Patents by Inventor Justin McKie

Justin McKie 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).

  • Patent number: 9441843
    Abstract: A transition module for an energy recovery ventilator unit. The module comprises a frame having two opposing major surfaces with two separate through-hole openings therein. The module also comprises a self-sealing surface on one of the major surfaces and surrounding the two through-hole openings. One of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with return air openings or supply air openings located in a first target side of one an energy recovery ventilator unit or an air handling unit and in a second target side of the other one of the energy recovery ventilator unit or the air handling unit. The other of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with the other of the return air openings or the supply air openings located in the first and second sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Geoffrey Curtis, Bryan Smith
  • Patent number: 9404668
    Abstract: A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 9395097
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator unit. The unit comprises a cabinet housing a primary intake zone, a supply zone, a return zone, an exhaust zone and an enthalpy-exchange zone. The primary intake zone and the exhaust zone are both on one side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The supply zone and the return zone are both on an opposite side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The unit also comprises first and second blowers. The first blower is located in the primary intake zone and configured to push outside air into the primary intake zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the supply zone. The second blower is located in the return zone and configured to push return air into the return zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the exhaust zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20160054024
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 9206991
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, monitoring and reporting ERV power consumption and service and maintenance needs. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a processor configured to carry out a plurality of monitoring and reporting functions related to ERV power consumption and service and maintenance needs based on a model, and types and locations of sensors, of the ERV, (2) a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store data gathered from the sensors and (3) a commissioning database associated with the memory and configured to contain commissioning data regarding the model of the ERV and the service and maintenance needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
  • Patent number: 9175872
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20150241081
    Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 9115909
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) monitoring and reporting system and a method of monitoring and reporting information on an ERV. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a processor configured to carry out a plurality of monitoring and reporting functions on the ERV based on a model, and types and locations of sensors, of the ERV, (2) a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store data gathered from the sensors and (3) a commissioning database associated with the memory and configured to contain commissioning data regarding the model of the ERV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130158719
    Abstract: A controller for an HVAC system, a compute-usable medium and an ERV are disclosed. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an input terminal configured to receive feedback data from a first operating unit of the HVAC system, (2) an operation monitor configured to determine if the feedback data corresponds to a predetermined condition for the first operating unit and (3) a system director configured to operate a second operating unit of the HVAC system at a predetermined operating value corresponding to the predetermined condition and a number of occurrences of predetermined conditions associated with the first operating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130118188
    Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process, including terminating the defrost process when an operating condition in the vicinity of the enthalpy-exchange zone substantially returns to a pre-frosting operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130124111
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) monitoring and reporting system and a method of monitoring and reporting information on an ERV. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a processor configured to carry out a plurality of monitoring and reporting functions on the ERV based on a model, and types and locations of sensors, of the ERV, (2) a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store data gathered from the sensors and (3) a commissioning database associated with the memory and configured to contain commissioning data regarding the model of the ERV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130116951
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, monitoring and reporting ERV power consumption and service and maintenance needs. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a processor configured to carry out a plurality of monitoring and reporting functions related to ERV power consumption and service and maintenance needs based on a model, and types and locations of sensors, of the ERV, (2) a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store data gathered from the sensors and (3) a commissioning database associated with the memory and configured to contain commissioning data regarding the model of the ERV and the service and maintenance needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130092344
    Abstract: A transition module for an energy recovery ventilator unit. The module comprises a frame having two opposing major surfaces with two separate through-hole openings therein. The module also comprises a self-sealing surface on one of the major surfaces and surrounding the two through-hole openings. One of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with return air openings or supply air openings located in a first target side of one an energy recovery ventilator unit or an air handling unit and in a second target side of the other one of the energy recovery ventilator unit or the air handling unit. The other of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with the other of the return air openings or the supply air openings located in the first and second sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Geoffrey Curtis, Bryan Smith
  • Publication number: 20130092346
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator unit comprising a cabinet and a plurality of enthalpy wheels mounted in the cabinet. Major surfaces of each of the enthalpy wheels are substantially separated from each other and substantially perpendicular to a direction of primary forced-air intake into the cabinet. The major surface of one of the enthalpy wheels substantially overlaps, in the direction of primary forced-air intake, with the major surface of at least one of the other enthalpy wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130095744
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator unit. The unit comprises a sensor mounting panel removably coupled to an outer surface of a cabinet, wherein the sensor mounting panel is configured to hold a plurality of sensors configured to measure the atmospheric environment inside of one or more of an intake zone, a supply zone, or a return zone housed inside of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith
  • Publication number: 20130092345
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator unit. The unit comprises a cabinet housing a primary intake zone, a supply zone, a return zone, an exhaust zone and an enthalpy-exchange zone. The primary intake zone and the exhaust zone are both on one side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The supply zone and the return zone are both on an opposite side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The unit also comprises first and second blowers. The first blower is located in the primary intake zone and configured to push outside air into the primary intake zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the supply zone. The second blower is located in the return zone and configured to push return air into the return zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the exhaust zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130090051
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130087302
    Abstract: A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130090769
    Abstract: In one aspect, a controller for an HVAC system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive feedback data from operating units of the HVAC system and transmit control data to the operating units, (2) an operation verifier configured to determine an individual operating status for each one of the operating units based on the feedback data and (3) a mode setter configured to distinctly operate each one in a predetermined operating procedure based on the determined operating status for each one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas