Patents by Inventor John Terry Knight

John Terry Knight 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).

  • Publication number: 20110167846
    Abstract: A method for dehumidification and controlling system pressure in a refrigeration system includes providing a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop. Each of the condenser and evaporator have a plurality of refrigerant circuits. A first heat transfer fluid is flowed over the condenser and a second heat transfer fluid is flowed over the evaporator. At least one of the refrigerant circuits of the condenser is isolated to provide a decreased amount of heat transfer area within the condenser and to increase the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system when the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system is at or below a predetermined pressure. At least one of the refrigerant circuits of the evaporator is isolated to dehumidify and maintain the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid at or above a predetermined temperature when dehumidification is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Terry KNIGHT, Anthony William LANDERS, Patrick Gordon GAVULA, Stephen Blake PICKLE
  • Patent number: 7845185
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator arrangement connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The evaporator arrangement includes a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes at least one distributor configured to distribute and deliver refrigerant to each circuit of the plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are arranged into a first and second set of circuits. The evaporator arrangement also includes a valve configured and disposed to isolate the first set of circuits from refrigerant flow from the condenser and provide flow of refrigerant from the compressor in a dehumidification operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Anthony William Landers, Patrick Gordon Gavula, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Publication number: 20100229579
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The evaporator also includes at least one distributor configured to distribute and deliver refrigerant to each circuit of the plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are arranged into a first and second set of circuits. The evaporator also includes a valve configured and disposed to isolate the first set of circuits from refrigerant flow from the condenser and provide flow of refrigerant from the compressor in a dehumidification operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: John Terry KNIGHT, Anthony William LANDERS, Patrick Gordon GAVULA, Stephen Blake PICKLE
  • Patent number: 7770411
    Abstract: A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is only performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Stephen Wayne Bellah, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Patent number: 7726140
    Abstract: A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits. A hot gas re-heat circuit having a hot gas re-heat coil, an evaporator and a compressor, such as the evaporator and compressor utilized in one of the refrigerant circuits, is provided. The hot gas re-heat coil is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of the re-heat circuit. Humidity control is performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas re-heat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity. During a second stage cooling operation using multiple refrigerant circuits and having a high cooling demand, the request for humidity control is suspended until completion of the second stage cooling demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Richard Rayburn, Stephen Blake Pickle, John Terry Knight, Stephen Wayne Bellah, Anthony W. Landers
  • Patent number: 7694527
    Abstract: A system and humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a vessel and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a heat exchange coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the vessel of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas reheat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: John Terry Knight
  • Patent number: 7559207
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling refrigerant pressure in an HVAC system. The method includes providing a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop. The condenser has a header arrangement capable of distributing refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant circuits within the condenser. The header arrangement also is capable of selectively isolating at least one of the circuits from refrigerant flow. Refrigerant pressure is sensed at a predetermined location in the refrigeration system. At least one of the circuits is isolated when the refrigerant pressure is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Anthony William Landers, Patrick Gordon Gavula, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Publication number: 20090064711
    Abstract: A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is only performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Terry KNIGHT, Stephen Wayne BELLAH, Stephen Blake PICKLE
  • Patent number: 7434415
    Abstract: A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is only performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Stephen Wayne Bellah, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Patent number: 7219505
    Abstract: A system and humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas reheat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Andrew Weber, John Terry Knight, Stephen Blake Pickle
  • Publication number: 20040089015
    Abstract: A humidity control method is provided for a multi-stage cooling system having two or more refrigerant circuits that balances humidity control and cooling demand. Each refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A hot gas reheat circuit having a hot gas reheat coil is connected to one of the refrigerant circuits and is placed in fluid communication with the output airflow from the evaporator of that refrigerant circuit to provide additional dehumidification to the air when humidity control is requested. The hot gas reheat circuit bypasses the condenser of the refrigerant circuit during humidity control. Humidity control is only performed during cooling operations and ventilation operations. During a first stage cooling operation using only one refrigerant circuit and having a low cooling demand, the request for humidity control activates the hot gas reheat circuit for dehumidification and activates a second refrigerant circuit to provide cooling capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: York International Corporation
    Inventors: John Terry Knight, Stephen Wayne Bellah, Stephen Blake Pickle