Patents by Inventor Gary L. Sapp

Gary L. Sapp 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: 8783048
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, James Thomas Schaefer, Kristin L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8417386
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for monitoring a condition and selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to the status of the monitored condition. A system and a method are provided for selectively operating a certification defrost algorithm in parallel to a field defrost algorithm. A system and a method are also provided for causing a controller to execute a first algorithm and for causing the controller to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm where each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, Darryl E. Denton, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Kristen L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8327658
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, James T. Schaefer, Jr., Kristen L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8151585
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a system pressure to infer whether a high pressure cut out (HPCO) switch has opened disabling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor. A system and method are also provided for determining whether to disable the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor based on a status of a low pressure cut out (LPCO) switch, an ambient temperature, and system mode state. The systems and methods may be used interchangeably with the appropriate adjustments to decision limits, such as where the LPCO may be monitored to infer status and the HPCO status may be directly used with temperature and system mode state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8116911
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for powering up a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and operating a sump heater for a compressor for a first predetermined period of time in response to the HVAC system being powered up. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and a method for controlling the system are provided. The HVAC system includes a compressor, a sump heater associated with the compressor, and a controller configured to control the compressor and the sump heater so that the sump heater is not operated while the compressor is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Bailey, Jose L. Balderrama, Jonathan D Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Gary L. Sapp, Kristen L. Schaefer, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8113789
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a system pressure to infer whether a high pressure cut out (HPCO) switch has opened disabling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor. A system and method are also provided for determining whether to disable the HVAC compressor based on a status of a low pressure cut out (LPCO) switch, an ambient temperature, and system mode state. The systems and methods may be used interchangeably with the appropriate adjustments to decision limits, such as where the LPCO may be monitored to infer status and the HPCO status may be directly used with temperature and system mode state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Carl L. Garrett, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Kristin L. Schaefer, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Publication number: 20100125369
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for monitoring a condition and selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to the status of the monitored condition. A system and a method are provided for selectively operating a certification defrost algorithm in parallel to a field defrost algorithm. A system and a method are also provided for causing a controller to execute a first algorithm and for causing the controller to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm where each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. DOUGLAS, Darryl E. DENTON, Alan D. MARBLE, Kevin B. MERCER, Gary L. SAPP, Kristen L. SCHAEFER, Steven A. TICE
  • Publication number: 20100125368
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for powering up a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and operating a sump heater for a compressor for a first predetermined period of time in response to the HVAC system being powered up. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and a method for controlling the system are provided. The HVAC system includes a compressor, a sump heater associated with the compressor, and a controller configured to control the compressor and the sump heater so that the sump heater is not operated while the compressor is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. BAILEY, Jose L. BALDERRAMA, Jonathan D. DOUGLAS, John R. EDENS, Alan D. MARBLE, Gary L. SAPP, Kristin L. SCHAEFER, Brett R. SCHNEIDER, Steven A. TICE
  • Publication number: 20100123016
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. DOUGLAS, John R. EDENS, Alan D. MARBLE, Kevin B. MERCER, Gary L. SAPP, James T. SCHAEFER, JR., Kristin L. SCHAEFER, Steven A. TICE
  • Publication number: 20100080712
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a system pressure to infer whether a high pressure cut out (HPCO) switch has opened disabling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor. A system and method are also provided for determining whether to disable the HVAC compressor based on a status of a low pressure cut out (LPCO) switch, an ambient temperature, and system mode state. The systems and methods may be used interchangeably with the appropriate adjustments to decision limits, such as where the LPCO may be monitored to infer status and the HPCO status may be directly used with temperature and system mode state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Carl L. Garrett, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Kristin L. Schaefer, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Publication number: 20100080713
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a system pressure to infer whether a high pressure cut out (HPCO) switch has opened disabling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor. A system and method are also provided for determining whether to disable the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor based on a status of a low pressure cut out (LPCO) switch, an ambient temperature, and system mode state. The systems and methods may be used interchangeably with the appropriate adjustments to decision limits, such as where the LPCO may be monitored to infer status and the HPCO status may be directly used with temperature and system mode state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 5768091
    Abstract: A circuit breaker mounting bracket is comprised of a generally upright support member, a base member extending generally perpendicularly from a bottom of the support member, a flange depending from a distal end of the base member at an angle less than 90.degree., and a brace member depending obliquely from the back of the support member. The flange is adapted to be secured to a support surface, such as a deck within an air conditioning or furnace cabinet. The brace member and the flange cooperate to maintain the bracket in a rigid, upright position within the cabinet. The bracket includes a din rail comprising two generally L-shaped flanges integrally formed with the support member, whereby one or more circuit breakers are mountable in a fixed position relative to the bracket. A C-shaped channel is formed on the support member between the L-shaped flanges for receiving two retaining members, which inhibit lateral movement of the circuit breaker(s) mounted on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh E. Vinson, Gary L. Sapp, Kevin A. Albers