Patents by Inventor Christopher Glen Thilges

Christopher Glen Thilges 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).

  • Interstage capacity control valve with side stream flow distribution and flow regulation for multi-stage centrifugal compressors
    Patent number: 11661949
    Abstract: Centrifugal compressors can incorporate a side stream flow of intermediate pressure vapor between stages of that compressor. The side stream flow can be controlled by a side stream injection port controlled by a capacity control valve that has a curved surface facing a flow of refrigerant from the first stage to the second stage. The capacity control valve can allow or obstruct flow through the side stream injection port. The capacity control valve can extend and retract in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can be ring-shaped. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can allow at least some of the side stream to be introduced on a side of the capacity control valve opposite the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Yuanjie Wu, Christopher Glen Thilges, Mark W. Harrison, Jon Christopher Johnson
  • INTERSTAGE CAPACITY CONTROL VALVE WITH SIDE STREAM FLOW DISTRIBUTION AND FLOW REGULATION FOR MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS
    Publication number: 20220349414
    Abstract: Centrifugal compressors can incorporate a side stream flow of intermediate pressure vapor between stages of that compressor. The side stream flow can be controlled by a side stream injection port controlled by a capacity control valve that has a curved surface facing a flow of refrigerant from the first stage to the second stage. The capacity control valve can allow or obstruct flow through the side stream injection port. The capacity control valve can extend and retract in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can be ring-shaped. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can allow at least some of the side stream to be introduced on a side of the capacity control valve opposite the curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Yuanjie Wu, Christopher Glen Thilges, Mark W. Harrison, Jon Christopher Johnson
  • Interstage capacity control valve with side stream flow distribution and flow regulation for multi-stage centrifugal compressors
    Patent number: 11391289
    Abstract: Centrifugal compressors can incorporate a side stream flow of intermediate pressure vapor between stages of that compressor. The side stream flow can be controlled by a side stream injection port controlled by a capacity control valve that has a curved surface facing a flow of refrigerant from the first stage to the second stage. The capacity control valve can allow or obstruct flow through the side stream injection port. The capacity control valve can extend and retract in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can be ring-shaped. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can allow at least some of the side stream to be introduced on a side of the capacity control valve opposite the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Yuanjie Wu, Christopher Glen Thilges, Mark W. Harrison, Jon Christopher Johnson
  • INTERSTAGE CAPACITY CONTROL VALVE WITH SIDE STREAM FLOW DISTRIBUTION AND FLOW REGULATION FOR MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS
    Publication number: 20210340988
    Abstract: Centrifugal compressors can incorporate a side stream flow of intermediate pressure vapor between stages of that compressor. The side stream flow can be controlled by a side stream injection port controlled by a capacity control valve that has a curved surface facing a flow of refrigerant from the first stage to the second stage. The capacity control valve can allow or obstruct flow through the side stream injection port. The capacity control valve can extend and retract in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can be ring-shaped. The side stream injection port and the capacity control valve can allow at least some of the side stream to be introduced on a side of the capacity control valve opposite the curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Yuanjie Wu, Christopher Glen Thilges, Mark W. Harrison, Jon Christopher Johnson