Reversible Cycle Machine Patents (Class 62/160)
  • Patent number: 10041702
    Abstract: A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Walker R. Lowrimore, Robert L. Long, Scott D. Winters, Randy W. Foster
  • Patent number: 10018389
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Tanaka, Koji Yamashita, Takeshi Hatomura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10012398
    Abstract: A compact air conditioner is provided, the air conditioner having a housing with an internal cavity and an outer surface, an evaporator assembly arranged within a front portion of the internal cavity of the housing, a condenser assembly arranged within a back portion of the internal cavity of the housing, and a compressor associated with the evaporator and condenser assemblies. The evaporator assembly includes an evaporator fan, a front motor that drives the evaporator fan, and an evaporator arranged adjacent to the evaporator fan. The condenser assembly includes a condenser fan, a back motor that drives the condenser fan, and a condenser arranged adjacent to the condenser fan. The compressor includes a coolant adapted to circulate between the evaporator and the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Premium Home Comfort, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 10006670
    Abstract: A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from an indoor fan for a first duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to configure a second refrigerant circuit for satisfying a water heating demand. A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from a water pump for a second duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to reconfigure a first refrigerant circuit to satisfy an interior space heating demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derek Leman, Matthew Austin, Aaron M. Bright
  • Patent number: 10006647
    Abstract: An air conditioning system may include an outdoor device disposed in an outdoor space, the outdoor device including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor devices disposed in an indoor space, the plurality of indoor devices including an indoor heat exchanger, and a distributor that distributes and introduces a refrigerant into the plurality of indoor devices. The outdoor device may include an outdoor branch branched into a plurality of refrigerant paths, a first outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a first heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, a second outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a second heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a bypass tube that extends from the outdoor branch to allow the refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby guiding the refrigerant to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehwa Jung, Chiwoo Song, Kakjoong Kim
  • Patent number: 10001317
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a main circuit in which a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first flow control device, and a plurality of parallel heat exchangers connected in parallel to each other are sequentially connected via a pipe to allow refrigerant to circulate, a first defrost pipe that branches a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and allows the refrigerant to flow into the parallel heat exchanger to be defrosted among the plurality of parallel heat exchangers, a expansion device provided in the first defrost pipe and configured to depressurize the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and a connection switching device that allows the refrigerant flowing out of the parallel heat exchanger to be defrosted to flow into the main circuit at a position upstream of the parallel heat exchangers other than the parallel heat exchanger subject to defrosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Patent number: 9970370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for heating a storage container (1) for an aqueous operating liquid in a motor vehicle having a combustion engine cooled by means of a liquid heat transfer medium, using the waste heat from the combustion engine, which is transferred to the heat transfer medium. The system comprises a first heat exchanger (9), which is provided in or on the storage container (1) and can be heated by means of the heat transfer medium in a cooling circuit (3) for the combustion engine, wherein the first heat exchanger (9) is part of a storage container heating circuit (10), which comprises a heat transfer medium feed (11) and a heat transfer medium return (12), wherein the storage container heating circuit (10) is connected hydraulically in parallel with a second heating circuit (7b) with a second heat exchanger (7) for heating the passenger cell (8) of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH& CO. KG
    Inventors: Volker Treudt, Theodor Ossege
  • Patent number: 9945582
    Abstract: Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Klint E. Leete, Timothy B. Hawkins, Jeremy L. Babb
  • Patent number: 9945587
    Abstract: A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Walter R. Lowrimore, Robert L. Long, Scott D. Winters, Randy W. Foster
  • Patent number: 9945387
    Abstract: A method for fan speed control for a condenser fan in an air conditioning system includes determining a refrigerant condition at an inlet of a compressor by a condenser fan speed control module; determining a refrigerant condition at an outlet of the compressor by the condenser fan speed control module; determining a parabolic curve of a relationship between an air conditioning system performance metric and a speed of the condenser fan based on the determined inlet condition and the determined outlet condition by the condenser fan speed control module; identifying an optimum condenser fan speed based on a vertex of the parabolic curve by the condenser fan speed control module; and controlling the speed of the condenser fan to meet the optimum fan speed by the condenser fan speed control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Balistreri, Eugene D. Daddis, Jr., Kenneth J. Nieva
  • Patent number: 9939180
    Abstract: In a refrigeration apparatus, in a first operation mode, a comparison is made between a first liquid pipe temperature, which is a temperature of a refrigerant on a side of a liquid pipe heat exchanger that is near usage-side heat exchangers, and a second liquid pipe temperature, which is a temperature of the refrigerant on a side of the liquid pipe heat exchanger that is near a plurality of heat-source-side heat exchangers, the liquid pipe heat exchanger performing heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through liquid sides of the heat-source-side heat exchangers. When an evaporation-switch liquid pipe temperature condition is satisfied, the heat-source-side heat exchanger functioning as a radiator of the refrigerant is switched to an evaporator of the refrigerant, and the first operation mode is switched to a second operation mode in which the plurality of heat-source-side heat exchangers are caused to function as evaporators of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mari Susaki, Masahiro Oka, Ryuuta Ohura
  • Patent number: 9920938
    Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one phase separator and at least one ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunaranjan Chaudhry, Brent Alden Junge, Michael John Kempiak
  • Patent number: 9915436
    Abstract: A heat source optimization system capable of alternating configurations between an air exchange system and a geothermal system and/or earth loop systems depending on an instantaneous need and/or desire for taking in or discharging heat, while simultaneously remaining operational and without reversing valving or changing the rotational direction of a refrigerant compressor. The system manages refrigerant, and, via a processor and/or controller system, determines where to obtain refrigerant and also the quantity of refrigerant to be obtained. Additionally, the system, via a processor and/or controller system, both determines the optimal location or locations from which to take in heat or to which heat is to be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Ralph Feria
  • Patent number: 9909794
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air-conditioning device of a so-called heat pump system which acquires comfortable heating of a vehicle interior by preventing or inhibiting frost formation to an outdoor heat exchanger. A controller calculates a maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst as a target value of a maximum heating capability which can be generated by a radiator 4 in a range in which an outdoor heat exchanger 7 is not frosted, and controls heating by the radiator 4 and heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of a heating medium circulating circuit 23 on the basis of the maximum heating capability predicted value without frosting QmaxNfst and a required heating capability Qtgt which is the heating capability required for the radiator 4 to achieve the required heating capability Qtgt without causing frost formation to the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 9903601
    Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving, a pump control of controlling the operating capacity of a pump is performed such that an opening degree of a heat medium flow control device, controlled by a heat-medium-flow-control-device control, approaches a target opening degree, and a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant circuit is controlled such that the temperature of a heat medium, whose flow rate is controlled by the heat-medium-flow-control-device control and the pump control, approaches a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura
  • Patent number: 9902235
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus which can ensure a dehumidifying ability even during an intermediate thermal load time where an outside air temperature becomes high during a dehumidifying heating operation time. In a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus, at least a compressor 6, a first heat exchanger 2, a first refrigerant control part 9 which is formed by connecting a first expansion device 7 and a first open/close valve 8 in parallel to each other, a vehicle exterior heat exchanger 4, a second refrigerant control part 13 which is formed by connecting a second expansion device 12 and a second open/close valve 11 in series, and a second heat exchanger 3 are connected in the preceding order in a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tanda, Hiroyuki Ida
  • Patent number: 9822994
    Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle system, switching is allowed between a parallel operation mode and a series operation mode. In the parallel operation mode, a refrigerant, upon leaving a load side heat exchanger, parallelly flows through a high-pressure side passage of each of a first internal heat exchanger and a second internal heat exchanger and then flows into an expansion valve. In the series operation mode, the refrigerant, upon leaving the load side heat exchanger, flows through the high-pressure side passage of the first internal heat exchanger, further flows through the high-pressure side passage of the second internal heat exchanger, and then flows through a high-pressure side bypass pipe into the expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Yanachi, Yohei Kato
  • Patent number: 9822995
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus including a heat source side heat exchanger including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected in parallel; an air-sending device that supplies air, which is an object to be heat exchanged in the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, in a variable manner; solenoid valves that each opens and closes a refrigerant passage of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a third refrigerant circuit that is parallelly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a flow control valve that controls the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the third refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration cycle apparatus can improve continuity of control of a heat exchange capacity of a heat source side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Patent number: 9810439
    Abstract: Certain Embodiments provide an energy exchange system that includes a supply air flow path, an exhaust air flow path, an energy recovery device disposed within the supply and exhaust air flow paths, and a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path. The supply conditioning unit may be downstream from the energy recovery device. Certain embodiments provide a method of conditioning air including introducing outside air as supply air into a supply air flow path, pre-conditioning the supply air with an energy recovery device, and fully-conditioning the supply air with a supply conditioning unit that is downstream from the energy recovery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Coutu, Howard Brian Hemingson, Manfred Gerber
  • Patent number: 9810469
    Abstract: Generally, a variable fan speed control in an HVAC system is described. Such methods and systems to control fan speed can in turn improve efficiency of the HVAC system by minimizing power consumption, for example of the compressor. The control scheme is based on various operating conditions of compressor load and ambient air temperature, which are used to determine an optimum fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Michael Carl Boehde
  • Patent number: 9796242
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle, a flow speed of air flowing through a first ventilation part of an evaporator is faster than a flow speed of air flowing through a second ventilation part of the evaporator when an intensive air-conditioning operation for a driver seat is operated, with respect to a case where a normal air-conditioning operation is performed. In this case, a correct target evaporator temperature is calculated to be higher by a predetermined temperature than a target evaporator temperature, and a detected temperature detected by an evaporator sensor is approached to the correct target evaporator temperature. Therefore, it can restrict the second ventilation part from being frosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mizutani, Koji Wakabayashi, Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9797641
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air-conditioning device of a so-called heat pump system which acquires comfortable heating in a vehicle interior by preventing or inhibiting frost formation to an outdoor heat exchanger. In a vehicular air-conditioning device 1, a controller calculates a requested refrigerant evaporation temperature in non-frosting TXObaseQtgt which is a refrigerant evaporation temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger 7 when a required heating capability Qtgt as a heating capability required for a radiator 4 is realized in non-frosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 7, and the controller controls heating by the radiator 4 and heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of a heating medium circulating circuit 23 on the basis of the requested refrigerant evaporation temperature in non-frosting TXObaseQtgt and a frost point Tfrost to achieve the required heating capability Qtgt without causing frost formation to the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 9791163
    Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 9784481
    Abstract: A heat-recovery-type refrigerating apparatus includes a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, and a plurality of usage-side heat exchangers, and refrigerant is sent from the usage-side heat exchanger functioning as a refrigerant radiator to the usage-side heat exchanger functioning as a refrigerant evaporator, whereby heat can be recovered between the usage-side heat exchangers. Here, a portion of the heat-source-side heat exchanger is configured as a precooling heat exchanger for always circulating high-pressure vapor refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and a refrigerant cooler for cooling an electrical equipment item is connected to a downstream side of the precooling heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawano, Tomohisa Takeuchi, Sayako Kimura, Shinya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9784486
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9765977
    Abstract: A first circulation channel connects a first heat demand part and first supply heat exchanger with its forward route and return route. Supply and discharge channels are connected to a first heat accumulation tank, which accommodates a second heat medium heated in the first supply heat exchanger and supplied via the supply channel. A heat accumulation switching valve changes over communication of the second heat medium serving as hot heat or cold heat flowing from the first supply heat exchanger and supplied to the first heat demand part without branching to the supply channel or branching to the supply channel and supplied to the first heat accumulation tank. A heat-accumulating hot-water-supplying air conditioner operates at a first temperature when the second heat medium from the first supply heat exchanger branches to the supply channel, and at a second lower temperature when the second heat medium does not branch to the supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Fujitsuka, Hiroshi Enomoto, Motohiko Kawagishi, Kazuhiko Kawajiri, Minoru Sato, Shunkei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9739521
    Abstract: When the temperatures of outdoor heat exchangers 23a and 23b detected by outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensors 57a and 57b become equal to or higher than 5 degrees C. and the sucking superheating degrees of compressors 21a and 21b become equal to or lower than 0 degrees C. while an air conditioning apparatus 1 is performing the reverse defrosting operation, the reverse defrosting operation is stopped and the heating dominant operation is resumed. At this time, the total operating times of the compressors 21a and 21b are reset. The sucking superheating degrees of the compressors 21a and 21b are obtained by subtracting the low pressure saturation temperatures calculated from the sucking pressures of the compressors 21a and 21b, from the temperatures of the refrigerants sucked into the compressors 21a and 21b which temperatures are detected by the sucking temperature sensors 54a and 54b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Keito Kawai, Hideya Tamura, Takahiro Matsunaga, Shinju Watanabe, Takashi Kimura, Kotaro Toya, Yasuhiro Oka, Ken Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9726420
    Abstract: A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus includes multiple refrigeration cycles each including a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected by a pipe, each refrigeration cycle being configured to be capable of performing a cooling operation and a heating operation, an outdoor fan configured to send air for heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchangers of the refrigeration cycles, multiple indoor fans arranged corresponding to the respective indoor heat exchangers of the refrigeration cycles, and a controller configured to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger of the at least one refrigeration cycle, control a rotation speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the refrigeration cycle performing the defrosting operation such that a temperature of air mixed by air-sending through the indoor fans reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotaka Ishikawa, So Nomoto
  • Patent number: 9702605
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a heater for a passenger cabin of a vehicle. In one example, fan speed of an evaporator cooling fan is adjusted to improve heating efficiency. In particular, fan speed is incrementally increased and maintained at the higher speed if output power of a compressor is reduced by more than an amount of power used to incrementally increase the fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Greiner, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Patent number: 9702602
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, and circulating refrigerant. The apparatus includes is a liquid refrigerant containing vessel having a refrigerant entrance and a refrigerant exit with the vessel positioned in the heat exchange system between the condenser and the evaporator, and means for creating a turbulent flow of liquefied refrigerant. The apparatus further preferably includes a refrigerant bypass path to sub-cool a portion of the refrigerant within the vessel; a disk positioned at the liquid refrigerant entrance to develop a low pressure area on the back side and create a turbulent flow of refrigerant entering the vessel; and a refrigerant valve incorporated into the refrigerant path downstream of the expansion valve and before the coil which develops a vortex that continues through the refrigerant coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Gary E Phillippe, Cass Khoo
  • Patent number: 9677799
    Abstract: A refrigeration and air-conditioning apparatus rapidly varies the pressure or the temperature inside a liquid reserve container to identify a liquid level position inside the liquid reserve container on the basis of the surface temperature of the liquid reserve container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ochiai, Makoto Saito, Fumitake Unezaki
  • Patent number: 9677790
    Abstract: A multi-room air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, a relay unit connected to an outdoor unit by first and second connection pipes, and a plurality of indoor units connected to the relay unit. The outdoor unit includes a second gas-liquid separating device provided on the suction side of the compressor. The suction side of the compressor and the second gas-liquid separating device are connected to each other by a gas-side outlet pipe and a liquid-side outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mizuo Sakai, Soshi Ikeda, Hiroaki Nakamune, Susumu Yoshimura, Naofumi Takenaka, Hiroki Okazawa, Keisuke Hokazono, Osamu Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9624223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a morphinan derivative represented by the following general formula (I), wherein R1 represents hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, etc., R2 and R3, which are the same or different, represent hydrogen, hydroxy, etc., R4 and R5 represent hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, etc., R6 represents hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-6 alkyl, etc., X represents O or CH2, Y represents C?O, C(?O)O, etc., and m and n, which are the same or different, represent an integer of 0 to 2 (m and n are not 0 at the same time), a tautomer or stereoisomer of the compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, as well as an analgesic, antianxiety drug, etc. containing the same as an active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: THE KITASATO INSTITUTE, NIPPON CHEMIPHAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagase, Hideaki Fujii, Eriko Nakata, Yoshikazu Watanabe, Daisuke Saito, Toshihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9618237
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a converting unit, an accumulator, and injection module, a supercooling valve, and an injection valve. The injection module expands and vaporizes a portion of refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger in the heating operation. The supercooling valve is disposed between the injection module and the accumulator and is opened to direct the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the accumulator in the heating operation and then closed after a predetermined time passes. The injection valve is disposed between the injection module and the compressor and is opened when the supercooling valve is closed in the heating operation, thereby injecting the portion of the refrigerant vaporized in the injection module to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongsu Kim, Beomchan Kim, Younghwan Ko, Byoungjin Ryu
  • Patent number: 9618248
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery and recharge device and a method to recharge oil to refrigeration equipment is disclosed. The refrigerant recovery and recharge device comprises a valve block which is adapted to establish fluid communication between the device and refrigeration equipment and a recharge path adapted to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment through an outlet in the valve block. The device further comprises at least a first oil container and a second oil container and the valve block comprises a valve with a first inlet and a second inlet. The first oil container is in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second oil container is in fluid communication with the second inlet to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment. The method for recharging oil recharges oil either from the first oil container or the second oil container in dependence of the type of fuel used in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Venkatesh Gorur Krishna Iyengar
  • Patent number: 9618214
    Abstract: A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Sean Douglas Marte
  • Patent number: 9581365
    Abstract: In an air conditioner which is a refrigerating apparatus, a superheat degree controller is provided, which is configured to control, in an evaporation mode of an outdoor heat exchanger, the opening degree of an expansion valve such that the superheat degree of refrigerant whose flows are joined together after passing through a main heat exchange part and an auxiliary heat exchange part reaches a predetermined superheat degree. Moreover, in the air conditioner, a flow volume adjustment valve configured to adjust, in the evaporation mode of the outdoor heat exchanger, a flow ratio of refrigerant in the heat exchange parts and a flow ratio controller configured to control the flow volume adjustment valve such that refrigerant temperatures after passage through the heat exchange parts are substantially equal to each other are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Furui, Kazuhiro Furusho, Hirokazu Fujino, Hiroshi Yoh
  • Patent number: 9534820
    Abstract: A method controls discharge temperature of a compressor of a vapor compression system. Using a mapping among discharge temperature, speed of the compressor, and outdoor air temperature, the method determines a desired discharge temperature for a new value of the speed of the compressor. The compressor is abruptly controlled to change the current speed of the compressor to the new value. A valve of the vapor compression system is smoothly controlled, such that the discharge temperature is transitioned to the desired discharge temperature according to a function of time representing a low pass filter with a time constant proportional to the thermal time constant of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Burns, Christopher Laughman, Scott A Bortoff
  • Patent number: 9513041
    Abstract: COP deteriorates when a dehumidification operation is executed. In an air conditioner of the present invention, an indoor heat exchanger includes an auxiliary heat exchanger 20 and a main heat exchanger 21 provided leeward from the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. When the air conditioner is driven in a predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a liquid refrigerant supplied to the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 fully evaporates midway in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. For this reason, only an upstream part of the auxiliary heat exchanger functions as an evaporation region, and an area downstream of the evaporation region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is a superheat region. When the load is high at the selection of a dehumidification operation to start driving, a cooling operation is started and then switching to the dehumidification operation is executed in accordance with the decrease in the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Haikawa
  • Patent number: 9500375
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heat pump including an outdoor unit including a compressor and a first heat exchanger, an indoor unit including a second heat exchanger and an expansion valve to perform air stream cooling and heating operations, and a hydro unit connected among the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the expansion valve, to change a flow direction of refrigerant in accordance with cold water and hot water operations. In the control method, it is determined whether the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected. When the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected, an opening degree of a valve included in the hydro unit is adjusted, to adjust amounts of refrigerant respectively supplied from the compressor to the hydro unit and the indoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung Goo Kim
  • Patent number: 9494351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, and circulating refrigerant. The apparatus includes is a liquid refrigerant containing vessel having a refrigerant entrance and a refrigerant exit with the vessel positioned in the heat exchange system between the condenser and the evaporator, and means for creating a turbulent flow of liquefied refrigerant. The apparatus further preferably includes a refrigerant bypass path to sub-cool a portion of the refrigerant within the vessel; a disk positioned at the liquid refrigerant entrance to develop a low pressure area on the back side and create a turbulent flow of refrigerant entering the vessel; and a refrigerant valve incorporated into the refrigerant path downstream of the expansion valve and before the coil which develops a vortex that continues through the refrigerant coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventors: Gary E. Phillippe, Cass Khoo
  • Patent number: 9488384
    Abstract: A water heater module with a heat exchanger configured to be submersible inside a water storage tank, and further configured to divert refrigerant between the heat exchanger and an air handler in response to a demand for heating water or a demand for conditioning an interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Derek Leman
  • Patent number: 9462826
    Abstract: A machine for processing and keeping ice cream, slush drinks and similar products, comprises a display counter comprising, a plurality of visible mixing and freezing cylinders for processing basic products and keeping ice cream, and a cooling circuit which allows the temperature of the basic products and of the ice cream to be adjusted; the cooling circuit is equipped with a first refrigerating circuit and a second heating circuit having respective offtake branches dedicated to each of the mixing and freezing cylinders and designed to maintain the temperature for processing the basic product at the same temperature for keeping the ice cream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ALI S.p.A.—CARPIGIANI GROUP
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 9463681
    Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time engine load control (RTLC) for electronically controlled engines in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) are provided. In particular, a RTLC system is provided to control an electronically controlled engine for the TRS in order to maximize temperature control of the TRS, while preventing engine shut down due to a TRS load demand that exceeds the engine's horsepower output capability. The RTLC system includes an engine control unit (ECU) connected to a TRS controller. TRS controller includes an ECU data processing component, a load control component, an ETV control component, a TRS load demand component and a temperature control and TRS protection component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Omosola Waidi Olaleye, Alan Gustafson
  • Patent number: 9453667
    Abstract: A heat pump air-conditioning system includes a four-way valve provided with a first opening, a second opening, a third opening and a fourth opening communicated with each other. The first opening, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion device and the second opening are sequentially connected in series. The third opening, a second heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third heat exchanger and the fourth opening are sequentially connected in series. A first bypass valve is connected in parallel with the first expansion device and is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second opening. A second bypass valve is connected in parallel with the second expansion device and the third heat exchanger and is connected between the third heat exchanger and the fourth opening. A liquid supply system is connected to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shy-Her Nian, Ling-Yu Chao
  • Patent number: 9429343
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, and a usage-side heat exchanger capable of heating an aqueous medium. An aqueous medium circuit includes a circulation pump and the usage-side heat exchanger, and is connected to aqueous medium devices. An auxiliary heat source is provided at an outlet side of the usage-side heat exchanger in the aqueous medium circuit to further heat the aqueous medium. A heating capability computation unit computes a heating capability of the aqueous medium devices based on an operating state quantity of constituent devices or refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit. A circulation flow rate computation unit computes a circulation flow rate of the aqueous medium based on an outlet/inlet temperature difference and the heating capability. A prediction unit predicts an outlet temperature of the aqueous medium in the auxiliary heat source based on the circulation flow rate and heat source capability information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9416993
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include at least one indoor device and an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device. The outdoor device may include an outdoor heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchange parts, a plurality of outdoor expansion parts corresponding to the plurality of heat exchange parts, a pass variable tube that varies refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger, and a pass variable valve provided in the pass variable tube. The heat exchange parts may include a first heat exchange part. The first heat exchange part may be connected to a manifold that distributes refrigerant flow in a heating operation. The manifold may be connected to a plurality of capillaries connected to the first outdoor expansion part. The pass variable tube may be connected to the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Youngtaek Hong
  • Patent number: 9410707
    Abstract: A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, a storage tank for storing hot water obtained by operating the heat pump hot-water supply device, and a control device for controlling starting/stopping of the heat pump hot-water supply device. The control device estimates an outside air temperature of a place where the heat pump hot-water supply device is installed and determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on an estimated value of the outside air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Honma, Susumu Kobayasi
  • Patent number: 9366452
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving enhancement of the system COP while suppressing product cost. The air-conditioning apparatus controls the difference between the temperatures of brine at a position before and at a position after an indoor heat exchanger or at a position before and at a position after an intermediate heat exchanger to be a preset target value and to be larger at the time of a heating operation than at the time of a cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9353975
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle formed by a first compressor, a radiator, an expander that expands a refrigerant that has passed through the radiator, and an evaporator. A bypass piping has one end connected to a discharge piping of the expander and the other end connected to a suction piping of the first compressor. A pressure sensor and a temperature sensor detect the suction pressure and suction temperature of the expander as physical quantities of the refrigerant to be sucked into the expander. A bypass valve controls the flow rate of the refrigerant. A control device determines the appropriate discharge pressure of the expander on the basis of the suction pressure and suction temperature of the expander, and opens the bypass valve when the pressure at which the expander discharges the refrigerant is higher than the determined appropriate discharge pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Takayama, Yusuke Shimazu, Masayuki Kakuda, Hideaki Nagata, Takeshi Hatomura