Selective Heating Or Cooling Patents (Class 62/159)
  • Patent number: 11965683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system for a low temperature storage. The cooling system for the low temperature storage according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first outdoor valve disposed between a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger and selectively restricting an inflow of a refrigerant into the outdoor heat exchanger; and a first bypass pipe branched from an inlet side of the first outdoor valve and guiding the refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger, so that the refrigerant can be guided to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger during defrosting operation of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byoungjin Ryu, Yoonho Yoo, Jaeheuk Choi
  • Patent number: 11892215
    Abstract: A control method for a heat pump unit includes acquiring a first output capability set when the heat pump unit reaches a first preset energy efficiency ratio set at a current ambient temperature; acquiring a total demand load demanded by an indoor area having a heating demand or a cooling demand; and causing the heat pump unit to operate in accordance with the first output capability set when the total demand load is smaller than the first output capability set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Wenwei Gao, Yufeng Jing, Miao Chen
  • Patent number: 11876197
    Abstract: In a power battery heating method for a vehicle, when a current temperature value of a power battery is lower than a preset temperature value, and a heating condition of the power battery meets a preset condition, a three-phase inverter is controlled to cause a three-phase alternating current motor to generate heat according to heating energy, to heat a coolant flowing through the power battery, a preset quadrature-axis current that causes a torque value outputted by the motor to be an appropriate value is obtained, and a corresponding preset direct-axis current is obtained according to heating power of the power battery, so as to control, according to the preset direct-axis current and the preset quadrature-axis current, the three-phase inverter to adjust a phase current of the three-phase alternating current motor in the heating process, where a direction of the preset direct-axis current changes periodically in the heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Heping Ling, Hua Pan, Yuxin Zhang, Guo Tian, Zhao Xie
  • Patent number: 11859894
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a temperature controlled room with improved utilization of space because no component for cooling or heating is positioned inside a temperature controlled room. The refrigerator includes a cabinet; a storage room provided inside the cabinet; a temperature controlled room positioned inside the storage room and being at inside temperature which is independent from inside temperature of the storage room; a cool air flow path guiding cool air generated inside the cabinet to inside of the storage room; a first fan positioned on the cool air flow path to supply the cool air to the storage room; a cool air supplier forming at least one portion of the cool air flow path and including a second fan to supply the cool air to the temperature controlled room; and a heating portion configured to heat air to supply hot air to inside of the temperature controlled room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhong Yu, Youngmin You, Sungmo Kim, Jinyoung Song, Inyong Hwang, Jisick Hwang
  • Patent number: 11835270
    Abstract: Thermal management systems include an open circuit refrigeration system featuring a receiver configurable to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator configurable to extract heat from a heat load when the heat load contacts the evaporator, and an exhaust line, where the receiver, the evaporator, and the exhaust line are connected to form a refrigerant fluid flow path, and a first control device configurable to control a vapor quality of the refrigerant fluid at an outlet of the evaporator along the refrigerant fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Joshua Peters, Martin Seifert
  • Patent number: 11828486
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a reheater, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a cap tube, and a blower. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The blower moves air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater. During a heating mode of operation, the four-way valve is configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger; the second heat exchanger is configured to use the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger; and the cap tube is configured to allow refrigerant to bypass the reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Lin Lan, Christopher John Drury
  • Patent number: 11654740
    Abstract: A controller for a transport climate control system is provided. The controller includes a main processor, a co-processor and a verification memory. The main processor is configured to control operation of a compressor of the transport climate control system. The co-processor is separate from the main processor. The verification memory is connected in electronic communication with only the co-processor and is not in electronic communication with the main processor. The co-processor is configured to receive verification data from an independent sensor and wherein the independent sensor is not in communication with the main processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Adam Howard Raybin, Shawn Alan Schemmel, Oscar Sanz de Acedo Pollan, Niall Lynch
  • Patent number: 11592228
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to have an inner case in which a storage chamber is formed, a cooler configured to cool the storage chamber, a heating device configured to be spaced apart from the cooler and heat the storage chamber, a circulation fan configured to circulate air in the storage chamber, and a controller configured to operate the circulation fan when the heating device is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeongwon Park, Giseok Seong, Myungjin Chung, Kyungseok Kim, Jinho Kim, Yonghun Suh, Tackwon Han
  • Patent number: 11421923
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a first sensor disposed adjacent to an inlet of an evaporator configured to receive an airflow. The HVAC unit includes a second sensor disposed adjacent to an outlet of a reheat coil positioned downstream of the evaporator and configured to expel the airflow. The HVAC unit also includes a controller configured to regulate operation of a modulating reheat valve to adjust flow of a working fluid in thermal communication with the airflow to control a difference between a measurement of the first sensor and a measurement of the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: John T. Knight, Stephen B. Pickle, Norman J. Blanton, Kerry L. Shumway
  • Patent number: 11300337
    Abstract: An outdoor system for an air conditioner may include at least one outdoor unit, the at least one outdoor unit including a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; a pair of two-stage compression lines that extends to outside of the outdoor system; a pair of connection lines that extends to the outside of the outdoor system and communicates with an indoor unit; and multiple valves that open/close the pair of two-stage compression lines and the pair of connection lines when the outdoor system is operated in a one-stage heating mode or a two-stage heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Daehyoung Kim, Junseong Park, Pilhyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11255553
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a reheater, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, and a blower. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The blower moves air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater. During a first mode of operation: the first heat exchanger removes heat from a first portion of the refrigerant from the compressor, the first valve opens such that a second portion of the refrigerant from the compressor flows to the reheater, the second heat exchanger uses the first portion of the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger and the second portion of the refrigerant from the reheater to cool air proximate the second heat exchanger, and the reheater uses the second portion of the refrigerant from the compressor to heat the air moved by the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Lin Lan, Christopher John Drury
  • Patent number: 11192425
    Abstract: An integrated thermal management module may include a first pump for flowing coolant of an indoor heating line for connecting a first heat exchanger heat-exchanged with a condenser of a refrigerant line and an indoor air-conditioning heating core, a second pump for flowing coolant of an indoor cooling line for connecting a second heat exchanger heat-exchanged with an evaporator of a refrigerant line and an indoor air-conditioning cooling core, a fourth pump for flowing coolant of a battery line for connecting a high-voltage battery core and a third radiator, a first valve simultaneously connected to a second radiator line for connecting the first heat exchanger and a second radiator, the indoor heating line, and the battery line to change flow direction of the coolant, and a second valve simultaneously connected to the indoor cooling line and the battery line to change flow direction of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Sang Shin Lee, Jae Woong Kim, So La Chung, Yun Sub Chung, Gum Bae Choi
  • Patent number: 11181286
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices for detecting an operational mode of a building component of an environmental control system. In some instances, the apparatus may include a sensor for outputting a signal related to a measure of power drawn by the building component. The sensor may be a current sensor associated with a power cord of an air conditioning unit. The signal output by the sensor may be received by a signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the signal received from the sensor such as, for example, by amplifying and/or filtering. A comparator may be configured to compare the conditioned signal to a specified threshold associated with an ON condition and/or an OFF condition of the building component. The apparatus may include a wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit a determination of whether the building component is ON or OFF based on the result determined by the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Appar Vallikannu, Raman Subramaniam, Janaki Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 11022360
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for high transient heat loads includes a fluid, a heat exchanger; a compressor downstream of the heat exchanger outlet; a condenser downstream of the compressor outlet, and a thermal energy storage (TES) section downstream of the condenser outlet and upstream of the heat exchanger. The TES section may include a first pressure regulating valve downstream of a TES unit; and a second pressure regulating valve upstream of the first pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Eric Donovan, Michael Head, Tim Unton, Eugene Jansen
  • Patent number: 11022331
    Abstract: An HVAC system with a reheat coil is described, the system includes a compressor, a micro-channel condenser and an evaporator. A reversing valve is connected to the compressor, the micro-channel condenser and the reheat coil. The reversing valve is used to direct the refrigerant from the compressor to the micro-channel condenser in a normal mode, and to direct the refrigerant from the compressor to the reheat coil in a reheat mode. The reversing valve can be switched from normal mode to reheat mode when a high pressure condition is detected at an input to the micro-channel condenser, and switched back from reheat mode to normal mode when the high pressure condition has resolved or an amount of time has passed. In the normal mode the refrigerant is returned from the reheat coil into a refrigerant line between the evaporator and the compressor through a restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Clara, Eric Perez, Walter E. Davis, II
  • Patent number: 10953725
    Abstract: Methods and system for providing heat to a vehicle are presented. In one example, a refrigerant loop is operated to heat a passenger cabin via heat generated by a compressor and heat generated by a resistive heating element. The heat that is generated by the compressor and the heat that is generated by the resistive heating element is transferred to a refrigerant before it is transferred to the passenger cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Debasish Dhar, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Pursifull, Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 10712100
    Abstract: A thermal management loop system may include an accumulator, an evaporator in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator, a condenser in fluid receiving communication with the evaporator, and a membrane separator in fluid receiving communication with the condenser. Gas exiting the membrane separator may recirculate back to the condenser and liquid exiting the membrane separator may flow to the accumulator. The thermal management loop system may be a dual-mode system and thus may be operable in a powered-pump mode or a passive-capillary mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary A. Adamson, Wei-Lin Cho
  • Patent number: 10611210
    Abstract: A heat pump system for climate control of an electric or hybrid vehicle includes an air conditioning unit having a heating heat exchanger, and an air conditioning unit evaporator having a refrigeration circuit, in which the air conditioning unit evaporator and a condenser are arranged. The refrigeration circuit includes a low temperature (LT) circuit in which at least one electrical power component is arranged. The heat pump system is configured to switch over between a cooling mode and a heating mode. The condenser, which is configured to transfer heat into the LT circuit, and an LT cooler are incorporated into the LT circuit. In the heating mode, the condenser outputs heat into the LT circuit and from there into a heating circuit, in which the heating heat exchanger is arranged, and in the cooling mode, the condenser outputs heat via the LT circuit to the LT cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Felix Schedel, Oliver Horn, Philipp Hofmann, Peter Satzger, Robert Herbolzheimer
  • Patent number: 10556487
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an accumulating/receiving device for a heat pump system. The accumulating/receiving device includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The body defines therein a space. The body is disposed downstream of an outside heat exchanger. The inlet is connected to the outside heat exchanger through a first conduit. The first outlet is connected to an inside heat exchanger through a second conduit. The second outlet is connected, through a bypass conduit, to a third conduit. A liquid of the refrigerant flows out of the body through the first outlet in a cooling mode. A vapor of the refrigerant flows out of the body through the second outlet in a heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhiwei Shan
  • Patent number: 10539342
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a refrigeration system comprising a receiver for use in applications where environmentally-friendly, typically flammable refrigerants are used. The receiver is sized so that it allows for the maximum amount of refrigerant to be used when regulatory concerns restrict the total amount. The present disclosure also provides a method for selecting the size of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: THE DELFIELD COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Frick, Jeremy Robert Huhn
  • Patent number: 10369864
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner device which is capable of continuing air conditioning of a vehicle interior also in a case where a failure occurs in a solenoid valve to change a flow of a refrigerant in each operation mode. A vehicle air conditioner device 1 includes a solenoid valve 17 for cooling, a solenoid valve 21 for heating and a solenoid valve 22 for dehumidifying to switch respective operation modes of the vehicle air conditioner device. A controller changes and executes the respective operation modes of a heating mode, a dehumidifying mode, and a cooling mode. The controller has a predetermined air conditioning mode during failure, and failure detecting means for detecting failure of the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ishizeki, Megumi Shigeta, Yasunobu Takano, Hidenori Takei, Osamu Takazawa
  • Patent number: 10315485
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner device of a heat pump system, control of an air mix damper is appropriately performed in each operation mode, thereby achieving efficient vehicle interior air conditioning. The vehicle air conditioner device includes an air mix damper 28 to adjust a ratio at which air in an air flow passage 3 passed through a heat absorber 9 is to be passed through a radiator 4. In a cooling mode, a controller controls the air mix damper 28 to adjust the ratio at which the air is to be passed through the radiator 4 on the basis of one, any combination, or all of a target outlet temperature, a temperature of the radiator and a temperature of the heat absorber, and in a heating mode, the controller controls the air mix damper 28 to pass all the air in the air flow passage 3 through the radiator 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10252600
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air-conditioning apparatus for vehicle which is capable of selecting an appropriate operation mode while inhibiting the operation mode from being unnecessarily changed, and achieving rapid and stable vehicle interior air conditioning. A controller has respective operation modes of a heating mode, a dehumidifying and heating mode, a dehumidifying and cooling mode, and a cooling mode, and selects and executes these operation modes. The controller has a dehumidifying and heating mode maximum radiator temperature MAP and a dehumidifying and cooling mode maximum radiator temperature MAP. The controller selects an operation mode in which a radiator target temperature TCO is achievable by heat radiation in a radiator 4 with reference to each MAP, on startup or at a time of change of the operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10203122
    Abstract: An air-conditioning and ventilation apparatus includes an air-conditioning coil that is installed on a downstream side of a heat exchanger in a supply air trunk and changes cooling capacity with respect to heat-exchanged outdoor air in multiple stages; an outdoor-air temperature and humidity sensor that detects temperature and relative humidity of the outdoor air; and a control unit that stores therein reference data in which the cooling capacity is set for each combination of temperature and relative humidity of the outdoor air such that absolute humidity of supply air becomes equal to or lower than indoor target absolute humidity on the basis of a dehumidification load corresponding to an absolute humidity difference between indoors and outdoors, and determines a cooling capacity value of the air-conditioning coil on the basis of detection results during a cooling operation by the outdoor-air temperature and humidity sensor and the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hasegawa, Masami Yasuda, Hidemoto Arai
  • Patent number: 10183550
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing controlling environmental conditions in a passenger compartment of a vehicle are presented. In one example, various low cost expansion valves are included in a system that has a receiver positioned downstream of an exterior heat exchanger to provide a climate control system with heating, cooling, dehumidification, and de-icing modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James George Gebbie, Clay Wesley Maranville, Timothy Noah Blatchley
  • Patent number: 10093146
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant can flow and which is configured as a heat pump circuit and as a cooling system circuit, and associated with these, a compressor, at least one external heat exchanger, at least one internal heat exchanger that is associated with an internal heating condenser, whereby a device is provided for generating an air stream that can be thermally coupled to the internal heat exchanger and to the internal heating condenser, as well as a metering device that can meter the flow of at least a partial stream of the thermally coupled air stream through the internal heating condenser is provided, wherein in the heat pump mode of operation, the refrigerant can be or is conveyed from the high-pressure side of the compressor into the internal heating condenser, can be or is conveyed from the internal heating condenser via a first expansion valve to the internal heat exchanger, can be or is conveyed from the internal heat ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Fürll, Stefan Schmitt, Horst Achim Schröter, Stefan Brück, Gregor Homann
  • Patent number: 9915456
    Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a heat exchanger having an inlet header pipe connected to a set of paths for passing refrigerant to condition a controlled zone. The inlet header pipe splits the refrigerant into different paths. An amount of the refrigerant entering the inlet header pipe is controlled by a valve. The vapor compression system also includes a set of sensors for measuring temperatures of the refrigerant in each path of the set of paths and a controller including a processor for determining a position of the valve based on the measurements of at least one sensor from the set of sensors and a thermal capacity requested for the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J Burns, Scott A Bortoff
  • Patent number: 9879896
    Abstract: Ice making system and method for a refrigerator is disclosed. The ice making system includes an ice making unit that makes ice cubes, a cold air generator that cools air inside a cooling duct so as to produce cold air, a cold air circulation unit that supplies the cold air from the cold air generator to the ice making unit, and discharges the cold air from the ice making unit to the cold air generator, and a cold air guiding unit that circulates the cold air inside the ice making unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Min Bon Koo
  • Patent number: 9851132
    Abstract: This air conditioner performs a cooling operation and a heating operation in parallel with each other with an outdoor unit and indoor units connected together through two communication pipes. The air conditioner includes a switching mechanism changing the directions of refrigerants flowing through the communication pipes depending on whether a heating dominant operation is being performed in a first load region where a cooling load is relatively light or a second load region where the cooling load is heavier than in the first load region. In the second load region, the switching mechanism allows a low-pressure refrigerant to flow from the indoor units to the outdoor unit through the second communication pipe thicker than the first communication pipe to reduce a performance deterioration due to the pressure loss involved with the heating dominant operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Shinya Matsuoka, Masahiro Oka, Mari Susaki
  • Patent number: 9816712
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a casing having a bottom plate and is configured such that at least a part thereof is made of metal, a compressor provided within the casing to compress a flammable refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger provided within the casing to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air, and an electric heater provided on an upper surface of the bottom plate. The power consumption of the electric heater is 250 W or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mochizuki, Yoshihiro Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9694646
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle device, a first evaporator for cooling a first cooling target and a second evaporator for cooling a second cooling target are arranged in parallel between a radiator and an accumulator, a first pressure reducer is arranged upstream of the first evaporator, and a mechanical expansion valve as a second pressure reducer is arranged upstream of the second evaporator. The refrigeration cycle device includes a refrigerant passage through which a portion of a refrigerant flowing out of the radiator flows while bypassing the second pressure reducer and the second evaporator, and is decompressed by a separate pressure reducer from the second pressure reducer, so as to return the refrigerant containing a liquid phase refrigerant to the accumulator, in a cooling operation mode for cooling only the second cooling target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Takeuchi, Takashi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9677789
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a refrigerating circuit with a compressor, a condenser and two evaporators placed in different compartments of the appliance comprises valve means for alternatively directing refrigerant flow towards one of the evaporators. One of the evaporators is in heat exchange relationship with a phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Cesare Maria Joppolo, Luca Molinaroli, Matej Visek
  • Patent number: 9610822
    Abstract: An vehicle air conditioner (1A) includes a duct (3) in which a partition member (4) forming a first flow path (3A) and a second flow path (3B) is provided, and a heat pump circuit (2A). In the heat pump circuit (2A), a first indoor heat exchanger (12A) that contributes mainly to heating is located in the first flow path (3A) or faces an outlet of the first flow path (3A), and a second indoor heat exchanger (12B) that contributes mainly to cooling is located in the second flow path (3B). The ratio between an internal air and an external air within air flowing through each of the first flow path (3A) and the second flow path (3B) is adjustable. The duct (3) is provided with at least one of a heating exhaust port (35) for discharging air cooled in the second indoor heat exchanger (12B) to the outside of the vehicle interior in heating operation, and a cooling exhaust port (36) for discharging air heated in the first indoor heat exchanger (12A) to the outside of the vehicle interior in cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9534825
    Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: 9353983
    Abstract: Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door including an inner surface and an outer surface. The refrigerator appliance further includes a compartment defined in the inner surface of the door, the compartment defining an interior chamber and including a compartment door providing access to the interior chamber. The compartment is selectively operable at a first temperature below approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a second temperature above approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Joel Erik Hitzelberger, Ronald Gary Foster
  • Patent number: 9285171
    Abstract: A unified heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanging arrangement and a second heat exchanging arrangement. The first heat exchanging arrangement is adapted to exchange heat between high pressure refrigerant and conditioning air. The second heat exchanging arrangement is adapted to exchange heat between low pressure refrigerant and the conditioning air. The first heat exchanging arrangement and the second heat exchanging arrangement are integrated together and are arranged to enable heat exchange of the conditioning air with both of the high pressure refrigerant and the low pressure refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Satoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 9046284
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus 1 includes first start control and second start control as its start control. In the first start control, first outdoor heat exchangers 24a, 24b are controlled to function as evaporators and second outdoor heat exchangers 25a, 25b are controlled to function as condensers. Thus, even when the compressors 21a, 21b are driven on at a given rotation number, the discharge pressures thereof can be prevented from increasing, thereby being able to prevent the internal pressures of the compressors 21a, 21b from increasing. Also, after end of the first start control, the first outdoor heat exchangers 24a, 24b and second outdoor heat exchangers 25a, 25b are all controlled to function as evaporators, and the compressors 21a, 21b are driven on at a given rotation number. This can shorten the rising time of the heating capacity in the start of the normal heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideya Tamura, Takahiro Matsunaga, Shinju Watanabe, Keito Kawai, Takashi Kimura, Kotaro Toya, Yasuhiro Oka, Ken Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20150135750
    Abstract: The hot and cold water air conditioning system includes a water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of water flowing out of the heat pump heat source apparatus by an operation of the water circulation pump, and a controller configured to perform, in a heating operation, on/off normal control that turns on a compressor when the water temperature detected by the water temperature sensor becomes lower than a target water temperature and turns off the compressor when the water temperature becomes higher than a first temperature value higher than the target water temperature, and to switch from the on/off normal control, upon repeating the on/off operation of the compressor at a minimum frequency necessary for an operation of the compressor in the on/off normal control, to on/off restriction control that turns on the compressor when the water temperature becomes lower than a second temperature value lower than the target water temperature and turns off the compressor when the water temperature be
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Takahiro USHIJIMA
  • Patent number: 8997503
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes an HVAC unit that blows air whose temperature is adjusted by a refrigerant evaporator and a second refrigerant condenser. The system includes a heat pump cycle in which a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant circuit changeover section, a first refrigerant condenser, a first expansion valve, and the refrigerant evaporator are sequentially connected. The system includes a second expansion valve and a refrigerant heat exchanger connected in parallel with the first expansion valve and the refrigerant evaporator. The second refrigerant condenser is connected in parallel with the first refrigerant condenser. The system includes a coolant cycle in which a coolant circulating pump, a ventilation-exhaust-heat recovery unit, a motor/battery, an electric heater, and the refrigerant heat exchanger are sequentially connected, and the ventilation-exhaust-heat recovery unit, motor/battery, and electric heater can be selectively used as a heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatosi Morisita, Hideki Suetake, Toshihisa Kondo, Akira Katayama
  • Patent number: 8973382
    Abstract: An air heating, air conditioning and water heating system includes a multi-communicative valve unit, a compressor arranged for compressing the refrigerant in a state of superheated vapor, a condenser communicated with the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, a heat exchanger communicated with the condenser through the multi-communicative valve unit, an expansion valve, and a water heater communicated with the heat exchanger and the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, wherein the multi-communicative valve unit is arranged to be operated to selectively establish at least an air conditioning route, an air heating route, and a water heating route for the refrigerant so that the air heating, air conditioning and water heating system is capable of selectively providing air conditioning, heating and delivering hot water for a predetermined premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Lee Wa Wong
  • Publication number: 20150040594
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided that can prevent temperature variations of the air after the heat exchange in a radiator to reliably control the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior. During the heating operation and the heating and dehumidifying operation, target degree of supercooling SCt when target air-blowing temperature TAO is a predetermined temperature or higher is set to SCt1 that is greater than SCt2 when the target air-blowing temperature TAO is lower than the predetermined temperature. When amount of air Ga supplied from indoor fan 12 is lower than a predetermined value, the target degree of supercooling SCt is corrected, which is set such that the degree of supercooling is lower than target degree of supercooling corrected when the amount of air Ga supplied from the indoor fan 12 is a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Atsuo Inoue, Hidenori Takei
  • Publication number: 20150040595
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus simultaneously performs a cooling operation mode in which a refrigerant from a compressor is caused to flow to an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit having a cooling load, and a hot water supply operation mode in which a refrigerant from the compressor is caused to flow to a water heat exchanger of a hot water supply unit having a hot water supply demand. An operation control part switches the control mode of the simultaneous cooling and heating and hot water supply operation mode between a cooling-prioritized mode and a hot-water-supply-prioritized mode according to the relationship between the cooling load and the hot water supply load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 8943847
    Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving. An air-conditioning apparatus controls first heat medium flow switching devices and second heat medium flow switching devices in a heating only operation mode and a cooling only operation mode such that a flow rate through which a heat medium circulates is formed between all of the heat exchangers related to heat medium and at least one of use side heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20140373562
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning apparatus, during a cooling operation, and a cooling and dehumidifying operation, a refrigerant flows through an outdoor heat exchanger, flows through a supercooling radiator, and then flows into a radiator to absorb heat. During a heating operation, the refrigerant flows through a heat exchanger and then is sucked into a compressor without passing through the supercooling radiator. During a first heating and dehumidifying operation, the refrigerant flows through another radiator, flows through the supercooling radiator, and then flows into another heat exchanger to absorb heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei
  • Publication number: 20140338382
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor expansion valve controller configured to control an evaporating temperature of a refrigerant in a heat exchanger by regulating an opening of an outdoor expansion valve during a heating and dehumidifying operation, an evaporating temperature control valve provided in a refrigerant flow passage to an output side of the heat exchanger from which the refrigerant is discharged, and configured to control the evaporating temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger by regulating an amount of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow passage, a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger, and a control changer configured to change control of the evaporating temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger from by regulating an opening of the outdoor expansion valve to by regulating an opening of the evaporating temperature control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140331702
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus including a refrigeration cycle configured by connecting one or more load-side units including a load-side heat exchanger and a load-side expansion device with a heat-source-side unit including a heat-source-side heat exchanger and a compressor and by causing refrigerant to circulate through a refrigerant circuit including the load-side heat exchanger, the load-side expansion device, the heat-source-side heat exchanger, and the compressor, controls, during a heating operation, the opening degree of the load-side expansion device, based on the discharge pressure of the compressor, so that the pressure of refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor becomes equal to a target pressure, in the case where the operation capacity of the compressor is approximately at the maximum value of the operation capacity of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Tanaka, Koji Yamashita, Takeshi Hatomura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20140245767
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus can ensure that the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior is a preset temperature by securing the quantity of heat release for the radiator during a cooling and dehumidifying operation. The valve opening of the condensing pressure regulating part of the first control valve is smaller when the calculated opening SW of the air mix damper is equal to or more than the predetermined value than when the opening SW is smaller than the predetermined value. Accordingly, when the quantity of heat release is not sufficient in the radiator, it is possible to increase the condensing pressure of the refrigerant in the radiator to raise the temperature of the refrigerant in the radiator. Consequently, it is possible to secure the amount of heating, and therefore to ensure that the temperature of the air supplies to the vehicle interior is a preset temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8820106
    Abstract: A heat source-side refrigerant circuit A including a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant branch portion 21 connected to the compressor 11, a second refrigerant branch portion 22 and a third refrigerant branch portion 23 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant flow rate control device 24 provided between branch piping 40 and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, intermediate heat exchangers 25n connected at one side thereof to the first refrigerant branch portion 21 and the third refrigerant branch portion 23 via three-way valves 26n and connected at the other side thereof to the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and second refrigerant flow rate control devices 27n provided between the respective intermediate heat exchangers 25n and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and user-side refrigerant circuits Bn having indoor heat exchangers 31n connected respectively to the intermediate heat exchangers 25n are provided, and at least one of water and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Takashi Okazaki, Naoki Tanaka, Keisuke Hokazono, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura, Tomohiko Kasai, Naofumi Takenaka, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20140230463
    Abstract: A method of controlling a compressor of a thermal storage heat pump system of a vehicle is provided. The system may operate in one of a heating mode and a cooling mode, as determined by at least one system controller based on at least one parameter. The at least one parameter may be ambient air temperature. The compressor has a compressor motor and a motor controller configured to selectively operate the compressor in an unmodified state or a modified state based on the operating mode of the system. The compressor motor is operated in the unmodified state when the system is in the cooling mode, and in the modified state when the system is in the heating mode. Operating the compressor motor in the modified state may include decreasing its coefficient of performance (COP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Ziehr
  • Patent number: 8800307
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen