Retainer Or Flow Director For Atmospheric Condensate Patents (Class 62/285)
  • Patent number: 6637232
    Abstract: A unit ventilator is disclosed wherein, in order to facilitate service and repair of the ventilator and/or its component parts, such parts are mounted for ease of access and of detachment from, or assembly to, the system. Elemental system parts, such as the blower assembly, the heat transfer coil assembly, the condensate discharge pan and the air filters are designed and arranged so as to be assembled and/or disassembled from the system rapidly and with minimum use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: .PEF Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Harshberger, Steven G. Hicks, Timothy D. Welch
  • Patent number: 6631623
    Abstract: A condensate drain system has a condensate tube into which flows the condensate from a condensing device such as an air conditioner unit. The condensate then flows through the condensate tube and the tube is connected to a wastewater disposal system. A condensate port is provided in the wastewater disposal system coupling to facilitate the connection of the condensate tube to the wastewater disposal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Ball
  • Publication number: 20030167786
    Abstract: An air conditioner having an air blower (1) for air blowing, a front heat exchanger (2) and a rear heat exchanger (3) respectively provided on the front side and the rear side of an indoor unit (10) so as to surround the air blower (1) and for carrying out heat exchange between the indoor air and a refrigerant, a rear drain pan (11) provided under this rear heat exchanger (3) and for receiving drained water, and an air blower air path (4) formed around the air blower (1) and narrowed near the front end portion of the drain pan (11). The lower portion of the rear heat exchanger (3) is located rearward in comparison with the upper portion of the rear heat exchanger (3) so as to be inclined backward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetomo Nakagawa, Masao Nagano, Isao Funayama, Toshiaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6615593
    Abstract: A method of reducing energy costs and reducing maintenance costs for a refrigeration system are provided. More particularly, the method or reducing energy costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to a top outer surface of a refrigeration container and forming a cool air curtain by removing warm air from an interior upper portion of the refrigeration container and introducing cool air into the interior upper portion of the refrigeration container. The method of reducing maintenance costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to an outer surface of a refrigeration container and providing ready access to the evaporator so that maintenance can be readily conducted on the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Matt Alvin Thurman
  • Publication number: 20030159457
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for extracting freshwater from atmospheric humidity in extremely hot and humid climates and supplying freshwater to a small group of people, a building, a farm, or forestation area. The freshwater is treated to provide drinking water by disinfecting to eliminate microorganisms and filtration to remove suspended particulates from air, erosion or corrosion products, and disinfected waste. Compact units provide drinking water for individuals, passengers in cars, vans, trucks, or recreational boats, or crewmembers on a seagoing cargo ship whether from atmospheric humidity or from moisture-laden gases. Furthermore, systems are disclosed for the ample supply of freshwater with minimal treatment for small- to large-sized buildings in a manner that alleviates the heat load on buildings. Collection of freshwater from hot humid ambient air is also provided for other uses, such as irrigation and farm animal drinking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Fekieh Research & Development Center
    Inventor: Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Kader M. Faqih
  • Patent number: 6606875
    Abstract: An enclosed container for storing temperature sensitive goods. The container has opposed side walls and end walls as well as a floor and a ceiling. First and second bulkheads are moveably mounted within the container for dividing the container into three separate compartments. Two end compartments are services by fixed heat exchanges for conditioning the air in the compartments. A center compartment is serviced by a movable heat exchanger. By repositioning the bulkheads and the movable heat exchanger the volume and thus the load carrying capacity of the compartments can be varied to accommodate different types of cargo and the temperature levels in the compartment independently maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Grand, Bernard Valentin, Philippe Vaas
  • Publication number: 20030145618
    Abstract: Disclosed is an indoor unit in an air conditioner of which components are arranged symmetrically so as to enable a compact design. The present invention includes a case having an intake port and a blow outlet, a blower installed inside a central part of the case along a length direction of the case, a heat exchanger installed between the intake port and blower so as to heat-exchange a room air which is sucked in, a fan motor coupled with one side of the blower so as to drive the blower, and a pipe part installed at a space opposite to the fan motor centering around the blower and connected between the heat exchanger an outdoor unit so that an operational fluid circulates through the pipe part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Dong Soo Moon, Mun Kee Chung
  • Patent number: 6591627
    Abstract: A refrigeration device is provided having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and tubing to connect the compressor to the condenser, the condenser to the evaporator and the evaporator to the compressor. The condenser coil includes a plurality of tubes arranged in horizontal and vertical rows extending between vertically arranged header plates with return bends interconnecting the tubes to form a serpentine shaped circuit. The header plates are provided with at least one notch in a bottom edge thereof to accommodate a tube extending therebetween. In an embodiment, a wet loop is positioned in the area of the notches in the header plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: DeWitt D. Rollins
  • Patent number: 6588226
    Abstract: A system for recovering potable water from the water vapor in ambient air at a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. The system is especially adapt at operating efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities. The system is able to operate efficiently at low temperatures and/or low humidities by employing a mechanism for enhancing the buildup of frozen water on the surfaces used to condense the water vapor from ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Aquatronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Semrow, Elwin Brooks Petersen, Cory Buckway, Keith C. Warner, Mark H. Nelson, Desiree Ragan, Nick Wells, Greg A. Cameron
  • Patent number: 6588225
    Abstract: This invention is directed towards apparatus for the production of water from air, and in particular for the production of drinking water. The apparatus includes an air intake device adapted to move air into the apparatus, an evaporator adapted to freeze the water contained in the air issuing from the air intake device and defrosting means adapted to defrost the water frozen by the adapter; the volume of air passing over the frosting surface of the evaporator; evaporator being controlled by either the air intake device or the evaporator. In an alternative form the apparatus may include an air intake device adapted to move air into the apparatus, an air temperature controller to control the temperature of the air entering the apparatus, an evaporator adapted to freeze water contained in the air issuing from the temperature controller and a defroster adapted to defrost the water frozen by the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Watermaster Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Clarence Hodgson, Anton Rudolf Mikulicic
  • Publication number: 20030121277
    Abstract: A portable refrigeration table for displaying, in elevated and supported fashion, a plurality of items. The table includes a body having a substantially rectangular shaped and planar base surface, a plurality of elevated and interconnecting sides defining a basin therebetween and which is capable of holding a volume of ice particulates. A plurality of first, second, third and fourth associated edge locations of the body and are capable of being pivoted between a first locking position and a second unlocking position in which the legs may be pivoted to a folded position against the body. A plurality of elongated dividers are arranged in upwardly extending fashion from the planar base surface, each of the dividers terminating in an upwardly facing surface capable of supporting the items at locations above the planar base surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Jesse K. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6584795
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air duct, an air conditioning unit in which condensation forms and a condensation drain outlet. A drain system includes a fitting having a first tube, a second tube and a third tube joined together at a common intersection. A water drain line communicates the first tube with the drain outlet. An air line communicates pressurized air from the air duct to the second tube. The third tube is communicated with the environment. The second and third tubes are oriented so that air and condensed water flow away from the intersection and through and out of the third tube. Preferably, the third tube has a down stream end which is not above its upstream end, and the first tube has a down stream end which is not above its upstream end. The tubes may form a T-shaped or a Y-shaped fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Bruss
  • Patent number: 6574979
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for extracting freshwater from atmospheric humidity in extremely hot and humid climates and supplying freshwater to a small group of people, a building, a farm, or forestation area. The freshwater is treated to provide drinking water by disinfecting to eliminate microorganisms and filtration to remove suspended particulates from air, erosion or corrosion products, and disinfected waste. Compact units provide drinking water for individuals, passengers in cars, vans, trucks, or recreational boats, or crewmembers on a seagoing cargo ship whether from atmospheric humidity or from moisture-laden gases. Furthermore, systems are disclosed for the ample supply of freshwater with minimal treatment for small- to large-sized buildings in a manner that alleviates the heat load on buildings. Collection of freshwater from hot humid ambient air is also provided for other uses, such as irrigation and farm animal drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Fakieh Research & Development
    Inventor: Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Kader M. Faqih
  • Publication number: 20030084676
    Abstract: A method of reducing energy costs and reducing maintenance costs for a refrigeration system are provided. More particularly, the method or reducing energy costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to a top outer surface of a refrigeration container and forming a cool air curtain by removing warm air from an interior upper portion of the refrigeration container and introducing cool air into the interior upper portion of the refrigeration container. The method of reducing maintenance costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to an outer surface of a refrigeration container and providing ready access to the evaporator so that maintenance can be readily conducted on the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Matt Alvin Thurman
  • Patent number: 6557366
    Abstract: An apparatus for cold-holding food product. The apparatus comprises a cabinet carrying a refrigeration unit including a plurality of refrigerated shelves. The plurality of refrigerated shelves are adapted to frost on both sides under the control of the refrigeration unit to thereby maintain the quality of food product held on the shelves. To allow for the drainage of any melting frost, the plurality of shelves may be angled and a drain pan system included to direct the water away from the shelves to a drain or condensate evaporator during defrost periods. To prevent the removal of frost with the unloading of food products from the shelves, wire racks or trivets may be used to elevate the food product on baking pans above the frosted shelve surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Donatos Pizzeria Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne K. Spillner
  • Patent number: 6557364
    Abstract: In an air conditioner with a front panel projected forward, in order to increase stiffness of a body cabinet and to improve maintainability and appearance, the body cabinet is composed of: a base panel; a top panel; and a front panel, and the front panel is formed only with an air outlet port to be finished into a refined appearance having less seams, and it is adopted as basic configuration to support a front end side of the top panel by a drain pan, and further a front end side of the front panel and the front end side of the top panel are coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Gunji, Shinji Tateyama, Yukihiko Imai, Tooru Koyama, Takehiro Hatanaka, Yasuhiro Aketa
  • Patent number: 6550264
    Abstract: A gravity-assisted water saving system, and a method for its use, that can be utilized to collect the condensate from an air conditioning system, sanitize it, and then divert it for constructive use. It has a chamber with an inclined bottom surface, a dimension slightly larger than a stack of several tablets used for sanitizing swimming pool water or bleach tablets used for laundry sanitizing purposes, a P-trap on its water inlet side that prevents corrosive fumes from entering the air conditioning system from which the condensate is derived, a removable cap sealing its top opening to prevent escape of corrosive fumes into the atmosphere, and an optional mounting bracket for enhanced stabilization. Inflow tubing connected to the chamber permits ready attachment of the present invention to an air conditioning condensate discharge pipe, while a discharge tube in an inferior position transports reclaimed water to its location of subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher Ralph Cantolino
  • Patent number: 6539727
    Abstract: An angled germicidal lamp is used to illuminate a coil and drain pan for optimum energy utilization. In one embodiment, a variable angled mount is used for positioning a germicidal lamp at a desired angle at the time of installation. In a second embodiment, a fixed angled mount is used for installation where the desired angle of mounting is known prior to installation. The angled germicidal lamp may be used with any coil installation, including flat, tilted and A-coils. For A-coil installations, a preformed delta plate is provided to ease installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Dust Free, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg Burnett
  • Publication number: 20030037561
    Abstract: A condensate trap for an air conditioning system includes a chamber having an upstream port coupled to the air conditioning system and a downstream port coupled to the external atmosphere, a sealing device disposed in the chamber. Whether the trap is used with a blow-through or a draw-through system, the spring keeps the sealing device in contact with the upper seat member until the force of the spring is overcome by the weight of condensate accumulating on top of the float plus or minus the pressure exerted by the air conditioning system. When the spring force exerted on the sealing device is overcome, the sealing device moves out of contact with the upper seat member and the condensate drains from the trap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Manuel J. Chaves
  • Patent number: 6523363
    Abstract: An evaporator assembly includes a support housing for mounting to an internal compartment of a delivery truck or trailer. At least one evaporator coil mounts to the support housing along with at least one cooling fan. A plastic outer skin incorporates a drain pan to collect condensation and moisture dripping from the evaporator coils during the defrost cycle. The plastic outer covering includes thermal properties that eliminate the need for insulation required when using prior art aluminum coverings. End caps attached to each side of the outer covering include a drain tube. The plastic outer covering is formed in lengths from a plastic extrusion process and then cut to the required length for the evaporator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvain Gully, Bernard Valentin, Philippe Vaas, Stephane Boudonnet
  • Publication number: 20030029183
    Abstract: In an air conditioner including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan which are disposed in an indoor-side chamber, and an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan which are disposed in an outdoor-side chamber, the indoor-side chamber and the outdoor-side chamber being partitioned by a partition plate mounted on a bottom plate, the outdoor heat exchanger is disposed on said bottom plate, and the bottom plate is integrally formed with a dam member for damming up drain water flowing from at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohama, Takuya Kajita, Akira Okada, Tetsushi Yamashita, Kiyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6505477
    Abstract: An apparatus to extract water from ambient air. The apparatus includes a dehumidifier, a holding tank, and one or more dispensing tanks in which water is maintained hot or cold. Provision is made to recycle water in the holding tank through an aerator to prevent stagnation of stored water. Water from the holding tank is pumped through a filter system before entering the dispensing tanks. A safety control is provided to prevent overflowing a collection pump reservoir in event of interruption in normal water flow in the machine. Provision is made to control bacteria and algae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Cloud Nine of Utah, Inc.
    Inventors: Shayne D. Smith, Joeseph W. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6497255
    Abstract: A floor panel for use in an air handling unit that provides a thermal barrier to the passage of heat. The panel is reinforced internally so that it can support a heavy piece of air handling equipment inside the unit such as an air conditioner heat exchanger coil. The panel includes a reservoir for collecting moisture from the coil and rapidly exhausting the moisture from the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: John Carlisle Adams, Timothy Edward Ruhl
  • Patent number: 6487867
    Abstract: An automated apparatus is provided for periodically transferring a pre-selected volume of treatment liquid to a collection pan in order to treat and prevent the clogging of the collection pan. The system includes a treatment liquid reservoir, at least one fluidic coupling, and a structure for enabling the periodic transfer of the volume of treatment liquid from the treatment liquid reservoir to the collection pan by way of the fluidic couplings, causing a treating of the collection pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Michael A Herren
  • Patent number: 6481232
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the combined collection of freshwater from atmospheric humidity and cooling of closed spaces in hot and humid climates through collection and processing of water vapor condensate from air conditioning units and dehumidification and air-drying units. Components of air conditioning units are rearranged to allow outdoor air to go through the units to increase the condensate and hence freshwater production. Design modifications of dehumidifiers include separation of cooling and water condensation components from other components that radiate heat to enhance the cooling effects of dry air leaving the dehumidifiers. In addition, apparatus and methods are disclosed for adaptation of commercial dehumidifiers using gas refrigerants in providing ample freshwater quantities and comfortable space cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fakieh Research & Development Center
    Inventor: Abdul-Rahman Abdul Faqih
  • Patent number: 6478083
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit is provided comprising a casing including an air flow passage, an evaporator and a heater arranged in the air flow passage, and an air flow control door for controlling an air amount flowing in a heater-passing passage. A water guide groove is provided at a bottom surface of the casing with a slanted bottom. A triangular projection is formed on the bottom surface of the casing, the triangular projection being oriented so that one apex of the projection is directed toward the front wall of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nanba, Morihiro Takasaki, Kenichiro Sawano, Osamu Kato, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 6474092
    Abstract: A blower cover and an air conditioner using such blower. A rollable sheet is locked between two side plates by rollable connectors. A belt plate is secured between the side plates to lock the rollable sheet between the side plates. The belt plate also directs air from the blower. The blower cover can easily be assembled at a work site without welding or expert metal working. The blower cover is used in an air conditioner in which air is forced upwards from the blower and the air is directed into a heat exchange unit by one or more air deflectors. Another air deflector directs air coming out of the heat exchanger in an upwardly direction out of the air conditioner and this air deflector also directs any condensate downwards toward a drain system generally located below the heat air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Il Yoo Davis
  • Publication number: 20020144513
    Abstract: In an air conditioner with a front panel projected forward, in order to increase stiffness of a body cabinet and to improve maintainability and appearance, the body cabinet is composed of: a base panel; a top panel; and a front panel, and the front panel is formed only with an air outlet port to be finished into a refined appearance having less seams, and it is adopted as basic configuration to support a front end side of the top panel by a drain pan, and further a front end side of the front panel and the front end side of the top panel are coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Gunji, Shinji Tateyama, Yukihiko Imai, Tooru Koyama, Takehiro Hatanaka, Yasuhiro Aketa
  • Patent number: 6460364
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit comprises at least a fan, a circuit containing water, a condensation collection unit and an air filter together with process logic means to monitor the speed of rotation of the rotary fan to sense the condition of the other components and to activate an alarm in the event that the condition of any one component deviates from a predetermined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Diffusion Environmental Systems, Limited
    Inventor: Joseph John Tufo
  • Patent number: 6457320
    Abstract: An air conditioner which can be installed easily at a corner of a room is presented. This is an air conditioner which can be installed at a corner between a first wall and a second wall of a room. It has a frame body having an upper part, a lower part, and side parts, a blower for circulating air, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the air, an air diffuser for blowing out the air into the room, a space positioned at an edge of the corner, and a piping connected to the heat exchanger. The connection port of the piping is placed at least at one of (a) a position projecting into the space and (b) a place near the space. This is an installation tool for installing an air conditioner main body having a first side surface and a second side surface at a corner of a first wall and a second wall of a room. The tool includes a first installation board having a first base part and a first stopping part, and a second installation board having a second base part and a second stopping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nishikawa, Hirozumi Ito, Hiroharu Kurisutani, Yasuhiro Nakamura, Kenji Shirai
  • Publication number: 20020134099
    Abstract: An outdoor unit (1) of an air conditioner comprises a unit case having a rectangular shape in section and composed of side panels (4, 4, - - - ) in which a machine chamber (3) and a heat exchanger chamber (2) are defined so as to be vertically aligned in an installed state with the heat exchanger chamber being disposed above the machine chamber and being sectioned therefrom by means of a partition plate (12) which also acts as a drain plate or pan, and the side panels surrounding the heat exchanger chamber is formed with air suction ports (4a, 4a - - - ). The outdoor unit (1) further comprises a heat exchanger unit (17, 18) having four side wall sections at least opposing two of which are inclined inward by a predetermined angle with respect to inner surfaces of the side panels to which the air suction ports are formed. Thus, the outside air can be effectively and smoothly introduced inside the outdoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeo Mochizuki, Yasunori Ichikawa, Tomio Tanaka, Akihiro Suzuki, Toshihiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020124582
    Abstract: A condensate overflow safety switch that can be used with an air handling system is disclosed. The air-cooling system includes a drain pan for collecting liquid condensed on the evaporator coils. The drain pan is fluidwise connected to the safety switch that is in turn electrically connected to a circuit of the air handling system. To reduce the probability of an overflow from the drain pan arising from an occlusion to water liquid draining from the drain pan, an annular float is mounted about a tube in which is sealed a reed switch electrically connected to a circuit of the air handling system or to an alarm circuit. The float containing an annular magnet ascends or descends based on the level of water liquid within the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart Peter Oakner, Mark Thomas Brannick, Donna Ellen Oakner Brannick
  • Publication number: 20020121102
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a heating and/or air conditioning unit for commercial vehicles with at least two modules (2, 4, 6, 8), of which one (4) contains a heat exchanger unit (16, 18) and the other (6) contains a blower unit (20), wherein at least one inlet (12, 14) and at least one outlet (24, 26) are provided for air to be conveyed through the modules, wherein the individual modules are connected together entirely or practically air tight and themselves are each assembled from a number of wall sections (28). According to the invention, there are edge strips running along the edges of the modules (2, 4, 6, 8) in which the wall sections (28) of the individual modules are inserted using easily removable joint connections and through which adjoining modules can be connected and easily removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: Thermo King Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Kamuf
  • Patent number: 6427458
    Abstract: A device to clear a blockage from a drain line draining condensation from an air handler in an air conditioner or heat pump. A pump with check valves attaches to one end of a drain line which drains condensation from an air handler for an air conditioner or heat pump. A handle on the pump is used to create respectively a vacuum or pressure within the pump which is communicated to the drain line. When sufficient vacuum or pressure is created, it will dislodge a blockage in the drain line allowing the drain line to naturally drain. A valve is placed at one end of the pump which allows accumulated liquid in a collection pan to be pumped from the collection pan in the process of clearing condensation from the air handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Claude Harry Fowler
  • Patent number: 6422028
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner and method for manufacturing the same. The air conditioner includes a condensate water tray attached to the bottom of an evaporator. A rear evaporator cover is situated between the evaporator and an evaporator fan. An upper evaporator cover is situated over the top of the evaporator. The condensate water tray and the rear and upper evaporator covers are integrated into a single body. The method for manufacturing an air conditioner includes the step of attaching a rear evaporator cover and a condensate water tray to a conditioner body while bending the rear evaporator cover and the condensate water tray at the connecting portion thereof. Thereafter, the channel member of the rear evaporator cover is inserted into the condensate water guide hole of a duct. Subsequently, the evaporator is placed on the upper surface of the condensate water tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 6418743
    Abstract: The invention relates to a condensing heat exchanger comprising a condenser section containing a plurality of internal fins, on which water is condensed and a succeeding slurper section, in which the condensate is removed. The condenser section and the slurper section are connected by a capillary bridge comprising capillary spaces wherein the condensate formed on the fins is transported by means of capillary forces inside the slurper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignees: Astrium GmbH, S.E.C.A.N.
    Inventors: Gerhard Hauser, Ludwig Eicher, Joachim Lucas, Johannes Witt, Tanguy Morel
  • Patent number: 6418744
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus containing means for ambient climate control is a structural frame apparatus or housing frame mounted onto a mobile platform. The mobile platform has mounted thereon a power source for providing power to means for ambient climate control. A condensation vessel is provided to receive the condensation generated by means for ambient climate control during operation thereof. An air duct may, if desired, be installed on means for ambient climate control to extend the climate control range. A substantially rectangular air duct adapter is provided to adapt a plurality of different sized air ducts to means for ambient climate control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Earnest J. Neal
  • Patent number: 6412297
    Abstract: An air conditioner which can be installed easily at a corner of a room is presented. This is an air conditioner which can be installed at a corner between a first wall and a second wall of a room. It has a frame body having an upper part, a lower part, and side parts, a blower for circulating air, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the air, an air diffuser for blowing out the air into the room, a space positioned at an edge of the corner, and a piping connected to the heat exchanger. The connection port of the piping is placed at least at one of (a) a position projecting into the space and (b) a place near the space. This is an installation tool for installing an air conditioner main body having a first side surface and a second side surface at a corner of a first wall and a second wall of a room. The tool includes a first installation board having a first base part and a first stopping part, and a second installation board having a second base part and a second stopping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nishikawa, Hirozumi Ito, Hiroharu Kurisutani, Yasuhiro Nakamura, Kenji Shirai
  • Patent number: 6412291
    Abstract: The efficiency and capacity of an air compressor (10) (FIG. 1) are increased by pre-cooling the inlet air to below the dew point in air chiller (11), and then injecting the resulting condensate into the chilled air in the form of fog-sized droplets in a fogger (16). The advantages extend to combustion engines, and especially to regenerative combustion turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6405552
    Abstract: A support pan for a heat exchange coil in an air handling unit includes a top wall made from a polymeric/co-polymeric material. The top wall includes an outer periphery and defines a coil support region and a condensate collecting region. A bottom wall is substantially co-extensive with the top wall and has an outer periphery substantially coincident with that of the top wall. Peripheral support channels structurally engages the outer peripheries of the top wall and the bottom wall and supports the walls in substantially parallel spaced relationship with one another to define a confined space therebetween. The coil support region of the top wall includes a plurality of parallel coil support segments. Each of the support segments defines an upwardly facing support surface configured to contact and support a lower end of a coil at a predetermined elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Delcy Elste Hubert, Mauricio Fernandes Barbosa de Carvalho
  • Patent number: 6393854
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a new construction for the evaporation tray for the defrost water in refrigeration systems of refrigerators and freezers and, more especifically, to a new construction for the evaporation tray of the type which is affixed onto the shell of the hermetic compressor of said refrigeration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira de Compressores S.A.-Embraco
    Inventors: Ilário José Scheuer, Valter Gamba, Gilberto Heinzelmann
  • Publication number: 20020056283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner and method for manufacturing the same. The air conditioner includes a condensate water tray attached to the bottom of an evaporator. A rear evaporator cover is situated between the evaporator and an evaporator fan. An upper evaporator cover is situated over the top of the evaporator. The condensate water tray and the rear and upper evaporator covers are integrated into a single body. The method for manufacturing an air conditioner includes the step of attaching a rear evaporator cover and a condensate water tray to a conditioner body while bending the rear evaporator cover and the condensate water tray at the connecting portion thereof. Thereafter, the channel member of the rear evaporator cover is inserted into the condensate water guide hole of a duct. Subsequently, the evaporator is placed on the upper surface of the condensate water tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventor: Dae-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 6381978
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting the components of an air conditioner unit having an indoor section and an outdoor section, each of which contain a heat exchanger and a fan. A base pan is provided to support the components of the unit and an auxiliary pan is mounted inside the base pan beneath the indoor fan and the indoor heat exchanger. A shroud surrounds the indoor fan that contains a scroll for directing conditioned air into a horizontally disposed passage that distributes the air uniformly across the unit. The auxiliary pan contains a trough that forms part of the scroll. Both the shroud and the auxiliary pan are cast from light-weight styrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Moretti, Kenneth J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6363740
    Abstract: A chilled beverage display container has an outer casing that includes a base, a top rim member, a cover hinged to the top rim member so that the cover can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position, and a circular cylindrical peripheral wall member of a transparent material, the peripheral wall member being sealed to the base and to the top rim member so as to prevent substantially any flow of a gas into or out of the outer casing. A tub of a transparent material having an upper rim portion, a peripheral wall, and a bottom wall, is supported within the outer casing solely by attachment of the upper rim portion of the tub to the top rim member of the casing. The peripheral wall of the tub is spaced apart from the peripheral wall of the outer casing and the bottom wall of the tub is spaced apart from the base of the outer casing so as to form a dead air space between the tub and the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory J. H. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6363735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an orifice member for the condenser fan of an air conditioning unit, which has a basepan and a partition which divides the air conditioning unit into an indoor section forwardly of the partition and an outdoor section rearwardly of the partition. The indoor section includes an evaporator coil, an evaporator fan and means for collecting condensate and directing the condensate to the basepan in the outdoor section. The outdoor section includes a condenser coil at the rear thereof, a rotatably driven condenser fan having a second side and a discharge side, the fan being located forwardly of the condenser coil. The orifice member defines a barrier between the suction and discharge side of the condenser fan and has a fan orifice opening forwardly of the fan to define a restricted air flow passage therethrough between the suction side at a generally low pressure and the discharge side at a generally high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. Bushnell, David M. Rockwell, Nestor Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6360548
    Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Dual evaporator coils are arranged in housings on different sides of a plurality of fan motors. Condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils is pumped to a primary dissipater pan arranged on top of the showcase. Because of the large amount of condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils, a secondary dissipater pan is provided as a back-up system for any excess condensate water. A three-way solenoid valve diverts the excess condensate water to the secondary dissipater pan when the primary dissipater pan is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Ramon Munoz Navarro
  • Patent number: 6357249
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided which is mounted on the rooftop of a recreational vehicle to provide cooling of an interior space within the vehicle. The air conditioner has a single motor that mounts both a centrifugal fan and an axial fan for rotation about a vertical axis. The centrifugal fan is positioned within an evaporator compartment that contains an evaporator for providing cooling of an air stream drawn therethrough. The centrifugal fan draws warm air from within the interior space of the vehicle into the evaporator compartment where it passes through the evaporator and is then drawn axially through a center opening into the centrifugal fan. The cooled air is expelled tangentially from the centrifugal fan and is redirected downwardly by a surrounding scroll and delivered to the interior space for cooling thereof. The axial fan is positioned in a condenser compartment where it draws outdoor air through a condenser for heat exchange therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Airxcel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Robinson, Alan S. Lowe, David D. Gehlen
  • Publication number: 20020029579
    Abstract: Personal air conditioner including a heat discharging part having small sized compressor and condenser, a heat absorbing part having a small sized evaporator, a flexible high pressure pipe line connecting between the condenser and the evaporator, and a flexible low pressure pipe line connecting between the evaporator and the compressor, thereby installation and moving of the heat discharging part and the heat absorbing part are convenient, to allow an intensive cooling of a particular space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Sang Bum Sohn, Cheol O. Ahn
  • Publication number: 20020026805
    Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated transport vehicle which comprises a small and light weight cooling system easily fitted to the vehicle; in order to accomplish the above object, the refrigerated transport vehicle comprising a vehicle body; an adiabatic freezing chamber which is provided on the vehicle body and comprises an opening; an adiabatic evaporator chamber fixed to an outer surface of the freezing chamber so as to cover the opening and to communicate inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the evaporator chamber; an evaporator unit provided in the inner space of the evaporator chamber for evaporating a coolant liquid and cooling the inner spaces of the freezing chamber and the evaporator chamber; a condenser unit provided on the outer surface of the evaporator chamber for condensing a coolant vapor and discharging heat of condensation of the coolant vapor; and a circulation system for circulating the coolant between the evaporator unit and the condenser unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Wataru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6351962
    Abstract: In a vehicle cockpit module assembly having at least an air conditioner disposed inside a dashboard, a protrusion piece for determining an arrangement position of an air-conditioning unit of the air conditioner within the dashboard is provided at the air-conditioning unit. A front load support portion for supporting a front side load of the air-conditioning unit is constructed by a drain pipe of the air-conditioning unit, and a rear load support portion for supporting a rear side load of the air-conditioning unit is constructed by rear foot ducts of the air-conditioning unit. Accordingly, in the cockpit module assembly, the air conditioner can be stably supported in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Kazushi Shikata, Shigeo Numazawa, Tomohiro Kamiya