Patents Assigned to Trane International Inc.
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Patent number: 10830489Abstract: A condensate trap for an air handling unit is provided. The condensate trap includes at least one channel configured to selectively receive condensation flowing from the air handling unit, a drain outlet configured to selectively discharge condensation from the at least one channel, and a sealing device configured to float above condensation flowing from the least one channel to the drain outlet. The sealing device is further configured to sit atop a bottom surface of the at least one channel such that a seal is created when the at least one channel does not contain condensation, and to prevent a flow of contaminated air from the drain outlet to the air handler without completely blocking airflow from the sealing device to the air handler.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Richard Kilgo, Shiva kumar Kolloju, Ragunanthanan Mylsamy
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Publication number: 20200350764Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for power demand management are described herein. In some embodiments the system uses demand response bidding to reduce or increase the load of a power system. Day ahead or real-time bids may be performed. In other embodiments, a virtual power plant is disclosed that dynamically aggregates multiple power assets to provide demand response services, frequency response services, and fast ramp services to the grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Michael Sean Day
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Patent number: 10826357Abstract: Disclosed are an electric motor and a simplified variable speed drive system which renders the use of filtering components in a motor drive circuit unnecessary and increases torque transfer from permanent magnets of the rotor to the output shaft. The motor includes a fluid gap between the rotor and the stator configured to receive a cooling fluid, such a refrigerant. A plurality of radially-abutting, bread loaf-shaped magnets having a flat base are respectively fixed to a plurality of longitudinally oriented mounting facets provided on the shaft to provide maximum torque transfer from the magnets to the shaft. An eddy shield disposed between the faceted shaft and the magnets thermally shunts high frequency harmonics from the magnets to the shaft and cooling fluid. The rotor components are mechanically secured by a sleeve disposed around the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Charles J. Peterson, Russell T. Abbott
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Patent number: 10807102Abstract: An HVAC system having an air cleaner, a fan that selectively generates an air flow at least partially through the air cleaner, and a controller that establishes a functional relationship between an air flow related criterion and a correlated power level setting of the air cleaner, determines an air flow related criterion value, determines a correlated power level setting value using the determined air flow related criterion value and the functional relationship, and controls the air cleaner as a function of the determined correlated power level setting value is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: John Mark Hagan
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Patent number: 10801746Abstract: A protective housing structure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a first end and a second end with a centerline extending there between. The protecting housing structure includes a cover section that is located between the first end and second end. The cover section includes a dome-shaped top panel that is rigidly attached to a first sidewall and a second sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2015Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Richard Lee Jameson, Jeffrey Lee Stewart
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Patent number: 10794607Abstract: Configuration of flow paths for the output (e.g., chilled or heated air) of an HVAC system is described. In one embodiment, a demand response message can be received from a resource provider requesting that the HVAC system increase or decrease consumption of the resource. If the request is satisfied, then the output from the HVAC device will be increased or decreased resulting in potential discomfort for occupants. This output, however, rather than being distributed in a uniform manner, can instead be distributed, via ventilation elements of the HVAC system in a non-uniform way according to the flow paths. The flow paths can be determined to direct sufficient output to high priority zones in order to, e.g., satisfy a comfort level in the high priority zones.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Darryl E. Denton
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Patent number: 10794634Abstract: An inward gas/liquid distribution structure used in microchannel heat exchangers is disclosed. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure can help optimizing refrigerant distribution for a microchannel heat exchanger with long distribution pipe or a microchannel heat exchanger having significant wind field differences. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure includes an inlet header component. The inlet header component has n inlets that are configured to allow gas/liquid to enter the inlet header component, and “n” is an integer that is greater than or equal to 2. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure also includes m distribution components. The m distribution components are located in the inlet header component and connected to the n inlets, respectively. In an example, the number m equals to the number n.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignees: TRANE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD., TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Dongbin Wei
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Publication number: 20200309396Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can prioritize operating a consumption device in a manner that is efficient in terms of consumption of a resource over satisfying a specified demand assigned to the consumption device. This re-prioritizing can be performed in response to a price of the resource exceeding a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: John Hughes, Thomas B. Krugler, Youssef A. Jaber, Steven Brooks
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Patent number: 10782017Abstract: This disclosure relates to flame shapers for use in gas burners, gas burner systems, and methods for operating gas burner systems. Flame shaper embodiments include an opening having an unobstructed center, and turning vanes that extend from the perimeter of the opening towards its center. The turning vanes are configured to induce swirling in an ignited flame. Burner systems include an ignition source, the flame shaper, and a heat exchanger. In method embodiments, a flame is formed by igniting fuel and air, the flame is directed through the flame shaper, and the flame is then directed into a heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas Gort, Stephen Stewart Hancock, Wayne N. Kraft
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Patent number: 10782077Abstract: A condenser equipped with a refrigerant outlet configured to receive and store liquid refrigerant during an off-cycle is described. The refrigerant outlet may include an outflow pipe surrounded by a weir. The weir may include a port, through which liquid refrigerant in the weir can be directed to, for example, moving parts of the chiller for lubrication. The outflow pipe may extend vertically relative to the bottom of the condenser. In some embodiments, a first opening of the outflow pipe may be positioned higher than the bottom of the condenser in the vertical direction, while the weir may be positioned lower than the bottom of the condenser. Liquid refrigerant in the condenser can flow to and stay in the weir in an off-cycle. During a subsequent start-up, the liquid refrigerant in the weir can be directly quickly to moving parts of the chiller.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Todd Smith, Frederic Byron Hamm, Jr., Steven Joseph Pitts
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Publication number: 20200292188Abstract: A method for providing personalized comfort to occupants of an environmentally conditioned space includes sensing a pre-adjustment pressure within a variable air volume diffuser, remotely adjusting a position an individually-adjustable directional outlet of the variable air volume diffuser, sensing a post-adjustment pressure within the variable air volume diffuser, and modifying the airflow through the variable air volume diffuser such that the post-adjustment pressure is equal to the pre-adjustment pressure. The variable air volume diffuser includes individually-adjustable directional outlets and a controller configured to regulate air pressure within the variable air volume diffuser when an individually adjustable directional outlet is adjusted. A user device in operative communication with the variable air volume diffuser includes a user interface to remotely adjust an adjustable directional outlet of the variable air volume diffuser to provide personalized comfort for the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Rajasudhakar Subban, Rajat Subhra Raj
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Patent number: 10774873Abstract: A porous gas bearing is disclosed. The porous gas bearing includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an aperture. A porous surface layer is disposed within the housing surrounding the aperture in a circumferential direction. The porous surface layer is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A damping system includes a damping system including a biasing member, the biasing member being disposed in a passageway that extends along the longitudinal direction of the aperture and circumferentially about the aperture, wherein the biasing member is arranged radially outward from the porous surface layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Sung Hwa Jeung, Jay H. Johnson, Donald Lee Hill, Matthew Cambio
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Patent number: 10775069Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system and a method for controlling the HVAC system. The HVAC system includes a compressor and a variable speed discharge fan. The method includes determining, with a controller, a low fan capacity setting based on an operation of the compressor. The method also includes maintaining a discharge fan capacity at the low fan capacity setting, and varying a coil discharge air temperature between a low discharge air temperature limit and a high discharge air temperature limit. The method further includes when the coil discharge air temperature reaches the low discharge air temperature limit, varying the discharge fan capacity between the low fan capacity setting and a high fan capacity setting so as to maintain a space temperature at a space temperature setpoint, while maintaining the coil discharge air temperature at the low discharge air temperature limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: John Zhou, Thomas J. Clanin
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Patent number: 10767908Abstract: A cascade heat recovery system connects an evaporator from a heating unit to a recovery condenser of the cooling unit, where the recovery condenser is different from a cooling condenser of the cooling unit, and/or connects the evaporator of the heating unit to the cooling loop of the cooling unit, for example in fluid communication with the evaporator of the cooling unit. Both configurations allow the heating unit to be isolated or decoupled from the heat rejection circuit on which the cooling condenser runs. The use of either or both configurations, depending on the operating conditions, can use heat rejected by the evaporator of the cooling unit to be available to the heating unit, so as to provide lift to the heating unit and improve its operating efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Lee R. Cline
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Patent number: 10772097Abstract: Configuration of a communication module based on determination of an idle time metric is described. In one embodiment, signal strength data representative of composite signal strength indicators of a group of frequency channels utilized by the communication module is determined. A composite indicator of the composite signal strength indicators can be employed that comprises multiple signal strength indicators, sampled over time, of a first channel of the group of frequency channels. Respective values for the composite indicator can be assigned in response to comparisons of the multiple signal strength indicators to one or more defined threshold(s). An idle time metric of the first channel can be determined based on a combination of the respective values and a best channel from among the group of frequency channels can be determined based on the idle time metric. The communication module can be updated to communicate via the best channel.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Tianxiang Lin, Joel C. VanderZee
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Patent number: 10760828Abstract: A chiller plant is disclosed. The chiller plant includes a chiller circuit including a chiller, a first process fluid circuit, and a first heat exchanger. The chiller is configured to provide a first process fluid at a first temperature. The chiller plant also includes an air handling circuit including a plurality of ice storage tanks and an air handling unit. The chiller plant further includes a terminal cooling circuit including a plurality of terminals, the terminal cooling circuit providing a second process fluid to the plurality of terminals at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The terminal cooling circuit is fluidly separate from, but thermally communicates with, the chiller circuit via the first heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: John Arthur Murphy, Susanna S. Hanson, Kevin P. Bradley, Anthony Wayne Bruno
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Patent number: 10760841Abstract: Generally, a variable fan speed control in an HVAC system is described. Such methods and systems to control fan speed can in turn improve efficiency of the HVAC system by minimizing power consumption, for example of the compressor. The control scheme is based on various operating conditions of compressor load and ambient air temperature, which are used to determine an optimum fan speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Michael Carl Boehde
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Patent number: 10753392Abstract: A porous gas bearing is disclosed. The porous gas bearing includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an aperture. A porous surface layer is disposed within the housing surrounding the aperture in a circumferential direction. The porous surface layer includes a plurality of segments arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aperture. The porous surface layer is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A damping system includes a plurality of dampers. The plurality of dampers is disposed circumferentially about the aperture. The plurality of dampers is arranged in between a first segment of the plurality of segments of the porous surface layer and a second segment of the plurality of segments of the porous surface layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Sung Hwa Jeung, Jay H. Johnson, Donald Lee Hill, Matthew Cambio
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Patent number: 10753359Abstract: A crankshaft assembly for a scroll compressor is disclosed. The crankshaft assembly includes a crankpin having a plurality of apertures therethrough. A crankshaft body has an aperture therethrough. The aperture of the crankshaft and one of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin being aligned when in an assembled state such that in operation fluid flows between the aperture of the crankshaft body and the one of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin. The crankshaft body includes a second aperture aligned with a second of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin. The crankpin and the crankshaft body are separate members. A fastener extends through the second of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin and into the second aperture of the crankshaft body to secure the crankpin and the crankshaft body together in the assembled state.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Daniel R. Crum, Kenneth Andrew Raymond, George Hansen, Michael G. Benco
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Patent number: 10746414Abstract: A furnace may include a furnace cabinet, an inducer blower, and a flue vent adapter. The furnace is configured as a multi-poise furnace and configured to be installed and operated in each of the horizontal left flow orientation, the horizontal right flow orientation, the upflow orientation, and the downflow orientation. The flue vent adapter is used when the furnace is installed and operated in the downflow orientation. Alternatively, the flue vent adapter is used when the furnace is installed and operated in each of the horizontal left flow orientation and the horizontal right flow orientation. The flue vent adapter has a unitary construction to reduce manufacturing costs, reduce a pressure drop through the flue vent adapter, and reduce leakage.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Sandeep Gowdagiri, Joshua Brian Coley, Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Kevin Joseph Ligi, John Bailey