Patents by Inventor ELTON D. RAY

ELTON D. RAY 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: 11480192
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower includes a centrifugal fan having a fan wheel, the fan wheel has a rotational axis and blades extending radially outwardly from the fan wheel, a blower housing including a first panel and a second panel disposed on opposite sides of the centrifugal fan and extending transverse to the rotational axis of the fan wheel, and further including a wall extending about the rotational axis and between the first panel and the second panel, where the wall includes a flange having a cross-sectional camber geometry, an intake passage extending through the first panel and facilitating fluid flow into the fan wheel, and an outlet of the housing facilitating fluid flow out of the housing, the outlet formed by the first panel, the second panel, and the wall, where the flange extends outwardly from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Paul J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 11131320
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower includes a centrifugal fan having a fan wheel that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The centrifugal blower includes a blower housing having a first side panel, a second side panel, and a wall extending about the rotational axis and between the first and second side panels. The centrifugal blower also includes a cutoff plate that is configured to extend about the rotational axis, where the cutoff plate includes a first end with a flange having a camber geometry and a second end that is configured to overlap with the wall such that an amount of overlap between the second end and the wall is adjustable to adjust a position of the flange relative to the fan wheel. The centrifugal blower further includes an exhaust port defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the wall, and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Bennie D. Hoyt, Paul J. Lucas, Jeffrey A. Leritz, Jordan R. Jensen
  • Patent number: 11067319
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system that includes a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of circuits wherein the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and a working fluid. The heat exchanger system also includes a valve configured to fluidly couple a circuit of the plurality of circuits to a flow path of the refrigerant. Further, the heat exchanger system includes a controller that is configured to receive feedback indicative of an operating parameter of the heat exchanger system and actuate the valve based on the operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Jr., Tom R. Tasker, Eugene G. Sommerhauser
  • Patent number: 10995968
    Abstract: A heating system, includes a furnace that is configured to heat air to be provided to a conditioned space, a pressure sensor configured to collect sensor data indicative of a pressure of air within the furnace; a fan configured to supply the heated air to the conditioned space, and a motor configured to drive the fan. Additionally, the heating system includes processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the motor. The processing circuitry is configured to control the motor based upon the sensor data such that an amount of airflow supplied to the conditioned space is constantly supplied by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Bennie D. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 10982688
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques concerning a fan assembly. The fan assembly may include a fan, having multiple blades to rotate about an axis, and a housing in which the fan is disposed. Additionally, the fan assembly may include an air inlet formed in a wall of the housing that is transverse to the axis. The air inlet may define an orifice and includes multiple air guides that each extend into the housing from a perimeter of the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bennie D. Hoyt, Paul Lucas, Brian D. Rigg, Elton D. Ray, Joshua O. Loyd
  • Publication number: 20200318650
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower includes a centrifugal fan having a fan wheel that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The centrifugal blower includes a blower housing having a first side panel, a second side panel, and a wall extending about the rotational axis and between the first and second side panels. The centrifugal blower also includes a cutoff plate that is configured to extend about the rotational axis, where the cutoff plate includes a first end with a flange having a camber geometry and a second end that is configured to overlap with the wall such that an amount of overlap between the second end and the wall is adjustable to adjust a position of the flange relative to the fan wheel. The centrifugal blower further includes an exhaust port defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the wall, and the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Bennie D. Hoyt, Paul J. Lucas, Jeffrey A. Leritz, Jordan R. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20200240433
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques concerning a fan assembly. The fan assembly may include a fan, having multiple blades to rotate about an axis, and a housing in which the fan is disposed. Additionally, the fan assembly may include an air inlet formed in a wall of the housing that is transverse to the axis. The air inlet may define an orifice and includes multiple air guides that each extend into the housing from a perimeter of the air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Bennie D. Hoyt, Paul Lucas, Brian D. Rigg, Elton D. Ray, Joshua O. Loyd
  • Publication number: 20200217328
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower includes a centrifugal fan having a fan wheel, the fan wheel has a rotational axis and blades extending radially outwardly from the fan wheel, a blower housing including a first panel and a second panel disposed on opposite sides of the centrifugal fan and extending transverse to the rotational axis of the fan wheel, and further including a wall extending about the rotational axis and between the first panel and the second panel, where the wall includes a flange having a cross-sectional camber geometry, an intake passage extending through the first panel and facilitating fluid flow into the fan wheel, and an outlet of the housing facilitating fluid flow out of the housing, the outlet formed by the first panel, the second panel, and the wall, where the flange extends outwardly from the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Paul J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10612826
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes, an electronic expansion valve (EEV), and a controller in communication with the EEV. The controller determines a minimum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a superheat error value to a setpoint error threshold. The controller determines a maximum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a second superheat error value to a second setpoint error threshold. The controller calculates an average setpoint value based on the maximum EEV setpoint position value and the minimum EEV setpoint position value. The controller configures the EEV to a position corresponding to the average setpoint value and operate the EEV for a predetermined amount of time. The controller operates the EEV according to a PID algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Shawn A. Hern, Brian D. Rigg, Tom R. Tasker, Elton D. Ray
  • Publication number: 20200064009
    Abstract: A heating system, includes a furnace that is configured to heat air to be provided to a conditioned space, a pressure sensor configured to collect sensor data indicative of a pressure of air within the furnace; a fan configured to supply the heated air to the conditioned space, and a motor configured to drive the fan. Additionally, the heating system includes processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the motor. The processing circuitry is configured to control the motor based upon the sensor data such that an amount of airflow supplied to the conditioned space is constantly supplied by the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Bennie D. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 10571174
    Abstract: A system for heating a building via refrigerant includes a coil temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to record a system operating parameter and a control step of a control process before performing a sacrificial defrost cycle. The processing circuit is configured to cause the system to perform the sacrificial defrost cycle and operate the system at predefined system operating parameters other than the recorded system operating parameters. The system is configured to cause the system to operate at the recorded system operating parameters and generate calibration data in response to the sacrificial defrost cycle ending. The processing circuit is configured to cause the control process to operate at the recorded control step and cause the system to perform a defrost cycle based on the calibration data, the coil temperature, and the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Shawn A. Hern, Brian D. Rigg, Elton D. Ray, Jedidiah O. Bentz, Theresa N. Gillette, Tom R. Tasker, Shaun B. Atchison, Tyler McCune, Aneek M. Noor
  • Publication number: 20190376697
    Abstract: An outdoor unit for a climate management system includes a housing and a coil disposed within the housing. The coil includes a first coil portion of the coil, a second coil portion of the coil, and a bend in the coil between the first coil portion and the second coil portion that forms an acute angle between the first coil portion and the second coil portion. The outdoor unit also includes a variable speed drive disposed between the housing and a housing-facing side of the second coil portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, Robert E. Cabrera
  • Publication number: 20190271493
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system that includes a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of circuits wherein the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and a working fluid. The heat exchanger system also includes a valve configured to fluidly couple a circuit of the plurality of circuits to a flow path of the refrigerant. Further, the heat exchanger system includes a controller that is configured to receive feedback indicative of an operating parameter of the heat exchanger system and actuate the valve based on the operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Elton D. Ray, JR., Tom R. Tasker, Eugene G. Sommerhauser
  • Publication number: 20180209703
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes, an electronic expansion valve (EEV), and a controller in communication with the EEV. The controller is configured to determine a minimum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a superheat error value to a setpoint error threshold. The controller is further configured to determine a maximum EEV setpoint position value based on a comparison of a second superheat error value to a second setpoint error threshold. The controller is further configured to calculate an average setpoint value based on the maximum EEV setpoint position value and the minimum EEV setpoint position value. The controller is further configured to configure the EEV to a position corresponding to the average setpoint value and operate the EEV for a predetermined amount of time. The controller is further configured to operate the EEV according to a PID algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: SHAWN A. HERN, BRIAN D. RIGG, TOM R. TASKER, Elton D. Ray
  • Publication number: 20180031289
    Abstract: A system for heating a building via refrigerant includes a coil temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to record a system operating parameter and a control step of a control process before performing a sacrificial defrost cycle. The processing circuit is configured to cause the system to perform the sacrificial defrost cycle and operate the system at predefined system operating parameters other than the recorded system operating parameters. The system is configured to cause the system to operate at the recorded system operating parameters and generate calibration data in response to the sacrificial defrost cycle ending. The processing circuit is configured to cause the control process to operate at the recorded control step and cause the system to perform a defrost cycle based on the calibration data, the coil temperature, and the ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: SHAWN A. HERN, BRIAN D. RIGG, ELTON D. RAY, JEDIDIAH O. BENTZ, THERESA N. GILLETTE, TOM R. TASKER, SHAUN B. ATCHISON, TYLER MCCUNE, ANEEK M. NOOR