Patents Assigned to Therma-Stor LLC
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Patent number: 11959683Abstract: A modulating refrigeration system includes an evaporation unit and a condensing unit. The evaporation unit generates a first output airflow comprising a lower temperature, a lower relative humidity, or both than a first supply airflow and directs the first output airflow into a building. The condensing unit generates a second output airflow at a higher temperature than a second supply airflow and discharges the second output airflow to an unconditioned space. The evaporation unit comprises a first valve operable to direct a portion of refrigerant to a secondary evaporator and primary evaporator or to direct the entire flow of refrigerant to the primary evaporator and bypassing the secondary evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Grant M. Lorang, Gustavo Daniel Olivera, Weizhong Yu, David Treleven, Todd R. DeMonte, Robert John Motiff, Timothy S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11874035Abstract: A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that is configured to receive a refrigerant from a condenser at a fixed expansion device and a variable expansion device. The system is further configured to output a first portion of the refrigerant to a first downstream HVAC component at a fixed flow rate using the fixed expansion device. The system is further configured to sense a temperature of an evaporator using a sensing bulb and to apply a first force to a pin of the variable expansion device based on the sensed temperature. The system is further configured to apply a second force to a valve of the variable expansion device via the force applied to the pin and to output a second portion of the refrigerant to a second downstream HVAC component at a variable flow rate based on the second force using the valve of the variable expansion device.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Scott Eric Sloan, Daniel James Dettmers, Alan David Stahl, Walt Bernhard Waetjen, Clifford William Calvert
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Patent number: 11668476Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, a modulating valve, and an alternate condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the modulating valve. The modulating valve directs the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser and to the alternate condenser. The alternate condenser receives a portion of the flow of refrigerant for heat rejection, where the primary condenser receives the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Weizhong Yu, Steven S. Dingle, Scott E. Sloan, Todd R. DeMonte, Grant M. Lorang, Timothy S. O'Brien, David Treleven
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Patent number: 11639800Abstract: A dehumidification system includes an evaporator, a condenser positioned next to the evaporator, and a drain pan including a mist eliminator. The drain pan is disposed at least partially below the evaporator and the condenser. The drain pan at least includes a basin disposed at least partially below the evaporator. The basin includes a sloped bottom, a first rib disposed on the sloped bottom, a second rib parallel to the first rib and including a central gap, a third rib positioned between the first rib and the second rib, and an angled rib attached to the second rib. The third rib is parallel to and shorter than the first rib. The third rib is configured to at least partially block the central gap of the second rib. The angled rib is inclined towards the third rib and configured to change a velocity vector of the air flowing through the drain pan. The mist eliminator is configured to remove water droplets from the air.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventor: Grant M. Lorang
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Patent number: 11573016Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, and a water pump. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and outputs the flow of refrigerant at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump, to a heat exchanger or an external source, where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Weizhong Yu, Todd R. DeMonte, Grant M. Lorang, David Treleven
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Patent number: 11573015Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Weizhong Yu, Steven S. Dingle, Scott E. Sloan, Todd R. DeMonte, Grant M. Lorang, Timothy S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11530823Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Steven S. Dingle, Scott E. Sloan, Weizhong Yu, Grant M. Lorang, Todd R. DeMonte, Timothy S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11391286Abstract: A portable blower fan assembly that includes a housing that forms a pair of air tunnels. The pair of air tunnels are configured to provide a first airflow path across a surface in a downward direction. The portable blower fan assembly further includes a pair of fan assemblies. Each fan assembly is positioned within one of the air tunnels with a downward angle. The portable blower fan assembly further includes a power supply that is configured to provide electrical power to the first motor and the second motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Jeffrey R. Staszak, Kevin Lawrence Askling, Todd R. DeMonte, Todd Brunner, Matthew J. Poster, Jenee LaPlace Mobley, David Treleven, Xueqiao Wang, Laurence A. Carlson
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Patent number: 11371724Abstract: A dehumidification system includes an evaporator, a condenser positioned next to the evaporator, and a drain pan including a mist eliminator. The drain pan is disposed at least partially below the evaporator and the condenser. The drain pan at least includes a basin disposed at least partially below the evaporator. The basin includes a sloped bottom, a first rib disposed on the sloped bottom, a second rib parallel to the first rib and including a central gap, a third rib positioned between the first rib and the second rib, and an angled rib attached to the second rib. The third rib is parallel to and shorter than the first rib. The third rib is configured to at least partially block the central gap of the second rib. The angled rib is inclined towards the third rib and configured to change a velocity vector of the air flowing through the drain pan. The mist eliminator is configured to remove water droplets from the air.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventor: Grant M. Lorang
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Patent number: 11371725Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Scott E. Sloan, Weizhong Yu, Grant M. Lorang, Todd R. DeMonte, Timothy S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11353221Abstract: A portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet and a pivoting handle. The pivoting handle is configured to pivot from a stored position to an engaged position. The pivoting handle includes a cross member, two extension members, and a cam arm. The cam arm is coupled to one of the extension members at an end of the extension member that is opposite the cross member. The cam arm includes a spring arm configured to engage with a locking pin coupled to the cabinet, a clearance hole configured to permit the cam arm to clear the locking pin when the pivoting handle is in the stored position, an aperture configured to permit a pivot pin to secure the cam arm to the cabinet, and a compression gap adjacent to the spring arm. The compression gap is configured to permit the spring arm to provide resistance to the pivoting handle during pivoting.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Jared M. Stearns, Steven S. Dingle, Todd R. DeMonte
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Patent number: 11226110Abstract: A dehumidifier includes a cabinet, a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan. The cabinet is configured to be installed between studs in a wall. The evaporator is installed within the cabinet above the compressor. The condenser is installed within the cabinet above the evaporator. The fan is installed between the evaporator and a back surface of the cabinet. The fan is configured to generate the airflow that flows into the cabinet through the evaporator and out of the cabinet through condenser. The airflow flows through the evaporator and condenser in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Todd R. DeMonte, Steven S. Dingle, Richard G. Giallombardo, Joshua William Henry, Jared M. Stearns, Jerome Verhoeven
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Patent number: 11073294Abstract: A portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet and two wheel mounting brackets. Each wheel mounting bracket is configured to secure one of two wheels to the cabinet. Each wheel mounting bracket includes an inside member, a bottom member, a top member, and an outside member. The inside member includes a first axle aperture for one end of an axle. The bottom member includes one or more mounting apertures configured to permit one or more fasteners to couple the wheel mounting bracket assembly to a bottom side of a cabinet. The outside member includes a second axle aperture for another end of the axle. The top member couples the outside member to the inside member and is coupled to an end of the inside member opposite to the bottom member. The top member includes one or more locating pins configured to be inserted into one or more locating apertures in the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor LLCInventors: Jared M. Stearns, Steven S. Dingle, Todd R. DeMonte
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Patent number: 11035580Abstract: A method for controlling a fan of a dehumidifier includes performing a first step of obtaining an ambient temperature, an exhaust temperature, and a delta temperature that is a difference between the ambient temperature and the exhaust temperature. The method further include determining, after performing the first step, whether the delta temperature is within a delta temperature range. If the delta temperature is within the delta temperature range, the method proceeds back to the first step. If the delta temperature is not within the delta temperature range, the method performs a second step of determining an adjusted fan speed using the delta temperature. The method further includes performing, after performing the second step, a third step of setting the fan speed to the determined adjusted fan speed.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLCInventors: Jerome Verhoeven, Jared M. Stearns, Conor DuBois, Todd R. DeMonte
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Patent number: 10955148Abstract: A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLCInventors: Steven S. Dingle, Scott E. Sloan, Weizhong Yu, Grant M. Lorang, Todd R. DeMonte, Timothy S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 10932420Abstract: A system includes a latent exchanger and first and second fans. The latent exchanger includes first and second chambers and one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber. The one or more membranes are gas-impervious. The first fan generates a greenhouse airflow that flows from a greenhouse, into the first chamber, and then back to the greenhouse. The second fan generates an outside airflow that flows from an outside environment, into the second chamber, and then back to the outside environment. The one or more membranes are configured to permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow through the one or more membranes and to prevent carbon dioxide from flowing through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLCInventors: Todd R. DeMonte, Sean Michael Ebert, Weizhong Yu
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Patent number: D912792Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLCInventors: Jared M. Stearns, Steven S. Dingle
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Patent number: D922556Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLCInventors: Jared M. Stearns, Steven S. Dingle, Todd R. DeMonte
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Patent number: D965763Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: Jeffrey R. Staszak, Kevin Lawrence Askling, Todd R. DeMonte, Todd Brunner, Matthew J. Poster, Jenee LaPlace Mobley, David Treleven, Xueqiao Wang, Laurence A. Carlson
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Patent number: D1006205Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLCInventors: David Treleven, Robert John Motiff, Todd R. DeMonte, Jenee LaPlace Mobley, Kevin Lawrence Askling