Air Controller Or Director Patents (Class 62/186)
  • Patent number: 9623741
    Abstract: An exhaust structure includes a first exhaust path and a second exhaust path. The first exhaust path includes a box outlet and at least an exhaust duct that includes a duct inlet arranged below a rear seat and configured to open toward a battery A. The second exhaust path is communicated with the box outlet. A deck board is disposed in a luggage room. The second exhaust path includes space defined by a front end portion of the deck board closer to a front of a vehicle and at least a portion of the backrest of the rear seat and a gap defined by a front surface of the front end portion of the deck board and a portion of a back surface of the backrest opposite the front surface. Gas used for cooling down the battery is released from the gap to the luggage room via a duct exhaust conduit, a box exhaust conduit, a first interspace exhaust conduit, and a second interspace exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Honda, Takashi Suzuki, Hiromi Takase, Makoto Inoue, Fumiaki Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9581351
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a control device that controls a swing action of flaps of an air conditioning apparatus. The flaps are swung up and down. The control device includes an operation mode determining section, a swing pattern storage area and a control command generator. The operation mode determining section determines at least an air-cooling operation mode and an air-warming operation mode that are operation modes of the air conditioning apparatus. The swing pattern storage area stores a plurality of swing patterns that include information pertaining to the swing action. The control command generator generates a control command of the air conditioning apparatus on the basis of a swing pattern corresponding to the mode determined by the operation mode determining section from among the plurality of swing patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Kumamoto, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9574810
    Abstract: Measured EER and COP are affected by the load under which an air conditioning, refrigeration or heating system is running; the load is a function of the evaporating and condensing temperatures. The invention makes adjustments for the purpose of maximizing measured EER and COP in a feedback loop utilized to optimize cooling or heating capacity relative to power consumed. The maximum EER is continuously achieved by incrementally adjusting each operating parameter to realize an incremental increase in EER, even as conditions such as ambient temperature are changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Advantek Consulting Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kenneth West
  • Patent number: 9568228
    Abstract: There is provided an ice making method capable of forming ice to an intended level although a sensing unit configured to sense whether or not a formation of ice has reached the intended level malfunctions. The ice making method includes: an ice making initiation step S100 of forming ice by an ice formation unit; an ice release time determining step S200 of determining a point in time at which ice is to be released in consideration of a signal from a detection unit for detecting whether the formation of ice has reached an intended level and an ice making lapse time which has lapsed after the formation of ice was initiated by the ice formation unit; and an ice releasing step S300 of releasing the formed ice when a point in time at which ice is to be released is determined in the ice releasing time determining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jin-Kyu Joung, You-Shin Kim, Chul-Sun Dan
  • Patent number: 9531041
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a battery-cooling system for an electric vehicle is configured such that the cool air cooled by an air-conditioning device is directly supplied to a battery without passing through the interior of a vehicle, thus enabling the interior of the vehicle and the battery to be cooled independently from each other, thereby not only preventing noise or foreign substances from entering the battery from the interior of the vehicle, but also controlling a vehicle interior cooling operation and a battery cooling operation independently from each other. Further, a battery-cooling system for an electric vehicle according to the present invention is configured such that a suction fan is arranged at a discharge duct for discharging air from the interior of a battery, thus enabling air in the interior of the battery to be suctioned and discharged by the suction fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jae Cheol Hwang
  • Patent number: 9459014
    Abstract: The present invention adjusts the discharge rate or discharge direction of air-conditioned air discharged from the discharge openings of air conditioners (301 to 308) according to the occupancy rates of work areas in the air-conditioned regions of the air conditioners (301 to 308). In this way, the work areas are intensively air-conditioned and the aisles and the space where cabinets and multifunctional machines are provided are moderately air-conditioned. Consequently, creating a comfortable environment around the users working in the work areas and reduce the energy consumption required for air-conditioning is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Hattori, Taichi Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 9181916
    Abstract: A Start-Stop method and system for optimizing a selected set of parameters to provide an ideal balance between cabin thermal comfort and fuel economy performance is disclosed. The method and system include several parameters to manage how long and when the engine OFF time will occur. Such parameters include, but are not limited to, outside ambient temperature, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, engine coolant temperature, and evaporator thermistor temperature. A control logic monitors inputs such as cabin humidity and, under certain conditions, sends a request for the engine to be ON. Other factors influencing engine ON time include inputs from the wiper(s), the heated windshield, the heated back light, the HVAC blower, and the temperature control setting. The disclosed system has utility in both electronic automatic temperature control (EATC) systems as well as in manual temperature control (MTC) systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Halim Wijaya, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 9091453
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling fan-only cooling duration following normal air conditioning operation. Following normal AC cooling, economical fan cooling is used. The duration of the fan cooling period is adjusted based on temperature measurements made during the previous cooling cycle that ended with fan cooling. An expected temperature drop to be provided by fan cooling as well as an expected time to achieve that drop is calculated based on prior measurements. The expected values are then used improve fan cooling for subsequent cooling cycles. In some cases, fan cooling is not initiated unless: (1) a time limit has an elapsed, such that sufficient condensation is allowed to form on the evaporator coil during the first phase, and (2) indoor relative humidity is below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark D. Stefanski, David Sloo
  • Publication number: 20150121925
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a power supply unit configured to power the refrigerator using commercial power, a battery coupled to the power supply unit and configured to supply auxiliary power to the refrigerator, a power detection unit coupled to the power supply unit and the battery and configured to detect whether power is being supplied from the power supply unit, a driving unit to provide cold air, and a controller configured to control an operational mode of the driving unit based on the detection at the power detection unit. When the power supply unit is supplying power, the driving unit may be controlled to operate in a normal operation mode, and when the power supply unit is not supplying power, the driving unit may be controlled to operate in a power failure operation mode and to control the power to be supplied from the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Shinhyun PARK, Sun KIM, Byoungsuk CHOI
  • Patent number: 9021822
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air conditioner which can realize appropriate air conditioning control in a situation closer to a feeling temperature even in a case where a floor surface of a room to be conditioned is low. The air conditioner which blows air subjected to heat exchange between the air and a user side heat exchanger into a room to be conditioned by an indoor side blower comprises a user side controller which controls a revolution speed of the indoor side blower based on the present temperature in the room and a set temperature, and this controller raises the revolution speed of the indoor side blower in a case where an outside air temperature is not higher than a predetermined revolution speed rise temperature during a heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Unagida, Masato Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150107285
    Abstract: Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door including an inner surface and an outer surface. The refrigerator appliance further includes a compartment defined in the inner surface of the door, the compartment defining an interior chamber and including a compartment door providing access to the interior chamber. The compartment is selectively operable at a first temperature below approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a second temperature above approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Joel Erik Hitzelberger, Ronald Gary Foster
  • Publication number: 20150096318
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller that controls a refrigeration cycle, an up/down air flow direction plate, and a left/right air flow direction plate, based on information of a person whose image is captured by an imaging device. When the refrigeration cycle is stopped, in a case where the face of the person detected by the imaging device remains stationarily facing the imaging device for a preset recognition time, the controller recognizes the person as one wishing the refrigeration cycle to be activated, and activates the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 8997515
    Abstract: An auxiliary device is tended and adapted to be accommodated in an air conduit forming part of an air conditioning device, to which air conduit first flow components, such as a fan, are connected for the purpose of bringing about a main airflow through the air conduit such that the whole main airflow flows through the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device has an arrangement of a number of air conditioning modules which in an active state of the relevant air conditioning module, each allow passage of a partial flow of the airflow and together allow passage of the whole main flow. Control components adjust each of the air conditioning modules between an active state, in which passage of the relevant partial flow is allowed, and a passive state in which a partial flow substantially amounts to zero or flows in opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Virobuster GmbH
    Inventor: Hermannus Gerhardus Maria Silderhuis
  • Patent number: 8997517
    Abstract: A storage compartment assembly is located within the interior of a compartment of a refrigerator such as a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. The storage compartment assembly includes a storage container the temperature of which can be controlled independently of the temperature in the fresh food compartment. At least one of the sides of the storage container can be spaced away from a respective interior side of the refrigerator compartment and a housing located in the space between the side of the storage container and the interior side of the refrigerator compartment. The housing can contain components that are configured to function in the operation of the refrigerator, including the storage compartment assembly. The refrigerator can comprise a bottom-mount refrigerator and the fresh food compartment can be provided with double-doors for closing and opening the interior of the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nilton Carlos Bertolini, Edmund S. Richardson, Jerry R. Baack, David L. Hall, Cory Dale Simpson
  • Publication number: 20150075766
    Abstract: Heating, ventilating and air conditioning are provided to a temporary, flexible shelter, especially in a rugged, remote and/or extreme environment, including locations and/or conditions where access to electric power may be limited and/or expensive. A portable system may include a light weight HVAC unit, with variable-speed components that are dynamically managed for efficiency, reliability and safety, and a flexible, self-insulating duct for connecting the HVAC unit to the temporary shelter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Alaska Structures, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20150068226
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the heating of an airflow. According to certain embodiments, the temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and the speed of a compressor are used to determine a blower speed for a variable speed indoor air blower. The selected blower speed may facilitate a flow of air across a second, indoor heat exchanger at an indoor volumetric flow rate that heats the airflow to a leaving air temperature. The leaving air temperature may at least seek to attain the temperature of a variable target leaving air temperature that is adjusted based on changes in outdoor ambient temperatures. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the blower speed may be based on an indoor volumetric airflow rate that is determined, at least in part, on a determined system heating capacity and a temperature at the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond Walter Rite, Don Alan Schuster, Drew Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 8973845
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a temperature sensor for detecting a heat exchanger temperature or an inlet air temperature, a controller that performs variable control of the direction of the indoor unit air blow vane or the air flow speed or rate of the blower fan, and a remote controller that remote-controls indoor unit operation, wherein temperatures set via the remote controller are divided into two set temperature ranges and during heating operation the controller sets at least the air blow vane to a horizontal or downward direction on the basis of the two set temperature ranges and the heat exchanger temperature or the inlet air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kanaya, Taro Hattori
  • Patent number: 8973383
    Abstract: A humidity control apparatus has a humidity control apparatus having a humidifying part for humidifying air and a dehumidifying part for dehumidifying to control humidity of a humidity control space. The dehumidifying part has: a main body part that is configured to encapsulate a working fluid therein and to cause a heat-pipe phenomenon. A heat-insulating part fits externally to the main body part and a heat absorption part absorbs heat from a base side part located on one side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part and thereby condenses the working fluid that evaporated into gas in a front side part located on the other side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part. The dehumidifying part dehumidifies the air by means of the front side part of the main body part where the working fluid in liquid form evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventor: Shinichirou Sakami
  • Publication number: 20150059378
    Abstract: A device for reversing chiller airflow in an aircraft galley includes an air bypass port connected between a supply airflow duct and a return airflow duct, and an air recirculation bypass flap is movable between a closed position allowing normal airflow circulation through the supply airflow duct and an open position blocking the supply airflow duct and diverting chilled supply airflow to the return airflow duct for recirculation. The air recirculation bypass flap is electrically actuated by a solenoid responsive to a bay door position detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Peter John Leslie Burd
  • Publication number: 20150059370
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of controlling a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator may include a machine room defined in or at one side of a storage compartment, a base that defines a bottom surface of the machine room, a compressor seated on the base to compress a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses a refrigerant compressed in the compressor, the condenser being disposed on or at one side of the compressor, a drain pan disposed on the base to store condensed water generated in the condenser, and a fan assembly coupled to the base to generate an air flow within the machine room. The fan assembly may include a plurality of condensation fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hosan KIM, Jangseok Lee, Yonghun Suh, Sung Jhee, Hyoungkeun Lim
  • Patent number: 8966930
    Abstract: A container data center system includes a container, a plurality of servers, at least a regulation device, a first refrigeration device and a second refrigeration device. The container defines a first receiving room and a second receiving room isolated from the first receiving room. The servers are received in the first receiving room. The at least a regulation device is received in second receiving room. The at least regulation device is electrically connected to the servers for regulating the servers. The first refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the first receiving room. The second refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the second receiving room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8966921
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact air conditioning system (1) for a vehicle cabin, comprising a compressor (14), a condenser (15), an evaporator (16), a control unit (19) and a ventilation assembly (18) with a single motor (24) capable of promoting easy installation and autonomous functioning for both cooling and heating the inside of a cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Behr Brasil Ltda.
    Inventors: Marcelo Christêllo Nazário, Maicon Jarschel, Ernani Pautasso Nunes Junior
  • Publication number: 20150047381
    Abstract: A container refrigeration device includes: a fan controller which reduces a rotation speed of an inside fan when a temperature inside a container is stabilized; and a rotation speed controller which reduces an operational rotation speed N of a compressor such that the temperature inside the container becomes equal to a target temperature as the fan controller reduces the rotation speed of the inside fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Fujimoto, Kazuma Yokohara, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8943848
    Abstract: An integrated ventilation unit configured to provide ventilation and conditioned air to an indoor space may include a heat pump system, an energy recovery device and a control unit. The heat pump system may include a first coil located at a supply air side of the ventilation unit, a second coil located at an exhaust air side of the ventilation unit, and a compressor. The energy recovery device may be configured to transfer heat between a return air stream and a supply air stream and the control unit may be configured to control operation of the heat pump system and the energy recovery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Reznor LLC
    Inventors: Seng K. Phannavong, Christopher A. Hughes, Thomas W. Clark, John P. McKissack, David G. Street, Timothy J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8943851
    Abstract: An evaporative cooler may include an evaporative cooler housing with a duct extending therethrough, a plurality of cooler louvers with respective porous evaporative cooler pads, and a working fluid source conduit. The cooler louvers are arranged within the duct and rotatably connected to the cooler housing along respective louver axes. The source conduit provides an evaporative cooler working fluid to the cooler pads during at least one mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Gerlach
  • Publication number: 20150027150
    Abstract: A split air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within a single living area of a building, that includes a single outdoor unit; a refrigerant flow pathway made up of a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path and a second divergent flow path and the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another; at least one throttling device; a portioning device configured to selectively and proportionately regulate the flow of a refrigerant fluid to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively where the compressor is configured to be capable of simultaneously driving both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: NIHAT O. CUR, STEVEN J. KUEHL, GUOLIAN WU
  • Patent number: 8936203
    Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion and second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, a second portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, and a weight adjustment for modifying the torque exerted by the second portion against the system static pressure to adjust the selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Ronald E Jackson
  • Patent number: 8931757
    Abstract: An electric actuator has a motor, an electricity storing body, a switch, a setting unit, a resetting unit and a setting-off unit. The switch is provided in a supply path for electric power from the electricity storing body to the motor. The switch opens and closes the supply path. The setting unit is operated through receiving a supply of electric power from the electricity storing body in response to an instruction from an operator. The setting unit opens the switch. The resetting unit is operated through r a supply of electric power from the external power supply when the external power supply has been restored from being cut off. The resetting unit closes the switch that is provided in the supply path. The setting-off unit sets off the supply of electric power from the external power supply to the resetting unit after a specific delay time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Someya, Makoto Saruwatari, Takuji Abe
  • Publication number: 20150007599
    Abstract: An operation method of a constant-temperature liquid circulation apparatus includes: performing control such that the fan is not activated, or is activated to maintain a minimum rotation speed when a refrigerant pressure measured by the pressure sensor does not reach a reference pressure region after the compressor is activated; controlling the refrigerant pressure by performing inverter control on a rotation speed of the fan when the refrigerant pressure reaches the reference pressure region; and controlling a rotation speed of the compressor to be reduced from a high rotation speed which is a rotation speed during a steady operation while maintaining the rotation speed of the fan at a maximum rotation speed when the refrigerant pressure continues to further rise and exceeds an upper limit value even after the rotation speed of the fan reaches the maximum rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shintaro SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150011148
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for providing air to a room is provided. The arrangement comprises a first inlet for taking in air from the room, a first outlet for providing air to the room, a second inlet for taking in air from a space other than the room, the second inlet being connected to the first outlet and a second outlet for exhausting air to the space other than the room; the second outlet being connected to the first inlet. The arrangement further comprises a cooling duct connecting the first inlet and the first outlet, the cooling duct having a cooling module disposed therein for cooling air in the duct and a first flow control module for controlling a first airflow ratio between an exhaust airflow flowing from the first inlet to the second outlet and a cooling airflow from the first inlet to the first outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Cornelis Albert ZWINKELS
  • Publication number: 20140373563
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Masashi Mizutani, Koji Wakabayashi, Masashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140360212
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air conditioner including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve and an indoor unit, includes detecting an indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature and checking an indoor load and an outdoor load when an operation command is input, determining an operation frequency of the compressor and a degree of opening of the expansion valve based on the checked indoor load and the outdoor load, driving the compressor at the determined operation frequency and opening the expansion valve to the determined degree of opening, thereby supplying a refrigerant to an indoor heat exchanger having a first cooling panel and a second cooling panel disposed parallel to each other, controlling a rate of rotation of each of the indoor fans based on the operation frequency of the compressor and the degree of opening of the expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Jin BAE, Hyoung Seo Choi
  • Publication number: 20140352340
    Abstract: One aspect presents an enhanced comfort controller that comprises a control board, a microprocessor located on and electrically coupled to the control board, and a memory coupled to the microprocessor and located on and electrically coupled to the control board. The enhanced comfort controller has an enhanced comfort program stored thereon that is configured to cause an indoor blower/heat exchange (ID) system of a heat pump to output an enhanced airflow rate of the ID system in response to an outdoor ambient temperature data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Rakesh Goel, Jon Douglas
  • Patent number: 8876509
    Abstract: An apparatus according to various embodiments can be configured to use a cryogen for cooling articles, particularly having applications for chilling extrusions. The apparatus removes thermal energy from an article by conductive and convective heat transfer. The apparatus allows for heat transfer from an outer surface of an article, and from an inner surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Thomas
  • Patent number: 8857199
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus includes first and second refrigerant circuits including respective first and second compressors, condensers, pressure reducers, and evaporators, connected circularly with first and second refrigerant pipes, respectively, refrigerants discharged from the first and second compressors being respectively condensed at the first and second condensers and thereafter respectively evaporated at the first and second evaporators to acquire a cooling effect; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of an internal portion of a cold storage cabinet, the first and second evaporators being disposed to cool the internal portion simultaneously; and a first control device that controls the first and second compressors such that the first compressor and the second compressor start being alternately operated each time a temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a first temperature, and are continuously operated until the detected temperature reaches a second temperature lower than th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Shinya, Susumu Kobayashi, Satoshi Okuda, Ryuichi Tsuruma, Yuichi Tamaoki, Ryuzo Tobe
  • Publication number: 20140298835
    Abstract: A deodorizing filter including at least one deodorizing member to adsorb odor particles contained in fluid. The deodorizing member includes a substrate having plural pass-through pores to allow passage of the fluid, an adherent material applied to a surface of the substrate, and plural porous deodorizer materials fixed to the surface of the substrate by the adherent material to adsorb the odor particles. The deodorizing filter more effectively deodorizes interior air of a refrigerator owing to an increased contact area between interior air of the refrigerator and the deodorizer materials of the deodorizing filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Min CHOI, Jong Ho Lee, Chae Hyun Yoo, Hyun Sook Kim, Jung Soo Lim
  • Publication number: 20140298834
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a hybrid cooling system is provided that includes a load center with a load center inlet and a load center outlet. The system also includes a condenser that has a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet. The load center outlet is fluidically coupled to the condenser inlet. The system further includes a cooling tower that has a cooling tower inlet and a cooling tower outlet. The condenser outlet is fluidically coupled to the cooling tower inlet. The system includes an evaporator that has an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet. The cooling tower outlet is fluidically coupled to the evaporator inlet, and the evaporator outlet is fluidically coupled to the load center inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: William A. Gast, JR., Clifford A. Finley
  • Publication number: 20140298839
    Abstract: There are provided a divider that divides a cold aisle and a hot aisle in a chamber in which an information technology device is to be enclosed and a rectifier that is formed in a shape of a hollow tube and is provided so as to penetrate the divider. There are also provided a detector that is built into the rectifier and detects airflow passing through the rectifier, and a controller that controls an amount of air supplied to the cold aisle using detection results of the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Ikuro NAGAMATSU, Junichi Ishimine, YUJI OHBA, Tomoko Kutsuzawa, Masahiro Takanashi, MASAYUKI TATEWAKI
  • Patent number: 8844301
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium relay unit accommodating heat exchangers for exchanging heat between a flammable refrigerant and a heat medium different from the refrigerant. The heat medium relay unit is disposed in a space in a structure that is not an air conditioned space. One or more outdoor units are connected to the heat medium relay unit to circulate the refrigerant therein. The outdoor units are disposed in a space outside the structure or a space inside the structure that is not isolated completely from the space outside the structure. One or more indoor units are connected to the heat medium relay unit by a different system than that of the outdoor units. The indoor units circulate the heat medium therein to exchange heat with air related to the indoor space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20140260350
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit includes a refrigerant storage unit, a refrigerant circuit, a processor, and a memory. The refrigerant storage unit is configured to store a refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit is in fluid connection with refrigeration system. The refrigerant circuit is configured to recover refrigerant from the refrigeration system and recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant. The processor is configured to control the refrigerant recovery unit and the processor is configured to control a fan. The fan is configured to provide a flow of air to the refrigeration system. The memory is to store diagnostic software and operating software to operate the refrigerant recovery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mark McMasters
  • Patent number: 8833094
    Abstract: A data center inside a shipping container having a lower plenum and an upper plenum in its interior. Heated air in the upper plenum exits therefrom into a plurality of heat exchangers adjacent thereto. Air cooled by the heat exchangers travels toward and enters the lower plenum. The data center includes a plurality of carriages each having an equipment receiving portion located between an open bottom portion in open communication with the lower plenum, and an open top portion in open communication with the upper plenum. Fans inside each of the carriages draw cooled air up from the lower plenum into the open bottom portion of the carriage, blow the cooled air up through the equipment receiving portion thereby cooling any computing equipment received therein, and vent the cooled air through the open top portion into the upper plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen V. R. Hellriegel, Mario L. Jaena, Brian D. Koblenz, David Louis Anderson, David Driggers, Hampton Walker Haddock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8820102
    Abstract: A ventilation and air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes: a ventilator that sucks air from outside the vehicle; an air conditioner that conditions air inside the vehicle; a duct for fresh outside air that connects the ventilator with the air conditioner so as to supply the air that the ventilator has sucked from outside the vehicle to the air conditioner; and a duct for conditioned air that supplies the conditioned air blown out from the air conditioner to inside the vehicle. The duct for fresh outside air is branched so as to be connected to the duct for conditioned air. With this configuration, even if the operation of the air conditioner is stopped due to, e.g., a leakage of a flammable refrigerant, an amount of ventilation can be secured in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shiraishi, Hirokazu Taniguchi, Yoshihiro Sumida, Akihiro Nishida, Masato Yosomiya, Tetsuya Yamashita, Takashi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8825184
    Abstract: A method for operating a vapor compression system modifies each control signal of a set of control signals with a corresponding modification signal of a set of modification signals, wherein each modification signal includes a perturbation signal, and the pertubation signals haver different frequencies and determines a metric signal representing perturbations in the system caused by the set of modification signals. Next, the method adjusts a value of each modification signal based on a function of a phase between the modification signal and a corresponding frequency component of the metric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan J. Burns
  • Patent number: 8813511
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the operation of condenser fans are provided. At most discharge pressures, the operation of the condenser fans may be controlled based on a capacity of the compressor system. To adjust operation of the condenser fans, the speed of the fans and/or the number or operational fans may be adjusted. The control of the condenser fans based on compressor system capacity may be overridden at compressor discharge pressures that rise above a high pressure level and fall below a low pressure level. At the high and low discharge pressures, the fan speed and/or number of operating fans may be adjusted based solely on the discharge pressure rather than on the compressor system capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Jose Ruel Yalung de la Cruz, Israel Federman
  • Patent number: 8813517
    Abstract: An air conditioner including a humidifier and an air conditioning system. The humidifier is modularized within the air conditioner so that the air conditioner performs humidifying together with air conditioning. Further, the humidifier may be linked in operation to the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghwa Lee, Younghoon Kim, Bongjo Sung, Jongho Park
  • Publication number: 20140230475
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit of a humidity control apparatus is provided with two adsorption heat exchangers. In the refrigerant circuit, refrigerant can circulate in reverse directions. A switching mechanism of the humidity control apparatus switches between a transfer path of the outdoor air to be supplied into a room and a transfer path of the indoor air to be exhausted to the outside the room. In a first operation of the humidity control apparatus, a direction of refrigerant circulation and a flow path of the air are changed every predetermined period. In a second operation of the humidity control apparatus, the refrigerant circuit is stopped, and the flow path of the air is changed every predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Hiroki Ueda, Eisaku Ohkubo, Naotoshi Fujita, Tatsunori Tenpaku
  • Publication number: 20140230467
    Abstract: A method including determining whether an OFF criterion is satisfied for a lag compressor of a tandem set of scroll compressors. The tandem set of scroll compressors includes a lead compressor. The method further includes: initiating at least one process when the OFF criterion is satisfied; and maintaining the lag compressor in an ON state for a predetermined period subsequent to the OFF criterion being satisfied. The at least one process includes at least one of: operating the lead compressor at a maximum level; overriding a motor overload protection method, wherein the motor overload protection method protects motors of the lead compressor and the lag compressor; and overriding a proportional integral derivative (PID) method to reduce a speed of a condenser fan. The PID method controls the speed of the condenser fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Roger NOLL, Lou MONNIER, Gary A. HELMINK, Zhiyong LIN, Daniel J. SCHUTTE, Benedict J. DOLCICH
  • Publication number: 20140216084
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator comprises: a main body; at least one freezing chamber disposed in the main body and comprising at least one quick-freezing chamber; a freezing evaporator disposed in the main body and behind the at least one freezing chamber, and spaced apart from the at least one freezing chamber via a freezing air duct cover plate; a freezing fan corresponding to the at least one freezing chamber and a quick-freezing fan corresponding to the at least one quick-freezing chamber, being disposed above the freezing evaporator respectively and configured to blow cold air generated by the freezing evaporator into the at least one freezing chamber and the at least one quick-freezing chamber respectively; and a controller configured to control the freezing fan and the quick-freezing fan, wherein the controller controls the quick-freezing fan to quick-freeze the at least one quick-freezing chamber when needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD., HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Lingyun Li, Jian Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140208783
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; a blower fan sending air cooled by the evaporator to a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; and a damper regulating air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment, in which when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Sungsub LEE, Sungwoo LEE, Taehee LEE, Dongseok KIM
  • Publication number: 20140174116
    Abstract: The evaporative cooler and pad operates on the principle of cooling the air by evaporation of water passing through one or more evaporator pads in the cooler. The evaporation of water cools the air as it is drawn through the cooler by an internal fan. The pads of the evaporative cooler and pad are formed of luffa sponge fibers. The cooler may include a device for dispensing antimicrobial and/or antifungal agents into the water reservoir of the cooler. Alternatively, the pads may be pretreated with antimicrobial and/or antifungal agents. A cooling fan is provided in the interior of the cooler to blow cooled, humidified air over the surface of the water in the reservoir before the water is passed through the evaporator pads, thereby increasing the cooling efficiency of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: TURKI MOHAMMED ABDULKARIM HABEEBULLAH