Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Truckenbrod
Gregory R. Truckenbrod 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: 20210344252Abstract: Technologies described herein are directed to a generator concurrently providing different voltages to multiple components, some of which are unable to receive the full supply voltage output by the generator, without the addition of an electronic power converter or a transformer to the apparatus or system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Musibau Alowonle
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Patent number: 10480840Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to a refrigeration unit or an air conditioner used on a hybrid vehicle. The system includes an accumulation choke, a PWM rectifier, and a frequency inverter. The accumulation choke is configured to receive a first AC power, a second AC power, and a DC power. The accumulation choke and PWM rectifier convert the received power into an intermediate DC power having a peak voltage. The PWM rectifier provides the intermediate DC power to the frequency inverter. The frequency inverter converts the intermediate DC power to an output AC power. The frequency inverter provides the output AC power to the refrigeration unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Arnost Hurych, Bruce H. Kranz, Eric Kirby, Michael D. Gilman, Richard W. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20170292745Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to a refrigeration unit or an air conditioner used on a hybrid vehicle. The system includes an accumulation choke, a PWM rectifier, and a frequency inverter. The accumulation choke is configured to receive a first AC power, a second AC power, and a DC power. The accumulation choke and PWM rectifier convert the received power into an intermediate DC power having a peak voltage. The PWM rectifier provides the intermediate DC power to the frequency inverter. The frequency inverter converts the intermediate DC power to an output AC power. The frequency inverter provides the output AC power to the refrigeration unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Gregory R. TRUCKENBROD, Arnost HURYCH, Bruce H. KRANZ, Eric KIRBY, Michael D. GILMAN, Richard W. SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 9431820Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Publication number: 20160043543Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Patent number: 9211881Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary power unit of a vehicle. The auxiliary power unit is in communication with an air conditioning system of the vehicle and includes an engine and an alternator coupled to the engine. The method includes determining a state of a compressor of the air conditioning system, the compressor including an off state and an on state, reducing an alternator load relative to the engine in response to the compressor being varied from the off state to the on state, increasing the alternator load relative to the engine after a predetermined time interval, and simultaneously operating the alternator up to an alternator load capacity and the compressor up to a compressor load capacity.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: William Waldschmidt, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Peter J. Loomis, Michael D. Turnquist
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Patent number: 9172238Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Publication number: 20140339844Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Publication number: 20140316650Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary power unit of a vehicle. The auxiliary power unit is in communication with an air conditioning system of the vehicle and includes an engine and an alternator coupled to the engine. The method includes determining a state of a compressor of the air conditioning system, the compressor including an off state and an on state, reducing an alternator load relative to the engine in response to the compressor being varied from the off state to the on state, increasing the alternator load relative to the engine after a predetermined time interval, and simultaneously operating the alternator up to an alternator load capacity and the compressor up to a compressor load capacity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: William Waldschmidt, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Peter J. Loomis, Michael D. Turnquist
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Patent number: 8827017Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Patent number: 8798857Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary power unit of a vehicle. The auxiliary power unit is in communication with an air conditioning system of the vehicle and includes an engine and an alternator coupled to the engine. The method includes determining a state of a compressor of the air conditioning system, the compressor including an off state and an on state, reducing an alternator load relative to the engine in response to the compressor being varied from the off state to the on state, increasing the alternator load relative to the engine after a predetermined time interval, and simultaneously operating the alternator up to an alternator load capacity and the compressor up to a compressor load capacity.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: William Waldschmidt, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Peter J. Loomis, Michael D. Turnquist
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Patent number: 8692398Abstract: The invention provides a mobile environment-controlled unit having a chassis, a compartment supported by the chassis, and an environmental-control system in environmental communication with the compartment. The environmental-control system includes a multiphase alternator powered by an internal combustion engine and supplies electrical power for the environmental-control system. The alternator has a first phase winding to generate a first high-voltage alternating phase current and a second phase winding to generate a second high-voltage alternating phase current. The environmental-control system further includes a magnetic sensor including a core, and a magnetic sensing device interconnected to the core and providing an output based on a sensed electromagnetic parameter.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar
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Publication number: 20130325257Abstract: A method of controlling an auxiliary power unit of a vehicle. The auxiliary power unit is in communication with an air conditioning system of the vehicle and includes an engine and an alternator coupled to the engine. The method includes determining a state of a compressor of the air conditioning system, the compressor including an off state and an on state, reducing an alternator load relative to the engine in response to the compressor being varied from the off state to the on state, increasing the alternator load relative to the engine after a predetermined time interval, and simultaneously operating the alternator up to an alternator load capacity and the compressor up to a compressor load capacity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: William Waldschmidt, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Peter J. Loomis, Michael D. Turnquist
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Publication number: 20130255910Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit, such as an over-the-road compartment trailer, having an environmental-control system, such as a refrigeration unit, powered by an alternator and having a high-voltage alternating current (AC) bus. The unit incorporates a high resistance ground scheme and can incorporate a solid-state input module to detect phase-chassis faults. This combination provides an improvement in protection for mobile applications that cannot have a voltage reference (or neutral point) solidly connected to earth ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar, Christopher P. Henze
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Publication number: 20130257048Abstract: A mobile unit (e.g., a vehicle or a mobile environment-controlled unit) having a multiphase alternator, such as a three-phase alternator. The unit incorporates a Hall Effect current sensor to monitor all three phases of the high-voltage AC bus from the alternator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Robert N. Neddermeyer, III, Gregory R. Truckenbrod, Matthew S. Nelson, Ashok Muralidhar
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Patent number: 8476872Abstract: A system for reducing an alternator's load on an engine when the engine drives a second load. The system includes an alternator, a battery, a resistor, and a switch. The alternator includes a stator, a voltage regulator, a rectifier, and a field coil. The battery has a first terminal coupled to the alternator and a second terminal coupled to the alternator. The resistor has a first lead coupled to the first terminal and a second lead coupled to the field coil. The switch is coupled in parallel across the resistor, and is open when the engine drives the second load and closed when the engine is not driving the second load.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, William L. Waldschmidt, John Steven McFadden, Vidhey Vijay Trivedi
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Publication number: 20110037441Abstract: A system for reducing an alternator's load on an engine when the engine drives a second load. The system includes an alternator, a battery, a resistor, and a switch. The alternator includes a stator, a voltage regulator, a rectifier, and a field coil. The battery has a first terminal coupled to the alternator and a second terminal coupled to the alternator. The resistor has a first lead coupled to the first terminal and a second lead coupled to the field coil. The switch is coupled in parallel across the resistor, and is open when the engine drives the second load and closed when the engine is not driving the second load.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, William L. Waldschmidt, John Steven McFadden, Vidhey Vijay Trivedi
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Patent number: 4918932Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigeration system by determining an average air temperature by sensing and averaging evaporator return and discharge air temperatures, and developing an average error by using the average air temperature and a selected set point temperature. The average air temperature is then used to calculate a proportional error and an integral error, and the discharge air temperature is used to calculate a floor error. The proportional error, integral error and floor error are weighted by predetermined gain factors and then summed to provide an error signal which is used to modulate the capacity of the refrigeration system, with the control mode depending upon the location of the error signal relative to set point.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1989Date of Patent: April 24, 1990Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Alan D. Gustafson, Lowell B. Naley, David A. Christiansen, Stanley O. Hoium, Robert L. Harrington, Dannis R. Johnson, Gregory R. Truckenbrod
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Patent number: 4663725Abstract: A microprocessor based system monitors and controls a transport refrigeration system having a two speed compressor coupled to a condenser and an evaporator and further having two speed condenser and evaporator fans, a refrigerant modulating valve, and heater means to cool or heat a served space. A keypad is provided for operator entry of the temperature setpoint and for display selections. Return air and discharge air temperature sensors provide signals to the microprocessor for temperature control. The microprocessor is programmed to sequence or control the compressor, the fans, the modulating valve and the heater means for temperature control in accordance with one of four stored algorithms. One of the temperature sensors is used for control, and if it is detected to have failed automatic switchover is made to use of the other temperature sensor for temperature control.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1985Date of Patent: May 5, 1987Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Gregory R. Truckenbrod, David A. Christiansen, Herbert S. Falk, Richard A. Johnson, Robert G. Colclaser, III