Patents by Inventor Justin McKie
Justin McKie 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: 11802717Abstract: A cavitation boiler segment includes a rotor to be coupled with a rotating inner drum and a stator surrounding the rotor segment. The rotor and the stator each include drums with two banks of annular apertures, which overlap to define two cavitation regions. The rotor includes a web bifurcating the rotor between the apertures into an upstream side and a downstream side, each forming a separate fluid passage between a face of the rotor and a bank of apertures. The stator includes a casing enclosing the stator apertures in a fluid passageway. In operation, fluid flows into a first side of the rotor, across a first cavitation region and into the stator, then back across the second cavitation region and into the second side of the rotor where the fluid may flow into a first side of an adjacent segment.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Sustainable H2O Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Justin McKie
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Publication number: 20210180833Abstract: A cavitation boiler segment includes a rotor to be coupled with a rotating inner drum and a stator surrounding the rotor segment. The rotor and the stator each include drums with two banks of annular apertures, which overlap to define two cavitation regions. The rotor includes a web bifurcating the rotor between the apertures into an upstream side and a downstream side, each forming a separate fluid passage between a face of the rotor and a bank of apertures. The stator includes a casing enclosing the stator apertures in a fluid passageway. In operation, fluid flows into a first side of the rotor, across a first cavitation region and into the stator, then back across the second cavitation region and into the second side of the rotor where the fluid may flow into a first side of an adjacent segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventor: Justin McKie
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Patent number: 10914494Abstract: A cavitation boiler segment includes a rotor to be coupled with a rotating inner drum and a stator surrounding the rotor segment. The rotor and the stator each include drums with two banks of annular apertures, which overlap to define two cavitation regions. The rotor includes a web bifurcating the rotor between the apertures into an upstream side and a downstream side, each forming a separate fluid passage between a face of the rotor and a bank of apertures. The stator includes a casing enclosing the stator apertures in a fluid passageway. In operation, fluid flows into a first side of the rotor, across a first cavitation region and into the stator, then back across the second cavitation region and into the second side of the rotor where the fluid may flow into a first side of an adjacent segment.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: NewCo H20 LLCInventor: Justin McKie
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Patent number: 10823447Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure. A method includes fabricating a rooftop unit and an ERV housing, the rooftop unit comprising an economizer, the ERV housing comprising first and second blowers and a pressure transducer. The method further includes coupling the ERV housing to the economizer and coupling a controller to the pressure transducer, the controller configured to control the first and/or second blowers in response to the internal air pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20190264954Abstract: A cavitation boiler segment includes a rotor to be coupled with a rotating inner drum and a stator surrounding the rotor segment. The rotor and the stator each include drums with two banks of annular apertures, which overlap to define two cavitation regions. The rotor includes a web bifurcating the rotor between the apertures into an upstream side and a downstream side, each forming a separate fluid passage between a face of the rotor and a bank of apertures. The stator includes a casing enclosing the stator apertures in a fluid passageway. In operation, fluid flows into a first side of the rotor, across a first cavitation region and into the stator, then back across the second cavitation region and into the second side of the rotor where the fluid may flow into a first side of an adjacent segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventor: Justin McKie
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Patent number: 10386087Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
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Patent number: 10337759Abstract: A transition module for an energy recovery ventilator unit. The module comprises a frame having two opposing major surfaces with two separate through-hole openings therein. The module also comprises a self-sealing surface on one of the major surfaces and surrounding the two through-hole openings. One of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with return air openings or supply air openings located in a first target side of one an energy recovery ventilator unit or an air handling unit and in a second target side of the other one of the energy recovery ventilator unit or the air handling unit. The other of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with the other of the return air openings or the supply air openings located in the first and second sides.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Geoffrey Curtis, Bryan Smith
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Patent number: 10254003Abstract: A method of manufacturing an energy recovery ventilator unit includes providing a cabinet having exterior walls and interior floors and walls that define an intake zone, a supply zone, a return zone, an exhaust zone and an enthalpy-exchange zone. The intake zone and the exhaust zone are both on one side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The supply zone and the return zone are both on an opposite side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The method further includes installing a first blower in the intake zone. The first blower pushes outside air into the intake zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the supply zone. The method also includes installing a second blower in the return zone. The second blower pushes return air into the return zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the exhaust zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider
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Patent number: 10197344Abstract: A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20180003404Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin MCKIE, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
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Patent number: 9835353Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator cabinet containing a plurality of enthalpy wheels. The enthalpy wheels are substantially perpendicular to a stream of forced air, allowing the air to pass through the wheels. The enthalpy wheels are also disposed such that portions overlap, allowing multiple enthalpy wheels to be disposed in a smaller space than if the enthalpy wheels were placed side by side. This arrangement has led to energy recovery effectiveness similar to that obtained by a larger, single enthalpy wheel, but has the advantage of using less space.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20170306982Abstract: A split casing fluid device includes a reaction chamber including a first and second casings having a portions of a stator, a rotor rotatably mounted inside the stator and having a plurality of fluid-interacting features, the rotor exterior surface and the stator define a fluid passageway therebetween, an inlet into the reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, and an outlet from the reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. Removal of a casing creates an opening in the reaction chamber sized to allow passing the rotor through the opening. In some embodiments, the casings span the entire length of the rotor and removal of at least one casing creates an opening in the reaction chamber sized to allow removal of the rotor in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis. The fluid device may be a cavitation generator with a rotor having cavitation-inducing features.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventor: Justin McKie
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Patent number: 9791163Abstract: A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Herman Marcus Thomas, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20170241218Abstract: A well fluid treatment system includes a cavitation reactor causing cavitation-induced heating of a flow sufficient to convert at least a portion of water in the well fluid to steam a single pass of the well fluid through the cavitation reactor, a steam-liquid phase separator receives the heated well fluid and separates the flow into steam and a condensed contaminated fluid. One or more auxiliary systems are coupled to the steam outlet and receive the flow of steam in order to transfer thermal energy from the flow of steam to one or more of the following: (a) a well fluid treatment process before the cavitation reactor, and (b) a condensed contaminated fluid treatment process after the cavitation reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventor: Justin McKie
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Publication number: 20170191691Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
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Patent number: 9671122Abstract: A controller for an HVAC system, a compute-usable medium and an ERV are disclosed. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an input terminal configured to receive feedback data from a first operating unit of the HVAC system, (2) an operation monitor configured to determine if the feedback data corresponds to a predetermined condition for the first operating unit and (3) a system director configured to operate a second operating unit of the HVAC system at a predetermined operating value corresponding to the predetermined condition and a number of occurrences of predetermined conditions associated with the first operating unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas
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Patent number: 9605861Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20160377315Abstract: A transition module for an energy recovery ventilator unit. The module comprises a frame having two opposing major surfaces with two separate through-hole openings therein. The module also comprises a self-sealing surface on one of the major surfaces and surrounding the two through-hole openings. One of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with return air openings or supply air openings located in a first target side of one an energy recovery ventilator unit or an air handling unit and in a second target side of the other one of the energy recovery ventilator unit or the air handling unit. The other of the through-hole openings is configured to separately overlap with the other of the return air openings or the supply air openings located in the first and second sides.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Geoffrey Curtis, Bryan Smith
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Publication number: 20160305723Abstract: A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Creg Thomas, Steve Schneider
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Publication number: 20160298869Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator unit. The unit comprises a cabinet housing a primary intake zone, a supply zone, a return zone, an exhaust zone and an enthalpy-exchange zone. The primary intake zone and the exhaust zone are both on one side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The supply zone and the return zone are both on an opposite side of the enthalpy exchange zone. The unit also comprises first and second blowers. The first blower is located in the primary intake zone and configured to push outside air into the primary intake zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the supply zone. The second blower is located in the return zone and configured to push return air into the return zone and straight through the enthalpy exchange zone into the exhaust zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Bryan Smith, Steve Schneider