Flow Line Connected Transfer Fluid Supply And Heat Exchanger Patents (Class 62/434)
  • Patent number: 5564284
    Abstract: An improved recycling water cooler for a water cooled refrigeration system comprising first conduits interconnecting the water cooled refrigeration system and the recycling water cooler and the ambient water source for enabling the flow of water therebetween. Second conduits interconnect the water cooled refrigeration system and the recycling water cooler and the drain for enabling the flow of water therebetween. A first and second valve is interposed in the first and second conduits for enabling heated water discharged from the water cooled refrigeration system to enter the recycling water cooler to be cooled thereby and to be returned to the water cooled refrigeration system when the first and second valves are disposed in a first position. The first and second valves interconnect the water cooled refrigeration system to the ambient water source and to a drain for operating the water cooled refrigeration system in a conventional manner when the first and second valves are disposed in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Darrell Pugin
  • Patent number: 5561986
    Abstract: A portable chilling unit for chilling either the whole or a selected portion of the interior of a container comprises a plurality of eutectic elements adapted for pre-chilling by exposure to liquid cryogen, a height adjustable inlet and an outlet towards the base of the unit. An insulating blanket is attachable to the inlet such that, in operation, the blanket may be placed over the cargo to be chilled and only atmosphere from under the blanket is drawn through the unit for chilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Peter F. Goodall
  • Patent number: 5553461
    Abstract: Unconditioned, sub-freezing turbine exhaust air is employed to cool liquid coolant from radar electronics in an aircraft. This is accomplished by utilizing a liquid/air exchanger. However, in order to ensure that the air-cooled heat exchangers do not experience freezing of moisture droplets, sufficient heat is supplied to a liquid/air heat exchanger, located at the turbine exhaust, to maintain all surfaces (fins) above freezing, and also to heat the entire turbine exhaust air stream to a temperature above freezing as it exits that heat exchanger. Use of this anti-icing liquid/air heat exchanger, in conjunction with the proper air and liquid flow controls, will permit savings of total cooling air (i.e., engine bleed air) flow by negating the need for a hot air bypass to reheat turbine exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Hitzigrath, Melvin Schreiber
  • Patent number: 5553662
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage system is operable in heating capacity storage and discharge modes and cooling capacity storage and discharge modes for maintaining a temperature in a vehicle compartment. Each mode includes a thermal charging cycle and a thermal discharging cycle. The thermal energy storage system communicates with a vehicle air conditioning system including a compressor and a vehicle coolant system including a vehicle engine. The thermal energy storage system comprises a thermal storage apparatus housing thermal energy storage material that stores thermal energy. The thermal storage apparatus is connected to the air conditioning system and the coolant system so that a refrigerant or coolant flows through the thermal storage apparatus in heat transfer relationship with the thermal energy storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Store Heat & Producte Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Longardner, Joseph A. Gustin, Alexander P. Rafalovich, Gilbert P. Keller, Thomas C. Schmidter
  • Patent number: 5548967
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for absorbing heat and preserving fresh products under optimal conditions is described. The products are introduced into a chamber of which at least 70%-80% of the wall surfaces consists of box-shaped interspace panels filled with a thermal capacitance fluid having a freezing temperature with a *.DELTA.T included between -1.degree. and -4.degree. C. compared to the refrigeration temperature. Disposed within the panel interspace are circulating circuits containing a brine fluid fed at a temperature having a *.DELTA.T included between -5.degree. and -30.degree. C. compared to the refrigeration temperature. The brine circuit is disposed within the panel interspace for distributing the exchange between the brine fluid and the thermal capacitance fluid so as to keep the *.DELTA.T between the maximum and minimum temperature points of the wall under 5.degree. C., preferably not higher than 2.degree. C. and particularly not higher than 1.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: N.R. Development Limited
    Inventor: Alberto Ghiraldi
  • Patent number: 5535600
    Abstract: A cooling system for post-mix beverage dispenser includes an ice bath tank for holding a liquid, a refrigeration circuit for cooling the liquid in the ice bath tank, a concentrate storage area, and a cooling circuit coupled to the ice bath tank, for cooling the concentrate storage area. A pump in the cooling circuit transfers the liquid from the ice bath tank to a coil in the concentrate storage container. The circuit returns the liquid to the ice bath tank and creates the turbulence necessary for the liquid to freeze evenly in the tank. Thus, an agitator assembly is not necessary. A fan in the concentrate storage area circulates air over the coil. The pump can be selectively coupled to drain the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Jet Spray Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Mills
  • Patent number: 5524442
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a unit for processing product to be cooled or frozen. A secondary refrigeration loop is connected to this unit and introduces a refrigerant at or near atmospheric pressure into the unit. The secondary refrigeration loop may be open or closed. The secondary loop includes a secondary heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant. A primary, closed refrigeration loop, operating at a pressure of not less than 2 atmospheres, includes a forward flow path which comprises a primary refrigerant compressor for producing compressed primary refrigerant, a primary heat exchanger for receiving and cooling the compressed primary refrigerant and an expander for further cooling and transferring the compressed refrigerant to the secondary heat exchanger to enable cooling of the secondary refrigerant. The primary loop further includes a return flow path from the secondary heat exchanger to the primary refrigerant compressor and to the primary heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bergman, Jr., Mark J. Roberts, Arun Acharya, Carl J. Heim, Alfred M. Czikk
  • Patent number: 5524453
    Abstract: A novel simple, reliable and thermally efficient apparatus for incorporating thermal energy storage in domestic-sized air-conditioning systems is disclosed. This thermal energy storage apparatus for chilled water air-conditioning systems incorporates a chilled-water (or other chilled liquid) loop with two previously patented apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Timothy W. James
  • Patent number: 5491982
    Abstract: An improvement in a water chiller of the kind used for industrial processes such as electrical discharge machining (EDM). The chiller includes a reservoir for water (frequently de-ionized water), an evaporator, refrigerating apparatus such as a condenser and a compressor, and a pump; there is a supply line connection to an electrical discharge machining apparatus or other industrial process apparatus, and a return line connection. The pressure in the return line is usually lower than the pressure in the supply line. The improvement includes a fitting connected in series in the supply line and a bypass line connected to that fitting to afford a bypass flow of water in parallel with the process apparatus. A flow-limiting orifice member in series in the bypass line limits the bypass flow to a predetermined rate; the rate may be determined by the pressure differential between the supply and return lines. All fittings are formed of non-ionizing resins such as nylon; the orifice member is stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: AEC, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick A. Gowens
  • Patent number: 5490390
    Abstract: A process for liquifying a substance comprises: (a) transferring latent heat from the substance in the gaseous state to a first heat transfer fluid passing through a first loop wherein the first heat transfer fluid is substantially isolated from the substance and is unreactive with the substance; (b) transferring heat from the first heat transfer fluid to a second heat transfer fluid passing through a second loop wherein the second heat transfer fluid is substantially isolated from the substance and from the first heat transfer fluid; and (c) transferring heat from the second heat transfer fluid to a third heat transfer fluid wherein the third heat transfer fluid is substantially isolated from the substance, from the first heat transfer fluid, and from the second heat transfer fluid. The preferred substance is molecular chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Boyette, Leo C. Comeaux, Angel L. Siso, J. Douglas Mansell, Jonn E. Fike, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5476137
    Abstract: A control system for effecting ultra-precision temperature control for a controlled system having large load fluctuations or including a dead time component. A control unit (5) instructs a high-precision PID temperature controller (10) to renew and correct a control target value T.sub.0,NEW for the supply fluid temperature T.sub.0 only by a temperature difference .DELTA.T=T.sub.C -T.sub.2 between a set value T.sub.C for the return fluid temperature T.sub.2 of a heat transfer fluid and the actually controlled return fluid temperature T.sub.2. In response to the instruction, the high-precision PID temperature controller (10) controls the heating power of a heater (17) for heating control through a constant-power thyristor phase controller (16). The heater (17) heats the heat transfer fluid and sends it to a machining apparatus (1) through a closed damping tank (21). The heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with the machining apparatus (1) and is then returned to a precooling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignees: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha, Kanto Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ochiai, Kouya Watanabe, Kyoichi Ebisawa, Koichi Urano
  • Patent number: 5461873
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for cooling a superconducting magnet by circulating a pressurized helium gas through a convective cooling loop by natural convection, and apparatus and methods have been provided for quickly and effectively cooling a warm superconducting magnet down to operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 5421169
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a circuit of liquid-vapor refrigerant comprising an evaporator and a condenser, both of the fluid-liquid type, and a variable liquid circuit enabling liquid to be circulated, in a summer configuration, between the evaporator and an air conditioning radiator on the one hand and between the condenser and an outer radiator on the other hand, and in winter between the evaporator and the outer radiator on the one hand, and between the condenser and the air conditioning radiator on the other hand. The apparatus is particularly applicable to the air-conditioning of the passenger space of an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Habitacle
    Inventor: Olusegun O. Benedict
  • Patent number: 5402648
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for low pressure cooling of superconducting magnets, for example, on a magnetic levitated train, through a separate circulation loop from a sealed, unvented thermal reservoir to provide a lightweight cooling system. In a second embodiment, forced flow cooling is directed to the superconducting magnets and shields through a separate circulation loop from a sealed thermal reservoir to further reduce the weight of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 5383339
    Abstract: A supplemental cooling system couplable to at least one refrigerant-cooled apparatus with a refrigerant circuit to reduce the refrigerant temperature in the refrigerant circuit, which cooling system is shown with a thermal storage system as well as an auxiliary condensing arrangement for coupling the refrigerant circuit and supplemental cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. McCloskey, Thomas W. Brady
  • Patent number: 5381670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling foodstuff to a temperature of less than 40.degree. F. within the legally mandated time of 4 hours which consists of a refrigeration apparatus capable of forming a bank of ice and means for circulating water over the ice and through an enclosure in heat conductive relationship with a container holding the foodstuff to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventors: Joseph R. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 5372011
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling temperature and humidity of an air stream by chilling a cold storage material and warming a heat storage material by evaporation and condensation respectively from a fixed capacity refrigeration cycle, and selectively cooling and warming the air stream by controlled heat transfer from the cold and heat storage materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Indoor Air Quality Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. O'Neal
  • Patent number: 5369961
    Abstract: An apparatus for the refrigerated drying of gases, more particularly of compressed air, has at least one gas supply system, with a refrigerating device which has a heat exchanger unit through which a refrigerant carrier is passed, a cooling assembly for cooling down the refrigerant to such a temperature that the liquid contained in the gas or the vapour contained in the gas is deposited in ice form, and a de-icing unit. In addition to a main gas supply system there is a further gas supply system which comprises the de-icing unit and to which hot refrigerant can be supplied from the main gas supply system wherein at least two de-icers are provided for the de-icing unit of which at least one can selectively undergo regeneration, and that downstream of the de-icer in the second gas supply system there is a collecting container which is connected to each of the de-icers and from which the refrigerant consumers can be supplied straightaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Wolfram Seiler
  • Patent number: 5351502
    Abstract: The ancillary heat pump apparatus of the present invention for producing domestic hot water generally includes a domestic hot water heat pump having refrigerant and water circuits which are operatively disposed at the proximal ends thereof into close array at the heat exchanger of tile domestic hot water heat pump. The refrigerant circuit of the domestic hot water heat pump hereof has a heat exchanger coil disposed at the distal end thereof, and the water circuit is connected at the distal end thereof to a hot water heater. In the apparatus of the present invention, the distal refrigerant circuit heat exchanger coil is disposed into operative heat exchanging position, directly or indirectly, with a return fluid stream of a heat source. In combination therewith is a multimodal dehumidification apparatus providing a valve for defining flow through a selected portion of dehumidification coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore C. Gilles, Robert B. Uselton
  • Patent number: 5347819
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing superfluidity helium (He II). The method includes the steps of (a) providing .sup.3 He gas (b) providing liquid .sup.4 He, (c) compressing the .sup.3 He gas to produce compressed .sup.3 He gas, (d) indirectly cooling the compressed .sup.3 He gas with liquid .sup.4 He to produce cryogenic .sup.3 He gas (e) adiabatically expanding the cryogenic .sup.3 He gas to produce cryogenic .sup.3 He gas having a temperature of less than about 1.18.degree. K., preferably less than 1.8.degree. K., and (f) indirectly cooling the liquid .sup.4 He with the cryogenic .sup.3 He gas produced in step (e) to produce superfluidity helium. The apparatus includes a first container for liquid helium and a second container for containing superfluidity helium, and a first line for connecting the first and second containers. A .sup.3 He refrigeration circuit is provided to cool the .sup.4 He in directly with cryogenic .sup.3 He to produce superfluidity helium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Saji, Hiroshi Ohya, Hiroshi Asakura, Shunji Nagai
  • Patent number: 5335508
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is disclosed having first stage and second stage compressors, first stage and second stage evaporator coils, and first stage and second stage condenser coils, each connected together to form first stage and second stage closed loop refrigeration circuits. The two circuits are coupled one to the other by a liquid (water, ethylene glycol of other good heat transfer medium) heat transfer loop which interconnects the second stage evaporator and the first stage condenser to transfer heat from the first stage condenser to the second stage evaporator. A plurality of additional refrigeration circuits may be provided, each including a compressor, an evaporator coil and a condenser coil connected together in a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Edward J. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 5305825
    Abstract: A refrigeration system associated with a conditioned space to be controlled to a predetermined set point temperature via heating and cooling cycles. The refrigeration system includes a fluid flow path through which a predetermined fluid is circulated. The fluid flow path includes first, second and third heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger is disposed to condition air of the conditioned space, the second heat exchanger is in heat exchange relation with cryogenic cooling apparatus, and the third heat exchanger is in heat exchange relation with heating apparatus. The first and second heat exchangers are interconnected when the conditioned space requires a cooling cycle, and the first and third heat exchangers are interconnected when the conditioned space requires a heating cycle. Cryogen of the cryogenic cooling apparatus is thus not expended to heat the conditioned space, nor used for defrosting purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Roland L. Roehrich, Herman H. Viegas, David H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5295368
    Abstract: An open top tank is provided in which slush ice may be rapidly formed by a method forcibly projecting the formed slush ice from the tank or by a method retaining the slush ice within the tank for removal therefrom by other means. In addition, the tank may be used to cool liquid therein such as propylene glycol down to -20.degree. F. -30.degree. F. such that food stuffs may be dipped into the chilled propylene glycol for quick freezing of the food. The tank is portable and needs only a supply of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure and propylene glycol (or water if slush ice is to be formed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventor: Paul R. Franklin
  • Patent number: 5284204
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention comprises a hydronic distribution system using prefabricated, flexible cable containing plastic tubing to provide liquid supply and return conduits for the hydronic system. The plastic conduits are enclosed in a foam thermal insulation material which is encased in a flexible, moisture impervious shell. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the flexible cable includes electrical conductors for supplying power to a fan and for carrying an electrical control signal from a thermostat. The flexible cable thus described can be installed in a building easily and quickly in a manner similar to that currently used for electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean T. Morgan
  • Patent number: 5284022
    Abstract: A Stirling cycle type cold air generating device comprising a Stirling module having a module cylinder and a module piston disposed in the module cylinder to be vertically reciprocated, a magnetic pole piston extending downwardly from a lower end of the module piston, the magnetic pole piston being moved integrally with the module piston, a pump cylinder disposed beneath a module cylinder of a module and isolated therefrom, and a pump piston disposed in the pump cylinder to be vertically reciprocated, the pump piston defining an upper pumping chamber for pumping the heat transfer medium and a lower pumping chamber for pumping the brine in the interior of the pump cylinder. The magnetic pole piston and the pump piston are magnetically connected by means of a magnetic coupling disposed around both the module cylinder and the pump cylinder to move vertically therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Goldstar Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo S. Chung
  • Patent number: 5277038
    Abstract: A thermal storage system for cooling and/or heating the passenger compartment of a vehicle has a heat exchanger arranged for fluid communication with a vehicle engine. The thermal storage system also has thermal energy storage means for storing thermal cooling and/or heating and being in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger on the vehicle. The thermal storage system further has fluid control means for controlling the flow of fluid from the heat exchanger selectively between the thermal storage means and the vehicle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Instatherm Company
    Inventor: Peter Carr
  • Patent number: 5272887
    Abstract: A refrigeration holding pack for use with a refrigeration system is provided for providing nonobtrusive hold-over refrigeration capability to the refrigeration system. The holding pack is configured to be externally mounted to the refrigeration coil assembly of the refrigeration system without the necessity of breaking into the refrigeration cycle of the system. The holding pack includes a sealable plate having a plurality of heat transfer fins disposed therein. A hold-over refrigeration system for use on recreational vehicles and marine vessels is also provided. The system employs a holding pack configured to be secured against a refrigeration coil assembly. The holding pack may be portable in nature or secured to the coil assembly in a more permanent type arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventor: Peter R. Zendzian, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5259198
    Abstract: A refrigeration system associated with a conditioned space to be controlled to a predetermined set point temperature via heating and cooling cycles. The refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger, air mover apparatus disposed to circulate air between the conditioned space and the heat exchanger, cryogenic cooling apparatus which includes a combustible fuel in a cryogenic state, and heating apparatus. The cryogenic characteristic of the fuel is utilized to implement the cooling cycle, and the combustible characteristic of the fuel is utilized by the heating apparatus to implement the heating cycle. In preferred embodiments of the invention an internal combustion engine is associated with the refrigeration system, and the air mover means includes a vapor motor, with the cryogenic fuel being vaporized and then expanded in the vapor motor to drive same, and with the expanded vaporized fuel operating the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Herman H. Viegas, Roland L. Roehrich
  • Patent number: 5247811
    Abstract: The present invention includes a heat storage tank (1) with a built-in suction chamber (2), a first heat source unit (R-1) and a first pump (P-1) for pumping up water from the high-temperature side (3) of said heat storage tank (1) and supplying the chilled water into said suction chamber (2), a low-temperature heat exchanger (5) for exchanging heat between water and an antifreeze solution, a second pump (P-2) for pumping up water from said suction chamber (2) and supplying the water chilled by the antifreeze solution in said low-temperature heat exchanger (5) to the low-temperature side (4) of said heat storage tank (1) and a second heat source unit (R-2) and a third pump (P-3) for cooling the antifreeze solution in an antifreeze solution tank (6) and feeding it to said low-temperature heat exchanger (5), and is designed to variably control the flow rates of said first and second pumps (P-1 and P-2) in dependence upon their suction temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshimi Seya, Seishiro Igarashi, Masaya Tachibana
  • Patent number: 5243834
    Abstract: The low temperature food storage equipment of the present invention is provided with an icehouse and a food storeroom each surrounded by a heat insulator. The icehouse and the storeroom are connected by a detachable heat exchanger disposed therebetween. In the icehouse there is stored water which is frozen into ice when the outside air grows cold. In the storeroom there are kept in cold storage a large amount of shippable food, for example, potatoes. In the case of shipping the food, the heat exchanger is removed and the food is transported on a truck or the like while being kept in cold storage in the storeroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignees: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Obayashi Corporation, Taihei Sangyo Co., Ltd., Hazama Corp.
    Inventors: Yutaka Hachinohe, Akihide Imamura, Masatoshi Sasaki, Shoichi Yokochi, Kazuyuki Ouchi
  • Patent number: 5239839
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage apparatus for use in refrigeration and air conditioning holdover systems is disclosed. The apparatus comprises thermal energy storage media encapsulated in a way that enables use of corrosive and/or aqueous thermal energy storage media in high efficiency refrigeration and air conditioning thermal storage systems; natural convection of a non-freezing, non-corrosive heat exchange fluid provides heat transfer between the encapsulated thermal energy storage media and the refrigeration/air conditioning circuit. Several possible embodiments of the encapsulated media and thermal coupling system that provide efficient heat transfer between the refrigeration circuit and the thermal energy storage media are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy W. James
  • Patent number: 5237832
    Abstract: An energy efficient cooling system for marine applications which makes use of phase change and non-phase change thermal storage mediums to provide refrigerating and freezing temperatures in insulated ice box(es) for the storage of perishable foods while also providing air conditioning to human occupied cabin spaces. The invention is particularly well suited for ocean-going long distance pleasurecraft where energy is in short supply and only sporadically available. Suitable power supplies for the system include electro-chemical storage batteries, wind generators, photovoltaics, internal combustion generators and auxiliary engine powering DC alternators. The invention uses a single primary cooling circuit (8) comprised of a single refrigeration compressor (9), sea water cooled condenser (10), sea water pump (11), receiver (12) and filter/dryer (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Gerald A. Alston
  • Patent number: 5237837
    Abstract: In an ice making machine the ice forming unit of which includes an upright ice forming plate located above a water tank and having a cooling surface in heat exchange relationship with an evaporator attached thereto and an ice forming surface to be supplied with water from the water tank by means of a water pump for forming the water into ice cubes, a first water supply conduit is connected to the water pump to supply the water from the water tank toward the ice forming surface of the upright plate when an ice making mode or a washing mode is selected at the ice making machine, and a second water supply conduit is arranged to introduce a portion of the water supplied from the water tank into a space above the evaporator only when the washing mode is selected at the ice making machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobutaka Naruse, Yoshinori Kamitani
  • Patent number: 5228504
    Abstract: A tube and fin heat exchanger having two adjacent fluid circuits through which compressed air and a refrigerant fluid flow so as to be in heat exchange relationship with respect to one another. In one embodiment, the areas between the tubes and fins of the heat exchanger are filled with a mass of moist material which ices and operates to accumulate energy to thereby transfer the energy when the refrigerant fluid is not circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: MTA srl
    Inventors: Mario Mantegazza, Luciano Bellemo
  • Patent number: 5218826
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food processing system and method for refrigerating articles of food. The food processing system includes at least two cooling stages formed by a cryogenic freezer and a hydrocooler. The cryogenic freezer receives the articles of food and transfers heat from the articles of food to the cryogen so that the articles of food are refrigerated. After the transfer of heat from the articles of food to the cryogen, the cryogen boils off to form cryogenic vapor. The hydrocooler receives the articles of food prior to the cryogenic freezer and transfers heat from the articles of food to supplied cooling water. Such heat transfer reduces the quantity of cryogen required to refrigerate the articles of food. Additionally, an eductor is connected to a pump and to vent line from the cryogenic freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Kirschner, William Kulik, Rustam Sethna, Ron C. Lee
  • Patent number: 5213029
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating food under isostatic high pressure applied by a liquid pressure medium which comprises a high-pressure vessel forming therein a treating chamber in which food is placed, a pressure medium tank adjacent to said high-pressure vessel, pipes to deliver a pressure medium from said pressure medium tank to said treating chamber, and a cooling device to hold therein the high-pressure vessel and the pressure medium tank and to cool the high-pressure vessel and the pressure medium tank simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventor: Hideki Yutaka
  • Patent number: 5211029
    Abstract: The present combined multi-modal apparatus involves: (a) apparatus for cooling, by means of a refrigerant circulating within coils disposed in a tank a negative heat energy storage material during a first time period; (b) associated apparatus for utilizing that stored negative heat energy during a second time period; and (c) most particularly, a tank by-pass structure for directly connecting a condensing unit and an evaporating unit during a third time period, such as for example when supplemental cooling is required. Specifically, the tank by-pass structure avoids circulation during the third time period of the refrigerant within the conduits or coils disposed within the negative heat energy storage material contained within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Uselton, William J. Dean, Michael G. Longman
  • Patent number: 5207075
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heat pump comprising a vapor-compression refrigeration system wherein the heat pump evaporator extracts heat from a low temperature heat exchanger in the form of a water-immiscible fluid, and delivers the extracted heat to another location by means of a condenser. The water-immiscible fluid is maintained at a temperature of virtually 0.degree. C. by the injection of many small droplets of water that freeze to form beads of ice as they settle in the fluid. The beads can then be separated and delivered to a combined ice-water reservoir. The heat extracted from the water-immiscible fluid and the injected water droplets is replaced in the ice-water reservoir from natural heat sources, such as a ground loop, a solar panel or an air-water heat exchanger. The heat provided by the ice-water reservoir includes its latent heat of fusion, which acts as a buffer when heat demand exceeds the rate of heat available from natural sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Robert W. Gundlach
  • Patent number: 5197537
    Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for a machine tool includes four temperature sensors for detecting a reference temperature, outlet temperature of heat transfer fluid at an outlet of a heat exchanger, and temperatures of the heat transfer fluid at both inlet and an outlet of a machine tool element having a heat generating source. The four temperature sensors are arranged to constitute a differential temperature detecting means that activates control means to control temperature of the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger so as to minimize both deviations of heat transfer fluid temperature and steady-state deviations of machine tool body temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Kanto Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Chigira, Koichi Urano
  • Patent number: 5172567
    Abstract: An eutectic beam which includes a plastic housing, an eutectic solution in the housing, and an evaporator tube in the eutectic solution having ends which extend outside the housing. The ends of the evaporator tube are adapted for connection to a refrigeration system. The evaporator tube is formed of copper having a thin protective coating on its outer surface formed of plastic, which is preferably a two component, filled epoxy resin system. The housing, in a preferred embodiment, is formed of a plastic, such as polyethylene, filled with a filler material selected to increase the thermal conductivity and thus the efficiency of the eutectic beam. In still another preferred embodiment, the filler material is also selected to increase both the electrical and thermal conductivity of the housing, with the housing including electrodes for electrically heating the housing to remove frost and ice build-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventor: Rajender K. Sadhir
  • Patent number: 5157938
    Abstract: A three-stage sorption type cryogenic refrigeration system, each stage containing a fluid having a respectively different boiling point. Each stage includes a compressor in which a respective fluid is heated to be placed in a high pressure gaseous state. The compressor for that fluid which is heated to the highest temperature is enclosed by the other two compressors to permit heat to be transferred from the inner compressor to the surrounding compressors. The system may include two sets of compressors, each having the structure described above, with the interior compressors of the two sets coupled together to permit selective heat transfer therebetween, resulting in more efficient utilization of input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steven Bard, Jack A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5154064
    Abstract: An open top tank is provided in which slush ice may be rapidly formed by a method forcibly projecting the formed slush ice from the tank or by a method retaining the slush ice within the tank for removal therefrom by other means. In addition, the tank may be used to cool liquid therein such as proplylene glycol down to -20.degree. F.-30.degree. F. degrees such that food stuffs may be dipped into the chilled propylene glycol for quick freezing of the food. The tank is portable and needs only a supply of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure and propylene glycol (or water if slush ice is to be formed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Inventor: Paul R. Franklin
  • Patent number: 5143148
    Abstract: A thermal storage apparatus comprises a series of stacked heat exchange modules. Each module extends horizontally and comprises channels separated by corrugations. Each channel has underneath it a heat exchange fluid pipe through which a primary or secondary coolant circulates. An inlet pipe delivers the phase change medium, for example water, to the lower most module from which it circulates to the top of the apparatus. The modules are stacked by the wall of a module engaging a groove of the next module above it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Berhaz Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Albert E. Merryfull
  • Patent number: 5138851
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling units of furniture adapted for supporting the human body, and for car seats, steering wheels and arm rests, includes two main components. A closed loop air conditioning subsystem has a first motor which drives a compressor in which a refrigerant fluid is compressed. The compressed fluid is passed into a condenser where the compressed fluid is cooled by dissipating its heat into the environment, and from where the compressed fluid is released through an expansion valve into an evaporator. The evaporator becomes cool due to expansion of the refrigerant fluid into a gas and consequent absorption of heat from the evaporator's body and immediate environment. The refrigerant gas is returned from the evaporator into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Golden Empire Trading Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Mardikian
  • Patent number: 5139549
    Abstract: An aqueous ice slurry is fed by a conduit from a freeze exchanger directly to one or more heat exchangers for cooling or air conditioning one of more enclosed or defined spaces. Warm water withdrawn from the heat exchangers is returned, with or without prior cooling, to the freeze exchanger to be converted into aqueous ice slurry. Warm water from the heat exchangers may be fed to a central thermal energy storage tank containing a bed of ice to cool the water and the cold water is fed to the freeze exchanger to form aqueous ice slurry. When heat exchangers have coils too small for an aqueous ice slurry to flow through the slurry is mixed with warm water from the heat exchangers to melt the ice and produce cold water which can be passed through the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Bryan D. Knodel, Richard J. Kooy
  • Patent number: 5131232
    Abstract: A polymerization process is advantageously effected to provide product polymers substantially free of "fish eyes" in a polymerization vessel provided with a cooling jacket and/or cooling pipe system through which a liquefied refrigerant having specific ranges of saturation pressure, saturation temperature and boiling point characteristics is passed and is vaporized during the passage so as to effectively remove the heat of polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Uno, Hiroshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5123262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for cold transfer. According to the invention, in an intermediate loop (2) a cold-bearing fluid being in diphasic form, that is, a homogeneous mixture of water and ice, for example. This fluid is heat exchanged, on the one hand with a primary source of cold, and on the other hand with the various secondary sources of heat represented by each enclosure (1) to be cooled. the invention is adaptable to the thermal control of a vinification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Thermique Generale et Vinicole
    Inventor: Adrien Laude-Bousquet
  • Patent number: 5108475
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a vapor recovery system having a refrigeration system with two refrigerant compressors, a stack with a gaseous mixture flowing through it and a plurality of heat transfer units used to condense vaporized solvent which, along with a gas, is a constituent of the mixture. The improvement includes a heat exchange unit connected to the refrigeration system and disposed downstream of the heat transfer units. The heat exchange unit rejects heat from the refrigeration system to the gas, thereby reducing the input energy required by the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark W. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5105633
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in an apparatus for condensing and recovering vaporized solvent entrained with a gas. Such apparatus has a multistage refrigeration system including a high stage circuit with a high pressure refrigerant conductor. The inventive improvement includes a solvent heat exchanger with a vessel for containing very cold condensed solvent. A portion of the high pressure refrigerant conductor is in heat-exchange relationship to such condensed solvent and transfers heat to such solvent, thereby increasing the refrigerating capacity of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark W. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5099657
    Abstract: A cooling tank for a water cooler, comprising a housing for holding water, having set therein a condensing coil which is uniformly arranged around the inner wall surface of said housing with one end connected to the expansion valve of said water cooler and an opposite end connected to the compressor of said water cooler for circulation of cooling medium, and a plurality of coil-shaped water pipes which are separately mounted in said housing with each two opposite ends respectively connected to an independent inlet valve and an independent outlet valve mounted on said housing at the outside. A plurality of reservoirs are separately connected to the inlet and outlet valves of each coil-shaped water pipes so that the liquid from each reservoir can be separately pumped into the coil-shaped water pipes for circulation through the cooling tank for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Chia-Tsai Huang