By Conducted Evaporator Temperature Patents (Class 62/227)
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Patent number: 11965690Abstract: A pan chiller system eschews traditional methods of strapping refrigeration tubing upon an inner liner and obtaining temperature readings from a suction line. The disclosed embodiments overcome shortfalls in the related art by, inter alia, by artfully using a thermal retention assembly that retains refrigeration tubing in the middle of an inner liner. An inner liner may be filled with glycerin or similar products with the glycerin filling a temperature control bulb to obtain accurate temperature readings and avoiding the use of a suction line for such purposes. The disclosed embodiments may also include an air movement system moving cold air at the bottom of the pan and moving air upon the outer sides of the glycerin well and over the top of the well.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Inventors: Donald Eugene Smith, Christine Marie Smith
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Patent number: 11892203Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; an outdoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air located outside a target space; an indoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and inside air located inside the target space; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and water; a four-way valve located between an indoor port on the indoor air heat exchanger, an outdoor port on the outdoor air heat exchanger, an input port on the compressor, and an output port on the compressor; a bypass refrigerant line connecting the indoor port to the outdoor port; and a controllable valve located on the bypass refrigerant line, the controllable valve being configured to have an open state that passes the refrigerant and a closed state that prohibits passage of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC US, INC.Inventor: Joseph Paul Bush
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Patent number: 11668512Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator includes providing an initial input value to a heater configured to supply heat to an evaporator, performing a continuous operation of the heater based on the initial input value to increase a temperature of the evaporator to a predetermined temperature, determining a period of time taken to increase the temperature of the evaporator to the predetermined temperature, determining whether the period of time is within a reference period of time, operating the heater based on a first input value that is equal to the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is outside of the reference period of time, and operating the heater based on a second input value that is less than the initial input value based on a determination that the period of time is within the reference period of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Soonkyu Lee, Sungwook Kim, Kyongbae Park, Sangbok Choi
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Patent number: 11606057Abstract: A control circuit of an electric motor includes a filtering device in order to filter high frequencies likely to produce perturbing electromagnetic radiation when the electric motor is driven. To this end, the filtering device includes one or more filtering capacitors branched off from a power bridge driving the electric motor, wherein at least a proportion of the filtering capacitors is of a polymer-hybrid type in order to improve dynamic performance of the filtering device and to reduce its size. A motorized-fan unit for motor vehicles including such a control circuit is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Valeo Systemes ThermiquesInventors: William Lapierre, David Bonneau, Lucien Le Curieux-Belfond
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Patent number: 11585583Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice tray, a motor, an ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, and a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray. A control method of the refrigerator includes a first step of sensing whether the ejector is rotated to reach a first setup position; a second step of driving the heater and stopping driving of an ice making compartment fan if the first step is satisfied; a third step of determining whether the ejector is rotated to reach a second setup position; and a fourth step of stopping driving of the heater if the third step is satisfied, and wherein the ejector continues to be rotated while the second to fourth steps are implemented.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
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Patent number: 11543166Abstract: An ice maker includes a carriage, an ice mold defining a plurality of cavities that is movably coupled to the carriage such that the ice mold is movable relative to the carriage between a home position and a harvest position, and a detection lever movably coupled to the carriage such that the detection lever is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the detection member being biased toward the extended position. The ice maker further includes a retention mechanism configured to retain the detection lever in the retracted position when the ice mold is in the harvest position.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose Carlos Trejo Olvera, Thomas W. McCollough, Matthias Bauer, Georg Spiessl
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Patent number: 11434883Abstract: A method for operating a variable capacity drive circuit of a compressor includes operating first and second four-quadrant switches in a first state in which the first four-quadrant switch is closed and the second four-quadrant switch is open such that a voltage seen by the motor is equal to an AC line voltage. The method also includes operating the first and second four-quadrant switches in a second state where the first four-quadrant switch is open and the second four-quadrant switch is closed such that the voltage seen by the motor is to zero. Further, the method includes providing a positive firing angle and a negative firing angle for defining when the first and second four-quadrant switches are operated in each of the first and second states. Moreover, the method also includes transitioning between the first and second states using the firing angles at a switching frequency determined by the AC line voltage frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Wilson Latham, Gregory William Hahn
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Patent number: 11203516Abstract: Tankless evaporators, refrigeration circuits, and water coolers use a drum as a thermal mass without using one or more tanks for storing water. Water coolers can include a tankless evaporator. Also described are refrigeration circuits suitable for a water cooler and which include a tankless evaporator. An evaporator for use in a fluid chiller includes a drum of heat conductive material defining a thermal mass, a water coil disposed adjacent around the drum, an evaporator coil configured around the drum and adjacent to the water coil, in which the evaporator coil is operative to cool the water coil.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Haws CorporationInventor: Dean Porter
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Patent number: 11167621Abstract: A retention arrangement is provided for a refrigerant compressor on a bodywork of a motor vehicle. The compressor is designed to compress a coolant of an air conditioning system. The refrigerant compressor is at least indirectly secured to the bodywork by the retention arrangement wherein the refrigerant compressor is held on the bodywork by a carrier or intermediary support which is itself held on the bodywork and on which at least one electrical component of the motor vehicle is held. The electrical component is different from the refrigerant compressor.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Niko Fontein, Tanja Schuldes
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Patent number: 10190812Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the possibility of heat pump evaporator fin freezing are described. Evaporator fin temperature is compared to a threshold temperature that varies with vehicle operating conditions. Actions to mitigate evaporator fin freezing may be taken if evaporator fin temperature is less than the threshold temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Franco Ragazzi
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Patent number: 9375996Abstract: A device and a method for a controlling compressor of vehicles may include a cabin temperature sensor, an outdoor temperature sensor, an evaporator temperature sensor, an engine speed sensor, and a throttle position sensor detecting a throttle opening, a condenser, an evaporator, a temperature control door controlling a temperature of an air flowed in a cabin, an intake door selectively flowing an inner air or an outer air in the cabin, and a blower blowing the air to the intake door, and a controller controlling an operation of the air conditioning system, wherein the controller decides a acceleration mode and an allowable temperature at each acceleration mode when an acceleration condition occurs, and decreases an operation of the compressor according to a difference between the evaporator temperature and the allowable temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Choon Gyu Kwon, Jae Woong Kim, Chang Won Lee
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Patent number: 9038405Abstract: A control system to selectively control the operation of the compressor of a mini-split air conditioning system including at least one remote evaporator operatively coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant therethrough, a sensor to monitor the operation of the evaporator and to generate an operating control signal to turn-off the compressor when a predetermined operating condition is sensed at the evaporator and a condensate drain pan to receive or catch condensate from the evaporator, the control system comprising a condensate sensor disposed to sense condensate in the condensate drain pan at a predetermined level and to generate a condensate level signal fed to a battery powered control device including an isolated solid state relay coupled to the sensor by a control coupling device to generate a condensate level control signal fed to the sensor causing the sensor to generate the operating control signal fed to turn off the compressor when condensate within the condensate drain pan reaches the predeType: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: THE RECTORSEAL CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher Cantolino, Mark Oudshoorn, Robert Dean Sells
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Publication number: 20140250928Abstract: A control system, which may be a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control system, controls a component by adjusting the control input and the execution of the control output whenever a change in a state of a component exceeds a certain value. A method is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Elliott David Keen, Mark Phillip Roden, Shannon Marie Shaw
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Patent number: 8694382Abstract: A system and method is provided for adaptive control of at least one parameter of an auto guidance control algorithm for a vehicle. The parameters may be varied according to a previously established look up table, or automatically adapted through the use of control logic, such as a “fuzzy logic” algorithm. The control parameters that can be adaptively controlled include steered wheel turn rate, proportional valve current gain, line acquisition rate and/or auto guidance control valve current limits. The control algorithm responds to the vehicle's operating parameters such as vehicle speed, tracking error, predicted heading, and hydraulic oil temperature to make adjustments to the auto guidance control parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: CNH America LLCInventors: Todd S. Aznavorian, William L. Schubert
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Patent number: 8572995Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Shinichi Kasahara
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Patent number: 8467936Abstract: A climate control system and method for optimizing energy consumption in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. By varying evaporator temperatures based on occupant settings and environmental conditions, electric compressor speed can be optimized to provide the necessary cooling capacities resulting in energy savings. Determining the impact that increasing or decreasing engine cooling fan speed has on the overall energy consumption of the climate control system without affecting target discharge air temperature provides for energy saving opportunities. Optimizing energy consumption according to the provided strategy provides for improved fuel economy without sacrificing passenger comfort.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Halim Wijaya, Gerhard A. Dage, Wayne Frank Buescher, Christopher Mark Greiner
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Patent number: 8448459Abstract: A system and method for evaluating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. A condenser sensor and an evaporator sensor are provided. An inverter drive modulates a frequency of electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. McSweeney, Stephen M. Seibel
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Patent number: 8418483Abstract: A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. McSweeney, Stephen M. Seibel, Hung M. Pham
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Publication number: 20120253592Abstract: A method of operating an air conditioning system includes changing output of the compressor based on a temperature limit of the evaporator. The temperature limit is one of a predetermined fixed temperature limit and a variable temperature limit. The method also includes determining the variable temperature limit by determining a target air outlet temperature for conditioned air in a control space, detecting an actual evaporator temperature, calculating a difference between the target air outlet temperature and the actual evaporator temperature, finding a predetermined first temperature adjustment that correlates to the difference, finding a predetermined second temperature adjustment that correlates to another condition, and calculating the variable temperature limit by adjusting the fixed temperature limit by one of the first and second temperature adjustments.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, DENSO International America, Inc.Inventors: Sudha Senthil, Robert Wunsche, Curtis G. Vincent, James R. Reed
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Patent number: 8256238Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle has a refrigerant cycle device which has an evaporator and a compressor and in which refrigerant is discharged from the compressor to be evaporated in the evaporator so that air passing the evaporator is cooled to be blown into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The control unit drives the compressor at a control value which is determined based on at least one of a pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle device and an outside-air temperature outside the passenger compartment, when the control unit actuates the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Honda, Takeshi Wakisaka
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Publication number: 20120131936Abstract: A display apparatus has a compressor cooler having a condenser that condenses refrigerant by radiating heat, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant for heat absorption and dehumidification, and a compressor that inhales vapor generated by the evaporator and compresses the vapor to be condensed; a temperature sensor that monitors temperature of the evaporator; a backlight; a first control portion that terminates the compressor when the temperature of the evaporator is a first predetermined temperature or lower; and a second control portion that increases a level of the backlight when the temperature of the evaporator is a second predetermined temperature or lower, wherein the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomonori YOSHIDA, Shohei TAKAHASHI, Hidenori SATO
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Publication number: 20110271698Abstract: A method of controlling an air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes provisions for controlling a compressor to achieve a desired evaporator temperature. The method includes a step of selecting a gain parameter and a reset parameter according to the ambient temperature for use in a set of proportional-integral calculations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bradley C. Errington, Trevor Burns
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Patent number: 8011199Abstract: Methods of controlling air conditioning and HVAC units using a thermostat for a discrete-speed unit that include changing speed based on how long the unit operates at a particular speed. Speed may be increased if a unit operates for longer than a predetermined time at a particular speed, and speed may be reduced if the unit operated for less than a specific amount of time during the prior run. In different embodiments, single-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three speeds, and two-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three to five or more speeds. In addition, in some embodiments, outdoor coil temperature may be measured and considered in determining speed. Further, in some embodiments, maintaining continuous or repeated operation at a boost speed may be avoided. Energy savings and noise reduction may result.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, Dave L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Publication number: 20110197605Abstract: A heat exchanger usable as an evaporator in a refrigerant cycle device includes a heat exchanging portion configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air so as to evaporate the refrigerant. A thermal deformation member is provided in en entire range on a surface of the heat exchanging portion, to be deformed bordering on a predetermined temperature when the surface of the heat exchanging portion is frosted to produce ice. The thermal deformation member is deformed by a temperature change between a first temperature lower than the predetermined temperature and a second temperature higher than the predetermined temperature, to cause distortion between the surface of the heat exchanging portion and the ice when the ice is attached to the surface of the heat exchanging portion. Thus, the ice attached to the surface of the heat exchanging portion can be effectively removed while heat energy for removing the ice can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshinobu Suzuki, Kodai Takeda, Masaaki Hirose
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Patent number: 7971442Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle air-conditioner, which can prevent undershoot of an evaporator by performing a maximum capacity control or controlling an discharge capacity of a compressor through the outputting of an discharge capacity control value of the compressor directly before the stop of the air conditioner, and can improve the pleasant feelings of the passengers by preventing delay of response, which converges into the target temperature of the evaporator due to the delay of the decrease of the temperature of the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Halla Climate Control CorporationInventors: Jeonghoon Lee, Saewon Oh
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Patent number: 7905098Abstract: A system and method includes a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit and including a motor, a current sensor providing a high-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit, a discharge line temperature sensor providing a low-side signal indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit, and processing circuitry processing the high-side signal and the low-side signal to indirectly determine a non-measured operating parameter of the refrigeration circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Hung M. Pham
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Patent number: 7658080Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is controlled so a target control value of a pressure control valve controlling tilt angle of a swash-plate of a swash-plate type variable capacity compressor is variably controlled according to temperature deviation between target evaporator temperature and actual evaporator temperature, thereby controlling the compressor discharge capacity. Target heat discharge quantity is calculated. Target heat discharge quantity is calculated for high thermal load control or low thermal load control. The control value of the pressure control valve is compulsively controlled. Then the control value is normally controlled. The actual evaporator temperature can reach the target evaporator temperature at an initial operating stage, and temperature stability is secured.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.Inventor: Jeong-Hoon Lee
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Patent number: 7536867Abstract: An auger type ice making machine is provided with a freezing cylinder (21) into which water for making ice is supplied, an ice-scraping auger (23) for scraping ice formed on the inner surface of the freezing cylinder (21), and an auger motor (25) for driving the ice-scraping auger (23). An freezing apparatus (10) has a compressor (11) driven by a motor (16), circulating refrigerant discharged from the compressor (11) through a condenser (12), a dryer (13), a constant pressure expansion valve (14), and an evaporator (15) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the freezing cylinder (21). At the outlet of the evaporator (15) there is provided a temperature sensor (41) for sensing refrigerant temperature. A controller (42) controls the rotational speed of the motor (16) through an inverter circuit (43) such that the sensed refrigerant temperature is equal to a specified refrigerant temperature, allowing the freezing apparatus (10) to keep ice-making performance thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Kaga, Akihiko Hirano, Naoshi Kondou
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Patent number: 7494536Abstract: A bypass factor of an evaporator is used to indicate when an air filter of an HVAC is clogged. The bypass factor represents the amount of air that is bypassed without direct contact with the evaporator. As the air filter clogs, the bypass factor decreases. The bypass factor can also be used for early detection of clogging of the air filter. A first bypass factor is calculated by using the temperature measurements, and a second bypass factor is calculated by using the airflow rate of the air. The difference between the two bypass factors determines the error. An increase in the error indicates that the air filter is clogged. A coefficient of performance of the evaporator can also be calculated to detect if the air filter is clogged. A decrease in the coefficient of performance indicates that the air filter is clogged.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Pengju Kang, Mohsen Farzad, Alan Finn, Payman Sadegh
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Publication number: 20090000321Abstract: A method of and apparatus for defrosting an evaporator in a cooling system are provided. The cooling system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant that is circulated in sequence from the compressor to the condenser, to the evaporator and back to the compressor during routine operation of the cooling system. The method and apparatus comprise shutting off the flow of the refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator through the condenser while continuing to operate the compressor so as to apply suction to the refrigerant in the evaporator and thereafter directing compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator while bypassing the condenser and continuing to shut off the flow of the refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator through the condenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventor: David L. Hall
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Publication number: 20090000322Abstract: A control device for an air conditioning device including a variable capacity compressor which has a variable capacity actuator, includes a full stroke control setting value computation module which is configured such that, when a capacity control output value output to the variable capacity actuator is increased greater than a full stroke value which results the variable capacity compressor reaching a full stroke, and when a differential pressure that is proportional to the capacity control output value is verified to be no longer maintained, backtracks to a point of time when a differential pressure maintenance function of the variable capacity compressor is lost, and computes a full stroke control setting value of the variable capacity compressor that a discharge capacity of the variable capacity compressor is saturated, based on the capacity control output value obtained at the point of time when the differential pressure maintenance function of the variable capacity compressor is lost.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventor: Jun Hatakeyama
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Patent number: 7433890Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes a storage device for securing data about an apparatus. The data is stored in a central location and can be accessed or written based upon privileges granted by a processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.Inventors: Richard H. Bair, III, Bryan M. Elwood, Walter J. Tipton, Ronald W. Luyckx
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Patent number: 7370487Abstract: Whether or not a flow rate of a circulating refrigerant is higher than a predetermined threshold value is judged and when the flow rate is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the discharge flow rate of a compressor 11 is controlled in accordance with the degree of cooling of a front seat evaporator 9 and when the flow rate is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the discharge flow rate of the compressor 11 is controlled so as to intermittently change between a discharge flow rate near the predetermined threshold value and a flow rate of substantially zero and the operation time of the compressor 11 during the period of that control is measured and when the compressor operation time exceeds a predetermined time, the compressor is continuously controlled in accordance with a discharge flow rate near the predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroyuki Hayashi
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Patent number: 7181922Abstract: A cooled air temperature detector detects the temperature of air that has just passed through a refrigerant evaporator. The detector detects air temperatures for a plurality of locations on the cooling unit. When determining a control condition (ON/OFF condition) of the refrigerant compressor based on the post-evaporator temperature, an air conditioner ECU calculates and compares respective air temperatures detected by the detector and processes the lowest air temperature as the post-evaporator temperature. In another embodiment, a sensor detects a surface temperature at a plurality of locations on the refrigerant evaporator. The operation of the refrigerant compressor is controlled based on the lowest surface temperature detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventor: Hideki Hashimoto
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Patent number: 7150158Abstract: A freezing prevention system for a refrigeration device includes a freezing-prevention temperature sensor for detecting a refrigerant temperature in a refrigerant evaporator, and a control unit for controlling operation of a refrigerant compressor based on the detected refrigerant temperature. The control unit includes a calculating means for calculating an integral value of the detected refrigerant temperature integrating with respect to a passed time after the detected refrigerant temperature becomes equal to or lower than 0° C. When the integral value becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control unit stops the operation of the refrigerant compressor. Accordingly, the freezing prevention system can accurately perform a freezing prevention control while its production cost can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Takayuki Morita, Yuji Honda
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Patent number: 7140191Abstract: A direct cooling type refrigerator capable of rapidly and accurately controlling the temperature thereof, reducing the ON/OFF time of its compressor, thereby preventing the temperature deviation of its storage compartment from increasing over a predetermined value. The refrigerator includes an outer casing defining an appearance of the refrigerator, an inner casing arranged within the outer casing, and defined with a storage compartment, an insulator interposed between the outer casing and the inner casing, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator arranged to be in contact with the inner casing, and adapted to cool the inner casing in accordance with evaporation of a refrigerant passing therethrough, a temperature sensor provided with a surface contact area closely contacting the inner casing, and adapted to sense a temperature of the inner casing, and a control unit for controlling the compressor in accordance with the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Tae Hee Lee, Kyung Sik Kim, Yang Gyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Chan Ho Chun, Youn Seok Lee
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Patent number: 7100383Abstract: During the period of deceleration of a vehicle, an air conditioning control unit modifies a target cooling temperature (TEO) of an evaporator to a temperature lower than that before the deceleration by ? ° C. in order to store cold in the evaporator (step S130). When the vehicle comes to rest, the air conditioning control unit sets an upwardly-modified target temperature TEOK, which is a temperature modified toward more or less higher temperatures from the target cooling temperature TEO, and brings a compressor to rest and keeps the resting state of the compressor until a detected temperature TE of an evaporator discharge temperature sensor exceeds TEOK (step S180). Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the cold heat stored in the evaporator 6 during the period of deceleration of the vehicle with a good feeling of passengers being maintained while the vehicle is at rest.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Kenji Miura, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
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Patent number: 7032408Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a refrigerator housing having a compartment, this latter presenting side walls having brackets for at least one removable element for supporting products to be preserved and separating the compartment into separate zones, the compartment having a rear wall in correspondence with which an evaporator is present, in the rear wall there being provided a plurality of apertures disposed in overlying planes and communicating with the evaporator, an electronic circuit being provided for measuring the internal temperature of the compartment. The evaporator is located in correspondence with rear wall apertures of the compartment, on these latter there being disposed motor-driven fans, the fans being mutually independent to enable different independent temperatures to be created within the different compartment zones.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Daniela Dentella, Fabio Gastaldello, Marco Signa, Davide Braggion
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Patent number: 7000414Abstract: A refrigerator having a main body, and a compressor and an evaporator in the main body, comprises a heat pipe forming a closed loop so as to allow the refrigerant to be circulated therein; a first heat exchanger provided in the heat pipe, absorbing heat generated from the compressor; a second heat exchanger provided in an upper part between the heat pipe and the first heat exchanger adjacent to the evaporator, discharging heat into the evaporator; and a control valve positioned between the first and second heat exchangers, opening and closing the heat pipe, wherein the refrigerant cooled and liquified in the second heat exchanger forces out the refrigerant heated and gasified in the first heat exchanger by gravity, when the control valve is opened.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2003Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byoung-in Lee, Sung-kwan Park
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Patent number: 6840053Abstract: A system and method for sensing and controlling the temperature of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system utilizes an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor is used to detect temperature over several different areas on an evaporator surface on which a cold spot may occur. More preferably, the infrared sensor continuously scans the whole surface on the air outlet side of the evaporator. The sensed temperature is used to detect any cold spots that may dynamically form on the evaporator surface. The system is controlled in response to the detected temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Behr America, Inc.Inventors: Bjoern Lindner, Thien D. Ta
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Publication number: 20040182098Abstract: A direct cooling type refrigerator capable of rapidly and accurately controlling the temperature thereof, reducing the ON/OFF time of its compressor, thereby preventing the temperature deviation of its storage compartment from increasing over a predetermined value. The refrigerator includes an outer casing defining an appearance of the refrigerator, an inner casing arranged within the outer casing, and defined with a storage compartment, an insulator interposed between the outer casing and the inner casing, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator arranged to be in contact with the inner casing, and adapted to cool the inner casing in accordance with evaporation of a refrigerant passing therethrough, a temperature sensor provided with a surface contact area closely contacting the inner casing, and adapted to sense a temperature of the inner casing, and a control unit for controlling the compressor in accordance with the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventors: Tae Hee Lee, Kyung Sik Kim, Yang Gyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Chan Ho Chun, Youn Seok Lee
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Publication number: 20040134206Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of an air conditioner, in which one or more compressors are operated so that the total refrigerant compression capacity of the operating compressors is variably changed according to a cooling or heating load to be eliminated, and an opening degree of an electronic expansion valve is controlled between minimum and maximum values set according to the total refrigerant compression capacity of the operating compressors, thus stably operating the air conditioner and preventing the refrigerant in a liquid state from being introduced into the compressors and the compressors from overheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Cheol Min Kim, Yoon Jei Hwang
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Patent number: 6748755Abstract: A refrigeration system allows the refrigerant to circulate through a closed circulation channel. A dry evaporator is incorporated in the circulation channel. The dry evaporator is designed to keep a quality smaller than 1.0 in evaporating the refrigerant. The quantity of heat transfer per unit area, namely, a heat transfer coefficient depends on the quality. The heat transfer coefficient remarkably drops when the quality of the refrigerant exceeds a predetermined threshold level before the quality actually reaches 1.0. The quality of the refrigerant kept below the predetermined threshold level during vaporization of the refrigerant in the dry evaporator allows a reliable establishment of a higher performance of cooling. On the other hand, if a refrigerant completely evaporates in a dry evaporator in a conventional manner, the heat transfer coefficient of the refrigerant remarkably drops after the quality of the refrigerant exceeds the predetermined threshold level.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Hideo Kubo, Hisashi Kawashima, Jie Wei, Junichi Ishimine, Masahiro Suzuki, Yoshiaki Udagawa, Masahiro Mochizuki
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Patent number: 6708512Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a cold accumulator is disposed at a downstream air side of an evaporator to be cooled by cold air after passing through the evaporator. A cold accumulating material is sealed within the cold accumulator to be solidified while being cooled by the cold air from the evaporator. The cold accumulating material is a mixture of plural kinds of paraffin materials having different melting points, equal to or more than two. The plural kinds of the paraffin materials are mixed, so that the cold accumulating material having a melting point in a range of 7-11° C. can be obtained. In this case, cooling function in the cold accumulator can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Keiichi Kitamura, Yuichi Shirota, Koji Takahashi
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Patent number: 6625997Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system is provided comprising a duct for introducing a flow of air into a vehicle cabin, a closed-loop refrigeration circuit including a condenser and an evaporator, a temperature sensor arrange in the duct for measuring the temperature of the evaporator, and a control unit for selectively commanding operation of the system in accordance with the measured temperature of the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor comprises an infrared (IR) temperature sensor that is remotely positioned downstream of the evaporator such that the sensor can measure the temperature of a downstream surface of the evaporator. The use of an infrared temperature sensor allows the temperature of substantially the entire downstream surface of the evaporator to be measured instead of a small finite area of the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Frederick K. Schultz
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Publication number: 20030115895Abstract: A pull-down control algorithm for an HVAC refrigeration system is provided. The control algorithm utilizes a fuzzy logic methodology to automatically adjust a flow of refrigerant in the system during a pull-down to maintain a desired pull-down rate. The desired pull-down rate is decreased proportionately as the temperature of the fluid being pulled down approaches a desired operating setpoint to avoid or minimize any overshoot of the operating setpoint. The desired pull-down rate is obtained by adjusting a rate sensitivity factor used in the control algorithm. When the temperature of the fluid being pulled down is above a predetermined value from the operating setpoint, the control algorithm uses a fuzzy logic methodology to determine a rate sensitivity that results in the desired pull-down rate that approaches the operating setpoint without overshoot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: York International CorporationInventors: Gregory K. Beaverson, Wanda J. Miller
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Patent number: 6578373Abstract: A floodback detector for refrigerant systems employing any of: minimum suction temperature, temperature rate of change and duration thereof; minimum superheat, superheat rate of change and duration thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Inventor: William J. Barbier
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Publication number: 20030046944Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a cold accumulator is disposed at a downstream air side of an evaporator to be cooled by cold air after passing through the evaporator. A cold accumulating material is sealed within the cold accumulator to be solidified while being cooled by the cold air from the evaporator. The cold accumulating material is a mixture of plural kinds of paraffin materials having different melting points, equal to or more than two. The plural kinds of the paraffin materials are mixed, so that the cold accumulating material having a melting point in a range of 7-11° C. can be obtained. In this case, cooling function in the cold accumulator can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Keiichi Kitamura, Yuichi Shirota, Koji Takahashi
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Patent number: 6490876Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a dehumidifier in a de-ice mode is provided wherein the dehumidifier has an evaporator coil, a fan operated by a fan motor to cause a flow of ambient air over the evaporator coil, and a compressor operated by a compressor motor to cause a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator coil. A control is provided for detecting a characteristic of the dehumidifier associated with the formation of frost on the evaporator coil. Such characteristic could be the temperature of the evaporator coil, the rate of change of the temperature of the coil, a drop in the amp draw of the compressor motor below a predetermined value or a predetermined rate of downward change in the amp draw of the compressor motor. The control terminates power to the compressor motor after detection of the characteristic, either immediately or after a predetermined time, while continuing operation of the fan to provide the melting.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Andy Lynn Derryberry, David Michael Jackson, Jon Donald Tromblee, Jurgen Pannock
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Patent number: 6460359Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cool-drying gas containing water vapor, whereby this gas is guided through the secondary part of a heat exchanger (1) whose primary part is the evaporator (2) of a cooling circuit (3) which also contains a compressor (5) which is driven by an electric motor (4), a condenser (6), an expansion means (7) between the outlet of the condenser (6) and the inlet of the evaporator (2), and whereby the above-mentioned cooling circuit (3) is thus controlled as a function of the load that the cooling capacity is adjusted without any ice being formed in the evaporator (2), characterized in that the cooling circuit is controlled by adjusting the rotational speed of the motor (4).Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, nvInventor: Peter Albert Lauwers