Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Poland

Joseph R. Poland 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).

  • Cascade refrigeration system with modular ammonia chiller units
    Patent number: 9541311
    Abstract: A cascade refrigeration system includes an upper portion having at least one modular chiller unit that provides cooling to at least one of a low temperature subsystem having a plurality of low temperature loads, and a medium temperature subsystem having a plurality of medium temperature loads. The modular chiller unit includes a refrigerant circuit having at least a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. An ammonia refrigerant mixed with a soluble oil circulates within the refrigerant circuit. A control device may be programmed to modulate the position of the expansion device so that a superheat temperature of the ammonia refrigerant near an outlet of the evaporator fluctuates within a substantially predetermined superheat temperature range to positively return soluble oil from the evaporator to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hinde, John D. Bittner, Shitong Zha, Joseph R. Poland
  • CASCADE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH MODULAR AMMONIA CHILLER UNITS
    Publication number: 20120117996
    Abstract: A cascade refrigeration system includes an upper portion having at least one modular chiller unit that provides cooling to at least one of a low temperature subsystem having a plurality of low temperature loads, and a medium temperature subsystem having a plurality of medium temperature loads. The modular chiller unit includes a refrigerant circuit having at least a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. An ammonia refrigerant mixed with a soluble oil circulates within the refrigerant circuit. A control device may be programmed to modulate the position of the expansion device so that a superheat temperature of the ammonia refrigerant near an outlet of the evaporator fluctuates within a substantially predetermined superheat temperature range to positively return soluble oil from the evaporator to the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: David K. Hinde, John D. Bittner, Shitong Zha, Joseph R. Poland