in series with the compressor during the second phase of the recovery process. The apparatus additionally includes one or more status lights and at least one processor to determine a status of the recovery process. At least one of the status lights is illuminated to represent a status of the recovery process, and at least one is visible from 360 degrees around the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Craig Govekar, Rahhali Sanhaji