Of Expansion Valve Or Variable Restrictor Patents (Class 62/222)
  • Patent number: 8997508
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to keep an appropriate high pressure side pressure in a refrigerant circuit while reducing noises of an operation of a blower in a refrigerating apparatus which obtains a critical pressure on a high pressure side. The refrigerating apparatus in which the refrigerant circuit is constituted of a compressor, a gas cooler, a reducing element and an evaporator to obtain a supercritical pressure on the high pressure side includes a blower which air-cools the gas cooler and a control device which controls this blower. This control device controls a revolution speed of the blower based on an outdoor temperature and an evaporation temperature of a refrigerant in the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Mihara, Hidetaka Sasaki, Setsu Hasegawa, Ken Kawakubo, Masahisa Otake, Takashi Sato, Akira Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8991199
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes: a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit having a heat-source-side compressor, a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as a radiator of heat-source-side refrigerant, and a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of heat-source-side refrigerant; and a usage-side refrigerant circuit having a usage-side compressor arranged to compress usage-side refrigerant with a pressure of the usage-side refrigerant corresponding to a saturated gas temperature of 65° C. that is 2.8 MPa or less at gauge pressure, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger operable as a radiator of usage-side refrigerant to heat an aqueous medium, and a first usage-side heat exchanger operable as an evaporator of usage-side refrigerant by the radiation of heat-source-side refrigerant. The weight of usage-side refrigerant enclosed in the usage-side refrigerant circuit is one to three times the weight of refrigeration machine oil enclosed to lubricate the usage-side compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 8984903
    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: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Atsushi Inaba, Mikiharu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8978402
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor, a utilization-side heat exchanger for exchanging heat between water and refrigerant, an electronic expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger; a controller which controls the compressor and the electronic expansion valve; a subcooling value calculating unit which calculates a subcooling value of the refrigerant circuit; a condensing pressure detector which detects condensing pressure of the compressor; a compressor rotation number detector which detects rotation number of the compressor; and an objective subcooling value extracting unit which selects and extracting an objective subcooling value stored in advance, from the condensing pressure and the rotation number of the compressor. The controller adjusts an opening degree of the electronic expansion valve so that the calculated subcooling value of the refrigerant circuit reaches the objective subcooling value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Itagaki, Takashi Sugiyama, Toshiyuki Fuji, Hiroshi Abiko
  • Publication number: 20150068238
    Abstract: When a fully-closable expansion valve is used, there is a possibility that the expansion valve is fully closed thereby to block a refrigerant circuit. In an air conditioner 1 of the present invention, an indoor heat exchanger 14 includes an auxiliary heat exchanger 20 and a main heat exchanger 21 disposed leeward from the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. In an operation in a predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a liquid refrigerant supplied to the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 all evaporates midway in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20, i.e., before reaching the outlet. Therefore, only an upstream partial area in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is an evaporation region, while an area downstream of the evaporation region in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is a superheat region. Further, an evaporation temperature sensor 30 which detects an evaporation temperature is disposed downstream of an expansion valve 13 in an outdoor unit 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Haikawa, Youichi Ohnuma, Tomoatsu Minamida
  • Patent number: 8973385
    Abstract: A temperature controlled case is provided that includes an enclosure defining an airspace for receiving products therein, a refrigeration system configured to circulate a refrigerant through an expansion device and at least one cooling element to cool the airspace and a control module having a first predetermined setpoint corresponding to a first cooling mode and a second predetermined setpoint corresponding to a second cooling mode. The control module is configured to determine which one of the first cooling mode and the second cooling mode the refrigeration system is to operate within and to apply the corresponding predetermined setpoint for reference in modulating a position of the expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Dean Swofford
  • Publication number: 20150059380
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger configured to function as a condenser or an evaporator, indoor heat exchanges each configured to function as a condenser or an evaporator, a plurality of expansion valves each provided for a corresponding one of the indoor heat exchangers each configured to adjust a flow rate of a refrigerant that flows through the corresponding indoor heat exchanger and a controller configured to control an operation capacity of the compressor and opening degrees of a plurality of expansion devices. When increasing heat exchange performance of the indoor heat exchanger, the controller increases the operation capacity of the compressor and controls the opening degree of the expansion valve corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger to decrease the flow rate of the refrigerant that flows through the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Takayama, Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto, So Nomoto, Kosuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8966919
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a heat source unit, usage units, and a controller. The heat source unit has a compression mechanism, a heat-source-side heat exchanger operable at least as an evaporator, and a heat-source-side expansion valve. The usage units have usage-side heat exchangers operable at least as condensers, and usage-side expansion valves. The controller regulates the opening degree of the heat-source-side expansion valve based on the opening degrees of the usage-side expansion valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke Kibo, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20150052922
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a time constant calculation unit that estimates a response time constant at a time when an opening degree of an expansion device is changed on the basis of specifications of a compressor that forms a refrigeration cycle of the air-conditioning apparatus, specifications of a load side heat exchanger, and an operating state quantity of the air-conditioning apparatus, a control constant calculation means that calculates at least one of a control gain of the opening degree of the expansion device and a control interval on the basis of a calculation result of the time constant calculation means, and a control constant change means that changes a control constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Tanaka, Hiroaki Makino, Akinori Sakabe, Tadashi Ariyama
  • Patent number: 8959940
    Abstract: In the invention, control of the expansion device is carried out based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature of the first representative point that becomes a predetermined enthalpy under the refrigerant pressure of the gas cooler and the detection temperature of the outlet temperature sensor, and control of the rotation speed of the compressor and/or the rotation speed of the heat medium sending device is/are carried out based on the second representative point that is, under the refrigerant pressure of the gas cooler, a temperature different from the first representative point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Takeshi Hatomura
  • Publication number: 20150047378
    Abstract: A heat pump circuit including a compressor that compresses a working fluid from a gas in a low pressure, low temperature first state to a high pressure, a high temperature second state. A first subflow of the working fluid is condensed into a gaseous/liquid mixture and assumes a third state by the working fluid delivering heat to a first medium. The first subflow of the working fluid is expanded and returns to a gas in the first state by absorbing heat from a second medium, whereupon the working fluid completes the cycle again. A second subflow of the compressed working fluid is expanded from the second state and the energy contents in the second subflow converted into electrical energy, whereafter the expanded working fluid is returned to the compressor after passage of the evaporator, or after expansion in the energy converter from the second to the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Hardy Hollingworth
  • Publication number: 20150040594
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided that can prevent temperature variations of the air after the heat exchange in a radiator to reliably control the temperature of the air supplied to the vehicle interior. During the heating operation and the heating and dehumidifying operation, target degree of supercooling SCt when target air-blowing temperature TAO is a predetermined temperature or higher is set to SCt1 that is greater than SCt2 when the target air-blowing temperature TAO is lower than the predetermined temperature. When amount of air Ga supplied from indoor fan 12 is lower than a predetermined value, the target degree of supercooling SCt is corrected, which is set such that the degree of supercooling is lower than target degree of supercooling corrected when the amount of air Ga supplied from the indoor fan 12 is a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Atsuo Inoue, Hidenori Takei
  • Publication number: 20150034293
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes at least indoor heat exchangers. In response to a request to increase heat exchange performance from the indoor heat exchanger, the air-conditioning apparatus decreases a heat exchange capacity of an outdoor heat exchanger and controls an opening degree of an expansion valve corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger a to decrease a flow rate of a refrigerant that flows through the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Takayama, Osamu Morimoto, Daisuke Shimamoto
  • Publication number: 20150027139
    Abstract: A system including a setpoint module, a summer, a control module, and an expansion valve module. The setpoint module is configured to indirectly control sub-cooling of a condenser by adjusting a superheat setpoint based on (i) a return air temperature setpoint or a supply air temperature setpoint, and (ii) an outdoor ambient temperature. The summer is configured to determine an error between the superheat setpoint and a superheat level of a compressor. The control module is configured to generate a control signal based on the error. The expansion valve module is configured to electronically control a state of an expansion valve based on the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong LIN, Benedict J. DOLCICH, John F. JUDGE
  • Publication number: 20150020533
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-conditioning loop for heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning equipment in which a coolant circulates. The loop including a compressor comprising a coolant outlet connected to a delivery pipe and a coolant inlet connected to a suction pipe. The loop also including an internal heat exchanger which is capable of functioning at least as a condenser, and which is connected to the compressor via the delivery pipe. The loop also including an external unit which is connected to the compressor via the suction pipe and which includes at least one external heat exchanger capable of functioning at least as an evaporator, with the internal heat exchanger being connected to the external unit via a first intermediate duct comprising at least one pressure-release member. The loop includes a deicing pipe connected to the compressor and/or to the delivery pipe, as well as to the external unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Jin Ming Liu
  • Publication number: 20150013367
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for a vehicle includes a compressor 40 and a condenser 38 arranged for flow of refrigerant. The condenser can be connected to a cabin cooling expansion valve 41 positioned between the condenser and a cabin cooling heat exchanger 50 used to cool a passenger cabin 13 of the vehicle. A battery cooling heat exchanger 32 is connected to the condenser and is used to cool a traction motor battery of the vehicle. A battery cooling expansion valve 31 is connected to the condenser and the battery cooling heat exchanger. At least one of the cabin cooling expansion valve 41 and the battery cooling expansion valve 31 is an electronic expansion valve. A controller 80 can control the one or more electronic expansion valves based on desired refrigerant flow rates through the cabin cooling heat exchanger and the battery cooling heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Neil Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20150013366
    Abstract: A temperature control system employing a two-phase refrigerant and a compressor/condenser loop is disclosed wherein a two phase refrigerant condenses within the load, the system including a thermo-expansion valve that simultaneously allows refrigerant flow through the thermo-expansion valve and regulates a temperature of the refrigerant in its two phase state ahead of the thermo-expansion valve, and wherein a flow through the thermo-expansion valve occurs only after a pressure and temperature upstream of the thermo-expansion valve reaches a final temperature and pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Cowans
  • Patent number: 8919139
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an operation controlling device and a liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device. The refrigerant circuit has an accumulator. The operation controlling device performs normal operation control where each device of the heat source unit and the utilization unit are controlled in accordance with operating load of the utilization unit, and refrigerant quantity determination operation control where properness of quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is determined while performing the cooling operation. The liquid refrigerant accumulation determining device determines whether or not liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator. When it has been determined that liquid refrigerant is accumulating in the accumulator, liquid refrigerant accumulation control is performed to eliminate liquid refrigerant accumulation in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takurou Yamada, Masato Kotake, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tadafumi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140373564
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus has a compressor, a radiator, and an evaporator connected in order to form a refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration apparatus includes an expansion mechanism disposed at an inflow side of the evaporator, a detector that detects a supercooled state of the refrigerant at the inflow side of the evaporator, and a control part. The expansion mechanism controls expansion of refrigerant based on at least one of a high-pressure target value of the refrigerant circuit, a low-pressure target value of the refrigerant circuit, and a superheat target value at an outflow side of the evaporator. The control part causes at least one of a settings change to raise the high-pressure target value, to lower the low-pressure target value and to raise the superheat target value upon determining based on detection results from the detector that refrigerant at the evaporator inflow side is in a supercooled state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nishimura, Satoshi Ishida, Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8887518
    Abstract: A method of reducing a cyclical loss coefficient of an HVAC system efficiency rating of an HVAC system includes operating the HVAC system using a recorded electronic expansion valve position of an electronic expansion valve of the HVAC system, discontinuing operation of the HVAC system, and resuming operation of the HVAC system using an electronic expansion valve position that allows greater refrigerant mass flow through the expansion valve as compared to the recorded electronic expansion valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Mercer, John R. Edens, Jonathan David Douglas
  • Publication number: 20140331694
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a device comprising a processor, an indication that an air conditioning unit should turn on, commanding, by the device, a valve to open a specified extent based on the received indication, and subsequent to the valve opening to the specified extent, powering-on a piece of equipment that has an impact on refrigerant flow in the air conditioning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Eric B. Fraser, Arthur F. Friday, Jr., Michael R. Cote, Jing Ou, Mehmood Syed
  • Publication number: 20140326010
    Abstract: A cooling device capable of improving constancy of the ability of a coolant to cool a heat source is provided. A cooling device-cooling an HV device includes a heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the coolant and air-conditioning air; a cooling unit connected in parallel with the heat exchanger and cooling the HV device using the coolant; an expansion valve provided on a downstream side of the heat exchanger and being regulated in opening degree in accordance with a temperature of the coolant between the heat exchanger and the expansion valve and regulating pressure of the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger; and an expansion valve provided on a downstream side of the cooling unit and being regulated in opening degree in accordance with a temperature of the coolant between the cooling unit and the expansion valve and regulating the pressure of the coolant flowing through the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawakami, Kunihiko Arai
  • Publication number: 20140318164
    Abstract: A first expansion valve is provided in a first refrigerant circulation passage through which the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is able to circulate by passing sequentially through an external heat exchanger and an evaporator and returning to the compressor. A second expansion valve is provided in a second refrigerant circulation passage through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is able to circulate by passing sequentially through an auxiliary condenser and the external heat exchanger and returning to the compressor. The second expansion valve regulates the valve opening degree such that the refrigerant state at an inlet side of the compressor during a heating operation is in a range where the dryness of refrigerant is greater than or equal to 0.9 and the superheat of refrigerant is less than or equal to 5° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: TGK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayakawa, Akihiko Yamamoto, Ryouta Sugamura, Masaaki Tonegawa, Toshiyuki Shiota, Shinji Saeki, Takeshi Kaneko, Takanao Kumakura
  • Publication number: 20140283534
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a refrigerating cycle including a refrigerant passage, a compressor, and a condenser, all of which are coupled in this order, and through which a refrigerant flows in this order, the refrigerant passage being disposed inside a sample stage and through which the refrigerant flows to serve as an evaporator; first and second expansion valves which are interposed between the condenser and the refrigerant passage and between the refrigerant passage and the compressor respectively in the refrigerating cycle; a vaporizer that is interposed between the second expansion valve and the compressor in the refrigerating cycle and which heats and vaporizes the refrigerant; and a controller which regulates opening and closing of the first and second expansion valves and regulates a refrigerant heat exchange amount of the condenser or vaporizer based on a refrigerant temperature between the condenser and the second expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Takumi Tandou, Go Miya, Masaru Izawa, Hiromichi Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20140260385
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus includes a centrifugal compressor, a capacity control mechanism that controls a capacity of the compressor by changing an opening degree of the capacity control mechanism, an expansion mechanism that reduces a pressure of a refrigerant, and a controller. The controller calculates an opening degree of the expansion mechanism using compressor capacity as one of a plurality of indices of change in load. The compressor capacity is obtained from a current rotation number of the compressor, an opening degree of the capacity control mechanism, and a divergence rate of a current operation head from a surge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro UMEDA, Takatoshi TAKIGAWA, Fumiaki ONODERA, Nobutoshi KOZONO, Yasutaka TAKADA, Tsubasa NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20140260389
    Abstract: An atmospheric evaporative water condenser is disclosed which includes a refrigerant flow control system. The flow control system has a number of temperature sensors mounted throughout the apparatus which sends signals to a computerized controller. The computerized controller evaluates the signals from the temperature sensors which in turn opens or closes a plurality of expansion valves. This alters the flow of a refrigerant through the pipes of various portions of the apparatus, causing temperature of fins through which the pipes pass to maintain an optimal temperature for condensation. This avoids undesirable ice formation, film buildup and frost buildup on the fins. As air passes over the optimized cooled fins, water entrained in the air condenses into liquid state on the fins and is collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Ramana Venkato Rao Sistla
  • Patent number: 8820104
    Abstract: This invention is characterized by an air conditioning system that jets actively a refrigerant into an evaporator in an active jetting manner so as to enhance the diffusibility and uniformity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8806877
    Abstract: A refrigerating cycle apparatus is obtained that can determine excess/shortage of a refrigerant amount in a refrigerating circuit at high precision even if a factor such as a heat exchanger whose refrigerant amount is difficult to calculate exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Kosuke Tanaka, Fumitake Unezaki, Takuya Ito, Kazuhiro Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20140223925
    Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and a temperature-regulated section has: a compressor; a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outside air; a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air for air conditioning; an opening-adjusting valve that adjusts a degree of opening of a path of the refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and the temperature-regulated section; an expansion valve that is disposed in a path of the refrigerant between the temperature-regulated section and the second heat exchanger, and that reduces a pressure of the refrigerant; and an ECU that controls a degree of opening of the opening-adjusting valve. The ECU increases the degree of opening of the opening-adjusting valve to thereby heat the temperature-regulated section, and reduces the degree of opening of the opening-adjusting valve to thereby cool the temperature-regulated section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawakami, Yuki Jojima, Yuichi Ohno, Kazuhide Uchida
  • Publication number: 20140223944
    Abstract: A flow control valve (1) for a refrigeration system is disclosed. The valve (1) comprises a valve port (14) having a substantially cylindrical inner circumference arranged to receive a protruding portion of a valve member (5). The valve member (5) comprises a protruding portion having a substantially cylindrical outer circumference corresponding to the inner circumference of the valve port (14), said protruding portion also having at least one fluted part (16), said at least one fluted part (16) defining fluid passage along the at least one fluted part (16) when the valve member (5) is in the open position. The valve member (5) is provided with at least one first fluid passage (6) extending through the valve member (5) between a second valve chamber (15) and a pressure balancing chamber (8), and at least one second fluid passage (7) establishing a fluid connection between a first valve chamber (12) and the first fluid passage (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: Bjarke Skovgard Dam, Hans Kurt Petersen
  • Publication number: 20140208787
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a gas-liquid separator, a second expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are sequentially connected together to perform a two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant circuit further includes: a gas injection pipe through which intermediate-pressure gas refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator flows into an intermediate port of the compressor, and a liquid-gas heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between low-pressure gas refrigerant obtained by evaporating refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and travelling toward the compressor and intermediate-pressure liquid refrigerant travelling from the gas-liquid separator toward the second expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Furui, Kazuhiro Furusho, Hiroshi Yoh
  • Patent number: 8783050
    Abstract: A time for loading a refrigerant is shortened when a utilization unit of an air conditioner is installed. A heat source unit 1 includes a compressor 100; a heat-source-side heat exchanger 200; a refrigerant regulator 61 storing a refrigerant; an introducing pipe 62 which is a pipe that is branched off from a discharge-side pipe 110 of the compressor 100 and connected to the refrigerant regulator 61, and introduces the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 100 into the refrigerant regulator 61; and a lead-out pipe 63 which is a pipe that is connected from the refrigerant regulator 61 to an intake-side pipe 120 of the compressor 100, and leads out the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant regulator 61 into the intake-side pipe 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Okamoto, Shinya Matsuoka, Takuya Kotani
  • Patent number: 8776536
    Abstract: Control process of an expansion valve (EXV) situated in an air conditioning circuit in which circulates and flows a coolant, with the air conditioning circuit comprising at least a compressor (CMP), a condenser (CND) and an evaporator (EVP), characterized in that this control process includes the following steps or stages: when overheating is less than a threshold value, opening of the expansion valve is governed by a static control, and when overheating is higher than the threshold value, opening of the expansion valve is governed by a dynamic control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Jugurtha Benouali, Jin Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 8769973
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a frozen product dispenser is controlled to have a variable cooling capacity that is determined by variable cooling load demands of the dispenser. This is accomplished, in part, by providing the refrigeration system with a variable speed compressor and one or more adjustable expansion valves for metering refrigerant to associated evaporators that are heat exchange coupled to associated freeze barrels of the dispenser, and by controlling the metering setting of the expansion valves and the speed of operation of the compressor in accordance with the cooling load demands of the dispenser. The arrangement provides for efficient operation of the refrigeration system from an energy standpoint and for a reduction in on/off cycling of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Leaver, Gregory M. Billman
  • Patent number: 8769974
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat source unit, a first usage unit, and a second usage unit. The heat source unit has a heat-source-side compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a heat-source-side blower and a heat-source-side switching mechanism. The first usage unit has at least a radiation amount adjusting element and a first usage-side flow rate adjustment valve. The second usage unit has at least a second usage-side flow rate adjustment valve. In a case in which the second usage unit performs an air-cooling operation and the first usage unit performs an aqueous medium heating operation, the amount of radiation adjusted by the radiation amount adjusting element or operating capacity of the heat-source-side blower is controlled in accordance with a state of the first usage-side flow rate adjustment valve and the second usage-side flow rate adjustment valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 8739565
    Abstract: A machine for producing liquid and semi-liquid consumer food products comprises one or more containers (2) for a basic product of the consumer product to be made; a refrigeration system (3) acting on the containers (2) to reduce the temperature of the basic product; the refrigeration system (3) comprising a predetermined refrigerant; the refrigerant being carbon dioxide and the refrigeration system (3) being set up to carry out a transcritical refrigeration cycle on the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Carpigiani Group—Ali S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gino Cocchi, Gianni Zaniboni, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 8733126
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning apparatus, including: a refrigerant circulation channel that flows a refrigerant, the refrigerant circulation channel provided in a refrigeration cycle system including, as connected in a cyclic pattern, a compressor for the refrigerant, an outdoor heat-exchanger exchanging heat between the refrigerant and an outdoor air, an expansion valve reducing pressure of the refrigerant, and an air-conditioning heat-exchange circuit exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air to be introduced into a vehicle interior; and an equipment heat-exchange circuit connected in parallel to the circuit and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and in-vehicle equipment. The circuit includes a cooling heat-transfer medium circulation channel that circulates a heat-transfer medium for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Sekiya, Tadashi Osaka, Itsuro Sawada, Yuto Imanishi
  • Patent number: 8689575
    Abstract: A system for improving the thermal efficiency of a thermal control loop in which refrigerant after compression and condensation is applied to an evaporator employs a subsidiary counter-current heat exchange intercepting refrigerant flow to maintain the quality of the refrigerant by exchanging thermal energy between the input flow and the output flow from the evaporator. The same principle is effective, with particular advantage when small connections have to be made, in systems using mixed phase media and using the concept of direct energy transfer with saturated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Cowans, Glenn W. Zubillaga, Kenneth W. Cowans
  • Publication number: 20140083123
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning apparatus, a controller controls an amount of refrigerant injection into a compressor by controlling an opening area of an expansion device such that the electric power consumption of the compressor becomes smaller, or such that a heating capacity or a cooling capacity of an intermediate heat exchanger becomes larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka, Kosuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8650893
    Abstract: A vapor-compression air conditioning system comprising a blower positioned in a return air flow path from a conditioned space, a reheat heat exchanger positioned in the return air flow path and downstream from the blower, a system reversing valve fluidly coupled to the reheat heat exchanger, and a refrigerant flow sequencer interposed the system reversing valve and the reheat heat exchanger. A method of manufacturing an air conditioning system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Oved Hanson
  • Patent number: 8646286
    Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigeration system having a refrigerant disposed within a fluid-tight circulation loop with a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, wherein the method includes the steps of (a) compressing refrigerant in a gaseous state within the compressor and cooling the refrigerant within the condenser to yield refrigerant in the liquefied state; (b) flowing refrigerant from the condenser into the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant partially exists in a two-phase state; (c) flowing refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) detecting the condition of the refrigerant with a sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the outlet opening; and (f) controlling the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator in step (b) based upon the detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: PDX Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John Scherer, Ralph Tator
  • Publication number: 20140026605
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus controls an opening degree of at least one of a second expansion device and a third expansion device to adjust the amount of refrigerant to flow through the injection pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ishimura, Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8631663
    Abstract: The present application relates to a power failure controller for an electronically controlled expansion valve in a refrigeration system. The valve is controlled by a valve controller configured to close the valve as a part of a power-up routine when the valve controller is first powered-up from a powered-down state. The power failure controller includes a circuit configured to allow the valve controller to enter the powered-down state when a power failure is detected and to subsequently provide power to the valve controller from a capacitor bank coupled to the circuit so that the valve controller conducts the power-up routine and closes or mostly closes the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyman Wycoff, Larry Howington
  • Patent number: 8627676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow rate control system in refrigeration circuits, to a method for controlling a refrigeration system and to a refrigeration system properly speaking, which may include, for example, from a domestic refrigerator to an air conditioning system. In particular, the present invention is directed to a solution for the loss of efficiency in the expansion valve (17), when the system load varies, making the expansion valve (17) operate below its nominal capacity and, therefore, at low efficiency. One of the ways to achieve the objectives of the present invention is through a flow rate control system in refrigeration circuits comprising a hermetic compressor fluidly connected to a closed circuit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Marcio Roberto Thiessen, Fabio Henrique Klein
  • Publication number: 20130333402
    Abstract: Climate control systems and methods of operating climate control systems for motor vehicles are provided herein. In one example, the method comprises the steps of expanding a condensed refrigerant stream with an expansion valve to form a partially expanded refrigerant stream. The partially expanded refrigerant stream comprises a refrigerant liquid phase and a refrigerant vapor phase. The partially expanded refrigerant stream is separated with a liquid-vapor separator into a refrigerant liquid stream and a refrigerant vapor stream. Heat is exchanged between air passing across or through an evaporator and the refrigerant liquid stream passing internally through and expanding in the evaporator to form a superheated refrigerant gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: BRYAN M. STYLES, HARRY E. EUSTICE
  • Publication number: 20130333398
    Abstract: A cooling device and to a method for controlling a cooling device for vehicles is provided, the cooling device including a refrigerant compressor, a condenser downstream of the refrigerant compressor in the flow direction of the refrigerant, a first evaporator downstream of the condenser for cooling air to be supplied to the passenger compartment, a second evaporator arranged parallel to the first evaporator for cooling an electric accumulator, and a control unit which is configured to control the refrigerant compressor as a function of the cooling demands for the passenger compartment and/or the electric accumulator on the basis of the higher cooling demand requirement. The cooling device may further include electric valves between the condenser and the first and second evaporators to control a cooling capacity of the first and/or second evaporator to meet the cooling demands of the passenger compartment and/or the electric accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Gregor Wendrock, Michael Nirschl, Nicolas Flahaut, Micha Dirmeier, Robert Lustig, Christopher Wagner
  • Publication number: 20130333862
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus controls that a discharge temperature does not become too high with a refrigerant whose compressor discharge temperature readily rises, and thus suppress degradation of the refrigerant and a refrigerating machine oil. An injection pipe that injects a heat source side refrigerant into a compressor is installed, connected a pipe between a backflow prevention device and an opening and closing device installed on a branching pipe, and an aperture unit in the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Katsuhiro Ishimura, Shinichi Wakamoto, Naofumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8596552
    Abstract: A valve (4) for a refrigeration system. Comprises two diaphragms (8, 10) being operatively connected. One diaphragm (8) is in contact with the refrigerant, the other (10) is in contact with the filling fluid. The two diaphragms (8, 10) may have different active areas. In combination with the connection between the two diaphragms (8, 10) this provides a ‘pressure gearing’ between the filling fluid and the refrigerant. Allows the pressure of the filling fluid to be relatively low even when the pressure of the refrigerant is high, while ensuring that the valve (4) can function properly. Particularly suitable for high pressure refrigeration systems, such as CO2 systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Holger Nicolaisen, Jens Erik Rasmussen, Torben Funder-Kristensen, Joergen Trelle-Pedersen, Torben Matzon, Anders Vestergaard, Lars Mou Jessen
  • Publication number: 20130312442
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus is provided to prevent a frost from being formed on a heat exchanger under the condition that the outdoor temperature is low. During a heating and dehumidifying operation, the third solenoid valve 25c is closed when outdoor temperature Tam is predetermined temperature T1 or lower, or when temperature Thex of the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is a predetermined temperature T2 or lower and temperature Te detected by the cooled air temperature sensor 44 is temperature Tet-? or lower. By this means, during the heating and dehumidifying operation, when a frost is likely to be formed on the heat exchanger 14, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the heat exchanger 14, and to prevent a frost from being formed on the heat exchanger 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi, Hidenori Takei, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8578724
    Abstract: A heat pump is provided having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. A compressor is fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A reversing valve is fluidly coupled between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The reversing valve is adapted to flow of a refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger during heating mode and to the second heat exchanger during a cooling mode. A thermal expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. An electronic expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is electrically coupled to operate the electronic expansion valve between a fully open, a fully closed and a modulated position depending on the operation of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Lynn A. Turner, Don A. Schuster