By External Cooled Gas Patents (Class 62/229)
  • Patent number: 8104299
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (radiator) and a controller. The radiator causes heat radiation to be performed with respect to air from a supercritical refrigerant during heating operation. The controller controls a room temperature by causing a high-pressure side pressure and a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator to reach respective target values. Preferably, the controller detects a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator with an outlet temperature sensor and detects a room temperature with a room temperature sensor. The controller increases or decreases a target value of the high-pressure side pressure when the controller has judged that there is an excess or a deficiency of capacity in view of the room temperature inside a room that is to be heated even when the refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator has reached a target value during heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Okamoto, Shinichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 8037700
    Abstract: An air conditioning system that comprises a controller that is in electrical communication with a compressor, a condenser fan, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the ambient air, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of a condenser coil of the air conditioning system, and a low pressure switch (LPS) that measure the pressure of a refrigerant disposed within the air conditioning system. An algorithm resident on the controller controls the controller to enter a low ambient cooling mode when the temperature of the ambient air is less than a set temperature. The algorithm further controls the controller so that a minimum and/or maximum cycling frequency is imposed on the condenser fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Shah, Eugene L. Mills, Lynn A. Turner
  • Patent number: 7971442
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Jeonghoon Lee, Saewon Oh
  • Patent number: 7971444
    Abstract: In an electric refrigeration appliance having at least one refrigeration compartment, a refrigerating arrangement having an evaporator, and a control device that controls the refrigeration compartment temperature and that has a temperature sensor; the temperature sensor is located away from the evaporator and in a portion of a refrigeration compartment volume selected with the exclusion of a first top portion of the refrigeration compartment having a volume equal to roughly 8-10% of the total internal volume of the refrigeration compartment, and with the exclusion of a second front portion of a depth equal to at least 10% of the total inside depth of the refrigeration compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Malpetti
  • Patent number: 7946123
    Abstract: A system is provided to control and operate a compressor to have two or more discrete output capacities in response to an outdoor temperature measurement. During operation of the compressor in an air conditioning or cooling mode, the compressor has a first output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being greater than a first temperature setpoint and the compressor has a second output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being less than a second temperature setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Bristol Compressors International, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Tolbert, Jr., Scott G. Hix, David T. Monk, Jerry D. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20110100035
    Abstract: A refrigerant system has a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and delivering it downstream to a condenser. A bypass line is provided around the condenser for selectively allowing at least a portion of refrigerant to bypass the condenser. Valves are provided on a line leading to the condenser and on the bypass line to individually control the flow of refrigerant. An expansion device is located downstream of the condenser, and an evaporator is located downstream of the expansion device. A reheat cycle is incorporated into the system. The reheat cycle includes a valve for selectively delivering at least a portion of refrigerant through a reheat heat exchanger, which is positioned in the path of air downstream of the evaporator. A control is provided for the system to achieve a desired level of dehumidification and temperature control to air being delivered into the environment to be conditioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson, Michael L. Balistreri
  • Patent number: 7895851
    Abstract: A method for controlling the humidity inside a refrigerator, having at least a cavity and a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator and a compressor, comprising the step of measuring the relative humidity level inside the cavity, measuring the temperature of the evaporator and feeding the above measured values to a control algorithm capable of driving the refrigeration circuit in order to maintain substantially constant the average level of relative humidity and corresponding to a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lorenzo Bianchi, Alessandro Boer, Enrica Monticelli, Raffaele Paganini
  • Publication number: 20100223941
    Abstract: An air conditioning system that comprises a controller that is in electrical communication with a compressor, a condenser fan, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the ambient air, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of a condenser coil of the air conditioning system, and a low pressure switch (LPS) that measure the pressure of a refrigerant disposed within the air conditioning system. An algorithm resident on the controller controls the controller to enter a low ambient cooling mode when the temperature of the ambient air is less than a set temperature. The algorithm further controls the controller so that a minimum and/or maximum cycling frequency is imposed on the condenser fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Shah, Eugene L. Mills, Lynn A. Turner
  • Patent number: 7788938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating a coolant circuit (2) of a vehicle air conditioning system (4). According to said method, a target value (SW(VT)) for an evaporator temperature (VT) is predetermined in a base control circuit. Said value is used to determine a control value (U) for controlling the evaporator temperature (VT) by means of an evaporator temperature regulator (16). Said control value is also fed to a ventilator fan controller (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Baruschke, Armin Britsch-Laudwein, Karl Lochmahr
  • Patent number: 7762093
    Abstract: A variable capacity air conditioner compressor is controlled by setting a car target indoor temperature; sensing car indoor and outdoor temperatures and solar radiation with sensors at predetermined car positions; calculating a vent target discharge temperature using the target temperature, sensed car temperatures and solar radiation; calculating a target evaporator temperature and blower voltage based on target discharge temperature; calculating a control duty based on the target evaporator temperature; calculating target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; determining whether or not the compressor conies under a sudden variable condition based on the control duty, and target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; and setting a control duty change rate maximum value to an accelerative slew rate greater than and equal to a basic slew rate when sudden and not sudden variable conditions are respectively determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hoon Lee, Young-Kil Kim, Tae-Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7739882
    Abstract: A variable speed control system is provided for use with a heat pump heating/cooling system having a variable speed compressor. The control system includes a remote transceiver, a second transceiver to communicate with the first transceiver, and an AC power module to communicate with the second transceiver. The AC power module further includes multiple current limiting devices and multiple temperature sensors and varies the output of the variable speed compressor by comparing the readings from the temperature sensors to a pre-determined temperature setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Dometic, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Evans, Robert L. Weber
  • Patent number: 7730732
    Abstract: A storing section stores data of a pull down cooling characteristic indicative of a time-varying mode of reduction in a target temperature drop. For example, when this is a linear function line, a target internal temperature drop degree takes a constant value, irrespective of an operating time. An actual temperature drop degree is computed on the basis of the detected internal temperature. The computed value is compared with a target value read from the storing section. When the computed value is less than the target value, a rotational speed of an inverter compressor is increased via an inverter circuit. When the computed value is larger than the target value, the rotational speed of the compressor is decreased. The speed increases and decreases are repeated so that pull down cooling is performed along the linear line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaga, Akihiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 7712320
    Abstract: A compressor is controlled by generating and storing a compressor operation log. In addition, a compressor operation is selected from the compressor operation log in response to a sensor failure. Furthermore, the compressor is modulated according to the selected compressor operation in response to the sensor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Bair, III, Bryan M. Elwood
  • Publication number: 20100107681
    Abstract: Heat exchangers 40, 40a, 40b for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and air include fins 45, 45a, 45b for heat transfer, each of which has fine pores each having a diameter ranging from 1 to 3.5 nm for adsorbing water contained in the air by a capillary condensation phenomenon. Preferably, the fine pores are distributed having a different diameter in accordance with the position of the fins 45, 45a, 45b on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Takeshi Sugimoto, Fumio Matsuoka, Koji Yamashita, Tetsuya Yamashita, Takeyuki Maegawa
  • Patent number: 7690210
    Abstract: In an air-conditioner control unit, when pollen mode control is set by a vehicle occupant to perform the pollen mode control that can provide a defogging effect while maintaining the pollen removal effect, the opening of an air inlet door is forcibly set to an inside-air introduction mode (S330) when the following two conditions hold: ambient temperature Tam is higher than a threshold (5 to 6° C.) set in a low-temperature region (S320), and a compressor system is able to operate normally without causing an abnormal pressure (S330). If even one of these conditions does not hold, the opening of the air inlet door is not forcibly set to the inside-air introduction mode, and the air inlet door is operated as in normal control. In this way, in the pollen mode control, since the pollen removal effect in the inside-air introduction mode is enabled only when the ambient air is relatively high, the occurrence of windshield fogging can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Kenichi Kato, Katsuhiko Samukawa
  • Patent number: 7634918
    Abstract: A refrigeration device may provide a snooze feature, in which the compressor of the refrigeration device is turned off for a predetermined period of time in response to a user command. The refrigeration device may also provide a quick chill feature, in which the compressor of the refrigeration device is turned on for a predetermined period of time in response to a user command. User commands for controlling the operation of the refrigeration device may be provide through a control panel, a remote control or a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo E & E Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Kawaguchi, Kunimitsu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7628028
    Abstract: A system and method is provided to control and operate a compressor to have two or more discrete output capacities in response to an outdoor temperature measurement. During operation of the compressor in an air conditioning or cooling mode, the compressor has a first output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being greater than a first temperature setpoint and the compressor has a second output capacity in response to the outdoor temperature being less than a second temperature setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Bristol Compressors International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Willard Tolbert, Jr., Scott Garrison Hix, David Turner Monk, Jerry D. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7617692
    Abstract: A method and system determines when a climate control system of a hybrid vehicle can be operated without the use of an A/C compressor. The method and system make this determination by determining whether the vehicle is at idle or is being driven and determining whether or not the A/C compressor is required to function to maintain air conditioning comfort in the vehicle. The A/C compressor couples to an engine of the vehicle when the engine is on in order to function. The method and system turn off the engine and thereby turn off the A/C compressor if the A/C compressor is not required to function and if the vehicle is at idle. The method and system turn off the A/C compressor without turning off the engine if the A/C compressor is not required to function and if the vehicle is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard A. Dage, Wayne Frank Buescher, Thomas J. Fox
  • Patent number: 7579794
    Abstract: A fan system includes a fan, a hysteresis circuit including a temperature sensor, a first operational amplifier having a negative input end coupled to the temperature sensor, and a second operational amplifier having a negative input end coupled to an output end of the first operational amplifier and having a positive input end coupled to a power supply for outputting a first voltage when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is greater than a first temperature, and for outputting a second voltage when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is lower than a second temperature. The fan system further includes a fan switch coupled to the hysteresis circuit and the fan for controlling a rotational speed of the fan according to the first voltage or the second voltage outputted from the hysteresis circuit. The first temperature is greater than the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Lung Chang, Chao Chen, Kuo-Chung Kao
  • Patent number: 7562698
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine adapted to stop idling on predetermined stop conditions of the vehicle, which system comprises an electric motor for driving a refrigerant compressor when the engine idling is stopped, motor speed control means for controlling the speed of the motor in correspondence with an evaporator outlet temperature, and evaporator temperature correction means for, when the engine idling is stopped while outside air is being introduced, correcting the evaporator outlet temperature to a lower temperature in correspondence with a temperature of the outside air and a temperature of engine cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Fujiki, Shinji Yasuno
  • Patent number: 7506520
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a refrigerator to enable independent cooling of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. The method prevents temperature rising of the refrigerator by controlling a refrigerant passage switching valve after stopping operation of a compressor, thereby reducing electricity consumption and increasing humidification effects of the refrigerator by controlling an operating time point of a refrigerating chamber fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Hwan Oh
  • Publication number: 20090038326
    Abstract: Heat exchangers of a refrigerant circuit 50 are constructed of a first adsorption heat exchanger 51 and a second adsorption heat exchanger 52, both of which have an adsorbent supported thereon, and are constructed so as to be switched into an evaporator and a condenser. An air passage 60 is constructed so as to be switched into states in which air flowing from the outside of a room to the inside of the room and air flowing from the inside of the room to the outside of the room flow through either of the first adsorption heat exchanger 51 and the second adsorption heat exchanger 52.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7478537
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner includes a compressor to be driven by an engine. The vehicular air-conditioner includes a controller configured to reduce a load on the compressor in response to a braking condition of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makishima, Hiroyasu Nadamoto
  • Patent number: 7458226
    Abstract: An air conditioning system comprises a compressor 2 which compresses a refrigerant made of carbon dioxide, a radiator 4 which radiates heat of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2, an expansion valve 5 which decompresses the refrigerant which dissipated heat by the radiator 4 and which can control a refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4, an evaporator 7 which evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve 5, a sensor 13 which detects temperatures of a surface of a pipe through which a high pressure refrigerant on the outlet side of the radiator passes, and a control apparatus 23 which calculates a target refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4 based on a value detected by the sensor to control the expansion valve 5. The control apparatus corrects the target refrigerant pressure on the outlet side of the radiator 4 corresponding to refrigerant temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kojiro Nakamura, Tadashi Shimada
  • Patent number: 7448226
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigerating cycle sequentially connecting a compressor, a condenser, a drawing mechanism, and evaporator, an accumulator, an inlet temperature sensor and an outlet temperature sensor for detecting the temperatures of the inlet and outlet of the evaporator, and a cooling fan for cooling the compressor. When the difference between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is a predetermined value or more, the cooling fan is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Yamashita, Yasushi Takagi, Susumu Saruta, Munehiro Horie, Tsutomu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 7441414
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Ziehr, Gregory A. Major, Mark D. Nemesh, George M. Claypole
  • Publication number: 20080229767
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system having a variable displacement compressor driven by an engine of a vehicle, method and device for controlling a refrigeration cycle are provided to ensure necessary cooling performance of the system without damaging the traveling performance of the vehicle. In the method, a limit value in the discharge rate of the variable displacement compressor is determined by an engine speed or a variable related to the engine speed. The variable displacement compressor is controlled on the basis of the limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kojiro Nakamura, Tomohiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7409984
    Abstract: When a switching signal to switch the mode to the defroster mode is generated and the target air volume is smaller than a predetermined air volume ?, the target air volume is automatically increased to the predetermined air volume ?. In doing so, an increase starting point of time of increasing the target air volume is determined according to the blowout mode immediately before a switch signal to switch the mode to the defroster mode is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Samukawa
  • Patent number: 7404435
    Abstract: An air conditioner for automotive vehicle use intended to prevent a defrosting operation in an instantaneous foot-defroster mode. The DEF mode in which air mainly from a DEF opening is blown toward the windshield is set by an exclusive front DEF switch. The F/D mode for blowing a substantially equal amount of air to the windshield and the feet of the occupants from the DEF opening and the FOOT opening, respectively, together with the other blow modes (FACE, B/L, FOOT), are sequentially switched for each operation of the blow mode switch in a predetermined sequence. In the case where the F/D mode is selected, the air condition control operation is not performed nor is the blow mode displayed in F/D mode before the lapse of a predetermined length of time (about 1 second). In the case where the blow mode other than F/D mode is desired, therefore, the unrequired control operation in F/D mode is not performed and the instantaneous change is not displayed even though the F/D mode is unavoidably passed-through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Samukawa, Masashi Ino
  • Publication number: 20080115516
    Abstract: A temperature control system in a refrigeration appliance comprising: a cabinet defining at least one refrigerating compartment closed by a door; a compressor; and a control means provided with a timer and which is constructed to activate and deactivate the compressor when the interior of the refrigerating compartment reaches activation and deactivation temperatures, respectively. The control system comprises an ambient temperature sensor and an open door sensor which are operatively connected to the control means, the latter being designed to adjust the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor as a function of the ambient temperature external to the cabinet and the opening pattern of the door, in order to minimize the temperature variations of the food stored in the refrigerating compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL S.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Ribeiro Pimentel, Moacyr Marangone Mezavila, Alexandre Cury Schmid
  • Patent number: 7360372
    Abstract: A refrigeration system to increase the subcooling degree of refrigerant flowing through a main refrigerant circuit is provided. The refrigeration system is configured such that a portion of the refrigerant flowing through the main refrigerant circuit can be made to bypass the remainder of the main refrigerant circuit in a bypass refrigerant circuit so as to be returned to the intake side of a compressor and to be used to cool the refrigerant flowing through the main refrigerant circuit to a subcooled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Takechi, Shinya Matsuoka, Yasushi Hori, Masahiro Oka
  • Patent number: 7337623
    Abstract: Temperature regulation by means of a PID regulation method can be associated with disadvantageous oscillations, overshooting and long control times. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, during temperature regulation of a space, non-linear fuzzy logic is provided which for intelligent temperature regulation uses extensive information from the environment. Such information includes in particular the temperature in the air inlet duct upstream of the heater, and the rate of change in the temperature in the air inlet duct upstream of the heater and in a first cell of the space. In this way, a fast and precise temperature regulating system may be provided which largely prevents or suppresses undesirable oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jean Remy Fauret
  • Patent number: 7272945
    Abstract: A system for detecting at least one environmental condition in a room. The system includes one or more detecting devices having a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition and to display the detected at least one environmental condition. The system also includes one or more reader devices configured to image the one or more detecting devices and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more reader devices. The controller is operable to control the one or more reader devices and to receive the images from the one or more reader devices. In addition, the controller is configured to determine the at least one environmental condition based upon the images of the one or more detecting devices. The system further includes a memory accessible by the controller, and the controller is configured to store the at least one environmental condition in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cullen Edwin Bash, George Henry Forman, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7266959
    Abstract: An improved cold climate air-source heat pump comprising at least a primary compressor, a booster compressor, a first heat exchanger associated with an indoor environment and a second heat exchanger associated with an outdoor environment and with one heat exchanger acting as an evaporator and the other heat exchanger acting as a condenser, an expansion device, flow conduit means for circulating a refrigerant fluid in a closed loop, a first sensor means for sensing the temperature of the internal ambient air, a second sensor means for sensing the temperature of the external ambient air, a third sensor means for sensing the temperature of the refrigerant fluid flowing between the booster compressor and the primary compressor, a fourth sensor means for sensing the operative state of the primary compressor, a primary compressor operation control means responsive to inputs from the first sensor means, and a booster compressor operation control means responsive to inputs from the second, third, and fourth sensor me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Donald Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070193288
    Abstract: A device for saving power consumption of heating and air conditioning system is provided. The energy saving device is adapted to automatically stop an air conditioner when outdoor temperature is lower than a set temperature or automatically stop a heater when outdoor temperature is higher than a set temperature. The energy saving device is provided with an outdoor temperature sensor and converter for measuring an outdoor temperature and converting the measured temperature into a first voltage value, a conversion circuit for converting a set temperature of stopping the air conditioner/heater into a second voltage value, a control circuit for controlling the air conditioner/heater, and a comparison circuit for comparing the first voltage value with the second voltage value and transmitting the result to the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Yi Jwo-Hwu, Wen-Chwan Hwang, Jian-Ming Li, Ming-Feng Cai, Meng-Zhi Wu, Yi-Lin Jiang, Tyun-Jay Guo
  • Patent number: 7243503
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of an air conditioner having an inverter compressor and a regular velocity compressor includes: setting an upper limit threshold and a lower limit threshold based on a desired temperature set by a user, measuring a room temperature and comparing the measured room temperature and the set upper or lower limit threshold; and resetting the upper and lower limit thresholds based on a body adaptation time according to the comparison result, varying an operation frequency of a compressor and operating the compressor in the varied operation frequency for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Won Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7245486
    Abstract: A cooling air intake structure of a desk-top computer having a housing containing a mother board with a processor, includes one of a passage frame extending from one side to the other side of the housing, defining a passage penetrating through the housing and having a predetermining cross-sectional area, and a recess portion, on each of the sides of the housing, having a predetermined cross-sectional area. The passage frame and the recess portion have a plurality of air intake vents in the wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daigaku Kumano, Norio Kobayashi, Ryuta Kanno, Shigeru Kurosu, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Katsunori Kitaru, Masazumi Kaino, Masayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7228694
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling an ambient to be cooled, a cooler and a method of controlling a cooling control system are described. The cooling control system comprises a variable capacity compressor and a controller, the controller measuring the load of the compressor by means of the measurement of the electric current and verifying the temperature condition in the cooler ambient and actuating on the cooling capacity of the compressor, the compressor being controlled to actuate in cycles, the cooling capacity being altered in function of an evolution of the load of the compressor along the cooling cycles in combination with an evolution of the temperature condition in the cooled ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira de Compressores S.A. - Embraco
    Inventors: Marcos Guilherme Schwarz, Marcio Roberto Thiessen
  • Patent number: 7191608
    Abstract: There is provided a cooling apparatus which can prevent an abnormal increase in pressure of a high side at the time of starting. The cooling apparatus comprises: a refrigerant circuit which uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant; and a control device which controls a speed of rotation for the compressor between predetermined lowest and highest speeds. The control device runs the compressor by holding a predetermined start-time holding speed of rotation lower than the lowest rotational speed for a predetermined time before the lowest rotational speed is reached after the compressor is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Yamasaki, Kenzo Matsumoto, Shigeya Ishigaki, Masaji Yamanaka, Kentaro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7172018
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system improves a passenger's sensation of cooling by preventing air blown from a foot opening when a cooling load is low, creating a comfortable temperature distribution along the passenger's body. The vehicle air-conditioning system automatically selects a face mode when a target air temperature (TAO) is between a first predetermined temperature and a second predetermined temperature, which is higher than the first predetermined temperature, a bi-level mode when the TAO is higher than the first predetermined temperature and an evaporator air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, or a face mode when the TAO is lower than the first predetermined temperature and the evaporator air temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Katou, Shinichi Yoshida, Makoto Mimoto
  • Patent number: 7165411
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a controller that controls the operation of a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve or orifice tube, and an evaporator. The condenser receives a compressed refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to either a liquid phase or a saturated liquid-vapor phase. The condensed refrigerant is then passed through the expansion valve or orifice tube to expand the refrigerant and to delivery the refrigerant to the evaporator. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to operate the compressor to change an average condenser temperature of the condenser from a first temperature to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature based on at least one control signal indicative of thermal requirements of a vehicle component influenced by the average condenser temperature of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 7137267
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a variable displacement compressor has an information detector and a controller. The information detector detects information about the thermal load on the refrigeration circuit. The controller determines a target value that reflects the displacement of the compressor based on the information about the thermal load detected by the information detector, and outputs the target value as a command value. When determining that the compressor is in a heavy load state based on information about a load on the compressor, the controller changes the command value to a value that causes the displacement of the compressor to become smaller than a displacement that corresponds to the determined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masakazu Murase, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Satoshi Umemura
  • Patent number: 7134294
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for refrigeration system control includes a control system operable to meet cooling demand and control suction pressure for a plurality of refrigeration circuits each including a variable valve and an expansion valve. The controller controls the variable valve independently of the expansion valves to meet cooling demand by determining a change in a measured parameter and controlling at least one of the variable valves based upon the change to an approximately fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Computer Process Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Jim Chabucos, Paul Wickberg, John G Wallace
  • Patent number: 7100383
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Kenji Miura, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 7100387
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having a variable speed compressor and at least two compartments (FR, FZ) cooled to respective temperatures and comprising sensor devices (TR, TZ) for generating control signal responsive to cooling demands of the respective compartments comprises the step of providing the control system with a signal indicative of the total cooling demand on the basis of the sum of each compartment cooling demand, such signal being used to drive the variable speed compressor according to said total cooling demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Boer, Raffaele Paganini, Rocco Petrigliano
  • Patent number: 7096680
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner having a variable displacement compressor, a control unit calculates a target cooling temperature of air to be cooled by an evaporator, and controls a discharge capacity of the compressor such that a detected air temperature of the evaporator approaches the target cooling temperature. When a deceleration running state of the vehicle is detected, the control unit sets a corrected target cooling temperature lower than the target cooling temperature by a predetermined temperature, and controls the discharge capacity of the compressor such that the detected air temperature approaches the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is lower than the corrected target cooling temperature, or controls the discharge capacity of the compressor approximately at the maximum capacity regardless of the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is not lower than the corrected target cooling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 7096682
    Abstract: A refrigeration device and method of operation, including at least two separate temperature zones, each having a set temperature range. Both zones are cooled by a separate evaporator with both of the evaporators arranged in a common coolant circuit having operational and non-operational phases. At least one temperature zone includes a fan and the temperature is measured in at least a first one of the temperature zones. The fan is operated intermittently in the operational and non-operational phases depending on a preset temperature measured in the first temperature zone. The operational and non-operational phases of the fan and the coolant circuit are operated such that the operational phases of the coolant circuit coincide at least partially with the non-operational phases of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Maier, Wolfgang Becker
  • Patent number: 7082990
    Abstract: An interior of an air conditioning case is partitioned into a first air passage extending from an inside air suction port to a foot opening portion and a second air passage extending from an outside air suction port is disposed at a side of the first air passage to detect a temperature of air blown out from the evaporator disposed in the first air passage and the second air passage. An operation of the compressor for supplying the refrigerant to the evaporator is intermitted by comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the set temperature set in advance, and the set temperature is changed to be higher according to an increase in the temperature of outside air. In this way, it is possible to prevent the frosting of the evaporator in winter season, when the inside air is introduced into the first air passage and the outside air is introduced into the second air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Uemura, Kenji Suwa, Kazushi Shikata
  • Patent number: 7055338
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a compressor and a control unit for selectively activating and deactivating the compressor in response to the temperature inside the refrigerator. The selective activation and deactivation of the compressor being carried out at predetermined cut-on and cut-off temperatures. The control unit being adapted to detect how the actual temperature inside the refrigerator increases above the cut-on value due to a special event, and to adjust the cut-off temperature of the refrigerator accordingly, in order to keep the temperature of stored food substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dejan Ergarac, Enrica Monticelli
  • Patent number: 7024873
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a control unit for a condenser fan in connection with operation of a compressor if an outdoor temperature sensor is out of order. Since the condenser fan is driven in connection with the operation of the compressor, a trip phenomenon of the compressor generated due an overload of the compressor can be prevented, which results in stable operation of the refrigerator as well as increased reliability of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han Joo Yoo