Individual Flow Controllers And Sensors Patents (Class 62/200)
  • Patent number: 12115838
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for managing a thermal management device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: —increasing the speed of rotation of the compressor (3) to its maximum speed, —determining a modified setpoint temperature (T15-sp3) of the third element (300) greater than the first setpoint temperature (T15-sp1), so that the temperature of the second element (200) at the outlet of the first evaporator (11) tends towards its setpoint temperature (T11-sp), —adjusting the opening diameter of the second expansion device (13) so that the temperature of the third element (300) at the outlet of the second evaporator (15) reaches a modified setpoint temperature (T15-sp3), until the temperature of the second element (200) at the outlet of the first evaporator (11) reaches the setpoint temperature (T11-sp). The invention further relates to the thermal management device (1) for implementing said management method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Bertrand Nicolas, Jin-Ming Liu, Mohamed Yahia
  • Patent number: 12085301
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a pressure sensor for detecting an internal pressure of a first pipe. An outdoor unit controller is configured to: receive a switching signal; control an outdoor fan and a compressor to operate in a case where the switching signal instructs the outdoor unit to operate, the compressor operating at a first frequency; acquire a current state of the indoor fan in a case where the on signal instructs the outdoor unit to shut down; and control the compressor and the outdoor fan to operate if the current state of the indoor fan is an operating state, the compressor operating at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency. The current state of the indoor fan is obtained according to the internal pressure of the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: HISENSE AIR CONDITIONING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qian Chang, Dajun Li, Chunfeng Xu, Xifeng Zhao, Lintao Wu, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 12030767
    Abstract: A cooling device comprises a buffer circuit comprising a cooling unit for cooling coolant and a reservoir for buffering cooled coolant and a primary cooling circuit for providing coolant to a first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is arranged for exchange of thermal energy between the coolant and beverage in a dispensing line. The primary cooling circuit and the buffer circuit are connected to enable exchange of coolant. The cooling device comprises a coolant distribution module arrange to control exchange of coolant between the primary cooling circuit and the buffer circuit. The coolant distribution module may control at least one of valves as passive components and pumps as active components, in at least one of the primary cooling circuit and the buffer circuit. The coolant distribution module may operate based on coolant temperature in the primary cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B. V.
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Van Geijlswijk
  • Patent number: 12007142
    Abstract: An air conditioner may include a case having a supply channel therein through which external air flows into an interior space; a first heat exchanger disposed on the supply channel and in which the air and refrigerant exchange heat; a second heat exchanger disposed at a downstream side of the first heat exchanger in the supply channel, and in which the air and refrigerant exchange heat; and a refrigerant distributor that sends refrigerant to the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Beomchan Kim, Jusu Kim, Eunseong Pack, Yeongpin Chu, Janghoon Shin, Jaeik Jang
  • Patent number: 11892210
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a capillary tube, and an expansion device. The compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser. The capillary tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser. The expansion device is configured to receive the refrigerant from the capillary tube and provide the refrigerant to the evaporator. The expansion device is adjustable to control a flow of the refrigerant through the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Roy Bates
  • Patent number: 11821644
    Abstract: A control method includes acquiring indoor temperatures of a plurality of rooms each having one of a plurality of indoor units of a multi-split air conditioner, identifying a target indoor unit corresponding to a target room in response to the target room satisfying an overheating condition or a supercooling condition, controlling other one or more indoor units of the multi-split air conditioner except for the target indoor unit to be shut down, and switching an operation mode of the target indoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiwei Hei, Qifeng Fan
  • Patent number: 11785750
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an immersion cooling system comprising one or more electronic devices submerged in a two-phase liquid coolant, a first cooling loop to provide cooling liquid to the immersion system, wherein the first cooling loop comprises a first condenser unit, a first liquid supply line, and a first vapor return line, and a second cooling loop to provide cooling liquid to the immersion system, wherein the second cooling loop comprises a second condenser unit, a second liquid supply line, and a second vapor return line. The apparatus further includes a first pressure sensor coupled to the first vapor return line, a second pressure sensor coupled to the second vapor return line and at least one main cooling source comprising a fluid control valve controlled based on the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Tianyi Gao
  • Patent number: 11774152
    Abstract: The auxiliary AC system includes a temperature measurement device configured to generate a variable output based on an air temperature in an environment proximate to the AC system and a compressor control circuit communicably coupled to a variable speed motor. The compressor control circuit is configured to receive the variable output from the temperature measurement device, determine that the output indicates a change in the air temperature, and generate a control signal for the variable speed motor, the control signal including a current having a magnitude depending on the extent of the change to vary a rate at which a compressor pressurizes a refrigerant vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PHILLIPS & TEMRO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Martell, Eric Graham Ruggles, John David Sweazey
  • Patent number: 11649974
    Abstract: A dehumidifier with a pre-cooling device includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, a microchannel pre-cooler and an evaporator assembly. During operation, moist air enters from an air inlet of the dehumidifier, and passes through the microchannel pre-cooler to make the moist air to reach a saturated steam state and passes through the evaporator assembly for heat exchange to condense and dehumidify the moist air, and the dehumidified air passes through the condenser for heating and finally discharged from the air outlet, so that the water vapor in the moist air can be condensed into a liquid better to improve the condensation and dehumidification effects of the evaporator and reduce the air humidity effectively, so as to improve the dehumidification effect of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO REFINE MOULD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 11542147
    Abstract: A method for cooling a mixed beverage formed with one or more beverage components includes circulating a refrigerant through a heat exchanger having a phase change material to cool a beverage component and sensing a temperature of the refrigerant. The method further includes detecting a first instance when the sensed temperature of the refrigerant equals a threshold refrigerant temperature, detecting a second instance when the sensed temperature of the refrigerant equals the threshold refrigerant temperature, and stopping circulation of the refrigerant when the second instance is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Giardino, Michael Thomas Marszalek
  • Patent number: 11543148
    Abstract: An air conditioning system and a control method thereof. The air conditioning system includes: a plurality of indoor units connected in parallel; a plurality of outdoor units connected in parallel; and a coolant circulation circuit which circulates coolant through each of the indoor units connected in parallel and each of the outdoor units connected in parallel respectively, and which exchanges heat with each of the indoor units and each of the outdoor units; wherein the air conditioning system further includes a controller which, based on a number of actively operating indoor units, a total number of the indoor units and a total number of the outdoor units, defines an upper limit of a number of actively operating outdoor units, so that the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the actively operating outdoor units is not lower than a preset flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaohong Wang, Hui Zhai, Jian Ni, Qing Lu, Liang Chang, Guangyu Shen
  • Patent number: 11491842
    Abstract: An air-conditioner casing for an air conditioner mounted on a ceiling of a bus are provided. The air-conditioner casing includes: a pair of bases having first and second bases which are installed to be spaced apart from and opposite to each other; and one or more shrouds coupled in a space between the first and second bases, in which the number of shrouds to be connected and installed in the casing may be determined based on a capacity of an air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nam-Seok Yun
  • Patent number: 11231205
    Abstract: Heat is recovered from a heat source to heat water to high temperatures. Apparatuses, systems and methods are described to heat water to a high temperature by using heat, such as may be considered in some instances as waste heat, recovered from a heat source. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described utilize low pressure refrigerant(s) as a fluid to provide a refrigeration cycle that utilizes a source of heat to heat water to a high temperature. The refrigeration cycle can be with or without a cascade cycle. The refrigerant cycle in some examples uses an oil free compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Maurice Cosby, II, Stephen A. Kujak, Kenneth J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11137805
    Abstract: A dual redundant cooling system for a container is provided. The dual redundant cooling system includes a first cooling unit and a second cooling unit. The first cooling unit is positioned in a first cabinet attached to the container. The first cooling unit includes a first controller operating a first cooling loop to cool an interior of the container. The second cooling unit is positioned in a second cabinet attached to the container and adjacent the first cabinet. The second cooling unit includes a second controller operating a second cooling loop to cool the interior of the container. The first cooling unit and the first cooling loop are separate from the second cooling unit and the second cooling loop. The first controller and the second controller communicate a switch signal between each other so that either the first cooling unit is a primary cooling unit operating the first cooling loop or the second cooling unit is the primary cooling unit operating the second cooling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Klinge Corporation
    Inventors: Allan Klinge, Henrik Klinge
  • Patent number: 11098932
    Abstract: A method for air-conditioning of watercraft and the like using a device with: an electronically controlled variable-r.p.m. compressor, a main gas/water condenser (5), at least one environmental heat-exchanger (3) with an electronically controlled fan (14), at least one electronically controlled expansion valve (8), and at least one first electronic control unit (4) programmed for calculating continuously a temperature deviation detected (DeltaT=T_ad?T_a), and as a function of said temperature deviation regulating in combination, the r.p.m. of the compressor (1), opening of the flow valve (8), and the r.p.m. of the fan of the heat-exchanger (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Maurizio Tropea
  • Patent number: 11060777
    Abstract: The auxiliary AC system includes a temperature measurement device configured to generate a variable output based on an air temperature in an environment proximate to the AC system and a compressor control circuit communicably coupled to a variable speed motor. The compressor control circuit is configured to receive the variable output from the temperature measurement device, determine that the output indicates a change in the air temperature, and generate a control signal for the variable speed motor, the control signal including a current having a magnitude depending on the extent of the change to vary a rate at which a compressor pressurizes a refrigerant vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey James Martell, Eric Graham Ruggles, John David Sweazey
  • Patent number: 10976086
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The air conditioner implements a multistage expansion scheme by implementing serial connection between electronic expansion valves including in the R410A refrigerant-based air conditioner, and thus guarantees an optimum compression ratio in all cooling/heating load regions. Therefore, although cycle characteristics are changed by changing R410A refrigerant to R32 refrigerant, the air conditioner optimizes the cycle simply by controlling a degree of opening of electronic expansion valves, respectively. As described above, since the cycle optimization is implemented using the multistage expansion scheme in which legacy electronic expansion valves are coupled in series, the design modification is minimized without design modification of requisite constituent elements such as a heat exchanger, system implementation is facilitated, resulting in high efficiency in cost and productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kil Soo Son, Seok Kyun Kim, Jong-Yeop Baek, Byoung-Ok Ahn, Dong-Ho Cho, Hyun Kook Kim, Hyo-Jun Shin, Sang Ho Yoo, Hong Seok Jun
  • Patent number: 10967699
    Abstract: Systems and methods for heating and cooling a vehicle are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for heating and cooling the vehicle includes: running a compressor of an air-conditioning system; and sensing the temperature inside the cab of the vehicle. The method further includes, closing a path of refrigerant to the compressor by a solenoid valve, pumping-down refrigerant by the compressor, and deactivating the compressor when a lower set point of the temperature inside the cab is reached. The method also includes opening the path of refrigerant to the compressor by a solenoid valve, sensing pressure of refrigerant at an inlet of the compressor by a pressure sensor, and activating the compressor based on a signal from the pressure sensor when an upper set point of temperature inside cab is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Paccar Inc
    Inventors: Mike Dragon Young, Uday Vadlamani
  • Patent number: 10753663
    Abstract: A vapor compression system that includes a baffle that separates a first condenser and a first fan from a second condenser and a second fan. A controller that switches between first and second modes of operation. In the first mode of operation the controller closes a valve to block a flow of a refrigerant through a first condenser and turns off the first fan. In the second mode of operation the controller opens the valve to enable the flow of the refrigerant through the first condenser and turns on the first fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Randall C. Forristall, Vincent E. Ford, Theresa T. Dinh, Tyler S. Riddle, Curtis A. Trammell, Robert C. Haddad, Anthony J. Reardon
  • Patent number: 10704793
    Abstract: A blower case for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The blower case includes an inlet for airflow entering the blower case. Also included is a dehumidifier, which is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the dehumidifier is in a path of airflow entering the blower case through the inlet. In the second position the dehumidifier is not in the path of airflow entering the blower case through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Bassick
  • Patent number: 10634262
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigeration cycle device and three-way flow rate control valve. In a refrigeration cycle device including a compressor, first and second coolers configured to cool first and second storage compartments at least, respectively, and a mixer configured to mix refrigerants that have passed through the first and second coolers, a refrigerant flow path is switched so that refrigerants of first and second flow rates are circulated to the first and second coolers, respectively, while the first and second storage compartments are being cooled, and a refrigerant flow path is switched so that a refrigerant of a specific flow rate, which is smaller than a first flow rate but is not zero, is circulated to the first cooler after cooling of the first storage compartment is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuzaki, Makoto Kobayashi, Kazuo Shimizu, Tatsuya Shimizu, Toshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10589593
    Abstract: A parking cooler which is capable of battery powered operation during engine off operation. The parking cooler or air conditioning system may vary in cooling capacities to maximize cooling or maximize battery life. The parking cooler includes one or more condensers and a housing to accommodate such variation of cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Daniel Fedor Westendarp, Thorsten Wichert, Michael Dunkel
  • Patent number: 10330357
    Abstract: An air conditioner in which a supercooler and a receiver are integrated and the cooling receiver of the air conditioner. The cooling receiver of an air conditioner includes a cooling unit configured to include at least one first refrigerant flow channel through which a refrigerant flows and a second refrigerant flow channel which surrounds the outer circumference of part of the at least one first refrigerant flow channel and through which a refrigerant flows and supercools a refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant flow channel and a receiver unit configured to have at least one end of the cooling unit disposed in the receiver unit and to store the supercooled refrigerant exiting from the first refrigerant flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangil Park, Doyong Ha, Jaeheuk Choi, Yoonho Yoo
  • Patent number: 10302342
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a main refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a heat rejection heat exchanger, one of an expander and an expansion device, at least one evaporator coupled to a thermal load, and a suction accumulator. A charge management circuit includes a charge management receiver configured in parallel with the compressor and the heat rejection heat exchanger. A controller is configured to accumulate and discharge reserve refrigerant to and from the charge management receiver to provide flexibility in system operation as refrigerant in the main refrigerant circuit operates in sub-critical, trans-critical, and super-critical modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Igor Vaisman
  • Patent number: 10260784
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to systems and methods for controlling an outlet temperature of an evaporator having a plurality of evaporator tube bundles, in which a processor is configured to compute an outlet temperature setpoint for the evaporator based on outlet temperatures of each of the plurality of evaporator tube bundles. The processor also regulates fluid flow through at least one of the evaporator tube bundles to reduce deviation between the outlet temperature of the evaporator and the outlet temperature setpoint for the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Olia, Suresh K. Shenoy, Jeffrey Magee
  • Patent number: 10254015
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a MTRS with an ejector system are provided. The system can include a refrigeration circuit that has a compressor, a first heat exchanger downstream of the compressor, first and second heat exchange units downstream of the first heat exchanger, and an ejector system downstream of the first and second heat exchange units and upstream of the compressor. The first heat exchange unit provides independent climate control to a first zone of the transport unit. The second heat exchange unit provides independent climate control to a second zone of the transport unit. The ejector system mixes refrigerant exiting the first heat exchange unit with refrigerant exiting the second heat exchange unit, increases the pressure of the mixed refrigerant, and directs the mixed refrigerant to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Premchand Reddy Punuru
  • Patent number: 10197325
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a method for controlling an air conditioner are provided that inject a refrigerant into a compressor to perform a defrosting operation. The air conditioner may include a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heat exchanger; a first injection module that injects a refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger into the compressor during a heating operation and that does not inject a refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger into the compressor during a defrosting operation; and a second injection module that injects a refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger into the compressor during the heating operation and that injects a refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger into the compressor during the defrosting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Beomchan Kim, Younghwan Ko, Byeongsu Kim
  • Patent number: 10156394
    Abstract: An ice making appliance includes a sealed icebox compartment including a heat exchange opening with an ice maker disposed within the sealed icebox compartment. The ice maker includes a heat exchanger positioned at the heat exchange opening of the icebox compartment and a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and forming ice. The ice making appliance also includes a defrost conduit having a first portion positioned below the mold body, the first portion of the defrost conduit extends generally perpendicularly to a vertical direction and slopes towards a second portion of the defrost conduit, the second portion of the defrost conduit extends along the vertical direction between the first portion of the defrost conduit and a drain conduit. The ice making appliance also includes an air circulation conduit providing air circulation within the sealed icebox compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9920951
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a subcooler, such as a vented tube/plate or tube on tube heat exchanger, and a pre-cooler and/or post-heater, which may be a vented tube/plate or tube on tube heat exchanger. The subcooler and pre-cooler and/or post-heater are connected in fluid communication with each other (in series) and with a refrigerant output and input of a condenser. For example, the refrigerant output goes into the subcooler, and the refrigerant input comes out of the precooler and/or post-heater. A working fluid (e.g. coolant), such as water or glycol or other working fluid, is forced, such as by pumping, first through the subcooler and then through the precooler and/or post-heater. Flow rate of the working fluid through the apparatus may be regulated such that the refrigerant is first subcooled to an incoming fluid's temperature and then to pre-cool the refrigerant to approximately its saturated-vapor state, when the system is operating to provide a refrigeration effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Olive Tree Patents 1 LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H Hebert
  • Patent number: 9897357
    Abstract: Systems and methods may include a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a heat exchanger and an expansion device disposed upstream and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The expansion device includes a pressure recovery portion. The expansion device may also include an isentropic expansion device and/or a substantially isentropic expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen S. Hancock
  • Patent number: 9494355
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle device includes a first refrigerant passage for guiding refrigerant from a refrigerant radiator to an inlet side of an outdoor heat exchanger, a first throttle part capable of varying an opening area of the first refrigerant passage, a second refrigerant passage for guiding the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to a compressor-suction side, a first opening/closing part for opening/closing the second refrigerant passage, a third refrigerant passage for guiding the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the compressor-suction side via an evaporator, a second throttle part capable of varying an opening area of the third refrigerant passage, a bypass passage for guiding the refrigerant flowing between the refrigerant radiator and the first throttle part to a position between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second throttle part in the third refrigerant passage, and a second opening/closing part for opening/closing the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Atsushi Inaba, Mikiharu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9335084
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system of a refrigerator, particularly of a refrigerator including a refrigeration compartment and a freezer comprising a compressor attached to at least one condenser by a segment of a refrigerant tube, wherein a first refrigerant line leaves from the condenser and returns to the compressor, and a second refrigerant line leaves from the condenser and returns to the compressor. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compressor has at least two suction inlets, wherein the first refrigerant line is connected to the first inlet and the second refrigerant line is connected to the second inlet, and both inlets have each a suction valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventor: Dietmar Erich Bernhard Lilie
  • Patent number: 9291373
    Abstract: A refrigerant cooling system includes multiple evaporator coils fed by one variable refrigerant metering device and one or more fixed refrigerant metering devices. To avoid condensed moisture on the coils from being entrained by the supply air and ultimately adversely increasing the humidity of a room or comfort zone of a building, the variable refrigerant metering device delivers refrigerant to the evaporator's lowermost coil at a superheat that is less than that of the other higher coils. To operate the refrigerant system at various loads, two or more compressors are selectively energized individually and in combination for various stages of capacity, while the variable refrigerant metering device is active at each stage. The refrigerant system may include multiple refrigerant circuits that are hermetically isolated from each other, or two or more of the circuits may be in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Edward D. Hildreth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9233596
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a primary air conditioning device and an auxiliary air conditioning device each having a condenser, a receiver drier, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, an electrical air conditioning compressor coupled to the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices for operating the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices, and an alternator coupled to the electrical air conditioning compressor for energizing the electrical air conditioning compressor to operate the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices, and for allowing the auxiliary air conditioning device to be actuated to supply the cooling air to cool the vehicle even when the engine of the vehicle is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Henry C. Chu
  • Patent number: 9228762
    Abstract: A cooling system for appliances, air conditioners, and other spaces includes a compressor, and a condenser that receives refrigerant from the compressor. The system also includes an evaporator that receives refrigerant from the condenser. Refrigerant received from the condenser flows through an upstream portion of the evaporator. A first portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor without passing through a downstream portion of the evaporator, and a second portion of the refrigerant from the upstream portion of the condenser flows through the downstream portion of the evaporator after passing through the upstream portion of the evaporator. The second portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor after passing through the downstream portion of the evaporator. The refrigeration system may be configured to cool an appliance such as a refrigerator and/or freezer, or it may be utilized in air conditioners for buildings, motor vehicles, or other such spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9188369
    Abstract: An evaporator system that includes: a first evaporator coil at a first evaporator temperature and pressure; a second evaporator coil at a second evaporator temperature and pressure that is less than the first evaporator temperature and pressure where the first evaporator and second evaporator are configured to be thermally disjointed; and a plurality of thermally conductive spaced apart evaporator fins having a plurality of spaced apart thermal break portions positioned between the first evaporator coil and the second evaporator coil that thermally disjoin the first evaporator and the second evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Kuehl, Nihat Cur, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9103569
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet; a first compartment; and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vertical mullion. The cabinet also typically includes a coolant system that has: a single compressor for regulating a temperature of the first compartment and a temperature of the second compartment operably connected to at least one evaporator; a shared coolant fluid connection system; and a coolant fluid spaced within the shared coolant fluid connection system used to regulate both the temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment. The compressor can provide the shared coolant at at least two different pressures to at least one evaporator using the shared coolant fluid connection circuit. The ratio of the substantially steady state heat gain for the first compartment to the substantially steady state total heat gain for the overall cabinet is about 0.65:1 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nihat Cur, Steven J. Kuehl, Andrew D. Litch, Luiz Antonio D. Lopes, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20150135746
    Abstract: Provided is a pumped loop system (10) for cooling a heat-generating components without relying on a maximum heat load, the system including first and second evaporators (14a-14n) in parallel with one another and first and second valves (22a-22n) upstream of the first and second evaporators respectively, wherein the valves (22a-22n) are controllable to vary the flow rate of fluid to the respective evaporator (14a-14n) based on the amount of flow needed to control the respective heat-generating component. By cooling the heat-generating components without relying on the maximum heat load, adequate flow may be provided to an evaporator operating under a high heat low while reduced flow is provided to an evaporator operating under a low head load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Douglas Louvar
  • Patent number: 9010137
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner which can obtain an energy-saving effect without any change to the setting temperature set by a user and, accordingly, without causing discomfort to the user. If a capacity restriction mode is set to at least one of indoor units Y1 and Y2, the setting temperature Ts in the indoor units Y1 and Y2 is not changed and is maintained at a value set by the user and a compressor 1 is operated with the capacity less than the normal capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Sugiyama, Yoshiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8978412
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerant cycle of an air conditioner for vehicles, and more particularly, a refrigerant cycle of an air conditioner for vehicles having a first evaporating unit and a second evaporating unit disposed upstream and downstream in a direction in which air blown from a single blower flows to control an amount of the refrigerant supplied to each evaporating unit, thereby making it possible to obtain optimal radiating performance (cooling performance) and cooling efficiency (COP) through the design of the optimal refrigerant flow ratio depending on the cooling load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Nam Ahn, Tae Young Park, Yong Jun Jee, Jae Won Jeong, Eun Gi Min, Hae Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 8943847
    Abstract: To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving. An air-conditioning apparatus controls first heat medium flow switching devices and second heat medium flow switching devices in a heating only operation mode and a cooling only operation mode such that a flow rate through which a heat medium circulates is formed between all of the heat exchangers related to heat medium and at least one of use side heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8820106
    Abstract: A heat source-side refrigerant circuit A including a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant branch portion 21 connected to the compressor 11, a second refrigerant branch portion 22 and a third refrigerant branch portion 23 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant flow rate control device 24 provided between branch piping 40 and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, intermediate heat exchangers 25n connected at one side thereof to the first refrigerant branch portion 21 and the third refrigerant branch portion 23 via three-way valves 26n and connected at the other side thereof to the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and second refrigerant flow rate control devices 27n provided between the respective intermediate heat exchangers 25n and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and user-side refrigerant circuits Bn having indoor heat exchangers 31n connected respectively to the intermediate heat exchangers 25n are provided, and at least one of water and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakamoto, Koji Yamashita, Takashi Okazaki, Naoki Tanaka, Keisuke Hokazono, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura, Tomohiko Kasai, Naofumi Takenaka, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8820394
    Abstract: An energy transfer system for transferring energy between the earth and a facility comprising a well bore at least partially filled with groundwater, a center pipe having a top end and a bottom end disposed in the well bore and having a plurality of apertures for allowing the ingress and egress of groundwater, a pump disposed within the center pipe for facilitating a flow of groundwater through the apertures, and a closed source loop disposed in the well bore, the source loop including at least one source loop pipe extending adjacent the center pipe in said well bore and containing a working fluid for absorbing or transmitting thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aztech Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean H. Azzam
  • Patent number: 8806879
    Abstract: A method of analyzing and controlling a refrigeration system (1) including at least one compressor (4), at least one condenser (5) and at least two refrigeration entities (2), each having at least one evaporator (9), includes preventing or reducing evaporator synchronization. Based on information received from the evaporator valve control units by a central control unit (9), it is determined whether or not two or more evaporators (9) are running in a synchronized manner and the refrigeration system (1) is controlled in order to desynchronize the evaporators (9) when two or more evaporators (9) are running in a synchronized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Claus Thybo, Lars Finn Sloth Larsen
  • Patent number: 8769976
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerant distribution in a vapour compression system, such as a refrigeration system, e.g. an air condition system, comprising at least two evaporators. The refrigerant distribution determines the distribution of the available amount of refrigerant among the evaporators. While monitoring a superheat, SH, at a common outlet for the evaporators, the distribution of refrigerant is modified in such a manner that a mass flow of refrigerant to a first evaporator is altered in a controlled manner. The impact on the monitored SH is then observed, and this is used for deriving information relating to the behaviour of the first evaporator, in the form of a control parameter. This is repeated for each evaporator, and the refrigerant distribution is adjusted on the basis of the control parameters. The impact may be in the form of a significant change in SH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Claus Thybo, Rafael Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 8677772
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a cabin air conditioning unit, a heat management unit, a temperature detecting unit, a switching unit, and a control unit. The control unit is operable to control operations of the cabin air conditioning unit, the switching unit, and the heat management unit according to temperature detection results from the temperature detecting unit, thereby regulating temperature of at least one of a passenger cabin and a heat generating component, which generates waste heat during operation thereof, of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Shih, Po-Hsu Lin
  • Patent number: 8656726
    Abstract: A primary stream of boiled-off natural gas taken from the ullage space of a liquefied natural gas storage vessel is compressed by a compressor. A flow of liquefied natural gas taken from the storage vessel is partially and forcedly vaporised in a vaporiser 36 so as to form a secondary stream of natural gas containing unvaporised liquefied natural gas. Unvaporised liquefied natural gas is disengaged from the secondary stream in a phase separator. The secondary stream is mixed with the compressed primary stream to form a supply of natural gas fuel. The fuel supply may be formed and used on board an ocean-going LNG tanker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cryostar SAS
    Inventor: Josef Pozivil
  • Patent number: 8650895
    Abstract: A method of constructing modular air conditioning systems for vehicles includes providing identical universal base units that can be built out into a variety of different types of air conditioning systems. Each base unit includes a frame, a condenser, an evaporator coil, and a blower, and has open-circuit refrigerant connection lines so as to be non-operational without a completion kit. Completion kits are provided in a variety of configurations, including at least two of a simple connection kit, a front box kit, and a compressor kit, each of which is connectable with a universal base unit to form a unique type of air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Jiri Zapotocky, Miroslav Vavrik, Thomas Reitz
  • Patent number: 8650896
    Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric It Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8572995
    Abstract: An air conditioner (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (20) including a plurality of indoor heat exchangers (27). A controller (1) for controlling operation of the air conditioner (10) includes a change unit (5) configured to change a set temperature Tem to a value larger than a current value when the minimum target superheat degree SHsm of target superheat degrees SHs determined for the respective indoor heat exchangers (27) is higher than a predetermined value SHt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kasahara