Patents by Inventor Brian J. Knapke

Brian J. Knapke 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).

  • Publication number: 20230296097
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, first and second scrolls, a floating seal assembly, a modulation-valve ring, and a modulation-control-valve assembly. The shell assembly may define a suction-pressure region. The first scroll may include a discharge passage, a modulation port, and a biasing passage. The modulation-valve ring may cooperate with the floating seal assembly and the first scroll to define an axial-biasing chamber in fluid communication with the biasing passage. The modulation-valve ring may be axially displaceable between a closed position to close the modulation port and an open position to open the modulation port. The modulation-control-valve assembly may be mounted to the modulation-valve ring and may be movable between a first position corresponding to the closed position and a second position corresponding to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon H. BERCOT, Dennis D. PAX, Brian J. KNAPKE, Ramesh Chandra BEHERA, Saurabh PRABHAKAR, Kamendra SINGH, Bhagwat Vaijanath NAGURE, Vinod Arun KOKATE
  • Patent number: 11692546
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, orbiting and non-orbiting scrolls, a bearing housing, a bushing, a damper, and a fastener. The bearing housing includes a first aperture. The bushing may include an axial end abutting the bearing housing. The bushing may extend through a second aperture of the non-orbiting scroll. The bushing may include a third aperture. The damper may be received in a pocket that may be defined by and disposed radially between an outer diametrical surface of the bushing and an inner diametrical surface of the non-orbiting scroll. The damper may be at least partially disposed within the second aperture and may encircle the second portion of the bushing. The fastener may include a shaft portion and a flange portion. The shaft portion may extend through the third aperture and into the first aperture. The flange portion may contact a first axial end of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: JonYeon Oh, Joseph M. Shepherd, Brian J. Knapke, Srinivasan Ramalingam
  • Patent number: 11353022
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, orbiting and non-orbiting scrolls, a bearing housing, a bushing, a damper, and a fastener. The bearing housing includes a first aperture. The bushing may include an axial end abutting the bearing housing. The bushing may extend through a second aperture of the non-orbiting scroll. The bushing may include a third aperture. The damper may be received in a pocket that may be defined by and disposed radially between an outer diametrical surface of the bushing and an inner diametrical surface of the non-orbiting scroll. The damper may be at least partially disposed within the second aperture and may encircle the second portion of the bushing. The fastener may include a shaft portion and a flange portion. The shaft portion may extend through the third aperture and into the first aperture. The flange portion may contact a first axial end of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: JonYeon Oh, Joseph M. Shepherd, Brian J. Knapke, Srinivasan Ramalingam, Gui Lin, Steven J. Baker, Miles E. Strand
  • Publication number: 20220136502
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, orbiting and non-orbiting scrolls, a bearing housing, a bushing, a damper, and a fastener. The bearing housing includes a first aperture. The bushing may include an axial end abutting the bearing housing. The bushing may extend through a second aperture of the non-orbiting scroll. The bushing may include a third aperture. The damper may be received in a pocket that may be defined by and disposed radially between an outer diametrical surface of the bushing and an inner diametrical surface of the non-orbiting scroll. The damper may be at least partially disposed within the second aperture and may encircle the second portion of the bushing. The fastener may include a shaft portion and a flange portion. The shaft portion may extend through the third aperture and into the first aperture. The flange portion may contact a first axial end of the damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: JonYeon OH, Joseph M. SHEPHERD, Brian J. KNAPKE, Srinivasan RAMALINGAM
  • Publication number: 20210372407
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, orbiting and non-orbiting scrolls, a bearing housing, a bushing, a damper, and a fastener. The bearing housing includes a first aperture. The bushing may include an axial end abutting the bearing housing. The bushing may extend through a second aperture of the non-orbiting scroll. The bushing may include a third aperture. The damper may be received in a pocket that may be defined by and disposed radially between an outer diametrical surface of the bushing and an inner diametrical surface of the non-orbiting scroll. The damper may be at least partially disposed within the second aperture and may encircle the second portion of the bushing. The fastener may include a shaft portion and a flange portion. The shaft portion may extend through the third aperture and into the first aperture. The flange portion may contact a first axial end of the damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: JonYeon OH, Joseph M. SHEPHERD, Brian J. KNAPKE, Srinivasan RAMALINGAM, Gui LIN, Steven J. BAKER, Miles E. STRAND
  • Patent number: 11136977
    Abstract: A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a bearing housing and first and second discrete keys. The non-orbiting scroll may include a first end plate having a first spiral wrap extending therefrom. The orbiting scroll may include a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap of the non-orbiting scroll. The bearing housing may support the orbiting scroll. Each of the first and second keys may be slidably engaged in first slots formed in the second end plate of the orbiting scroll and slidably engaged in second slots formed in the first end plate of the non-orbiting scroll or third slots formed in the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinayak N. Nagulpelli, Brian J. Knapke, Daniel J. Knoth
  • Publication number: 20200208632
    Abstract: A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a bearing housing and first and second discrete keys. The non-orbiting scroll may include a first end plate having a first spiral wrap extending therefrom. The orbiting scroll may include a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap of the non-orbiting scroll. The bearing housing may support the orbiting scroll. Each of the first and second keys may be slidably engaged in first slots formed in the second end plate of the orbiting scroll and slidably engaged in second slots formed in the first end plate of the non-orbiting scroll or third slots formed in the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinayak N. NAGULPELLI, Brian J. KNAPKE, Daniel J. KNOTH
  • Patent number: 7547202
    Abstract: A scroll compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism, and a sealing apparatus. The compression mechanism may be contained within the shell and include a compression member. The compression member may include an aperture extending radially there a surface. The sealing apparatus may be contained within the shell and include a first seal member and an actuator. The first seal member may be pivotally supported relative the compression member and may be movable from a first position wherein a sealing portion of the first seal member is in a sealing engagement with the surface and a second position wherein the sealing portion of the first seal member is displaced radially outwardly from the surface. The actuator may be engaged with the first seal member and configured to displace the first seal member from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Knapke
  • Publication number: 20080138227
    Abstract: A scroll compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism, and a sealing apparatus. The compression mechanism may be contained within the shell and include a compression member. The compression member may include an aperture extending radially there a surface. The sealing apparatus may be contained within the shell and include a first seal member and an actuator. The first seal member may be pivotally supported relative the compression member and may be movable from a first position wherein a sealing portion of the first seal member is in a sealing engagement with the surface and a second position wherein the sealing portion of the first seal member is displaced radially outwardly from the surface. The actuator may be engaged with the first seal member and configured to displace the first seal member from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Brian J. Knapke