Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Hickman

Kenneth E. Hickman 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: 20100251742
    Abstract: An HVAC&R system is disclosed that utilizes energy-efficient valving. The valving controls the flow of refrigerant and may be adapted for evaporator or condenser applications, on both AC systems and heat pumps (as well as chillers and other refrigeration systems). The valving may provide simultaneous and individualized control of flow through individual coils or groups of coils for improved control of evaporation, condensation, defrosting and so forth. In some configurations a common sensor may be shared between individual coils or groups of coils and may provide sensed parameters to control circuitry for controlling the valving. Other configurations may include bypass valving to direct fluid around the flow control valving. In yet other configurations, a valve may be used to bypass tapped vapor around a heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Tucker, Jeremiah Marshall Horn, Jeffrey Norris Nichols, Thomas John Martin, Gregory Ralph Harrod, Kenneth E. Hickman
  • Patent number: 6035648
    Abstract: A method of charging and recharging a refrigerant loop with a ternary refirgerant composition, wherein substantially equal proportions of difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane are added to the loop in substantially equal proportion by mass, during the step of charging and recharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Hickman, John F. Judge