Patents by Inventor Allan J. Reifel
Allan J. Reifel 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).
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Patent number: 9328946Abstract: Heat pumps for climates where demand for cooling and heating are unequal and methods of adapting and distributing heat pumps for such climates. Heat pumps include a compressor, compressor motor, variable-speed drive, and controller. In a number of embodiments, non-volatile memory stores sets of constant speeds for cooling and heating, and a person can select, via an input device, different sets of speeds for cooling and heating to provide the different cooling and heating capacities. The controller then operates the unit at the selected speeds, selecting from within the set based on demand for cooling or heating. In some embodiments, different sets of speeds may have the same minimum speed but different maximum speeds. Identical heat pumps can be configured to have different capacity ratings and different advertized efficiencies for different climates.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Nortek Global HVAC, LLCInventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Publication number: 20150321298Abstract: Heat pumps for climates where demand for cooling and heating are unequal and methods of adapting and distributing heat pumps for such climates. Heat pumps include a compressor, compressor motor, variable-speed drive, and controller. In a number of embodiments, non-volatile memory stores sets of constant speeds for cooling and heating, and a person can select, via an input device, different sets of speeds for cooling and heating to provide the different cooling and heating capacities. The controller then operates the unit at the selected speeds, selecting from within the set based on demand for cooling or heating. In some embodiments, different sets of speeds may have the same minimum speed but different maximum speeds. Identical heat pumps can be configured to have different capacity ratings and different advertized efficiencies for different climates.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Publication number: 20150276104Abstract: A method of joining two tubular sections including applying adhesive to a male end of a first tubular section and fitting the male end to a female end of a second tubular section. A clamp is positioned over the female end of the second tubular section and tightened to apply a circumferential inward force to the female end to reinforce the adhesive in securing the first tubular section to the second tubular section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Jie Chen, Shixuan Meng, Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, Robert J. Hawk
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Patent number: 9121628Abstract: Heat pumps for climates where demand for cooling and heating are unequal and methods of adapting and distributing heat pumps for such climates. Heat pumps include a compressor, compressor motor, variable speed drive, and controller. In a number of embodiments, non-volatile memory stores sets of constant speeds for cooling and heating, and a person can select, via an input device, different sets of speeds for cooling and heating to provide the different cooling and heating capacities. The controller then operates the unit at the selected speeds, selecting from within the set based on demand for cooling or heating. In some embodiments, different sets of speeds may have the same minimum speed but different maximum speeds. Identical heat pumps can be configured to have different capacity ratings and different advertised efficiencies for different climates.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Nortek Global HVAC LLCInventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Patent number: 8672733Abstract: Airflow rates within a ventilation system are controlled using motor speed or torque and motor electric current or pressure. Fan speed or torque may be varied to compensate for differing restriction in ductwork, and may provide a constant airflow rate over a range of varying airflow restriction. Air handlers or air conditioning units may be mass produced in common configurations, and installed in different buildings or structures with different ductwork configurations. Methods operate a fan motor at a present speed or torque, sample speed or torque, sample current of the fan motor or pressure within the ventilation system, calculate a present airflow rate within the ventilation system, calculate a new input setting using the present airflow rate and a target airflow rate, change the speed or torque to the new input setting, and repeat these steps to converge on the target airflow rate, often avoiding overshoot.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2007Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Nordyne LLCInventors: Jie Chen, Aaron D. Herzon, Allan J. Reifel, Yi Chen
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Patent number: 8261568Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing gas heat exchangers include a drain line connected to a collector attached to the heat exchanger. In different embodiments, the drain line, or a conduit for the drain line, may extend to the return duct opening for routing of the drain line through the return duct for disposal of the condensate, for instance, within the building, or the drain line may extend through a hole in the floor of the unit. The conduit may protect the drain line from direct heat from the heat exchanger, from freezing where the drain line passes through an outdoor section, or both. In some embodiments, air may be circulated through the conduit to prevent freezing. The conduit may guide the drain line through the unit, roof curb assembly, or roof, or the drain line may be routed through the unit by the manufacturer to the return duct opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Nordyne LLCInventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, David W. Garvin
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Publication number: 20120180774Abstract: Mixing devices for mixing fuel and air for a premix burner or furnace and furnaces (e.g., premix) with mixing devices. Furnaces may be for heating an occupied space, and may produce lower NOx emissions. A mixing device may be located within an inlet tube, may have a surface that is perpendicular to the direction of fuel flow or that forms a circle, or may have two surfaces held at substantially opposite angles to induce swirl. A portion of the mixing device may extend over an orifice of the fuel injector. A mixing device may be attached to the fuel injector, may be made from a piece of sheet metal, and may have a hole for attachment to the fuel injector. Mixing devices may have a center, two arms, and two ends, which may be separated by bends. A burner plate may be sandwiched between surfaces to allow for expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: NORDYNE LLCInventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, William F. Raleigh, Aaron D. Herzon
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Patent number: 8167610Abstract: Premix furnace for heating an occupied space while producing lower NOx emissions and methods of mixing air and fuel delivered to a premix burner and of improving combustion stability. A mixing device may be located within an inlet tube, may have a flat surface that is perpendicular to the direction of fuel flow, or may have two surfaces held at substantially opposite angles to induce swirl. A mixing device may be attached to the fuel injector, may be made from a piece of sheet metal, and may have bends and a hole for attachment to the fuel injector. A fluidic diode in the inlet tube may improve combustion stability and may include a hollow frustum or a frustoconical portion, a cylinder concentric with the inlet tube, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments include refractory insulation lining the combustion chamber or may adjust for elevation or fuel characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Nordyne, LLCInventors: William F. Raleigh, Robert A. Borgeson, Aaron D. Herzon, Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken
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Publication number: 20120090337Abstract: Heat pumps for climates where demand for cooling and heating are unequal and methods of adapting and distributing heat pumps for such climates. Heat pumps include a compressor, compressor motor, variable-speed drive, and controller. In a number of embodiments, non-volatile memory stores sets of constant speeds for cooling and heating, and a person can select, via an input device, different sets of speeds for cooling and heating to provide the different cooling and heating capacities. The controller then operates the unit at the selected speeds, selecting from within the set based on demand for cooling or heating. In some embodiments, different sets of speeds may have the same minimum speed but different maximum speeds. Identical heat pumps can be configured to have different capacity ratings and different advertized efficiencies for different climates.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Publication number: 20120048257Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing gas heat exchangers where condensate from the heat exchanger passes through the inducer fan, into an exhaust conduit, and out of the unit enclosure, and methods that reduce consumption of fossil fuels using air conditioning units with condensing gas heat exchangers by advertising that the units can be installed on the roof of a building or at ground level. Some embodiments include a drain hole extending through a collector attached to the heat exchanger to the inlet of the inducer fan. In some embodiments, a bifurcation in the exhaust conduit separates condensate from most combustion gasses. Some embodiments discharge condensate into a vertical standpipe in the ground that may extend below the frost line. Various methods include instructing an installer of the units regarding how to install the units and dispose of condensate into the ground or through a drain line into the building.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, Aaron D. Herzon, David W. Garvin
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Publication number: 20120047935Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing gas heat exchangers include a drain line connected to a collector attached to the heat exchanger. In different embodiments, the drain line, or a conduit for the drain line, may extend to the return duct opening for routing of the drain line through the return duct for disposal of the condensate, for instance, within the building, or the drain line may extend through a hole in the floor of the unit. The conduit may protect the drain line from direct heat from the heat exchanger, from freezing where the drain line passes through an outdoor section, or both. In some embodiments, air may be circulated through the conduit to prevent freezing. The conduit may guide the drain line through the unit, roof curb assembly, or roof, or the drain line may be routed through the unit by the manufacturer to the return duct opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, David W. Garvin
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Publication number: 20120048521Abstract: Air conditioning units packaged with condensing heat exchangers, collectors for such units, and apparatuses for passing a tube through a duct wall and making a loop and trap in the tube. In different embodiments, a drain line may connect to a collector attached to the heat exchanger or condensate may discharge through an inducer fan and out with combustion gasses. A drain line opening in the collector may be lower than a drain hole to the inlet of the inducer fan, which may be lower than an exhaust hole for the fan. A plug in the drain line opening in the collector may be used to discharge condensate through the inducer fan and a bifurcation in the exhaust conduit may separate condensate from most combustion gasses. Embodiments having a drain line connected to the collector may route the drain line through the roof, a conduit, or in the return duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken, Aaron D. Herzon, David W. Garvin
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Patent number: 8011199Abstract: Methods of controlling air conditioning and HVAC units using a thermostat for a discrete-speed unit that include changing speed based on how long the unit operates at a particular speed. Speed may be increased if a unit operates for longer than a predetermined time at a particular speed, and speed may be reduced if the unit operated for less than a specific amount of time during the prior run. In different embodiments, single-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three speeds, and two-stage thermostats may control units that operate at three to five or more speeds. In addition, in some embodiments, outdoor coil temperature may be measured and considered in determining speed. Further, in some embodiments, maintaining continuous or repeated operation at a boost speed may be avoided. Energy savings and noise reduction may result.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, Dave L. Koesterer, Siegfried J. Weigl
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Publication number: 20100310998Abstract: Premix furnace for heating an occupied space while producing lower NOx emissions and methods of mixing air and fuel delivered to a premix burner and of improving combustion stability. A mixing device may be located within an inlet tube, may have a flat surface that is perpendicular to the direction of fuel flow, or may have two surfaces held at substantially opposite angles to induce swirl. A mixing device may be attached to the fuel injector, may be made from a piece of sheet metal, and may have bends and a hole for attachment to the fuel injector. A fluidic diode in the inlet tube may improve combustion stability and may include a hollow frustum or a frustoconical portion, a cylinder concentric with the inlet tube, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments include refractory insulation lining the combustion chamber or may adjust for elevation or fuel characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: William F. Raleigh, Robert A. Borgeson, Aaron D. Herzon, Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken
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Patent number: 7784296Abstract: A control procedure operates an expansion valve of an air conditioning system. The control procedure utilizes a first control procedure to bring a calculated superheat value within a range of a target superheat value, and a second control procedure to cause the calculated superheat value to match the target superheat value. Both the first and second control procedures preferably use Proportional, Integral, Derivative control algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Nordyne Inc.Inventors: Yi Chen, Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer
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Patent number: 7770806Abstract: Relatively constant temperatures are maintained in a space by varying the capacity of heating or cooling equipment. A proportional band is used to adjust capacity to compensate for changes in heating or cooling load, and the proportional band is adjusted to bring the actual temperature within the space closer to the set point temperature. Such an adjustment may be made by determining the difference between the present temperature and the set point temperature, and adjusting a floating temperature set point by a percentage (e.g., ten percent) of the difference. Such a process may be repeated, for example, at regular intervals, such as once per minute. As a result, the temperature within the space approaches (e.g., asymptotically) the set point temperature whether the heating or cooling load is high or low. Methods, systems, and apparatuses are contemplated, including HVAC units and controls, including for residential applications, including using variable-speed drives.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Nordyne Inc.Inventors: Aaron D. Herzon, Allan J. Reifel
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Publication number: 20100173255Abstract: NOx reduction apparatuses for use in heat exchangers or furnaces, HVAC units and buildings having such devices, and methods of making such devices. Wire embodiments may have a body, helix, or modified helix, and support members that extend outside the body to hold the body away from the heat exchanger or tube. The support members may be made of the wire, and may include bights, twisted bights, or larger (e.g., helical) turns, for instance, between groups of smaller helical turns. In some embodiments, a modified helix is formed by alternating bends and straight sections of wire. Some embodiments include an attachment mechanism that may be made from the wire and may include a hook. Wire may be Nichrome. Particular embodiments may allow burning of natural gas or LP without changing or removing the wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Russell W. Hoeffken
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Publication number: 20100071868Abstract: HVAC units and systems, air conditioning units, and heat pumps that have micro-channel heat exchangers wherein fins are slanted, multi-tubes are oriented non-horizontally (e.g., vertically), or both, for example. Fins may be slanted downward in the direction of air flow to facilitate drainage of condensation, or may be slanted either downward or upward as appropriate to reduce air-flow restriction. Other embodiments include the heat exchangers themselves and buildings having such heat exchangers, units, or systems, as well as methods concerning such devices, such as methods of manufacture. In some embodiments, heat exchangers are used as evaporators in air conditioning units, as condensers in heat pumps, or both, as examples.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: ALLAN J. REIFEL, Russell W. Hoeffken
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Publication number: 20090294112Abstract: Tubing having internal fins projecting inward from the tube wall, each fin having an external surface that includes multiple acute interior angles or crevices that may form nucleation boiling sites, heat exchangers comprising such tubing, and methods of making same. Acute angles, crevices, or elongated slits may be formed in the sides, center, or both, of the fins or between the fins and the tube wall, and convex rounded surfaces may be provided therebetween. Fins may be parallel to the tube centerline or helically wound. Tubing may be expanded with a bullet which may form an interference fit with external fins, may modify the fins to create more effective nucleate boiling cavities, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Nordyne, Inc.Inventors: ALLAN J. REIFEL, Russell W. Hoeffken
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Publication number: 20090084131Abstract: Air conditioning units, methods of manufacturing, inventories, and buildings wherein certain heat exchanger modules are combined to make air conditioning units. In some embodiments, different combinations of different size modules are used to produce air conditioning units having different capacities wherein some identical modules are used in different size units. Various heat exchanger assemblies include spacers between modules, bends formed after modules are assembled into heat exchanger assemblies, attachment rails at the ends of the modules, inactive multi-tubes at the top and bottom of the modules, copper tubing between aluminum modules to facilitate field replacement of individual modules, name plates that attach between modules, attachment clips or spacers that snap attach to the modules, or a combination thereof, as examples.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Jie Chen, James S. Kistler, Russell W. Hoeffken