Patents Assigned to Thermo King LLC
  • Patent number: 11975595
    Abstract: Technologies for enhancing performance of a clutch that is installed in connection with a transport climate control system is provided. Enhancing performance of the clutch can be performed by establishing engagement cycling parameters for the clutch, cycling the clutch through a repetition of engagement and disengagement in accordance with the established engagement cycling parameters, and terminating the cycling upon achievement of at least one predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Alexandros Athanasakopoulos, Scott A. Waters, Vincent McCannell-Unger, Timothy J. Neu, Lucas Koch
  • Patent number: 11975592
    Abstract: An interface system for connecting a vehicle and a transport climate control system (TCCS) is disclosed. The interface system includes a two-way communication interface that connects a vehicle electrical system (VES) controller and a TCCS controller. The interface system also includes a power interface that connects a vehicle energy source of the VES to the TCCS and a TCCS energy source of the TCCS to the VES. The two-way communication interface is configured to distribute a TCCS status from the TCCS controller to the VES controller, and is configured to distribute a VES status from the VES controller to the TCCS controller. The power interface is configured to distribute power from the vehicle energy source to the TCCS when a VES instruction is received, and distribute power from the TCCS energy source to the VES when a TCCS instruction is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Thermo King LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Mark D. Leasure, Nicholas Allan Cregan, Michael James Vanous, Matthew Srnec, Wallace Stephen Hubbard
  • Patent number: 11970048
    Abstract: A transport climate control system for providing climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit. The transport climate control circuit includes a compressor, an evaporator and at least two fans. The transport climate control circuit also includes a controller for controlling the transport climate control circuit and for defrosting the evaporator coil. When a defrost event is triggered, the controller instructs the transport climate control circuit to supply heat to or around one section of the evaporator coil, and independently controls each of the at least two fans to move the air around the evaporator coil in a controlled direction so that heat from the one section of the evaporator coil is used to convectively heat the inlet of the evaporator coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Panayu Robert Srichai, Bradley M. Ludwig, Christopher John Vath
  • Patent number: 11956923
    Abstract: According to a first aspect there is disclosed an assembly comprising a power device and a cooling plate which overlies the power device for heat transfer therebetween. The power device comprises a plurality of power switching components including at least a first power switching component and a second power switching component; wherein each of the power switching components is configured to dissipate heat to the cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Subrahmanya Mv, Harikrishnan Nayanar K, Alexander Iglizn, Irfan Abdul Majeed
  • Patent number: 11940438
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fuel quality of a power system used in transport is provided. The method includes a controller of the power system determining that the prime mover is actively running. The method also includes the controller monitoring an output of a water-in-fuel (WIF) sensor configured to measure an amount of water accumulated in a water collection reservoir of a fuel/water separator that separates water from fuel passing there through. Also, the method includes the controller determining an amount of fuel passing through the fuel/water separator. Further, the method includes the controller calculating a fuel quality score of the fuel based on the output of the WIF sensor and the amount of fuel having passed through the fuel/water separator. The method further includes the controller triggering different alerts based on the calculated fuel quality score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: John G. Simpson, Kyle J. Gleason, Randall S. Burnham, Arthur H. Ambaruch
  • Patent number: 11884258
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing load shedding in a vehicle are provided. Particularly, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle and the loads that are shed may be HVAC or refrigeration loads. The load shedding methods and systems may include a predictive model of energy consumption, determining a predicted energy consumption and comparing it to a stored energy at the vehicle. If the predicted energy consumption exceeds the stored energy, load shedding operations may be performed at a transport climate control system, such as adjusting a set point, adjusting an operating mode of the transport climate control system, increasing a dead band of a compressor of the transport climate control system, utilizing free cooling such as ambient air to provide climate control in the vehicle, or increasing cooling provided by the transport climate control system to an energy storage of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Scott Wenger, Katherine Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 11876446
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power converter for use in a host vehicle. The power converter comprises a DC link, a DC link capacitor, and a pre-charge circuit configured to charge the DC link capacitor. The pre-charge circuit comprises a boost converter comprising a switch and inductor coupling terminals configured to couple to an inductive component external to the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Matthias Gorski
  • Patent number: 11870356
    Abstract: Technologies for safely lowering a DC link voltage potential include detecting shut down of a system that is powered by the DC link energy storage system and initiating an operating mode to dissipate energy as a form of loss without utilizing an additional resistor, that is, dissipating the DC link internally to the enclosed power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Xiaorui Wang, Ryan Wayne Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11850914
    Abstract: Methods and systems for conveying or operationalizing data from a transport climate control system (TCCS) that provides climate control within an internal space moved by a vehicle are disclosed. A method includes determining, by a controller of the TCCS, a set of TCCS operational measurements; obtaining, by the controller, a set of TCCS operational settings; determining, by the controller, a set of cargo measurements; creating a shipment performance log based on the set of TCCS operational measurements, the set of TCCS operational settings, and the set of cargo measurements; publishing the shipment performance log to a data repository; and retrieving the shipment performance log to facilitate disposition of goods in the internal space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Christos Alkiviadis Polyzois, Wendy K. Foslien, Hardeep Singh, Grant Ovsak, Matthew Srnec, Travis Lumpkin, George Wallace Malheiros, Jordyn Purvins
  • Patent number: 11852067
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using a diesel particulate filter (DPF) heater as a load bank to maintain a minimum exhaust temperature for a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) paired with a prime mover are provided. The system includes a prime mover coupled with a generator, a compressor powered by the prime mover, a DOC disposed downstream from the prime mover, and a controller. The prime mover is separate from another prime mover used for operating a vehicle. The controller is configured to determine a load of the generator, to determine a load of the compressor, to determine a load of the prime mover based on the determined load of the generator and the determined load the compressor, and to control the load of the prime mover to maintain a minimum exhaust temperature for the DOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Adam B Carey, James Goodsell, Grant A. Baumgardner
  • Patent number: 11852392
    Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration circuit that includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. A condenser fan of the refrigeration system is configured to operate, under the control of a controller, at a condenser fan speed that is set based on a current refrigeration demand on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Donnellan, Premchand Reddy Punuru, Michael Greene, James E Conde
  • Patent number: 11846246
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for controlling an inlet pressure of a prime mover in a transport climate control system is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tank, a pressure regulator, a pump disposed downstream of the fuel tank, a first filter disposed downstream of the pump, and the prime mover disposed downstream of the first filter. The prime mover is located above the fuel tank in a vertical direction. The pump is configured to provide a first fuel flow through the first filter. The prime mover is configured to accept a first portion of the first fuel flow and is configured to provide a return fuel flow. The pressure regulator is disposed downstream of the first filter. The pressure regulator is configured to accept a second portion of the first fuel flow, and to accept a pressure of the return fuel flow as a reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11845317
    Abstract: A bracket for a power module of a transport refrigeration unit is provided. The bracket includes a body portion including: an opening for receiving a shaft of an electric machine of the power module; a plurality of first mounting holes extending through the body portion and spaced around the opening for connecting the bracket to the electric machine; and a plurality of second mounting holes for connecting the bracket to an engine of the power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Senthil Kumar Chellan
  • Patent number: 11843303
    Abstract: A transport climate control system is disclosed. The system includes a compressor, a motor-generator-rectifier machine, a belt drive connected to the motor-generator-rectifier machine and the compressor, at least one condenser fan, at least one evaporator fan, and a DC to DC converter. The motor-generator-rectifier machine connects to the at least one condenser fan, the at least one evaporator fan, and the DC to DC converter. The motor-generator-rectifier machine includes a motor, a low voltage generator connected to the motor, and a rectifier connected to the low voltage generator. The motor-generator-rectifier machine can provide a first low voltage DC power to the at least one condenser fan, the at least one evaporator fan, and the DC to DC converter. The DC to DC converter can convert the first low voltage DC power to a second low voltage DC power that is different from the first low voltage DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Donnellan, Sean Keaveney
  • Patent number: 11828215
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to a prime mover system. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a prime mover exhaust system that can prevent the accumulation of debris (e.g., soot or unburned fuel) in the prime mover system. In accordance with at least one embodiment described and recited herein, a self-cleaning prime mover exhaust system is provided. The prime mover exhaust system includes an exhaust tip, an exhaust pipe, and a cleaning tube. The exhaust tip is configured to eject exhaust out of the prime mover exhaust system, the exhaust pipe is configured to direct the exhaust away from a prime mover, and the cleaning tube is configured to accumulate debris exiting from the exhaust pipe and configured to vacuum the debris out of the self-cleaning prime mover exhaust system through the exhaust tip using the Venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey G. Harkness
  • Patent number: 11827106
    Abstract: A power distribution unit (PDU) for use with an electrically powered accessory is disclosed. The PDU includes at least one power input configured to receive electrical power from an electrical supply equipment and/or a second power source. The PDU also includes an accessory power interface configured to provide power to the electrically powered accessory. The PDU further includes a vehicle power interface configured to provide power to a vehicle electrical system of the vehicle. Also the PDU includes at least one switch configured to selectively connect the at least one power input to a power bus, and selectively connect the power bus to at least one of the accessory power interface and the vehicle power interface. The PDU also includes a controller configured to control the at least one switch to provide power to the electrically powered accessory and/or the vehicle electrical storage device of the vehicle electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Nicholas Allan Cregan, Mark D. Leasure, Michael James Vanous
  • Patent number: 11821436
    Abstract: A condenser fan includes a lock hub and multiple blades that are fastened to the hub. Each of the blades includes six planes, each of which having variable parameters including pitch angle, sickle, chord length, and blade curve. For each embodiment of the evaporator fan, the blades are identically configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Srikanth Kanduri, Ramesh Vedula, Preman Reynold Joseph, Sudalairaja Madasamy, Ajaya Kumar, Harikrishnan Nayanar K, Manivannan Loganathan, Evan Jones, Ross Jones, Bharath Gm
  • Patent number: 11813925
    Abstract: A transport climate control system to cost-effectively maintain an ultra-low temperature over an extended period of time is provided. The transport climate control system includes a primary climate control system and a secondary climate control system. The primary climate control system includes a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expander, and a main evaporator that is configured to thermally communicate with a climate controlled space. The secondary climate control system includes an ultra-low temperature phase changing medium packaged inside or outside of an enclosure for a cargo. The secondary climate control system is configured to thermally communicate with the climate controlled space, the primary climate control system, and the cargo to provide additional or backup climate control capacity at the ultra-low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventor: Lars I. Sjoholm
  • Patent number: 11794551
    Abstract: A method for optimizing power distribution amongst one or more electrical supply equipment stations at a power distribution site is provided. The method includes obtaining infrastructure data about the power distribution site, obtaining vehicle/transport climate control system data from one or more transport climate control systems and one or more vehicles demanding power from the one or more electrical supply equipment, and obtaining external data from an external source that can impact power demand from the one or more transport climate control systems. Each of the one or more transport climate control systems configured to provide climate control within a climate controlled space. The method also includes generating an optimized power distribution schedule based on the infrastructure data, the vehicle/transport climate control system data and the external data, and distributing power to the one or more transport climate control systems based on the optimized power distribution schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Wayne Schumacher, Matthew Srnec, Philip Lewis Lavrich, Wallace Stephen Hubbard, Matthias Gorski, Eckardt Augenstein
  • Patent number: 11794556
    Abstract: A climate control circuit for a transport climate control system is provided. The circuit includes a compressor, a plurality of evaporators, a suction flow control device, and a controller. The suction flow control device is downstream of the plurality of evaporators and directs the working fluid from each of the evaporators to one of a main suction port and an auxiliary port of the compressor. The controller determines whether each of the evaporators is operating in a fresh temperature range or in a frozen temperature range. For each of the evaporators operating in the fresh temperature range, the controller instructs the suction flow control device to direct the working fluid from the corresponding evaporator to the auxiliary suction port. For each of the plurality of evaporators operating in the frozen temperature range, the controller instructs the suction flow control device to direct the working fluid to the main suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Joseph R. Kaiser, Lars I. Sjoholm, Panayu Robert Srichai, David J. Dykes