Including Time Or Program Actuator Patents (Class 62/155)
  • Patent number: 8549867
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a controller and a closed system that includes a condensing heat exchanger coil, an evaporating heat exchanger coil, a refrigerant and a compressor. The compressor is configured to compress the refrigerant, thereby causing the refrigerant to have a greater pressure in the condensing heat exchanger coil than in the evaporating heat exchanger coil. The controller is configured to perform a passive defrost of the evaporating heat exchanger coil. The passive defrost includes disabling the compressor and providing a bypass path between the condensing and evaporating heat exchanger coils that bypasses the compressor. The bypass path allows the refrigerant to flow from the condensing heat exchanger coil to the evaporating heat exchanger coil while the compressor is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Robert B. Uselton, Bruce Perkins
  • Patent number: 8549866
    Abstract: A cooling tunnel includes an infeed port for feeding objects, a discharge port for discharging objects, successive treatment stations for treating the objects with a cooling medium, and a conveyor system for transporting the objects to be cooled from the infeed port to the discharge port, with the conveyor system travelling through the individual treatment stations. The conveyor system has a first section running through several treatment stations, the first section extending from the infeed port to a turnaround station, a second section running through several treatment stations, the second section extending from the turnaround station to the discharge port, as well as a return section, which is arranged before the discharge port and connects a discharge-side zone of the second section with an infeed-side zone of the first section, to selectively either discharge objects or to cool them further. A method for operating a cooling tunnel is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: airinotec GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Hummrich
  • Patent number: 8528352
    Abstract: The defrost timer is typically provided to remove frost on an evaporator in a refrigerator. The defrost timer includes a circuit board, a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, a switching unit, a first AC line, a second AC line, a third AC line and a fourth AC line. The first AC line is provided on the circuit board and connects the first terminal and the switching unit. The second AC line is provided on the circuit board and connects the second terminal and the switching unit. The third AC line is provided on the circuit board and connects the third terminal and the switching unit. The fourth AC line is provided on the circuit board and connects the fourth terminal and the switching unit. Distance between the third AC line and the fourth AC line is at least 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo E&E Corporation
    Inventors: Takatomo Kawamukai, Kazutoyo Fukukura
  • Patent number: 8522567
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air by passing a coolant therethrough; an anti-freeze apparatus which prevents the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger by supplying energy to the heat exchanger; and a heat generation unit which heats the heat exchanger. The air conditioner can minimize the need for a defrost operation and can thus continuously and effectively perform an air conditioning function even when water on the surface of the heat exchanger is frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Seok Kim, Jie Seop Sim
  • Patent number: 8511102
    Abstract: A method for defrost control of a refrigerator having a refrigeration and defrost system that includes a compressor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a heater. The refrigerator also has a control system to control the operation of the refrigerator. The method includes stopping the compressor operation; starting a defrost process; starting the heater; maintaining a start state over a preset period of time; closing off the heater; and starting the compressor. After starting the compressor and before the evaporator fan is started to perform the refrigeration operation, the evaporator fan is operated at least once briefly and intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Junhong Feng, Xiaotian Zhou, Qiwu Zhu, Weizhong Zhu
  • Publication number: 20130192280
    Abstract: A refrigerator according to the present invention includes a compressor compressing a coolant, a condenser condensing the coolant compressed in the compressor, an expander through which the coolant condensed in the condenser passes, an evaporator evaporating the coolant expanded in the expander and cooling an inside of the refrigerator, a defroster defrosting the evaporator, a coolant adjusting valve adjusting the coolant flowing from the condenser to the evaporator, and a controller driving the compressor and turning on the defroster after closing the coolant adjusting valve. The refrigerator may minimize power consumed for defrosting and the defrosting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
  • Patent number: 8484987
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products
    Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130098077
    Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior and a refrigeration fluid circuit having first and second evaporators located within the cabinet and separated from the refrigerated interior by an insulating cover. The refrigerator also includes a first damper controlling flow from the refrigerated interior into the first evaporator, a second damper controlling flow from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, and a third damper controlling flow from the second evaporator to the refrigerated interior. The first evaporator operates with refrigerant at a lower temperature than the second evaporator such that substantially all frost formed on the first and second evaporators is collected on a first evaporator coil in the first evaporator. Thus, the first evaporator acts as a sacrificial evaporator that undergoes defrost more frequently than the second evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLC
    Inventor: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
  • Publication number: 20130098076
    Abstract: A high performance refrigerator includes a cabinet with a unitary refrigerated interior and a refrigeration fluid circuit having first and second evaporators located within the cabinet and separated from the refrigerated interior by respective first and second evaporator covers. The refrigerator also includes a first damper controlling flow between the first evaporator and the refrigerated interior, and a second damper controlling flow between the second evaporator and the refrigerated interior. A controller directs the refrigerator to operate a three-way valve in the refrigeration fluid circuit so as to direct refrigerant to only one of the evaporators when the other requires defrosting. Both evaporators may be used to remove heat from the unitary refrigerated interior during an initial cooling or immediately after the cabinet is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLC
    Inventor: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
  • Publication number: 20130086928
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a low-temperature storage compartment damper to control supply of cool air to a low-temperature storage compartment, a high-temperature storage compartment damper to control supply of hot air to a high-temperature storage compartment, and a controller to control the low-temperature storage compartment damper to be opened and the high-temperature storage compartment damper to be closed while controlling a compressor and blowing fan to be driven so that the temperature of the low-temperature storage compartment reaches a low set temperature, to control the driving of the compressor and blowing fan to be stopped and the low-temperature storage compartment damper to be closed when the temperature of the low-temperature storage compartment reaches the low set temperature, and to control a defrosting heater and the blowing fan to be driven and the high-temperature storage compartment damper to be opened when the supply of cool air is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8402774
    Abstract: In apparatus to convert cryogenic fluid to gas, a vaporizer having passages to pass the cool or cold cryogenic fluid in heat transfer relation with warming gas flowing downwardly through the vaporizer, the vaporizer having surfaces on which ice collects and from which ice falls to the base of the vaporizer and collects in a pile, and removing fluid flow control means operating to direct flow of removing fluid at the ice pile with sufficient force to cause removal of such ice in the pile relative to the vaporizer base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cryoquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross M. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130067943
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Trane International Inc.
  • Patent number: 8397526
    Abstract: In a controller for a refrigerating system including refrigerating machines and showcases, a showcase that is about to execute a defrost operation is detected on the basis of a defrost operation indicating information. When the controller receives a notification indicating start of the defrost operation from the showcase concerned or on the basis of a comparison result between a pre-stored defrost-operation start time and the present time, at least one of the refrigerating machines is instructed to reduce the output power thereof. When the showcase finishes the defrost operation, the at least one of the refrigerating machines is instructed to increase the output power thereof so that the output power of the refrigerating machine is set to stationary output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsuhashi, Tsuyoshi Kawaai, Ken Aoki
  • Publication number: 20130055742
    Abstract: An equipment control system for equipment such as a refrigeration device, its control device, and its control program are provided in which defrosting operation start time can be changed appropriately. The integrated controller controls a defrosting operation to remove frost adhered to the equipment, in which the defrosting operation is started at a fixed or varying time interval. The integrated controller stores past data based on required time for past defrosting operations for different environmental conditions. The integrated controller includes an environmental condition acquisition unit for obtaining environmental conditions; a database control unit for obtaining required time for a defrosting operation based on the past record data corresponding to the present environmental conditions from the stored past data; and a start time changing unit for changing start time of the present-round defrosting operation based on the obtained required time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi OUCHI, Yoshio OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130031921
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle that is formed by connecting a compressor, a condenser, expansion means, and an evaporator and that performs cooling operation; an evaporator heating device that heats the evaporator; a drain pan that receives drain-water from the evaporator and drains the drain-water; a drain-pan heating device that heats the drain pan; frost detecting means including a light-emitting element that emits light to the evaporator and a light-receiving element that receives reflected light from the evaporator and outputs a voltage according to the reflected light; and a control device that controls on-off operation of the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device. The control device determines a frosting condition on the evaporator from an output of the frost detecting means and individually controls the evaporator heating device and the drain-pan heating device in accordance with the determination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Fumitake Unezaki, Akira Morikawa, Satoshi Ueyama, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Tetsuya Yamashita, Yusuke Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8341970
    Abstract: An equipment control system includes a control device, and a control program in which present-round defrosting operation start time can be changed appropriately. An integrated controller controls a defrosting operation to remove frost adhered to showcases, in which the defrosting operation is started at a fixed or varying time interval. The integrated controller stores past record data based on required time for past defrosting operations for different environmental conditions. The integrated controller includes an environmental condition acquisition unit for obtaining present environmental conditions; a database control unit for obtaining required time for a present-round defrosting operation based on the past record data corresponding to the present environmental conditions from among the stored past record data; and a start time changing unit for changing start time of the present-round defrosting operation based on the obtained required time from the scheduled start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ouchi, Yoshio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8327658
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, James T. Schaefer, Jr., Kristen L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8306667
    Abstract: To achieve a reduction in power consumption by allowing a plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other and thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities with no load variations involved by temperature variations. An air-conditioning apparatus 100 may include a plurality of air conditioners and a computing section for control, where each air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that form a closed refrigeration cycle. The indoor units of the plurality of air conditioners are installed in an area to be air-conditioned. The computing section for control may allow the plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other, thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities based on air-conditioning load detected by each air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Baba, Masahiko Takagi, Norikazu Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20120266621
    Abstract: A container refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit configured to perform a refrigeration cycle and including a main circuit in which a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator are connected together in this order, and a hot gas bypass circuit in which compressed refrigerant of the compressor is supplied to the evaporator by bypassing the condenser and the expansion valve; and a compressor control section configured to, in a defrosting operation in which the compressed refrigerant of the compressor returns to the compressor through the hot gas bypass circuit and the evaporator and the evaporator is defrosted, control an operating speed of the compressor such that a pressure of the compressed refrigerant of the compressor reaches a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokohara, Yuusuke Fujimoto, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8219249
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The controllers also include communication interfaces for receiving climate data. In certain embodiments, the controllers govern operation of the HVAC systems based at least in part on the climate data. Further, the controllers may display information and alerts related to the climate data. The controllers also may govern operation of air treatment devices within the HVAC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Carmichael, Jedidiah O. Bentz
  • Publication number: 20120067072
    Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to anti-sweat heater systems for refrigeration units. More specifically, certain embodiments relate to anti-sweat heater control systems having one or more controllers that operate anti-sweat heaters independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Supermarket Energy Solutions
    Inventors: Bruce Malwitz, James M. LaRocque
  • Publication number: 20120055179
    Abstract: A method includes providing a standard supply of electrical power to a defrost heater during a standard defrost cycle for a refrigeration system of an appliance, detecting a high energy demand period during the standard defrost cycle, and enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Joseph Thomas Waugh, Jeffrey Wood
  • Publication number: 20120055181
    Abstract: A cooling system including an evaporator to exchange heat with air, a frost detector installed on the evaporator to detect frost, and a control unit to determine whether a current time corresponds to a frost detection point, to control the frost detector to operate when the current time corresponds to the frost detection point, and to control a defrosting operation based on a frost detection signal from the frost detector. It is possible to accurately detect the amount of frost formed on the evaporator by executing the frost detection under constant frost detection environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Gyu Kim, Hyun Suk Kwak, Young Chul Ko
  • Publication number: 20120047920
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Jeffrey Martin Wood, Martin Christopher Severance, Jason Andrew May
  • Publication number: 20120047921
    Abstract: An energy saving defrost control system for reducing power consumption of an electromechanically controlled refrigerator is provided. The system includes a defrost timer adapted to control a compressor according to an established run time, a defrost heater control operatively connected to the defrost timer and configured to activate a defrost heater in response to a timeout by the defrost timer, a DSM module responsive to demand state signals from an associated utility indicative of at least a peak demand and off peak demand state, and a time delay latching relay having a timer and configured to switch to one of a low position and a high position based on the demand state signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: John K. Besore
  • Publication number: 20120047929
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a defrost unit for a vehicle. A prediction is performed as to whether condensation has formed against a surface of the vehicle. The defrost unit is automatically activated when it is predicted that the condensation has formed against the surface. Another prediction is made as to whether condensation has dissipated from the surface while the defrost unit is operating. The defrost unit is automatically deactivated when it is predicted that the condensation has dissipated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: GILLES M. DELORME, THOMAS D. HAGEN, TODD M. TUMAS
  • Publication number: 20120031127
    Abstract: A defrost fan control device for a refrigerator is provided. The device comprises a container, a heat exchanger, a chamber, a suction pump, a condensate spraying device, an evaporation coil, and a blower. The suction pump is for sucking up the condensate from the container. The condensate spraying device is for spraying the condensate sucked up by the suction pump within the chamber. The evaporation coil is disposed around the condensate spraying device such that the condensate from the suction pump lands on an inner surface of the evaporation coil and evaporates the condensate. The blower is for inducing air flow within the chamber, whereby the evaporated condensate is exhausted from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Brian S. KIM
  • Patent number: 8033125
    Abstract: A control device includes a microcomputer and a storage element. The microcomputer is configured to execute an inspection operation mode in which an air conditioner is operated in inspection process in a manufacturing site, and a normal operation mode in which the air conditioner is operated at an installation site. When the operation state of the air conditioner fails to satisfy predetermined conditions, the microcomputer is configured to confirm that there is an error, and abnormally stop the air conditioner. When the air conditioner is abnormally stopped, the microcomputer is configured to cause the storage element to store predetermined operation information obtained during a period until abnormal stoppage of the air conditioner and to store the operation mode being executed at the time of occurrence of the error in the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Saruwatari, Hiroyuki Matsuura, Mario Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20110209489
    Abstract: An electronic defrost system consisting of a circuit board designed to implement defrost cycle of an air source heat pump outdoor coil during the off-cycle period. off-cycle is when the house thermostat is satisfied, heat pump is timed off for two minutes and then reactivated in regular defrost cycle if defrost sensor is calling for defrost. (Temp/off cycle). When sensor opens, heat pump will shut off for two minutes to allow pressure equalization. The automatic emergency heat is an option that can be selected. The automatic setting will activate the same circuit as the manual switch at the indoor house thermostat. Defrost control board designed to activate all heat strips during defrost cycle if desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Reynold Kenneth Lawson, SR.
  • Patent number: 7992396
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a refrigeration system (1) comprising at least one compressor (4), at least one condenser (5) and at least two refrigeration entities (2), each comprising at least one evaporator (9). Based on information relating to the gas production by the evaporators (9) it is determined whether or not two or more evaporators (9) are running in a synchronized manner, i.e. are switching between an active and an inactive state at least substantially simultaneously. In case two or more evaporators (9) are running in a synchronized manner, the refrigeration system (1) may be controlled in order to desynchronize the evaporators (9). This may, e.g., be done by changing a cut-in temperature and/or a cut-out temperature for one of the corresponding refrigeration entities (2). Synchronization causes undesired variations in the suction pressure, and preventing synchronization therefore results in a more appropriate control of the refrigeration system (1). Reduces wear on the compressors (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Claus Thybo, Lars Finn Sloth Larsen
  • Publication number: 20110185755
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus including a frost sensor to sense frost, a multiplexer having a first input terminal, to which the frost sensor is connected, and a second input terminal as a non-connected input terminal, a signal processor to subtract a signal input through the second input terminal from a signal input through the first input terminal, and to output a signal obtained by the subtraction, and a controller to detect an amount of frost sensed by the frost sensor, based on the output signal from the signal processor. It is possible to easily and accurately determine noise contained in a signal received from the frost sensor by determining, as noise, the signal received from the input terminal, to which the frost sensor is not connected, and subtracting the noise from the signal received from each input terminal, to which the frost sensor is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Gyu Kim, Jin Woo Cho, Young Chul Ko, Hyun Suk Kwak
  • Patent number: 7958737
    Abstract: A heat pump is provided with an improvement while switching from heating/cooling mode to a defrost mode. Prior to initiation of a defrost mode, an electronic expansion device is moved to an open position such that refrigerant can migrate between the indoor-outdoor heat exchangers. When the operation of the defrost cycle is initiated, there is a lower likelihood and severity of flooded starts, as the refrigerant, under existing pressure differential at system shutdown, will move to the heat exchanger that will be downstream of the compressor in the defrost mode. Thus, no flooded start will occur on the subsequent compressor start-up. After completion of the defrost cycle, the electronic expansion device is again opened prior to return to operation in the conventional heating/cooling mode. In case subsequent starts are in an identical mode of operation, the electronic expansion valve is kept closed during shutdown to minimize cyclic performance losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Patent number: 7942014
    Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a refrigeration sealed system, the system including at least one refrigeration compartment and a controller operatively coupled to a compressor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a condenser fan, wherein the method includes initiating a defrost cycle, operating the sealed system to prechill the refrigeration compartment, and selectively operating the evaporator fan and the condenser fan to raise a temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Rafalovich, Ziqiang Hu, Anil Kumar Tummala, Richard DeVos
  • Patent number: 7937959
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a control system, an integrated control apparatus, and a control program that are capable of well maintaining freshness and quality of food articles, by reducing time for performing a recovery operation following a frost removing operation of cooling devices. In response to a start of the frost removing operation of a first showcase, an integrated control apparatus provides a second device controller (device control unit) with a “lower limit cooling instruction (increase instruction)” to increase the refrigerant supplied to a second showcase to an amount larger than that before the frost removing operation starts. In response to the “lower limit cooling instruction (increase instruction),” the second device controller (device control unit) increases the amount of the refrigerant supplied to the second showcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanabe, Atsushi Ouchi, Yoshio Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20110094245
    Abstract: Disclosed is a defrosting system and a defrosting method of a refrigerator, the system including an evaporator configured to reduce an ambient temperature by heat exchange through movement of refrigerant, a frost monitoring camera by photographing a state of frost adhered to the evaporator, a controller configured to grasp changes of an image captured by the frost monitoring camera to determine a defrosting start time, and a heat-generating unit configured to emit heat in response to a signal applied from the controller to remove the frost, whereby an unnecessary operation of a heat-generating unit is prevented by appropriately coping with an environment that flexibly changes according to an inner situation of a refrigerator and by accurately determining, by the controller, a start time and a completion time of defrosting operation for removing frost adhered to the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seoyoung Kim
  • Publication number: 20110088415
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device are provided. The system adaptively moves the defrost cycle to low usage times based on an evaluation of compressor usage in a daily cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Lacey, Robert Alvord, Jim Kopec
  • Patent number: 7921660
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable code for controlling a defrost cycle of a refrigeration device are disclosed. According to some embodiments, a defrost command is issued to a defrost heater at a time determined at least in part by a total wasted energy parameter of the compressor for at least one time interval. In some embodiments, time interval includes a plurality of runtimes, and the total wasted energy parameter of a runtime is measured relative to a chosen reference runtime such as a minimum energy runtime after a defrost or an early runtime after a defrost. Optionally, a sequence of wasted energy parameters of the compressor for a sequence of time intervals is analyzed, and then a correction is performed on at least one wasted energy parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brody Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Chaim Brody
  • Patent number: 7913500
    Abstract: A refrigerator control method is provided that may efficiently perform a defrosting operation. The method includes performing a normal operation of a refrigerating storage room and a normal operation of a freezing storage room selectively or simultaneously, setting a variable defrosting period, which is varied according to set parameters including the relative humidity of external air, and performing a defrosting operation based on the set defrosting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Keun Lim, Gye Young Song
  • Patent number: 7895845
    Abstract: An adaptive defrost control for a frozen product machine implements an algorithm that utilizes various operating parameters of the machine to adaptively adjust the time interval between successive defrost cycles in a manner such that defrost cycles occur only on an as-needed basis. The adaptive defrost control minimizes the time during which the machine is in a defrost cycle, thereby maximizing the uptime of the machine during which frozen product can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: Steve Every, John F. Paulius, III, David B. Gist, Santhosh Kumar, Gregory M. Billman, Daniel C. Leaver, Kyle B. Elsom, Nikolay Popov
  • Patent number: 7883024
    Abstract: A hot water storage tank (3) and a circulating path (12) coupled to the hot water storage tank (3) are provided. An operation is possible wherein low-temperature water, let out from a lower part of the hot water storage tank (3) and entering the circulating path (12), is heated and boiled up by a heat pump heating source for forwarding to an upper part of the hot water storage tank (3). A refrigerant circulating circuit of the heat pump heating source is provided with a defrost circuit (38) for supplying hot gas from a compressor (25) to an air heat exchanger (28). It is possible to perform a defrost operation for providing a supply of hot gas to the air heat exchanger (28), with a water circulation pump (13) of the circulating path (12) held in abeyance. The water circulation pump (13) is made active if the defrost operation has been continued for not less than a predetermined time period since the start thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Shinichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20110016896
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle switchable between a heat pump cycle and a cooler cycle, a heat core configured to heat air to be blown into a vehicle compartment by using coolant of an engine of the vehicle as a heat source, and a controller configured to control operation of the vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The controller controls the vapor compression refrigeration cycle to be operated as the cooler cycle so as to perform a defrosting control of the outdoor heat exchanger, and outputs an operation request signal to the engine, when the controller determines that the outdoor heat exchanger is frosted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyo Oomura, Hiroyuki Hayashi, Yukihiko Takeda, Yoshinori Ichishi
  • Patent number: 7856836
    Abstract: A refrigerating air conditioning system is provided with a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor 3, an indoor heat exchanger 6, a first pressure reducing device 10, an outdoor heat exchanger 11, and a switching device 4 for switching a direction of a refrigerant flow between heating and cooling modes for supplying heat from the indoor heat exchanger 6. In the system, a refrigerant temperature detection sensor 14c of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and an outdoor air temperature detection sensor 14d are provided for determining a state of a frost formed on the outdoor heat exchanger 11. Two types of defrosting inhibition time values ?1 and ?3 are allowed to be set in accordance with a previous defrosting time ?2 for continuously performing heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 7836707
    Abstract: A method to detect and respond to a coil condition in an HVAC system. The method includes calculating an initial airflow restriction value and a current airflow restriction value, which are compared. If the current airflow restriction value is greater than a first sum including the initial airflow restriction value and a first restriction factor, then a coil condition is preliminarily determined to be freezing and cooling in the HVAC system is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Puranen, Rajendra K. Shah
  • Patent number: 7836711
    Abstract: Based on a result of detection taken by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97) for detecting a difference between a high and a low pressure of a refrigeration cycle, an estimate of whether there is leakage of refrigerant in an expansion valve (52) is made. Based on the result detected by the high-low pressure difference detection means (93, 97), a control means (81) sets a reference temperature (T3) to a value corresponding to the degree of refrigerant leakage in the expansion valve (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kojima, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7784050
    Abstract: A multiple unit processing system which processes tasks using a plurality of different processing units. Each of the processing units is individually monitor for temperature. A new task is assigned to the processing units based on their level of sale, based on their temperature, and based on the rate of change of temperature. In this way, the temperature of the multiple units can be managed based on the assignment of different tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Harris Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Harris
  • Publication number: 20100205983
    Abstract: A method of defrosting a eutectic plate of a refrigeration system involves activating a defrost system when a power source is connected to the refrigeration system. The defrost system is operated for all or a portion of a defrost cycle and is then deactivated. The initiation of a subsequent defrost cycle is prevented until the power source has been disconnected from the refrigeration system for at least a selected amount of time. A defrost system may include a controller programmed to carry out the method and automatically initiate a series of defrost cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Bruce C. Bailey, John W. Cook
  • Patent number: 7765818
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit and diagnostic method therefore are provided. The refrigeration unit includes: a housing with an insulated cavity for storing food and beverages; a vapor cycle system operative to cool the food and beverages in the insulated cavity; a plurality of sensors in communication with the vapor cycle system and outputting data relative to the vapor cycle system; and a controller that, according to the data from the plurality of sensors, determines an occurrence of an event. Wherein the controller logs the data from the plurality of sensors to a data structure according to a first data-logging mode, and logs the data to the data structure according to a second data-logging mode upon occurrence of the event. In one embodiment the refrigeration unit may be a refrigeration line replaceable unit (LRU) configured for an aircraft galley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert Walter Buck
  • Patent number: 7757505
    Abstract: A system and method in a commercial refrigeration system for compensating for events. A commercial refrigeration system includes a controller that predicts a first change in cooling capacity required based on at least one anticipated system event. The controller also predicts a second change in cooling capacity required based on at least one anticipated system event during a period of time. The controller compares the first and second changes in cooling capacity and implements a change in cooling capacity based on a relationship between the first and second changes in cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Ted W. Sunderland
  • Patent number: 7730729
    Abstract: A compressor, a radiator, an expander, and an evaporator are connected in series to define a refrigerating cycle. A bypass circuit that bypasses the expander, an on-off valve disposed in the bypass circuit, and a controller C1 for controlling an opening of the on-off valve are provided in the refrigerating cycle. During defrosting, the controller C1 controls the on-off valve so that a refrigerant may flow through the bypass circuit, thereby avoiding reduction in the amount of flow of the refrigerant during defrosting and preventing the defrosting operation from being prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Tetsuya Saito, Tomoichiro Tamura, Masaya Honma
  • Patent number: 7716936
    Abstract: A method for affecting a scheduled defrost operation for a refrigeration system includes the steps of: (a) after an extant the scheduled defrost operation commences, evaluating at least one predetermined parameter relating to operation of the refrigeration system; (b) if the at least one predetermined parameter manifests a behavior of at least one first predetermined nature over at least one first time interval, continuing the extant scheduled defrost operation; and (c) if the at least one predetermined parameter manifests a behavior of at least one second predetermined nature over at least one second time interval, discontinuing the extant scheduled defrost operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Bailey, Ira Zelman Richter, Donald Victor McNemar