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).

  • Patent number: 8033122
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8031468
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Bean, Jr., Zhihai Gordon Dong
  • Publication number: 20110103014
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, JR., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110023508
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: John H. Bean, Jonathan M. Lomas
  • Patent number: 7881057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, Jr., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7861596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100307716
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Bean, JR., Zhihai Gordon Dong
  • Publication number: 20100300129
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Bean, JR., James Richard Roesch
  • Publication number: 20100305775
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Bean, JR., James Richard Roesch, Zhihai Gordon Dong, Stuart Lee Dill
  • Publication number: 20100300650
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, JR.
  • Patent number: 7775055
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John H Bean, Jonathan M Lomas
  • Publication number: 20100186517
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: John H. Bean, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100188816
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: John H. Bean, JR., John Christopher Niemann
  • Publication number: 20100170663
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: John H. Bean, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100165572
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, JR., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100154438
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventor: John H. Bean, JR.
  • Patent number: 7681410
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7681404
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Bean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7684193
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Fink, John H. Bean, Jr., Stephen F. Held, Richard J. Johnson, Rollie R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100061057
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph M. Dersch, Jonathan M. Lomas, John H. Bean, JR.