Abstract: An intense field dielectric air filtration system associated with an air conditioning unit includes a microprocessor based control system which may be connected to the thermostat of the air conditioning unit to energize the air filtration system in response to a call for heat or cooling signal at the thermostat or startup of the fan motor for the air conditioning unit. The control system includes a power supply for the air filtration system together with voltage and current monitoring circuits for detecting a fault condition. Filtration system on/off and timing function reset switches are connected to the microprocessor and visual displays, including a multicolored LED bargraph display, are controlled by the microprocessor to indicate voltage potential applied to the air filtration system, a fault condition or a test mode.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes a desiccant wheel, wherein the wheel's speed varies with airflow, the wheel is energized for at least a set period at startup, and/or a heat recovery system (e.g., an air-to-air heat exchanger) upstream of the wheel enhances the system's ability to dehumidify air.

Abstract: An air filtration system includable in and for HVAC equipment includes one or more intense field dielectric filter units and a field charging unit retained in a support structure or cabinet by a removable door which includes control circuitry and contactors engageable with corresponding contact members on a filter unit and the field charging unit for supplying high voltage DC potential to the respective units. Each filter unit includes a filter core comprising a stacked array of filter elements formed of dielectric sheets interconnected by elongated spaced apart ribs forming flow passages. The field charging unit and the filter units are removable from the support or cabinet for cleaning or replacement by opening or removing the door. An interlock switch and a field shorting mechanism are actuated during servicing or replacement of the system components.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes various features that promote a bifurcated flow pattern of gas through a compressor shell to reduce oil entrainment. After entering the shell, some gas travels upward, which reduces the volume of gas traveling downward toward an oil sump. To accomplish this, the compressor's motor can be surrounded by a sleeve having upper and lower apertures for directing the flow to the motor's upper and lower stator end turns. In some embodiments, a suction inlet is strategically positioned relative to two gas passageways that are between the stator and the compressor shell. The inlet's position is such that one passageway receives incoming gas and divides the flow in opposite directions: upward and downward. The other passageway only conveys the gas upward. In addition, a suction baffle, a diffuser, a streamlined counterweight and/or a suction line oil trap can also help promote gas/oil separation or minimize oil entrainment.

Abstract: An air conditioning system thermostat includes a visual display and plural switch actuators, respectively backlit by an electroluminescent lamp and LED light sources mounted on a circuit board disposed in a thermostat housing. A control circuit causes at least one switch actuator to be illuminated continuously and the light sources for the display and the remaining switch actuators are illuminated in response to actuation of any one of the switch actuators. Switch contact elements mounted on the switch actuators and the circuit board provide advantageous positioning of the LED light sources for the switch actuators. An energy savings switch actuator allows the control circuit to directly assume setback temperature settings in response to a first actuation and a second actuation resets the thermostat to the initial user set temperature settings.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes an outdoor section comprising an outdoor coil, a fan, and a refrigerant compressor housed within a cabinet. The cabinet includes an outer wrapper supported by a plastic base. The base and wrapper include features that facilitate the cabinet's assembly and shipping, enhance its appearance, and ensure its functional and structural integrity. For example, the base includes breakaway shipping tabs, lead-ins that help guide the wrapper and coil into position during assembly, and snaps that help hold the wrapper in place with a minimal number of screws. The wrapper includes watertight screw-receiving dimples for mounting electrical hardware, side panels that interconnect by way of a novel vertically sliding fit, and a spacer for protecting the coil from being crushed by the wrapper. A frame that supports the fan also supports the cabinet's top cover.

Abstract: An air conditioning system may comprise an air handler, heat pump or fossil fuel furnace and may include a variable speed blower for conducting air through the system and operably connected to a controller which is also connected to a thermostat and/or humidity sensor. A discharge air temperature sensor may be disposed downstream of or embedded in a heat exchanger of the air conditioning system and connected to the controller for controlling the blower speed and airflow through the system. The amount of heating or cooling effect produced by the heat exchanger or blower speed may be adjusted to provide a constant discharge temperature or lower the humidity of air returning to a controlled space.

Abstract: An enhanced touch-screen display system is disclosed for generating pixel coordinate estimates corresponding to a location on a display screen touched by a user. The system is an analog resistive touch-screen display system having a processor and associated software algorithms to allow for the calibration and validation of pixel coordinate estimates as an integral part of the real-time generation of the pixel coordinate estimates. Multiple calibrated pixel coordinate estimates are generated and processed at a pre-defined sampling rate to determine a valid pixel position to minimize sampling delays due to settling times. The x-axis position is also validated before the system attempts to generate a y-axis position to avoid the wasted time for generating y-axis estimates when x-axis estimates are corrupted. Noisy estimates are inherently reduced in the touch-screen display system by providing shunts across certain drivers in the system that also allow for detection of a “no touch” state.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower with forward curved fan blades includes an inlet shroud whose shape is specifically designed for creating a smooth incoming airflow pattern that leads into the inner leading edges of the fan blades. The inlet shroud has first and second curved surfaces, wherein the centers of curvature of the two surfaces lie in the same plane, and the center of curvature as well as the radius of curvature of one curved surface is greater than that of the other. At least one center of curvature lies beyond the outer diameter of the impeller, and at least one center of curvature lies beyond the impeller's inner diameter, wherein the impeller's inner diameter is defined by the inner leading edges of the fan blades. Performance benefits are achieved when a forward curved blower with such an inlet shroud operates with a flow coefficient of between 9 and 52.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes a desiccant wheel, wherein the wheel's speed varies with airflow, the wheel is energized for at least a set period at startup, and/or a heat recovery system (e.g., an air-to-air heat exchanger) upstream of the wheel enhances the system's ability to dehumidify air.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower for a furnace, heat pump, or other type of air handling unit includes a heat-generating blower housing that heats the airflow as the air passes through the blower housing. In some cases, the housing is made of a thermosetting resin impregnated with graphite or co-molded with a graphite cloth. Heat is generated within the housing wall by applying voltage across the housing.

Abstract: An enhanced touch-screen display system is disclosed for generating pixel coordinate estimates corresponding to a location on a display screen touched by a user. The system is an analog resistive touch-screen display system having a processor and associated software algorithms to allow for the calibration and validation of pixel coordinate estimates as an integral part of the real-time generation of the pixel coordinate estimates. Multiple calibrated pixel coordinate estimates are generated and processed at a pre-defined sampling rate to determine a valid pixel position to minimize sampling delays due to settling times. The x-axis position is also validated before the system attempts to generate a y-axis position to avoid the wasted time for generating y-axis estimates when x-axis estimates are corrupted. Noisy estimates are inherently reduced in the touch-screen display system by providing shunts across certain drivers in the system that also allow for detection of a “no touch” state.

Abstract: A heat recovery arrangement. The arrangement has a housing including a bathroom exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a bathroom exhaust airflow path through the housing from the bathroom exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet, a return air inlet, and a return air path through the housing from the return air inlet to the exhaust outlet. The housing also has an outside air inlet, a supply air outlet, an outside air path through the housing from the outside air inlet to the supply air outlet; and a heat recovery device extracting heat from the exhaust airflow path and the return airflow path and transferring heat to the outside airflow path.

Abstract: A cutoff for a blower housing. The cutoff comprises a cutoff having an edge, the edge includes first and second ends and a midsection. The midsection includes an acoustical reduction section. Each end includes an efficiency enhancing portion curving from a first smaller radial dimension to a second greater radial dimension proximal the acoustical reduction section. The acoustical reduction section is located between the first and second ends and has a greater third radial dimension greater than the first or second radial dimensions.

Abstract: An airhandling unit for an HVAC system includes a cabinet having an electric motor driven centrifugal blower disposed therein. The blower includes a scroll or volute type blower housing which may be formed of opposed releasably connectable housing parts. The blower housing parts include opposed sidewalls with axially extending compound curved portions which cooperate with an end wall which is configured to have portions which are not of substantially constant increasing radial distance from the blower impeller axis of rotation. However, a constantly increasing airflow cross-sectional flow area is provided within the blower housing for blower discharge air. The disposition of the blower housing sidewalls with respect to the cabinet walls provides improved airflow distribution for air flowing into the blower air inlet openings.

Abstract: An enhanced touch-screen display system is disclosed for generating pixel coordinate estimates corresponding to a location on a display screen touched by a user. The system is an analog resistive touch-screen display system having a processor and associated software algorithms to allow for the calibration and validation of pixel coordinate estimates as an integral part of the real-time generation of the pixel coordinate estimates. Multiple calibrated pixel coordinate estimates are generated and processed at a pre-defined sampling rate to determine a valid pixel position to minimize sampling delays due to settling times. The x-axis position is also validated before the system attempts to generate a y-axis position to avoid the wasted time for generating y-axis estimates when x-axis estimates are corrupted. Noisy estimates are inherently reduced in the touch-screen display system by providing shunts across certain drivers in the system that also allow for detection of a “no touch” state.