Patents Examined by Nelson J Nieves
  • Patent number: 11656008
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat pump system and method comprising a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core (2a, 2b) positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature. The housing is configured to receive a second fluid via an inlet wherein a device changes pressure in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE core to change state to release the heat absorbed into the second fluid. An outlet is adapted to output the second fluid at a higher temperature than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: EXERGYN LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Langan, Kevin O'Toole
  • Patent number: 11649975
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioning system that maintains a room pressure in a clean room at high accuracy while having a simple configuration. An air conditioning system includes: a fan filter unit including a supply air fan to supply air to a preparation room from a chamber including space above a ceiling of the preparation room; a fan filter unit including a supply air fan to supply the air to the preparation room from the chamber; and a fan filter unit including a return air fan to return the air from the preparation room through the chamber and to exhaust the air from the preparation room, and further includes: a pressure sensor provided in the preparation room; and a control unit to control a return air fan based on a value detected by the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sekizawa, Yuuiti Sato, Kazuhito Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11649981
    Abstract: A temperature control system. The control system includes a flow sensor configured to monitor water flow through a valve, an actuator coupled to the valve, and a first controller configured to establish a setpoint for a second controller. The second controller monitors fluid flow through the valve and combines a weighted first command from the first controller and a weighted second command from the second controller to generate a control signal, wherein combining the weighted first command and the weighted second command is based on the reliability of the flow sensor. The second controller further controls the actuator based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Timothy I. Salsbury
  • Patent number: 11649996
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system includes a first compressor having a first capacity, a second compressor having a second capacity, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected. The first compressor and the second compressor are arranged in parallel. The first compressor includes a first lubricant sump. The second compressor includes a second lubricant sump. The first lubricant sump is fluidly connected to the second lubricant sump via a lubricant transfer conduit. A flow restrictor is disposed in the lubricant transfer conduit. The flow restrictor is configured to reduce a refrigerant flow between the first compressor and the second compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: TRANE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD., TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jun Ouyang, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 11644205
    Abstract: A smoke control system of a building including a supply air duct installed in an interior of the building having a plurality of floors in a vertical direction, including a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of floors, respectively, and one end of which is exposed to an outside of the building, a blower that supplies air to the supply air duct, and a plurality of automatic differential pressure dampers installed in a plurality of ancillary rooms provided on the plurality of floors, respectively, to be adjacent to the plurality of openings. Opening areas of the plurality of openings increase as locations of the plurality of openings become farther away from a point, at which air is supplied to the supply air duct by the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Sung Hwan Yoon
  • Patent number: 11644209
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system includes a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit is communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units, a first interactive display, and a first plurality of wireless sensors using a Wi-Fi direct protocol. The second control unit is communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units, a second interactive display, and a second plurality of wireless sensors over a Wi-Fi network. The first control unit is operable to connect to the second control unit using the Wi-Fi direct protocol. Upon connecting to the second control unit, the first control unit switches communications with the first plurality of HVAC units, the first interactive display, and the first plurality of wireless sensors from the Wi-Fi direct protocol to the Wi-Fi network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Castillo, Jayprakash Charavda, Nguyen T. Ho, Sunil K. Khiani
  • Patent number: 11642936
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle air conditioning system supports multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units having closed air conditioning circuits and a controller that is electronically coupled to each of the recreational vehicle air conditioning units to control each of the closed air conditioning circuits to regulate an overall power consumption of the multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units. A recreational vehicle air conditioning system may also support multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units where a refrigerant line set is coupled between the recreational vehicle air conditioning units such that a compressor in one of the recreational vehicle air conditioning units is capable of supplying refrigerant to the evaporators of the multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units, and such that valves coupled in series with each of the evaporators may be regulated to control cooling by each recreational vehicle air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Scalf, David Leezer
  • Patent number: 11639803
    Abstract: A controller of an HVAC system is communicatively coupled to a suction-side sensor and a shutoff switch. The controller stores measurements of the suction-side property over an initial period of time. The controller detects that the shutoff switch is tripped at a first time stamp corresponding to an end of the initial period of time. The controller accesses the measurements of the suction-side property. The controller determines, based on the measurements of the suction-side property, whether the suction-side property has an increasing or decreasing trend. In response to determining that the suction-side property has the increasing trend, the controller determines that a malfunction of a fan caused the shutoff switch to trip. In response to determining that the suction-side property has the decreasing trend, the controller determines that a blockage of the refrigerant conduit subsystem caused the shutoff switch to trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Amita Brahme, Umesh Gokhale
  • Patent number: 11633688
    Abstract: A HEPA/VOC air handling system having a HEPA air filtration unit, an air handling unit, a fresh air sensor system, a return air sensor system, an air handling air sensor, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: AMERICAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jim Woods, Juan Valle, Gregory Inns, Tim Snelgrove
  • Patent number: 11623499
    Abstract: Technologies described herein pertain to delivering power to primary and accessory electrical components associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, as well as to a power source of the vehicle itself. To operate one or more of accessory electrical components and deliver power to a vehicle battery, via a power distribution unit, the embodiments facilitate understanding of dynamic power available to the accessory electrical components as well as the vehicle battery, and distributing of the power in a prioritized manner to optimize the system for a most efficient power delivery process, with regards to power needs and power availability. Managing power supplied to a climate control unit that is used in a transport climate control system providing climate control to at least one of an internal space of a vehicle, may be performed by a controller that is electrically connected to at least the climate control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Michael James Vanous, Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Carolyn Lewelling
  • Patent number: 11619411
    Abstract: An HVAC monitoring system that tests for an abnormal environmental condition, wherein the abnormal condition results in effectuating a selected response from an HVAC building system, the HVAC monitoring system utilizing an existing sensor for detecting the gas abnormal condition, wherein a first event marker signal is generated from the existing sensor detecting the abnormal condition. Further included is an audio sensor, a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, programmable control circuitry, a switching transistor, a relay, and a power supply for all the previous elements, wherein these components utilize the first event marker signal and through a series of subsequent signals to result in the relay being operative to be in an activated operational state upon being energized by the switching transistor to operationally effectuate the selected response from the HVAC building system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Rodney Craig Blincoe, Adam Roller, Kathryn Huonder, Tariq Al Salmani
  • Patent number: 11614253
    Abstract: A network of wireless remote climate sensors in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system permits the creation of personalized microclimates within an enclosed space. In addition to collecting temperature and humidity data, the wireless remote climate sensors can detect whether the enclosed space is occupied by a human. Human detection is made possible by optional cameras, microphones, and gas sensors on the wireless remote climate sensors. As the human moves throughout the enclosed space, the HVAC system is able to track the human's movement using the wireless remote climate sensors. The HVAC system may adjust airflow to different portions of the enclosed space based on the human's location. The result is an efficient use of system resources to keep users at their ideal temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Mowery, Nguyen T. Ho
  • Patent number: 11614244
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioning system that uses ducts to supply conditioned air to a plurality of places inside a building, and is configured to counteract air backflow that occurs in ducts. A heat exchanger unit (10) includes a use side heat exchanger (11). A plurality of ducts (20) are connected to the heat exchanger unit (10). A plurality of fan units (30) suction conditioned air from the heat exchanger unit (10), and supply the conditioned air to a plurality of air outlets (71) through the plurality of ducts (20). A differential pressure sensor (121) acting as a detection device detects air backflow proceeding from at least one air outlet (71) among the plurality of air outlets (71) toward the heat exchanger unit (10) in a plurality of distribution flow paths including the plurality of ducts (20), the plurality of fan units (30), and the air outlets (71) of a plurality of outlet units (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuichi Tanaka, Yoshiteru Nouchi, Kouji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 11609010
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a controller communicatively coupled to a subcool sensor, an outdoor temperature sensor, a compressor, and a blower of the HVAC system. For a first period of time, the controller periodically determines subcool values. For each determined subcool value, a corresponding compressor speed, outdoor temperature, and blower speed are determined. A baseline database is generated with baseline values associated with normal operation of the HVAC system. Following the first period of time, subcool values are determined based on the subcool signal. For each subcool value, a corresponding compressor speed, outdoor temperature, and blower speed are determined. The controller determines whether each subcool value satisfies a criteria based on the baseline database. If the criteria are not satisfied for at least a threshold time, the system is determined to be operating under a fault condition, and a corresponding alert is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Amita Brahme, Umesh Gokhale
  • Patent number: 11609017
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may have an operational mode in which the HVAC controller provides operational instructions, and a commissioning mode in which a plurality of wireless devices can be enrolled. While in the commissioning mode, the HVAC controller is configured to accept a first input from a user via the user interface that designates a first zone of the plurality of zones and causes each of two or more first wireless devices that are subsequently placed in an enrollment mode by the user to be enrolled in the first zone, and to subsequently accept a second input from the user via the user interface that designates a second zone of the plurality of zones and causes each of two or more second wireless devices that are subsequently placed in an enrollment mode by the user to be enrolled in the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Gonia, David J. Emmons
  • Patent number: 11597257
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration system, a control method therefor and an electric transport vehicle are provided by the present disclosure. The control method for the transport refrigeration system includes: if a ratio of a current battery charge amount to a minimum battery charge amount is not less than a first preset value, controlling power consuming units in the transport refrigeration system to operate in a power-unrestricted state; and if the ratio of the current battery charge amount to the minimum battery charge amount is less than the first preset value, controlling the power consuming units in the transport refrigeration system to operate in a power-restricted state; wherein the power-restricted state is associated with the ratio of the current battery charge amount to the minimum battery charge amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Linhui Chen, Yiming Wen, Pu Zheng
  • Patent number: 11592215
    Abstract: A heat pump system provides at least six modes of heating, cooling, and/or domestic water heating operation, where domestic water heating may occur concurrently with heating or cooling a space in a structure. The heat pump system comprises a desuperheater positioned downstream of the compressor and operable as a desuperheater, a condenser or an evaporator, a source heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a load heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a reversing valve positioned downstream of the desuperheater heat exchanger and configured to alternately direct refrigerant flow from the desuperheater heat exchanger to one of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger and to alternately return refrigerant flow from the other of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger to the compressor, and an expansion valve positioned between the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Brown
  • Patent number: 11590823
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle includes an air conditioning device. An input device is provided to receive a selection input of a user with respect to a blowing position of the air conditioning device and including a first input area, a second input area and a third input area for outputting an activation mark or a deactivation mark by the selection input, A controller is configured to control output of an activation mark or a deactivation mark of the first input area, the second input area and the third input area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jungmo Kwak, Dong Won Yeon, Myung Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11578887
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a high-pressure subsystem and a low-pressure subsystem. After determining that refrigerant leak diagnostics should be performed, a controllable valve is closed between a condenser and compressor of the HVAC system. The compressor then operates until a predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached. After the predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached, operation of the compressor is stopped. After stopping operation of the compressor and waiting at least a predetermined wait time, the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem of the HVAC system is monitored. A rate of change of the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem is determined. If the rate of change is negative and a magnitude of the rate of change is greater than a threshold value, a leak location is determined to be in the low-pressure subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Eric Berg
  • Patent number: 11573149
    Abstract: A refrigerant leak management system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is disclosed. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to one or more sensors disposed within the HVAC system. The controller measures a vibration pattern associated with a component of the HVAC system. The controller determines whether the vibration pattern is indicative of a refrigerant leak in the HVAC system. Additionally, the controller can modify operation of the HVAC system when the vibration pattern is indicative of the refrigerant leak in the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Neelkanth Gupte, Jay C. Walser, James C. Perkins