With Means To Add Moisture To Cooled Space Patents (Class 62/274)
  • Patent number: 11486588
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a casing, and a blower and a refrigerant circuit disposed in the casing. The blower is configured to blow air. The refrigerant circuit has a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor, and an evaporator and is configured to circulate refrigerant in order of the compressor, the condenser, the decompressor, and the evaporator. The condenser has a first heat transfer tube through which the refrigerant flows and which has a first outside diameter. The evaporator has a second heat transfer tube through which the refrigerant flows and which has a second outside diameter. The evaporator is disposed windward of the condenser. The first outside diameter of the first heat transfer tube of the condenser is smaller than the second outside diameter of the second heat transfer tube of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 10605503
    Abstract: A refrigerant subcooling system including a water collector configured to collect water condensate from an evaporator. A heat exchanger defines a channel configured to accommodate a refrigerant conduit extending therethrough. The heat exchanger includes a water mist generator connected to the water collector by a water line to receive the water condensate from the water collector. The water mist generator is configured to generate a mist of the water condensate that mixes with air flowing through the channel and along the refrigerant conduit to cool refrigerant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhiwei Shan
  • Patent number: 9434918
    Abstract: An insulated beer fridge stores and ages corked craft beer in a vertical orientation for a period of several months to years without degrading the cork stopper used to seal the bottle. Cork shrinkage is prevented by controlling the humidity within the beer fridge container within a range of 50% to 70% relative humidity. An optimal beer aging temperature in the range of 10° C. (50° F.) to 15.6° C. (60° F.) is maintained by a refrigeration system. Relative humidity within the beer fridge containment is actively maintained by a humidity replenishment mechanism. A controller calculates the amount of water needed to bring the relative humidity to 50% to 70% at the beer fridge temperature. Beers are stored in the beer fridge on trays, which can be pulled for removal of aged beer and addition of new corked craft beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventors: Sandya Lakshmi Narasimhan, Dave Narasimhan, Joseph Francis Leibrandt
  • Patent number: 9004369
    Abstract: A method and system is provided which receives a desired humidity level from a user for the refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator, determines the current humidity level, and then activates an atomizer in the refrigeration compartment to increase the humidity level if needed. The humidity in the refrigeration compartment may be determined based at least in part on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment, the defrost timer, the door opening times, and the compressor timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Rameet Singh Grewal, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8899059
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an external condenser and light assembly and, more particularly, to an improved external air conditioning condenser and housing that is designed to additionally serve as a light assembly for an emergency vehicle. The condenser housing is mounted to the exterior of the emergency vehicle, which improves the performance of the emergency vehicle's air-conditioning system. The design of the condenser housing also allows it to serve as a light assembly on which emergency vehicle lights are mounted. The condenser housing and light assembly structure thereby provides for proper air conditioning functionality without occupying space on the exterior of the vehicle that would more preferably be occupied by emergency lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Barnes, Herschel W. Davis, Jr., Matthew W. Grafton, Robert L. Collins
  • Patent number: 8813517
    Abstract: An air conditioner including a humidifier and an air conditioning system. The humidifier is modularized within the air conditioner so that the air conditioner performs humidifying together with air conditioning. Further, the humidifier may be linked in operation to the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghwa Lee, Younghoon Kim, Bongjo Sung, Jongho Park
  • Patent number: 8584479
    Abstract: An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a radiator, a pressure-reducing device and an evaporator, a total heat exchanger for performing heat-exchange between outdoor air and air under cooling operation using the evaporator for a room to be air-conditioned, and for ventilating the room to be air-conditioned, and a desiccant rotor having a moisture adsorbing area for adsorbing moisture in the outdoor air when the outdoor air is introduced, and regenerating the moisture adsorbing area by heat of the radiator, the outdoor air successively flowing through the total heat exchanger, the evaporator and the moisture adsorbing area in this order and then entering the room to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., University of Maryland
    Inventors: Osamu Kuwabara, Reinhard Radermacher, Yunho Hwang, Jiazhen Ling
  • Patent number: 8528355
    Abstract: An atomization unit is described that employs a negative pressure actuator to reduce the fluid pressure acting on the atomizer in order to minimize or prevent fluid leakage from the atomizer. Methods of minimizing or preventing fluid leakage from an atomizer through use of a negative pressure actuator are also described. The atomization unit is particularly suitable for use in a refrigerator to cool and humidify at least a portion of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anderson Bortoletto, Rameet Singh Grewal, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8490422
    Abstract: An outdoor air cooler with two stages includes a first stage for cooling and humidification with constant wet bulb temperature. The air cooler has a first stage pump circulating water over the first stage evaporative cooling media operating at conditions having a constant adiabatic wet bulb temperature line. The first stage tank is supplied with water from external source. The second stage includes a second set of evaporative cooling media using water from the first stage media, which is equal to or lower than outdoor air wet bulb temperature. The temperature of air leaving the second stage evaporative media follows the adiabatic wet bulb temperature line toward the second stage tank water temperature thereby cooling humidifying the treated air to stable wet and dry bulb temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Alaa Abdulkareem Al Watban
  • Patent number: 8225620
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having at least one compartment located in the interior space of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, wherein means are provided for air moistening by means of which the relative humidity in the compartment can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerate Lienz GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Prentner
  • Patent number: 8122738
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a transportation container (14), having a compressor (3) for generating compressed air, a cooling device (5) for cooling the compressed air and a gas-separation diaphragm (10), which is connected downstream of the compressor (3) and the cooling device (5), for producing a nitrogen-rich gas stream, and a wetting diaphragm (12), with the apparatus permitting controlled wetting of the nitrogen-rich gas stream. The invention also relates to a method for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a storage or transportation container, in which method compressed air is generated by means of a compressor, the compressed air is then cooled using a cooling device and a nitrogen-rich gas stream is produced from the compressed air for the purpose of conduction into the transportation container by means of a gas-separation diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hoffmann Consorten Hamburg GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Saul
  • Patent number: 8109109
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system for cooling residential spaces, such as a garage. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a steel security door modified with evaporative media to cool incoming air, a water supply and re-circulating subsystem and a large fan to move fresh air through the cool door, into one or more residential spaces, such as a garage and/or an attic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Weldon Louis Knape, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110233289
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring the humidity inside a refrigerator and increasing the humidity when desired. In an embodiment, the humidifier is an ultrasonic atomizer that receives supply water from a removable tank that is refilled by a consumer. An adaptive control system monitors the humidity level inside the refrigerator and actuates the ultrasonic atomizer when an increase in humidity is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, SANT RANJAN, GUOLIAN WU
  • Publication number: 20110232312
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the presently described technology provide methods and systems for providing water for atomization in a refrigerator from a water source to an atomizer via a flexible wick. Certain embodiments provide a refrigerator for cooling and humidifying at least a portion of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main supply fluid tank, a secondary reservoir supplied with fluid from the main supply fluid tank, an atomizer provided with fluid from the secondary reservoir, and a flexible wick for providing fluid transfer from the secondary reservoir to a location proximate to the atomizer. The secondary reservoir has a maximum, controlled height of fluid. The atomizer discharges the fluid provided form the secondary reservoir in an atomized spray to at least a portion of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, RAMEET SINGH GREWAL
  • Publication number: 20100170273
    Abstract: In a range of a wind velocity of 0.5 to 3.5 (m/s) in a refrigeration cycle, when combining absorbent having a small dependency on the wind velocity and the refrigeration cycle, it is not possible to vary dehumidification capability by changing the wind velocity and matching with an actual load is poor. In a refrigerating and air conditioning apparatus having a refrigerator 20 in which refrigerant is put, and having a compressor 20a for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 20b, and a throttle device 20c, and an evaporator 20d, and a desiccant rotor 1, which is water adsorption means, an adsorbent is supported with the desiccant rotor 1, whose time constant at a water adsorption equilibrium becomes small as a wind velocity increases in the range of the wind velocity of 0.5 to 3.5 m/s, the condenser 20b is disposed upwind of the desiccant rotor 1, and the evaporator 20d is disposed downwind of the desiccant rotor 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Takeshi Sugimoto, Fumio Matsuoka, Koji Yamashita, Tetsuya Yamashita, Kouji Fukui, Takeyuki Maegawa
  • Publication number: 20090241579
    Abstract: In a liquid treatment apparatus, a discharge electrode (31) and an ejector (32) are arranged face to face with each other. An electric power supply (33) establishes an electric potential difference between the discharge electrode (31) and the ejector (32). As a result, a streamer discharge occurs from the discharge electrode (31) towards liquid droplets (32a) emitted from the ejector (32). Active species produced in association with the generation of the streamer discharge are absorbed in the liquid droplets (32a), whereby the treatment target water (32a) is sterilized and purified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kanji Motegi, Tsunahiro Odo, Toshio Tanaka, Ryuji Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20090229287
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having at least one compartment located in the interior space of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, wherein means are provided for air moistening by means of which the relative humidity in the compartment can be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Andreas Prentner
  • Publication number: 20090211298
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a transportation container (14), having a compressor (3) for generating compressed air, a cooling device (5) for cooling the compressed air and a gas-separation diaphragm (10), which is connected downstream of the compressor (3) and the cooling device (5), for producing a nitrogen-rich gas stream, and a wetting diaphragm (12), with the apparatus permitting controlled wetting of the nitrogen-rich gas stream. The invention also relates to a method for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a storage or transportation container, in which method compressed air is generated by means of a compressor, the compressed air is then cooled using a cooling device and a nitrogen-rich gas stream is produced from the compressed air for the purpose of conduction into the transportation container by means of a gas-separation diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Hoffmann Consorten Hamburg GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Saul
  • Publication number: 20090199582
    Abstract: An air conditioning system operates on a supercritical cycle for a vehicle and includes a circuit through which a refrigerant flows, which circuit includes an evaporator where the refrigerant collects heat from the ventilation air to be conditioned, a compressor, a cooler where the refrigerant releases heat into the outside air, an expander, and an arrangement for humidifying the outside air that contacts the cooler. The system has no internal heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventor: Thomas Justin
  • Publication number: 20090118870
    Abstract: A humidity control system (10) includes a refrigerant circuit (50) to which two adsorption heat exchangers (51, 52) are connected. In the humidity control system (10), air is humidified in the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) working as the condenser while air is dehumidified in the adsorption heat exchanger (51, 52) working as the evaporator. If during the dehumidification operation the actually measured value of the room temperature is lower than the selected value of the room temperature or if during the humidification operation the actually measured value of the room temperature is higher than the selected value of the room temperature, the performance of a compressor (53) is controlled such that the actually measured value of the room temperature equals the selected value of the room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Nobuki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090007582
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for an inner space has an air conditioner configured for cooling and heating of air, a filter for filtering particles entrained in air supplied via the air conditioner into an inner space, a cooler air so as to dry the air located downstream, a humidifier for the air, and units for additional treatment located one after the other in a direction of air supply into the inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Gennady N. Ulanov
  • Patent number: 7150160
    Abstract: A system for providing liquid refrigerant subcooling by means of evaporative cooling utilizing the condensate water of said air conditioner, refrigeration/heat pump system and/or other water supply to wet the surface of the subcool heat exchanger and pass the dry exhaust air across the wetted surface of the subcool heat exchanger. A system for providing hot gas discharge refrigerant precooling into the primary condenser of an air conditioner, refrigeration or heat pump system by evaporative cooling utilizing the condensate water of said system and/or other water supply to wet the surface of the precool heat exchanger and then passing the cold, dry exhaust air across the wetted surface of the precool heat exchanger. A combination subcooler/precooler system where the cold dry building exhaust air is used to evaporatively subcool the liquid refrigerant in the water wetted (or dry) subcooler and then used to conductively cool the hot gas refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Global Energy Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Herbert
  • Patent number: 6615908
    Abstract: The invention allows cool rooms or sea containers designed for frozen goods to handle produce requiring more precisely controlled temperatures and conditions, e.g., vegetables and fruits requiring temperatures in the chilling range and often also needing control or modification of the atmosphere. Each load of produce (100) (e.g. of pallet size) is held in the sea container or cool room but is sealed from the air of the refrigerated environment by, for example, a plastics bag (56). The atmosphere within the bag is then circulated by a fan (12) (or by convection currents from a heating element) so as to pass through the load and around it via ducts (30) provided adjacent the bag (56). Heat exchange (50) between the circulating gas and the refrigerated environment, via the plastics film, serves to cool the load. However, if cooling is excessive a heating element can be used to raise the temperature of the circulating atmosphere. Gas composition of the atmosphere can be controlled by scrubbing, flushing, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Transphere Systems Limited
    Inventors: Paul Raymond Bosher, Robert Barnes
  • Patent number: 6354101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for increasing the efficiency of an air-cooled condenser by using condensation from an evaporator to reduce the energy consumption of an air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Mikhail Levitin, Boris Khaytin
  • Patent number: 6343479
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring water vapor into potable water, by using a vapor compression refrigeration system which includes both a water-cooled condenser and an air-cooled condenser. The water-cooled condenser is located in the refrigerant fluid path between the exit of the compressor and the inlet of the air-cooled condenser where it behaves as a desuperheater. The water exiting the condenser, containing the superheat from the refrigerant, is transferred through conduit to a water to air heat exchange means having an open cell ligament structure, wherein as the water falls through it, the water is cooled by the evaporation of a portion of the water by an air stream also passing through it. The open cell ligament structure coincidently acts as a filter for the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Merritt
  • Patent number: 5694785
    Abstract: A condensate evaporator apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally includes a dissipator pan for collecting condensate formed on evaporator coils of a refrigeration unit, a heating element for hastening evaporation of the condensate, a frame for housing the dissipator pan, the frame including means for permanently mounting the frame within the refrigeration unit, and structure for enabling the dissipator to be quickly and easily removed from the frame in order to facilitate maintenance, cleaning or replacement thereof. In addition, a magnetized float and guide stem may be included for detecting a level of condensate and for activating the heating element when the condensate has accumulated to a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Fisher Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Balentine
  • Patent number: 5074121
    Abstract: An air conditioning installation for an automotive vehicle includes an evaporator through which a stream of air to be treated passes. This air stream is cooled in the evaporator, which extracts humidity from it and forms a condensate. The installation also includes a radiator-type main heating device for heating the cooled air if necessary, and provides a stream of treated air for delivery into the cabin of the vehicle. The installation further comprises a condensate reservoir for collecting the condensate produced by the evaporator; heating means for heating this condensate to form water vapor; and injection means for injecting this water vapor in a controlled manner into the treated air stream downstream of the main heating device. In this way, the humidity of the treated air can be regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Paul W. Morris
  • Patent number: 5031413
    Abstract: A low-temperature foods preserving case and a temperature control method therefor, in which a plurality of evaporators, each partitioned by partitioning panels, are arranged correctively in a cooling chamber, for which sequential cooling and defrosting operations are instructed by a timer, so that circulatory passage of the cooling air is formed through said cooling chamber, the foods preserving chamber, and the cooling chamber by means of fans installed in each of partitioned air passages separated by said partitioning panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Tsuihiji, Hideaki Furutachi, Mitsuru Kakinuma
  • Patent number: 4979377
    Abstract: A chamber comprising an air humidification device is disclosed. This chamber comprises an improved humidification device. The chamber has a vessel containing water which gets evaporated to humidify the water of the chamber. When a refrigerated chamber is used, the water vapor gets condensed and solidifies in forming frost on an evaporator. Advantageously, the defrosting water is used to re-humidify the air of the chamber in making this water follow a path comprising projecting features and negative slopes. The non-evaporated defrosting water is either added to the tank or rejected outwards. The disclosed device can be applied chiefly to the humidification of chambers. It can be applied notably, to the humidification of refrigerated chambers such as, for example, chambers designed for the storage, keeping and aging of bottled wine. It can also be applied to refrigerated chambers for the storage of foodstuffs or photosensitive materials such as, for example, photographic films or photosensitive paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Societe d'Electromenager du Nord Selnor
    Inventors: Hughes Fievet, Georges Vennin
  • Patent number: 4662187
    Abstract: Air conditioning apparatus (10) comprising a cabinet (12) housing a heat exchanger (42) means (30) to draw ambient air into the cabinet, through the heat exchanger and through main outlet means (22), a steam generator (44) and a vapor mixing chamber (48) within the cabinet, means (50) to supply steam to the mixing chamber in which steam is mixed with ambient air to produce humidified air, and outlet means (54) through which the humidified air is expelled such that mixing with the conditioned air expelled from the main outlet is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Environheat Limited
    Inventors: Patrick R. J. Lamb, Terrance F. Joyce, Bernard R. Scouse
  • Patent number: 4135370
    Abstract: A humidity control apparatus characterized in that a dehumidifying mechanism, which comprises a refrigeration circuit composed of a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator, a fan for drawing in air past the circuit, and a tank for collecting and storing the moisture in the condensed form, is combined with a humidifying mechanism comprising an intake duct into which part of the air current is bypassed, taking advantage of the dynamic pressure exerted by the fan, ultrasonic humidifying-vapor generator means wherein the air from the intake duct is mixed with water vapor, and a discharge duct through which the air-vapor mixture is discharged to the outside, said generator means being supplied with water from said tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taisei Hosoda, Hideo Uzuhashi, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Masaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4075866
    Abstract: A counter current defroster-humidifier arrangement, having a plurality of layered sets of parallel air flow passages formed by corrugated paper-like or porous material, is located in the above-freezing compartment of a refrigerator. The device receives moisture-laden air from the above-freezing compartment for flow in one direction through first alternate sets of parallel layered sets of air passages. The moisture is both absorbed and adsorbed within the passages and transpires or diffuses through the passage walls into the second alternate layered sets of passages which receive cooled dry air exiting the evaporator chamber for flow in the opposite direction. Thus, the arrangement substantially reduces the moisture content of the food compartment air prior to its return to the evaporator chamber while maintaining the food compartment in a high humidity food preserving condition by returning the transpired absorbed and adsorbed moisture to the chilled return air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Victor A. Williamitis