v Rotary electric shaver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotary electric shaver generally includes a handle assembly including a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a plurality of drive shafts operatively connected to the motor and extending at least in part exterior of the housing, and a head assembly mount separate from the plurality of drive shafts, wherein the head assembly mount has a longitudinal axis. A shaver head assembly is positionable on the handle assembly, and the shaver head assembly has a circumference and includes a plurality of inner cutters each operatively connectable to a respective one of the drive shafts for conjoint rotation therewith, and a plurality of outer cutters each corresponding to a respective one of the inner cutters. The shaver head assembly is configured for mounting on the head assembly mount such that the shaver head assembly is capable of pivoting movement relative to the handle housing about the entire circumference of the shaver head assembly. Full Article
v Scalpel handle having a blade shield By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A scalpel handle for holding a blade having a cutting edge includes a handle member and a blade shield for covering the blade cutting edge. The blade shield is connected to the handle member for pivotal movement relative thereto between a blade-covering condition and an out-of-the-way condition, and a movable shield latch mechanism is capable of releasably locking the blade shield in its blade-covering condition. A finger-operable actuator mechanism is mounted upon the handle member for movement between first and second conditions, and a spring is interposed between the actuator mechanism and the handle member. During a first phase of movement of the actuator mechanism from its first to its second condition, the shield latch mechanism unlocks the blade shield from its locked blade-covering condition, and during a second phase of movement, the blade shield is moved from its blade-covering condition to its out-of-the-way condition. Full Article
v Shaving blade unit and shaver having such a blade unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shaving blade unit having a housing that includes a primary cap, a primary guard, an upper face, and a rear face. The shaving blade unit also includes a first primary blade located between the primary cap and the primary guard and extending at said the upper face, a first spacer stacked with the first primary blade, and a trimming blade extending at the rear face of the housing where the trimming blade is unreleasably fixed to the first spacer. Full Article
v Vegetation trimmer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vegetation pruning device includes a cutting element; a guide bar for supporting the cutting element, the guide bar having a guide bar plane, the guide bar being pivotable in the guide bar plane about a fixed axis; a motor having a motor shaft for rotatably driving the cutting element; a motor housing for receiving the motor; a guiding mechanism connected to the motor housing, the guiding mechanism having a longitudinal axis; a handle assembly operable to move linearly along the longitudinal axis; and a transmission device for connecting the handle assembly to the guide bar through, the transmission device converting a linearly movement of the handle assembly to a pivoting movement of the guide bar, the cutting element thereby approaching or withdrawing from a workpiece to be sawn. Full Article
v Hair clipper with a rotary motor vibration and noise damper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hair clipper has a base structural housing with a blade set operably secured thereto. The blade set has a stationary blade and a reciprocating blade. The base has at least one support for a rotary motor. A flexible motor vibration and noise damper fits over half of the motor, and a motor cover is secured to the base structural housing over the vibration damper. A secondary housing cover is secured to the base structural housing over the motor cover. Full Article
v Vehicle driving apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A rear wheel driving apparatus (1) includes: a first right-left communication passage (FP) through which a left reservoir (RL) and a right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other; and a second right-left communication passage (SP) which is provided in parallel with the first right-left communication passage (FP) and through which the left reservoir (RL) and the right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other. Thus, flowability of a liquid fluid stored in a case (11) is enhanced, and smoothing of a fluid level is enabled. Full Article
v Oil supply device for an internal combustion engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An oil supply device for a crankcase of an internal combustion engine feeds oil from a reservoir to a main oil duct of the crankcase. A filter switching device allows a selection from a plurality of oil filter units in the flow path of the oil to be selectively connected into the oil flow path, to set a proportion of the oil filter units to active and a proportion of the oil filter units to passive. A switching unit switches between the active and passive states and opens up a pressurized oil flow path to the active oil filter unit(s) and also a drainage flow path between the passive oil filter unit(s) and a drainage duct. An evacuation device drains or evacuates oil from the drainage duct which has accumulated at the passive oil filter unit(s). Full Article
v Integrated thermal management system and environmental control system for a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine includes a first and second pump driven by a spool. An Air-Oil Cooler downstream of the first pump. An air-air precooler is downstream of the second pump, the air-air precooler downstream of the Air-Oil Cooler. Full Article
v Wind driven automatic lubricator for a motorcycle drive chain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT One embodiment (100) collects air pressure created from forward motion of a motorcycle (300) in a reservoir assembly (1001) which stores a liquid lubricant, is attached to motorcycle frame (302), and comprises a containment chamber (102), cap (106), cap seal (104), air inlet port (107), lubricant outlet port (109), and an air inlet connector (108) and a lubricant outlet connector (110) to facilitate the external attachment of conduit. The air pressure is collected by and delivered to reservoir assembly (100-1) via an air collection conduit (118) attached to motorcycle front portion (306) by a mount (130) and urges liquid lubricant through a suction conduit (124), flow restrictor (112) and delivers lubricant via discharge conduit (114) to a chain applicator (116) attached to a motorcycle swing arm assembly (304) and to the inner circumference of drive chain (310). Lubricant flow ceases after motorcycle is stopped. Other embodiments are described and shown. Full Article
v Turbomachine fluid delivery system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary system for delivering a turbomachine fluid to a supplied area is a pump configured to draw fluid from both a first container and a second container when operating in both a positive g-force environment and a negative g-force environment. The fluid from the first container in a positive g-force environment is a mixture of air and oil, and the fluid from the first container in a negative g-force environment is primarily oil. Full Article
v Accessing a valve assembly of a turbomachine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An example method of accessing a valve assembly of a turbomachine includes accessing a check valve of the valve assembly from a first position that is radially outside a flow path through the turbomachine. The method accessing a shut off valve of the valve assembly from a second position that is radially outside the flow path. The check valve and the shut off valve are configured to influence communication of lubricant along a lubricant communication path that extends between a location radially outboard the flow path and a location radially inboard the flow path. The first position is the same as the second position in some examples. Full Article
v Crankshaft having optimized crankpin lubrication, and related engine and method for producing the lubrication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a crankshaft comprising at least: a journal; a first crankpin; a second crankpin; a first arm connecting the first crankpin to the journal; a second arm connecting the second crankpin to the journal; a first pipe extending away from the first crank pin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the first crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm; and a second conduit extending away from the second crankpin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the second crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm, characterized in that the shape of the crankshaft is such that it cannot also comprise a diametric pipe within the transverse median plane of the journal fluidly adjoining the first pipe and the second pipe, and the crankshaft comprises a third non-diametric pipe within the transverse median plan of the journal fluidly connecting the first pipe and the second pipe. Full Article
v Case with integral lubricant scavenge passage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A case comprises a radially inner case hub, a radially outer case section with an outer wall, a plurality of circumferentially distributed struts extending radially between the inner hub and the outer case section, and a lubricant scavenge passage disposed circumferentially apart from a bottom dead center (BDC) position of the case. The lubricant scavenge passage includes an inner scavenge section extending radially through a first one of the plurality of struts. Full Article
v Lubrication system having segmented anti-backflow feature By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tank includes a tank discharge passageway at least partially within a tank body. A segmented anti-back flow structure is mounted adjacent to the tank body and the tank discharge passageway. Full Article
v Fluid drive mechanism for turbocharger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a shaft, a first turbine wheel, a compressor wheel, and a second turbine wheel. The shaft includes a first end and a second end and is supported for rotation about an axis. The first turbine wheel is mounted on the shaft proximate to the first end and configured to be rotated about the axis by post-combustion gasses emitted by the engine. The compressor wheel is mounted on the shaft between the first and second ends and configured to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient for delivery to the engine. The second turbine wheel is mounted on the shaft proximate to the second end and configured to be rotated about the axis by a pressurized fluid. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed. Full Article
v Gear train lubricating device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gear train lubricating device configured to supply lubricating oil OL to a gear included in a gear train is provided. The gear train lubricating device includes: a shroud covering, among components constituting the gear, at least teeth of the gear; and a lubricating oil supply port through which the lubricating oil OL is supplied to a meshing position of the gear. The shroud has an outlet port formed therein, through which the supplied lubricating oil OL is discharged. The outlet port is formed in a portion of the shroud that is positioned radially outward from the gear, such that the outlet port is disposed at an angular position that is 90°±15° forward from the meshing position in a rotation direction R1 of the gear. Full Article
v Oil supplying assembly for transmission of vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An oil supplying assembly for a transmission of a vehicle, which may supply oil to a clutch and a pulley of a transmission, may include a base member which is mounted to a transmission main body, and includes a first oil path supplying the oil to the clutch and an oil supply column which is integrally formed to the base member and of which a second oil path for supplying the oil to the pulley is formed thereto. Full Article
v Lubrication system for a gear system providing emergency lubrication By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lubrication system for a gear system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The lubrication system comprises a reservoir adapted to contain lubricant, first pump means arranged to supply lubricant from the reservoir to the gear system via a first fluid connection, and vacuum generating means arranged in fluid connection with the reservoir, thereby maintaining a total air pressure in the reservoir which is lower than an ambient pressure during normal operation. The lowered total air pressure in the reservoir draws lubricant from the gear system into the reservoir, thereby increasing the lubricant level in the reservoir and decreasing the lubricant level in the gear system, allowing the lubrication system to be operated in a ‘dry sump mode’. In the case of an emergency or during start-up the vacuum generating means is stopped, thereby increasing the total air pressure in the reservoir. This causes a decrease in the lubricant level in the reservoir and an increase in the lubricant level in the gear system, allowing the lubrication system to be operated in a ‘wet sump mode’. Full Article
v Continuous supply fluid reservoir By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly for holding a fluid includes an auxiliary reservoir inside a main reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir includes an auxiliary reservoir shell with a fill passage at or near its bottom. The auxiliary reservoir shell also has a vent passage at or near its top. The fill passage and the vent passage fluidically connect the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir. A fluid inlet is located inside the main reservoir and outside of the auxiliary reservoir. A fluid outlet located inside the auxiliary reservoir between the fill passage and the vent passage. Full Article
v Environmental compressor protection assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A compressor lubrication system including a positive displacement pump, a pressure relief valve assembly, and a divider block. The pressure relief valve assembly includes a housing that has an opening to the fluid distribution system and a relief passage. A conduit is connected from the relief passage to a fluid reservoir. The assembly also includes a pressure relief valve that has an open position in which fluid from the fluid distribution system can enter the relief passage, and a closed position in which fluid is prevented from entering the relief passage. A biasing element maintains a biasing force on the pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is maintained in the closed position when the biasing force exceeds the fluid force on the pressure relief valve and the pressure relief valve moves into the open position when the fluid force exceeds the biasing force. Full Article
v Direct drive rotation device for passively moving fluid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The device is configured for moving a fluid within a gearbox. In one illustrative embodiment, the device includes a base portion coupled to a rotatable member within the gearbox. An inlet portion of the device is configured to draw the fluid from a reservoir portion of the gearbox. The device is configured to utilize a centrifugal force for moving the fluid from the inlet portion toward the base portion along an interior surface of a conical portion. In another illustrative embodiment, the device includes a conical portion having an external threaded portion configured to capture a fluid during a rotation of the device. In such an embodiment, the threaded portion is configured to utilize a centrifugal force for moving the fluid captured by the threaded portion along an exterior surface of the conical portion. Full Article
v Sliding sleeve By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a telescopable steering spindle having an inner spindle and an outer spindle, which are arranged coaxially in relation to one another and have an out-of-round cross section for torque transmission, wherein an intermediate space is provided between the outer spindle and the inner spindle, a sliding sleeve being arranged in the said intermediate space, wherein the sliding sleeve is provided with a surface structuring on at least one surface facing the inner spindle or the outer spindle. Full Article
v Device for wetting or lubricating a rail head By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a device for wetting or lubricating a rail head (7). The device has at least one outlet (30) for a wetting agent and/or lubricant. To ensure that the noise generated by a track-bound vehicle is reduced safely and regardless of the weather, a rail head-side end portion (33) of the at least one outlet (30) is movably mounted between a position at a remote distance from the rail head (7) and a position in closer proximity to the rail head. Full Article
v Lubrication device of power transmission device for hybrid vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lubrication device for a hybrid vehicle power transmission device including a gear member, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor within a transaxle case, the lubrication device includes: a first pipe supplying oil forcibly transferred from an oil pump to the second electric motor; an oil passage branched from the first pipe; a first catch tank supplied with oil from the oil passage; a second pipe connected to the first catch tank to supply oil accumulated in the first catch tank to the first electric motor; an oil flow outlet disposed in the first catch tank and located above the second pipe; and a second catch tank disposed vertically beneath the first catch tank to receive oil outflowing from the oil flow outlet. Full Article
v Pump having stepper motor and overdrive control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control. Full Article
v Air compressor with oil pump inlet strainer bypass valve By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An air compressor with oil pump inlet strainer bypass features, including a bypass valve assembly in fluid communication with the air compressor crankcase to provide lubricating oil to the dynamic compressor components, or simply to the air compressor. The bypass valve assembly includes a valve housing defining an interior chamber and an oil strainer screen engaged with the valve housing to filter the lubricating oil entering the interior chamber. A bypass valve is in fluid communication with the interior chamber and includes a valve body having a bypass port and an indicator port. An optional suction tube is connected to the bypass port on the valve body. An indicator assembly is connected to the indicator port on the valve body. Full Article
v Geared architecture gas turbine engine with oil scavenge By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine includes a geared architecture with a multiple of intermediate gears, and a baffle with an oil scavenge scoop adjacent to each of the multiple of intermediate gears. A geared architecture and method are also disclosed. Full Article
v Golf club shoe device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A golf ball kicking device having hands-free interchangeability of golf club heads comprising a mounting plate secured to the shoe and a retaining member affixed to the mounting plate and having a pivoting lever with a release member in communication with a rear face of a club head. The mounting plate has a magnet and the rear face of the club head is constructed of a magnetic material so as to releasably mount the club head onto the mounting plate. When the club head is secured against the magnet, the club head impacts upon the release member so as to pivot the pivoting lever to a first position. When sufficient force is applied to the pivoting lever, the pivoting lever pivots to a second position thereby directing the release member to impact upon the club head and dislodge the club head from the mounting plate. Full Article
v Shoe having removable and interchangeable heel assemblies with kit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A removable heel assembly, a shoe having a removable shoe assembly and kit containing a shoe body having a heel base and a plurality a assorted removable and interchangeable heels. The heel assembly includes the heel base and a removable and interchangeable heel. The removability relies upon at least one tapered groove ending in a dimple. The heel utilizes a locking connector which contains components which fit within a cavity within the heel base and which locks in place upon engagement thereof when the components engage the at least one tapered, groove and dimple. Full Article
v Article of footwear with a cavity viewing system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sole structure for an article of footwear and a method of making the sole structure is disclosed. The sole structure can include an outsole and a midsole. The midsole includes a cavity with a protruding portion. A U-shaped transparent member is configured to cover the cavity so that the protruding portion remains visible from within the cavity. Full Article
v Shoe with ventilation system obtained by direct injection method on upper and mould therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoe (1) is disclosed comprising: an insole (1) fixed to the upper (T) and comprising a slot (10) in the heel area and a plurality of holes (11) in the plantar surface area. A ventilation system (2) comprises: a pump (4) disposed in the slot (10) of the insole, a membrane (3) fixed in the lower surface of the insole (1) under the holes (11), a connection pipe (20) connecting the chamber (40) of the pump with the spaces (32) of the membrane and an outlet conduit (21) connecting the chamber of the pump (40) with the outside to exhaust air. An outsole (9) obtained by directly injecting expandable material in a mold covers the ventilation system, insole and lower part of the upper (T). A mold (S) for performing said direct injection is also disclosed. Full Article
v Removable shoe wedge By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoe wedge includes a support structure. The support structure includes two longitudinally extending wall portions that are biased towards one another such that the wall portions define a channel extending between the wall portions and an opening that extends from an upper surface of the support structure to a lower surface of the support structure. The opening has a larger cross sectional area at the upper surface than at the lower surface. The shoe wedge further includes a body portion that extends from the support structure. The body portion is configured with a surface that substantially conforms to a portion of a sole of a shoe. Full Article
v Shoe heel support device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoe heel support device including a ground contacting base portion and a resilient shoe heel engagement portion attached to the ground contacting base portion, the resilient shoe heel engagement portion including at least three lobe portions each having an inner surface together defining a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein, the dimension of the bore smaller than the cross-sectional dimension of the shoe heel. Full Article
v Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a knitted component By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component. Full Article
v Ventilated motorcycle boot By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A motorcycle boot comprises a sole or tread (22), a rigid shell (20) and an upper (52) associated with the rigid shell; the upper has furthermore a base insole (54) formed by a plurality of tubular channels (56) which extend over most of the bottom surface of the sole (54) and allow the air to pass at right angles to their axis; the shell has at the front an air intake communicating with the front end of the tubular channels. Full Article
v Insert for vapor-permeable and waterproof soles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An insert for vapor-permeable and waterproof soles, which has a monolithic sheet-like structure, made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water in the liquid state and permeable to water vapor. At least one functional portion of the insert for soles has such a thickness as to give it a penetration resistance of more than approximately 10 N, assessed according to the method presented in chapter 5.8.2 of the ISO 20344-2004 standard. Full Article
v High rate, long cycle life electrochemical energy storage devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrochemical energy storage device includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode. The anode includes a capacitive material as a majority component, and further includes an electrochemically active material as a minority component, such that an operating potential of the anode is configured according to a reaction potential of the electrochemically active material. Full Article
v Cryopump and vacuum pumping method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cryopump 10 includes: a first cryopanel including a radiation shield 18 having a shield opening 20 and a louver 23 arranged in the shield opening 20; a second cryopanel 24 surrounded by the first cryopanel; and a refrigerator 14 configured to cool the first cryopanel to a first cooling temperature and to cool the second cryopanel to a second cooling temperature lower than the first cooling temperature. A rough surface 42 is formed on the louver 23. Full Article
v Methods for removing heat from enclosed spaces with high internal heat generation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods are provided for cooling data centers based on a cooperative system including a plurality of Indirect Air-Side Economizers, also referred to as Recirculation Air Cooling Units, that are advantageously operated in conjunction with one or more Side Stream Filtration Units or filters inclusive to a portion of the IASE/RACUs, and one or more Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Units for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat, removal of particulate from the air, and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center. Full Article
v Ice making device and control method using electrostatic capacitance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. Full Article
v Industrial fluid circuits and method of controlling the industrial fluid circuits using variable speed drives on the fluid pumps of the industrial fluid circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An industrial fluid circulating system having at least one fluid circulation circuit, includes a plurality of pumps connected in parallel to circulate the fluid through each of the fluid circulation circuit, a separate motor driving each pump, a load detector to sense operating loads on the system and each circuit, and a speed control to vary the speed of each motor to thereby vary the pumping capacity of each pump in response to the detected load on the system, each pump of each respective circuit running simultaneously at a substantially similar speed or a predetermined equal reduced speed of the respective circuit or an almost equal reduced speed or a similar reduced speed. Full Article
v Indoor expansion valve initialization sequence for an air conditioner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to a multi-room air conditioning system with a plurality of indoor expansion valves. A method for sequencing the initialization of each indoor expansion valve upon system startup is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: 1. Initializing expansion valves corresponding to active indoor units,2. Turning on the compressor,3. Adjusting the indoor expansion valves corresponding to active indoor units,4. Initializing and adjusting indoor expansion valves corresponding to inactive indoor units. Full Article
v Manual Vi adjustment mechanism for screw compressors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A variable capacity screw compressor for use in a refrigeration system is provided. Compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor is expelled into a discharge port in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit. The volume associated with the discharge port can be periodically varied, allowing the efficiency of the compressor to be varied periodically. The discharge port volume includes a penetration that houses a movable member or plug that permits the volume to be periodically varied. This movable member is accessible from the exterior of the compressor housing to adjust the position of the movable member within the discharge port volume. The movable member may be adjusted to a full open position in which the discharge port volume is maximized, to a full closed position in which the discharge port volume is minimized, and to any position between full open and full closed. Full Article
v Adaptive defrost controller for a refrigeration device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device adaptively moves the defrost cycle to a time period of comparatively low compressor activity based on an evaluation of compressor usage over a cyclically recurring time interval. An adaptive defrost controller (ADC) analyzes stored data to develop a profile for compressor activity vs. time. From this profile, high compressor activity times of the time interval are distinguished from low compressor activity times in the time interval and a defrost cycle is scheduled based on the results of the analyzed data. Full Article
v Electronics cooling using lubricant return for a shell-and-tube style evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A refrigeration system that induces lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow from a flooded or falling film evaporator by means of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow adsorbing heat from an electronic component. Full Article
v Electronics cooling using lubricant return for a shell-and-tube evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A refrigeration system that induces lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow from a flooded or falling film evaporator by means of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture flow adsorbing heat from an electronic component. Full Article
v Apparatuses and methods for thermodynamic energy transfer, storage and retrieval By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for transferring and optionally storing and/or retrieving thermal energy are disclosed. The systems and methods generally include a heat engine and a heat pump, the heat engine including first isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms, and the heat pump including second isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms. The heat engine and the heat pump exchange heat with each other countercurrent across the first and second gradient heat exchange mechanisms, the first isothermal heat exchange mechanism transfers heat to an external heat sink, and the second isothermal heat exchange mechanism receives heat from an external heat source. Full Article
v Temperature control system with thermoelectric device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow. Full Article
v Beverage cooler, a refrigerator comprising such a beverage cooler and a method for cooling beverage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container (5) having an inlet (10) and an outlet (11), for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, and a cooling tube (14) located inside the cooling container. The cooling container (5) is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage, wherein the cooling tube (14) is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container (5). Hence, the beverage will pass by the cooling tube and be cooled from it and freeze to solid phase in the area closest to the cooling tube, whereas the outside of the cooling container, having a temperature above the freezing point of the beverage, will ensure a free passage of non-frozen beverage closest to the outside wall of the cooling container. Full Article
v Apparatus and method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant. The droplet separator according to the invention has a separation vessel, where the droplets gravitationally separate from the vaporized refrigerant. A partition plate has been arranged in the separation vessel, which partition plate divides the separation space into two separation parts. Thereby the refrigerant is arranged—to pass firstly through the first separation space on the first side of the partition plate, —then to transfer to the second side of the partition plate, i.e. to the second separation space—then to pass through the second separation space on the second side of the partition plate. Full Article