Patents by Inventor Dan Vad Steffensen

Dan Vad Steffensen 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: 10619902
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for use in transport includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series, an evaporator fan, a supply air temperature sensor, a return air temperature sensor, and a controller. The evaporator fan is configured to discharge supply air from the system to a refrigerated space. The supply air temperature sensor is configured to sense the supply air temperature of the supply air. The return air temperature sensor is configured to sense a return air temperature of return air returning from the refrigerated space to the system. The controller is programmed to determine a requirement for moderate heating and a requirement for increased heating based on the supply air temperature and the return air temperature, to activate the evaporator fan when the requirement for moderate heating is determined, and to increase a speed of the evaporator fan when the requirement for increased heating is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20180164009
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Patent number: 9857114
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: THERMO KING CORPORATION, EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES—TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS APS
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20140311171
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Patent number: 8800307
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20140069126
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Compamy, Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Patent number: 8607582
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series. The system further includes a heater and sensors configured to sense the temperature of the supply air and the temperature of the return air. A controller is programmed to determine one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The controller is programmed to activate the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and to increase the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The controller is also programmed to activate the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and to increase the power supplied to the compressor and maintain the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thøgersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Patent number: 8538585
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container to pull down the temperature of cargo from ambient to a predetermined set-point temperature, and a system employing the method. The method includes operating a compressor at a first power to compress a refrigerant and direct the refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator of the refrigeration system, initially operating an evaporator fan at a first speed to supply refrigerated supply air from the evaporator to the cargo within the container, sensing the temperature of the supply air, comparing the temperature of the supply air with a predetermined set-point temperature, and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan to a second speed faster than the first when the temperature of the supply air is lower than the predetermined set-point temperature to maintain the temperature of the supply air at the predetermined set-point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Thermo King Corporation, Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ole Thøgersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20100106303
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container to pull down the temperature of cargo from ambient to a predetermined set-point temperature, and a system employing the method. The method includes operating a compressor at a first power to compress a refrigerant and direct the refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator of the refrigeration system, initially operating an evaporator fan at a first speed to supply refrigerated supply air from the evaporator to the cargo within the container, sensing the temperature of the supply air, comparing the temperature of the supply air with a predetermined set-point temperature, and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan to a second speed faster than the first when the temperature of the supply air is lower than the predetermined set-point temperature to maintain the temperature of the supply air at the predetermined set-point temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20100101770
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo, and a system employing the method. The method includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, and a heater. The method also includes determining the temperature of the supply air discharged into the container and the return air from the container, determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperatures of the return air and the supply air, activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined, and activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ole Thøgersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen
  • Publication number: 20100106302
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating frozen cargo, and a system employing the method. The method includes providing a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series, and providing an evaporator fan. The method also includes alternating operation of the compressor and the evaporator fan, in combination, between an active mode where the compressor compresses a refrigerant and directs the refrigerant through the condenser and the evaporator, and where the evaporator fan rotates to supply refrigerated supply air from the evaporator to the cargo within the container, and a sleep mode in which the compressor and the evaporator fan are deactivated, and operating the compressor and the evaporator fan in the sleep mode for a duration that is based on a measured duration of a prior sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ole Thogersen, Allan Dyrmose, Dan Vad Steffensen