Patents by Inventor Kevin Mercer
Kevin Mercer 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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Patent number: 11236946Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein and a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a second side of the bend opposite the first side. The heat exchanger is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick, Arindom Joardar, Robert A. Leffler
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Patent number: 11219853Abstract: A negative air filtration system and a method of operating a negative air filtration system are provided. The negative air filtration system includes a housing, a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a fan assembly. The housing including an inlet and an outlet. The pre-filter is disposed within the housing, downstream of the inlet. The HEPA filter is disposed within the housing, downstream of the pre-filter. The fan assembly is disposed within the housing, downstream of the pre-filter. The fan assembly is in airflow communication with the pre-filter and the HEPA filter. The fan assembly is configured to generate a negative pressure across the pre-filter. The fan assembly may include a constant torque motor. The negative air filtration system is designed to have reduced complexity and increased reliability when compared to existing negative air filtration systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Kevin Mercer, Michael J. Smith
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Patent number: 11149996Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes a header, a tubular element and an expansion disc assembly. The expansion disc assembly includes a disc body and an actuator. The disc body includes two or more leaves fluidly interposed between the tubular element and the header and configured to cooperatively assume a closed condition by a first shuttering action at which the disc body exclusively inhibits a flow of the fluid, a fully open condition by a second shuttering action at which the disc body permits the flow of the fluid and partial open conditions between the closed and full open conditions by third shuttering actions at which the disc body exclusively inhibits a portion of the flow of the fluid. The actuator is controllable to cause the disc body to execute the first, second and third shuttering actions to assume the closed, fully open and partial open conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick
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Publication number: 20210316243Abstract: A negative air filtration system and a method of operating a negative air filtration system are provided. The negative air filtration system includes a housing, a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a fan assembly. The housing including an inlet and an outlet. The pre-filter is disposed within the housing, downstream of the inlet. The HEPA filter is disposed within the housing, downstream of the pre-filter. The fan assembly is disposed within the housing, downstream of the HEPA filter. The fan assembly is in airflow communication with the pre-filter and the HEPA filter. The fan assembly is configured to generate a negative pressure across the pre-filter and the HEPA filter. The fan assembly may include a constant torque motor. The negative air filtration system is designed to have reduced complexity and increased reliability when compared to existing negative air filtration systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Michael J. Smith
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Patent number: 11137164Abstract: Heat pump systems and methods of operating including a first unit having a first unit heat exchanger, a compressor, an accumulator, and a first unit expansion valve, a second unit fluidly connected to the first unit by piping, the second unit having a second unit heat exchanger, and a system controller, the system controller having (I) a PID control element receiving as inputs (i) gain scheduling, (ii) an error signal, and (iii) feedback relating to an opening command of the first unit expansion valve, and (II) a feedforward control element generating a feedforward term that is combined with an output of the PID control element to generate the opening command of the first unit expansion valve. The system controller controls an opening of the first unit expansion valve using the opening command of the first unit expansion valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Tony Lu, David Gerald Kenyon, Junqiang Fan, Kevin Mercer, Jie Li, Massimiliano D'Angelo
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Publication number: 20210262744Abstract: Disclosed is a multiport distributor comprising: an elongated member comprising a plurality of inlet ports disposed along a first end of the elongated member, a plurality of first outlet ports disposed along a face of the elongated member, and a plurality of fluid passages disposed within the elongated member and extending between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of first outlet ports, wherein the plurality of fluid passages are substantially parallel to one another and configured to convey a fluid in a first direction, wherein the plurality of first outlet ports are configured to direct a fluid passing therethrough in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Robert A. Leffler, Thomas Bryant, Kevin Mercer, Arindom Joardar, Tobias H. Sienel
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Publication number: 20210239412Abstract: An expansion assembly for use with a heat exchanger includes a block thermal expansion valve; and a distributor directly connected to the block thermal expansion valve; wherein the distributor comprises a tube having a plurality of openings formed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: James Amick, Kevin Mercer
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Publication number: 20210140713Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Robert A. Leffler, Arindom Joardar, Jon P. Kennedy, Kevin Mercer, Thomas Bryant
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Publication number: 20210131736Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of flattened heat exchanger tubes. The plurality of heat exchanger tubes include a bend that separates the plurality of heat exchanger tubes between extending in a first plane and extending in a second plane transverse to the first plane. An inlet manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and includes a distribution insert at least partially extending through an inlet opening in the inlet manifold. An outlet manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and includes an outlet opening spaced inward from opposing ends of the outlet manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Arindom Joardar, Robert A. Leffler, Thomas Bryant, Jon P. Kennedy, Kevin Mercer
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Publication number: 20210080193Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes coils, a header disposed at an end of the coils to distribute fluid into the coils, an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header and a tube sheet disposed against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Charlie Christensen Phillips, Joshua Jenkins, Kevin Mercer, James Amick
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Patent number: 10863248Abstract: A program guide, such as an electronic program guide (EPG), may be used to display information regarding upcoming scheduled transmissions of content. The display may include thumbnail images for selected groups of programs, and the images may be positioned in a pseudo-random location, and moved along a randomly generated trajectory on the display.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Comcast Interactive Media, LLCInventors: Thomas Loretan, Kevin Mercer, Jill Mclaughlin, Aparna Ramchandran, Katherine Inglis, Arpit Mathur, Jesse Mullen, Meredith Kenney, Dheyvi Velagapudi
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Publication number: 20200378648Abstract: Disclosed is a receptor for receiving condensate from a v-coil heat exchanger (v-coil), the receptor having: a first channel having a first length defined between first opposing ends, the first channel configured to receive the v-coil; a second channel having a second length defined between second opposing ends, the second channel including: a first orifice intermediate the second opposing ends for receiving condensate from the first channel, the first orifice being fluidly connected to one end of the first opposing ends at a junction; and a fluid drain port at one or both of the second opposing ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick, Charles Christensen Phillips, Vishnu Shayan NVSS, Pratap Kumar DVS, Asad M. Sardar
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Publication number: 20200355439Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein and a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a second side of the bend opposite the first side. The heat exchanger is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick, Arindom Joardar, Robert A. Leffler
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Publication number: 20200348091Abstract: A distributor for use in a heat exchanger including a distributor body having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior. A fluid inlet is formed at the first end and a fluid outlet includes a plurality of orifices formed in the distributor body. The fluid outlet is configured to achieve a ratio of a pressure drop across the distributor to a pressure drop across the heat exchanger between about 3 and about 7 at nominal refrigerant flowrate conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventor: Kevin Mercer
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Patent number: 10823185Abstract: A motor interface assembly configured to be operably coupled to a blower assembly, wherein the motor interface assembly is configured to measure a discharge air temperature, determine a difference between the discharge air temperature and a predetermined temperature, and operate the blower assembly based in part on the difference between the discharge air temperature and a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Mercer, Michael Smith, Sunny Ahmed
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Publication number: 20200318742Abstract: Disclosed is a valve having: a body that has an upstream end and a downstream end; an inlet orifice; a plurality of passages including: a first outlet passage extending into the body from the downstream end to a location intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end of the body; an inlet passage extending into the body from the upstream end of the body, the plurality of passages extending along mutually parallel axes, wherein the axes are offset radially and/or circumferentially from each other; and the inlet passage being formed in an insert configured for axially moving to: fluidly engage with the first outlet passage to define a continuous fluid passage between the upstream end and the downstream end of the body, wherein: an output flow rate through the body increases or decreases depending on an axial location of the insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventor: Kevin Mercer
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Patent number: 10774845Abstract: An acoustic treatment for an indoor HVAC component is provided having an inner liner and at least one aperture formed through the inner liner. An acoustic absorber is positioned adjacent the inner liner. A gap, including a width dimension, is formed between the inner liner and the acoustic absorber.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2015Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Mercer, Asad M. Sardar, Barry W. Lee
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Patent number: 10724753Abstract: A method of operating a variable speed compressor, the variable speed compressor in electrical communication with a computing element and the computing element in electrical communication with a sensing device, the method including operating the computing element to transmit a control signal to the compressor to operate in an operational mode, operating the computing element to receive outdoor air temperature data from the sensing device, operating the computing element to determine an operational run time value of the compressor based in part on the outside air temperature data, operating the computing element to determine an estimated day period based in part on the control signal, and operating the compressor at an operational speed based in part on the outdoor air temperature data, the operational run time value, and the estimated day period.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Mercer, Jun Pyo Lee
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Publication number: 20200158370Abstract: Heat pump systems and methods of operating including a first unit having a first unit heat exchanger, a compressor, an accumulator, and a first unit expansion valve, a second unit fluidly connected to the first unit by piping, the second unit having a second unit heat exchanger, and a system controller, the system controller having (I) a PID control element receiving as inputs (i) gain scheduling, (ii) an error signal, and (iii) feedback relating to an opening command of the first unit expansion valve, and (II) a feedforward control element generating a feedforward term that is combined with an output of the PID control element to generate the opening command of the first unit expansion valve. The system controller controls an opening of the first unit expansion valve using the opening command of the first unit expansion valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2018Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Tony Lu, David Gerald Kenyon, Junqiang Fan, Kevin Mercer, Jie Li, Massimiliano D'Angelo
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Publication number: 20190293327Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes a header, a tubular element and an expansion disc assembly. The expansion disc assembly includes a disc body and an actuator. The disc body includes two or more leaves fluidly interposed between the tubular element and the header and configured to cooperatively assume a closed condition by a first shuttering action at which the disc body exclusively inhibits a flow of the fluid, a fully open condition by a second shuttering action at which the disc body permits the flow of the fluid and partial open conditions between the closed and full open conditions by third shuttering actions at which the disc body exclusively inhibits a portion of the flow of the fluid. The actuator is controllable to cause the disc body to execute the first, second and third shuttering actions to assume the closed, fully open and partial open conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick