Patents by Inventor Alberto SCALA

Alberto SCALA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11841020
    Abstract: A screw compressor, method of operating, and refrigerant circuit are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet that compresses the working fluid. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. A valve assembly is configured to vary a location at which the compression mechanism compresses the working fluid, the valve assembly being disposed to modify a suction location of the screw compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Publication number: 20220299031
    Abstract: A screw compressor, method of operating, and refrigerant circuit are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet that compresses the working fluid. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. A valve assembly is configured to vary a location at which the compression mechanism compresses the working fluid, the valve assembly being disposed to modify a suction location of the screw compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Patent number: 11306721
    Abstract: A screw compressor, method of operating, and refrigerant circuit are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet that compresses the working fluid. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. A valve assembly is configured to vary a location at which the compression mechanism compresses the working fluid, the valve assembly being disposed to modify a suction location of the screw compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Patent number: 11022122
    Abstract: A screw compressor includes a compressor housing defining a working chamber, the housing including a plurality of bores; a first rotor having helical threads, the first rotor being housed in a first of the plurality of bores; a second rotor having helical threads intermeshing with the helical threads of the first rotor, the second rotor being housed in a second of the plurality of bores; an inlet port that receives a fluid to be compressed; an outlet port that receives a compressed fluid; and an intermediate discharge port disposed between the compression chamber and the outlet port, the intermediate discharge port including a sealing member and a biasing mechanism, fluid flow being prevented between the compression chamber and the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-blocked state, and fluid flow being enabled from the compression chamber through the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-permitted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Scott M. Branch, Timothy S. Hagen, Jerry A. Rood, Alberto Scala
  • Patent number: 10935292
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system is disclosed. The HVACR system includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A controller is electronically connected to the compressor. The controller is configured to prevent the compressor from operating at a speed that is less than a minimum speed limit. A lubricant separator has an inlet fluidly connected between the compressor and the condenser and a plurality of outlets. A first of the plurality of outlets is fluidly connected to the condenser. A second of the plurality of outlets is fluidly connected to one or more components of the compressor to provide a lubricant to the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Hughes, Robert S. Bakkestuen, Timothy S. Hagen, Keith Adam Novak, Daniel R. Dreher, Alberto Scala
  • Patent number: 10895259
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to economized screw compressors. Particularly, this synchronized economizer ports on both the female and the male rotor sides of a compressor housing. The economizer ports simultaneously provide gas to a compression chamber formed by male and female rotors. The synchronized male side and female side economizer ports are configured to open and close at opening and closing angles, respectively. The opening angles and the closing angles each differ by at most half of an angular width of a male lobe of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Patent number: 10876531
    Abstract: A screw compressor, refrigerant circuit, lubrication method are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. The screw compressor includes a slide valve that is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to a high volume ratio and the second position corresponds to a low volume ratio. The slide valve includes a plurality of lubricant passageways selectively connectable to a lubricant source. A first of the plurality of lubricant passageways is configured to be selected to provide lubricant at the high volume ratio, and a second of the plurality of lubricant passageways is configured to be selected to provide lubricant at the low volume ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Keith Adam Novak, Alberto Scala, Timothy S. Hagen, Brian Hemmersbach
  • Patent number: 10746176
    Abstract: Control systems and methods for increasing efficiency of a compressor while the compressor capacity exceeds compressor load, by using a mechanical unloader such as a slide valve to reduce the internal volume ratio of the compressor and allow a more efficient speed to be maintained by a variable frequency drive (VFD) while reducing the compressor capacity based on the load. Control systems include the VFD, a controller for the VFD and the mechanical unloader, and temperature sensors. Compressor embodiments further include one or more compressors and mechanical unloaders operated by the control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jay H. Johnson, Alberto Scala
  • Publication number: 20200208638
    Abstract: A screw compressor, refrigerant circuit, lubrication method are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. The screw compressor includes a slide valve that is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to a high volume ratio and the second position corresponds to a low volume ratio. The slide valve includes a plurality of lubricant passageways selectively connectable to a lubricant source. A first of the plurality of lubricant passageways is configured to be selected to provide lubricant at the high volume ratio, and a second of the plurality of lubricant passageways is configured to be selected to provide lubricant at the low volume ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Adam Novak, Alberto Scala, Timothy S. Hagen, Brian Hemmersbach
  • Publication number: 20200208637
    Abstract: A screw compressor, method of operating, and refrigerant circuit are disclosed. The screw compressor includes a suction inlet that receives a working fluid to be compressed. A compression mechanism is fluidly connected to the suction inlet that compresses the working fluid. A discharge outlet is fluidly connected to the compression mechanism that outputs the working fluid following compression by the compression mechanism. A valve assembly is configured to vary a location at which the compression mechanism compresses the working fluid, the valve assembly being disposed to modify a suction location of the screw compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Publication number: 20190383539
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system is disclosed. The HVACR system includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A controller is electronically connected to the compressor. The controller is configured to prevent the compressor from operating at a speed that is less than a minimum speed limit. A lubricant separator has an inlet fluidly connected between the compressor and the condenser and a plurality of outlets. A first of the plurality of outlets is fluidly connected to the condenser. A second of the plurality of outlets is fluidly connected to one or more components of the compressor to provide a lubricant to the one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin P. HUGHES, Robert S. BAKKESTUEN, Timothy S. HAGEN, Keith Adam NOVAK, Daniel R. DREHER, Alberto SCALA
  • Publication number: 20190323503
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to economized screw compressors. Particularly, this synchronized economizer ports on both the female and the male rotor sides of a compressor housing. The economizer ports simultaneously provide gas to a compression chamber formed by male and female rotors. The synchronized male side and female side economizer ports are configured to open and close at opening and closing angles, respectively. The opening angles and the closing angles each differ by at most half of an angular width of a male lobe of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: Alberto Scala
  • Publication number: 20180356139
    Abstract: Control systems and methods for increasing efficiency of a compressor while the compressor capacity exceeds compressor load, by using a mechanical unloader such as a slide valve to reduce the internal volume ratio of the compressor and allow a more efficient speed to be maintained by a variable frequency drive (VFD) while reducing the compressor capacity based on the load. Control systems include the VFD, a controller for the VFD and the mechanical unloader, and temperature sensors. Compressor embodiments further include one or more compressors and mechanical unloaders operated by the control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jay H. JOHNSON, Alberto SCALA
  • Publication number: 20170350398
    Abstract: A screw compressor includes a compressor housing defining a working chamber, the housing including a plurality of bores; a first rotor having helical threads, the first rotor being housed in a first of the plurality of bores; a second rotor having helical threads intermeshing with the helical threads of the first rotor, the second rotor being housed in a second of the plurality of bores; an inlet port that receives a fluid to be compressed; an outlet port that receives a compressed fluid; and an intermediate discharge port disposed between the compression chamber and the outlet port, the intermediate discharge port including a sealing member and a biasing mechanism, fluid flow being prevented between the compression chamber and the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-blocked state, and fluid flow being enabled from the compression chamber through the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-permitted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Scott M. BRANCH, Timothy S. HAGEN, Jerry A. Rood, Alberto SCALA