Patents by Inventor James T. Schaefer, Jr.

James T. Schaefer, 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).

  • System and method for oil return in an HVAC system
    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
  • Device and method for recording air conditioning system information
    Patent number: 8117862
    Abstract: HVAC apparatus is configured to include a control system with a controller which may be connected directly to a personality module for transferring information stored in the controller related to historic operating conditions of the apparatus to the module, or information may be transferred to the controller from the module to configure the controller for operation of the apparatus at selected operating conditions of temperature, pressure and blower motor speed, for example. The personality module includes a memory circuit and a connector for releasably connecting the module to the control system of the apparatus for transferring information between the module and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Helt, Jie Song, Gordon Jeffrey Hugghins, John Tanner Taylor, W. Randall Erwin, Stephen Kowalski, Bruce David Montgomery, Timothy W. Storm, Alan Dale Marble, James T. Schaefer, Jr.
  • System and Method for Oil Return in an HVAC System
    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