External Fluid And Refrigeration Producer Patents (Class 62/180)
  • Patent number: 11885516
    Abstract: A refrigeration system of a building includes: a compressor module configured to, in response to a determination that an amount of a refrigerant of the refrigeration system that is present outside of the refrigeration system and within the building is greater than a first predetermined amount, maintain a compressor off continuously for a predetermined period; and a fan module configured to, in response to the determination, maintain a fan on continuously for at least the predetermined period, and where the compressor module is further configured to, without receiving input indicative of a reset of the refrigeration system, after the compressor has been off for the predetermined period and the amount of refrigerant that is present outside of the refrigeration system within the building is less than a second predetermined amount, selectively turn the compressor on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Copeland LP
    Inventor: Brian R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11885517
    Abstract: A system includes an air conditioning device with a heat exchanger that sends conditioned air to an air conditioned space, a ventilation device that ventilates the air conditioned space, a refrigerant sensor that detects a concentration of a refrigerant in the air conditioned space, and a control unit that controls operations of the air conditioning device and ventilation device. On determination that the refrigerant concentration acquired from the refrigerant sensor exceeds a first predetermined value, the control unit sets an operation of a compressor of the air conditioning device to a stop state and sets the ventilation device to an operating state. On determination that the refrigerant concentration that has exceeded the first predetermined value becomes equal to or less than the first predetermined value, the control unit continues the stop state of the compressor and operating state of the ventilation device until a predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Hirai, Akiyoshi Yamamoto, Gakuto Sakai, Yoshitaka Matsugi, Tooru Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11781767
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing a position sensing component are disclosed herein. An example sensor assembly may comprise: a primary sensing device, a reference sensing device located in proximity to the primary sensing device; and a flue coupled with one of the primary sensing device and the reference sensing device to provide a pathway for a first gas in a first area to access the one of the primary sensing device and the reference sensing device. The one of the primary sensing device and the reference sensing device is coupled to the flue and is configured to determine a first concentration level of the first gas in the first area. The other of the primary sensing device and the reference sensing device is configured to determine a second concentration level of the first gas in a second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Foster, Martin John Willett, Aoife Celoria
  • Patent number: 11662103
    Abstract: A high elongated portable air-conditioner is disclosed. The air-conditioner comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator located inside a housing. The air conditioner further comprises a cool air inlet and outlet and a warm air inlet and outlet. The air-conditioner has an axial evaporator fan and a radial condenser fan and the housing of the air-conditioner has an elongated shape where the end sections of the elongated air conditioner housing forms a top section and a bottom section, respectively. Other features of a portable air-conditioner are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Jaan Selg, Jessica Dahlkvist
  • Patent number: 11561037
    Abstract: A method for determining a time frame for when a freezer having a compressor should be defrosted include the steps of measuring compressor cycling over time, determining a change in compressor cycling over time, and determining from the change in in compressor cycling over time determined a time frame for when the freezer should be defrosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Elemental Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Iyengar, Casey Peters
  • Patent number: 11466930
    Abstract: An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ali R. Buendia-Garcia, Alberto Regio Gomes, Tushar Kulkarni, Andrew D. Litch, Peter J. Richmond
  • Patent number: 11408621
    Abstract: Chiller control systems and methods for chiller control use iterative modeling of cooling towers, heat exchangers, and pumps to determine the feasibility of integrated free cooling and the ability to take advantage of free cooling. The control systems and control methods can further include selecting the parameters for operating in the free cooling or integrated free cooling mode to improve efficiency and/or reduce energy consumption when operating in these modes. The models can have inputs and outputs that feed into one another, and converge at a solution over multiple iterations. The feasibility of integrated free cooling can be based on providing cooling to a cooling load process fluid at a heat exchanger. The availability of free cooling can be based on the cooling provided at the heat exchanger achieving a target temperature for the cooling load process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Kirkman, Susanna Staubly Hanson, Lee R. Cline
  • Patent number: 11300339
    Abstract: In a method for operating a compressor (22) having an inlet (26) and an outlet (28), the method includes: running the compressor to compress a fluid; shutting down (422) the compressor; determining (420) a condition-dependent threshold restart pressure difference (threshold) across the compressor; relieving the pressure difference to reach the threshold; and, after the threshold is reached, restarting (434) the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Cluff, Matthew T. Austin
  • Patent number: 11273687
    Abstract: A climate control circuit for a transport climate control system is provided. The circuit includes a compressor, a plurality of evaporators, a suction flow control device, and a controller. The suction flow control device is downstream of the plurality of evaporators and directs the working fluid from each of the evaporators to one of a main suction port and an auxiliary port of the compressor. The controller determines whether each of the evaporators is operating in a fresh temperature range or in a frozen temperature range. For each of the evaporators operating in the fresh temperature range, the controller instructs the suction flow control device to direct the working fluid from the corresponding evaporator to the auxiliary suction port. For each of the plurality of evaporators operating in the frozen temperature range, the controller instructs the suction flow control device to direct the working fluid to the main suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Kaiser, Lars I. Sjoholm, Panayu Robert Srichai, David J. Dykes
  • Patent number: 11188040
    Abstract: An integrated solution strategy that integrates multiple domains together in a seamless and standardized way for increasing a user's control over facilities and equipment. This integrated approach can lead to a reduction of energy usage, more efficient energy usage, increased safety, health, and security of a facility and its occupants, optimized production in industrial settings, and associated and other economic advantages. Accurate, reliable information about a facility or equipment is essential to making timely, informed decisions. Enhanced automation provides a reliable means of collecting and assembling a variety of operating data and archiving that data into a central database for evaluation, reporting, forecasting, and negotiation with resource marketers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Philippe Delorme, Vincent Petit, James Simonelli, Barry Coflan, Scott Henneberry, Ronald Schoop, Jean-Louis Bergerand, Gregory Allen Thompson, Cyril Perducat, Philip E. London, John Connor
  • Patent number: 11168932
    Abstract: A household refrigeration appliance has a thermally-insulated body with an interior container that delimits a coolable interior space, a refrigeration circuit for cooling the coolable interior space and at least one fan. During the proper operation of the household refrigeration appliance, the fan is operated in a closed loop speed-controlled manner according to an at least indirectly specified desired rotational speed of the fan. During an inspection mode, the fan is operated without closed loop speed control, the actual rotational speed of the fan is ascertained and the actual rotational speed is evaluated in order to detect an abnormal operating state of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schimmele, Simon Mayer, Michael Schneider
  • Patent number: 11150001
    Abstract: A cooling system is designed to generally allow for one or more compressors to be bypassed when ambient temperatures are low. The system includes a bypass line and valve that opens when ambient temperatures are low and/or when the pressure of the refrigerant in the system is low. In this manner, the refrigerant can flow through the bypass line instead of through one or more compressors. These compressors may then be shut off. To supply any needed pressure to cycle the refrigerant, the system may include a pump that turns on when the bypass line is open. When ambient temperatures are extremely low, thermosiphon may be used to cycle the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
    Inventor: Shitong Zha
  • Patent number: 11137178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cold energy recovery-type variable-capacity air-source heat pump system, relating to combined heating and refrigerating systems running in an alternating or synchronous manner, wherein a first subsystem and a second subsystem share a double-channel variable-capacity heat exchanger; a heat exchanger main body includes two manually independent refrigerant pipe pass channels, and a refrigerant in the two channels synchronously carries out heat exchange with hot medium water in a shell pass channel; the shell pass channel establishes a water-medium heat-supplying circulation via a hot water circulation pipeline and a hot water circulation pump; the first subsystem and the second subsystem are connected to the two refrigerant pipe pass channels via a control valve group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: JIANGSU TENESUN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunyun Wu, Yujun Wang, Ying Wang, Junhong Li, Yi Yang, Tianshu Wang
  • Patent number: 11098929
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-evaporator sealed vapor compression system for an appliance are provided. In one example aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in series. A flash tank is positioned between the evaporators. One or more valves are fluidly coupled with and positioned downstream of the flash tank and the second evaporator. The valves are operable to selectively switch the flow of refrigerant fluid between the two evaporators at a frequency such that the temperature rise in the evaporators is negligible. In another aspect, a sealed system charged with a refrigerant fluid includes a single compressor and a first and second evaporator fluidly coupled in parallel. One or more valves positioned upstream of the evaporators and one or more valves are positioned downstream of the evaporators for controlling the refrigerant flow through the sealed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Vineeth Vijayan, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11085437
    Abstract: A control method for a pump assembly (10, 12) in a pneumatic or hydraulic system controls a speed (n) of the pump assembly (10, 12) in dependence on at least one variable (Dp, p, T, xp) which is detected in the system. An error signal (e) is produced from the detected variable (Dp, p, T, xp) on the basis of a sectionwise monotonic function. On the basis of the error signal, the speed (n) of the pump assembly (10, 12) is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S
    Inventors: Brian Kongsgaard Nielsen, Carsten Skovmose Kallesøe
  • Patent number: 11060738
    Abstract: The invention refers to a heating system (100) comprising a district cooling grid (1) and a local heating system (200) configured to heat a building and/or to heat tap water for the building. The heating system has a feed conduit (5) for an incoming flow of cooling fluid having a first temperature, and a return conduit (8) for a return flow of cooling fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. The local heating system (200) comprises a heat pump (10) having an inlet (10a) connected to the return conduit (8) of the district cooling grid (1) and an outlet (10b) connected to the feed conduit (5) of the district cooling grid (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: E.ON SVERIGE AB
    Inventor: Per Rosén
  • Patent number: 11015858
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a cold air flow rate monitoring system for the refrigerator, the refrigerator including a main body having a refrigerating chamber therein, a cold air passage duct disposed within the main body and provided with a cold air passage therein, a control case coupled to the cold air passage duct and provided with a cold air discharge opening, a knob installed on the control case and opening and closing at least part of the cold air discharge opening in a manner of reciprocally moving in one direction, and a sensing unit provided with a conductive member mounted on the knob and a circuit portion provided on the control case, and configured to sense relative position of the knob with respect to the control case to acquire information related to an opening and closing amount of the cold air discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sunghun Lee
  • Patent number: 11019691
    Abstract: A galley appliance system includes an integrated light emitting diode (LED) strip to display operational data, detect certain states of the galley appliance, and alter the LED strip accordingly. The integrated LED strip illuminates the area adjacent to the galley appliance and the interior of the galley appliance when the galley appliance door is open. The LED strip provides customizable galley mood light when not otherwise occupied. Multiple appliances may be in data communication to provide galley wide mood lighting. The system may be in data communication with aircraft systems to provide environmental feedback via color coded illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Pieter van Oostrom
  • Patent number: 11014430
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device has a compressor, a radiator, a decompressor, an evaporator, a heat medium cooling evaporator, a cooling target device, a detector, and a controller. The heat medium cooling evaporator cools a cooling heat medium by performing a heat exchange between the refrigerant decompressed in the decompressor and the cooling heat medium. The cooling heat medium cools the cooling target device. The detector detects a subcooling state of the cooling target device having a temperature lower than or equal to a reference temperature. Upon the detection of the subcooling state in the cooling target device by the detector, the controller increases the degree of superheat of the refrigerant flowing out of the heat medium cooling heat exchanger as compared to the degree of superheat of the refrigerant flowing out of the heat medium cooling heat exchanger when the detector does not detect the subcooling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Miura, Yoshiki Kato, Masayuki Takeuchi, Nobuyuki Hashimura, Keigo Sato, Norihiko Enomoto, Kengo Sugimura, Ariel Marasigan
  • Patent number: 10974567
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an automatic climate control system of a vehicle include, by one or more onboard processors in operative communication with one or more sensors, initiating the automatic climate control system. The processors receive from the one or more sensors at least a vehicle input and a user identifier input. A unique user climate control system actuation action is implemented according to the received vehicle input and user identifier input provided by applying at least one predictive model to a stored set of climate control system operating parameters. A unique user climate control system operating pattern is implemented according to the received vehicle input and user identifier input provided by applying at least one different predictive model to the stored set of climate control system operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Alfred Ostrowski, Elizabeth Anne Manwell, William Gordon Herbert, Mohan John
  • Patent number: 10976066
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system or a method to switch off an air conditioning system when an ice formation condition is present. The ice formation condition is present when the temperature, in either degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, at an indoor evaporator unit or an indoor evaporator coil is below a threshold temperature. Some embodiments allow a user to change the threshold temperature. The system can include a user interface to provide notifications when an ice formation condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: KBE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Allen Dorsch
  • Patent number: 10976094
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a freezing chamber and a switchable chamber communicating with a refrigerating chamber through a duct, a compressor connected with a compressor suction path and a compressor discharging path, a condenser connected with the compressor discharging path and connected with a condenser discharging path, a switchable chamber evaporator, a freezing chamber evaporator connected with the switchable chamber evaporator through an evaporator connection path, a damper configured to control flow of cold air through the duct, a pair of switchable chamber capillary tubes connected with the switchable chamber evaporator, a bypass capillary tube connected with the evaporator connection path, a path switching device connected with the condenser discharging path, the pair of switchable chamber capillary tubes and the bypass capillary tube, and a controller for controlling the compressor, the damper and the path switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sanggyun Lee, Younseok Lee, Dongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 10942195
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling computing devices in a data center and measuring airflow are disclosed. The computing devices have cooling fans that can have their fan speed set by management instructions. The devices are mounted in racks between cold aisles and hot aisles and are connected via network switches. The computing devices are oriented so that their cooling fans operate to exhaust waste heat to one side of the rack. Measurement instructions are sent to selected computing devices to cause them to go into a lower power state that reduces or stops computational work and reduces electrical power to the cooling fan so that the fan does not spin based on the electromotive force and can instead spin in an opposite direction based on ambient airflow caused by the difference in air pressure from the hot aisle to the cold aisle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Core Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Kom, Thomas Fuller
  • Patent number: 10926606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat pump system for a vehicle, which can independently use waste heat of an engine just as a heat source by separating a heat generation part from a heat absorption part in the heat pump system using a water-cooled condenser, and reduce a length of a loop by separating a high temperature cooling water loop. The heat pump system for a vehicle includes: a first cooling water line for circulating cooling water by connecting a vehicle driving part and a chiller with each other; a second cooling water line disposed in an air-conditioning case for circulating cooling water by connecting a heater core used for heating the interior of the vehicle and a water-cooled condenser with each other; and a valve disposed between the first cooling water line and the second cooling water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Seung Ho Lee, Jae Min Lee, Seo Jun Yoon
  • Patent number: 10916368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bobbin and a coil assembly and electromagnet equipment including the same, and the electromagnet equipment, which includes a bobbin and a coil, includes a coil assembly receiving a refrigerant so as to remove heat produced when magnetic field lines are formed by an electric current running through the coil while the coil is wound on a center shaft relative to the center shaft provided on a center of the bobbin; and a terminal block provided on a lower side of the coil assembly, the terminal block supporting the coil assembly and receiving a refrigerant from outside and supplying the refrigerant to the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Seung-Young Park, Jungmin Park
  • Patent number: 10889158
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including a climate control system with an accumulator, and a corresponding method. An example motor vehicle includes a powertrain and a climate control system configured to meet a thermal conditioning demand. The climate control system includes an accumulator and a compressor driven by the powertrain. Further, a controller is in electronic communication with the climate control system, and the controller is configured to selectively command the climate control system to charge the accumulator when an amount of energy available to the compressor from the powertrain is in excess of an amount of energy required to meet the thermal conditioning demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ram Sudarsan Devendran, John Edward Brevick, Steven Anatole Frait
  • Patent number: 10874787
    Abstract: The invention relates to a degassing vessel and related systems and methods that can remove certain gases such as carbon dioxide from a dialysis system with minimal foaming inside the degassing vessel. The invention further relates to mechanical systems and methods for degassing a dialysate or any fluid used for, during or resulting from dialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, Samuel J. Schmidt, William P. Hajko, Carl Wilbert Gomes, II
  • Patent number: 10838471
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) storing characterization data identifying a thermal resistance of a system component as a function of airflow. The BMC can perform measurements to determine a thermal resistance of the system component as a function of the speed of a system cooling fan. The BMC can determine a relationship between the fan speed and airflow at the information handling system based on the measurements and the characterization data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Hasnain Shabbir, Brently Lynn Cooper
  • Patent number: 10837655
    Abstract: An air current changeable full front blowing type air conditioner is provided. The air current changeable full front blowing type air conditioner includes: a case configured to comprise a heat exchanger disposed inside the case; a main air blower configured to be disposed in rear of the heat exchanger inside the case and discharge a main air current from a full front of the case; and at least one auxiliary air blower configured to be positioned around the main air blower of the case and discharge an auxiliary air current for changing a direction of the main air current. The auxiliary air blower discharges the auxiliary air current in a direction where the auxiliary air current interferes with the main air current discharged from the full front of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-hwan Kwon, Eun-bi Seo
  • Patent number: 10801765
    Abstract: A temperature control system that includes a sensor, a variable speed blower, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an air temperature measurement from the sensor and determine a temperature value based on the received air temperature measurement. The controller is further configured to compare the determined temperature value to a first threshold value and a second threshold value and to operate the variable speed blower based on the comparison. The controller is configured to set the variable speed blower to a first fan speed when the temperature value is below the first threshold value and to a second fan speed when the temperature value is above the second threshold value. The controller is further configured to set the variable speed blower to a third fan speed that linearly correlates with temperature when the temperature value is between the first threshold and the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Roger Hundt
  • Patent number: 10801739
    Abstract: An air current changeable full front blowing type air conditioner is provided. The air current changeable full front blowing type air conditioner includes: a case configured to comprise a heat exchanger disposed inside the case; a main air blower configured to be disposed in rear of the heat exchanger inside the case and discharge a main air current from a full front of the case; and at least one auxiliary air blower configured to be positioned around the main air blower of the case and discharge an auxiliary air current for changing a direction of the main air current. The auxiliary air blower discharges the auxiliary air current in a direction where the auxiliary air current interferes with the main air current discharged from the full front of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-hwan Kwon, Eun-bi Seo
  • Patent number: 10731884
    Abstract: A refrigerant leak management system includes a controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a refrigerant pressure within a refrigerant circuit and determine whether the refrigerant pressure is indicative of a refrigerant leak in the refrigerant circuit. In response to determining that the refrigerant pressure is indicative of the refrigerant leak, the controller is configured to activate a fan configured to motivate air proximate the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Norman J. Blanton
  • Patent number: 10712021
    Abstract: An underfloor heating (UFH) system limits the floor temperature of an environmental entity (for example, a room) by pulsing (pulse modulating) the flow rate through a hydronic emitter (circuit) heating the environmental entity. Once the heated water fills the circuit during time interval Ton, the flow is stopped for a fixed time Toff before allowing the cycle to repeat until a target temperature is reached. The ratio of flow/no flow (Ton/Toff) may be a proportional lower floor temperature compared to a traditional circuit supporting a constant water flow. The UFH system may heat a plurality of rooms, each having different floor temperature limitations. The floor temperatures may be limited differently by pulsing the hydronic emitters (circuits) rooms differently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Computime Ltd.
    Inventor: Philip John Smith
  • Patent number: 10696134
    Abstract: Systems and methods can determine whether an air conditioning (AC) system of the vehicle is being operated under a maximum cooling condition. Responsive to determining that the AC system is being operated under the maximum cooling condition, it can be determined whether vehicle fluid temperatures meet associated predetermined thresholds. If none of the vehicle fluid temperatures meet the associated predetermined thresholds, a heater core valve can be switched to a closed position to reduce a flow rate of the coolant through a heater core. If one or more of the vehicle fluid temperatures meet the associated predetermined thresholds, the heater core valve can be switched to an open position to increase the flow rate of the coolant through the heater core. Such systems can force coolant to flow through the heater core to reduce vehicle fluid temperatures even when the AC system is being operated under the maximum cooling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10684025
    Abstract: Methods as disclosed herein are generally configured to help determine a pressure differential (or pressure head) in a fluid circulation system of for example, a HVAC system, for controlling the fluid circulation system. The method may include obtaining a correlation between a fluid flow rate and a pressure differential in the fluid circulation system by varying an operation speed of the pump. The method may also include obtaining a desired fluid flow rate for matching a cooling capacity of the HVAC system and determining a pressure differential setpoint corresponding to the desired fluid flow rate based on the correlation between the fluid flow rate and the pressure differential. The methods can be executed by, for example, a controller of the HVAC system so as to eliminate the requirement of a user to set up the pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: TRANE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD., TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yunfei Qin, Jianming Zhang
  • Patent number: 10663182
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow. The inlet airflow comprises a process airflow and a bypass airflow. An evaporator unit receives a flow of refrigerant and is cools the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to the flow of refrigerant. A condenser unit receives the flow of refrigerant and (1) reheats the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow, and (2) heats the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow. The process airflow is discharged via a process airflow outlet and the bypass airflow is discharged via a bypass airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
    Inventors: Steven S. Dingle, Marco A. Tejeda, Timothy S. O'Brien, Todd R. DeMonte, Vincent Yu
  • Patent number: 10625563
    Abstract: A heat pump system can be used with a vehicle. A cooling system includes a radiator connected to a cooling line and a first water pump and circulating a coolant along the cooling line so as to cool an electric component. A battery module is provided on a battery cooling line selectively connected to the cooling line through a first valve. And HVAC module includes an internal heater connected to the cooling line through a first connection line, a cooler connected to the battery cooling line through a second connection line, and an opening or closing door provided between the internal heater and the cooler and controlling external air passing through the cooler to be selectively introduced into the internal heater depending on cooling, heating, and heating and dehumidifying modes of the vehicle. A centralized energy is connected to each of the battery cooling line and the cooling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Yunho Hwang
  • Patent number: 10595446
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing a fan control system inside a rack system. In at least one example embodiment, the system can include a rack server with a plurality of chassis each having at least one node, each of the nodes including at least one adjustable air vent and configured for adjusting the at least one adjustable air vent based on an air flow requirement of the node. The system can further include a plurality of fans, where the plurality of fans are configured to operate based on a control signal. The system also can comprise a fan control logic board, wherein the fan control logic board is configured to receive from each node in the plurality of chassis the air flow requirements and based on the plurality of air flow requirements generate and transmit the control signal to the plurality of fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Le-Sheng Chou, Chao-Jung Chen, Tien-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10563872
    Abstract: To avoid decline in the efficiency of a compressor at a low load, a thermal storage air conditioner has a refrigerant circuit (11) which has a compressor (22), an outdoor heat exchanger (23), and an indoor heat exchanger (72) and performs a refrigeration cycle, and a thermal storage section (60) which has a thermal storage medium and exchanges heat between the thermal storage medium and a refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit (11). The thermal storage air conditioner performs a simple cooling operation in which in the refrigerant circuit (11), the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (23) and evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger (72), and a cooling and cold thermal energy storage operation in which in the refrigerant circuit (11), the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (23) and evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger (72), and in which the thermal storage medium in the thermal storage section (60) is cooled by the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Yasuo, Shuuji Fujimoto, Kebi Chen, Takuya Nakao
  • Patent number: 10532632
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a startup mode control module that receives at least one parameter associated with operation of a compressor of the refrigeration system, determines whether the at least one parameter indicates that the compressor is in a high ambient temperature startup condition, and selects, based on the determination, between a normal startup mode and a high ambient temperature startup mode. A compressor control module operates the compressor in the normal startup mode in response to the startup mode control module selecting the normal startup mode, operates the compressor in the high ambient temperature startup mode in response to the startup mode control module selecting the high ambient temperature startup mode, and transitions from the high ambient temperature startup mode to the normal startup mode after a predetermined period associated with operating in the high ambient temperature startup mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 10518602
    Abstract: A method of controlling a temperature altering element within a seating assembly of a vehicle comprising: presenting a vehicle including a seating assembly including a temperature altering element, a controller in communication with the temperature altering element, the controller including a Pre-established Predictive Activation Model setting forth rules governing the activation of the temperature altering element as a function of data relating to Certain Identifiable Conditions, and a user interface configured to allow the temperature altering element to be manually activated or deactivated; occupying the seating assembly with a first occupant; collecting data relating to the Certain Identifiable Conditions while the first occupant is occupying the seating assembly; determining, by comparing the collected data to the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model, whether the collected data satisfies the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model so as to activate the temperature alt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Ostrowski, Elizabeth Anne Manwell, William G. Herbert, Mohan John
  • Patent number: 10451351
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cooling system may include a thermosyphon cooler that cools a cooling fluid through dry cooling and a cooling tower that cools a cooling fluid through evaporative cooling. The thermosyphon cooler may use natural convection to circulate a refrigerant between a shell and tube evaporator and an air cooled condenser. The thermosyphon cooler may be located in the cooling system upstream of, and in series with, the cooling tower, and may be operated when the thermosyphon cooler is more economically and/or resource efficient to operate than the cooling tower. According to certain embodiments, factors, such as the ambient temperature, the cost of electricity, and the cost of water, among others, may be used to determine whether to operate the thermosyphon cooler, the cooling tower, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: James W. Furlong, Joseph W. Pillis, Delmar E. Lehman
  • Patent number: 10429089
    Abstract: In an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a control box of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is configured so that heat exchange chamber-side air flows toward a fan motor assembly via an inside of the control box by operation of the fan motor assembly. Thus, the inside of the control box may be efficiently cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Boohwan Jeon
  • Patent number: 10371438
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone may be independently controlled using a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment; a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed proximate to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights may be separately controlled for visually identifying each of the refrigeration zones; and a controller configured to receive a zone selection input from the user interface, identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed proximate the selected refrigeration zone, and control the identified group of the plurality of lights to visually confirm the selected refrigeration zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Ammerman, Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 10317124
    Abstract: A duct cover for a cold air duct of a refrigerator and a method of providing cold air. The duct cover has openings located on the side panels which allow cold air to flow to the storage room from the cold air duct in a lateral direction relative to the main panel of the duct cover. A three-dimensional pattern is formed on the surface of the duct cover to reduce surface adhesive between the condensed water drops and the duct cover surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dai ho Hyun
  • Patent number: 10281224
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a first section, through which a first medium can flow, and a second section, through which a second medium can flow. During operation a heat exchange takes place between the first and the second medium. The first section has an inlet chamber and first tubes connected to the inlet chamber, and an outlet chamber and second tubes connected to the outlet chamber. The first tubes are each closed at the ends facing away from the inlet chamber and each second tube is at least partly arranged inside one of the first tubes, and the end of the second tube that faces away from the outlet chamber is open to the interior of the respective first tube. The second section has an inlet means and an outlet means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ARVOS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Hetzer, Aitzol Inchaurbe, Volker Paruch, Klaus Rothenpieler, Karsten Stückrath, Jörg Weidenfeller
  • Patent number: 10219752
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for analyzing living body information including: a plurality of pulse wave sensors configured to detect a pulse wave signal of an object and disposed on a rear surface of the apparatus; a processor configured to analyze living body information of the object based on the detected pulse wave signal; and a display configured to display the analyzed living body information and disposed on a front surface of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaemin Kang, Yongjoo Kwon, Sunkwon Kim
  • Patent number: 10179499
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has a steerable outlet for directing a stream of treated air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A thermographic imager is configured to capture thermographic images covering a fixed region within the passenger compartment in which an occupant is potentially located. The HVAC control circuit is configured to a) compress a thermographic image to a temperature map representing pixels of the thermographic image falling within a predetermined temperature range corresponding to the occupant, b) filter the temperature map according to a sliding window to coalesce continuous regions of pixels on average falling within the predetermined temperature range, c) quantify an area for each continuous region, d) locate a centroid of a continuous region having a largest area, and e) aim the steerable outlet toward the centroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: William Paul Perkins
  • Patent number: 10054337
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus is capable of cooling a first heat medium and heating the first heat medium at the same time in a relay unit, and the cooled first heat medium and the heated first heat medium can be separately distributed to a plurality of indoor units. Waste heat of a first refrigerant circuit can be discharged to an outdoor space via a second heat medium and the second refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yamashita
  • Patent number: RE49383
    Abstract: A programmable controller circuit that can be connected directly to the fan switch of any thermostat with a forced air heating and/or cooling system that includes a blower fan for circulating air throughout the home. The controller can be installed with minimal modifications to the existing wiring. The present invention increases the efficiency of the cooling system by evaporating condensate and extracting residual coolness from the thermal mass of the evaporator coils. The present invention can be programmed with a single button. A method of adapting additional fan run time based on compressor run time an AC compressor off time and an AC compressor on time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventors: John Walsh, Robert Mowris