Patents by Inventor John H. Bean
John H. Bean 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).
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Patent number: 8033122Abstract: A dehumidifier unit includes a first coil in fluid communication with a source of cooling fluid, a second coil in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid, a third coil in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid, and a thermal unit disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the second and third coils. The thermal unit may be adapted to remove heat from cooling fluid flowing to the second coil and adapted to heat cooling fluid flowing to the third coil. A fan may be configured to move air across the first, second and third coils. The first coil may be configured to pre-cool air moving over the first coil, the second coil may be configured to dehumidify the air moving over the second coil, and the third coil may be configured to warm the air moving over the third coil. Other embodiments and methods of cooling are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
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Patent number: 8031468Abstract: A cooling unit, which is configured to contain and cool air between two rows of equipment racks defining a hot aisle, includes a housing configured to be secured mounted on the two rows of equipment racks such that the housing spans the hot aisle, a heat exchanger supported by the housing and coupled to and in fluid communication with a coolant supply and a coolant return, and an air movement assembly supported by the housing and configured to move air over the heat exchanger. Other embodiments of the cooling unit and methods of cooling are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: John H. Bean, Jr., Zhihai Gordon Dong
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Publication number: 20110103014Abstract: A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, JR., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
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Publication number: 20110023508Abstract: A system for cooling a medium includes a line having coolant flowing therein, and a sub-cooling unit in fluid communication with the line. The sub-cooling unit receives a portion of the coolant diverted from the line to cool coolant flowing in the line. A method of cooling a medium is further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventors: John H. Bean, Jonathan M. Lomas
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Patent number: 7881057Abstract: A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, Jr., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
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Patent number: 7861596Abstract: An airflow detecting system includes a tubular structure having an inner surface defining an interior of the tubular structure, one open end and an opposite open end. The tubular structure is configured to receive and expel air through both the one end and the opposite end. The system further includes a flap connected to the inner surface of the tubular structure by a hinge. The flap is configured to impede airflow within the interior of the tubular structure upon the application of differential pressure across the two ends of the tubular structure. The system further includes a device attached to the flap in a position in which the device spans the hinge. The device is configured to measure a parameter associated with the movement of the flap in response to airflow within the interior of the tubular structure. Other embodiments and methods are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100307716Abstract: A cooling unit, which is configured to contain and cool air between two rows of equipment racks defining a hot aisle, includes a housing configured to be secured mounted on the two rows of equipment racks such that the housing spans the hot aisle, a heat exchanger supported by the housing and coupled to and in fluid communication with a coolant supply and a coolant return, and an air movement assembly supported by the housing and configured to move air over the heat exchanger. Other embodiments of the cooling unit and methods of cooling are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: John H. Bean, JR., Zhihai Gordon Dong
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Publication number: 20100300129Abstract: A method of detecting loss of refrigerant within a cooling system of the type having a condenser, a refrigerant receiver in fluid communication with the condenser, a sensor configured to detect a level of refrigerant within the receiver, an evaporator in fluid communication with the receiver, and a pump or compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, includes establishing a baseline measurement of refrigerant mass contained in the receiver with the sensor during certain power loads applied to the cooling system, monitoring a mass of refrigerant in the receiver with the sensor at a certain power load applied to the cooling system, and identifying whether the monitored mass of refrigerant is less than the baseline measurement of refrigerant mass over a predetermined period of time. Systems for detecting loss of refrigerant are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: John H. Bean, JR., James Richard Roesch
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Publication number: 20100305775Abstract: A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks is configured to contain electronic equipment. The system includes a communication network and a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refrigerant return. A cooling module is in fluid communication with the refrigerant distribution unit by a supply line and a return line. The cooling module is coupled to the communication network, and includes an evaporator and a fan configured to direct air over the evaporator. A sensor package is configured to monitor temperature and pressure reference points provided in the pumped refrigerant cooling system and the equipment racks. The system further includes a controller forming part of the cooling module and coupled to the communication network and the sensor package.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: John H. Bean, JR., James Richard Roesch, Zhihai Gordon Dong, Stuart Lee Dill
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Publication number: 20100300650Abstract: A modular cooling system configured to treat IT air generated by a data center includes a frame and a plurality of cooling sub-system modules supported by the frame. The plurality of cooling sub-system modules are configured to operate in parallel to achieve total cooling effect or a lesser cooling effect with some level of redundancy within the data center. Each cooling sub-system module includes a housing configured to support cooling equipment, an air-to-air heat exchanger supported by the housing to cool IT air generated by the data center, the air-to-air heat exchanger having at least one tube configured to direct IT from one end of the air-to-air heat exchanger to an opposite end of the air-to-air heat exchanger and configured so that outdoor air circulates around the at least one tube, and a mechanical cooling system supported by the housing. The mechanical cooling system is configured to receive IT air treated by the air-to-air heat exchanger and to provide further cooling to the treated IT air.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: John H. Bean, JR.
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Patent number: 7775055Abstract: A system for cooling a medium includes a line having coolant flowing therein, and a sub-cooling unit in fluid communication with the line. The sub-cooling unit receives a portion of the coolant diverted from the line to cool coolant flowing in the line. A method of cooling a medium is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: John H Bean, Jonathan M Lomas
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Publication number: 20100186517Abstract: An airflow detecting system includes a tubular structure having an inner surface defining an interior of the tubular structure, one open end and an opposite open end. The tubular structure is configured to receive and expel air through both the one end and the opposite end. The system further includes a flap connected to the inner surface of the tubular structure by a hinge. The flap is configured to impede airflow within the interior of the tubular structure upon the application of differential pressure across the two ends of the tubular structure. The system further includes a device attached to the flap in a position in which the device spans the hinge. The device is configured to measure a parameter associated with the movement of the flap in response to airflow within the interior of the tubular structure. Other embodiments and methods are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventor: John H. Bean, JR.
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Publication number: 20100188816Abstract: An air containment cooling system for containing and cooling air between two rows of equipment racks includes a canopy assembly configured to enclose a hot aisle defined by the two rows of equipment racks, and a cooling system embedded within the canopy assembly. The cooling system is configured to cool air disposed within the hot aisle. Other embodiments and methods for cooling are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventors: John H. Bean, JR., John Christopher Niemann
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Publication number: 20100170663Abstract: A backup cooling storage system comprising at least one cooling and storage unit configured to cool a liquid supply using a quantity of cooled material when a main chiller of the liquid supply is not operational, and at least one chilling element configured to generate the quantity of cooled material for the at least one cooling and storage unit when the main chiller of the liquid supply is operational. Additional embodiments and methods are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventor: John H. Bean, JR.
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Publication number: 20100165572Abstract: A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face, and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, JR., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
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Publication number: 20100154438Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventor: John H. Bean, JR.
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Patent number: 7681410Abstract: A system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
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Patent number: 7681404Abstract: A backup cooling storage system comprising at least one cooling and storage unit configured to cool a liquid supply using a quantity of cooled material when a main chiller of the liquid supply is not operational, and at least one chilling element configured to generate the quantity of cooled material for the at least one cooling and storage unit when the main chiller of the liquid supply is operational. Additional embodiments and methods are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
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Patent number: 7684193Abstract: A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, Jr., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
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Publication number: 20100061057Abstract: An air containment system includes a plurality of panel assemblies configured to be arranged in side-to-side relation to form a ceiling. In one embodiment, each panel assembly includes a flexible panel having a first end, a second opposite end, a first side and a second opposite side, a first end connector configured to secure the first end of the flexible panel to one of a rack and a wall, and a second end connector configured to secure the second end of the flexible panel to one of a rack and a wall. Other embodiments of the air containment system and related methods are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph M. Dersch, Jonathan M. Lomas, John H. Bean, JR.