Deodorizing, Antisepticizing Or Providing Special Atmosphere Patents (Class 62/78)
  • Publication number: 20030145606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling at least one wine or champagne container in a wine or champagne preservation and dispensing apparatus. The cooling system includes a housing; a container support mounted in the housing; a cool air generating unit mounted in the housing; and a circulator mounted in the housing. In one embodiment, the cool air generating unit generates cooled air. The cooled air is circulated in the housing by the circulator to cool the wine or champagne container on the container support. In another embodiment, the container support includes a removable divider which separates the container support into two areas where at least one wine or champagne container is included in each of the areas and at least one of the areas is adjacent to the circulator. The divider includes at least one air baffle to control the amount of generated cooled air circulated in each of the areas by the circulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Patent number: 6595847
    Abstract: A container for transporting a load in conditioned space air, where the container includes a number of walls defining a closed conditioned space with an ambient air intake opening and a conditioned space air exhaust opening provided on one of the container walls; a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the conditioned space air; an ambient air exchange so system having a door movable relative to the exhaust and intake openings to thereby change the rate that conditioned space air is exchanged with ambient air, and a motor for repositioning the ambient air exchange door. The container also including a container controller in signal transmitting relation with the air exchange door repositioning motor. The controller sends signals to the repositioning motor to move the ambient air exchange door to a position which produces the required ambient air exchange rate to preserve the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Freese, Neil D. Tamppari, Randy S. Burnham
  • Patent number: 6571573
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a pneumatic ice transport system having a primary ice reservoir and a blower connected to a venturi. The ice reservoir includes an ice dispensing mechanism for dispensing of ice there from into an ice flow tube. The venturi suction intake is connected by a tube to the discharge end of the ice chute. The outlet of the venturi is connected to a tube for directing the ice to a remote location. In operation, the blower provides a large volume of relatively low pressure air to the venturi. A heat exchanger can be connected between the outlet of the blower and the air inlet of the venturi. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger uses forced air and melt water from the primary storage bin to cool the air stream produced by the blower. The heat exchanger serves to lower the temperature of that air to at or below ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Henry
  • Patent number: 6560974
    Abstract: A refrigerator crisper drawer based on an increased nitrogen concentration. This nitrogen concentration necessarily depletes the oxygen thus reducing the opportunities for food to oxidize or “brown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventors: Mark W. Kroll, Thorstein Holt
  • Patent number: 6560991
    Abstract: Hyperbaric Hypoxic Fire Escape and Suppression System is provided for multilevel buildings, transportation tunnels and other human-occupied environments. The system produces and maintains a hypoxic hyperbaric environment in a separate part of a building (staircase shaft) or a tunnel (service tunnel) in order to provide an entirely secure escape area in case of a fire emergency and instantly extinguish an ongoing fire in a building or a tunnel by releasing a breathable hyperbaric hypoxic fire-extinguishing composition into location affected by fire. Additionally, the system provides continuing adequate protection against biological and chemical warfare and contaminants by filtering ambient air before processing it by the system and by establishing breathable fire-suppressive atmosphere at a positive atmospheric pressure inside a building or tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 6557374
    Abstract: A total flood fire suppression system is provided for transportation tunnels and other human-occupied environments, which employs a selective gas delivery method for supplying a breathable fire-extinguishing agent to a location closest to a fire site. The agent is produced from ambient air at site and stored in high-pressure containers communicating with an addressed gas delivery hose installed throughout a tunnel. When fire is detected, the agent is released from storage containers into the gas delivery hose that simultaneously becomes penetrated or broken in a location next to the fire site, allowing releasing the agent there and extinguishing the fire by totally flooding the affected portion of a tunnel. Additionally, the direction of the agent flow can be controlled by air blocks or inflatable tunnel plugs that, via a signal from a central control station, can inflate and block a tunnel tube in order to redirect the agent flow into the opposite to a block direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 6557356
    Abstract: A device for killing pathogens that grow on the surface of the evaporator coil within a conventional air conditioner and in the drip pan of its evaporator. Utilizing ultraviolet radiation which is well-known to kill a wide range of pathogens, the device comprises at least one elongated ultraviolet light source. This source is positioned in such a way that its light strikes both the evaporator and the drip pan. Also this source is mounted transversely to the flow path of air passing through the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Roy E. Underwood
  • Patent number: 6553777
    Abstract: A user-programmable monitoring and dispensing system for controlling the dispensing of water vapor and various other media into an HVAC air stream in residential or commercial structures. The various media to be dispensed are preferably water-soluble, and mixed with the system water supply to be dispensed with the water vapor added to the HVAC air stream. These materials may be fragrances or aromas, intended to produce an aesthetic effect, or they can be agents capable of pesticidal, bacteriacidal, fungicidal or sporacidal effect for use as acute or prophylactic treatment for infestation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Scott J. Dillenback
  • Patent number: 6550257
    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 22, 2003
    Assignees: Heatcraft Inc., Dust Free, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Goetzinger, Robert E. Smith, Gregg Burnett
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6539742
    Abstract: An ice maker is provided including a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface below the freezing temperature of water. The ice maker further includes a water supply inlet, a water collecting device connected to receive a supply of water from the water supply inlet and arranged to receive a flow of water from the ice forming surface, a recirculating pump having an inlet connected to the water collecting device, a recirculating passage connected at a first end to an outlet of the recirculating pump and arranged to direct water toward the ice making surface, and a magnetic field generating device positioned along a length of the recirculating passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Mitchell, Herbert P. Sabelhaus, John P Tinney
  • Publication number: 20030046947
    Abstract: A fridge-freezer equipped with a deodorizing unit which has a filter including photocatalyst and a light emitting unit including an LED as a light source mounted on a substrate. The fridge-freezer is designed to solve problems posed by conventional fridge-freezers. One of the problems is that in the case of using a glass-tube type lamp such as a black light or a cold cathode tube as the light source, the light source becomes large in size which requires a large space for installation. This does not allow the deodorizing unit to be installed in the compartments in the refrigerator. Another problem is that the deodorizing unit was not designed to be safe for food in case that part of the deodorizing unit is damaged to give harmful damage to food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Ohya, Mutsumi Kato, Katsumasa Sakamoto, Junji Yoshida, Naho Misumi
  • Publication number: 20030033820
    Abstract: A device for separating dry solid and liquid by cooling spray has a material reservoir which can adjust and control low temperature for preserving material, a high-pressure pump for extracting material to high-pressure sprayer. Besides, material is pressurized to become a spray state for spraying by adjusting a nozzle of the high-pressure sprayer, and then dry air having high temperature can form a circulating cycle in the steel tub via a heat exchanger of a gas-drying machine to make water content of a spray of liquid be absorbed by dry air having high temperature such that original material becomes powder solid. Besides, air inside the steel tub absorbs much water content due to heat exchange, and then the air with much water content and high temperature is cooled via the heat exchanger when passing through an air filter. After water content of the air is condensed, the air is reheated for using in next cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Shun-Tsung Lu, Ta-Wei Lu
  • Patent number: 6519954
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by preparing the material for freezing, immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification). The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20° C. and −30° C., which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures in cell membranes due to thermal changes. Cells frozen using a method according to the present invention have been shown to have approximately an 80 percent survival rate, which is significantly higher than other cryopreservation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Supachill International Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Kevin R. Pond, Markus F. Miller, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Publication number: 20030029925
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like, is described. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley
  • Publication number: 20030024254
    Abstract: An odorless refrigerator with a deodorizing function free from insufficient refrigeration, which is provided with a deodorizing device operable with a stable deodorizing performance for a long time, simply structured, small-sized, and provided at a low cost. The refrigerator includes a draft air duct as a passage of refrigerated air blown off forcibly by an inside fan to the compartments, a damper in the draft air duct and opens/closes to allow/prevent the supply of refrigerated air to the compartments, a bypass channel in the draft air duct between the damper and a cooling device for returning refrigerated air from the cooling device to the cooling device, and a deodorizing device in the by-pass channel for deodorizing refrigerated air supplied to the compartments. The refrigerated air inside the draft air duct between the damper and the cooling device is forcibly blown off through the bypass channel by closing the damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junji Yoshida, Mutsumi Kato, Toshie Hiraoka, Keiji Ohya, Masao Araki
  • Publication number: 20030019222
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator comprises an ultraviolet discharging lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; a fan for forming an air curtain when a door of the cold storage compartment of the refrigerator is opened; and a controlling device for lighting the ultraviolet discharging lamp when the door of the cold storage compartment of the refrigerator is opened. In addition, the refrigerator can further comprise an operating device for setting or disabling an antimicrobial mode of the refrigerator; and a controlling device for lighting the ultraviolet discharging lamp for a preset interval, and turning off the ultraviolet discharging lamp when a door of the refrigerator is opened, when the antimicrobial mode is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Takahashi, Kiyotaka Nagao, Toshihide Hasegawa, Masahiko Asami, Motoharu Kobayashi, Masashi Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 6505471
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a device is provided in which characteristics of the device used at low temperature such as a high temperature superconductive filter are measured and adjusted without deterioration of the device. The device used at low temperature is disposed within an atmosphere of substitutional gas such as nitrogen and the like. The device is cooled by using cryogen, for example, liquid nitrogen, stored in a bath which is disposed in a glove box. The cryogen has a temperature near the temperature at which the device is used. The device is placed on a cooling stage which is partially soaked in the cryogen, thereby said device is cooled by the cryogen having a temperature near the temperature at which the device is used. Characteristics of the device are measured and adjusted while cooling the device by using the cryogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Hattori
  • Patent number: 6502421
    Abstract: Mobile fire-fighting systems and a method of producing breathable fire-suppression compositions are provided for extinguishing fires in buildings, and other human occupied structures, being also effective in suppressing fires under ruins of collapsed buildings. The systems employ a transportable high-pressure container having the breathable composition or nitrogen gas, or a liquid nitrogen container, vaporizer and a mixing chamber, wherein a vaporized nitrogen gas is mixed with an ambient air in order to produce said breathable fire-suppression composition. Refilling stations are provided for refilling the mobile systems with said composition, nitrogen gas or liquid nitrogen, all being generated at site from the ambient air. The method of producing said composition at a fire site employs mixing of nitrogen gas with ambient air or, alternatively, vaporizing of liquid nitrogen in necessary quantities and mixing it with ambient air in provided proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Publication number: 20030000229
    Abstract: A device for killing pathogens that grow on the surface of the evaporator coil within a conventional air conditioner and in the drip pan of its evaporator. Utilizing ultraviolet radiation which is well-known to kill a wide range of pathogens, the device comprises of at least one elongated ultraviolet light source. This source is positioned in such a way that its light strikes both the evaporator and the drip pan. Also this source is mounted transversely to the flow path of air passing through the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Roy E. Underwood
  • Patent number: 6487868
    Abstract: To provide an air conditioner having an antibacterial and mold-proofing member which can be easily incorporated and has high effectiveness and a method for controlling the air conditioner. An air conditioner of the present invention having a heat exchanger and a blower for supplying the heat exchanger with air comprises an antibacterial and mold-proofing member which includes an antibacterial and mold-proofing component which will volatile at an ambient temperature and diffuse in the air conditioner, and also has a control mechanism for gradually evaporating which controls the release rate of the antibacterial and mold-proofing component to the inside of the air conditioner so that it becomes large at high humidity and small at low humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sato, Shiho Furuya, Masahiro Watanabe, Toshiyuki Imasaka, Eiji Nakatsuno
  • Patent number: 6481635
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls LLC
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley, II
  • Patent number: 6467695
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls LLC
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley, II
  • Patent number: 6467696
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of residential and commercial buildings. Movement of air within the facilities is accomplished by air handling units or fans. The speed of each air handling unit is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the air handling units to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment, which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans, or air handling units, is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans, or air handling units, are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method including the control of the mixture of air supplied to the internal environment of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls LLC
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley, II
  • Patent number: 6460352
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the composition of the atmosphere within a refrigerated container during the storage and/or transportation of perishable and/or respiring produce in which carbon dioxide and ethylene (and other evolved hydrocarbons) are removed from the container atmosphere by adsorption, the adsorptive materials being regenerated with ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, plc
    Inventors: Norberto Lemcoff, Shuguang Deng, Michael Ernest Garrett, Michael John Heywood, Ralph John Whiteman
  • Publication number: 20020139124
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for disinfecting a microtome and cryostat is provided. The cryostat comprises a chamber, a pump communicating with the chamber, an ozone generator and an ozone destroyer. A microtome is located in the chamber. Oxygen molecules in ambient air are converted to ozone that is injected into the cryostat chamber, disinfecting the chamber and the microtome. After disinfection, the air and ozone present in the chamber is directed to an ozone destroying unit that eliminates any remaining ozone. This eliminates the risk of ozone exposure to nearby operators and minimizes damage to the cryostat and microtome from extended ozone contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Henry William Palermo
  • Patent number: 6457402
    Abstract: Apparatus for aiding in the ripening of produce that includes a sealed container having a refrigeration unit for supplying conditioned air for cooling produce stored in a container. A gas generator is arranged to mix a ripening gas with conditioned air within the container. A fresh air exchanger is integrated into the refrigeration unit for venting conditioned air from the container to ambient and exchanging the vented air with outside fresh air. The fresh air exchanger is automatically operated by a controller which coordinates the cycling of the gas generator with the exchange of fresh air so that the ripening process can be closely regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Jan M. Parker, Michael E. Davis
  • Patent number: 6443056
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering conditioned air from the mixing chamber of a mobile container into a pair of supply air plenums that extend rearwardly along the side walls of the container. A series of fan units are contained within pods located within the mixing chamber adjacent to the front end of each supply air plenum. The pods are stacked in vertical alignment from the floor of the container to about the height of the container ceiling. Each pod includes two fan units that are contained in separate compartments. Each fan unit can be removed easily from the compartment and each pod unit can similarly be removed separately from the stack to facilitate mounting and removal of the pods as well as the individual fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Michael E. Davis, David R. Carey
  • Patent number: 6442950
    Abstract: A cooling system of chamber with a removable liner includes follows gas temperature adjusting assembly, gas supplying assembly, and gas controlling assembly. Gas temperature adjusting assembly is located between removable liner and a wall of said chamber. Gas supplying assembly is connected with gas temperature adjusting assembly and could be used to supply a gas which is required by gas temperature adjusting assembly. Gas controlling assembly is connected with gas supplying assembly and could be used to control both flow rate and flow account of gas, such that temperature could be adjusted right now.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ke-Wei Tung
  • Patent number: 6438971
    Abstract: A method of controlling an ultraviolet air treatment device including an ultraviolet lamp positioned to irradiate an air conditioner cooling coil. A controller is connected to the ultraviolet air treatment device to dictate activation and deactivation of the ultraviolet lamp. A first control sequence is performed to automatically cycle the ultraviolet lamp between a powered on condition for a first predetermined time period and a powered off condition for a second predetermined time period. In one preferred embodiment, the method further includes monitoring an operational mode of the air conditioner. A transition routine is initiated upon determining that the operational mode has switched from cooling to non-cooling, and the ultraviolet lamp is controlled in accordance with a second control sequence if the air conditioner remains in the non-cooling mode throughout an entirety of the transition routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy L. Lentz, Timothy J. Kensok
  • Publication number: 20020110907
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation system, for cryopreserving a biopharmaceutical product that includes a cryopreservation compartment; a cryopreservation fluid located within the cryopreservation compartment; and a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial located within the cryopreservation compartment and surrounded by the cryopreservation fluid, and the biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial including a body that includes an oblong cross-section defining proximal and distal ends of the body, and at least one nucleating structure, coupled to a distal end of the body, and the body including a cryogenically stable material that is compatible with biopharmaceutical products. Also disclosed are cryopreservation vials and methods of cryopreserving biopharmaceutical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 6431060
    Abstract: An enclosed container having an air conditioning unit for providing conditioned air to the mixing plenum of an air handling system for circulating conditioned air through a load of perishable goods stored within the container. An open-sided supply duct is connected to the plenum that runs along the center of the length of the container and a pair of spaced-apart, open-sided return ducts pass along the side walls of the container parallel to the supply duct. A load of perishable goods is stacked between the ducts and blower units are mounted within the return ducts for drawing supply air through the load and returning the air into the mixing plenum at an increased pressure. The return air in the plenum is combined with conditioned air from the refrigeration unit and is circulated back into the supply duct for reuse in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: August William Gutheim
  • Patent number: 6427484
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an oxygen-enriched air separator for separating exterior air into oxygen-enriched air and nitrogen-enriched air and an oxygen-enriched air supplier for supplying the separated oxygen-enriched air to an indoor unit. The oxygen-enriched air separator has a main body, an oxygen-enriched air outlet port connected to the indoor unit through a supply tube, a nitrogen-enriched air outlet port for exhausting the nitrogen enriched air and a pressure maintenance unit for maintaining a pressure difference between a first space communicated with the nitrogen-enriched air outlet port and a second space communicated with the oxygen-enriched air outlet port over a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Hoon Choi, Kwan Choull Park, Sang Min Kim
  • Patent number: 6418734
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, kits and methods for cleaning an air conditioning unit having an air conduit defined by at least one wall with a hole therein the allows a cleaner to be introduced between a fan and a heat exchanger of the unit positioned along the conduit. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a resilient female component that is manually inserted into the hole. The female component has an opening therein that provides access to the conduit between the fan and the heat exchanger. A male component is removably received within the female component and it has a passageway therein that allows the cleaner to flow therethrough into the conduit. A plug is manually inserted into the opening upon removal of the male component. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a one way valve is attached to the wall at a point that allows a cleaner to be introduced between the fan and the heat exchanger of the unit, and a connector attached to a container of cleaner is removably attached to the one way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Moc Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Waco
  • Patent number: 6418752
    Abstract: Fire prevention and suppression systems and breathable fire-extinguishing compositions are provided for rooms, houses and buildings, transportation tunnels and vehicles, underground and underwater facilities, marine vessels, aircraft, space stations and vehicles, military installations and vehicles, and other human occupied objects and facilities. The system provides a low-oxygen (hypoxic) fire-preventive atmosphere at standard atmospheric or slightly increased pressure. The system employs an oxygen-extraction apparatus supplying oxygen-depleted air inside a human-occupied area or storing it in a high-pressure container for use in case of fire. A breathable fire-extinguishing composition, being mostly a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen and having oxygen content ranging from 12% to 17% for fire-preventive environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 6408632
    Abstract: An improved freezer and plant gas system that harnesses the cooling properties of the plant gas evaporator to facilitate energy and cryogen savings, as well as the automation and optimization of a plant thermal processing system. The freezer preferably includes an internally mounted evaporator sized to meet the gas requirements of the plant processes requiring inert gas. By evaporating the plant gas in the freezer, the freezer can be remotely located from the liquid cryogen source while still making liquid cryogen available when called for during a cryogenic treatment process metal or other materials. In addition, by evaporating in the freezer the freezer is able to harness the cooling properties of the evaporator to pre-cool the freezer and material prior to use of liquid in the cooling cycle. Alternatively, a liquid load basket is adapted to economically thermally treat materials in a deep cryogenic treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Michael D. Cashin
  • Patent number: 6405644
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus useful for maintaining perishable products in a controlled environment as a modular unit. This modular unit, or self-contained apparatus, encompasses all the equipment necessary for installation while offering temperature stability, simplified maintenance requirements, and ultimately, precise control of ripening. Designed for efficiency, typical labor and equipment costs and energy consumption of a ripening room are reduced with the palletized ripening cabinet. The present invention may also be easily adapted for the combination of units or for various temperature requirements and otherwise from pre-cooler to freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Robert J. Windecker
  • Patent number: 6403027
    Abstract: A method for fumigation perishables within an existing refrigerated cargo container that does not require the refrigerated cargo container to be tented. The method uses the inherent characteristics of the cargo container to form the fumigation chamber environment. The method insures that the cargo container is fit for fumigation purposes, more specifically, that the refrigerated cargo container does not allow the escape of fumigant beyond the reasonable level allowed by the agency monitoring the fumigation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Elias Napoles, Alexander Alfred Napoles
  • Patent number: 6401487
    Abstract: Fire prevention and suppression systems and breathable fire-extinguishing compositions are provided for rooms, houses and buildings, transportation tunnels and vehicles, underground and underwater facilities, marine vessels, submarines, passenger and military aircraft, space stations and vehicles, military installations and vehicles, and all other human occupied objects and facilities. The system provides a breathable hypoxic fire-preventative atmosphere at standard atmospheric or local ambient pressure. The system employs an oxygen-extraction apparatus supplying oxygen-depleted air inside a human-occupied area or storing it in a high-pressure container for use in case of fire. A breathable fire-extinguishing composition is introduced for constant fire-preventive environments, being mostly a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen and having oxygen content ranging from 12% to 17%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 6390378
    Abstract: A centralized humidification controlled container system including one or more containers to confine perishable goods in a humidification controlled environment, a portable master unit container which confines the controlling equipment with a source of humidification water, and means of connecting the master unit container to each of the perishable goods containers in such a way as to pass information and fluid between the master unit container and each attached perishable goods container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignees: CA Global Express, LLC, Nitec,LLC
    Inventors: Charles Eugene Briscoe, Jr., Peter Herlihy, Russell Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6386460
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley, II
  • Patent number: 6381967
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for the hyper-rapid freezing of liquid samples. The samples are converted into droplets or vapor and rapidly driven directly onto the surface of a solid or slushed refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Randall H Craig
  • Patent number: 6363734
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning system that comprises a sterilization/deodorization gas supply device wherein a sterilization/deodorization gas supply unit, which includes a chemical container and an evaporation acceleration unit, for accelerating the evaporation of a chemical stored in a container, is located along an air channel extending from an air inlet to a heat exchanger. An appropriate amount of a sterilization/deodorization gas is mixed with cooled or heated air that is discharged from the air conditioning system, so that the generation of bad odors, which are generated by mold and microorganisms, and the growth and dispersion of bacteria can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sunseal
    Inventor: Kohei Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20020036238
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the environment of residential and commercial buildings. Movement of air within the facilities is accomplished by air handling units or fans. The speed of each air handling unit is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the air handling units to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment, which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans, or air handling units, is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans, or air handling units, are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method including the control of the mixture of air supplied to the internal environment of the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: William P. Riley, William P. Riley
  • Publication number: 20020033023
    Abstract: A refrigerator crisper drawer based on an increased nitrogen concentration. This nitrogen concentration necessarily depletes the oxygen thus reducing the opportunities for food to oxidize or “brown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Mark W. Kroll, Thorstein Holt
  • Patent number: 6347525
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of ice seeding a biological samples, such as cells, harvested tissues, and cellular biological constructs such as culture tissue equivalents. The method initiates the formation of ice that is controllable to allow for maximal viability of the sample to be cryopreserved after it has been subsequently thawed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Organogenesis Inc.
    Inventor: Maury D. Cosman
  • Patent number: 6345510
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system is constructed to include a full-heat heat exchanger, the full-heat heat exchanger having a first inlet and a second inlet arranged at right angles, a first air filter unit connected to the first inlet of the full-heat heat exchanger and adapted to filter air passing through the first inlet of the full-heat heat exchanger, the first air filter unit being formed of a primary coarse particle wire gauze filter, a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filter) core, an active carbon coated wire gauze filter, and an optical catalytic wheel, and first fan means disposed in front of the full-heat heat exchanger and adapted to draw outside air into the first air filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventor: Joackim Shiuan
  • Patent number: 6337205
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation system, for cryopreserving a biopharmaceutical product that includes a cryopreservation compartment; a cryopreservation fluid located within the cryopreservation compartment; and a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial located within the cryopreservation compartment and surrounded by the cryopreservation fluid, and the biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial including a body that includes an oblong cross-section defining proximal and distal ends of the body, and at least one nucleating structure, coupled to a distal end of the body, and the body including a cryogenically stable material that is compatible with biopharmaceutical products. Also disclosed are cryopreservation vials and methods of cryopreserving biopharmaceutical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Integrated Biosystems, INC
    Inventor: Richard Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 6334328
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing effective ozonation of water used in ice making equipment for the production of ice cubes and for the ozonation of ice retaining bins located within an ice/beverage dispenser for sanitizing and retarding the growth of microorganisms therein and in the drains associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc.
    Inventor: Frank D. Brill
  • Patent number: 6334315
    Abstract: Fire prevention and suppression system is provided for computer cabinets and fire-hazardous containers. The equipment of the system provides low-oxygen environments at standard atmospheric pressure. The system employs an oxygen-extraction apparatus that supplies oxygen-depleted air inside an enclosed area communicating with the device. A fire-extinguishing composition is provided for continuous use in computer cabinets and fire-hazardous containers, consisting of oxygen-depleted air having oxygen content below 12%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar