Patents by Inventor Robert A. Chopko
Robert A. Chopko 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: 11898786Abstract: An engineless transport refrigeration unit includes a direct current compressor motor, condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, an energy storage device, and a generator. The energy storage device is configured to provide direct current electric power to the compressor motor the condenser fan motor, and the evaporator fan motor. The energy storage device is configured to provide power within a range of two hundred volts to six hundred volts. The compressor motor is configured to operate at a direct current voltage range of two hundred to six hundred volts.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Robert A Chopko, Yu H. Chen, Greg Deldicque
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Patent number: 11827074Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) system (IO) is provided. The TRU system includes a TRU (30), an electrical grid and a control unit. The TRU (30) is configured to be operably coupled a container (20) and includes components configured to control an environment within an interior of the container (20) and a TRU battery pack (40) configured to store energy for powering at least the components. The control unit is communicative with the TRU (30) and the electrical grid and is configured to manage power supplies and demands between the TRU battery pack (40) of each TRU (30) and the electrical grid.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Ivan Rydkin, Robert A. Chopko, Craig Drew Bogli
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Patent number: 11761703Abstract: A refrigerated transport system comprises a body enclosing a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration system (29) comprises first and second vapor compression loops each having: a refrigerant charge; a compressor (36A,B) for driving the refrigerant of the refrigerant charge; a first heat exchanger (38A,B) positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode; and a second heat exchanger (42A,B) positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Renee A. Eddy, Jeffrey J. Burchill, Giorgio Rusignuolo, Robert A. Chopko, Larry D. Burns, Ciara N. Poolman, Paul Papas, Ivan Rydkin
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Patent number: 11733124Abstract: A container box, having: a container controller for controlling the container box, one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transduces operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the container box configured to perform an airtightness test, including: pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range, and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventor: Robert A. Chopko
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Patent number: 11497224Abstract: A system for managing ripeness of perishable goods including: a storage device to store perishable good requirements, ripening capability parameters, ripening schedules, and perishable good parameters associated with the perishable goods; and a ripeness management system coupled to the storage device. The ripeness management system including: a current ripeness determination module to determine current ripeness levels in response to at least one of the perishable good parameters, the perishable good requirements, and the ripening schedules; a ripeness schedule module to determine predicted ripeness levels in response to at least one of the current ripeness levels, the ripening capability parameters, and the ripening schedules; and a meshing module to determine ripening schedule adjustments in response to at least one of the current ripeness levels, the perishable good parameters, the ripening schedules, and the ripening capability parameters.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Robert A. Chopko, Marc Beasley, Ciara Poolman, John Cronin, Christopher Michael Huffines
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Patent number: 11474000Abstract: A system for dynamically mitigating resonance in a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) during a mission, having: a TRU controller configured for operating a TRU engine during the mission according to an operational baseline, and while operating the TRU engine, contemporaneously performing steps including: obtaining a first set of data that comprises real time measurements from one or more accelerometers installed in the TRU; converting the real measurements to a second set of data that comprises real time shock and vibration data; processing the second set of data in a control loop to determine an updated operational baseline that avoids resonance detected in the first set of data; and operating the TRU engine according to the updated operational baseline.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Dewolf, Richard Clark, Robert A. Chopko, Christopher G. Repice, Michael Balistreri, Jason A. Gough
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Patent number: 11415367Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit including: a refrigeration circuit (23) configured to circulate a first refrigerant; a mechanical subcooler (23a); and a battery system (190) configured to power the mechanical subcooler. The mechanical subcooler is thermally connected to the refrigeration circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko
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Patent number: 11318807Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit includes at least one component, a frame (136), and an energy storage module (110). The at least one component is driven by electrical power. The frame (136) is constructed and arranged to structurally support the plurality of components. The energy storage module (110) is adapted to provide the electrical power, and is internally located and supported by the frame (136).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Robert A. Chopko, Garrison S. Moseley, Ciara Poolman, Craig Drew Bogli, Ivan Rydkin
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Patent number: 11305616Abstract: A transportation refrigeration unit includes an evaporator circulating a flow of refrigerant therethrough to cool a flow of supply air flowing over the evaporator, a first compressor operably connected to an engine and driven by the engine, a second compressor operably connected to a battery and driven by the battery. The first compressor and/or the second compressor are in fluid communication with the evaporator to compress the flow of refrigerant and configured and connected in parallel with one another. A condenser is in fluid communication with the evaporator and the first compressor and/or the second compressor.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko
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Patent number: 11170328Abstract: A system for managing sanitation of a container for perishable goods including: a storage device to store perishable good requirements, sanitation schedule parameters, sanitation requirements, sanitation test results, and perishable good parameters associated with the perishable goods; and a sanitation management system coupled to the storage device. The sanitation management system including: a sanitation assessment module to determine sanitation risk levels in response to at least one of the perishable good parameters, the perishable good requirements, the sanitation schedule parameters, sanitation test results, and the sanitation requirements; a sanitation schedule module to determine sanitation schedule adjustments in response to at least one of the sanitation risk level, the sanitation schedule parameters, and the sanitation requirements; and a meshing module to determine output parameters in response to at least one of the sanitation risk levels and the sanitation schedule adjustments.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Marc Beasley, Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko, John Cronin, Joseph George Bodkin
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Patent number: 11135893Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) direct current (DC) architecture includes a communications bus (41), a DC power bus (42), first and second voltage control units (VCUs 43,44) respectively comprising a DC/DC converter (430) coupled to the DC power bus and a local controller (431,441) coupled to the communications bus and to the DC/DC converter, an energy storage unit (45) and a DC powered load. The energy storage unit is configured to provide to the DC power bus (42) a quantity of DC power via the DC/DC converter (430) of the first VCU in accordance with control exerted thereon by the local controller (431) of the first VCU and a DC powered load. The DC powered load is configured to receive from the DC power bus a quantity of DC power via the DC/DC converter of the second VCU in accordance with control exerted thereon by the local controller of the second VCU.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Ivan Rydkin, Ciara Nichole Poolman, Robert A. Chopko
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Patent number: 11130387Abstract: Disclosed is a system for managing power in a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) installed on a trailer, having: a TRU controller configured to perform steps such as: executing a system-level energy manager, wherein the TRU controller: adaptively selects energy flow parameters based on one or more mission specific parameters and TRU power health; executes a predictive analytics module for collecting mission specific parameters and predicting TRU cooling power demands; and executes an online optimization module for generating a power source schedule for the TRU based on the predicted TRU cooling power demands; and operating the TRU according to the generated power source schedule.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Veronica Adetola, Luis Arnedo, Craig R. Walker, Eeuwe Durk Kooi, Robert A. Chopko
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Publication number: 20210282419Abstract: A system for managing ripeness of perishable goods including: a storage device to store perishable good requirements, ripening capability parameters, ripening schedules, and perishable good parameters associated with the perishable goods; and a ripeness management system coupled to the storage device. The ripeness management system including: a current ripeness determination module to determine current ripeness levels in response to at least one of the perishable good parameters, the perishable good requirements, and the ripening schedules; a ripeness schedule module to determine predicted ripeness levels in response to at least one of the current ripeness levels, the ripening capability parameters, and the ripening schedules; and a meshing module to determine ripening schedule adjustments in response to at least one of the current ripeness levels, the perishable good parameters, the ripening schedules, and the ripening capability parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Robert A. Chopko, Marc Beasley, Ciara Poolman, John Cronin, Christopher Michael Huffines
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Patent number: 11118833Abstract: A method of operating a transport refrigeration system including: controlling, using a controller (30), a plurality of components of the transport refrigeration system, the transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated trailer (108) and a refrigeration unit (22) configured to provide refrigerated air to the refrigerated trailer, the controlling includes operating at least one of the refrigeration unit and a battery system (190); powering, using an external power source (400), the refrigeration unit when the transport refrigeration system is connected to the external power source; detecting, using the controller, when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system; detecting, using the controller, a connection to the battery system when the external power source is disconnected; activating the battery system when the external power source is disconnected; and powering, using the battery system, a select group of components of the refrigeration unit when the externaType: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko
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Publication number: 20210279677Abstract: A system for managing perishable goods within a cold chain distribution system including: a transport refrigeration system including: a refrigerated container; a refrigeration unit coupled to refrigerated container; a controller configured to control the operation of the refrigeration unit; and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor parameters associated with at least one of N the perishable goods, refrigeration unit, and refrigerated container, the plurality of sensors configured to transmit parameters to the controller. The system also includes: a first user device located proximate to refrigerated container and configured to allow manual entry of at least one of driver feedback and user commands; a sensor connectivity module configured to connect first user device to controller; and a network wirelessly connected to first user device, the network including: a storage device to store and a processor to analyze at least one of the requirements, driver feedback, user commands, and parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Marc Beasley, Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko, John Cronin, Seth Melvin Cronin
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Publication number: 20210279676Abstract: A system for facilitating a cold chain in-transit exchange of perishable goods is provided. The system includes a storage device that stores data associated with the perishable goods and a management sub-system that includes a processor and a memory. The management sub-system can be coupled to the storage device. The management sub-system can receive an input comprising the data associated with the perishable goods, perform a quality assessment utilizing the input during a transit period of the perishable goods, and determine whether the cold chain in-transit exchange of the perishable goods should occur based the quality assessment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2017Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Ciara Poolman, Robert A. Chopko, Marc Beasley
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Publication number: 20210248552Abstract: A monitoring system for a container system that includes a sensor tag disposed on cargo received within an interior space of a container. The sensor tag includes an antenna, a power receiver, and a sensor. The power receiver is arranged to receive power from a power transmitter through the antenna. The sensor in communication with at least one of the antenna and the power receiver. The sensor is arranged to provide a signal indicative of a condition of at least one of the cargo and interior space, responsive to receiving power from the power receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Ankit Anand Gupta, Kumar Anup, Robert A. Chopko, Stella M. Oggianu
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Publication number: 20210108984Abstract: A container box, having: a container controller for controlling the container box, one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transduces operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the container box configured to perform an airtightness test, including: pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range, and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventor: Robert A. Chopko
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Publication number: 20210078387Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit includes at least one component, a frame (136), and an energy storage module (110). The at least one component is driven by electrical power. The frame (136) is constructed and arranged to structurally support the plurality of components. The energy storage module (110) is adapted to provide the electrical power, and is internally located and supported by the frame (136).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2018Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Robert A. Chopko, Garrison S. Moseley, Ciara Poolman, Craig Drew Bogli, Ivan Rydkin
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Publication number: 20210010736Abstract: An engineless transport refrigeration unit includes a direct current compressor motor, condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, an energy storage device, and a generator. The energy storage device is configured to provide direct current electric power to the compressor motor the condenser fan motor, and the evaporator fan motor. The energy storage device is configured to provide power within a range of two hundred volts to six hundred volts. The compressor motor is configured to operate at a direct current voltage range of two hundred to six hundred volts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Robert A. Chopko, Yu H. Chen, Greg Deldicque