Heating Principal Heat Absorber, E.g., Evaporator Patents (Class 62/276)
  • Patent number: 11796226
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for controlling two or more heat loads, including a high transient heat load, is provided. The heat transfer system may include sensible-heat thermal energy storage. A method of transferring heat from two or more heat loads to an ambient environment is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Unton, Eric Sean Donovan
  • Patent number: 11448454
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an evaporator inclined in a left-right direction and a defrosting water tray provided below the evaporator to collect defrosting water, and having inclined surfaces corresponding to a shape of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junsoo Han, Dongseok Kim, Kangsoo Byun, Younseok Lee
  • Patent number: 11306981
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) includes a heat exchanging body (20) disposed within an outer box (10). A supply pipe (21) and a discharge pipe (22) in fluid communication with the heat exchanging body (20) respectively extend through first and second insertion holes (31, 32) in the outer box (10). Elastic seal members (40; 240) are respectively provided around the supply pipe (21) and the discharge pipe (22) and between a first sidewall (11) of the outer box (10) and the heat exchanging body (20). At least one biasing member (50; 250) exerts a lateral biasing force (F1; F2) on the elastic seal members (40; 240), thereby maintaining the elastic seal members (40; 240) in a state of compressive deformation and contacting the outer box (10) and the heat exchanging body (20) in an air-tight manner to block potential leakage paths (LP1; LP2) via the insertion holes (31, 32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Goto, Daisuke Naito, Shigeki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11137196
    Abstract: A household refrigerator has a receiving space for food which is delimited by walls of an inner container. A covering plate that is separate from the inner container is arranged in the receiving space in front of a wall of the inner container. A functional unit of the household refrigerator is arranged in the receiving space in front of the wall and in one spatial direction of the household refrigerator the covering plate ends next to the functional unit. The functional unit is covered, at least in certain sections, by a cover that is separate from the covering plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lindel, Thomas Schaefer, Marcus Wehlauch
  • Patent number: 11098944
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and an evaporator installed in the freezing compartment. The evaporator includes: an evaporator case that defines a food storage space formed therein; a cooling tube located at the evaporator case in a predetermined pattern and configured to receive a coolant; and a sheath heater disposed outside of the evaporator case to be adjacent to at least one surface of the evaporator case, the sheath heater being configured to generate heat such that heat for defrosting is transferred to the evaporator case. The sheath heater reduces the defrosting time to maintain the freshness of food, increases the cooling efficiency, and reduces power consumption. The defrosting efficiency by the sheath heater is improved by a reflection member, and an inflow of heat, generated when defrosting, into the refrigerating compartment is reduced by a heat insulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngjae Shin, Woocheol Kang, Geunhyung Lee, Gwinan Hwang
  • Patent number: 11021038
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a blower housing including a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower housing having a plastic skeleton structure. The HVAC system further includes a foam blower liner disposed within and coupled to the blower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MARELLI CABIN COMFORT USA, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Kirk Hensler, Scott Torok
  • Patent number: 10935329
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes fins that are spaced apart from each other, and that each include one or more tube slots. A coil is coupled to the fins and includes a tube section extending through axially aligned tube slots. A heater insert extends through one or more of the axially aligned tube slots adjacent an exterior of the tube section to defrost the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Sean M. Hanlon, Tobey D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 10648724
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment, at least one door that selectively seals the refrigerated compartment and a cold plate shelf assembly mounted in the refrigerated compartment. The shelf assembly includes a front trim, a rear trim and a first plate directly coupled to the front trim and the rear trim. A second plate extends from the front trim to the rear trim, the second plate being positioned so that a food item supported on the shelf assembly contacts the second plate. The second plate is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than glass. In one arrangement, the refrigerator further includes an air duct having an air vent. Air exiting the air duct through the air vent either impinges on and travels across the second plate or enters an interior of the shelf assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel H. Quinlan, Jose Angel Avalos, Yifan Wang, Jason Ammerman, Christopher L. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10634419
    Abstract: A thermoelectric wine cabinet with an external power supply is provided. The wine cabinet comprises a case, a door, a circuit board, a refrigeration system, a power cord, an external power supply and a water-receiving member that opens upwards. The case comprises a housing, a liner and a heat insulating layer provided between the housing and the liner. A rear end of the case is provided with a chamber that opens rearwards for containing the water-receiving member. A heat dissipation chamber is provided above the chamber for containing the water-receiving member. The refrigeration system is provided inside the heat dissipation chamber. The circuit board is provided on a rear plate of the housing inside the heat dissipation chamber. The power cord passes through a wall of the heat dissipation chamber, extends thereinto and is connected to the circuit board. The water-receiving member communicates with the liner through a water-receiving groove passing through the heat insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN CANDOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES CO., LTD
    Inventor: Weiwen Wu
  • Patent number: 10539357
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment. The refrigerator also includes a first refrigeration cycle system and a second refrigeration cycle system, the first refrigeration cycle system configured to cool the freezing compartment of the refrigerator and the second refrigeration cycle system configured to cool the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes an auxiliary evaporator configured to supply cool air into the refrigerating compartment based on a portion of refrigerant circulating within the first refrigeration cycle that cools the freezing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyeongyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10386109
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an evaporator inclined in a left-right direction and a defrosting water tray provided below the evaporator to collect defrosting water, and having inclined surfaces corresponding to a shape of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junsoo Han, Dongseok Kim, Kangsoo Byun, Younseok Lee
  • Patent number: 10048025
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are directed to a capacity modulating assembly configured to distribute two-phase refrigerant mixture to an evaporator of a HVAC system, such as a micro-channel heat exchanger (MCHEX) evaporator. The capacity modulating assembly may include a plurality of expansion devices. During capacity modulation, at least one of the plurality of expansion devices can be closed so that a refrigerant flow rate through the remaining expansion devices can be maintained. The capacity modulating assembly can include a refrigerant outflow port, which may help direct refrigerant out of the heat exchanger. The capacity modulating assembly can be connected with the MCHEX. The plurality of expansion devices can be configured to extend inside a header of the MCHEX to help distribute refrigerant to the micro-channel tubes of the MCHEX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Roger Voorhis, Robert Fredrick Schult, Justin Slade Winters
  • Patent number: 9528746
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a refrigeration system and including a heat transfer coil and fins coupled to the coil to facilitate heat transfer between the coil and a surrounding ambient environment. The heat exchanger also includes a printed heater element that is disposed on one or more of the fins in a non-linear pattern to defrost the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Tobey D. Fowler
  • Patent number: 8978406
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above zero degrees Centigrade, and a freezer compartment disposed vertically below the fresh food compartment for storing food items below zero degrees Centigrade. A return air duct returns air from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment, and a bracket supporting an evaporator includes an air barrier extending between the air duct and a bottom portion of the evaporator to minimize introduction of air returning from the fresh food compartment to a lateral side portion of the evaporator. A fan is rotatable about an axis having a substantially-horizontal orientation to circulate air, and a heater extends along a bottom portion, and beyond the lateral extents of the bottom portion of the evaporator in an upward direction along lateral sides of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcelo Candeo
  • Patent number: 8955346
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic component. The apparatus includes a coolant-cooled structure in thermal communication with the component(s) to be cooled, and a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger coupled in fluid communication with the coolant-cooled structure via a coolant loop to receive coolant from and supply coolant to the coolant-cooled structure. The apparatus further includes a refrigerant loop coupled in fluid communication with the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger cools coolant passing therethrough by dissipating heat from the coolant in the coolant loop to refrigerant in the refrigerant loop. A controllable coolant heater is associated with the coolant loop for providing an adjustable heat load on the coolant in the coolant loop to ensure at least a minimum heat load is dissipated from the coolant to the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8931296
    Abstract: A novel fins-on-tubes type evaporator/heat exchanger system that is optimized for energy-saving inductive heating thereof by configuring it to increasing its resistance to a value at which the system's reactance at its working frequency is comparable to its electrical resistance. The system includes a set of tubes configured for flow of cooling material therethrough, and also includes a set of fins positioned and disposed perpendicular to, and along, the tubes, in such a way that at least a portion of the fins comprises longitudinal excisions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Victor F. Petrenko, Cheng Chen, Fedor V. Petrenko
  • Publication number: 20140352913
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit and a method of regulating a temperature of a compartment of an aircraft is described. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator receptive of an airflow and a refrigerant and operatively arranged to transfer heat from the airflow to the refrigerant in order to cool the airflow as the airflow travels from an inlet at an inlet side of the evaporator to an outlet at an outlet side of the evaporator. The outlet is in fluid communication with a compartment of the aircraft. A heater is positioned at the inlet side of the evaporator and heats the airflow before the airflow passes through the outlet of the evaporator. A compressor receives the refrigerant from the output of the evaporator and pressurizes the refrigerant. A condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Vanwijak Eowsakul
  • Patent number: 8875531
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle, particularly a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a moisture remover that removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack as a power supplier; an electric heater operated by power from the fuel cell stack; a blower fan for providing air to the electric heater; an air channel configured to supply the air passing through the electric heater to an air conditioner evaporator; and a controller for controlling the operations of the electric heater and the blower fan, whereby moisture is removed from the air conditioner evaporator by supplying air heated by the electric heater to the air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle effectively removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator, solves the problem of a bad smell in the related art, and further removes the oxygen and the stack voltage which remain in the cathode, such that it is possible to avoid cathode oxygen depletion of the related art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeong Kyu Park, Hyun Jun Kim, Jong Hun Park, Chang Hwan Ye
  • Publication number: 20140216092
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a condenser such as an indoor heat exchanger, first expansion means, and an evaporator such as an outdoor heat exchanger that are connected by refrigerant pipes to form a refrigeration cycle. The evaporator is a heat exchanger including a plurality of plate-like heat transfer fins arranged in parallel and subjected to water slip or water repellent treatment, and a heat transfer tube provided in contact with the plurality of heat transfer fins such that refrigerant flows therein. The refrigeration cycle apparatus further includes a drain pan disposed below the evaporator, an evaporator fan for producing an air current flowing to the evaporator, such as an outdoor fan, and a heating unit disposed at a position below the heat transfer fins and on a leeward side of the heat transfer fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tashiro, Kosuke Tanaka, Sangmu Lee
  • Publication number: 20130283840
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a first passage and a second passage and is capable of operating in such a manner that outside air introduced in the first passage is conditioned by an evaporator and a heater core and subsequently blown, as a conditioned air, from a defrost outlet, side defrost outlet and side vent outlet toward windowpanes and, at the same time, inside air introduced in the second passage is conditioned by the evaporator and the heater core and subsequently blown, as a conditioned air, from a center vent outlet and front and rear heat outlets into a passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji KAKIZAKI, Junichi KANEMARU
  • Publication number: 20130276470
    Abstract: A non idle air condition system, especially for a vehicle, is provided that includes a blower, a main evaporator, an auxiliary evaporator for a non idle mode and a heater core. The non idle air condition system needs less space by a high airflow performance, and uses the same condensate drains by the main evaporator and the auxiliary evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Barbara RUHLAND-LINDNER
  • Patent number: 8484987
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products
    Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8443618
    Abstract: A cooling and/or freezing device, in particular a refrigerator, upright freezer or chest freezer, includes an evaporator for cooling air, a blower for supplying the cooled air into the interior of the cooling and/or freezing device, and a first heater for de-icing the evaporator. The device also includes, a second heater, arranged such that during operation of the second heater, the temperature of the blower surface lies above the dew point of the air present in the vicinity of the blower, at least in certain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Christian Schropp
  • Publication number: 20130098078
    Abstract: A high performance refrigerator or freezer includes a cabinet with a refrigerated interior, a first evaporator cover separating a first evaporator compartment within the cabinet from the refrigerated interior, and a refrigeration fluid circuit having a first evaporator located within the first evaporator compartment, a second evaporator, and a three-way valve enabling selective communication of refrigerant to one or both of the evaporators. The second evaporator includes an air diffuser that receives chilled air from the first evaporator compartment and delivers the chilled air into the refrigerated interior. During normal operation, the three-way valve only directs refrigerant into the first evaporator such that the first evaporator cools the cabinet and the chilled air from the first evaporator passively defrosts the second evaporator by sublimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
    Inventor: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
  • Patent number: 8424324
    Abstract: An pulse electro thermal defrost evaporator system has multiple refrigerant tubes formed from an electrically conductive metal and connected in parallel for refrigerant flow. These tubes are, however, connected electrically in series. A controller is capable of detecting ice accumulation and connecting the tubes to a source of electrical power for deicing when it is necessary to deice the tubes. Embodiments having a manifold having multiple conductive sections insulated from each other are disclosed for coupling tubes electrically in series. Alternative embodiments with a single, long, wide-bore, tube are disclosed, as are embodiments having an evaporating pan coupled in series or parallel with the tubes, and embodiments with thermal cutoff and electrical safety interlocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor F. Petrenko, Fedor F. Petrenko
  • Publication number: 20120192577
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
  • Publication number: 20120138261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle, particularly a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a moisture remover that removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack as a power supplier; an electric heater operated by power from the fuel cell stack; a blower fan for providing air to the electric heater; an air channel configured to supply the air passing through the electric heater to an air conditioner evaporator; and a controller for controlling the operations of the electric heater and the blower fan, whereby moisture is removed from the air conditioner evaporator by supplying air heated by the electric heater to the air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle effectively removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator, solves the problem of a bad smell in the related art, and further removes the oxygen and the stack voltage which remain in the cathode, such that it is possible to avoid cathode oxygen depletion of the related art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeong Kyu Park, Hyun Jun Kim, Jong Hun Park, Chang Hwan Ye
  • Publication number: 20120137710
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide a damper assembly for transport refrigeration systems. One embodiment can include a damper assembly including a damper door configured to operate in a first position (e.g., closed), a second position (e.g., open), and at least one intermediate position. In one embodiment, a plurality of intermediate positions can be used to controllably vary a capacity of the transport refrigeration unit, or at least one component thereof. Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide a damper assembly that can be accessed though an ambient portion of transport refrigeration systems or components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert C. Reimann, Timothy R. Campbell, Belin G. Czechowicz, Patrick McDonald, John R. Reason
  • Publication number: 20120096887
    Abstract: Disclosed are a defrosting heater for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same, the refrigerator including an evaporator disposed in a refrigerator main body and configured to generate cold air, a fan configured to blow cold air flowed through the evaporator to circulate within the refrigerator main body, and a defrosting heater configured to defrost the evaporator and the fan by applying heat to the evaporator and the fan, wherein the defrosting heater comprises an evaporator defrosting unit configured to defrost the evaporator and a fan defrosting unit configured to defrost the fan, the evaporator defrosting unit and the fan defrosting unit being integrally formed, whereby the evaporator and the fan can simultaneously be defrosted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yeonwoo Cho, Gyeyoung Song, Kwangwoon Ahn
  • Publication number: 20120023993
    Abstract: An evaporator coil includes a conduit having an interior passageway that provides a pathway for a flow of refrigerant. An outer wall of the conduit forms a channel having a longitudinal opening. The channel extends lengthwise adjacent to the interior passageway. The channel contains an electrical heating element that is in thermal contact with the conduit. The electrical heating element periodically provides heat to defrost the evaporator coil during an evaporator defrost cycle. The electrical heating element may be coupled directly to the channel or be housed within a second conduit that is at least partially contained within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Roger C. PALMER, Ye FANG
  • Patent number: 8087261
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a cold air duct that receives cold air circulating inside of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, an evaporator in the cold air duct, at least one defrosting heater in the cold air duct that selectively emits heat, a fan in the cold air duct, that selectively directs the cold air in an upward or downward direction, a motor that drives the fan, and an open/close device that closes a space having the evaporator, the defrosting heater, and the fan positioned therein selectively, thereby providing an improved defroster for an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Ik Lee, Bong Jun Choi, Jong Min Sin, Youngsan Jeon, Jae Seong Sim, Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8069677
    Abstract: Liquefied natural gas is regasified to form natural gas, including circulation of an intermediate fluid between a vaporizer and an ambient air heater, where the intermediate fluid is warmed by exchanging heat with the ambient air as the intermediate fluid passes through the ambient air heater, and the intermediate fluid is cooled by exchanging heat with LNG as the intermediate fluid passes through the vaporizer. The ambient air heater is subjected to a defrosting cycle by intermittently regulating the temperature of the intermediate fluid fed to the ambient air heater to a temperature greater than zero degrees Celsius using a source of supplemental heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Woodside Energy Ltd.
    Inventor: Solomon Aladja Faka
  • Patent number: 7942014
    Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a refrigeration sealed system, the system including at least one refrigeration compartment and a controller operatively coupled to a compressor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a condenser fan, wherein the method includes initiating a defrost cycle, operating the sealed system to prechill the refrigeration compartment, and selectively operating the evaporator fan and the condenser fan to raise a temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Rafalovich, Ziqiang Hu, Anil Kumar Tummala, Richard DeVos
  • Patent number: 7921660
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable code for controlling a defrost cycle of a refrigeration device are disclosed. According to some embodiments, a defrost command is issued to a defrost heater at a time determined at least in part by a total wasted energy parameter of the compressor for at least one time interval. In some embodiments, time interval includes a plurality of runtimes, and the total wasted energy parameter of a runtime is measured relative to a chosen reference runtime such as a minimum energy runtime after a defrost or an early runtime after a defrost. Optionally, a sequence of wasted energy parameters of the compressor for a sequence of time intervals is analyzed, and then a correction is performed on at least one wasted energy parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brody Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Chaim Brody
  • Publication number: 20110041525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a refrigerator which operates a cooling cycle including two storage compartments, a compressor, a condenser, a valve, fans, and evaporators for cooling the respective storage compartments, with one of the fans (5) corresponding to the storage compartment for storing items at relatively low temperatures being activated for a set amount of time even after the compressor is deactivated at the completion of cooling of the storage compartment for storing items at relatively low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dong-Seok Kim, Sung-Hee Kang, Jong-Min Shin, Chulgi Roh, Deok-Hyun Youn
  • Publication number: 20110041539
    Abstract: A method for dehumidifying a refrigeration system especially to dehumidify a refrigerated transporting container is disclosed. The refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, a compressor, an expansion valve and a condenser. The refrigeration system also comprises a control unit and a cooling space, the evaporator is placed in the cooling space and air blows over the evaporator to be cooled down. The dehumidification method is stepwise, and the method comprises a dehumidification mode and a re-establish mode. During the dehumidifying process the system shifts between the dehumidification mode and a re-establish mode stepwise dehumidifying the air in the container in such a way that the measured parameters especially the compartment temperature stays within acceptable limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Maersk Container Industri A/S
    Inventor: Morten Nylykke
  • Patent number: 7883609
    Abstract: An alternating electric field is applied to ice (530) to generate a resistive AC having a frequency greater than 1000 Hz in interfacial ice at interface (554). A first electrode (510) and a second electrode (514) proximate to the interface are separated by an electrical insulator (512). An AC power source (520) provides a voltage of about 10 to 500 volts across the electrodes to create the alternating electric field. A portion of the capacitive AC associated with the alternating electric field is present in the interfacial ice as conductivity (resistive) AC, which causes dielectric loss heating in the interfacial ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles Sullivan, Lev Deresh
  • Publication number: 20110016903
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide anti-icing systems (201) for drainage channels (203; 205) used to remove water run-off during heat pump evaporator coil defrosting cycles during cold weather conditions. The invention employs impedance heating to obviate heat tracing cable, its associated thermal insulation and any protective mechanical coverings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Ballet, Michel Elbaz
  • Patent number: 7857877
    Abstract: An assembly for installation in a refrigerator provides an enclosure for conducting service lines therethrough and an air filter unit mounted to the enclosure. The air filter unit includes an air filter housing that contains an air filter and includes openings for the ingress of air from the refrigerator which, after passing through the air filter, is discharged to the refrigerator interior through discharge openings in the air filter housing. Means such as a fan is provided to establish a flow of air through the air filter housing. The air filter unit has utility separately from the enclosure for conducting service lines in which case the air filter housing includes first and second portions that are pivotally connected to one another. The air filter within the air filter housing is supported by one of the first and second portions of the air filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick L. Gunderson, Joseph E. Brand
  • Publication number: 20100257886
    Abstract: A refrigeration device 30 includes two independent refrigeration circuits: the first refrigeration circuit 31A having an inverter compressor 32A and the second refrigeration circuit 31B having a constant-speed compressor 32B. An evaporator 37 is shared by both refrigeration circuits 31A, 31B. The inverter compressor 32A is normally driven and the constant-speed compressor 32B is additionally driven as necessary. The evaporator 37 includes a group of fins 41 having a plurality of fins 40 positioned along an airflow direction and arranged with a gap therebetween in a direction across the airflow direction. Evaporation tubes are routed in four tiers while penetrating through the fins 40 in the group of fins 41 and running in a zigzag in the airflow direction. The first evaporation tube 45A of the first refrigeration circuit 31A is arranged in the lower two tiers and the second evaporation tube 45B of the second refrigeration circuit 31B is arranged in the upper two tiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Suzuki, Shigekazu Kondou, Masaki Kasugai
  • Publication number: 20100251735
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can individually cool a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber by dividing a heat exchange region of an evaporator into a freezing chamber side region and a refrigerating chamber side region, forming individual circulation passages for supplying cool air from each region to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, and forming a freezing chamber fan and a refrigerating chamber fan on each circulation passage, and method for controlling operation of the same which can efficiently perform a cooling operation and reduce power consumption by effectively controlling the operations of each component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Jae-Seng SIM, Young-Hwan KO, Jongmin SHIN, Bong-Jun CHOI, Jun-Hyeon HWANG, Young JEONG, Samchul HA, Yunho HWANG
  • Publication number: 20100218535
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above zero degrees Centigrade, and a freezer compartment disposed vertically below the fresh food compartment for storing food items below zero degrees Centigrade. A return air duct returns air from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment, and a bracket supporting an evaporator includes an air barrier extending between the air duct and a bottom portion of the evaporator to minimize introduction of air returning from the fresh food compartment to a lateral side portion of the evaporator. A fan is rotatable about an axis having a substantially-horizontal orientation to circulate air, and a heater extends along a bottom portion, and beyond the lateral extents of the bottom portion of the evaporator in an upward direction along lateral sides of the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Marcelo Candeo
  • Publication number: 20100170282
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air by passing a coolant therethrough; an anti-freeze apparatus which prevents the freeze of water on the surface of the heat exchanger by supplying energy to the heat exchanger; and a heat generation unit which heats the heat exchanger. The air conditioner can minimize the need for a defrost operation and can thus continuously and effectively perform an air conditioning function even when water on the surface of the heat exchanger is frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Seok Kim, Jie Seop Sim
  • Publication number: 20100147002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a defroster, and more particularly, to a defroster in a refrigerator in which a damper mounted to an inlet to a circulating duct (60) controls air to flow in a reverse direction toward an evaporator (20) for maximizing defrosting efficiency by using not only radiant heat but also convective heat. For this, the defroster in a refrigerator includes an evaporator (20), a heater (10) for defrosting the evaporator (20) by radiation, and flow control means (50) for controlling air circulated by a fan (30) to flow in a reverse direction toward the evaporator (20) in the defrosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Kyeong Yun Kim, Nam Soo Cho, Su Nam Chae, Jang Seok Lee, Youn Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20100139300
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator includes a storage room and having a cool air off mode in which supply of cool air to the storage room is cut off. Thus, a refrigerator having a cooling system in which a pair of evaporators are serially connected for a pair of storage rooms is provided according to the above embodiments. A refrigerator may also have a cooling system in which a plurality of evaporators is connected in parallel and refrigerant is selectively supplied to each evaporator by a refrigerant supply valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha-jin Jeong, Chang-nyeun Kim
  • Patent number: 7712327
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and method for defrosting a heat exchanger is disclosed and which includes a heat exchanger having a fluid receiving conduit, and at least one space which is defined, at least in part, by the fluid receiving conduit, an expandable and contractible heating element which is received within the space, and which is located in heat transmitting relation relative to the fluid receiving conduit, and a biasing member mounted on the heat exchanger and the heating element and which longitudinally, and resiliently restrains the movement of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger during the expansion and contraction of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Colmac Coil Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce I. Nelson, John L. Wold, Roger B. Williams, Jeremy P. Olberding
  • Publication number: 20090211289
    Abstract: A plurality of resistance heater rods are assembled in parallel relationship between the plurality of normally extending brackets and their associated retainers to comprise a subassembly which is then attached as a unit to an evaporator coil. Each of the coils is a continuous element that forms a complete loop with the ends then overlapping such that they are generally centrally located but are located on either side of midpoint such that their movement is not interfered with by other existing structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark J. Perkovich, Stephen Stopyra, Joseph Searor
  • Publication number: 20090165486
    Abstract: A storage compartment and an evaporator compartment communicating with said storage compartment via a cold air passage and a hot air passage and comprising an evaporator and a defrost heater. Said defrost heater, in a region adjacent to the hot air passage, has a higher heating power density than in a region adjacent to the cold air passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Härlen
  • Publication number: 20090013709
    Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and a refrigerator evaporator, in which a frost-inducing member is provided between an evaporator and a defrosting heater for improving heat-exchange efficiency of the evaporator and reducing defrosting time. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage space. A heat exchange chamber is disposed inside the main body to accommodate an evaporator for generating cooling air to be circulated between the heat exchange chamber and the storage space. A defrosting heater is disposed beside the evaporator to generate heat for defrosting. A frost-inducing member is disposed at an oblique angle between the heat exchange chamber and an inlet through which cooling air returns to the heat exchange chamber, so as to induce frost formed by moisture contained in the returning cooling air. Therefore, the evaporator can have high efficiency, and power consumption can be reduced owing to a short defrosting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyoung Soek Kim
  • Publication number: 20080163635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling and/or freezing device, in particular a refrigerator, upright freezer or chest freezer, comprising an evaporator for cooling air, a blower for supplying the cooled air into the interior of the cooling and/or freezing device, and a first heating means for de-icing the evaporator, wherein a second heating means is provided, which is arranged such that during operation of the second heating means the temperature of the blower surface lies above the dew point of the air present in the vicinity of the blower at least in certain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERATE OCHSENHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Christian Schropp