Patents by Inventor Duane S. Freimuth
Duane S. Freimuth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220275963Abstract: A flow control device for controlling flow in a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system is shown. The flow control device includes a valve body including an inlet path, an outlet path, a valve member, and a valve stem coupled to the valve member. The flow control device includes a first sensor configured to obtain pressure measurements within the valve body, a second sensor configured to obtain displacement measurements of the valve stem, and a controller including a processing circuit configured to determine a flowrate based at least on the pressure measurements from the first sensor and the displacement measurements from the second sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Jason J. Raasch, Christopher Brophy, Kevin A. Weiss, Duane S. Freimuth
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Patent number: 11274850Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a differential pressure across the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the differential pressure sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and the differential pressure measurement, determine an estimated flow rate based on the differential pressure measurement, determine an actuator position setpoint using the flow rate setpoint and the estimated flow rate, and operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Camille M. Aucoin, Brennan H. Fentzlaff, Homero L. Noboa, Duane S. Freimuth, Kirk H. Drees, Kenneth J. Sieth, Justin M. Salerno
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Patent number: 11042171Abstract: A building management system is configured to modify an environmental condition of a building. The building management system includes a valve assembly, an actuator device, and a network sensor device. The actuator device includes a motor, a drive device driven by the motor and coupled to the valve assembly, and a controller coupled to the motor. The controller includes a microprocessor and a control application configured to enable closed loop control of the valve assembly. The network sensor device is communicably coupled to the actuator device and configured to measure an environmental property. The control application is configured to perform the closed loop control of the valve assembly based on an input control signal from a mobile device and the measured environmental property from the network sensor device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Kirk H. Drees, Herbert J. Doll, Gerald A. Duenkel, Marcello Passoni, Russell T. Jenks, Duane S. Freimuth, Kyle M. Bero, Kevin A. Weiss, Abu Bakr Khan
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Patent number: 11002368Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Patent number: 10844966Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Publication number: 20190353385Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a differential pressure across the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the differential pressure sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and the differential pressure measurement, determine an estimated flow rate based on the differential pressure measurement, determine an actuator position setpoint using the flow rate setpoint and the estimated flow rate, and operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Camille M. Aucoin, Brennan H. Fentzlaff, Homero L. Noboa, Duane S. Freimuth, Kirk H. Drees, Kenneth J. Sieth, Justin M. Salerno
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Patent number: 10465803Abstract: A multipurpose valve tool is provided. The multipurpose valve tool includes multiple flow control discs, a retention ring, and a valve key. The flow control discs are configured to be installed within a valve body of a valve assembly to modulate a flow of fluid through an outlet port of the valve body. The retention ring is configured to retain the flow control discs on a component of the valve assembly when the flow control discs are not installed within the valve body. The valve key includes a first end configured to engage an installation feature in a retention fastener for one of the flow control discs. The flow control discs, the retention ring, and the valve key are detachably coupled to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Publication number: 20180239371Abstract: A building management system is configured to modify an environmental condition of a building. The building management system includes a valve assembly, an actuator device, and a network sensor device. The actuator device includes a motor, a drive device driven by the motor and coupled to the valve assembly, and a controller coupled to the motor. The controller includes a microprocessor and a control application configured to enable closed loop control of the valve assembly. The network sensor device is communicably coupled to the actuator device and configured to measure an environmental property. The control application is configured to perform the closed loop control of the valve assembly based on an input control signal from a mobile device and the measured environmental property from the network sensor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Herbert J. Doll, Gerald A. Duenkel, Marcello Passoni, Russell T. Jenks, Duane S. Freimuth, Kyle M. Bero, Kevin A. Weiss, Abu Bakr Khan
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Publication number: 20180119825Abstract: A valve assembly includes a body, a ball, a first seating assembly, and a second seating assembly. The body includes an inlet, an outlet, and an inner chamber. The ball is positioned within the inner chamber. The ball includes a bore extending through the ball such that the ball is movable from a closed position and an open position. The ball prevents fluid flow from flowing between the inlet and the outlet in the closed position. The ball enables fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet in the open position. The first seating assembly is positioned adjacent the inlet. The second seating assembly is positioned adjacent the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Duane S. Freimuth, Claudio Bianchetti
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Publication number: 20180094733Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Publication number: 20180094735Abstract: A multipurpose valve tool is provided. The multipurpose valve tool includes multiple flow control discs, a retention ring, and a valve key. The flow control discs are configured to be installed within a valve body of a valve assembly to modulate a flow of fluid through an outlet port of the valve body. The retention ring is configured to retain the flow control discs on a component of the valve assembly when the flow control discs are not installed within the valve body. The valve key includes a first end configured to engage an installation feature in a retention fastener for one of the flow control discs. The flow control discs, the retention ring, and the valve key are detachably coupled to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Publication number: 20180094736Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Publication number: 20180094737Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and multiple ports into the valve chamber. The multiple ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member controllably movable relative to the valve body and configured to modulate fluid flow through the valve assembly and a valve stem coupled to the valve member. The valve stem extends from the valve body and includes a keying feature that ensures correct orientation of the valve member relative to an actuator. The actuator is configured to controllably move the valve member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
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Patent number: 8323484Abstract: A home RO filtration system includes a membrane module having an inlet connected to a feed line, the membrane module also having a concentrate outlet coupled to a concentrate line, and a permeate outlet coupled to a permeate line. The permeate line communicates with a faucet. The system includes a flush reservoir communicatively coupled between the permeate line and the feed line. The system is configured such that after the faucet is turned off, a portion of permeate is delivered to the reservoir and then delivered to the inlet of the module to flush the module.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Chia Kung, Phillip Goebel, Thomas J. Cartwright, Peter Cartwright, Kenneth J. Sieth, Richard M. Reckin, Duane S. Freimuth
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Patent number: 7655139Abstract: A filtration assembly includes a feed water line and a permeate line. A shut-off valve is coupled between the permeate line and the feed water line and operative to open the feed line when the faucet is opened based on a pressure differential between the feed line and the permeate line. An energy storage member is located within the permeate line and configured to compress and then expand after the faucet is closed causing the shut-off valve to fully close.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kenneth J. Sieth, Richard M. Reckin, Duane S. Freimuth