Condition Sensing Patents (Class 62/129)
  • Patent number: 11971200
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes: a compressor including a motor; an inverter that applies a desired voltage to the motor; a current detector that detects current flowing to the motor; a drive-signal generation unit that generates a drive signal for the inverter; a magnetic-pole position estimation unit that changes a voltage phase of a voltage command value for a high-frequency voltage, and estimates a maximum-heat-amount acquisition magnetic-pole position when the generation unit applies the high-frequency voltage to the motor to heat the compressor; a steady heating control unit that determines an amplitude and voltage phase of the voltage command value from the maximum-heat-amount acquisition magnetic-pole position and a defined necessary amount of heat when the generation unit applies the high-frequency voltage to the motor to heat the compressor; and a control switching determination unit that causes one of the estimation unit and the heating control unit to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimizu, Kazunori Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11927354
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring for leakage of flammable compounds is disclosed. A first parameter is measured indicative of the presence flammable compounds in a space around a potential leak source of a flammable compound, and a presence of the flammable compound is prospectively determined based on measurement of the first parameter. Additionally, a second parameter is measured in the space around the potential leak source. The prospective presence of the flammable compound determined by measurement of the first parameter is characterized, in conjunction with the measurement of the second parameter, as an actual presence of the flammable compound or as a false alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lei Chen
  • Patent number: 11913691
    Abstract: An electronic expansion valve and a thermal management assembly. The electronic expansion valve has a valve port and a valve core. A valve body includes a first flow portion, a second flow portion, a first cavity and a second cavity. The first flow portion comprises a first connection section and a first subsection, and the first subsection is directly in communication with the first cavity. The second flow portion comprises a second connection section and a second subsection, and the second subsection is directly in communication with the second cavity. In a clockwise direction, an angle formed between at least one of the center line of the first subsection and the center line of the second subsection and the center line of the valve core is an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Quanfeng Huang, Yingchong Lu, Rongrong Zhang, Dazhao Zha, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11906185
    Abstract: A state analysis device and a state analyzer system include a specific state determination unit that determines specific state information representing a state of refrigerant at a specific position in a refrigeration circuit and a normal region determination unit that determines a normal region in a state space within which the specific state information is present when an air-conditioning apparatus operates under a normal state. The state analysis device and the state analyzer system allow a display to display the specific state information and the normal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiro Koyano, Yasutaka Ochiai, Kosuke Tanaka, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11884137
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted cooling system includes an air-conditioning refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant passage, a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger and a use-side heat exchanger, a battery, and a battery cooling unit cooling the battery using the refrigerant. A control device controls a drive state of the compressor in response to an air-conditioning request and a battery cooling request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tsuboi, Kousuke Baba
  • Patent number: 11874039
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle circuit, a bypass flow path, a first valve provided in the refrigeration cycle circuit, a second valve provided at the bypass flow path, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of an indoor space, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant on a liquid side of an indoor heat exchanger, and a notification part. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is able to operate in an operation state where the compressor operates, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the first valve is open while the second valve is closed. In the operation state, the notification part issues notification of an abnormality of an electronic expansion valve or the first valve when a temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than an evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ochiai, Kazuhiro Komatsu, Nobuaki Tasaki
  • Patent number: 11739996
    Abstract: A system for controlling or optimizing the performance of a vapor compression system by modifying the actuator commands via an output interface, that realizes thermofluid property functions and their derivatives as spline functions which are represented in a coordinate system that is aligned with a fluid saturation curve. The system includes an interface configured to receive measurement data from sensors, a memory configured to store thermofluid property data and computer-executable programs including a B-spline method, and a processor for performing the computer-implemented method. The processor is configured to take as input two thermofluid property variables, and compute a coordinate transformation in which one axis of the coordinates is aligned with the liquid and vapor saturation curves. In the saturation-curve aligned coordinates, a spline function represents the thermofluid property function, with coefficients and knots stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Laughman, Scott Bortoff, Hongtao Qiao
  • Patent number: 11731490
    Abstract: A refrigerant system includes a compressor, multiple pressure sensors, multiple refrigerant flow valves, and a processor. The compressor is configured to present a refrigerant at a first pressure. A first pressure sensor is configured to measure the first pressure of the refrigerant. A second pressure sensor is configured to measure a second pressure of the refrigerant. The refrigerant flow valves have a plurality of flow valve positions. The processor is configured to calculate a delta value as a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure, calculate an expected delta value between the first pressure and the second pressure based on a ratio of a low-side density of the refrigerant at the compressor to the flow valve positions, and perform a remedial action where the delta value deviates from the expected delta value by greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Kale Bateman
  • Patent number: 11732916
    Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a charge module configured to determine an amount of refrigerant that is present within a first portion of a refrigeration system within a building; and an isolation module configured to selectively open and close an isolation valve of the refrigeration system and to, via the isolation valve, maintain the amount of refrigerant within the first portion within the building below a predetermined amount of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Butler, Stuart K. Morgan, Hung Pham, Winfield S. Morter, Andrew M. Welch, David Alfano, Michael A. Saunders
  • Patent number: 11721518
    Abstract: An object receiving container may receive an object which is examinable, analyzable and/or processable at cryo-temperatures. An object holding system may comprise an object receiving container. A beam apparatus or an apparatus for processing an object may comprise an object receiving container or an object holding system. An object may be examined, analyzed and/or processed using an object receiving container or an object holding system. The object receiving container may comprise a first container unit, a cavity for receiving the object, a second container unit, which is able to be brought into a first position and/or into a second position relative to the first container unit, and at least one fastening device which is arranged at the first container unit or at the second container unit for arranging the object receiving container at a holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schertel, Andreas Schmaunz, Endre Majorovits, Bernd Stenke, Stephan Hiller, Matthias Karl
  • Patent number: 11698206
    Abstract: A controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a controller for an air conditioner that performs air-conditioning according to room temperature, the controller comprises: a housing; a heat source temperature sensor disposed inside the housing, the heat source temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of a heat source that generates heat during operation as a heat source temperature; an internal temperature sensor disposed inside the housing at a position away from the heat source, the internal temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature inside the housing as an internal temperature; and a control unit that determines the room temperature using a temperature difference between the measured heat source temperature and the measured internal temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shunya Aoki, Toru Hattori
  • Patent number: 11604016
    Abstract: Provided is a control method on electronic expansion valve in air conditioner comprises: obtaining a real-time running frequency of compressor, a real-time exhaust temperature and a real-time outdoor environment temperature as the compressor running; comparing the real-time running frequency of compressor with a first set frequency; if the real-time running frequency is greater than or equal to the first set frequency, obtaining an integral coefficient of the PID algorithm according to a first set rule; if the real-time running frequency is less than the first set frequency, obtaining an integral coefficient of the PID algorithm according to the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and the first set outdoor environment temperature and a second set rule, or according to the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and the first set outdoor environment temperature and a third set rule, wherein the selection is based on whether the air conditioner is working in cooling m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenming Xu, Yu Fu, Mingjie Zhang, Fei Wang, Beibei Xu, Juke Liu, Rongbang Luo, Junjun Yuan, Shuang Ding
  • Patent number: 11593929
    Abstract: A system is configured to receive video footage of evaporator coil slabs after they exit an automated coil brazer. The system is further configured to convert the video footage to greyscale. The system is further configured to isolate frames from the greyscale video footage. Each frame comprises an image of a different evaporator coil slab. The system is further configured to identify a plurality of feature points in a first frame and a plurality of feature points in a second frame. The system is then configured to determine that a subset of features points in each frame are rotationally invariant. The system is further configured to generate a first digital fingerprint for each frame from a binary feature vector for each point in the subset of feature points determined to be rotationally invariant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Seshayya, Vinay R. Thatigutla
  • Patent number: 11452243
    Abstract: Aspects of liquid operational systems are described. According to one aspect, a system to automatically fill a liquid operational component is described. According to another aspect, a self-diagnostic system is described. According to yet another aspect, a flow conditioning arrangement is described. A control system for a heat-transfer system includes a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is configured to observe an operational parameter indicative of a thermodynamic quantity and to emit a signal containing information corresponding to the observed operational parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CoolIT Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff Sean Lyon, Pat McGinn, Mike Holden, Brydon Gierl
  • Patent number: 11416658
    Abstract: Improved energy conservation, including realization of a ZNET (Zero Net Energy including Transportation) paradigm, can be encouraged by providing energy consumers with a holistic view of their overall energy consumption. Current energy consumption in terms of space heating, water heating, other electricity, and personal transportation can be modeled by normalizing the respective energy consumption into the same units of energy. In addition, the passive always-on electricity consumption caused by inactive devices that contributes to the baseload of a building can be identified and addressed by the consumer, as appropriate by expressing baseload as a compound value that combines constant always-on loads and regularly-cycling loads. The baseload is estimated as the peak occurrence in a frequency distribution of net load data, after which the always-on load can be determined by subtracting out any regularly-cycling loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Patent number: 11407287
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a system configured to provide pre-trip sequence and diagnostics for refrigerant leak sensor. The system includes a sensor, a fan, and a controller. The controller is further configured to validate an operation of the sensor, operate the fan based at least in part on validating the operation of the sensor, and responsive to operating the fan, determine if a leak is present using the sensor. The controller is also configured to perform a refrigeration test, determine if a leak is present using the sensor, and provide an alarm based at least in part on determining the leak is present. Embodiments are also provided for a method for performing a pre-trip sequence and diagnostics for a leak sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher G. Repice, Michael Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 11402137
    Abstract: A refrigerant amount management system manages an amount of refrigerant with which a plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses is filled. Each refrigeration cycle apparatus has a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant amount management system includes an additional-filling-amount obtaining unit that obtains an additional filling amount of refrigerant with which a refrigeration cycle apparatus has been additionally filled after installation, a storage unit, and a useful-information creation unit. The storage unit stores apparatus information regarding the refrigeration cycle apparatus that has been additionally filled with refrigerant and the additional filling amount of the refrigeration cycle apparatus identified with the apparatus information in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 11398365
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for microscopy, inspection, or analysis of a sample. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber and a charged-particle beam column in the vacuum chamber to direct a charged-particle beam onto a sample. The charged-particle beam column includes a charged-particle beam source to generate a charged-particle beam and charged-particle beam optics to direct the charged-particle beam onto the sample. The apparatus has a detector to detect radiation emanating from the sample to generate an image. A cartridge is provided to support the sample in the path of the charged-particle beam in the vacuum chamber. The cartridge is mechanically decoupled from the environment external to the vacuum chamber. A controller is provided to analyze the detected radiation to generate an image of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mochii, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Su-Yan Own
  • Patent number: 11384954
    Abstract: A management device estimates an air temperature inside a data collection apparatus as an estimated air temperature, based on operation data received from an air conditioner and meteorological data received from a server via a communication device. When the estimated air temperature is higher than an operable temperature of the communication device, the management device performs control to decrease the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus. When a ventilation-in-progress air temperature is higher than the operable temperature of the communication device, the management device transmits to a breaker device a command to stop the communication device, thereby decreasing the air temperature inside the data collection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 11371766
    Abstract: In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangjun Kang, Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong
  • Patent number: 11345229
    Abstract: Fuel tank (1) having: a wall (12) defining an internal volume (20) of the tank, and a temperature sensor (4) located inside the internal volume of the tank and at least partially enveloped with a material (21) having a thermal diffusivity comprised between 2×10?7 and 2×10?5 m2/s at 20° C. The temperature sensor measure an internal tank temperature, such as a vapor dome temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Antoine Chaussinand, David Hill
  • Patent number: 11293661
    Abstract: A multi-unit air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit, a second indoor unit, a third indoor unit, and a mode conversion device. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor-unit controller and a selector. The first indoor unit includes a first indoor-unit controller. The second indoor unit includes a second indoor-unit controller. The selector is configured to send a first selection signal or a second selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a first control mode according to the first selection signal. The outdoor-unit controller is configured to control the outdoor unit, the first indoor-unit controller and the second indoor-unit controller to operate under a second control mode according to the second selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Meibing Xiong, Yongfeng Xu, Zekun Liang, Linxing Ren, Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 11268472
    Abstract: A system comprising a refrigeration engine (132) and regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) positioned within a housing (144, 244), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) controlling fuel to the engine through a fuel line (354), a lock-off valve connected to the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) to shut off fuel supply through the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a controller operably connected to the lock-off valve and/or the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a guide (462, 562) positioned within the housing (144, 244) and proximate to the refrigeration engine (132), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or the fuel line (354) to direct gases leaking from the refrigeration engine (132), regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or at least one fuel line (354), and a methane sensor (566, 666A) positioned within the guide (462, 562) to detect the presence of methane within the guide (462, 562) that is directed by the guide (462, 562), the methane sensor (566, 666A) in communication with the control
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Loic Renault
  • Patent number: 11262104
    Abstract: A unit device of a refrigeration cycle apparatus forms part of a refrigerant circuit using flammable or slightly flammable refrigerant. The unit device includes a unit body and a storage box. The storage box is provided with a sensor that detects leakage of the refrigerant and a communicating portion that communicates with the unit body. The storage box is attached to an outer wall portion of the unit body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Uraguchi, Yasuyuki Kotake
  • Patent number: 11248816
    Abstract: An air conditioner which continues driving with a deteriorated gas leakage sensor is provided. An air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit including a compressor and an indoor unit connected with the outdoor unit and uses flammable refrigerant. The air conditioner includes: a refrigerant gas sensor; and a controlling unit configured to stop the compressor at occurrence of abnormality, when the refrigerant gas sensor detects refrigerant gas while the compressor is being driven. After the compressor is stopped as the refrigerant gas sensor detects the refrigerant gas, the controlling unit does not start driving of the compressor until an operation to cancel the abnormality is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikawa, Akio Tasaka, Yuusuke Shiono, Shinji Nagaoka, Daisuke Toyoda
  • Patent number: 11235640
    Abstract: A system and method of temperature optimization in a passenger vehicle when transporting perishable items, includes a passenger vehicle having predetermined storage compartments, an in-vehicle computer network connected to a plurality of sensors; and a display device in communication with the in-vehicle computer network. The display device obtains information about perishable items. The display device is configured to estimate time that the perishable items may be maintained in the vehicle. The conditions for perishable items may be optimized by determining parking locations and movement of the vehicle between parking locations in order to minimize temperature fluctuations in the vehicle. The display device is configured to update the user on the status of the perishable items and changed parking locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Austin, Joshua E. Domeyer, John K. Lenneman
  • Patent number: 11232552
    Abstract: A system is configured to receive video footage of evaporator coil slabs after they exit an automated coil brazer. The system is further configured to convert the video footage to greyscale. The system is further configured to isolate frames from the greyscale video footage. Each frame comprises an image of a different evaporator coil slab. The system is further configured to identify a plurality of feature points in a first frame and a plurality of feature points in a second frame. The system is then configured to determine that a subset of features points in each frame are rotationally invariant. The system is further configured to generate a first digital fingerprint for each frame from a binary feature vector for each point in the subset of feature points determined to be rotationally invariant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Seshayya, Vinay R. Thatigutla
  • Patent number: 11204187
    Abstract: A chiller system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a compressor section and a controller. The compressor section has a first refrigerant compressor having a first cooling capacity and a second refrigerant compressor having a second cooling capacity different from the first cooling capacity. The controller is configured to selectively operate the first and second refrigerant compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Frank D. Ford
  • Patent number: 11199350
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a controller. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant flows. The heat-source-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium. The load-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium, and refrigerant flows. In the heat medium circuit, a flow control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and the heat-source-side heat exchanger are connected by a heat medium pipe, and the heat-source heat medium flows. The controller includes a storage unit that stores data indicating a defined maximum flow rate and a defined minimum flow rate of the heat-source heat medium that flows in the heat medium circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Matsui, Koji Azuma
  • Patent number: 11162725
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a first operation using a load-side heat exchanger as a condenser, and a second operation using the load-side heat exchanger as an evaporator. A suction pipe provided between a refrigerant flow switching valve and a compressor has a container. To the heat medium circuit, an overpressure protection relief valve and a refrigerant leakage detector are connected. When leakage of refrigerant into the heat medium circuit is detected, the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and the compressor is operated. When a requirement for ending the operation of the compressor is satisfied after the leakage is detected, the compressor is stopped, and the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Hirokazu Minamisako, Kazutaka Suzuki, Takafumi Mito, Taro Hattori
  • Patent number: 11160393
    Abstract: A method for reducing sweating in a temperature-controlled display device includes receiving values of an ambient temperature, a door frame temperature, and relative humidity. The method can also include estimating a value of a dewpoint temperature using the values of the ambient temperature and the relative humidity. The method can also include determining control decisions for a door frame heater of the temperature-controlled display device using the value of the dewpoint temperature and the door frame temperature, and transitioning the door frame heater between an on-state and an off-state using the control decisions to maintain the value of the door frame temperature at or above the value of the dewpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Naresh Kumar Kirshnamoorthy, Shobin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11131470
    Abstract: Provided is an indoor unit for a refrigeration apparatus that is capable of detecting a refrigerant leak while suppressing condensation on a refrigerant gas sensor. An indoor unit (50) for an air conditioner (100) including a refrigerant circuit (10) includes a casing (60), an indoor fan (53), and a refrigerant gas sensor (81). The refrigerant circuit (10) has refrigerant charged therein, and performs a refrigeration cycle. The casing (60) houses at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit (10), and has a blow-out port (64) that opens in a direction other than an up-down direction. The indoor fan (53) is housed in the casing (60), and generates an air flow (F) directed from the blow-out port (64) to outside the casing (60). The refrigerant gas sensor (81) is capable of detecting a refrigerant gas below a bottom surface (63) of the casing (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoatsu Minamida, Tomoyuki Haikawa, Shigeharu Taira
  • Patent number: 11118821
    Abstract: A space in which an indoor unit is disposed has its corresponding refrigerant leakage sensor. A remote control for the indoor unit has its corresponding information output device for notifying the user of information visually and/or aurally. When the refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant, an alarm outputs a warning sound and a safety measure device is activated. Further, the information output device outputs guidance information for notifying the user action to be taken after the safety measure device takes the safety measure. After outputting the guidance information, the information output device stops outputting the guidance information in response to completion of the user action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuda, Makoto Wada, Yuji Motomura, Katsuhiro Ishimura
  • Patent number: 11118822
    Abstract: A detection system and method of detection directed towards the detection of refrigerant leaking from a refrigerant circuit in a heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration (HVACR) system. The system including a refrigerant circuit utilizes a mixture of working fluid and an additive. The system also includes a detection device that can detect the additive when external to the refrigerant circuit. A method of detecting leaking refrigerant includes adding a detectable fluid to a refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Kujak
  • Patent number: 11102028
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to recognition of an appliance state based on sensor data and determination of a response based at least in part on the appliance state. In various embodiments, an apparatus to recognize an appliance state may include a sensor data module to identify sensor data in one or more signals relating to data from one or more sensors associated with an appliance, an appliance state recognition module to determine an appliance state of the appliance based at least in part on the sensor data, a response module to determine a response based at least in part on the appliance state, and a transmission module to send the response to at least one of an appliance controller for the appliance or a presentation device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rita H. Wouhaybi, Mark D. Yarvis, Bradut Vrabete
  • Patent number: 11099106
    Abstract: A diagnosis control method of an air conditioner is provided to clearly inform a user of an air conditioner installation error. The diagnosis control method includes receiving a test run command or a self-diagnosis command for diagnosis of the air conditioner, performing a first test run to diagnose an assembly state of the air conditioner, performing a second test run to diagnose pipe connection of the air conditioner and an amount of refrigerant in the air conditioner, performing a determination including diagnosing a state of the air conditioner based on operation results of the first test run and the second test run, and displaying the diagnosis result through a display device provided at an indoor unit of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kil Soo Son, Jong Kweon Ha, Kwang Sik Han, Young Jin Kim, Beom Seok Seo, Byoung Ok Ahn, Hong Seok Jun
  • Patent number: 11079300
    Abstract: A refrigerant leak detecting method for an air-cooling heat pump system in a heating mode comprises S110, S210, obtaining a leak indication parameter set, wherein the leak indication parameter set at least includes a refrigerant level in a liquid reservoir and/or a supercooling degree; S120, S220, comparing each leak indication parameter in the leak indication parameter set with a corresponding preset indication parameter interval; S130, S230, when each leak indication parameter falls within a corresponding preset indication parameter interval, obtaining and recording a corresponding evaluated refrigerant leak amount; S140, S240, when a cumulative value of the evaluated refrigerant leak amount falls within a preset refrigerant leak interval, determining that a refrigerant leak occurs in the air-cooling heat pump system; when the cumulative value of the evaluated refrigerant leak amount does not fall within the preset refrigerant leak interval, returning to the step S110, S210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Runfu Shi, Hui Zhai, Xiangyu Gao, Guangyu Shen, Yu Zhu, YuHui Kuang
  • Patent number: 11047606
    Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system can include a condenser, multiple fans, and a controller. The condenser can be configured to cool CO2 and the multiple fans can be configured to affect cooling operations of the condenser. The controller may be configured to obtain a temperature value of CO2 output by the condenser. The controller may be configured to determine if the condenser is operating properly using the temperature value of the CO2. The controller may be configured to obtain values of input current and input voltage provided to the multiple fans. The controller can determine a number of in-operational or faulty fans of the multiple fans using, at least in part, the values of the input current and the input voltage and a model that relates input current to input voltage for known numbers of in-operational or faulty fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Naresh Kumar Krishnamoorthy, Pedro Jesus Greiner
  • Patent number: 11041666
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration apparatus that secures safety while suppressing an increase in cost. A refrigeration apparatus performs a refrigeration cycle in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, and a usage-side heat exchanger. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a usage-side fan providing an air flow, and a controller. The usage-side fan is disposed in a target space where inside air is cooled. The controller performs a refrigerant leak determination process to determine whether a refrigerant leak occurs, based on a state of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. When the controller performs the refrigerant leak determination process to determine that a refrigerant leak occurs, then the controller performs leakage refrigerant agitation control to operate the usage-side fan so as to suppress local emergence of a region where the refrigerant leaks at a high concentration in the target space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Sakae, Takahito Nakayama, Takenori Mezaki
  • Patent number: 11022357
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an HVAC system including a HVAC unit including a unit temperature sensor, a unit controller, and a variable speed compressor, and a two-stage system controller in communication with the unit controller, the method including operating the system controller to transmit a conditioning signal to the unit controller based in part on a system demand, operating the unit controller to receive the conditioning signal, and receive outdoor air temperature data from the unit temperature sensor, operating the unit controller to determine whether the outdoor air temperature data is greater than or equal to a cooling temperature limit or less than or equal to a heating temperature limit, and operating the unit controller to transmit a speed signal to the compressor based in part on the plurality of conditioning signals and the outdoor air temperature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Austin, Derek Leman
  • Patent number: 11022368
    Abstract: A refrigerator may include a storage compartment, an inner door which comprises an opening having a size corresponding to a size of the storage compartment, a plurality of door guards, and an outer door which open and close the storage compartment, wherein the inner door comprises a control unit may control an internal environment of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Joo Kim, Yong Man Seo, In-Sung Hwang, Bok Hyun Jang, Tae Youl Lee, Jeong Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11022346
    Abstract: A method of determining charge loss of a refrigeration system includes the steps of inputting an ambient temperature, a box temperature, and a compressor speed into an electronic controller of the refrigeration system, and calculating a first air side temperature difference across an evaporator by applying an algorithm having a first T-Map representative of normal operating conditions. The controller may then confirm a detection prerequisite is satisfied. Upon confirmation, the controller calculates a second air side temperature difference across the evaporator by applying the algorithm having a second T-Map representative of a loss of refrigerant charge. An action may then be taken from the controller if the first air side temperature difference is less than the second air side temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Sun, Lucy Yi Liu
  • Patent number: 11015852
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration apparatus capable of, even in occurrence of a refrigerant leak, suppressing the extent of the refrigerant leak in continuously operating a usage unit other than a usage unit at which the refrigerant leak occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Sakae, Azuma Kondou, Masaaki Takegami, Kazuyoshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 10989428
    Abstract: A performance diagnosis device for an air conditioner includes: a data collection unit that collects and records operation data on the air conditioner; an equipment characteristic database that is a data group covering operation conditions meeting the specifications of the air conditioner; a reference data creation unit that calculates individual characteristic curved surface data by using the operation data possessed by the data collection unit and the equipment characteristic database; and a performance evaluation unit that compares part of the operation data possessed by the data collection unit with the individual characteristic curved surface data to evaluate the performance of the air conditioner, in which the individual characteristic curved surface data is corrected with respect to the equipment characteristic database so as to correspond to the operation data possessed by the data collection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Kokugan, Hiroshi Kusumoto, Tatsuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 10868688
    Abstract: A method for setting functional parameters of a refrigeration apparatus controller is disclosed. A controller is prepared to operate a refrigeration apparatus having a unique identifier. The controller has a set of settable functional parameters having a plurality of subsets, each associated with an identifier. A setting device is provided to set each functional parameter of the set. A step of preparing a plurality of secondary applications is also included wherein each secondary application has a specific identifier and interacts with the primary application to limit the functional parameters which can be set by the primary application to the functional parameters belonging a specific subset. An assignment step for recording an identifier in the controller; a detection step during which the setting device is connected to the controller to receive the identifier; and an adaptation step for downloading the secondary application associated with the identifier received from an archive are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: CAREL INDUSTRIES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Rana, Ivan Favaro
  • Patent number: 10859299
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, an indoor fan, a temperature sensor provided in an area adjacent to a seam in a refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and a controller configured to determine the presence of refrigerant leakage on the basis of a decrease in the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to determine the presence of refrigerant leakage while the indoor fan is stopped, and stop the determination of the presence of refrigerant leakage while a defrosting operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenyu Tanaka, Masahiko Takagi, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10857854
    Abstract: A method of identifying air flow faults within a cooling system of an automobile comprises measuring the temperature of coolant entering a heat exchanger for the cooling system, measuring the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger, and measuring the temperature of ambient air that is flowing into the heat exchanger, calculating Actual Delta T by subtracting the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger from the temperature of coolant entering the heat exchanger, calculating Expected Delta T, wherein Expected Delta T is a pre-determined value of an expected difference between the temperature of the coolant entering the heat exchanger and the temperature of the coolant leaving the heat exchanger, calculating Effective Delta T by subtracting Expected Delta T from Actual Delta T, and identifying a fault in the air flow through the heat exchanger based on the value of Effective Delta T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shiming Duan, Christopher H. Knieper, Calvin Wang
  • Patent number: 10828965
    Abstract: Provided is a control method on electronic expansion valve in air conditioner, which comprises: obtaining a real-time running frequency of compressor, a real-time exhaust temperature and a real-time outdoor environment temperature as the compressor running; if the air conditioner working in cooling mode, using a first set rule or a second set rule to obtain an integral coefficient in which the selection is based on the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and a first set outdoor environment temperature; if the air conditioner working in heating mode, using a first set rule or a third set rule to obtain an integral coefficient in which the selection is based on the comparison of the real-time outdoor environment temperature and a second set outdoor environment temperature; performing a PID control on the electronic expansion valve by using an error of the difference between real-time exhaust temperature and a set target exhaust temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenming Xu, Yu Fu, Mingjie Zhang, Fei Wang, Beibei Xu, Juke Liu, Rongbang Luo, Junjun Yuan, Shuang Ding
  • Patent number: 10823496
    Abstract: A refrigerator-implemented method for optimizing placement of food items in different compartments of a refrigerator, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a request to store a first type of food item in the refrigerator, determining, using detection hardware, each type of food item already stored in one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, comparing a characteristic of the first type of food item with a same type of characteristic for each type of food item already stored in the one or more of the compartments of the refrigerator, selecting a first of the compartments in which to store the first type of food item based at least in part on the comparison, and outputting, using an output device, a recommendation to store the first type of food item in the first compartment. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Inseok Hwang, Su Liu, Eric J. Rozner, Chungkuk Yoo
  • Patent number: 10801767
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a high-side pressure sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, an outdoor fan, a fan driving unit, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kota Morimoto