Patents by Inventor John A. Goodfellow

John A. Goodfellow 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: 10590937
    Abstract: An improved compressed air system utilizes one or more base compressors, such as fixed speed drive compressors, to meet the compressed air demands and one or more trim compressors, such as variable speed drive compressors, to meet the variations in the demand. The operation of both the base and trim compressors may be controlled to provide improved overall efficiency while meeting the transient load demands. The control may spread the demands over the various base compressors to improve the overall loading on each base compressor. Efficiency metrics may be utilized to control the switching between base and trim compressors. Unloading of a base compressor may be controlled to avoid undesirable changes in system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Goodfellow, Jodie S. Mels, Robert J. Coveney
  • Publication number: 20170292522
    Abstract: An improved compressed air system utilizes one or more base compressors, such as fixed speed drive compressors, to meet the compressed air demands and one or more trim compressors, such as variable speed drive compressors, to meet the variations in the demand. The operation of both the base and trim compressors may be controlled to provide improved overall efficiency while meeting the transient load demands. The control may spread the demands over the various base compressors to improve the overall loading on each base compressor. Efficiency metrics may be utilized to control the switching between base and trim compressors. Unloading of a base compressor may be controlled to avoid undesirable changes in system performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: John A. Goodfellow, Jodie S. Mels, Robert J. Coveney
  • Patent number: 9335062
    Abstract: A controller for dynamically balancing air pressure in a building including at least a first room, includes a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive an outdoor air pressure measured by an outdoor pressure sensor, and to receive a room air pressure measured by a room pressure sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a pressure set point based on the outdoor air pressure, to determine whether the room air pressure deviates from the pressure set point by a predefined threshold, and to generate instructions for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to adjust the room air pressure to the first pressure set point. The transmitter is configured to transmit the instructions to the HVAC unit. A system and a process for dynamically balancing air pressure in a building including at least a first room are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 9314742
    Abstract: The present invention can include a reverse osmosis unit, a control system, a display, and/or a memory. The reverse osmosis unit can include a filtration unit, a liquid utilization system, and/or an instrumentation system. The filtration unit includes a plurality of filter banks which each have a plurality of filter unit. The filtration unit receives a feed liquid and generates permeate and concentrate. The permeate is sent to the liquid utilization system, while the concentrate is removed. The instrumentation system can include a plurality of sensors to detect operational data of the feed liquid, permeate, and/or concentrate. Using the operational data and equations, the control unit can calculate the normalized permeate flow rate indicating whether the filters should be cleaned and/or replaced. The operational data and the equations can be used to determine whether the pressure and/or flow can be manipulated without damaging the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Publication number: 20130245836
    Abstract: A controller for dynamically balancing air pressure in a building including at least a first room, includes a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive an outdoor air pressure measured by an outdoor pressure sensor, and to receive a room air pressure measured by a room pressure sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a pressure set point based on the outdoor air pressure, to determine whether the room air pressure deviates from the pressure set point by a predefined threshold, and to generate instructions for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to adjust the room air pressure to the first pressure set point. The transmitter is configured to transmit the instructions to the HVAC unit. A system and a process for dynamically balancing air pressure in a building including at least a first room are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing NA (TEMA)
    Inventor: John A. GOODFELLOW
  • Patent number: 8505324
    Abstract: A free cooling system may include first and second conduits configured to carry first and second fluids, a cooling load configured to transfer heat to the first fluid, thereby causing the first fluid to have a post-loading temperature, a free cooling device configured to transfer heat from the second fluid to atmospheric air, thereby causing the second fluid to have a post-cooling temperature, a heat exchanger configured to facilitate a heat exchange between the first and second fluids of the first and second conduits, thereby causing the first fluid to have a pre-loading temperature and the second fluid to have a pre-cooling temperature, and a fluid flow control device configured to control a first flow rate of the first fluid and a second flow rate of the second fluid, such that the post-cooling temperature is less than the pre-loading temperature by at least a predefined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 8221628
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a liquid processing system. In the liquid processing system, a first liquid source transmits feed liquid to a heat exchange unit while a heat generation unit transmits warm coolant to the heat exchange unit. A heat generation unit warms the feed liquid while cooling the warm coolant. The warmed feed liquid is sent to a pump, and cooled feed liquid from a second liquid source is mixed with the warmed feed liquid as necessary until a target temperature is reached. The warmed feed liquid is sent to a reverse osmosis unit for filtering and the resulting permeate is sent to the liquid utilization unit. The cooled coolant is sent from the heat exchange unit to the storage tank and if the cooled coolant is not cool enough, it is sent to a cooling tower for further cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Publication number: 20120096874
    Abstract: A free cooling system may include first and second conduits configured to carry first and second fluids, a cooling load configured to transfer heat to the first fluid, thereby causing the first fluid to have a post-loading temperature, a free cooling device configured to transfer heat from the second fluid to atmospheric air, thereby causing the second fluid to have a post-cooling temperature, a heat exchanger configured to facilitate a heat exchange between the first and second fluids of the first and second conduits, thereby causing the first fluid to have a pre-loading temperature and the second fluid to have a pre-cooling temperature, and a fluid flow control device configured to control a first flow rate of the first fluid and a second flow rate of the second fluid, such that the post-cooling temperature is less than the pre-loading temperature by at least a predefined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Publication number: 20110247980
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a liquid processing system. In the liquid processing system, a first liquid source transmits feed liquid to a heat exchange unit while a heat generation unit transmits warm coolant to the heat exchange unit. A heat generation unit warms the feed liquid while cooling the warm coolant. The warmed feed liquid is sent to a pump, and cooled feed liquid from a second liquid source is mixed with the warmed feed liquid as necessary until a target temperature is reached. The warmed feed liquid is sent to a reverse osmosis unit for filtering and the resulting permeate is sent to the liquid utilization unit. The cooled coolant is sent from the heat exchange unit to the storage tank and if the cooled coolant is not cool enough, it is sent to a cooling tower for further cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow
  • Publication number: 20110240557
    Abstract: The present invention can include a reverse osmosis unit, a control system, a display, and/or a memory. The reverse osmosis unit can include a filtration unit, a liquid utilization system, and/or an instrumentation system. The filtration unit includes a plurality of filter banks which each have a plurality of filter unit. The filtration unit receives a feed liquid and generates permeate and concentrate. The permeate is sent to the liquid utilization system, while the concentrate is removed. The instrumentation system can include a plurality of sensors to detect operational data of the feed liquid, permeate, and/or concentrate. Using the operational data and equations, the control unit can calculate the normalized permeate flow rate indicating whether the filters should be cleaned and/or replaced. The operational data and the equations can be used to determine whether the pressure and/or flow can be manipulated without damaging the filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John A. Goodfellow