External Cooling Fluid Contacts Heat Rejector Patents (Class 62/506)
  • Patent number: 6237359
    Abstract: A system for providing liquid refrigerant subcooling, subsequent to that subcooling accomplished by the primary condenser of an ice machine, by means of utilizing cold harvest and/or melt water discharge from said ice machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas H. Hebert
  • Patent number: 6155074
    Abstract: Special air handling system for bivalent air-conditioning of a room or building with an airstream system (Primary Air System) that exhibits an Exhaust Airstream directed towards the environment of the room and a Supply Airstream directed into the room that consists of or composes of the return air from the room and/or the outside air and with a Convective and/or Radiation System (Secondary Air-Conditioning System) with a Convective and/or Radiation Unit and a Heat Exchanger Unit located inside the room or building to be air-conditioned, through which a carrier medium flows. The Heat Exchanger Unit or an Evaporator/Condenser System that is connected with the Heat Exchanger Unit via Pipes containing refrigerant is located inside the Exhaust Airstream of the Primary Air System.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hansa Ventilatoren-und Maschinenbau Neumann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz-W. Jung, Helmut Buss, Manfred Stellamans
  • Patent number: 6105376
    Abstract: A mechanical control apparatus is provided for controlling the spray or misting of water into the immediate vicinity of the condenser coils in the compressor unit of an air conditioner, and comprises a hinged, vaned paddle member; and a water valve mechanically connected to and operable by the paddle member. The paddle member is mounted so that blown air flow from an air fan in the compressor unit will impinge on the paddle member, will and cause it to pivot upwardly about a hinge. The paddle member has a mechanical valve operating member, and is connected to a source of pressurized water, so that when the valve is open, water will pass through it to at least one nozzle mounted on the compressor unit to be sprayed or misted into the immediate vicinity of the condenser coils. The mechanical linkage between the paddle member and the valve is such that when the paddle member is pivoted upwardly, the valve will be opened; and when the paddle member is in its horizontal orientation, the valve will be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventors: Peter B. Stewart, Brian Abramson
  • Patent number: 6029463
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a cooling or a condensing of a hot fluid received from a heat generating apparatus using a cooling apparatus or a condenser. The apparatus includes a hollow cooling or condensing pot (6) having an inner cavity (10) providing an axial through channel in the pot (6). There is at least one cooling sling (12) in the cavity and/or adjacent the walls or inside the walls (13) of the pot (6). The cooling or condensing pot (6) is formed for mounting on a hull lead-through (4) with one end thereof, or as a lead-through of a water craft. This lead-through exteriorly opens underneath the level of the surrounding sea water (3). The second end (2) of the cooling or condensing pot (6) is arranged for being connected to a tube or hose which is open upwardly, for instance a drainage hose (2) of a sink (1) or a similar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Thermoprodukter AB
    Inventor: Bengt Stenvinkel
  • Patent number: 6006525
    Abstract: A reciprocating cryogenic pump, suitable for medium and high pressures having very low net positive suction head (NPSH) requirements. The pump comprises a cylinder having both liquid inlets and vapor outlets, and two interacting pistons, each piston reciprocably movable within the cylinder, and each piston having flow conduits there through generally co-axial with the piston and with the cylinder. The conduit of one piston preferentially connects to the liquid inlets and the conduit of the other piston preferentially connects to the vapor outlets, which are at a higher elevation than the liquid inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventor: Lewis Tyree, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5964098
    Abstract: An auxiliary condenser includes a plurality of heat conductive tubes connected in series between a compressor and a main condenser of an air conditioning system to absorb heat energy of compressed, hot, gas state coolant outputted from the compressor, absorptive covering means covered on the heat conductive tube to absorb condensed water from evaporator means of the air conditioning system for carrying heat away from the heat conductive tubes by means of evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Nutec Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hsien Huang, Peng-Chu Chiu, Allen Liu
  • Patent number: 5956965
    Abstract: A watercooler is provided with a vessel for storing water therein; a heater for boiling the water in the vessel; a pump for lifting the boiled water; a primary cooling unit (e.g., air-cooled heat exchanger tube and a fan) for subjecting to primary cooling the boiled water lifted by the pump; a secondary cooling unit (e.g., the fan, a heat-dissipating-side thermal conductor, a thermoelectric module, a heat-absorbing-side thermal conductor, and a cold water pipe) for subjecting the water, which has been subjected to the primary cooling, to secondary cooling by using the thermoelectric module; and a service unit for dispensing the cold water subsequent to the secondary cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Thermovonics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Motohiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 5954101
    Abstract: A delivery and storage system for cryogenic fluids features a vehicle mounted dispensing system including a bulk storage tank that feeds cryogenic liquid to a sump containing a pump to pre-cool the pump. The pump feeds cryogenic liquid to another sump containing a meter so as to cool the meter. A valve selectively routes the cryogenic liquid from the meter sump to the bulk storage tank as the meter cools down. When the meter reaches operating temperature, cryogenic liquid is directed through the meter to a dispensing hose. The cryogenic liquid is dispensed into a liquid cylinder. The liquid cylinder features an automatic shut-off device to reduce the flow of the cryogenic liquid into the cylinder when the cylinder is full. The inner shell is held to the outer shell at the top by a combination stainless steel hose and composite cylinder neck. The bottom of the inner shell features a pair of pins which are supported by a strap across the bottom portion of the outer shell interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: MVE, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Arnold Drube, Audrey Duane Preston, Claus D. Emmer, Jon Robert Turner, Thomas Karl Drube
  • Patent number: 5946932
    Abstract: A multistage condensing structure using a liquid dispensing means to transfer droplets of evaporative cooling liquid onto an air-cooled condenser, taking advantage of the conventional air-cooled condensing method and the evaporation method using a liquid coolant. To further increase the efficiency of the air conditioner, two or more condensing units can be arranged in tandem along the blowing direction of a common air blower. With two or more condensing units arranged in tandem, the contacting area between the evaporation surfaces and the air flow can be enlarged to increase the evaporation efficiency without significantly increasing the size of the air conditioner. The multistage condensing structure, with its continuous heat-exchange along the flow of the refrigerant in the coiled pipe, causes an increase in the subcooling condition in the refrigerant. This condensing structure can, therefore, achieve a much higher E.E.R. than the known method of air cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Huai-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 5934081
    Abstract: A system for rapidly filling cylinders with gas while avoiding superambient temperature excursions of the cylinder contents wherein cylinder charging gas is produced by vaporizing pressurized cryogenic liquid in admixture with pressurized gas to simultaneously in one step produce the charging gas and control the temperature of the charging gas to enable the subsequent rapid filling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Notaro, Erwin Schulze Beckinghausen, Jr., Bruce Hall Davidson, Thomas Edward DeBriae
  • Patent number: 5888050
    Abstract: A precision high-pressure control assembly for supercritical fluids comprises a continuous flow system having a pressure control loop which includes a source of fluid communicating with a piston driven pump. A pressure sensor monitors the pressure of the supercritical fluid in the outlet line of the pump. A pressure controller has an input for receiving a signal relating to the pressure sent by the pressure sensor and the pressure controller yields an electronic output signal to an electropneumatic regulator. A source of air communicates with the electropneumatic regulator to provide pressurized regulated driver air directed to the pump. The electropneumatic regulator controls the regulated driver air pressure of the pump in accordance with the signal received from the pressure controller. The piston head of the pump is in a cryogenic chamber to minimize flash and cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Fitzgerald, Kenneth J. James, Brian J. Waibel
  • Patent number: 5884488
    Abstract: This invention relates to a medium and high pressure liquid natural gas fuel system for internal combustion engines and for other cryogenic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: Anker Gram, Stephen Duncan Noble
  • Patent number: 5860798
    Abstract: The pump has a sleeve-like bearer. This contains a bush in which a piston is displaceable along an axis. The bearer inner surface and the bush outer surface are adjacent to one another in parts and are separated from one another in parts by an intermediate space. The inlet of the pump is connected through an intake chamber located at least partly inside the bush and through the piston, via a non-return valve, to a pump chamber, which is connected via another non-return valve to a primary outlet of the pump. The intermediate space connects the inlet and the intake chamber to a secondary outlet which is a distance away, along the axis, from the inlet and the intake chamber. During the operation of the pump, fluid flows from the inlet through the intermediate space to the secondary outlet and cools the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Cryopump AG
    Inventor: Claudio Tschopp
  • Patent number: 5819544
    Abstract: A high pressure pumping system for pumping cryogenic liquid from a low pressure holding cylinder to a high pressure gas cylinder (or other high pressure utilization system) includes a high pressure piston pump having a unidirectional flow input and a unidirectional flow output, immersed in the cryogenic liquid in a low pressure pump container that is fed cryogenic liquid from the low pressure holding cylinder, the pressure in said pump container being maintained so that driving the pump piston pumps cryogenic liquid from the bulk tank to the high pressure utilization system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Martin D. Andonian
  • Patent number: 5797274
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a vessel containing molten metal has a quantity of liquid coolant atomized by a gaseous medium and onto a surface to be cooled. The supply of gaseous medium is constant while the supply of liquid coolant to the spray nozzles is controlled by at least one valve the operation of which is brought about by a non-electrical temperature responsive element in thermal contact with the surface to be cooled. The rate at which the liquid coolant is sprayed on to the hot surface is controlled such that the volume of coolant sprayed on to the surface to be cooled does not exceed the volume of liquid that is capable of being vaporized from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Davy McKee (Stockton) Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Jackaman, William Barry Featherstone
  • Patent number: 5778696
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently using various components as a system for cooling air. The apparatus uses the combination of an evaporative cooler, a refrigerated air system with a water-cooled condenser, a swimming pool pump, and a swimming pool or other bulk water storage container. A pump or series of pumps are used to supply water to the evaporative cooler and to the water-cooled condenser from the swimming pool. After the swimming pool water has been supplied to the other components in the system, it is returned to the swimming pool. During cooler weather, the output air from the evaporative cooler is supplied to a series of ducts and is used to cool the interior of a structure such as a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Leo B. Conner
  • Patent number: 5701748
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system externally mounted around an air cooled condenser to increase the rate of heat transfer. Spray cooling takes place in stages around succeeding portions of the condenser as determined by thermostats which respond to increasing condenser air discharge temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventors: Jack LeRoy Phelps, Bernard Maurice Paquette
  • Patent number: 5689962
    Abstract: Described are heat pump systems and methods for conditioning air, in which air is dehumidified including the steps of passage over an evaporator to cool and dehumidify the air, followed by passage over a subcooler to heat the air prior to passage into a space to be conditioned. Also described are heat pump systems and methods for conditioning air, in which air is heated by passage over a subcooler followed by passage over a condenser. The methods and systems are readily implemented and highly effective in improving system capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Store Heat and Produce Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander P. Rafalovich
  • Patent number: 5689966
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for de-superheating a primary refrigerant leaving a compressor wherein a secondary refrigerant is used between the primary refrigerant to be de-superheated. Reject heat is advantageously used for heat reclaim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: James A. Zess, M. Kevin Drost, Charles J. Call
  • Patent number: 5682750
    Abstract: A portable self-contained delivery station for liquid natural gas (LNG) is provided on a movable skid frame and equipped with an instant -on delivery system which may initiate LNG delivery immediately to a use vehicle. The skid is equipped with a spill containment feature such that the LNG may be contained in the event of spillage. A variable speed pump both controls LNG dispensing and saturation levels of the stored LNG. The pump is submerged in a sump tank which is separate from the bulk storage tank. The sump tank is flooded with an amount of LNG such that the pump is submerged. Delivery of LNG may thus occur instantly, without pre-cooling of the pump or associated meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: MVE Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Preston, Michael Lutgen, Tom Drube, Paul Drube, Tom Chrisfield
  • Patent number: 5636528
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling method and a system therefor. The cooling system is provided with a refrigerant circuit, comprising a small-capacity primary air-cooled condenser to which a vaporized refrigerant compressed in a compressor is supplied; a water-cooled condenser to which the refrigerant fed from said primary air-cooled condenser is supplied; a small-capacity secondary air-cooled condenser to which the refrigerant fed from said water-cooled condenser is supplied; an expansion means to which the liquefied refrigerant fed from said secondary air-cooled condenser is supplied; and an evaporator to which the refrigerant after an abrupt pressure reduction by said expansion means is supplied. According to the cooling system of the invention, consumption of the cooling water in the water-cooled condenser can greatly be reduced, and the running cost of the system can also easily be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5628194
    Abstract: Application of a positive displacement pump to the pumping of helium at very low temperatures. Positive displacement pumps, formed from mobile components (35, 36), which deliver gas volumes to pumping chambers, have the advantage of operating under satisfactory conditions for significant temperature, pressure and gas flow rate variations. They are therefore preferred as compared with the hitherto used centrifugal pumps and have means enabling them to operate at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Gerard Claudet
  • Patent number: 5575626
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump is disclosed for pumping liquified gas from one container to another container or a point of use. The pump comprises a series of chambers and coupling valves for progressively pumping a liquified gas from an inlet end located within and adjacent to the bottom of the container to an outlet conduit. The pump arrangement allows the container to be substantially emptied thereby avoiding waste of the contained liquified gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Cryogenic Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce G. Brown, Robert E. Crowl, Phillip J. Westermann
  • Patent number: 5545015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cryogenic liquid pump provided with a pump body driven by a motor assembly and integrated in a cryogenic liquid tank. The pump body is removable and can be put selectively in communication with the tank by sliding the pump body into a well. A first non-return valve enables transfer of liquid from the tank to the pump body via an outlet orifice. A second non-return valve enables flow of cold gas from the gas overhead of the tank towards a rear end of the pump body from which it exhausted to the outside via a sweeping/venting orifice. The sweeping/venting orifice outlet is preferably provided with a device for adjusting the flow rate of cold gas leaving the pump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Societe Europeene de Propulsion
    Inventor: Norbert Scherrer
  • Patent number: 5537828
    Abstract: A system for initiating the operation of a cryogenic pump wherein the suction line to the cryogenic pump and the cryogenic pump itself are brought to the proper cooldown temperature sequentially using separate temperature-based control schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Borcuch, Francis W. DeMarco, Norman H. White
  • Patent number: 5522709
    Abstract: Fluid transfer apparatus comprising a fluid reservoir and a pump connected to the reservoir by a supply line, wherein the apparatus is configured so that vapor generated in the pump during periods of inoperation may escape from the pump cavity through the pump inlet, rather than being trapped in the pump cavity, and liquid may flow into the pump cavity from the supply line through the pump inlet to replace escaping vapor, thereby providing reliable pump start-up during intermittent operation. The apparatus may be employed to pump LNG for fueling of vehicles. Where LNG or another cryogenic fluid is being pumped, the pump is preferably driven by a motor located above the pump and connected thereto by an elongated shaft. Shaft seals may be provided to prevent the fluid being pumped from contacting the motor or the bearings supporting the motor shaft. A vapor trap may be provided beneath the shaft seals to prevent contact between liquid being pumped and the shaft seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corporation
    Inventor: George D. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5520015
    Abstract: Energy conservation may be increased and emission production reduced in a cooling system for the internal combustion engine (10) of a vehicle that includes a high temperature radiator (50) and a lower temperature radiator (38) aligned so that airflow will flow serially through the two, passing through the lower temperature radiator (38) before passing through the higher temperature radiator (50). A liquid cooled condenser (30) is in circuit with the lower temperature radiator (38) and provides condensed refrigerant to an evaporator (20). A compressor (34) is in circuit with the condenser (30) and the evaporator (20) to provide for air conditioning and a charge air cooler (42) for the vehicle engine (10) is located in series with the lower temperature radiator (38) and the refrigerant condenser (30) to provide for improved cooling of charge air. The vehicle engine 10 is in series with the high temperature radiator 50 as is a heater 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Henry Lukas, Zalman P. Saperstein, Charles J. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5513961
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the available pump net positive suction head in a system for pumping liquid from a storage tank. When the liquid in the system is at or near its boiling point, a pump suction vessel is used to store and cool the liquid. The liquid in the pump suction vessel is kept at a temperature lower than its boiling point by surrounding the vessel with a jacketed space containing liquid from the storage tank. As the liquid in the jacketed space evaporates, the vapor is vented to the storage tank and more liquid is fed into the jacketed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Gerald E. Engdahl, William S. Schoerner, Joseph P. Mavec
  • Patent number: 5511388
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distilling water in combination with a home use refrigerator (11) includes a water source (29) which feeds water into a preheater (23) in which the water is passed by a portion of the condenser coil (22) in heat exchange relationship. The water exiting the preheater (23) moves to a solenoid valve (31) which controls the flow of water into a boiler (32). Heated by a hot plate (33), water in the boiler (32) generates steam which is condensed in a condenser conduit (36) chilled by the refrigerator (11). The condensed purified water runs into a water collection chamber (34) for storage until either the water dispenser (12) or ice maker (15) requires water, at which time the appropriate valve (39, 41) will open and a pump (38) will pump the water to the appropriate device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventors: James E. Taylor, Robert J. Alderman, James P. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5465581
    Abstract: A pumping system for pumping fluids at sub-ambient temperatures where the pumping fluid, after it has been used for its analytical application, is expanded such that the energy of expansion of the pumping fluid can be employed for cooling the pump head or pumping fluid prior to pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Haertl, Terry A. Berger
  • Patent number: 5454228
    Abstract: A liquid refrigeration system for providing cooling operations, including an evaporator with its refrigerant outlet connected to a vapor/liquid separator so that refrigerant in the refrigerant conduits in the evaporator may undergo heat exchange in the form of a mixture of vapor and liquid. The compressor of the system outputs high pressure refrigerant vapor which passes through a specially designed condenser before being conveyed to a thermostatic expansion valve at the front end of the inlet of the evaporator. Low-pressure oil-rich liquid refrigerant separated by the vapor/liquid separator first passes through the condenser to become superheated vapor and it is then sent to the suction line of the compressor together with the saturated refrigerant vapor from the vapor/liquid separator. The expansion valve meters the flow rate of system refrigerant and has a temperature sensor which detects the superheat of the low pressure refrigerant vapor leaving the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Yuan Yang, Chin-Hung Lo, Yu-Kun Hung, Mao-Yung Weng, Yie-Zu Hu
  • Patent number: 5431546
    Abstract: Fluid transfer apparatus comprising a fluid reservoir and a pump connected to the reservoir by a supply line, wherein the apparatus is configured so that vapor generated in the pump during periods of inoperation may escape from the pump cavity through the pump inlet, rather than being trapped in the pump cavity, and liquid may flow into the pump cavity from the supply line through the pump inlet to replace escaping vapor, thereby providing reliable pump start-up during intermittent operation. The apparatus may be employed to pump LNG for fueling of vehicles. Where LNG or another cryogenic fluid is being pumped, the pump is preferably driven by a motor located above the pump and connected thereto by an elongated shaft. Shaft seals may be provided to prevent the fluid being pumped from contacting the motor or the bearings supporting the motor shaft. A vapor trap may be provided beneath the shaft seals to prevent contact between liquid being pumped and the shaft seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corporation
    Inventor: George D. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5419155
    Abstract: Compressor lubricant in a screw compressor-based refrigeration system is cooled by directing the lubricant from the system oil separator to an oil-cooling heat exchanger disposed in the lower portion of the system condenser where it is bathed in condensed system refrigerant. Parasitic capacity losses with respect to the compressor lubricant cooling process are thereby avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Boehde, James W. Larson
  • Patent number: 5408843
    Abstract: Energy conservation may be increased and emission production reduced in a cooling system for the internal combustion engine (10) of a vehicle that includes a high temperature radiator (50) and a lower temperature radiator (38) aligned so that airflow will flow serially through the two, passing through the lower temperature radiator (38) before passing through the higher temperature radiator (50). A liquid cooled condenser (30) is in circuit with the lower temperature radiator (38) and provides condensed refrigerant to an evaporator (20). A compressor (34) is in circuit with the condenser (30) and the evaporator (20) to provide for air conditioning and a charge air cooler (42) for the vehicle engine (10) is located in series with the lower temperature radiator (38) and the refrigerant condenser (30) to provide for improved cooling of charge air. The vehicle engine 10 is in series with the high temperature radiator 50 as is a heater 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Henry Lukas, Zalman P. Saperstein, Charles J. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5381667
    Abstract: A method and system provide automated, preferably electronic, monitoring and control of equipment used to pump and vaporize liquid nitrogen at an oil or gas well. The method comprises: pumping liquid nitrogen at the well; vaporizing pumped liquid nitrogen at the well; flowing vaporized nitrogen at the well; sensing temperature of the flowing vaporized nitrogen; sensing pressure of the flowing vaporized nitrogen; and automatically stopping the pumping of liquid nitrogen at the well when the sensed temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range or when the sensed pressure is outside a predetermined pressure range. A pre-stoppage warning can also be provided, and data about the vaporized nitrogen can be generated, displayed locally and transmitted remotely. A related system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Worley, Charles E. Neal, Vincent P. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5379832
    Abstract: The heat exchanger is made up of a shell having a coaxial tubular outer and inner wall with end plates attached thereto to enclose a tubular shell cavity provided with an inlet and outlet for a first fluid. Within the shell cavity is a spiral coil of tubing through which flows a second fluid. The coil is wound helically about the axis of the shell and sized to fit the inner and outer walls with limited radial clearance. The coils are axially spaced from one another to define a spiral flow path within the shell cavity for the fluids to first flow. The radial and axial clearance establish a spiral flow path and an axial flow path which are relatively sized to cause the first fluid to travel in a spiral motion, thereby enhancing heat transfer between the first and second fluids. Also, an enclosed central receiver, include communication with the shell cavity, may be formed within the inner tubular wall which serves as a fluid accumulator or reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Aqua Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack C. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 5377500
    Abstract: An improved water cooled air conditioner having a compressor, an evaporator, a cooling fan, a low pressure pipe, a high pressure pipe, a radiator, a cooling motor, and a condenser is provided. The apparatus is characterized in that the heat exchanging efficiency between the cooling water and the refrigerant is highly enhanced thereby intensifying the cooling effect and increasing the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the apparatus to an acceptable degree for use as residential hot water. Further, the heated water from the radiator may be sprayed on to the external surface of the radiator to provide evaporative cooling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Fast Maker Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ten S. Yang
  • Patent number: 5360139
    Abstract: An automated fueling facility allows untrained persons to safely dispense homogenous phase liquid methane from a cryogenic storage tank into a motor vehicle. The fueling facility automatically maintains pressure on the liquid methane within a predetermined safe operating range using methane gas trapped in the cryogenic storage tank. The pressure on the liquid methane is at least set equal to a set pressure equal to the sum of the saturation pressure of the liquid methane plus an additional amount to help to ensure that it remains in a fully saturated condition after absorbing any heat during pumping from the storage tank. A pump is cooled by placing it in the storage tank and circulating liquid methane through the pump and back into the storage tank. A dispenser, including nozzle for connecting to a motor vehicle, is cooled by circulating liquid through the nozzle and back to the storage tank through a receptacle on the dispenser to which the nozzle is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Hydra Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Goode
  • Patent number: 5311747
    Abstract: A sprinkler system for a condenser unit of an air conditioning system comprises a flue with a temperature responsive valve assembly releasably mounted therein. The flue is mounted atop the protective grill for the system fan so as to channel a portion of the fan's cooling air flow for the condenser therethrough. A bellows senses temperature changes in this air flow and upon a selectable rise in temperature expands so as to urge the valve stem of a two-way poppet valve to a valve opening position. The open valve, connected to a water source, delivers water to an elongated fluid outlet line which is fastened along the grill surrounding the condenser unit. The elongated line comprises a plurality of segments connected by intermediate spray heads. The spray heads circumscribe the condenser with a cooling spray so as to reduce the temperature of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventors: Robert D. Pringle, John Prikkel, III
  • Patent number: 5243821
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for delivering high pressure gas to a point of use over a wide range of flowrates by storing said gas as a cryogenic fluid, removing said cryogenic fluid by means of a single stage reciprocating piston-type pump/compressor adapted to utilize liquid, vaporized liquid, a mixture of liquid and vaporized liquid, or supercritical fluid as the inlet fluid to said pump while maintaining the inlet fluid under cryogenic conditions. Blowby from the pump is recycled to the system. Discharge fluid may also be recycled to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Schuck, James VanOmmeren
  • Patent number: 5241829
    Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump having at least one circuit for circulation of a refrigerant comprising a compressor, a once-through path, complete counterflow type condenser as a high-temperature heat output means, an expansion valve and a low-temperature heat output means (evaporator or a segregated low-stage circuit for circulation of a lower-boiling-point refrigerant), which comprises choosing a supercool degree, which is equal to the difference between a saturation temperature and an outlet temperature of the refrigerant, to satisfy the conditions that a temperature effectiveness of refrigerant liquid as defined by the formula: ##EQU1## is at least 40% and the temperature difference of the denominator is at least 35.degree. C. As a result, boiling water of ca. 100.degree. C. or other high-temperature fluids can be discharged with a large temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignees: Osaka Prefecture Government, Nishiyodo Air Conditioner Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Irie, Tohru Isoda, Shuhei Miyauchi, Taizo Imoto, Yukio Fujishima, Yasuhiro Hatano, Masami Ogata, Yukitoshi Hatano, Tamotsu Ishikawa, Masayuki Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5242285
    Abstract: A vane pump particularly adapted for pumping cryogenic liquids has a plurality of vanes, each of which comprises a composite of at least two vane plates mounted in slots of a rotor of the pump, and sealingly pressed toward one another by the pressure differential existing on the opposite sides of the vanes, while the vanes are under pumping load. Each plate of the vanes comprises at least two parts which are mounted to one another and incorporate a biasing device, such as a spring, which urges the parts away from one another in a direction substantially parallel with the rotational axis of the rotor, and into sealing relationship with the end walls of a stator chamber in which the rotor is rotating. As an additional feature, the interior surface of the stator chamber, has a circular cross section in the area where the vanes move under a pumping load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: ACD, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Westermann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5242403
    Abstract: A metering pump for metering low-boiling liquids, especially liquid anesthetics provides continuous metering of liquid. To achieve this, the pump chamber 7 is maintained at a temperature below the boiling point of the liquid by means of a cooling device 14, preferably a Peltier cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Falb, Karl-Ludwig Gippert, Ulrich Heim, Uvo Holscher, Siegfried Kiske, Gotz Kullik, Ralf-Ernst Loser, Christoph Maurer
  • Patent number: 5218827
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying from a vessel to a pump liquified gas with subcooling so as to avoid cavitation during pumping. A supply conduit supplies liquified gas from the vessel bottom to a pump sump which envelops the flowpath elements of a pump and the pump suction. A return conduit returns vapor and excess liquified gas from the sump to the bottom of the vessel. Heating means, preferably heat leak into the return conduit, reduces the density of the fluid in the return conduit thereby increasing the rate of liquified gas flow in the supply conduit and reducing its temperature rise enroute to the pump. Further subcooling is secured by locating the intake to the supply conduit remote from a wall of the vessel in a cooler strata of liquid, and the discharge of the return conduit proximate to a wall of the vessel in a warmer strata in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Pevzner
  • Patent number: 5214925
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for economically and effectively using a portion of a liquified compressed gas feedstock, such as liquid carbon dioxide, as a refrigerant to cool said liquified compressed gas feedstock so as to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping such feedstock are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Hoy, Kenneth A. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5209652
    Abstract: A turbopump which operates at cryogenic temperatures to pump cryogenic liquid fuels to high pressure, and which includes a rotating group supported on process fluid foil journal bearings and a hydrostatic and hydrodynamic foil thrust bearing. A back-face surface of a pump rotor reacts thrust forces to the foil thrust bearing and receives counter acting hydrostatic fluid forces dynamically moderated to achieve an equilibrium axial position and force balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Fischer, Terence P. Emerson, Alston L. Gu
  • Patent number: 5193991
    Abstract: A pump for liquefied gases is provided having a low thermal conductivity liner provided in the inner bore of the pump cylinder. The low thermal conductivity liner prevents transmission to the pump cylinder of heat generated during the compression of the liquefied gas. The liner is preferably formed from a ceramic, such as zirconium, or from a plastic. In addition to the provision of the low thermal conductivity liner, techniques for reducing the dead volume of retained gases in the pump chamber are utilized to prevent the transmission of retained heat from the these gases to the incoming charge of liquefied gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Suprex Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Koebler, Glen P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5181395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unique compressor assembly used with remote refrigeration systems. The refrigeration system has a housing which encloses a compressor and the condenser assembly. The condenser assembly comprises a plurality of modular panel elements mounted in a V-shaped configuration with the apex of the V-shaped panel configuration being near the bottom of the housing and the mouth of the V-shaped panel configuration pointing upwardly towards the top of the housing. An exhaust fan is in the top of the housing overlying the mouth of the V-shaped panel configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventors: Donald Carpenter, Craig Kushen
  • Patent number: 5158486
    Abstract: A lightweight weather-resistant cover for attachment to air conditioner compressor cabinets of the type containing a fan and having an opening in a wall of the cabinet for exhausting air. The cover has an attachment portion for attachment to the cabinet wall adjacent the exhaust opening and a lid portion of sufficient size to cover the exhaust opening and is hinged to the attachment portion. The lid portion is normally maintained in a closed position covering the exhaust opening when the fan is not operating and is pivoted to an open position extending angularly above the exhaust opening by the exhaust air when the fan is operating. When the fan ceases operation, the lid portion drops back down onto the cabinet wall to cover the opening and prevent the elements and other foreign matter from entering. The attachment portion may be secured to the wall of the cabinet by a strip of magnetic material or tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Antonio N. Tamame
  • Patent number: 5129449
    Abstract: A condenser (44) of a heated fluid which is condensed within a core of the condenser in response to heat exchange between the heated fluid and a coolant fluid flowing through the core in accordance with the invention includes a plurality of heat conductive laminates (70 and 72) having at least one first channel (12) through which the fluid being condensed flows and at least one second channel (14) through which the coolant flows. The cross-sectional area of at least one of the at least one first channel in the condenser decreases in a direction of fluid flow through the condenser producing increased velocity of the heated fluid flowing in the direction of fluid flow causing a shear force between a vapor phase of the heated fluid and liquid phase condensed on a perimeter of at least one first channel which causes the fluid phase to flow through the at least one channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Dam C. Nguyen