Air Compessor, Cooler And Expander Patents (Class 62/172)
  • Patent number: 9611752
    Abstract: A compressor start bleed system for a turbine system includes a compressor section. Also included is a turbine section disposed downstream of the compressor section. Further included is at least one duct fluidly coupled to the compressor section, wherein the at least one duct is configured to route a start bleed extraction from the compressor section to a location downstream of the turbine section. Yet further included is at least one control device of the at least one duct configured to actively modulate the start bleed extraction during a part speed operation of the turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven William Tillery, David August Snider
  • Patent number: 9580180
    Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (ECS) may be configured to operate in first mode and a second mode. The ECS may include an air cycle machine (ACM), a by-pass valve positioned to allow bleed air to by-pass the air cycle machine so that when the by-pass valve is open, the ECS operates in the first mode with bleed air at a first pressure and when the by-pass valve is closed the ECS operates in the second mode at a second bleed air pressure, higher than the first bleed air pressure. A bleed air system controller and ECS controller may be configured to selectively couple high pressure or low pressure bleed air ports of an engine of an aircraft to the ECS and control the by-pass valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Michel A. Jonqueres, Roy Araki
  • Patent number: 9493243
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to adjusting cabin pressure based on ambient conditions to achieve a target aircraft inflow. An aspect includes receiving a number of occupants on an aircraft. The ambient conditions on the aircraft are monitored and an occupant threshold limit is determined for the aircraft based on the ambient conditions. If it is determined that the number of occupants exceeds the occupant threshold limit, the cabin pressure is reduced in the aircraft according to embodiments. The cabin pressure in the aircraft is reset in response to the occupant threshold limit being increased due to changing ambient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brendon W. Lewis, Young K. Park, Allison Mainelli, Cuiye Chen
  • Patent number: 9457908
    Abstract: An nitrogen generation system for an aircraft is provided. The system includes a RAM air circuit, a motor driven compressor (MDC) having a rotor, a stator to drive rotor rotation and a compressor rotatably coupled to the rotor and a cooling system. The cooling system directs cooling air from the RAM air circuit to an inlet of the compressor and an alternative low pressure environment such that the cooling air removes heat from the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric Surawski
  • Patent number: 9382841
    Abstract: A bleed air supply system configured to supply bleed air from an engine to an environmental control system (ECS) pack is provided including a high pressure port configured to bleed air from a high spool of the engine. An intermediate pressure port is configured to bleed air from the high spool of the engine. The bleed air at the intermediate pressure port has a pressure less than the bleed air at the high pressure port. A precooler is fluidly coupled to the ECS pack, the high pressure port and the intermediate pressure port. Bleed air from the high pressure port and the intermediate pressure port is conditioned in the precooler before being provided to the ECS pack. A low pressure port is configured to bleed air from a low spool of the engine. The bleed air from the low pressure port bypasses the precooler and is supplied directly to the ECS pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J Bruno, Thomas M. Zywiak
  • Patent number: 9375679
    Abstract: An air dryer assembly with manifold system provides increased drying capacity for pressurized air systems, such as vehicle braking systems. A manifold connected to the supply ports of two adjacent air dryers allows parallel flow of air through the separate air dryers. An identical manifold connects to the delivery ports of the two air dryers to combine the clean, dry air from the delivery ports. Similar manifolds connect the control and purge ports of the dryers to allow simultaneous regeneration of the desiccant canisters. An assembly combining two air dryers, two pretreatment units, and manifolds connecting the supply, delivery, control, and purge ports of two air dryers is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HALDEX BRAKE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew W. Adams, Michael R. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9272788
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system including a cooler having a cold transfer circuit, in which a cold transfer medium circulates. The cooler supplies cooling energy to an aircraft device to be cooled. The aircraft cooling system further includes a heat transfer arrangement having a heat transfer circuit, in which a heat transfer medium circulates and which is thermally coupled to the cold transfer circuit of the cooler via a heat exchanger, in order to absorb waste heat generated by the cooler and transfer it to a cabin air extraction system. The heat transfer arrangement further includes at least one heat pump which brings about an increase of the heat energy transfer from the cold transfer medium circulating in the cold transfer circuit of the cooler to the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit, at least in certain operating phases of the aircraft cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Truemper, Matthias Reiss
  • Patent number: 9228593
    Abstract: A ram air fan outer housing for directing air from a ram air fan rotor and air from a ram air bypass into a ram air fan outlet. The outer housing includes an outer cylinder and a plenum connected at a joint region. The outer cylinder is made of a laminate stacking sequence of at least four adjacent layers of plain-weave carbon-fiber fabric in an A-B-B-A sequence. The plenum is made of a laminate stacking sequence of at least eight adjacent plenum layers of plain-weave carbon-fiber fabric in an A-B-B-A-A-B-B-A sequence. The plenum is joined to the outer cylinder at a joint region, the joint region includes a transition section transitioning the laminate stacking sequence from the eight adjacent layers of the plenum walls to the four adjacent layers of the outer cylinder walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Craig M. Beers
  • Patent number: 9162773
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft comprising a reversible rotary electrical machine 30), a wheel (35) for imparting movement to a stream of air, linked to said machine (30), a first ventilation duct (10, 15) configured to supply said wheel (35) with air, an electricity distribution network (70), a reversible power converter (40) connected to said machine (30) and to said network (70), and a control circuit (50) configured to control said converter (40) for, in a motor operating mode of said machine (30), taking a supply current from said network (70) to supply said machine (30) and drive said wheel (35), and, in an alternator operating mode of said machine (30), in which a stream of air flows in said first ventilation duct (15) and imparts movement to said wheel (35), to provide supply power to said network (70) which is generated by said machine (30) driven by said wheel (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Jérôme Mavier, Etienne Foch, Jean-Louis Lando, Xavier Roboam, Jan Barkowsky
  • Patent number: 9140272
    Abstract: A ram air fan outer housing for directing air from a ram air fan rotor and air from a ram air bypass into a ram air fan outlet. The outer housing includes an outer cylinder and a plenum connected at a joint region. The outer cylinder and the plenum are made of a laminate stacking sequence of at least four adjacent layers of plain-weave carbon-fiber fabric. Each layer of the stacking sequence has a weave orientation such that a first layer and a fourth layer are oriented forty-five degrees from each of a second layer and a third layer. The joint region is made of at least eight adjacent layers of plain-weave carbon-fiber fabric. The joint region laminate stacking sequence is formed by interleaving the four adjacent outer cylinder layers in the joint region with the four adjacent plenum layers in the joint region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Binek, Brent J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 9016078
    Abstract: A system for reducing flammability has a heat exchanger that cools ullage from a tank, condenses vapors within the ullage, and returns the cooled ullage and vapors to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Alankar Gupta
  • Patent number: 8840729
    Abstract: An air conditioning drain cleaning system with an automated blow-out cycle to clean out an evaporator pan drain pipe. The system has a pneumatic valve assembly, a controller, a float level switch assembly and a plurality of air lines in a manifold for actuating the pneumatic valve assembly and blowing out the drain pipe. The controller directs the system to initiate or repeat a blow-out cycle until the drain pipe is clear. The pneumatic valve assembly bisects the drain pipe to selectively close the pipe for cleaning with a pair of high pressure air shots, one shot toward each pipe end to dislodge a clog. The float level switch assembly signals the controller if the condensate level in the drain pan drops. If the condensate level does not drop, the controller initiates a further blow-out cycle at increased pressures until the line is clear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Herren, Douglas Comeaux
  • Patent number: 8612063
    Abstract: An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Chor Ying Lau, Xiaomei Li
  • Patent number: 8571737
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle which runs on power from at least one of an electric motor and an engine. When a required output exceeds a sum of an output of the electric motor which is driven by electric power supplied from a battery and an output of the engine while the hybrid vehicle is running on a drive mode in which at least the engine works as a drive source with a clutch engaged, a transmission ratio changing unit increases a ratio of electrical transmission to mechanical transmission of the output of the engine, and an engaging/disengaging control unit releases the clutch at a time point when the mechanically-transmitted output of the engine becomes 0, with the clutch engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 8505317
    Abstract: Refrigerating device formed by a main compressor (190), a condenser (140) downstream of and in fluid communication with the main compressor (190), main expansion means (170) downstream of the condenser (140) and an evaporator (180) downstream of and in fluid communication with the main expansion means (170), which also comprises a turbocompressor unit (160) in fluid communication between the evaporator (180) and the main compressor (190) and a heat exchanger (150, 152) having a hot branch (150c) connected upstream, via an inlet line (145), to the condenser (140) and downstream, via an outlet line (149), to the main expansion means (170) and a cold branch (15Of) connected, upstream, to an expansion means (142, 144) mounted on a branch (146) of the line (145) and, downstream, to a turbine portion (162) of the turbocompressor unit (160). The invention also relates to a method for circulating a refrigerating fluid inside the abovementioned device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Angelantoni Life Science SRI
    Inventor: Maurizio Ascani
  • Publication number: 20130133348
    Abstract: An aircraft air provision system includes a power turbine that receives bleed air at a first pressure and provides rotational energy to a shaft and outputs output air at an intermediate pressure. The system also includes a compressor coupled to the shaft that receives input air at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure and outputs compressed air having a pressure equal to the intermediate pressure and a mix chamber coupled to outputs of both the power turbine and the compressor where the output air and the compressed air are mixed. The system also includes a cooling turbine coupled to the shaft and that is in fluid communication with an output of the mix chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven E. Squier
  • Publication number: 20130118190
    Abstract: A method for operating an air-conditioning system for an aircraft including receiving an available power level from a control system of the aircraft, forwarding air from a first compressed air source to an aircraft cabin and forwarding air from a second compressed air source to the aircraft cabin if the available power level exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Thomas M. Zywiak
  • Publication number: 20130118191
    Abstract: A method for operating an air-conditioning system for an aircraft includes compressing ambient air with a compressor driven by a shaft in communication with a motor and a turbine. The method includes forwarding the compressed air to an aircraft cabin for circulation and removing circulated compressed air from the aircraft cabin. The method also includes forwarding the circulated compressed air to the turbine, depressurizing the circulated compressed air in the turbine and capturing energy created by depressurizing the circulated compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas M. Zywiak, Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 8365550
    Abstract: This invention relates to an aircraft air conditioning system with at least one compressor, a first conduit connected with a pressure side of the compressor and at least one cooling unit provided downstream of the compressor. A second bypass conduit is connected with the pressure side of the compressor to conduct at least part of the compressed air around at least one cooling unit and has a throttle for varying air flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Martin Vögel
  • Publication number: 20120192580
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a gas discharge system utilizing a temperature-actuated valve. The temperature-actuated valve uses a temperature-measuring device to sense the temperature of the natural gas after it pass through an expansion valve and after leaving a heat exchanger inside the discharge station. This temperature-measuring device sends a signal to a valve that is automatically actuated. If the temperature of the gas is too low, the valve is tightened, increasing the residence time in the heat exchanger and increasing the gas temperature. If the gas temperature is too high, the valve is opened, reducing the residence time in the heat exchanger, decreasing gas temperature. Using this temperature-actuated valve to control the temperature of a wet gas discharge station is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: OSCOMP SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20120180509
    Abstract: A bleed air conditioning system within an aircraft including a low-pressure bleed air line and a high-pressure bleed air line. The system includes an air-to-air heat exchanger and an un-cooled bleed air line to connect the air-to-air heat exchanger to the low-pressure bleed air line and the high-pressure bleed air line. The un-cooled bleed air line carries a flow of un-cooled bleed air from at least one of the low-pressure bleed air line and the high-pressure bleed air line to the air-to-air heat exchanger. The system also includes a cooled bleed air line connected to the air-to-air heat exchanger for carrying cooled bleed air from the air-to-air heat exchanger and a low-pressure bypass line connecting the low-pressure bleed air line to the cooled bleed air line, bypassing un-cooled bleed air from the low-pressure line around the air-to-air heat exchanger to the cooled bleed air line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory L. DeFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20120102994
    Abstract: Refrigerators, with particular, but not exclusive, application to the storage and transport of vaccines are disclosed. A refrigerator has a payload container (20) within which items can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The payload container (20) is submerged in a reservoir (21) that contains water. The reservoir has a cooling region containing the payload container and a headspace containing water that is, in use, higher than the payload container. Cooling means, that might include a refrigeration unit (30) having cooling elements (32) or a cold thermal mass can cool waterwithin the headspace. Where there is a refrigeration unit, a power supply, typically solar powered, can act as a source of power for the refrigeration unit. Embodiments may include a freezer compartment close to the cooling elements (32). Alternatively, the cooling region may comprise a pipe manifold within the payload container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Ian Tansley
  • Patent number: 8042354
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus that includes a turbine and a compressor with rotors mounted on and fixed to a common rotatable shaft with a heat exchanger located between the turbine and the compressor. The air conditioning apparatus turbine has an inlet that is connected to a source of air such as aircraft ram air the outlet from the turbine and is positioned to direct outlet air from the turbine to the heat exchanger. The compressor which is located adjacent to and downstream from the heat exchanger has an inlet that is positioned to receive air exiting from the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, no external power is necessary to obtain cooling of liquid coolant located within the heat exchanger that is integral with the air conditioning apparatus and another embodiment includes test equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Dziorny, Benjamin D. Sellers
  • Patent number: 8011197
    Abstract: An HVAC system and method for configuring a controller to control a compressor including a detection system provided to determine a type of compressor. The detection system includes a processor; and a load sensing circuit connected between the processor and a controller. The controller has a plurality of output connections connectable to a compressor. The load sensing circuit senses whether a load is present on each output connection of the plurality of output connections and provides a load signal to the processor indicating whether a load is present on each output connection. The load signals are processed with the processor to determine the type of compressor is present. The controller is configured to control the compressor in response to the determined type of compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Jeffrey Lee Tucker
  • Patent number: 7878887
    Abstract: A method and a line system for the air-conditioning of a cabin of an aircraft envisage that at sites remote from passengers air that is at a temperature lower than air at sites closer to passengers is introduced into the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Elmers, Michael Markwart, Dietrich Lampe, Thomas Scherer
  • Patent number: 7841838
    Abstract: A rotary closed type compressor is configured such that an inside of a case becomes high pressure, and the rotary closed type compressor comprises a first cylinder and a second cylinder having cylinder chambers in which eccentric rollers are housed, respectively, vanes which divide the cylinder chamber into two sections, respectively, and vane chambers in which back-face side end portions of the vanes are housed, respectively. The vane on the first cylinder side is pressed and biased by a spring member provided in the vane chamber, and the vane on the second cylinder side is pressed and biased according to pressure difference between case internal pressure introduced to the vane chamber and suction pressure or discharge pressure introduced to the cylinder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Kawabe, Kazuo Mochizuki, Shoichiro Kitaichi, Koji Hirano, Izumi Onoda, Kazu Takashima
  • Patent number: 7823398
    Abstract: Improvements to a rotating-vane integral compressor/expander are outlined to significantly improve efficiency. A method to simply achieve variable-flow operation is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: John Stewart Glen
  • Patent number: 7757503
    Abstract: A gas pressure reducer comprising at least one gas expansion device for allowing the gas to expand and thereby reduce in pressure, and at least one means for raising the temperature of the gas in the vicinity of the gas expansion device and wherein the means for raising the temperature of the gas comprises a liquid or solid fuel heater or a liquid fuelled engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: 20C
    Inventor: Anthony John Taylor
  • Patent number: 7757502
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes a RAM air fan system downstream of a respective heat exchanger in the relatively high temperature RAM exhaust. The RAM air fan includes a RAM air fan electric motor such that the RAM air fan is driven at a speed independent of an air cycle machine. A fan rotor is completely supported by hydrodynamic foil journal and thrust bearings. As the RAM air fan is driven by the RAM air fan electric motor the RAM air fan is installed in the environmental control system as a self-contained system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Merritt, Christopher McAuliffe
  • Patent number: 7680751
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining refrigerant charge in a vapor compressor system (VCS) of an aircraft. The methods and apparatus comprise the following steps of, and/or means for, generating a data set from historical data representative of a plurality of VCS operating conditions over time, identifying one or more steady-state data points in the generated data set, forming a revised data set that includes at least the steady-state data points, using principal components analysis (PCA) to derive values for a plurality of minimally correlated input variables, supplying the derived values for the plurality of minimally correlated input variables and the corresponding values for the VCS refrigerant charge in the revised data set to a nonlinear neural network model, and deriving a simulator model characterizing a relationship between the plurality of minimally correlated input variables and the VCS refrigerant charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Girija Parthasarathy, Lawrence A. Lem, Brian G. Hosler, Sunil K. Menon
  • Publication number: 20090301110
    Abstract: Air-conditioning system (10) for aircraft, in particular for commercial aircraft, with a bleed air source (12), a bleed air line (22-30) comprising a main valve (16), and an air-conditioning unit (32), wherein a mass air flow conveyed from the bleed air source (12) through the bleed air line (22-30) to the air-conditioning unit (32) can be controlled by means of the main valve (16). According to the invention it is envisaged that a by-pass line (36-50, 58, 60) comprising a by-pass valve (34) and by-passing at least a part (22-26, 16) of the bleed air line, is present between the bleed air source (12) and the air-conditioning unit (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Klimpel
  • Publication number: 20090282842
    Abstract: A cryopump is provided with: a refrigerator that generates a cold state by a heat cycle in which an operating gas inhaled inside is expanded and discharged; a heat shield thermally connected to the refrigerator so as to be cooled to a target temperature; and a control unit that determines a command value for a heat cycle frequency such that a temperature of the heat shield follows the target temperature, and provides the command value to the refrigerator. The control unit estimates whether the refrigerator outputs a refrigerating capacity corresponding to the command value for the frequency based on a flow rate of the operating gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Koyama
  • Publication number: 20090223051
    Abstract: A method for supplying a plurality of capacitance values to a plurality of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) components is provided. The method includes configuring a first set of terminals of a connection device to couple a first capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to couple the first capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components. The method further includes configuring a second set of terminals of the connection device to couple a second capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to selectively couple the second capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: James Ryan Johnson, Francisco Javier Curiel
  • Patent number: 7578136
    Abstract: An integrated power and pressurization management system supplies electrical power and cabin pressurization and cooling air during both airborne and ground operations. The system includes an integral auxiliary power unit (APU) that has a compressor, a motor-generator, and a power turbine all mounted on one shaft. The integral APU can supply compressed air for cabin pressurization and environmental cooling functions, and can generate electrical power for various electrical loads. The system further includes one or more electrically driven compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Derouineau, Bjoern Schenk, Clarence Lui
  • Patent number: 7558064
    Abstract: The cooling apparatus comprises an air supply system, a water supply system, and a sprayer, and has a structure such that water and compressed air are mixed and the air is sprayed together with the water converted into mist onto the upper surface of a device attached to a socket of a burn-in board. The heat generated by the device is removed via the mist and air that falls on the upper surface. When a burn-in test is conducted the cooling apparatus adjusts the water and air supply so that the device is cooled to the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamura, Tetsuya Shimada, Katsuhiko Watabe
  • Publication number: 20090152287
    Abstract: A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: PEPSICO, INC.
    Inventors: Michel Saba, Daniel F. Joslin, Emad Jafa
  • Publication number: 20080271603
    Abstract: An air purification system and method of purifying air according to various embodiments of the invention includes an ambient air inlet and a purified air outlet for the passage there through of air via a transport line. At least one cleaning chamber configured to contain therein an aqueous solution containing a reactant medium is in fluidic communication with the transport line. The ambient air passes through the at least one cleaning chamber and bubbles through the aqueous solution reacting with the reactant medium contained therein to remove gaseous pollutants and/or particulates. To recharge the system, a user simply changes out the cleaning chamber when the reactant medium is no longer capable of reacting to remove the gaseous pollutants and/or particulates from air passing there through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Carl Triplett, Michael Mathiesen, Jie Chen, Geoffrey Faires
  • Publication number: 20080264084
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system includes an air supply system (engine bleed or cabin air compressor taking ambient air and pressurizing it at or above cabin pressure) and a cooling system (air cycle or vapor cycle cooling packs to reject heat outside the vessel). These systems can exist as independent systems or combined into a single unit. Air supply and cooling are powered from either engine bleed air or electric power. In order to increase the airflow through the cabin, some cabin air is re-circulated and mixed with fresh air from the air supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: JEAN-LUC DEROUINEAU, MICHEL A. JONQUERES
  • Patent number: 7434414
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (10) of a refrigeration apparatus is filled up with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. In the refrigerant circuit (10), a first compressor (21) and a second compressor (22) are arranged in parallel. The first compressor (21) is connected to both an expander (23) and a first electric motor (31), and is driven by both of the expander (23) and the first electric motor (31). On the other hand, the second compressor (22) is connected only to a second electric motor (32), and is driven by the second electric motor (32). In addition, the refrigerant circuit (10) is provided with a bypass line (40) which bypasses the expander (23). The bypass line (40) is provided with a bypass valve (41). And, the capacity of the second compressor (22) and the valve opening of the bypass valve (41) are regulated so that the COP of the refrigeration apparatus is improved after enabling the refrigeration apparatus to operate properly in any operation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Sakitani, Michio Moriwaki, Masakazu Okamoto, Eiji Kumakura, Tetsuya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20080223052
    Abstract: A conversion unit for an air conditioning system to cause it to act like the cooling unit of a refrigeration system comprises a frost detector, a heater and a control unit which operate together to force the range of operation of the air conditioning unit into the range of operation of a refrigeration unit. The conversion unit is particularly useful for providing low cost cooling systems for farmers in third world countries for keeping their produce fresh and safe, not to mention its use by all farmers around the world and by florists or others in need or desire of an economical refrigeration alternative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Ronald Ravi Khosla, Timothy John Weber
  • Publication number: 20080196425
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for field testing refrigeration cycle equipment to evaluate condenser and evaporator performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Keith A. Temple, Todd M. Rossi, Changlin Sun
  • Publication number: 20080060369
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to the present invention has an ECU which executes a control routine for controlling the cooling performance of a refrigeration circuit during vehicle acceleration. The control routine includes the steps of detecting demanded vehicle-acceleration degree, detecting evaporator exit air temperature at the time vehicle acceleration starts, selecting acceleration-period cooling performance on the basis of the demanded acceleration degree and the exit air temperature, and outputting a capacity control signal to a compressor on the basis of the acceleration-period cooling performance selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Imai
  • Publication number: 20080022704
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises: a refrigerating cycle including a compressor and an evaporator; a heater core for heating the air that has passed through the evaporator; a first sensor for acquiring information related to a temperature of the evaporator; a second sensor for acquiring information related to a temperature of a medium to supply heat to the heater core; and a compressor control unit for controlling the compressor. When the temperature of the evaporator is not higher than a predetermined threshold temperature, the compressor control unit reduces a ratio of compression of the refrigerant by the compressor. When the temperature of the medium is not more than a first predetermined value, the compressor control unit sets the threshold temperature at a value higher than a frost limit temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Fukuta
  • Patent number: 7322203
    Abstract: A device (10) for supplying preconditioned air to an aircraft on the ground, comprises a compressed air inlet (16) and a compressed air hose (34) having a first end connected to the compressed air inlet (16) and an opposite second end for connect to a remote, ground-based, compressed air unit. Expander means (14) are situated downstream of the compressed air inlet (16) for allowing the compressed air to expand to lower pressure and temperature. The device (10) further includes an ambient air inlet (24) and a mixing chamber (22) downstream of the expander means (14) and communicating with the ambient air inlet (24) wherein mixing of ambient air with the expanded, cold air is controlled in such a way as to elaborate preconditioned air at the desired temperature. A connection hose (28) has a first end in communication with said mixing chamber and a second end to be connected to an aircraft on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ipalco B.V.
    Inventor: Michael Widegren
  • Patent number: 7257956
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus configured such that a cooling body provided with heat-dissipating plates is pressed against a device to which a socket of a burn-in board is attached, and air is provided by a blower such that the air passes between the heat-dissipating plates, and compressed air provided from a compressed air supply system is discharged by a nozzle so that it directly hits a portion of the cooling upper surface of the cooling body. By means of the cooling effects from these two types of air, a device generating a large amount of heat can be cooled with good temperature accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: ESPEC Corp.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Katsuhiko Watabe
  • Patent number: 7251951
    Abstract: A flow diverter comprises a heat sink array in fluid communication with a turbine outlet and an inlet face of a heat exchanger, the heat sink array comprising a plurality of heat sink elements, the heat sink array being separated from the inlet face by a distance, and the heat sink array being positioned between the turbine outlet and the inlet face such that at least a portion of a fluid flowing from the turbine outlet contacts the heat sink array before the portion of the fluid contacts the heat exchanger inlet face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. McBride, Roger P. Murry, Joseph M. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7177742
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner includes a compressor to be driven by an engine. The vehicular air-conditioner includes a controller configured to reduce a load on the compressor in response to a braking condition of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makishima, Hiroyasu Nadamoto
  • Patent number: 7171819
    Abstract: An integrated power and cooling machine having an indirect regenerative air cooling feature may be useful for providing power and environmental control to both ground vehicles, such as tanks, and aircraft, such as helicopters and airplanes. The integrated power and cooling machine may prevent contamination of the conditioned supply air by isolating the conditioned supply air from the machine lubricating and heat transport fluid (e.g., operating fluid) that may leak into the conditioned supply air. Furthermore, the integrated power and cooling machine may utilize a lower energy source from the engine, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving system efficiency. In addition, a flow mixing device may enhance airflow to improve cooling performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Lui, Myron A. Quan
  • Patent number: 7121100
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a primary air conditioning system which compresses and cools outside air to create inside air. The inside air pressurizes the internal volume of the aircraft and ventilates a first object in the internal volume. An exhaust exhausts a portion of the inside air to allow more outside air to be drawn into the aircraft. A cooler cools a coolant which in turn controls temperature of at least two objects in the internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Warren A. Atkey, Charles J. Fiterman
  • Patent number: RE43312
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the constraint that the density ratio is constant as small as possible, and to obtain high power recovering effect in a wide operation range. A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses carbon dioxide as refrigerant and has a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger evaporator, an expander and an indoor heat exchanger a radiator. An injection circuit for introducing high pressure refrigerant is provided in a halfway of an expansion process of said expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakatani, Yoshikazu Kawabe, Yuji Inoue, Noriho Okaza, Akira Hiwata