Patents by Inventor Raymond S. Schafer

Raymond S. Schafer 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: 11635265
    Abstract: A bolted hinge assembly is provided for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some cases, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Publication number: 20190170454
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Patent number: 10203168
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Publication number: 20170108293
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system with a spine fin heat exchanger comprising elliptical heat exchanger tubes joined to elliptical feeder tubes extending from the heat exchanger manifold by a crimp joint that is configured such that the heat exchanger tubes are inserted into corresponding feeder tubes. The crimp joint includes at least two O-rings disposed between an outer diameter of each of the heat exchanger tubes and an inner diameter of each of the feeder tubes. The O-rings form a fluid tight seal between the heat exchanger tubes and the feeder tubes. Adhesive is also disposed between the O-rings, and the feeder tube is crimped about the heat exchanger tube and the O-rings to form a reliable fluid tight seal between each heat exchanger tube and corresponding feeder tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Raymond S. Schafer, Kari Terho
  • Publication number: 20160363393
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran