Patents Assigned to Emerson Retail Services Inc.
  • Patent number: 8700444
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment with a remote monitor in communication with a controller that controls the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point. The method also includes determining a first power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The first power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point. The method also includes determining a second power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The second power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services Inc.
    Inventor: Abtar Singh
  • Publication number: 20120191498
    Abstract: A method is provided and includes detecting a fault condition in a refrigeration system, determining a maintenance cost to correct the fault condition, and determining a monetary value associated with continued operation of the refrigeration system with the fault condition. The method also includes comparing the maintenance cost to the monetary value and determining a level of urgency for correcting the fault condition based on the comparison. The method also includes scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition based on the level of urgency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: EMERSON RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Sushil K. Bansal, Pawan K. Churiwal, Patrick P. Milliken
  • Patent number: 8150720
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring a system for fault conditions, determining an estimated energy loss based on the fault condition, determining an estimated product loss and/or sales loss based on the fault condition, and scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition. Maintenance is schedule to correct the fault condition prior to the energy loss and the product loss exceeding maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Sushil K Bansal, Pawan K Churiwal, Patrick P Milliken
  • Publication number: 20120060529
    Abstract: A management center is configured to communicate with a controller for an energy consuming system at a remote location, to receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at the remote location, to calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of the energy consuming system based on the ambient temperature data, to receive an actual energy consumption value for the at least one component from the controller, to compare the actual energy consumption value with the projected energy consumption value, and to generate an output based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: EMERSON RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling
  • Patent number: 8065886
    Abstract: A management center is configured to communicate with a refrigeration system controller for a refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center is configured to receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at the remote location, to calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of the refrigeration system based on the ambient temperature data, and to receive an actual energy consumption value for the at least one component from the refrigeration system controller. The management center is also configured to compare the actual energy consumption value with the projected energy consumption value and to generate an output based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling
  • Patent number: 8051668
    Abstract: A controller comprises a first input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a compressor, a second input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a condenser fan, and an output that provides a control signal to the condenser fan. The controller also comprises a memory that stores a condenser set point, and a processor in communication with the input, output and memory and that modulates the condenser set-point to minimize energy consumption and controls the condenser fan based on the condenser set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Frank C. Brown, III, Ozgur Y. Gurkan
  • Publication number: 20110112814
    Abstract: A refrigerant leak detection system is herein disclosed. The system can detect the existence of a slow leak based on the refrigerant level and the system data. They system uses data models, either stored or dynamically created, to calculate an expected refrigerant level. Based on the expected refrigerant level and the actual refrigerant level and statistical process control data, a leak can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: E. Todd Clark
  • Publication number: 20110071960
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment with a remote monitor in communication with a controller that controls the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point. The method also includes determining a first power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The first power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point. The method also includes determining a second power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The second power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Abtar Singh
  • Patent number: 7845183
    Abstract: A controller includes a first input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a compressor, a second input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a variable speed condenser fan, a third input that receives a signal indicating an ambient temperature, a fourth input that receives a signal indicating a condenser temperature, an output that provides a control signal to the variable speed condenser fan, a memory that stores a temperature difference set-point, and a processor in communication with the inputs, the output and the memory. The processor calculates a difference between the ambient temperature and the condenser temperature, compares the difference with the temperature difference set-point, controls the variable speed condenser fan based on the comparison, monitors the energy consumption values, and modulates the temperature difference set-point to minimize energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Frank C. Brown, III, Ozgur Y. Gurkan
  • Patent number: 7845179
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor temperature sensor that generates a compressor discharge temperature signal corresponding to a compressor of a refrigeration system, a compressor pressure sensor that generates a compressor discharge pressure signal corresponding to the compressor, and a controller processing the signals over a predetermined time period. The processing includes calculating a discharge saturation temperature based on the compressor discharge pressure signal, calculating compressor superheat data based on the compressor discharge temperature signal and the discharge saturation temperature, accumulating the compressor superheat data over the predetermined time period, and comparing the accumulated compressor superheat data to a predetermined threshold. The controller generates an alarm indicating a compressor fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Matthews, Stephen T. Woodworth
  • Publication number: 20100305718
    Abstract: A method and system is provided that includes receiving a current setpoint value from a controller that operates at least one piece of equipment according to the current setpoint value, the current setpoint value being set by a first user, comparing the current setpoint value with a benchmark setpoint value, and outputting the current setpoint value and the benchmark setpoint value on a terminal when the current setpoint value is different than the benchmark setpoint value. The method and system also includes receiving, with the terminal, input from a second user indicating one of approval of the current setpoint value or rejection of the current setpoint value, notifying the first user that the current setpoint value has been rejected when the input from the second user indicates rejection of the current setpoint value, and communicating, to the terminal, input from the first user indicating one of agreement or disagreement with the rejection of the current setpoint value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: EMERSON RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: E. Todd Clark, Magesh Sarma, James R. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7844366
    Abstract: A set-point monitoring system includes a controller for at least one piece of equipment operating at a set point and a monitor that communicates with the controller. At least one of the monitor and the controller receives a present value of the set point and compares the present value to a previous value or to a benchmark value. The monitor records the present value when the present value is different than the previous value. The monitor also determines a monetary cost based on the difference between the present value and the previous value or the difference between the present value and the benchmark value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Abtar Singh
  • Publication number: 20100179703
    Abstract: A management center is configured to communicate with a refrigeration system controller for a refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center is configured to receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at the remote location, to calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of the refrigeration system based on the ambient temperature data, and to receive an actual energy consumption value for the at least one component from the refrigeration system controller. The management center is also configured to compare the actual energy consumption value with the projected energy consumption value and to generate an output based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling
  • Patent number: 7752853
    Abstract: A method for monitoring refrigerant in a refrigeration system includes sensing, a refrigerant pressure of a refrigeration system, averaging the refrigerant pressure over a time period, determining an expected pressure based on said time period, comparing the average to the expected pressure, and determining a system condition based on said comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal, James R. Mitchell, Ozgur Y. Gurkan
  • Patent number: 7752854
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a condenser in a refrigeration system includes calculating a thermal efficiency of the condenser based on operation of the condenser and averaging the thermal efficiency over a predetermined period. Further, the method comprises comparing the average to an efficiency threshold and generating a notification based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Stephen T. Woodworth, James R. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7669432
    Abstract: A method includes cycling an electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve fluidly coupled to a refrigeration circuit to regulate flow through the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve and sensing a current drawn by the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve during cycling of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve. The method further includes determining a valve condition of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve based on the sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert W. Maier, John R. Aggers, Robert A. Kensinger, Richard P. Vogh, III, Timothy D. Campbell, Scott M. Gelber
  • Patent number: 7665315
    Abstract: A method of proofing a refrigeration system operating state includes monitoring a change in operating state of a refrigeration system component, determining an expected operating parameter of the refrigeration system component as a function of the change, and detecting an actual operating parameter of the refrigeration system component after the change. The method also comprises comparing the actual operating parameter to the expected operating parameter of the refrigeration component and detecting a malfunction of the refrigeration system component based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal
  • Patent number: 7644591
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and managing a refrigeration system of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a refrigeration system through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information; diagnose system conditions; provide alarms for food safety issues, food quality issues and refrigeration system component failure; indicate maintenance conditions; and configure the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J Mathews, Neal Starling
  • Patent number: 7596959
    Abstract: A method for monitoring compressor performance in a refrigeration system includes calculating an isentropic efficiency of a compressor of the refrigeration system, averaging isentropic efficiency over a predetermined period, comparing the average to an efficiency threshold, and detecting a compressor malfunction based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal
  • Publication number: 20090077983
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor temperature sensor that generates a compressor discharge temperature signal corresponding to a compressor of a refrigeration system, a compressor pressure sensor that generates a compressor discharge pressure signal corresponding to the compressor, and a controller processing the signals over a predetermined time period. The processing includes calculating a discharge saturation temperature based on the compressor discharge pressure signal, calculating compressor superheat data based on the compressor discharge temperature signal and the discharge saturation temperature, accumulating the compressor superheat data over the predetermined time period, and comparing the accumulated compressor superheat data to a predetermined threshold. The controller generates an alarm indicating a compressor fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth