Patents by Inventor Harold Gene Havard, JR.

Harold Gene Havard, JR. 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: 10139143
    Abstract: In various implementations, an air conditioner may include more than one expansion device. Refrigerant flow through the expansion device(s) may be controlled based at least partially on an operational property of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Terry Jewell, Yi Qu
  • Publication number: 20180147676
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for reducing a refrigerant pressure difference within are HVAC system having a controller, one or more compressors, and at least two paths of refrigerant piping comprising alternative paths for refrigerant flow through the HVAC system. A valve is coupled to each refrigerant piping path for permitting, or preventing, refrigerant flow through each of the alternate paths of refrigerant piping. The controller may open at least one valve for a defined period of time in response to a triggering input to allow a refrigerant pressure difference within the HVAC system to dissipate across the opened valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rakesh Goel, Rosa Maria Leal, Thomas Edward Pate, JR.
  • Patent number: 9884394
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for reducing a refrigerant pressure difference within an HVAC system having a controller, one or more compressors, and at least two paths of refrigerant piping comprising alternative paths for refrigerant flow through the HVAC system. A valve is coupled to each refrigerant piping path for permitting, or preventing, refrigerant flow through each of the alternate paths of refrigerant piping. The controller may open at least one valve for a defined period of time in response to a triggering input to allow a refrigerant pressure difference within the HVAC system to dissipate across the opened valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Rakesh Goel, Rosa Maria Leal, Thomas Edward Pate, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9869419
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a water system includes a compressor, a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing, a modulating motor-controlled valve configured to alter a flow of water through the condenser, an accelerometer mechanically coupled to the water system, and a water system controller. The water system controller may be configured to perform an automated anti-water hammer procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Perez, Steve Schneider, Harold Gene Havard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9759468
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a control system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem. In response to detection of a high pressure condition in refrigerant flowing through a high pressure side of the HVAC system, the controller operates the HVAC system with a first compressor on and a second compressor off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Rosa Maria Leal
  • Patent number: 9692347
    Abstract: Systems and methods involve controlling a variable-speed blower in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to ensure the setting of a blower-proving switch to confirm airflow in a building. In one instance, a method involves ramping up the variable-speed blower so that the associated static pressure reaches a making point pressure of the blower-proving switch and then reducing the power to a desired power level. The method may also include maintaining the power level above a breaking point pressure. Other systems and methods are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Rosa Maria Leal, Steven C. Brown, Stephen A. Walter
  • Publication number: 20170167777
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem connected to an evaporator. In response to detection of a pre-freezing condition of in the coils of the evaporator, the controller adjusts an operating condition of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rosa Maria Leal
  • Patent number: 9677797
    Abstract: An inverter controller, a method of operating a controller and a field-installable kit. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) a thermostat interface configured to receive conventional thermostat signals providing for a ventilation mode, first- and second-stage cooling modes and at least one heating mode and provide relay control signals for an inverter forward start relay, first- and second-stage cooling speed select relays and at least one heating relay and (2) an inverter controller coupled to the thermostat interface and configured to receive the relay control signals and provide an inverter forward start signal, an inverter high speed set, an inverter medium speed set and an inverter ventilation speed set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Eric M. Perez, Terry D. Jewell, Der-Kai Hung
  • Patent number: 9581371
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem connected to an evaporator. In response to detection of a pre-freezing condition of in the coils of the evaporator, the controller adjusts an operating condition of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Rosa Maria Leal
  • Patent number: 9551358
    Abstract: An air moving unit, an HVAC system and an enclosed plug fan unit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the air moving unit includes: (1) a plug fan with a blower wheel and (2) a circulation enclosure. The circulation enclosure includes: (2A) a back side and (2B) a front side having an inlet orifice corresponding to an intake area of the plug fan, the front side coupled to top, left and right sides that extend therefrom to the back side to form the circulation enclosure, wherein the blower wheel is located within the circulation enclosure and the plug fan is mechanically coupled to at least one side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Geoffrey Curtis, Miguel Montemayor, Randal Poirier
  • Publication number: 20160265707
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a water system includes a compressor, a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor by refrigerant tubing, a modulating motor-controlled valve configured to alter a flow of water through the condenser, an accelerometer mechanically coupled to the water system, and a water system controller. The water system controller may be configured to perform an automated anti-water hammer procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Perez, Steve Schneider, Harold Gene Havard, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160265798
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for verifying or correcting the temperature sensor and compressor pairings within the HVAC system control logic, indicating that a sensor is logically paired with the specific compressor, from amongst a tandem compressor group, to which the sensor is coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rosa Maria Leal, Anuradha Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 9377230
    Abstract: A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Perez, Steve Schneider, Harold Gene Havard, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150362205
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that involve controlling a variable-speed blower in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to ensure the setting of a blower-proving switch to confirm airflow in a building. In one instance, a method involves ramping up the variable-speed blower so that the associated static pressure reaches a making point pressure of the blower-proving switch and then reducing the power to a desired power level. The method may also include maintaining the power level above a breaking point pressure. Other systems and methods are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rosa Maria Leal, Steven C. Brown, Stephen A. Walter
  • Publication number: 20150338133
    Abstract: An HVAC system, comprising a plurality of sensors, a tandem compressor comprising a first compressor and a second compressor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the tandem compressor. The controller may determine a first interruption of power to the tandem compressor and identify a sensor corresponding to the first interruption of power. The controller is further operable to determine that the first interruption of power was caused at least in part by the refrigerant associated with the first compressor exceeding a tolerance condition. The controller may also reconfigure the tandem compressor, wherein on or off settings of the first compressor and the second compressor are determined based on a required load operation of the tandem compressor and the determination that the first interruption of power was caused at least in part by the refrigerant associated with the first compressor exceeding the tolerance condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rosa Maria Leal, Darko Hadzidedic, Jimmie Lee Curry, Anuradha Sundararajan, Der-Kai Hung, William Clay Toombs, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150338141
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for compressor units in HVAC systems. A slide plate and slide rail assembly is described that can allow compressors to be slidably removed or adjusted to allow for easy repair or servicing. Instead of disassembling an entire compressor unit when repairs are needed on it or on neighboring components, the compressor unit can be quickly moved. Dual slide rail and slide plate configurations are described as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Marcus Troxell, Geoffrey Curtis, Miguel Montemayor, Harold Gene Havard, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150330686
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for reducing a refrigerant pressure difference within an HVAC system having a controller, one or more compressors, and at least two paths of refrigerant piping comprising alternative paths for refrigerant flow through the HVAC system. A valve is coupled to each refrigerant piping path for permitting, or preventing, refrigerant flow through each of the alternate paths of refrigerant piping. The controller may open at least one valve for a defined period of time in response to a triggering input to allow a refrigerant pressure difference within the HVAC system to dissipate across the opened valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rakesh Goel, Rosa Maria Leal, Thomas Edward Pate, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150267953
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem connected to an evaporator. In response to detection of a pre-freezing condition of in the coils of the evaporator, the controller adjusts an operating condition of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Rosa Maria Leal
  • Publication number: 20150267952
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a control system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem. In response to detection of a high pressure condition in refrigerant flowing through a high pressure side of the HVAC system, the controller operates the HVAC system with a first compressor on and a second compressor off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Kai Hung, Harold Gene Havard, JR., Rosa Maria Leal
  • Publication number: 20150168041
    Abstract: In various implementations, an air conditioner may include more than one expansion device. Refrigerant flow through the expansion device(s) may be controlled based at least partially on an operational property of the air conditioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Gene Havard, Jr., Terry Jewell, Yi Qu