Patents by Inventor Don A. Schuster
Don A. Schuster 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: 11940175Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, John Hughes, Karl J. Mutchnik
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Patent number: 11781798Abstract: Embodiments of vibration damping clips for use within a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a vibration damping clip is engaged with three fluid lines of an outdoor unit of the climate control system, such as, for instance, a suction line of a compressor of the climate control system, a discharge line of the compressor, and a fluid line coupled to a pressure equalization valve (PEV) within the outdoor unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, Thomas Reed, Percy F. Wang
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Publication number: 20230304686Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a switch over valve, and the method includes operating the HVAC system in one of a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring first, second, and third refrigerant parameters associated with the refrigerant circuit using first, second, and third refrigerant sensors, determining first and second refrigerant inputs based on the first, second, and third second refrigerant parameters, and determining a refrigerant circulation mode by comparing the first refrigerant input to the second refrigerant input to provide an indication of whether the refrigerant is circulating in the heating mode or the cooling mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Prabakaran Chezhian, Logenthiran Vazhmuni
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Patent number: 11493225Abstract: Methods and related systems for controlling superheat in a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) determining a superheat of a refrigerant downstream of a coil of a heat exchanger of the climate control system. In addition, the method includes (b) determining that an expansion valve upstream of the heat exchanger is fully open. Further, the method includes (c) adjusting a speed of air flowing across the coil or a speed of a compressor of the climate control system after (b) based on the determination in (a) to control the superheat of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Youssef A. Jaber, Don A. Schuster, Nathan Smith, Jonathan Edward Thrift
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Publication number: 20210254882Abstract: Embodiments of vibration damping clips for use within a climate control system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a vibration damping clip is engaged with three fluid lines of an outdoor unit of the climate control system, such as, for instance, a suction line of a compressor of the climate control system, a discharge line of the compressor, and a fluid line coupled to a pressure equalization valve (PEV) within the outdoor unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, Thomas Reed, Percy F. Wang
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Publication number: 20210131680Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2021Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, John Hughes, Karl J. Mutchnik
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Patent number: 10921000Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, John Hughes, Karl J. Mutchnik
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Patent number: 10619903Abstract: A method for determining system subcooling in a vapor compression system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in a serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit, the method including receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a degree of system subcooling in response to the receiving of the information.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Don A. Schuster, Adeyemi A. Adepetu, Rajendra K. Shah
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Publication number: 20190219280Abstract: A sound level control system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The sound level control system comprises an outdoor unit with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and an outdoor controller and a communication device located at a predefined distance from the outdoor unit. The communication device measures sound levels in response to operating the outdoor unit. The outdoor controller is configured to receive a first noise level limit for a predefined time period, receive an instruction related to selective control of the outdoor unit, selectively control both of the compressor to rotate at a first compressor speed and the outdoor fan to rotate at a first fan speed based on the noise level limit for the predefined time period, and receive information related to whether a sound pressure level at a predefined location exceeds the first noise level limit for the predefined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Arvind Chitrala, Don A. Schuster, John Hughes, Karl J. Mutchnik
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Patent number: 10330099Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the health of a compressor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a prognostic-diagnostic unit (PDU) compares expected compressor power consumption, based on current operating conditions of the HVAC system, to actual compressor power consumption. If the actual power consumption is within a predefined range of the expected power consumption under current operational conditions, the HVAC system is determined to be operating properly. If the actual power consumption deviates from the expected power consumption, a fault is indicated. An appropriate action is taken, such as displaying a fault alert, transmitting a fault message to another device, and storing information relating to the fault for later retrieval to assist troubleshooting.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Thomas Reed, Chuan Yan
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Patent number: 10295236Abstract: A compressor heating system includes a compressor drive controller electrically coupled to an outdoor controller configured to selectively implement a pulse width modulation algorithm to deliver a pulsed direct current (DC) from the compressor drive controller to at least one stator winding of a motor of a variable speed compressor to provide heat to the compressor to prevent refrigerant migration to the compressor when the compressor remains idle with respect to operating in a cooling or heating mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Chuan Yan, Don Schuster, Drew Whitehurst
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Patent number: 9973129Abstract: A power factor optimized variable speed drive unit for an electric motor of an HVAC device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the unit includes a selectively-activatable power factor correction unit operatively associated with a switched mode power supply unit. A power measurement unit measures the input power of the electric motor. A comparator unit compares the motor input power to a predetermined threshold. The comparator unit activates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor is above the threshold, and deactivates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor falls below the threshold. In an embodiment, motor input power is determined by the product of motor load current and motor speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Chuan Yan
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Publication number: 20180100680Abstract: A method for determining system subcooling in a vapor compression system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in a serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit, the method including receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a degree of system subcooling in response to the receiving of the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Adeyemi A. Adepetu, Rajendra K. Shah
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Patent number: 9885508Abstract: A method for determining discharge pressure for a compressor operatively connected to a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in a serial relationship, includes receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a discharge pressure in response to the receiving of the information.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Don A. Schuster, Adeyemi A. Adepetu, Rajendra K. Shah
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Patent number: 9759465Abstract: A method for determining a level of refrigerant charge in a vapor compression system having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator operatively connected in serial relationship in a refrigerant flow circuit having a refrigerant, includes receiving information indicative of at least one of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining whether the refrigerant charge is within a defined tolerance or whether the refrigerant is to be added or recovered in response to the receiving of the information.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Don A. Schuster, Adeyemi A. Adepetu, Sathish R. Das, Rajendra K. Shah
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Patent number: 9568226Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for indicating the status of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon the degree of subcooling present in the condensed refrigerant system temperature measurements. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system is indicated in real-time on a service panel for access by a field service technician. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system on a time-average basis for a specified period of operation is presented on an indicator panel. The indicator panel includes a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Don A. Schuster, Sathish R. Das
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Publication number: 20160365817Abstract: A power factor optimized variable speed drive unit for an electric motor of an HVAC device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the unit includes a selectively-activatable power factor correction unit operatively associated with a switched mode power supply unit. A power measurement unit measures the input power of the electric motor. A comparator unit compares the motor input power to a predetermined threshold. The comparator unit activates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor is above the threshold, and deactivates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor falls below the threshold. In an embodiment, motor input power is determined by the product of motor load current and motor speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Chuan Yan
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Publication number: 20160290671Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the health of a compressor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a prognostic-diagnostic unit (PDU) compares expected compressor power consumption, based on current operating conditions of the HVAC system, to actual compressor power consumption. If the actual power consumption is within a predefined range of the expected power consumption under current operational conditions, the HVAC system is determined to be operating properly. If the actual power consumption deviates from the expected power consumption, a fault is indicated. An appropriate action is taken, such as displaying a fault alert, transmitting a fault message to another device, and storing information relating to the fault for later retrieval to assist troubleshooting.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Thomas Reed, Chuan Yan
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Publication number: 20160047579Abstract: A compressor heating system may include a compressor drive controller electrically coupled to an outdoor controller configured to selectively implement a pulse width modulation algorithm to deliver a pulsed DC current from the compressor drive controller to at least one stator winding of a motor of a variable speed compressor to provide more efficient auxiliary heating to the compressor to prevent refrigerant migration to the compressor when the compressor remains idle with respect to operating in a cooling or heating mode. The compressor heating system may consume less off-cycle power than traditional compressor auxiliary heating systems, thus complying with regulatory requirements where off-cycle power must average below specific thresholds.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Chuan Yan, Don Schuster, Drew Whitehurst
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Publication number: 20150027138Abstract: A method for determining discharge pressure for a compressor operatively connected to a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator in a serial relationship, includes receiving information indicative of a compressor torque or compressor current; and determining a discharge pressure in response to the receiving of the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Don A. Schuster, Adeyemi A. Adepetu, Rajendra K. Shah