Patents by Inventor Daren Lee Epperson
Daren Lee Epperson 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: 12698920Abstract: An embodiment of an indoor unit of a climate control system includes a blower to generate an airflow, a heat exchanger to transfer heat between a refrigerant and the airflow, and a motor to drive the blower. The motor includes first and second taps, the first tap to be electrically coupled to a first thermostat terminal. The motor configured such that: energizing the first tap and not the second tap operates the motor at a first blower speed; and energizing the first and second tap operates the motor at a second blower speed. The indoor unit also includes an electrical relay switch coupled to the second tap and configured to electrically couple to a second thermostat terminal such that energization of the second thermostat terminal is to actuate the switch from a first position to electrically de-energize the second tap to a second position to electrically energize the second tap.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2024Date of Patent: August 4, 2026Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: John R. Edens, Mark Hudgins, Daren Lee Epperson
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Publication number: 20250389449Abstract: An embodiment of an indoor unit of a climate control system includes a blower to generate an airflow, a heat exchanger to transfer heat between a refrigerant and the airflow, and a motor to drive the blower. The motor includes first and second taps, the first tap to be electrically coupled to a first thermostat terminal. The motor configured such that: energizing the first tap and not the second tap operates the motor at a first blower speed; and energizing the first and second tap operates the motor at a second blower speed. The indoor unit also includes an electrical relay switch coupled to the second tap and configured to electrically couple to a second thermostat terminal such that energization of the second thermostat terminal is to actuate the switch from a first position to electrically de-energize the second tap to a second position to electrically energize the second tap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2024Publication date: December 25, 2025Inventors: John R. Edens, Mark Hudgins, Daren Lee Epperson
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Patent number: 12487008Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of commissioning an HVAC system and a related unit. Some embodiments of the method include providing a unit of the HVAC system with a plurality of condensate outlets such that the unit may be installed in a plurality of orientations; installing the unit in a preferred orientation; selecting one of the condensate outlets from the plurality of outlets that is positioned to receive condensate based on the preferred orientation; attaching a condensate line to the selected one of the condensate outlets; and installing a sensor along the condensate line, the sensor configured to detect a presence of a refrigerant that is heavier than air and would flow with gravity along with the condensate collected by the unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 2, 2025Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Kirk W. Beason, David Williams, Jr., Neal Harrington
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Patent number: 12117191Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to climate control systems and air handler units with improved leak detection, along with method for installing these systems. In some examples, the climate control system comprises a heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between a conditioned airflow and a refrigerant fluid; a drain pan arranged to collect condensate produced at the heat exchanger, the drain pan including one or more drains configured to route condensate out of the drain pan; a refrigerant leak sensor coupled to the drain pan and positioned above the one or more drains and configured to detect a refrigerant leak; and control circuitry operably coupled to the refrigerant leak sensor, the control circuitry configured to: receive a signal from the refrigerant leak sensor indicative of refrigerant located outside the closed circuit associated with the heat exchanger, and determine a refrigerant leak has occurred based on the signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Leslie Lynn Zinger, Henry Traver Berry, Chad Daniel Bowers, Lane A. Liudahl, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Timothy Schmitt
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Patent number: 12018848Abstract: Examples relate to heat exchangers that may include a baffle with apertures for use in an HVAC system. Some example heat exchangers may include a coil assembly that includes a pair of coil slabs each including first and second tube sheets and the baffle. A first end of the tube sheets may be located proximate a first end of the coil assembly. Each of the apertures of the baffle may be configured to detachably engage with a hook located on a first end of each tube sheet such that the plurality of apertures couple the baffle to the first end of the first tube sheet and the first end of the second tube sheet of each coil slab. The baffle thus may caps the coil assembly to minimize airflow through the first end of the coil assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Bradley Kersh, Daren Lee Epperson
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Publication number: 20230417435Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to climate control systems and air handler units with improved leak detection, along with method for installing these systems. In some examples, the climate control system comprises a heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between a conditioned airflow and a refrigerant fluid; a drain pan arranged to collect condensate produced at the heat exchanger, the drain pan including one or more drains configured to route condensate out of the drain pan; a refrigerant leak sensor coupled to the drain pan and positioned above the one or more drains and configured to detect a refrigerant leak; and control circuitry operably coupled to the refrigerant leak sensor, the control circuitry configured to: receive a signal from the refrigerant leak sensor indicative of refrigerant located outside the closed circuit associated with the heat exchanger, and determine a refrigerant leak has occurred based on the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Leslie Lynn Zinger, Henry Traver Berry, Chad Daniel Bowers, Lane A. Liudahl, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Timothy Schmitt
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Publication number: 20230228451Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of commissioning an HVAC system and a related unit. Some embodiments of the method include providing a unit of the HVAC system with a plurality of condensate outlets such that the unit may be installed in a plurality of orientations; installing the unit in a preferred orientation; selecting one of the condensate outlets from the plurality of outlets that is positioned to receive condensate based on the preferred orientation; attaching a condensate line to the selected one of the condensate outlets; and installing a sensor along the condensate line, the sensor configured to detect a presence of a refrigerant that is heavier than air and would flow with gravity along with the condensate collected by the unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Kirk W. Beason, David Williams, JR., Neal Harrington
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Publication number: 20230151976Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat exchanger including a baffle with apertures for use in an HVAC system. Some embodiments include a coil assembly including a pair of coil slabs each including first and second tube sheets and the baffle. A first end of the tube sheets is located proximate a first end of the coil assembly. In one embodiment, each of the apertures of the baffle is configured to detachably engage with a hook located on a first end of each tube sheet such that the plurality of apertures couple the baffle to the first end of the first tube sheet and the first end of the second tube sheet of each coil slab. The baffle thus caps the coil assembly to minimize airflow through the first end of the coil assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Bradley Kersh, Daren Lee Epperson