Patents by Inventor Timothy Scott Shaffer

Timothy Scott Shaffer 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: 20220403837
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a cabinet including a base pan that defines at least one alignment feature and a compressor mounted to the base pan using mechanical fasteners that pass through mounting feet and into mounting bosses defined on the base pan. A damper is positioned between the compressor and the base pan and includes a lower pad seated on the base pan, an upper pad extending from the lower pad along the vertical direction and contacting a bottom surface of the compressor, and at least one stopping feature defined on the lower pad or the upper pad, the at least one stopping feature engaging the at least one alignment feature to prevent rotation of the damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Charles D. Robinson, III, Joseph Robert Tobbe, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11530822
    Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit (PTAC) includes a bulkhead that defines an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. An outdoor fan is positioned within the outdoor portion and a controller is communicatively coupled with the outdoor fan for receiving a command to generate white noise and operating the outdoor fan to create the white noise at a desired decibel level to block out ambient sounds. A user may regulate the outdoor fan speed when the PTAC is not heating or cooling by setting a desired decibel level, e.g., using a control panel of the PTAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220390140
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. A makeup air intake duct and a makeup air exhaust duct are disposed above the housing. The air conditioner unit also includes an air to air heat exchanger. The air to air heat exchanger includes a first inlet side attached to the makeup air intake duct, a second inlet side, a first outlet side, and a second outlet side attached to the makeup air exhaust duct. The air to air heat exchanger also includes one or more alternating top layers and bottom layers. The one or more top layers are in fluid communication with the first inlet side and the first outlet side, and the one or more bottom layers are in fluid communication with the second inlet side and the second outlet side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Eric Ormsby Sakal, Charles D. Robinson, III
  • Publication number: 20220381451
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, a sterilization light assembly, and a flow sensor. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto. The flow sensor may be disposed within the indoor portion upstream from the exhaust outlet. The flow sensor may be operably coupled to the sterilization light assembly and configured to activation of sterilization light assembly in response to detecting a predetermined airflow within the indoor portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Dong Soo Shin, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Jaebong Lee, Je Kwon Yoon
  • Publication number: 20220364747
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the housing to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto. The sterilization light assembly may include a support board, an ultraviolet C (UVC) light source, and a lens casing. The UVC light source may be mounted to the support board and configured to emit radiation between 200 to 280 nanometers. The lens casing may be disposed over the support board and seal the UVC light source to prevent moisture from contacting the UVC light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky
  • Publication number: 20220364760
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a housing with an outdoor heat exchanger assembly and an indoor heat exchanger assembly therein. A makeup air intake duct an a makeup are exhaust duct are disposed above the housing parallel to each other. The air conditioner unit also includes a heat exchanger having a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is disposed within the makeup air intake duct. The second coil is disposed with the makeup air exhaust duct. The heat exchanger also includes a first pipe connecting an outlet of the first coil to an inlet of the second coil and a second pipe connecting an outlet of the second coil to an inlet of the first coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Eric Ormsby Sakal, Joseph Robert Tobbe
  • Publication number: 20220349597
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion below the indoor fan and directed forward to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoor portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky
  • Publication number: 20220349590
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, a bulkhead, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The bulkhead may be disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction to define the indoor portion and the outdoor portion. The bulkhead may further define a vent aperture therethrough. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion downstream from the vent aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky
  • Patent number: 11480347
    Abstract: A single-package air conditioning appliance includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. An outdoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the outdoor portion. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly includes an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan. An indoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the indoor portion. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. A compressor is in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The single-package air conditioner unit also includes a make-up air module. The make-up air module extends between the outdoor portion of the housing and an outside of the housing. The make-up air module includes a plurality of make-up air fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220333791
    Abstract: An air conditioning appliance or a make-up air (MUA) assembly may include an intake conduit and a secondary air duct. The intake conduit may be attachable to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor inlet. The intake conduit may further define a secondary inlet upstream from the intake passage to permit air thereto. The secondary air duct may extend from the intake conduit outside of the housing upstream from the secondary inlet to direct air thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Ormsby Sakal, Joseph Robert Tobbe, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Charles D. Robinson, III, Cody Ewing, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220333801
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed at the indoor heat exchanger to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky, Venkateswarlu Vivaram
  • Publication number: 20220333792
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed forward at the indoor fan to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky, Venkateswarlu Vivaram
  • Publication number: 20220333802
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed upstream at the indoor fan to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky, Venkateswarlu Vivaram
  • Publication number: 20220333790
    Abstract: A single-package air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an intake conduit. The housing may define an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. The compressor may be in fluid communication with an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The intake conduit may extend from the housing. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor heat exchanger assembly. The intake conduit may further define a primary inlet and a secondary inlet spaced apart from the primary inlet in fluid parallel thereto. The primary inlet and the secondary inlet may be defined upstream from the intake passage to separately permit air thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Ormsby Sakal, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220221167
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed at the indoor fan to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Robin Blackwood, Timothy Scott Shaffer, John Huguenard, Stephen Budelsky
  • Patent number: 11326797
    Abstract: A gas sensing system for an air conditioner unit is provided. The air conditioner unit includes a bulkhead that divides a cabinet into an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, and a compressor circulates refrigerant through a sealed system. An electrically protected housing is positioned within the indoor portion and defines a sensor enclosure for receiving a gas sensor for measuring a gas concentration of leaked refrigerant within the sensor enclosure. The housing includes vent apertures to permit leaked refrigerant to enter the sensor enclosure while the vent apertures are covered by filters to prevent contaminants from entering the sensor enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20210404671
    Abstract: A single-package air conditioning appliance includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. An outdoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the outdoor portion. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly includes an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan. An indoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the indoor portion. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. A compressor is in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The single-package air conditioner unit also includes a make-up air module. The make-up air module extends between the outdoor portion of the housing and an outside of the housing. The make-up air module includes a plurality of make-up air fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11193684
    Abstract: Air conditioner units and methods for operating air conditioner units are provided. A method includes determining a benchmark control signal corresponding to a predetermined speed of a fan of the air conditioner unit. The method further includes activating a heating unit of the air conditioner unit. The heating unit includes a plurality of heater banks. The method also includes activating the fan while the heating unit is active and measuring a control signal to the fan after activating the fan. The method further includes comparing the measured control signal to the benchmark control signal, and disabling one of the plurality of heater banks when the measured control signal is less than the benchmark control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11175054
    Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit (PTAC) includes an auxiliary fan configured for urging a flow of make-up air from the outdoor portion into the indoor portion through a vent aperture defined by a bulkhead. A vent door is pivotally mounted over the vent aperture and a flow restrictor extends into the flow of make-up air, the flow restrictor being movable in correlation to a flow rate of the flow of make-up air to increase the flow restriction at higher flow rates of make-up air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20210325085
    Abstract: A mixing valve for a water heater appliance includes a valve body that defines a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being in fluid communication with a cold water inlet conduit and a hot water inlet conduit. A plunger valve is mounted within the valve body and is moveable along a translation axis to regulate a flow of water from the hot water inlet conduit and the cold water inlet conduit. A controller periodically initiates a cleaning cycle wherein the plunger valve is moved through a full range of motion (e.g., full hot to full cold). The cleaning cycle may only be performed if there is no water flowing through the mixing valve, e.g., as determined by temperature sensor measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Gregory L. Hutchison, Shaun Michael Ward, Timothy Scott Shaffer