Patents by Inventor Carl T. Crawford

Carl T. Crawford 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: 11768022
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Robert B. Uselton
  • Publication number: 20220325931
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. CRAWFORD, Robert B. USELTON
  • Patent number: 11408651
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Patent number: 11408652
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Patent number: 11402138
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Robert B. Uselton
  • Publication number: 20210180840
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20210180839
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10955175
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10928091
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and a valve coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine that the outdoor heat pump unit is in operation during an air conditioning cycle. The controllers are further operable to determine an outdoor temperature and compare the outdoor temperature to a predetermined temperature. The controllers are further operable to initiate a closure of the valve coupled to the refrigerant line and initiate operation of the compressor at an end of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil in response to comparing the outdoor temperature to the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Umesh Gokhale
  • Patent number: 10816232
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and an EEV coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine an occurrence of a first event, initiate a closure of the EEV, initiate operation of the compressor at a completion of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil, and cease operation of the compressor when a low-pressure switch is tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Umesh Gokhale
  • Publication number: 20200300523
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. CRAWFORD, Robert B. USELTON
  • Publication number: 20200240661
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and an EEV coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine an occurrence of a first event, initiate a closure of the EEV, initiate operation of the compressor at a completion of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil, and cease operation of the compressor when a low-pressure switch is tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Umesh Gokhale
  • Publication number: 20200240673
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and a valve coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine that the outdoor heat pump unit is in operation during an air conditioning cycle. The controllers are further operable to determine an outdoor temperature and compare the outdoor temperature to a predetermined temperature. The controllers are further operable to initiate a closure of the valve coupled to the refrigerant line and initiate operation of the compressor at an end of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil in response to comparing the outdoor temperature to the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Umesh Gokhale
  • Patent number: 10704816
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Robert B. Uselton
  • Patent number: 10519981
    Abstract: In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Chris McHugh
  • Publication number: 20190170410
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Berg, Austin Clay Styer, Carl T. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20180224175
    Abstract: A method of initiating a low-energy cooling mode using a controller of an HVAC system includes measuring a temperature of ambient air proximal to a condenser coil and determining whether the temperature of the ambient air proximal the condenser coil is less than a temperature threshold. If the temperature of the ambient air is less than the temperature threshold, the HVAC system is configured to operate in a low-energy cooling mode. In the low-energy cooling mode, the controller opens a first bypass valve to allow a refrigerant to bypass a compressor and the compressor is powered off. The HVAC system is operated until a cooling demand has been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. CRAWFORD, Robert B. USELTON
  • Publication number: 20180080481
    Abstract: In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Chris McHugh
  • Patent number: 9909596
    Abstract: In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Chris McHugh
  • Patent number: 9829012
    Abstract: In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Carl T. Crawford, Chris McHugh