Patents by Inventor Paul J. Kroes

Paul J. Kroes 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).

  • Publication number: 20240165680
    Abstract: Methods or systems for cleaning an electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit is discussed. The methods or systems include a sensor monitoring a safety condition of the electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit; a controller receiving a reading related to the safety condition from the sensor; the controller performing a safety check based on the reading received from the sensor; and the controller instructing the cleaning unit to clean the electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit upon the controller determining the electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit is safe to clean based on the safety check.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Paul J. Kroes, Jason Tilghman, Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Matthew Srnec, Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi
  • Publication number: 20240167761
    Abstract: An electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit that includes a base including an enclosure, in which the base is configured to support the self-contained climate controlled storage unit, a climate controlled space affixed above the base, and a climate control system for providing climate control to the climate controlled space. The climate control system is provided in the enclosure. The storage unit further includes at least one status indication light provided around a perimeter of at least one surface of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit. The system controller is connected to the self-contained climate controlled storage unit, and is configured to operate the at least one status indication light based on at least one of a system operation status of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit or a logistical operation status of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Paul J. Kroes, Jason Tilghman, Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Matthew Srnec, Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi
  • Publication number: 20240166430
    Abstract: An electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit that is self-weighing and/or measures its orientation. The storage unit includes a base including an enclosure and at least one foot for supporting the self-contained climate controlled storage unit, a climate controlled space affixed above the base, and a climate control system for providing climate control to the climate controlled space. The climate control system is provided in the enclosure. The storage unit further includes at least one sensor for measuring a weight and/or orientation associated with the self-contained climate controlled storage unit and a system controller connected to the self-contained climate controlled storage unit. The system controller is configured to determine an unsafe operating condition of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit based on the weight and/or orientation associated with the self-contained climate controlled storage unit measured by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Jason Tilghman, Matthew Srnec, Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi, Paul J. Kroes
  • Publication number: 20240170974
    Abstract: An electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage unit is provided to connect to and automatically share power with an external power source. The storage unit includes a rechargeable battery system and a controller to determine whether to direct power flow to or from the rechargeable battery system. Methods and systems are provided for actively coordinating charging of multiple electrically powered portable self-contained climate controlled storage units that are connected to the external power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Paul J. Kroes, Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Matthew Srnec, Jason Tilghman, Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi
  • Patent number: 11703341
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes obtaining a state of charge of an energy storage device capable of providing power to the transport climate control system; determining an energy level including the state of charge, receiving a planned route for the vehicle, and receiving route status data associated with the planned route for the vehicle. The route status data includes traffic data, weather data, and/or geographic data identifying areas where the transport climate control system is to be solely powered by the energy storage device. The method further includes determining whether the energy level is sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle based on the planned route and the route data, and when the energy level is not sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle, providing a notification to a user via a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Thermo King LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Wallace Hubbard, Michael James Vanous, Mark D. Leasure, Paul J. Kroes, Philip Lavrich
  • Publication number: 20210285780
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes obtaining a state of charge of an energy storage device capable of providing power to the transport climate control system; determining an energy level including the state of charge, receiving a planned route for the vehicle, and receiving route status data associated with the planned route for the vehicle. The route status data includes traffic data, weather data, and/or geographic data identifying areas where the transport climate control system is to be solely powered by the energy storage device. The method further includes determining whether the energy level is sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle based on the planned route and the route data, and when the energy level is not sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle, providing a notification to a user via a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew SRNEC, Wallace HUBBARD, Michael James VANOUS, Mark D. LEASURE, Paul J. KROES, Philip LAVRICH
  • Patent number: 11022451
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes obtaining a state of charge of an energy storage device capable of providing power to the transport climate control system; determining an energy level including the state of charge, receiving a planned route for the vehicle, and receiving route status data associated with the planned route for the vehicle. The route status data includes traffic data, weather data, and/or geographic data identifying areas where the transport climate control system is to be solely powered by the energy storage device. The method further includes determining whether the energy level is sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle based on the planned route and the route data, and when the energy level is not sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle, providing a notification to a user via a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Wallace Hubbard, Michael James Vanous, Mark D. Leasure, Paul J. Kroes, Philip Lavrich
  • Patent number: 10654339
    Abstract: A method of pairing a sensor node of a transport refrigeration system with a coordinator node using an assisting device in a communication network is provided, the method includes: the assisting device obtains identification information of the sensor node; the assisting device connects with the coordinator node; the assisting device transmits the identification information of the sensor node to the coordinator node for the coordinator node to pair with the sensor node; the assisting device receives pairing status of the sensor node and the coordinator node; and the assisting device indicates the pairing status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Mark P. Weber, Matthew Srnec, Matthew S. Nelson, Russell L. Sanders, Paul J. Kroes
  • Publication number: 20200141746
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes obtaining a state of charge of an energy storage device capable of providing power to the transport climate control system; determining an energy level including the state of charge, receiving a planned route for the vehicle, and receiving route status data associated with the planned route for the vehicle. The route status data includes traffic data, weather data, and/or geographic data identifying areas where the transport climate control system is to be solely powered by the energy storage device. The method further includes determining whether the energy level is sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle based on the planned route and the route data, and when the energy level is not sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle, providing a notification to a user via a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew SRNEC, Wallace HUBBARD, Michael James VANOUS, Mark D. LEASURE, Paul J. KROES, Philip LAVRICH
  • Patent number: 10538211
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing power from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units are disclosed. The power is provided from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units in a transport unit. The method includes determining whether to supply power from the enemy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; supplying power in response to the determining indicating that power is to be supplied; determining whether to continue supplying power from the energy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; and stopping supplying power in response to the determining whether to continue indicating that power is no longer to be supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Paul J. Kroes
  • Publication number: 20180186317
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing power from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units are disclosed. The power is provided from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units in a transport unit. The method includes determining whether to supply power from the enemy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; supplying power in response to the determining indicating that power is to be supplied; determining whether to continue supplying power from the energy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; and stopping supplying power in response to the determining whether to continue indicating that power is no longer to be supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew SRNEC, Paul J. KROES
  • Publication number: 20180178626
    Abstract: Systems and methods of dynamic airflow control within a transport unit are described. A dynamic airflow distribution system within an interior space of a transport unit includes a dynamic airflow distributor, a plurality of spacing devices, and a plurality of distributor gap closing mechanisms. The dynamic airflow distributor forms an airflow passage with a ceiling of the transport unit. The dynamic airflow distributor extends along a longitudinal direction of the transport unit. The plurality of spacing devices form a plurality of gaps between the ceiling and the dynamic airflow distributor. Each of the distributor gap closing mechanisms is associated with a corresponding gap of the plurality of gaps. Also, each of the plurality of distributor gap closing mechanisms controllably opens and closes the corresponding gap of the plurality of gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew SRNEC, Paul J. KROES
  • Publication number: 20180152044
    Abstract: A method and system for extending autonomous operation of a self-contained climate controlled storage unit is provided. The embodiments of the method and system described herein can extend the run time of a battery source of a self-contained climate controlled storage unit prior to, during, or after transport. In some embodiments, a mobile charging system is provided to extend the run time of the battery source of the self-contained climate controlled storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Paul J. Kroes
  • Publication number: 20170368910
    Abstract: A method of pairing a sensor node of a transport refrigeration system with a coordinator node using an assisting device in a communication network is provided, the method includes: the assisting device obtains identification information of the sensor node; the assisting device connects with the coordinator node; the assisting device transmits the identification information of the sensor node to the coordinator node for the coordinator node to pair with the sensor node; the assisting device receives pairing status of the sensor node and the coordinator node; and the assisting device indicates the pairing status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Mark P. WEBER, Matthew SRNEC, Matthew S. NELSON, Russell L. SANDERS, Paul J. KROES
  • Patent number: D758300
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Jay Srnec, Paul J. Kroes
  • Patent number: D783423
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Srnec, Paul J. Kroes