Patents by Inventor Daniel John Blair
Daniel John Blair 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: 11162702Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for validating the installation and operation of a fault detection and diagnostic module that monitors a component of an HVAC system. A remote diagnostic server is in operative communication with the HVAC system, and with the fault detection and diagnostic module. A user device communicates data to the remote diagnostic server that defines an association between the fault detection and diagnostic module and the HVAC system. The remote diagnostic server initiates an installation validation by sending a command to the HVAC system that causes the monitored component to initiate an event that is expected to be reported by the fault detection and diagnostic module. For example, a fan motor is turned on. If correctly installed, the fault detection and diagnostic module senses the event, and reports the event to the remote diagnostic server, which confirms the association. The remote diagnostic server sends a message to the user device indicating the result of the validation.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Drew Whitehurst, Carl L. Garrett, Christopher Blake Smith, Bradley T. Wilson, James W. Barnard
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Patent number: 11079132Abstract: A system and method for managing power consumption of HVAC system includes a transfer switch, a detector interface and an HVAC controller of the HVAC system. The transfer switch is configured to switch a power line supplied to a load between a utility power source and a backup power source. The detector interface is in communication with the transfer switch or a controller of the backup power source and the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller is configured to receive data regarding the switching of power line supplied to the load between the utility power source and the backup power source and control an operation of components of the HVAC system based on the capacity of power source, thereby manages or lowers the power consumption of HVAC system. The detector interface is configured to provide switching information and capacity of the backup power source to the HVAC controller.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Daniel John Blair
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Publication number: 20200386434Abstract: A system and method for managing power consumption of HVAC system includes a transfer switch, a detector interface and an HVAC controller of the HVAC system. The transfer switch is configured to switch a power line supplied to a load between a utility power source and a backup power source. The detector interface is in communication with the transfer switch or a controller of the backup power source and the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller is configured to receive data regarding the switching of power line supplied to the load between the utility power source and the backup power source and control an operation of components of the HVAC system based on the capacity of power source, thereby manages or lowers the power consumption of HVAC system. The detector interface is configured to provide switching information and capacity of the backup power source to the HVAC controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Daniel John Blair
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Patent number: 10845076Abstract: A method of operating a diagnostic data collection device and a diagnostic data bus for an HVAC system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the diagnostic data collection device includes a diagnostic communication interface and a flexible interface module. The interface module measures electrical properties associated with an HVAC component. Electrical properties may include a sensor output and may include analog and digital signals. The diagnostic data collection device generates an exception message if the sensed property is out of specification. Evaluation rules are provided to detect various types of failures, including transient failures, steady state failures, and trending failures. The diagnostic data collection device self-calibrates by recording electrical properties during normal operation of the HVAC equipment. A plurality of diagnostic data collection devices may be coupled by a diagnostic data bug independent of the HVAC system's control bus, to ensure operational integrity of the diagnostic system.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Carl L. Garrett, Mark E. Groskreutz, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Karl J. Mutchnik, William David Daugherty, III, Mahfuz Imam, Gang (Jacky) Chen
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Publication number: 20190107304Abstract: A method of operating a diagnostic data collection device and a diagnostic data bus for an HVAC system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the diagnostic data collection device includes a diagnostic communication interface and a flexible interface module. The interface module measures electrical properties associated with an HVAC component. Electrical properties may include a sensor output and may include analog and digital signals. The diagnostic data collection device generates an exception message if the sensed property is out of specification. Evaluation rules are provided to detect various types of failures, including transient failures, steady state failures, and trending failures. The diagnostic data collection device self-calibrates by recording electrical properties during normal operation of the HVAC equipment. A plurality of diagnostic data collection devices may be coupled by a diagnostic data bug independent of the HVAC system's control bus, to ensure operational integrity of the diagnostic system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Carl L. Garrett, Mark E. Groskreutz, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Karl J. Mutchnik, William David Daugherty, III, Mahfuz Imam, Gang (Jacky) Chen
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Patent number: 10139122Abstract: A diagnostic data collection device and a diagnostic data bus are disclosed. In an embodiment, the diagnostic data collection device includes a diagnostic communication interface and a flexible interface module. The interface module is configurable to measure one or more electrical properties associated with an HVAC component, such as voltage, current, resistance. Electrical properties may include a sensor output and may include analog and digital signals. The diagnostic data collection device generates an exception message if the sensed property is out of specification. Evaluation rules are provided to detect various types of failures, including transient failures, steady state failures, and trending failures. The diagnostic data collection device self-calibrates by recording electrical properties during normal operation of the HVAC equipment.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Carl L. Garrett, Mark E. Groskreutz, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Karl J. Mutchnik, William David Daugherty, III, Mahfuz Imam, Gang (Jacky) Chen
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Publication number: 20180087796Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for determining the operational state of an HVAC system. The method includes transmitting diagnostic data and/or commissioning settings to and from an HVAC system and server by means of a mobile device, comparing the data to a predetermined condition, and transmitting updated system information back to the HVAC system if needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Bradley T. Wilson
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Publication number: 20170314797Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for validating the installation and operation of a fault detection and diagnostic module that monitors a component of an HVAC system. A remote diagnostic server is in operative communication with the HVAC system, and with the fault detection and diagnostic module. A user device communicates data to the remote diagnostic server that defines an association between the fault detection and diagnostic module and the HVAC system. The remote diagnostic server initiates an installation validation by sending a command to the HVAC system that causes the monitored component to initiate an event that is expected to be reported by the fault detection and diagnostic module. For example, a fan motor is turned on. If correctly installed, the fault detection and diagnostic module senses the event, and reports the event to the remote diagnostic server, which confirms the association. The remote diagnostic server sends a message to the user device indicating the result of the validation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Drew Whitehurst, Carl L. Garrett, Christopher Blake Smith, Bradley T. Wilson, James W. Barnard
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Publication number: 20160215996Abstract: A diagnostic data collection device and a diagnostic data bus are disclosed. In an embodiment, the diagnostic data collection device includes a diagnostic communication interface and a flexible interface module. The interface module is configurable to measure one or more electrical properties associated with an HVAC component, such as voltage, current, resistance. Electrical properties may include a sensor output and may include analog and digital signals. The diagnostic data collection device generates an exception message if the sensed property is out of specification. Evaluation rules are provided to detect various types of failures, including transient failures, steady state failures, and trending failures. The diagnostic data collection device self-calibrates by recording electrical properties during normal operation of the HVAC equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daniel John Blair, Carl L. Garrett, Mark E. Groskreutz, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Karl J. Mutchnik, William David Daugherty, III, Mahfuz Imam, Gang (Jacky) Chen
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Patent number: 9163843Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
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Publication number: 20150122901Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
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Patent number: 8967490Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair
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Publication number: 20120192577Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Dean Alan Drake, Daniel John Blair